News

By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

The uncertainty of school funding, industrial hemp and access to industrial parts and software came up Saturday during a legislative forum sponsored by the Ellsworth County Farm Bureau.

State legislators Sen. Rick Wilborn, R-McPherson, and Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Assaria, laid out several items they’re studying and took questions from the five citizens who attended.

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By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

Less than one minute into his presentation to Ellsworth County commissioners, architect Larry Goldberg downplayed the chances that the county jail could be fixed, saying “the opportunity to renovate existing jails happen very seldom.”

Eleven minutes later, he told them about a community that could’ve been spared a disturbing chapter in its recent history — if only the new jail he designed had been started sooner.

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A Legislative Forum will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Kan Equip in Ellsworth. 35th District State Sen. Richard Wilborn, R-McPherson, is scheduled to attend as is 108th District State Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Assaria. The public is invited to attend.

BY VINCE HANCOCK
Ellsworth County I-R

Exactly one year after President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017, students at Ellsworth Junior Senior High School reflected on the resulting changes to Washington and how they intersect with their own lives. Federal politics were a convenient place to start, but topics often ranged near and far.

At least one said the President has increased the information they try to process. “It almost seems like there’s even more news nowadays involving the president,” said Blake Ploutz, “because he likes to speak his mind and not think before he says stuff.” Or before he calls countries names, she added. When asked how she knows that he’s not thinking first, her eyes widened and she frowned. “I don’t know, he might be,” she said.”

By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING
Ellsworth County I-R

The statistic Connie Rodriguez heard as a director of Ellsworth’s Family Connections keeps playing across her mind — prison inmates who receive family visits during their incarceration stand a far better chance of making it on the outside than those who are estranged from their families.

"I thought that was amazing,” Rodriguez said. “It kind of makes you take notice."

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By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING
Ellsworth County I-R

This year’s 7th annual Kiwanis Club Home and Garden Show promises to be bigger and better than ever when the doors open Saturday, March 17.

Beyond the 27 vendors that participants typically expect to see from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Ellsworth’s American Legion building, activity will spill over into the administration building, north of the Ellsworth County Medical Center, adding 18 more booths.

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By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

Numerous fire department chiefs will present the Ellsworth County Commission with a set of updated fire guidelines next week. Emergency Management Director Keith Haberer informed the commission of the plan at its Monday, Jan. 29 meeting. He said Larry Langerman, chief of Wilson’s fire department, was putting the final touches on burn regulations.

Haberer said once finalized, the rules could be posted at the county’s emergency management website. Haberer also suggested the possibility of making downloadable burn permits available on the site.

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By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

On Wednesday, Jake Kubick was trying to squeeze in a short nap after working at the family ranch. His cell phone alarm was set to ring at 2:50 p.m. That’s when it usually goes off, so he can get to work on time and start his night shift at the Kanopolis salt mine. But he happened to beat his alarm to the punch. “It’s kind of a blessing that I woke up,” he said. At about 2:25, he opened his eyes to see the finished basement in flames.

“The majority of the north wall of the house was on fire, and part of the ceiling. The smoke hadn’t dropped to the floor yet.”

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By the I-R staff

Dr. Leo E. Oliva, the author of a series of books on Kansas forts, including Fort Harker, will be the speaker Sunday, Feb. 11, at the 57th annual meeting of the Ellsworth County Historical Society.

Dr. Oliva, who farms with his wife, Bonita, in Rooks County in northwest Kansas, is a former university professor of history. He also owns Western Book Publishing Co. His writing and research focuses on the frontier Army and Native Americans, in additional to local history. Copies of his fort books, which he produced for the Kansas State Historical Society, are available at Ellsworth’s Hodgden House Museum Nostalgic Notions Gift Shop.

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By Vince Hancock
Ellsworth County I-R

After several consecutive years of assisting at the J.H. Robbins Memorial Library, Sara Klein was named Junior Citizen of the Year. She was one of two citizens recognized at Saturday’s 70th Annual Gala, an Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce event.

Klein, a junior at Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School, evolved from a patron to a summer assistant, according to Colleen Sippel, children’s librarian. “I’ve had her at Story Hour since she was a toddler,” said Sippel. “She kind of grew up here.” In addition to taking a turn at reading stories out loud, she helped keep the young participates entertained and engaged with activities, said Sippel.

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