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.

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

Walking trail

Library displays gnomes

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington Public Library is displaying a series of gnomes at the library, owned by Bruce Custer.

EDH renews contract GPHA

Michelle Kaiser's three-year-old preschool class at Roosevelt Elementary School learned about healthy habits with the help of PBS Kids.

Council hears update on library

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington City Council heard at its Wednesday night about the new expansion at the Hoisington Public Library from Library Director Pat Brown and board member Judy Ray.

DeWerff heads to Haiti

ELLINWOOD - Long-time Ellinwood resident Katie DeWerff moved to Haiti in June and works full-time as an administrator in the Project Pep La camp, which is a 20,000 person tent camps. They emphasize a hand-up not a hand-out, trying to teach spiritual values along the way.

Scenic byway committee continues to promote economic development

BARTON COUNTY - The Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway stretches through 77 miles of Barton and Stafford counties. And over the past year, the National Scenic Byway Committee has sought to help each of the seven corridor communities (including Great Bend, Hoisington, Claflin, Ellinwood, Hudson, St. John and Stafford) develop tourism with the help of Judy Walden, president of the Walden Mills Group.

Giddy 'up cowgirl

ELLINWOOD - Ten-year-old Breckyn Rowley, a fifth grader at Ellinwood Grade School, has a new friend named Barney. She recently began riding and taking care of her grandparent's 15-year-old quarter horse.

USD 355 adds iPads to technology mix

ELLINWOOD - Anticipation abounds at Ellinwood School District this spring as 5th and 12th graders receive cutting edge technology that allows them to search for the front door of Ellinwood Grade School on Google Earth or message a teacher with a question about an assignment.

Bellendir, Boeckman dispute highlights need for third party reporting

Monday following the Barton County Commission meeting, the below explanation was given on the dispute between Sheriff Brian Bellendir and County Attorney Richard Boeckman on the county's Facebook page. It said: