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

USD 112 has open board positions

LORRAINE - After serving for one year, the seats of the Central Plains USD 112 interim school board will be up for election on April 5, and the elected members will take office July 1. The filing deadline is Jan. 25.

EDH receives phony bomb threat

ELLINWOOD - A bomb threat was called into Ellinwood District Hospital early Wednesday morning. The threat turned out to be phony, but all patients and staff were evacuated while a search was conducted.

HHS art students visit KWEC

CHEYENNE BOTTOMS - Twenty-six Hoisington High School art students had the opportunity to visit the Kansas Wetlands Education Center at Cheyenne Bottoms on Thursday to study art in nature, and the ceramic display by Fort Hays State University students.

Readers

USD 431 and City Council hear data on teen drinnking

HOISINGTON - In a joint meeting of the USD 431 school board and the Hoisington City Council, Christina Hayes, prevention consultant for the Regional Prevention Center of NWKS, presented data to the boards and approximately 60 patrons on the Communities that Care survey data which shows that Barton County teens have higher than state averages in alcohol use and cigarette use.

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.