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.

HHS to require additional Nutrition and Wellness class for graduation

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington School Board has added a new one-half credit requirement for students graduating in 2014. The class will be Nutrition and Wellness.

Flags once told story of weather forecasts

Editors note: Ellinwood historians Mary Jo Cunningham and Robert Yarmer provided information for this story.

Waters retires from CBH

HOISINGTON - After being President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Barton Hospital for four years, Chuck Waters is retiring, but will continue working through January 2011.

This is for the birds

CHEYENNE BOTTOMS - The annual National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count was held in December, and the results showed that the 95 species of birds were present at Cheyenne Bottoms this winter. The numbers were up.

Rensch retires from Superior Essex

HOISINGTON - After being the Plant Manager of Superior Essex in Hoisington for 24 years and 8 months, Brent Rensch is retiring and plans to spend his days doing a lot of hunting, fishing, golfing and traveling. He will stay in the area.

Cinnamon rolls

City Council meets

HOISINGTON - At its regular meeting Monday night, the Hoisington City Council discussed the blight ordinance for the city.

KDOT presents unified byway promotion in GB

GREAT BEND - The Kansas Department of Transportation recently met in Great Bend with members of the local Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway committee to present the unified marketing plan for all of the byways in the state.

Holiday letters

Council holds regular meeting

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood City Council met at its regular meeting on Tuesday night.

USD 431 and Hoisington City Council to hold joint meeting

HOISINGTON - To promote awareness of the Barton County-wide teen binge drinking problem, the Hoisington City Council and USD 431 will have a joint meeting on Jan. 3, 2011 at the Hoisington Activity Center. The state-wide Communities That Care survey showed that Barton County is higher than state average in binge drinking and liquor during the last 30 days. The Hoisington High and Middle School student councils and the ministerial alliance will ...

'reinvent my normal'

HOISINGTON - With a great ability to connect with teenagers, motivational speaker Mike Donahue spoke to Hoisington High School students on Monday and urged the students to stop self-medicating with alcohol, drugs and negative behavior, and to begin treating the pain underneath the mask.

Holiday cheer!!!

To spread the Christmas spirit throughout the library, Great Bend Children's Librarian Eric Coulbourne held the first ever tree trimming Christmas party on Saturday.

Rouse joins Hoisington EMS

HOISINGTON - Brent Rouse has recently been hired as the new Emergency Medical Services director in Hoisington, moving from Larned.

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.