Stay home during illness, please!

It's that time of the year when colds, influenza, viruses abound. Stay home please! No one needs to be at church, a concert or getting their hair cut while they are ill or if one of their children is ill. The best place is home in bed. By staying in bed, one can sometimes sleep off the illness, and only be sick for a day or two. While it may be a minor illness for ...

Hoisington to drop electrical rates about 7 percent

HOISINGTON - The residents of Hoisington will see a drop of about 7 percent in overall electric bills, the Hoisington city council approved on Monday.

Of courage and hope; Bryce Steiner’s story

CLAFLIN - Life seemed normal this year for 18-year-old Bryce Steiner, Claflin. He was captain of the Central Plains football team, which his father coaches, and he is affectionately known as "Tiny" to all of his teammates and students at the school.

Christmas Lighting Contest to be held

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood Christmas Lighting Contest will be sponsored this year by the Ellinwood Historical Society.

USD 431 board hears presentation on Promising Practices

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington School Board at its regular meeting, heard a presentation from Christina Lamoureaux and Amanda Brack about their trip to Washington D.C. to participate in the Character Education Partnership. The seminar taught the two how to promote the school's Core Values, chosen by the students, in the district.

Some new taxes are good

Near the end of 2008, the stock market had crashed at a record pace, gas was fluctuating at around $4 per gallon, the big banks were in serious trouble, the housing market crashed, and the auto industry was tanking.

Star of Hope transforms lives with education

ELLINWOOD - Star of Hope in Ellinwood serves many needs in Haiti as well as other third world countries, but one recent project that has transformed hearts and lives is nearing completion.

EGS students read, read, read

LLINWOOD - Ellinwood Grade School are teaching phonics to the students in a way that is not their parent's or grandparent's phonics, and teachers and students are experiencing outstanding success.

Pipes, poles and sewer work to begin at McKenna Meadows

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington City Council met at its regular meeting on Monday. The council approved the infrastructure bids from McKenna Meadows. These bids include $4,733.37 for supplies for a four inch water main installed by city workers, $18, 755.23 for electric materials and equipment, curb and guttering from Christian Specialities for $25,175 which includes drive over curbs for driveways and $33,050 for a sewer bid from A&F Enterprises.

Ellinwood Hope Tree provides hope for the needy

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood Hope Tree has been providing a Merry Christmas morning to needy children for 12 years, and this year is no exception.

Hoisington likely to see reduced electrical rates

HOISINGTON - The city of Hoisington is likely to see reduced electrical rates after the first of the year with a decrease of 15 percent in the meter and energy charge for 2013 and a reduction of an average of 19.5 percent in 2014 in the meter and energy charge if the recommendations of engineers and consultants, Sawvel and Associates Inc., are followed. At a Tuesday morning meeting, the group presented their recommendations to the Hoisington Utility Task Force.

Dogs, mutts and owners walk for GBHS

Labradors, weimaraners and those of mixed descent, also known as mutts, walked with owners in the warm sun at the on Saturday, all in an effort to raise money for the Golden Belt Humane Society at the first annual "Get off your butts and walk your mutts" fundraiser.

Ellinwood has new street signs

ELLINWOOD - Members of the Ellinwood boys and girls cross-country teams were present at the November City Council meeting In Ellinwood. The boys are state champs for the second year in a row, and the girls are state champs for the third year in a row and were recognized for their achievement.

USD 431 staff receives ‘Promising Practices’ award

HOISINGTON - Hoisington High School counselor Amanda Brack and art teacher Christine Lamoureaux recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the National Promising Practice Award in Character Education for Creating the Cardinal Core character education at Hoisington High School, which has involved nearly everyone at the school.

Hoisington acquires 60 acres for use as community property

HOISINGTON - At a special council meeting on Monday, the Hoisington City Council unanimously approved the purchase of 60 acres on the west side of Hoisington as a path for growth.

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.

USD 431 receives grant

HOISINGTON - Hoisington Middle School was notified that they have received a grant for $4,500 to promote and educate students about composting, and they plan to use waste from the lunchroom for that. Students will be trained in waste management with real life and career applications.