News

By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING

Patrick Hoffman uses the word “measured” to describe the progress his organization is making on a recreation center for Ellsworth County.

“We’re trying to be deliberate and not get ahead of the community,” he said.

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By Alan Rusch

The fulfillment of a dream. That’s how Ellsworth County Historical Society board president Phyllis Dolezal described the building of a planned 48 x 60-foot research center on the grounds of the Hodgden House Museum Complex.

Dru Richards, board treasurer, said the society has almost enough money to pour a concrete slab and erect the outer shell of the research center, which will be attached to the east side of a Morton building on the complex grounds.

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By Mark Gardner

The Ellsworth County Medical Center is gearing up for its annual health fair from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 18.

This year’s theme is “Move Towards Better Health.”

There will be more than 30 vendors — all offering information on health. ECMC will also have booths and the medical center auxiliary plans bake and garage sales.

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By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING

Since October 2015, the Ellsworth Kiwanis Club has donated more than $10,000 to local residents and organizations. The list of recipients range from high school scholarships to celebrations at Kanopolis and Ellsworth to a dishwasher for the Ellsworth Child Care and Learning Center.

“It’s all about youth and children,” said Anita Hoffhines, a long-time member of the Ellsworth civic organization. “We just raise money and give it away.

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By LINDA MOWERY-DENNING

The two white hills at the end of Marquette’s main street are a symptom of today’s farm economy.

In two piles, under two huge white tarps, are almost 800,000 bushels of wheat. The west pile is from the 2016 crop; the east pile was delivered to the Mid-Kansas Coop Association in 2015.

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ELLSWORTH — The Ellsworth Bearcats played a good brand of team basketball defeat the Thomas Moore Prep Monarchs, 55-44, Tuesday in Ellsworth. The ‘Cats were in control of the game from the second quarter.

Ellsworth (14-7) will face third-ranked Norton Community (18-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the second round of the 3A Russell sub-State basketball tournament.

The Lady ‘Cats vanquished Hoisington, 41-24, Monday in Ellsworth.

Ellsworth (16-5) will face 10th-ranked Russell at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Russell.

SYLVAN GROVE — The Wilson Dragons defeated Chase, 60-47, Tuesday in the first round of the Sylvan-Lucas Unified 1A Division II sub-State basketball tournament in Sylvan Grove.

Wilson (12-9) will meet fifth-ranked and top-seed Central Christian (16-4) of Hutchinson at 6 p.m. Friday in Sylvan Grove.

By Alan Rusch

Ellsworth City administrator Scott Moore doesn’t often find himself at a loss for words. Sunday afternoon, however, was an exception, as he accepted the Ellsworth County Historical Society’s 2017 Historian of the Year Award.

Moore, along with Maico Industries manager Dave Cox and others, were instrumental in the 2016 effort to move the society’s caboose to its new home beside the Terra Cotta Depot on the grounds of the Hodgden House Museum Complex in Ellsworth.

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BY Mark Gardner

At the end of this month, Conan, the Ellsworth Police Department’s K-9 officer, and his handler, Brad Cole, will move to a new home across the street.

The K-9 team has been with the police department for almost two years. But in a few days, Conan and Cole plan to join the Ellsworth County Sheriff ’s Department.

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Take a look at Page A3 of this week’s Independent-Reporter.

On that page, you will find information on the history book the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter plans to produce in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Ellsworth and Ellsworth County.

Many events are planned this year to mark the one-in-a-lifetime occasion; however, a history book filled with photos from the county’s past will serve as a reminder long after the year passes.

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By Mark Gardner

Ellsworth is headed into its 150th birthday celebration with a mystery worthy of Agatha Christie.

Organizers of this year’s event hope to go back 50 years — to the town’s Centennial — and dig up the time capsule that was buried as part of that celebration.

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