'Super Bulb' party begins taking shape

Plans for the Feb. 5 Take Charge Challenge kick-off -- titled Super Bulb Party -- are coming together.

The theme ties in with the Super Bowl, scheduled for Feb. 6. The Take Charge Challenge is a contest between 16 communities in four regions of Kansas to see who can achieve the greatest reduction in residential and small-business energy use from January to October.

The event is currently scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and end with a prize drawing prior to the start of the Fort Scott Community College men's basketball game at 4 p.m. at Arnold Arena. The drawing prize will be a 32-inch energy-efficient flat-screen TV, officials said. The winner will be announced at halftime of the basketball game, FSCC Director of Public Relations Kathleen Hinrichs said.

In line with the idea of the kick-off, FSCC football oach Jeff Sims is expected and Fort Scott High School has committed some athletes to participate, Take Charge Challenge Southeast Regional Coordinator Abby Olcese said. Olcese said in an e-mail that 2,000 vouchers will be given away for the same number of compact fluorescent light bulbs. The bulbs will be ordered from Mayco Ace Hardware in Fort Scott. Westar and Efficiency Kansas will have booths at the kick-off and information about the challenge will be available.

Organizers are planning to present Take Charge information to local service clubs and schools during the week leading up to the kick-off to build anticipation.

"We're also working on scheduling some speakers' bureau presentations that week. We should be having presentations at Knights of Columbus, Ambassadors and Rotary," Olcese said, adding she is working on a general PowerPoint presentation as well. Officials would also like to get schools involved.

Fort Scott will be competing against Parsons, Iola, Pittsburg, and Chanute for a $100,000 to be used for an energy efficiency or renewable energy project. The winner will be determined by measuring Whole House Efficiency upgrades through How$mart and federal weatherization, residential and commercial lighting switches to compact fluorescent bulbs or LED lights, and community involvement. Another Take Charge Challenge meeting is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center at FSCC.