'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. ...

Rotary Club chooses 'Distinguished Citizen of the Year'

ELLINWOOD - Gerald "Jerry" F. Menges was named "Distinguished Citizen of the Year" at the Ellinwood Rotary Club's Sweetheart Banquet on Thursday evening. He is the 35th award winner.

USD 112 board prepares for primary

CLAFLIN - The patrons of school district USD 112 will go the polls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 1 to choose the three candidates for school board Position 7 at-large to move on to the April 5 ballot.

New scouting adventure group to form

For teens who like to grab their boots and climb mountains, or paddle a raft through whitewater, a new scouting troop, Venture Crew 157, for youth ages 14 through 20, will soon be starting. In addition, other scouting activities have been reactivated.

USD 355 hires new principal

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood School District has named a new principal, Shawn Henderson, for the 2011-12 school year.

Reifs dedicated to service

HOISINGTON - Long-time Hoisington residents Duane and Debbie Reif have dedicated their lives to service, not only with the Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation, but in service to other charitable organizations.

Fun in the snow

Ellinwood,, USD 112 okay on snow days

BARTON COUNTY - Many of the schools in the state of Kansas are running out of snow days for the school year and may have to make up time. However, area schools are okay with the number of snow days so far this year.

Burglaries occur in Hoisington

HOISINGTON - Three businesses were burglarized in Hoisington sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

Ellinwood firefighters host area wide conference

The Ellinwood Fire Department hosted an area-wide firefighters conference on Rapid Intervention Techniques to rescue trapped firefighters on Monday night at St. Joseph Parish Hall in Ellinwood.

Hoisington Chamber of Commerce hosts annual banquet

HOISINGTION - The Hoisington Chamber of Commerce celebrated it's annual banquet on Saturday, announcing the Citizens of the Year, Duane and Debbie Reif, and recognizing them for their work with Kans for Kids. "Thank God for allowing us to be a part of 25 lives," said Debbie Reif, of the children with cancer. "This honor belongs to those kids. They will forever be our heroes. "We inherited Kans for Kids from ...

Homecoming candidates

St. Joes celebrates Catholic Schools Week

ELLINWOOD- In celebration of Catholic Schools Week, St. Joseph Catholic School in Ellinwood held a full week of activities. In addition, the school is celebrating 125 years of education.

Grandparents raising grandchildren

Michael gently lifts his one-year-old granddaughter, speaks softly to her, and lets her know she's special.

Sometimes accidents happen

In life, sometimes good things happen that we have no responsibility for and sometimes bad things happen that we also have no responsibility for.

City of Hoisington passes new sidewalk ordinance

HOISINGTON - The city of Hoisington passed a sidewalk ordinance at its regular meeting last week, according to the unofficial city minutes.

Council limits vehicle access to old city dump

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood City Council, as its regular monthly meeting, voted to limit access to the old city dump due to liability issues.

USD 355 considers iPad initiative for K-12

ELLINWOOD - At its regular meeting on Monday, USD 355 School Board discussed the K-12 iPad initiative. The information was for discussion only, but under consideration is providing each child K-12 with an iPad. The goal is to roll out iPads in the next year.

Common Core Standards make sense

The Common Core standards are being talked about a lot these days. The Common Core is simply a set of educational standards that are the same from state to state and are designed for students to be career ready when they graduate from high school. They are reasonable and make sense. The state legislature should let the state school board decide what is best for students.

Local artist intermingles art with life

ELLINWOOD - Staying busy and loving life, Rhea Grandon finds fulfillment in her art, hobbies, family and friends.

Larned native Gene Keady present at street renaming

Gene Keady, born in Larned in 1936, was honored Saturday at Moffett Stadium on Third Street, where Keady was raised by his parents, Mary Helen and Lloyd Gibson Keady.

Historic Wolf Hotel reincarnated

ELLINWOOD - The historic Ellinwood Wolf Hotel has a new owner, and great plans are in place to renovate and reinvent the hotel. Christopher McCord, 26, of Ellinwood plans to return the building to its roots as a hotel.

Larned native Gene Keady present at street renaming

Gene Keady, born in Larned in 1936, was honored Saturday at Moffett Stadium on Third Street, where Keady was raised by his parents, Mary Helen and Lloyd Gibson Keady.

Breastfeeding is best for babies

Breastfeeding is a normal and natural function and, since the beginning of time, has allowed human beings to get a good start on life. Not only are infants fed the healthiest milk designed for their bodies, they develop their first relationship.

Board hears community strategic planning report

HOISINGTON - The USD 431 Comprehensive Planning Committee, which were citizens of Hoisington appointed by school board members, met earlier this April to discuss strengths and weaknesses of USD 431, at a meeting facilitated by Kansas Association of School Board Deputy Director Dr. Doug Moeckel. They presented their ideas to the school board on Monday night.

Ellinwood June Jaunt was a success

ELLINWOOD - Ellinwood streets bustled with activity at the second annual June Jaunt in Ellinwood. Out-of-county license plates filled the parking lots in the city, and that, said Nancy Baird Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce director, was a sign of success.