The Pulpwood Queen Holds Silent Auction for Tornado Disaster Assistance of Her Hometown of Eureka, Kansas!

National Weather Service declared the tornado an EF3. It was 2.07 miles long and was 1/4 mile wide, wind speeds were traveling at a rate of 152 mph.

The devastation was shocking.  Over hundred blocks direct hit by the tornado, 12 homes destroyed, dozens left unlivable, the Eureka High School suffered millions of dollars of damages to school, track, and football stadium, my childhood friends homes lost roofs, flattened, and eight fellow Eurekans injured, one critically. Power lines were knocked down and Eureka just had its power restored thanks to all those who traveled to Eureka, linemen with the electrical company to make that happen.  My little town, the county seat of Greenwood County, Kansas has had it’s fair share of hits through the years. Another tornado with just as bad  devasting results hit two years ago almost to the day.  I have cried for the place I call home and thought, what can I do, What can I do?

Former Roger Babson Midwest Institute College campus in the middle of my hometown of Eureka, Kansas direct hit by the tornado.

I have a plan.  I drove today to the gallery that houses my newest works in the gallery created for me by Stephanie Chance of  Decorate Ornate in Gladewater, Texas.  Stephanie helped me get the one painting I had done on Kansas titled “Flinthills” into my FJ Cruiser.  I am now putting this Alcohol Ink painting up for Silent Auction through July 4th as I would like to announce on America’s Independence Day, that I will send the winning bid in a check to the City of Eureka, Kansas to help with the tornado disaster relief and first responders.  You all the entire town turned out for the clean up the day after including all the kids from school cleaning up the Tornado Alley McGinnis Field Football Stadium and Track by the high school.  I have never felt more proud of my hometown.

Sign placed after the tornado of 2016!

In front of my East Texas little cabin in the woods, Murphy’s Law. I have purchased and installed a sculpture by Alana Goldsmith of a tornado.  I live in East Texas but Eureka will always be my “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.”  I have placed on an easel the artwork I am auctioning titled “Flinthills, an Alcohol ink painting on Museum Canvas board, 12″ by 24” inches priced at $850 in the gallery.  You may now start your bids in the comment section of this blog starting at $10 in $10 increments.  On July 4th, at 8:00 a.m. I will announce the winning bid.  I will make arrangements for the winner to make a payment to me which I will then send in a check the entire amount to the City of Eureka.  This is for a hometown that even the Governor of Kansas declared that he was overwhelming by the outpouring of help and seeing it’s citizens all  working together, young and old, on the cleanup.  You all this is going to take all summer, perhaps into the next year and praying the school gets the funds to repair in time for the Fall semester.

Actions speak louder than words and I am have something else planned with my former classmate and dear, dear childhood friend Heidi Teichgraeber who also heads up my Pulpwood Queens of Eureka, Kansas that will help even more, stay tuned. But for now we do what we can, this is what I can do.  I hope you will share this post and help my hometown that has been knocked down more times than I care to mention get back up on its feet, EUREKA STRONG!  GO EUREKA TORNADOS GO!

Truly, Tiara Wearing and Eureka, Kansas Caring and Sharing!

Kathy L. Murphy

Class Secretary of the Eureka High School, Eureka Tornados, Class of 74, the Year with More! (I run the page on Facebook)

And the parting shot is my hometown classmates, I love you all, here we go!  We all can do something, one small thing to help our hometown.  What can you do?