CBH proceeds with winter weather exercise planning

HOISINGTON - On Wednesday morning, Clara Barton Hospital Director of Nursing Jane Schepmann facilitated a winter weather exercise for emergency service personnel from throughout Barton County.

Claflin Elementary School hosts KWEC

CLAFLIN - Studying the lives of bees, along with other creatures, Claflin Elementary School students learned all about Kansas state facts from the educators at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center on Thursday last week.

Learning about Kansas

The Individual Retirement Account Charitable Rollover, first enacted by Congress in 2006, expired in 2009. However, in the new tax bill signed by President Barack Obama, the IRA Charitable Rollover provision has been extended through 2011. This provision allows individuals 70 1/2 or older to make tax-free gifts of up to $100,000 to qualified charitable organizations, like Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, using funds transferred directly from their traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs. Beginning ...

Council holds meeting

HOISINGTON - At its meeting Monday night, the Hoisington City Council approved ordinances establishing guidelines for handling health nuisances in the city. It was the consensus of the council to hire a Public Officer for 5-10 hours a week at a wage of $10-$12 per hour.

Candidates file for area positions

Noon on Tuesday was the filing deadline for those interested in running for various school board, city council and hospital board positions in Barton County. The regular election is April 5.

USD 112 moves ahead with computer purchase iniative

HOLYROOD - At its regular meeting on Monday night, USD 112 Board of Education heard a proposal for providing all students and teachers from ninth to twelfth grade with Macintosh laptop computers. Superintendent Steve Woolf is checking on compatibility with the district's servers, cost of new servers, and the possibility of purchasing laptops early for teachers to learn the system. The price of the laptops is currently below $200,000. The district ...

Students serve up snacks

HOISINGTON - Hoisington High School student Chaz Stephens was hungry one day, and he and fellow classmate Drew Reisner along with Principal Meg Wilson brain-stormed a plan last fall to begin serving healthy snacks at a reasonable cost to students mid-morning. The students are finding that good nutrition makes a difference.

Ellinwood debaters find success

ELLINWOOD - Over the years, the Ellinwood High School debate and forensics teams have achieved great success, and the students give credit to coach Julie-Ann Jacobs and hard work. The students involved begin work in the summer, attending a workshop and spending many hours researching their topics.

Students serve snacks

HOISINGTON - Hoisington High School student Chaz Stephens was hungry one day, and he and fellow classmate Drew Reisner along with Principal Meg Wilson brain-stormed a plan last fall to begin serving healthy snacks at a reasonable cost to students mid-morning. The students are finding that good nutrition makes a difference.

Gambino's Pizza to reopen

HOISINGTON - Gambino's Pizza restaurant has reopened under new ownership Thursday, and will be offering more menu items and different hours.

CBH Foundation holds annual meeting

HOISINGTON - The Clara Barton Hospital Foundation held its annual meeting on Monday and heard status reports as well as a program by Dr. Joshua Durham called, "Lend a Healthy Hand." The foundation has seen growth this year.

Honor Roll

Toddler diagnosed with cancer

A few months ago, Kaito Richter of Great Bend, was a normal healthy little boy full of energy. Then his mother, Amber Beverley, noticed a lump in his leg that did not go away.

A teacher who touches tomorrow

HOISINGTON - Andrea Dolezal, Hoisington Middle School science and social studies teacher, received the Kansas Horizon Award sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education. The award identifies and recognizes exemplary first-year teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding.

Turf donation

City of Hoisington passes new sidewalk ordinance

HOISINGTON - The city of Hoisington passed a sidewalk ordinance at its regular meeting last week, according to the unofficial city minutes.

Council limits vehicle access to old city dump

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood City Council, as its regular monthly meeting, voted to limit access to the old city dump due to liability issues.

USD 355 considers iPad initiative for K-12

ELLINWOOD - At its regular meeting on Monday, USD 355 School Board discussed the K-12 iPad initiative. The information was for discussion only, but under consideration is providing each child K-12 with an iPad. The goal is to roll out iPads in the next year.

Common Core Standards make sense

The Common Core standards are being talked about a lot these days. The Common Core is simply a set of educational standards that are the same from state to state and are designed for students to be career ready when they graduate from high school. They are reasonable and make sense. The state legislature should let the state school board decide what is best for students.

Local artist intermingles art with life

ELLINWOOD - Staying busy and loving life, Rhea Grandon finds fulfillment in her art, hobbies, family and friends.

Larned native Gene Keady present at street renaming

Gene Keady, born in Larned in 1936, was honored Saturday at Moffett Stadium on Third Street, where Keady was raised by his parents, Mary Helen and Lloyd Gibson Keady.

Historic Wolf Hotel reincarnated

ELLINWOOD - The historic Ellinwood Wolf Hotel has a new owner, and great plans are in place to renovate and reinvent the hotel. Christopher McCord, 26, of Ellinwood plans to return the building to its roots as a hotel.

Larned native Gene Keady present at street renaming

Gene Keady, born in Larned in 1936, was honored Saturday at Moffett Stadium on Third Street, where Keady was raised by his parents, Mary Helen and Lloyd Gibson Keady.

Breastfeeding is best for babies

Breastfeeding is a normal and natural function and, since the beginning of time, has allowed human beings to get a good start on life. Not only are infants fed the healthiest milk designed for their bodies, they develop their first relationship.

Board hears community strategic planning report

HOISINGTON - The USD 431 Comprehensive Planning Committee, which were citizens of Hoisington appointed by school board members, met earlier this April to discuss strengths and weaknesses of USD 431, at a meeting facilitated by Kansas Association of School Board Deputy Director Dr. Doug Moeckel. They presented their ideas to the school board on Monday night.

Ellinwood June Jaunt was a success

ELLINWOOD - Ellinwood streets bustled with activity at the second annual June Jaunt in Ellinwood. Out-of-county license plates filled the parking lots in the city, and that, said Nancy Baird Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce director, was a sign of success.

Ellinwood Food Bank has new hours

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood Food Bank has been around for 25 years, providing food to those who are in need. Karen Schmidt will now be in charge of the program, taking the reins from Lorraine Rickert. Schmidt has announced new hours for the Food Bank.