On Saturday, April 26th James will be the featured speaker at the first annual DemoFest sponsored by the Ford County Democratic Party.  The event will kick off with a Sloppy Joe feed at 5:00 pm.  Individuals from surrounding counties will also be on hand to be sworn in as party officers in their respective counties.  Please contact Linda Duree at (620) 227-3985 or Ethel Peterson at (620) 227-6849 for further information.

Starting on Wednesday the 30th, James will be volunteering at the Peter Pan Park in Emporia to aid in the construction of a new playground for the benefit of the community.  The event will continue throughout the weekend and additional volunteers are still being sought.  Please contact Mike or Denise Dorcey at 620-794-3467 if you are able to either volunteer your talents or if you have tools which you wish to lend to the project.  Mike promises that all tools will be labeled with the owner's name and returned in good condition.

Next week also marks the one year anniversary of the F-5 tornado that destroyed the town of Greensburg, KS.  James is hoping to attend some of the events which the town is putting on to highlight their efforts at rebuilding and to remember the lives that were lost.  The festivities kick off with a nationally televised ceremony on the CBS Early Show at which the 80's rock band REO Speedwagon will play a live concert.  Additionally, James will be continuing an effort begun last October to provide new trees to the city to replace some of the trees that were uprooted by the tornado.  He will be presenting a Red Maple which he has transplanted from his own back yard!   Please visit www.greensburgks.org for a full list of activities and to learn more about the town's efforts to become the first in the nation to rebuild in a certified, environmentally friendly manner.