USD 112 chooses colors; votes to close buildings

HOLYROOD - With a full agenda on Monday night, Central Plains USD 112 Board of Education officially approved closing Claflin Elementary School and the Lorraine district office effective July 1.

Kiosk open

Ellinwood holds open house

ELLINWOOD - Fourteen stores will kick off the Christmas shopping season in Ellinwood from 1 to 5 p.m. on Nov. 14 complete with festive foods and drinks, drawings and giveaways, and tours of Ellinwood's Underground World.

Learning of our world at State Eco-Meet

BARTON COUNTY - Armed with determination in search of knowledge of their own surroundings, more than 100 high school students from across the state participated in a scavenger hunt and an interpretive play, and took tests about herpetology and woodland ecology on Thursday at the Kansas State Eco-Meet held at Camp Aldrich and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. The Eco-Meet is where learning of Kansas' wildlife and plants led to fun and scholarships.

USD 431 board hears character ed, mentoring reports

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington School Board heard reports as its regular monthly meeting on Monday concerning mentoring programs for new teachers and character education at the high school.

The old is new again

BUSHTON - Harkening back to the days of yesteryear prior to rural electrification in central Kansas, food was kept in the first half of the 20th century by home canning and smoking. Women would work through the night to ensure that food was safely preserved for their families.

Cates wins race for 4th District County Commissioner

CLAFLIN - Republican candidate Don Cates will be the new Fourth District County Commissioner defeating Ellinwood resident and Democrat Frank Koelsch with 100 percent of the votes counted. A Claflin resident, Cates won 1,038 to 650 with 61 percent of the votes for Cates.

Sidewinders to hold Casino Night

ELLINWOOD - For those who like to throw the dice, the Kansas Sidewinders Motorcycle Club, 21 N. Main, in Ellinwood will hold a Casino Night United Way Fundraiser from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Crazy Hair

Hoisington kicks off holiday shopping season

HOISINGTON - Hoisington will celebrate its kick-off for holiday shopping by holding the Shop Chimney Hop and Ladies Night Out at 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, providing food and fun for bargain hunters.

Schools celebrate Red Ribbon Week

BARTON COUNTY - Elementary schools in Ellinwood and Hoisington are celebrating Red Ribbon Week which is observed across the nation to highlight the issues of substance abuse and its negative impact on schools, communities and the nation.

Teen problem behaviors high in Barton County

BARTON COUNTY - Regional Prevention Centers around the state are highlighting the 2010 Communities That Care student school surveys, and the results show Barton County's rates for overall alcohol use, binge drinking and drug use is higher than the average for the state and surrounding counties. Regional Prevention Consultant Christina Hayes of the Regional Prevention Center of Northwest Kansas Smoky Hills Foundation explains the reasons. "Barton County is extremely high on risk ...

Council hears weatherization presentation

HOISINGTON - At its regular meeting Monday evening, the Hoisington City Council heard a presentation from Nickie Lee, Efficiency Kansas team leader. Two programs are available, Efficiency Kansas and the Weatherization Assistance Program, to provide home weatherization assistance as cost savings measures.

Kans for Kids hold informational event

CLAFLIN - Kans for Kids held an informational meeting for Claflin High School students last Wednesday, providing information about childhood cancer victims in Barton County.

Kans for Kids recognition

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.