News

By John Schlageck

“When you tell a landlord the wheat made 80 bushels-per-acre and you’re going to double crop beans on his (recently) harvested land, they get a big smile on their face,” says Kris Bogart.

Now that’s good news. The kind a Kansas land owner welcomes but doesn’t hear too often.

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

I-R reader Desiree Jones–Newell snapped this photo of this past week’s fire at the Smoky Hills Wind Farm just as a blade fell off the turbine.

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

By Alan Rusch

WILSON — Ask Lynn Kasper of Wilson — coordinator of the Miss Kansas Czech-Slovak Queen Pageant for the past 29 years — what she will be thinking of Saturday afternoon as the current queen, Sara Vytlacil of Belleville, places the crown on the 2017 queen, and she will give you a brief, matter-of-fact answer.

“All of the work that’s starting for the next year,” Lynn said in a July 19 interview with the Independent- Reporter.

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

By Mark Gardner

Ellsworth County’s proposed budget for the 2018 fiscal year is $8,072,898 — possibly lowering property taxes for some Ellsworth County residents.

Results of the proposed budget will be that taxes will go down; however, with property valuation up 3 percent countywide the decreased taxes will be countered by the increase in valuations.

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

By Mark Gardner

As Ellsworth’s 150th birthday celebration approaches, preparations for the city’s annual Cowtown Festival dominated discussion Monday night at the regular meeting of the Ellsworth City Council.

Representatives from four organizations asked that they be allowed to serve alcohol during the celebration, Aug. 17-20.

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

Although local artist Patricia Pender prefers not to share her works-in-progress with the public until they’re finished, when she’s doing an outdoor mural, she doesn’t have much choice.

“Today I’m beefing up the trees and I’ll be adding more critters,” said Pender as she dabbed away at the lush green mural that’s taking shape on a wall north of Marquette.

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

By Shirley Cox Schroeder

The 2016 Ellsworth County Fair was the starting block for the newly-created Ellsworth County Fair Association — the event’s governing board — and that fair was a success. Organizers hope for a repeat in 2017.

“We really worked to improve the 4-H prizes last year and the kids overall were really pleased with that,” fair president Michelle Brokes said. “This year again we will see really nice prizes for the kids in all divisions.”

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

The third annual Ride for the Cure took place Saturday in Ellsworth. The independent fundraiser supports the Ellsworth County Cancer Fund. It is organized by Mark Towery of Ellsworth, who is pictured above.

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

By Mark Gardner

Bumps in the oil market and farmland values are high enough to increase the property valuations for Ellsworth County by 3 percent.

By the numbers, that means the county’s overall appraised value jumped $15,884,840 and the assessed value increased $1,561,360.

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

By the I-R Staff

Politicians have been a part of Wilson’s After Harvest Czech Festival for decades. Gov. Joan Finney was a regular. So was Robert Docking and dozens of other state and federal officials.

This year will be no exception. The yearly Legislative Coffee and Kolaches will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 29, at Grandma’s Soda Shop in downtown Wilson.

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