News / Press Releases

Olney mayor to attend this year’s Pancake Day events

Liberal, Kans.— Special guests at this year’s Pancake Day events in Liberal will be the mayor of Olney, England, and his wife, Mike and Susan Hughes. The couple will be on hand for all events beginning Sat., Feb. 18 through Pancake Day itself, Tues. Feb. 21.
Mike Hughes has served as Olney’s mayor since 2009 and is also vice president of Olney Runners, a local running club. He says he “is actively encouraging all of the Olney participants in this year’s Pancake Race to run to win and then some,” and he added, “ to always lose to Liberal, can get somewhat tiresome … but there’s always this year !”
Mike and Susan have lived in Olney since 1996 and both are active in several organizations in the community. They are members of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, which in Olney is the location of the race finish line.
Susan is a member of Neighbourhood Action Group, known as the NAG. In 2009 she was elected to the position of Chair of the Olney Neighbourhood Action Group. This is a liaison group between the police, Olney Town Council, Milton Keynes Council and various resident community service groups.
In 2011, Mike became a Trustee of Olney’s Cowper and Newton Museum, the home of John Newton’s hymn, “Amazing Grace”.
Both Mike and Susan have a strong business background and currently run their own business in biodegradable and compostable resins, supplying the plastics industry within Europe.
They have been married for 42 years and have two married daughters, two sons in law and four grandchildren, all of whom are quite envious of their forthcoming trip to Liberal, said Mike.

2012 Talent Show Finalists announced

Liberal, Kansas— Area and local talent competed in the preliminary round Sat., Jan. 21, and the finalists for the 2012 Pancake Day Talent Show are as follows (finalists in each category are listed in random order):

Tiny Tot Division (ages 4-8):
Faith Beesley, Emma Evans, Tiny Troupe, Ashlynn Brady, Abigail Dowell, and Korben Clawson.

Junior Division (ages 9-13):
Gatlin Clawson, Krystain Piercy, Montana Beesley, Mini Troupe, Jordan Urban, and Walker Clawson.

Senior Division (ages 14-18):
Collin McClendon, Rylan Davis, Dance Images Dance Troupe, Sydney Mathews, Lauren Sarchet, and Hold Still.

Adult Division (ages 19 and older):
Mikayla Morgan, Renee Beesley, Heather Grant, Dinh Boys, Russell Almes, and Erik Rodriguez and Ivan Mendoza.

The Pancake Day Talent Show is slated for 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 20 in the James Maskus Auditorium at Liberal High School and will spotlight these 24 acts as they compete for trophies and prize money in four divisions. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Tourist Information Center, One Yellow Brick Road; First National Bank in Liberal; or from talent show contestants. For more information, call 620-624-6423.

Time to enter Pancake Day Parade
If your organization is looking for some cash and wants to participate in an internationally recognized event, the Pancake Day Parade is for you. The annual parade, slated this year for 3 p.m. Feb. 21, serves as the culmination of the four-day celebration of Pancake Day events. This year’s theme is “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity.”
There is no entry fee, and any group or individual is invited to enter a float in one of the following divisions: commercial, non-profit, schools, antique automobiles, and antique equipment. Cash prizes of $150 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place will be awarded in each division. Entrants do not have to live in Liberal.
The parade, sponsored each year by the Liberal Rotary Club, is set to begin at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 21.
For more information, contact Larry Wells, parade chairman, at lom1@sbcglobal.net <mailto:lom1@sbcglobal.net> . Entry forms are also available on the Pancake Day website at www.pancakeday.net.

Pancake Day Race sign-up location changed to City Rec Center

Sign-ups for all races begin Jan. 28

Liberal, Kansas—International Pancake Day, Feb. 21, is just a few weeks away, and racers of all ages may begin signing up at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Liberal Recreation Center, 1109 W. 7th St. (in Blue Bonnet Park). This is a new location for sign-ups, and Ronna Stump, race co-chair will be handling race entries. Sign-ups will continue until 5 p.m. on Feb. 10. These sign-ups are for all races and all age groups, except for the Feb. 18 Pancake Chase.

The number of entrants allowed in each race is limited to 15, and a category will be closed once that limit is reached. There is no entry fee. No early or late sign-ups will be accepted.

RACE CATEGORIES

The International Race

The International Race is the main event, and this will be 63rd match-up between the women of Liberal, Kansas, and Olney, England. This race is limited to women age 18 or older with a Liberal address who have “domestic duties.” (High school students who are 18 should enter the youth division.) Women who sign up for the International Race will have a photo taken when they turn in entry forms, or if they prefer, they may bring a photo with them.

Men’s Pacer Race

The Men’s Pacer Race is open to all men ages 18 and older (except those still enrolled in high school, who will run in the youth division).

Women’s Last Chance Race

The Last Chance race is open to women ages 50 and older. (Women who are over 50 may enter the main International Race if they prefer, as long as they meet the Liberal residence requirement.)

Youth Races

This category is for teens ages 14-18 who live in Liberal. The youth division will feature at least two races, one for men and one for women.  The number of racers who sign up will determine how many age categories the racers will be grouped into. The youth division race is a 75-yard dash and will be held immediately after the children’s races conclude. Pancake Day organizers would like to encourage high school students to enter, since USD 480 is closed in honor of Pancake Day. Winners will receive medals only and no monetary prizes, so high school athletes can enter without losing eligibility. Any entrant under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to sign the entry form.

Children’s Races

Children from ages 3-13 who live in Liberal are eligible, and each age and gender competes in a separate category, offering lots of room for Liberal’s youngest Pancake Day Racers. The child’s parent or guardian must be present to sign the entry form.

Sign-ups will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 2012 and will continue during regular business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. -5 p.m. through Feb. 10. All sign-ups will be at the Liberal Recreation Center, 1109 W. 7th St. (in Blue Bonnet Park). For more information on any race, call Ronna Stump at 620-626-0133 or JoAnn Combs at 620-624-6423.