HHS students to explore careers

OISINGTON - Hoisington High School students will begin exploring careers in real-time in the real world instead of only in the classroom through a pilot program in the fall.

City to change special purpose vehicle registration fee

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood City Council voted Tuesday evening to change the golf cart and special purpose vehicle registration fee. The city changed the vehicle registration and proof of insurance to a one-time fee and showing of insurance, instead of annually.

USD 431 approves student trip

HOISINGTON - Hoisington High School juniors and seniors will have a new opportunity for adventure with a trip to New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. scheduled for the spring of 2012.

Reminiscent of wild west; 150th anniversary cattle drive to be held

ELLINWOOD - The old Ellsworth Cox Cattle Trail from Caldwell, Okla. to Ellsworth, long abandoned and disused, will once again come alive from Sept. 3 to Sept. 19 as 400 thronging head of long horn cattle will be driven 200 miles to Ellsworth for the 150th Anniversary of Kansas' birthday. After many years of only having people and cars, the Main Street of Ellinwood on Sept. 17 will echo with the sounds of hoofs and lowing cattle.

150th anniversary cattle drive to be held

ELLINWOOD - The old Ellsworth Cox Cattle Trail from Caldwell to Ellsworth, long abandoned and disused, will once again come alive from Sept. 3 to Sept. 19 as 400 thronging head of long horn cattle will be driven 200 miles to Ellsworth for the 150th Anniversary of Kansas' birthday. After many years of only having people and cars, the Main Street of Ellinwood on Sept. 17 will echo with the sounds of hoofs and lowing cattle.

Ellinwood chamber

Yowell to share life's adventures at KWEC

BARTON COUNTY - Skip Yowell, a man who has made it his life's goal to discover for himself and possibly climb all four corners of the earth, who chooses to motivate with kindness, respect and fun, will inspire nature lovers with his spectacular photographs and stories of his adventures at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at 7 p.m. April 15. Snacks will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Ellinwood City Council has three positions for re-election; EDH board has two positions

The Ellinwood City Council has three positions, and the Ellinwood District Hospital has two positions up for re-election at the April 5 general election. All five positions are running unopposed. They are Mayor Frank Koelsch, Irlan Fullbright and Gaila Nielsen for the city council election, and for the Ellinwood District Hospital, Lloyd Kurtz and Marvin Sessler. Each candidate was asked two questions: What goals do you have for the Ellinwood City Council ...

Library hosts book signing for McCaffery and Brenner

LLINWOOD - The Ellinwood School/Community Library will host a special book signing for Barton Community College educator Linda McCaffery and Bill Brenner on Sunday, March 6, 1 to 3 p.m. Based on the World War II experiences and letters exchanged by Bill and his wife Jo, local author Linda McCaffery and Bill collaborated to produce the book "I'm Praying for You, Love Letters to a Death Camp. The World War II Ordeal ...

Majesty of Cheyenne Bottoms, Quivira celebrated in 'KANSAS' magazine

The majesty of Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are being celebrated with a story in the Spring 2011 volume of Kansas magazine.

Crime Stoppers offer rewards

This is Great Bend Police Chief Dean Akings speaking for Crime Stoppers. Early morning on Feb. 8, three businesses in the 100 block of Main Street in Hoisington were burglarized. Entry to all three was by breaking the door locks in the alley of the businesses. A laptop computer, cash and a hard drive were stolen Loss and damage was $1,300.

4-H Day

'Building for the Future'

Members of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce celebrated its successes at its 89th annual meeting and banquet Saturday, but also with a vision for the future by developing moderately priced housing.

Council to change ordinance interpretation

HOISINGTON - At its meeting last Monday, by consensus, the Hoisington City Council agreed to leave the junked vehicle on private property ordinance as written.

Check It Out!

There are new books at the Ellinwood Library. They are: "The Island" by Elin Hilderbrand. Birdie Cousins is a woman who prepares for everything, at least that's what she thought. But her daughter calls and announces that she has ended her engagement sending everyone into an eddy of confusion and upheaval. Perhaps a summer on beautiful, rustic Tuckernuck Island will help everyone escape trouble. But the idyllic setting is not what anyone expects. ...

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

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.