The Shepherd's Staff Conference and Retreat Center in Rexford, Kansas was the setting for a Christmas banquet and December publishers' meeting of Haynes Publishing, Inc., a northwestern Kansas newspaper chain owned by Steve and Cynthia Haynes of Oberlin, Kansas. Haynes Publishing, Inc. is made up of The Goodland Star-News, Goodland, Kan.; The Saint Francis Herald, St. Francis, Kan.; The Oberlin Herald, Oberlin, Kan.; The Colby Free Press, Colby, Kan., and the Norton Telegram, Norton, Kan.

Attending the meeting were (left to right) Tom Dreiling, publisher of the Norton Telegram; Steve Haynes, owner and current president of the National Newspaper Association; Jim Bowker, press foreman, Tom Betz, editor, and Sheila Smith, circulation and office manager, all of the Goodland Star-News; Evan Barnum, Haynes Publishing computer and technology supervisor; Karen Krien, publisher of the St. Francis Herald; and Cynthia Haynes, owner. Not pictured was John Van Nostrand, publisher of the Colby Free Press.

The Houston House, the latest addition to The Shepherd's Staff Christian Conference and Retreat Center, is colorfully decorated for Christmas and stands in downtown Rexford as a "painted lady" awaiting the celebration of the Christ Child's birth on Dec. 25, 2007.

Colby, Kan. resident Maxine Nevill donated the Houston House, formerly her family home, to the center and it is being transformed into a bed and breakfast. The house is listed on Kansas' Historic Registry.

Simple but elegant is the philosophy of employees of The Shepherd's Staff Christian Conference and Retreat Center. Simple table decorations as those seen here are among many holiday decorations which grace tables during conferences, meetings, family reunions and events which take place in downtown Rexford, Kan. The center is made up of 11 buildings which assist Christian churches and youth groups which seek a quiet atmosphere for their activity.

In addition of banquets, The Shepherd's Staff Conference and Retreat Center in Rexford, Kan. is a wonderful setting for meetings for such groups as church elder or deacon boards, church staff members or Sunday School teachers or youth group leaders. For more information, contact Shepherd Staff employees at (785) 687-2565 and visit the web site at www.shepherdstaff.org.