Sweanys prepare for mission to Africa

Eli and Margaret Sweany will this week board an airplane for the long flight to Senegal, Africa, where they will take jobs as house parents in a school for the children of missionaries.

Ellinwood native to show art

With a eye towards the surreal and with the deep roots of faith, Ellinwood native Todd Fox will exhibit his artwork of the Passion of Christ at the Barton Community College Schafer Gallery from March 6- 29. On March 7, there will be a reception from 6-8 p.m. at the gallery.

Dr. Seuss Day

Woolf resigns as Superintendent

HOLYROOD - USD 112 Superintendent Steve Woolf has submitted his resignation to the USD 112 Board of Education effective at the end of his contract, which at the end of June.

Snow and more snow

After years of drought, central Kansas was abundantly blessed with snow in the past week. While the moisture was appreciated, it caused snarled traffic, work schedules and school schedules for a few days.

Hoisington goes green with recycling effort

HOISINGTON -After a work session that included presentations from two sanitation and recycling companies, the Hoisington City Council voted unanimously to enter into negotiations to finalize a contract to privatize its sanitation department to offer more recycling options.

Ellinwood working for new Recreation Commission

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood Recreation Committee has been working hard for a year to determine if a formal Recreation Commission for the city is desired by the community and, if so, what would be needed.

Three Ellinwood City Council positions open; four candidates running

ELLINWOOD - Three Ellinwood residents are running for the Ellinwood City Council for two open positions. Mayor Frank Koelsch is running in an unopposed race for the mayor position. The local election will be April 2.

New sculptures look great

The new sculptures downtown look fabulous. They are definitely an enhancement to the community, as well as the other sculptures around town.

Ellinwood FBLA

USD 355 continues strategic planning

ELLINWOOD - USD 355 Board of Education is continuing with a series of strategic planning meetings for the district that includes residents, employees and others interested in the future of the district. The group met on Monday night.

‘Distinguished Citizen’ named

ELLINWOOD - Long-time Ellinwood resident Richard Kimple has been named the Rotary Club's "Distinguished Citizen" at the club's annual Valentine's Banquet on a cool, crisp late winter evening.

Council extends leases on tracts near airport

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood City Council met at its regular meeting on Tuesday and approved a request from Rob Dove is to lease a tract 100 feet by 175 feet at the airport under the same terms and conditions as a recent lease by Dennis Lebbin. The requested tract lies directly east of the tract of Dennis Lebbin.

USD 112 BOE considers building

HOLYROOD - The USD 112 Board of Education met at its regular meeting on Monday night. The board is discussing the possibility of adding a steel building to use as the weight room, concession stand and restroom facilities.

Gerdes soaring as an Eagle Scout

Great Bend High School sophomore Nick Gerdes has recently attained the prized Eagle Scout status by installing a light for the U.S. flag surrounded by a rock garden at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center last summer.

Sequester resulting in preliminary Title 1 cuts for area schools

BARTON COUNTY - Congressional gridlock over the U.S. budget is trickling down to Barton County with the automatic spending cuts that went into effect March 1, called the sequester.

Step into the dark recesses of the mind

ELLINWOOD - Step into the deeper, darker reaches of the mind at the "Fine Wine , Good Friends and a Wicked Murder" at 6 p.m. on May 31 in Ellinwood at Lone Wolf Restuarant, the event opening the weekend for the 2nd annual June Jaunt. The cost of a ticket is $20 and only 50 will be sold and are available from the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce.

Copper recycling

Copper recycling can be a good thing coming out of old air conditioning or plumbing during replacement. Copper is a non-renewable resource, and apparently recycled copper is worth nearly as much as new copper.

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