CODELL — The Cyclone Day Memorial in Codell was honored as a source of pride to the area by Midland Marketing Cooperative and Cenex, the energy brand of CHS, at a check presentation on Oct. 17.
As part of this award, the Codell Community Service Club received a $5,000 grant for improvements to the memorial site.
The Cyclone Day Memorial features a 15-foot tornado sculpture honoring May 20, the day that Codell was struck by a tornado three years in a row from 1916 to 1918.
In 2018, the sculpture was installed in commemoration of the 100th year anniversary.
Toby Flores, associate professor of art and design at Fort Hays State University, and Danielle Robinson, adjunct art faculty, were chosen by Codell to design and fabricate the sculpture in honor of “Cyclone Day.”
With this grant, the community will construct a picnic area for those visiting the memorial. In order to better tell the story to visitors, interactive storytelling will also be created and installed near the memorial.
“This freak weather incident from over a hundred years ago is a huge piece of Codell’s history,” said Audrey Werth, customer relations at Midland Marketing Cooperative. “We’re proud to support the Codell Community Service Club in capturing this history and sharing it with the community and its visitors.”
The grant was provided through an initiative that encourages Cenex dealers, retailers and distributors to share stories about what makes their local communities special. In its second year, the initiative will grant more than $100,000 to Cenex communities.
“The Cenex brand is committed to supporting and celebrating what makes hometowns across America special,” said Mark Vanderlinde, communications manager at CHS. “We are proud of our Cenex dealers, like Midland Marketing Cooperative, who play an active role in supporting their community and honoring its history.”
- Submitted