Statue dedicated to Spangenberg

On a sunny day in a place that Alvena Spangenberg loved, a statue of a little bronze girl, Emily, was dedicated to the long-time teacher and principal in the butterfly garden at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Spangenberg passed away on Aug. 12, 2012.

Hoisington plot returned to native roots

HOISINGTON -With vision, a love for the outdoors and the peaceful, native Kansas prairie, Terry Nech of Hoisington will be restoring the Shop Creek Nature Area to its natural state. It is located in south Hoisington on Vine St.

Budding thespians entertain at Book Fair

HOISINGTON - Several groups of Roosevelt Elementary School children brought imaginations to life when they performed short plays for Roosevelt School first graders from favored books at a Reader's Theater and Book Fair last Friday.

Worman Baseball Field to get new bleachers

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood City Council voted on Tuesday night to approve new bleachers at Worman Field from Terra Bound Solutions at its regular meeting.

Ice lollipops

Hoisington Council meets

HOISINGTON - At its regular council meeting, the Hoisington City Council made a few changes to the solid waste ordinances due to the privitization of the utility, which were approved.

Runge named new superintendent for Central Plains

HOLYROOD - Jim Runge has been named the new superintendent for USD 112 Central Plains. He will begin his duties in July.

The world's in their hands

HOISINGTON - Holding caring and compassion in an open hand reaching to the world, sixth graders from Hoisington Middle School recently had the opportunity to visualize and connect to the image.

USD 355 appoints new board member

ELLINWOOD - At a special meeting on Thursday, USD 355 Board of Education accepted the resignation of Board Member Taunya Schlessiger and appointed Darren Beckwith in her place.

New roofing business comes to Hoisington

HOISINGTON - A roofing company based out of Topeka , Faith Roofing, has opened a location in Hoisington. They also have locations in St. Louis, Johnson County, Wichita, Kansas City and Lawrence.

Destination Inspire: Biking across Kansas for cancer

HOISINGTON - Many imagine doing good for others, but much of the time, those thoughts never reach fulfillment. However, one young man Brett McMullin, who was born with a club foot, no fibula in his right leg, a heart murmur and a sixth vertebra in his spine, and has had a rod inserted in the femur of his left leg with screws in his knee and hip. His feet are two different sizes, an 11 and a 5 with legs of different lengths.

A hand-up; drug testing for welfare recipients

A hand-up Kansas House approves drug testing for welfare recipients The Kansas House has approved a bill that could require those receiving unemployment, welfare recipients and members of the legislature to undergo drug testing if drug use is suspected. The state Senate is expected to approve the measure. This is a good idea and is motivation for recipients to stay drug-free. Those who fail the test would still be eligible for food stamps. If someone ...

Tuesday election results, unofficial

The Tuesday's general election is in the books. The polls closed at 7 p.m. and the Barton County Clerk's office started continually updating posted results throughout the evening.

USD 431 to add new classes for next year

HOISINGTON - The USD 431 Hoisington School Board met at its regular meeting on Monday evening, and voted to add or changed new classes for the 2013-14 school year.

Ellinwood approves new Recreation Commission

ELLINWOOD- Ellinwood voters answered yes to the ballot question regarding a separate Recreation Commission on Tuesday with a vote of 301 to 187. The commission will have the ability to assess up to three mills to residents.

Step into the dark recesses of the mind

ELLINWOOD - Step into the deeper, darker reaches of the mind at the "Fine Wine , Good Friends and a Wicked Murder" at 6 p.m. on May 31 in Ellinwood at Lone Wolf Restuarant, the event opening the weekend for the 2nd annual June Jaunt. The cost of a ticket is $20 and only 50 will be sold and are available from the Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce.

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