Laws offer charity tax relief

The Individual Retirement Account Charitable Rollover, first enacted by Congress in 2006, expired in 2009. However, in the new tax bill signed by President Barack Obama, the IRA Charitable Rollover provision has been extended through 2011. This provision allows individuals 70 1/2 or older to make tax-free gifts of up to $100,000 to qualified charitable organizations, like Clara Barton Hospital Foundation, using funds transferred directly from their traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs. Beginning ...

EMS/HS band to hold dinner

ELLINWOOD - The Ellinwood Middle and High School Bands will be holding the annual Chicken Noodle Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 6 in the Ellinwood High School Commons Area. Please note that this is a change of venue from past years. Tickets may be purchased from any middle or high school band member and will also be available at the door. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3-10. Carry-out orders will be available.

Check It Out!

There are new books on CD at the Ellinwood Community/School Library. They are:

BCC releases Hoisington City Council candidates

The Barton County Clerk released the list of Hoisington City Council candidates for the April 5 election on Wednesday evening.

Gambino's Ribbon Cutting

EGS holds 'No Name-Calling Week"

ELLINWOOD - From Jan. 24-28 Ellinwood Grade School will be observing "No Name-Calling Week." This is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds in schools across the nation and thus helping to create safer and more affirming schools for all students. No Name-Calling Week was inspired by a young adult novel entitled "The Misfits", by popular author, James Howe. The book tells the story of four best friends ...

Council holds meeting

HOISINGTON - At its meeting Monday night, the Hoisington City Council approved ordinances establishing guidelines for handling health nuisances in the city. It was the consensus of the council to hire a Public Officer for 5-10 hours a week at a wage of $10-$12 per hour.

USD 112 moves ahead with computer purchase iniative

HOLYROOD - At its regular meeting on Monday night, USD 112 Board of Education heard a proposal for providing all students and teachers from ninth to twelfth grade with Macintosh laptop computers. Superintendent Steve Woolf is checking on compatibility with the district's servers, cost of new servers, and the possibility of purchasing laptops early for teachers to learn the system. The price of the laptops is currently below $200,000. The district ...

City of Claflin meets

CLAFLIN - The governing body of the City of Claflin met in regular session, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in the city building. Present were: Mayor Curtis Nelson, Council persons Kirk Schneweis, Dan Michaelis, Leon Oberle and Mike Urban. Also present: City Attorney Bob Suelter, City Clerk Patricia Schmidt, Robert Gunder, Richard Hayes, Curtis Wolf, Murine Prosser and Pete and Lois Krier.

Middle school teams

Art supplies

At Ellinwood Grade School, Lisa Reser's fifth grade class is excited after receiving zippered-cased drawing sets for art. Lisa McMullen, the EGS art instructor, received a grant from Midwest Energy and purchased "Keep N Carry Artist Sets" for the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. The students will be using the drawing sets for various class and at-home art projects.

Students serve up snacks

HOISINGTON - Hoisington High School student Chaz Stephens was hungry one day, and he and fellow classmate Drew Reisner along with Principal Meg Wilson brain-stormed a plan last fall to begin serving healthy snacks at a reasonable cost to students mid-morning. The students are finding that good nutrition makes a difference.

Ellinwood debaters find success

ELLINWOOD - Over the years, the Ellinwood High School debate and forensics teams have achieved great success, and the students give credit to coach Julie-Ann Jacobs and hard work. The students involved begin work in the summer, attending a workshop and spending many hours researching their topics.

Check It Out

There several new books available at the Ellinwood Community/ School Library. They are:

The Wetland Explorer

Every winter I look forward to watching the drama unfolding in the backyard, as birds and squirrels begin arriving at feeders, searching for and sometimes battling over food and even becoming food for predatory birds.

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.

Ribbon cutting

Hoisington VFW Auxiliary meets

HOISINGTON - The Hoisington VFW Auxiliary met on June 12.

HHS cheerleaders

City of Claflin unofficial minutes

CLAFLIN - The governing body of the City of Claflin met in regular session, Monday, June 10, 2013 at the city building. Present were: Mayor Michael Urban, Councilpersons Kirk Schneweis, Casey Hubbard, Doug Hubbard and Dan Michaelis. Also present: City Attorney Bob Suelter, City Clerk Patricia Schmidt, Robert Gunder, Richard Hayes and Tyler Allison.

MARSH MUSINGS

Consider the similarities between our children spreading their wings and driving off to college or going to work and all the young birds we have been so intently observing as they mature and leave their nests and parents-- forever. The nurturing and training these dedicated parents provide is amazing in all of the animal and bird kingdoms. There are a few reptiles that simply reproduce their young and leave them to fend on their own ...

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.

I want to be ...

Ellinwood Police Department May report

Approximately 124 calls for service and 137 officer initiated calls were received for the month of May. Officers responded to seven medical/fire calls. Seven arrests were made and seven criminal summonses were served in the month of May.

Barton Briefs

Cemetery employees request arrangements be moved

Haitians learn new skills with sewing

ditors note: This story was written by Tony Boursiquot who is a Star of Hope employee in Haiti. His native language is French. Ellinwood's Star of Hope, a non-demonimational Christian organization that equips children across the world with schooling, physical well-being, spiritual growth and social skills.

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.

Government commodities distributed

HOISINGTON - Government Commodities will be distributed from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, June 1 at Living Joy Community Church, 354 W 1st St. (NW Corner of 1st & Vine.

Ellinwood brief

Church has fundraising ice cream social