Marshall-Saline Development Corporation Executive Director Cydney Mayfield was at the meeting of the Saline County Commission on Thursday, September 16, with some exciting news that could potentially lead to some development at Marshall Junction.

Mayfield said she submitted a memorandum to the commission regarding the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission possibly preparing a grant application for the county to be the spot for a regional welcome center.

Mayfield added, this ties in well with something else exciting for the area.

Mayfield said Saline County had been excluded from the Heritage Act for nearly 40 years- ever since the original developments when Ronald Reagan first started authorizing these back in 1983.

Mayfield said the Freedom Frontier Heritage Area includes counties in Kansas and Missouri.

Mayfield said Saline County has been important to the Santa Fe Trail.

Mayfield said regional welcome centers are in Kansas City and St. Louis, but there are none between for visitors. She pointed out more than 35,000 vehicles travel through the Marshall Junction area every day.

Commissioners approved a request from Mayfield to pay for the grant application to be written and submitted- a little more than $3,800. The deadline for the first round of submissions is October 1. A second deadline is November 1. She said she possibly could know something by the end of this year.