News

Above, the Black Wolf bridge opened to traffic Friday, June 15 after being closed since Monday, Oct. 30. According to David Browning with Kirkham, Michael & Associates, the bridge was widened from 18’ to 28’ of roadway surface. The project is complete except for seeding which was to begin Friday.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

By Linda Mowery-Denning
Ellsworth County I-R

Consider it the “Circle of Life” — a young couple marries and buys their first home, a family needs more space so they move into a larger house, an elderly husband and wife put their home of many years on the market to move closer to their children. Or someone needs a home in the town where they’ve just landed a job.

Ellsworth County had more than 30 homes for sale in early June. The bulk of those were in Ellsworth with about eight scattered across the rest of the county. That’s a far cry from the days when demand almost always outstripped supply.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

By Alan Rusch
Ellsworth County I-R

“There are no words.” That was the first thought Andrea Burt of Ellsworth had on the death of her daughter, Haley Weinhold, during a telephone interview with the Independent- Reporter Tuesday morning.

“She was loved by all,” Burt said. “She was very happy-go-lucky.”

Haley, a 2011 graduate of Ellsworth High School, and her fiance, Colt Tomlin of Little River, were killed in a one car crash Friday night in Puerto Rico.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

By Judi Brown
Marquette Tribune

Potato boats were on the menu Tuesday, June 19, for the Marquette summer lunch program, and if the empty food baskets were any indication, the lunch guests enjoyed eating them.

A former Marquette school lunch program favorite, potato boats consist of a slice of baloney topped with a scoop of mashed potatoes and cheese. These, along with peas, watermelon and muffins, with milk to drink, made up the lunch served at the USDAsupported summer lunch program which is in its sixth year in Marquette.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

By Alan Rusch
Ellsworth County I-R

WILSON — Wilson voters will be asked to approve an additional $10,000 in funds during a Sept. 15 mail ballot election.

Approval to conduct the vote was given during Monday’s meeting of the Wilson City Council.

Council member Gary Everett said because of measures approved by the state legislature in Topeka, a state cap has been placed on Kansas community’s general funds and library funds. City councils can only raise a certain amount before an election requesting more funds must be conducted.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

For the moment, there seem to be gains made in the battle against Ellsworth’s turkey vultures. Ellsworth Police Chief Emil Halfhill, however, isn’t letting his guard down.

Over the course of three weeks, Halfhill and department officers have managed to disrupt the vultures’ favorite roosting locations: the water tower near the old county hospital, the tower near the city swimming pool and the grove in the 500 block of Blake St. In the last week, he said the roost locations have been vulture-free.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

Editor’s Note — With wheat harvest and other activities, the lazy days of summer are often more hectic than relaxing. This is certainly one of those summers. Because we’ve had so much to write about, the I-R has fallen behind on its Rising Stars news. To remedy that, we devote the better part of this year’s front page to the recent accomplishments of our students.

Karst attends Girls State

Lexie Karst of Ellsworth, daughter of Lance and Nancy Karst, was chosen by Unit 174 of Ellsworth to attend the 76th annual session of Sunflower Girls State on the Kansas University, Lawrence, campus.

Sunflower Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, and took place June 3-8. Karst joined about 250 other young women who had just completed their junior year of high school, to “Learn by Doing” the political system involved in the government of Kansas.

At top, a combine kicks up a cloud of dust Monday afternoon as it harvests wheat in a field between Wilson and Holyrood.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

By Judi Brown
Marquette Tribune

The Marquette City Council met Tuesday, June 12 at City Hall for its regular monthly meeting. All members were present except Tim Larson.

During public input, Fred Peterson reminded council members that city appointments, usually done in May, hadn’t been done yet. The council agreed to put this on July’s agenda.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/

By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

As a young child reached out to grab a lollipop, Ashley Bettenbrock waited for the stick end to appear. “Cancer Sucks” read a large sign below the bowl of treats. In return for the sweet treat was the catch: $4 was the price, hidden from view until the last second. That donation and many others resulted in $48,431 raised during Saturday’s Ellsworth County Cancer Fund Triathlon.

“Oh, of course you had to pick the most expensive one,” said the child’s mother, in good humor. She opened her wallet and pulled out the money. Bettenbrock, with family and friends, know firsthand the value of the cancer fund.

To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://etypeservices.com/Ellsworth%20County%20Independent%20ReporterID559/