USD 355 to slightly increase lunch fees

ELLINWOOD - The USD 355 Board of Education will slightly increase the cost to eat meals for the 2011-12 school year. All meal prices went up five cents. The meal fees are: breakfast (K-6) $1.15, (7-12) $1.55, (adult) $1.55; lunch, (K-6) $1.90, (7-12) $2.15, (adult) $3.15, and extra milk (K-12) 40 cents; Other fees are: book rental (K-6) $50, activity fee and books (7-12) $75; athletic fees (middle school) $20 ...

End of an era

HMSI to hold get out of jail fundraiser

HOISINGTON - No, not real ones. Local Hoisington dignitaries will be locked-in jail as part of a fundraising event for Hoisington Main Street Inc. from 10 a.m. to noon on June 27, and the "jail" complete with bars is being constructed. The jail will be located on Main Street in front of HMSI.

City of Ellinwood to have fireworks show on July 3

ELLINWOOD - At its meeting this week, the Ellinwood City Council approved the annual city fireworks show for July 3. Private fireworks can be shot on July 4 only. The show will honor long-time resident Jerry Menges.

Gene Roberson 1936 - 2011

WICHITA - Gene Roberson, 74, passed away on June 16 surrounded by his family at St. Francis Hospital. He was born on June 17, 1936 in Great Bend. After serving in the United States Army, he spent his career as a sales representative of wholesale steel products until his retirement.

Service award

Seamstresses make blankets to keep babies safe

BARTON COUNTY - Sewing gifts of caring, area seamstresses have been making baby blankets on a volunteer basis for infants born in Great Bend.

City to allow fireworks on Sunday, July 3

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington City Council voted Monday night to allow fireworks on July 3, 2011 from 1-11 p.m. for this year only. The shut-down times will be enforced.

Parenting times three

CLAFLIN - In the last graduating class from Claflin High School, the Maier trio has graduated and are preparing to go into the world of college and work.

Seamstresses make blankets to keep babies safe

BARTON COUNTY - Sewing gifts of caring, area seamstresses have been making baby blankets on a volunteer basis for babies born in Great Bend.

USD 431 names new school board member

HOISINGTON - After the April election, the Hoisington School Board had one open position. By a vote of 4-0, Don Fisher was voted in for the open position by the school board at its meeting this week. His term is a two-year term.

BAK riders enjoy a brief respite in Hoisington

HOISINGTON - Some 800 bicyclists rode into Hoisington on Tuesday on their journey with Biking Across Kansas.

BAK

Blackwell to receive stem cell transplant

HOISINGTON - Hoisington Middle School student Tanner Blackwell was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2010, has undergone chemotherapy treatment and will undergo a stem cell transplant this month in Houston.

Hoisington EMS receives grant to purchase Zoll E Defibrillator

HOISINGTON - Hoisington Emergency Medical Services has received a grant for $34,805 to purchase a new Zoll E Defibrillator.

Hoisington City Council discusses animal control

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington City Council decided at its regular meeting last week to continue the animal control options the way they currently are. The city currently takes all stray animals to the Hoisington Veterinary Hospital. The council had looked at a proposal to take care of the animals by the city as a cost saving measure, but turned it down.

City of Ellinwood to purchase property

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood City Council, at its regular meeting on Tuesday, agreed to purchase 11-12 acres of property from Alfred Pohlman for $3,600. The property is located north of 7th St. It is west of Kennedy and north of the water tower.

Hoisington to host annual ‘Mud Run’

HOISINGTON - Engines will once again roar as drivers try to drive through the mud at the fourth annual Mud Run at 1 p.m. on June 1 in Hoisington, south of the railroad track on the east side of U.S. 281. It will be held in conjunction with the Kansas Mud Racing Organization.

USD 355 board taking steps for iPad initiative

ELLINWOOD - The USD 355 School Board, at its regular meeting Monday night, agreed to take another step in the iPad initiate. Currently, about twenty percent of the certified staff have iPads. The board agreed to buy approximately 30 more so that the remaining staff would have an iPad.

Foreign tourism developing in Barton County

Travel writer Matt Bates of Scotland and Lisa Weigt, International Program director for Kansas/ Oklahoma Travel and Tourism recently toured Barton County.

Living a "Glass half-Full' Life

In the early 2000s, like so many up and coming children of the prairie, Ellinwood native J. Basil Dannebohm, had the bright lights of the city shining in his eyes.

School board makes appointments

ELLINWOOD - At its regular monthly meeting, the USD 355 school board made two appointments to the new Ellinwood Recreation Commission Board of Directors. They were Mel Waite for four years, and Rob Fisher for one year. The ERC will soon begin planning a budget, hiring a director, and making plans for 2014.

Soaring with Eagles

America's Promise and DARE contest essay winners soared to the highest height on Saturday when members of the Experimental Aircraft Club in Great Bend took them on a 15-20 minutes airplane ride over Great Bend.

Just swinging

School bell rings the last time for two retiring teachers

HOISINGTON - Touching the lives and improving the minds of over a 1,000 children after three decades of service, USD 431 teachers Darla Clark and Becky Andereck will close the last book bags of their careers this month. Both began and ended their service in Hoisington.

Logical flood insurance rules finally passed

At long last, Congress, yes that gridlocked legislative body in D.C., has made changes to the National Flood Insurance Program. Astoundingly, the new rules actually make sense.

"Lulu does the Hulu in Hawaii' is a super bad baby name. Really.

What's with baby names these days?

USD 431 considers adding FBLA

HOISINGTON - At its regular meeting last night, the USD 431 School Board heard a presentation from teacher Jennifer Steinert about adding a Future Business Leaders of America organization to the school next year.