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.

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

John Carmon Ellison 1955-2013

John Carmon Ellison of Allen, Texas, 57, passed away on May 30, 2013. He was born on Sept. 3, 1955, in Fort Stewart, Ga., the son of John and Dee Ellison. On Nov. 28, 1995, John married Phyllis Taylor in Great Bend. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. John was also very proud of his police work; he started the SWAT program in Great Bend. John loved barbecue and cooking out, but most of all, he loved his family. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh.

EMS Week

Floral arrangements to be removed from cemetery

HOISINGTON - Hoisington Cemetery employees request that all arrangements and grave decorations on the ground and not at the head of the grave be removed to allow for maintenance of the grounds by Monday, June 10.

Ellinwood June Jaunt was a success

ELLINWOOD - Ellinwood streets bustled with activity at the second annual June Jaunt in Ellinwood. Out-of-county license plates filled the parking lots in the city, and that, said Nancy Baird Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce director, was a sign of success.