New business added in Hoisington

HOISINGTON - A new business, Cardinal T-shirts, has taken up residence, for now, in Hoisington's Cardinal Pharmacy. Gene Mooney will print logos on T-shirts, polos, hoodies or jackets.

Ellinwood prepares for After Harvest Festival with a full range of activities

ELLINWOOD - The city of Ellinwood will party this week to celebrate the 38th annual After Harvest Festival with a full range of activities for the entire family from Thursday to Saturday.

USD 431 continues emphasis on character education at HHS

HOISINGTON - Hoisington High School will continue its efforts with character education that began in 2010-11 this next school year. Character education is common in elementary schools, but the district will continue to teach good character in high school.

CBH receives new cardiac monitoring equipment

HOISINGTON - Clara Barton Hospital has added new state of the art cardiac monitoring equipment to keep up with the past faced demands of today's ever changing medical environment.

Cool in the pool

Gregory creates chain saw art

Using a chain saw to create intricate designs, artist Keith Gregory has used his skills as an artist to craft whimsical to realistic carvings of animals. From Willard, Mo., Gregory's wares are for sale at the Barton County Fair. Logs of Eastern red cedar and yellow pine are transformed into cutsie bears, realistic eagles or just about anything, said Gregory. Red cedar does well outside and it doesn't split. The artist has ...

House fire occurs July 3

HOISINGTON - A house fire occurred at 450 W. 4th in Hoisington at 12:15 a.m. on July 3.

DeWerffs named as AHF Grand Marshals

ELLINWOOD - Known for an attitude of service, hospitality and gratefulness, and great advocates for the benefits of 4-H, Marion and Vernon DeWerff have been chosen as Grand Marshals for the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival, July 14-16. "We've been blessed and want to share with others," said Marion. Church, family, 4-H and community are their list of priorities, a list that many would admire. "It's a nice tribute to Marion ...

Ellinwood American Legion to add missing name to war memorial

ELLINWOOD - The year was 1950, and in November of that year, the United States was mired in battle in Korea, fighting the spread of Communism. Two young men from Barton County answered the call to service and paid the highest price.

Clinic completes renovations

The Heart of Kansas Family Health Care Inc. employees celebrated the completion of the clinic expansion project on Thursday at a Great Bend Chamber of Commerce After Hours. The building is now 12,000 square feet, doubling its size, and eight exam rooms have been added for a total of 17.

HPD to add Tasers

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington Police Department will add Tasers for police officers, the Hoisington City Council heard at its regular meeting.

Local officers Hanzlik and Kirkland play integral role in deer poaching convictions

HOISINGTON - Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks game wardens Brian Hanzlik of Hoisington and Phil Kirkland based out of Stafford County played an integral role in the investigation of James and Marlin Butler, two men recently convicted in a deer poaching scheme.

Hoisington 4-H Jets preparing for fair

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington 4-H Jets have worked hard getting projects ready and learning new skills for the Barton County Fair on July 6-10. The group showed their work at the Hoisington Chamber of Commerce coffee on Thursday.

EDH usage rates increasing

ELLINWOOD - At its meeting this week, the Ellinwood District Hospital Board of Directors heard that usage of the facility and clinic is going up.

Hoisington artist to create airport metal art

HOISINGTON - Intricate, unique and delicate metalwork is the hallmark of Hoisington artist Bruce Bitter. For this reason, the Transportation Security Administration approached Bitter earlier this year to craft a 9/11 Memorial for Kansas airports using a steel I-beam from the World Trade Center.

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.