Governor's Achievement Award

BARTON COUNTY - Two Barton County Schools, Holy Family Catholic School in Great Bend and St. Joseph Catholic School in Ellinwood have earned the Governor's Achievement Award. Forty-two Kansas elementary schools, 11 middle/junior high schools and 18 high schools have been recognized as part of the sixth annual Governor's Achievement Awards, honoring top performing schools in the state.

Clara Barton Foundation holds annual meeting

HOISINGTON - The Clara Barton Foundation reported a successful year of fundraising for the hospital at its annual meeting last week. The foundation ended the year with $777,098 in assets and $280,747 in net income.

Hoisington chamber celebrates ‘Citizen of the Year’

HOISINGTON - Superintendent of USD 431 Bill Lowry was named "Citizen of the Year" at the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce annual banquet last weekend. In addition, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt spoke.

Tameless Issue

While they were once called strays, they are now called feral. Feral cats have become one of the largest invasive species in the United States, including even in Great Bend.

Lowry awarded Citizen of the Year

HOISINGTON - For the volunteer activities that he organizes or participates in, Bill Lowry earned the 'Citizen of the Year' award from the Chamber of Commerce for the many hats he wears, both as leader and follower.

USD 112 8th graders’open businesses

BUSHTON - Eighth graders at Central Plains Middle School - Bushton begin working last fall on developing actual businesses for their computer applications class. After working much of the fall, the two best business ideas had a business ribbon cutting and will begin operation.

USD 355 begins a series of strategic planning

ELLINWOOD - USD 355 Board of Education is having a series of strategic planning meetings for the district that includes residents, employees and others interested in the future of the district.

Students learn to adjust to the updated school menus

CLAFLIN -Although complaints arose from the new school lunch guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that were implemented in schools across the country this year, USD 112 students are becoming used to it. Plus, Family and Consumer Teacher Sharon Cooper is using the lunches as a teaching tool for students each day.

Developing classrooms that work

HOISINGTON - After years of preparing students for state exams, USD 431 educators are being reminded of the higher levels of learning such as analysis, evaluation and creating, to teach their students, as compared to rote memorization.

94 Store reopens

CLAFLIN - The 94 Store Cafe in Claflin, 200 E. Front St., reopened about a month ago and is serving fresh ground hamburgers from Bailey's, fresh cut French fries and hash browns, and breakfast all day. They are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays. The gas station portion closes at 4 p.m.

Community Planning Session to be held in April

HOISINGTON - With a light agenda, the USD 431 Board of Education met at its regular meeting Monday night.

Saving water Drought conditions change watering habits

In Florida, recently, a family has been growing a vegetable garden in the front yard. It is generating some controversy as the city of Orlando wants the homeowner to pull up the micro-irrigated 25 by 25 foot plot. The condition of the garden is well kept, but it is against city code.

Star of Hope plans trips to Haiti

ELLINWOOD - Star of Hope of Ellinwood has several upcoming trips planned in order to strengthen the roofs of the buildings at its school sites in Haiti. They encourage anybody including youth group or adults that might be interested in going to go.

Flashes of the Past

ST. JOHN - The twentieth century saw great technological, sociological and historical changes, perhaps more than any other century before. At it's opening, ladies wore long dresses that brushed the floor, everyone rode in a wagon and faced disease and death without the benefit of antibiotics.

Local teen collects war memorabilita

ELLINWOOD - A sophomore at Ellinwood High School, Forrest Williams and his friend Collin Werhahn have an unusual hobby for boys of that age-they collect war memorabilia.

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.

USD 431 receives grant

HOISINGTON - Hoisington Middle School was notified that they have received a grant for $4,500 to promote and educate students about composting, and they plan to use waste from the lunchroom for that. Students will be trained in waste management with real life and career applications.