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.

There has to be a middle ground

Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby Jindal criticized former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney on recently for saying that he lost the 2012 election to President Barack Obama in part because Democrats promised "gifts" to minority groups, calling Romney's remarks "absolutely wrong," according to the Los Angeles Times.

Teen pregnancy up in Barton County for 2011

BARTON COUNTY - The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has released the 2011 statistics for teen pregnancy in Kansas, and, Barton County, unlike the remainder of the state and nation is showing an upward trend.

Students graduate from DARE at Eisenhower School

After 12 weeks of lessons, 46 Eisenhower 5th graders graduated from Drug Abuse Resistance Education or DARE classes on Monday. All 5th graders in Great Bend attend DARE and the Lincoln ceremony will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 27 and at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Jefferson.

Pride Park once again becomes a place of pride

HOISINGTON - Pride Park in Hoisington will once again be a place for pride and be a place the city's children to have fun, fresh air and exercise. When the entire project is funded, there will be a shelter house for picnics and for entire families to make bonds and memories.

Building a playground

Volunteer trolley drivers needed in Hoisington

HOISINGTON - At its regular meeting held on Tuesday, the Hoisington City Council heard of the need for volunteer trolley drivers. The city will be receiving a new trolley next year. The trolley runs five days per week and has 500 passengers per month, according to Pat Conrad, director. The trolley will take people to doctor's appointments and allows them to stay in their homes for a longer period.

Leave under mandatory evacuation or loose insurance

We all are sympathetic when a natural disaster hits because of lost lives and damage to property. The personal toll can be tremendous as well as the overall economic cost.

Veteran of Korea receives medal after 60 years

ELLINWOOD - Sixty years after the Korean War, Cpl. Milton Sittingdown, received his Purple Heart medal on Sunday at the Ellinwood American Legion for injuries received during battle.

USD 355 hears new Recreation Commission report

ELLINWOOD - The USD 355 School Board heard a recreation report from recreation steering committee members John Isern and Mel Waite about the potential development of an official Ellinwood Recreation Commission. The school board voted to issue a statement of support for the committee to move forward in an effort to create an independent Recreation Commission with its own board.

Thanksgiving-a holiday to share

HOISINGTON - The Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 11th and Vine, believes in community service, and a part of that service is offering a free Thanksgiving meal for those who are by themselves or can't afford to pay for the large meal. It will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church.

Let’s hope new legislature can work together

One of the basic rules of elementary school is to learn to stand in line, wait your turn and cooperate and compromise until a solution where everyone is a little happy and everyone is a little unhappy.

Ellinwood volleyball

USD 431 updates boilers at Hoisington Activity Center

HOISINGTON - USD 431 Board of Education approved the purchase of six new Lochinvar Boilers for the Hoisington Activity Center for the amount of $49,932 at its regular meeting on Monday. Two of the six current boilers were unrepairable with parts that were no longer made, and the HAC had been running on four.

Community turns out for turnips

HUDSON - Living it up with the lowly "poor man's vegetable," the city of Hudson celebrated the cruciferous white, purple turnip with older and young alike at the 4th annual Turnip Festival . Although the Kansas earth did not yield much fruit this year, turnips runneth over in the planted field with the addition of a little water.

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.