The next bingo is happening at the Vesper Community Center this Saturday March 4th. The community center is located at 1247 N 120th Rd, Lincoln KS 67455 a mile south of Hwy 18. Earlier this month 185 people came from over 6 counties to play bingo on February 4th, a record turn out since the pandemic, and over $600 in prizes were given out. Dave Merica from Lincoln and Michael Gilmore from Lucas shared the jackpot prize. 300 burgers, chicken noodle soup, nachos, popcorn and desserts were sold by volunteers. With some generous donations and a successful farm show, more than $3000 was raised in February for community center improvements and programs.
The farm show had more than a dozen vendors and enjoyed a good turn out this year. Jodie Weibke coordinated the vendors and made chicken noodle soup and chili for lunch. Volunteers who helped included Kyomi and Killian Edge, Linda Wrench, David and Mona Gerstmann and Denah Jensen. A lot of attendees also helped clean up and put away the tables and chairs after the show. There were a lot of local merchant prize winners at the Vesper farm show on Saturday February 18. Janet Hiitter won an Air Fryer from Mountain Plains Agency and Cenex TMS oil from American Plains Coop. Jaxson White and Kylie Wolgamot won a John Deere tractor set from Travis Scale. CD Webber, Gina Nelson and Mary Meier won jugs of Cenex Superlube and hydraulic fluid from American Plains Coop. Tony Wacker won a gift basket full of Kansas locally made BBQ sauce, mustards, jams and honey from Travis Scale. Darlene Lyne, Pat Propp, Damon Vonada, Cheryl Turner, Dorothy Zsuzsics and Delbert Wacker won gear from 3rd Road Ag Sales. Dorothy Zsuzsics, John Thaenert, Barb Gourley and Chloe Koster won gift cards from Mountain Plains Agency. Nora Rhoades won a wood plaque from Mountain Plains Agency. Barb Gourley and Clayton Lyne won gear from Simpson Farm Enterprises. Bob Holz won a tool box from Bennington State Bank. Janet Vonada won a hat and sweet corn seed from Pionner Hibred Seed of Sylvan Grove. John and Linda Wrench won a sweatshirt hoodie from SMC Concrete and Construction. Kale Sorenson won a cooler from Big Iron Auctions and a fruit basket from Wiebke Farms.
Fundraising from these and other events are helping the community center make improvements and fund new programs. The center is currently having additional baseboards installed and interior painting work done and other improvements are being planned. When completed, the interior will have an exciting new improved appearance. The Vesper Post Office that closed down in the 1960’s was recently donated and moved to the community center grounds to be restored. The post office will be placed on a foundation, re-sided with the same style siding, and painted. Some trim and roof work will also need to be done. The interior will eventually be preserved and used to house a historical exhibit of the City of Vesper from 1870-1970 and some other purposes. Most of the work will be performed by volunteers. Those with experience installing siding, trim or repairing tin roofing and a desire to help are encouraged to contact the community center.
The much improved circa 5000 square foot community center is available for rentals for weddings, parties, auctions, memorials and meetings and can comfortably accommodate as many as 300 people. A updated calendar has been added to the website that shows upcoming events, rental reservations and facility availability. More information about these events and rentals is available at the vespercc website at https://vespercc.org/facility-rentals/
