The Little Scholar Preschool which has served the Sedan community since 1986 will hold an open enrollment on Thursday, Aug. 6, at the Sedan United Methodist Church. Read more

A ten-person steering committee has recommended to the Chautauqua County Commission that a new jail and law enforcement center be built adjacent to the courthouse and that a one-cent sales tax be collected to pay for it.

Sheriff Perry Russell said the group has held meetings for several months following the closure of the jail on March 2 by the State Fire Marshal, citing safety and fire protection violations. Read more

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY FAIR

The Chautauqua County Fair is set for the week of July 22-25 and a full slate of activities are planned, according to Debbie Wall, fair board president. “Winning Tradition” is this year’s theme.

The exhibit building will be open for viewing every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the public is encouraged to drop by any time. The 4-H style show and clothing construction will kick off fair activities on Tuesday, July 14, at 9 a.m. in the Cedar Vale Baptist Church. The horse show is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, July 20, at the Sedan rodeo arena. Read more

The American Karate and Martial Science will sponsor free karate summer camps at the Sedan High School in the Old Gym during the month of July.  Cristine Warring of Sedan will teach the class under the direction of her instructor based in Hutchinson.

From July 6-10 and again from July 20-24, kids will be able to participate from 9 a.m.-noon and the adult session will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Read more

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Prairie Star

A Chautauqua County official advises area residents to refrain from answering or responding to an email that advertises as a lottery from Spain.

Larry Markle, Chautauqua County Attorney, said his office had been told of numerous instances in which a firm called La Prima Tiva International sends an email claiming that the email recipient has won a $13.8 million lottery prize.

However, it’s totally a scam, said Markle. Read more

Donita Cupit of Sedan was randomly selected as the winner out of all of the entrants in the Prairie Star Fruit Salad Drawing.  She entered the drawing with her Frozen Fruit Salad entry.

On Monday she was awarded with a chef’s basket containing a sunflower cutting board, kitchen towels, wooden spoons, and a Paula Deen cookbook.  Her recipe follows and the rest of the entrants can be found in Margie’s Food for Thought column in this week’s printed edition of the Prairie Star.

Fourth of July festivities will be held throughout the area this weekend.  Area residents are encouraged to attend any or all of these events.

Pleasant Valley Skilled Nursing will celebrate their Annual Family and Resident Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 2, with events beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Festivities will include music by “Green Country Duo,” a light show, watermelon feed, and fireworks starting at dusk.

The Sedan Lions Club will sponsor their annual fireworks display at the Sedan City Lake on Friday, July 3.  The public is encouraged to attend.

Longton’s firework show will be on July 4 at the City Ball Field at 9th and Kansas.  The show will start around dusk (approximately 9:30 p.m.)  Donations are accepted to help with the expense.

The Elk County Rodeo Association, along with the Moline Chamber of Commerce, will again be sponsoring the aerial display of fireworks at the Rodeo on July 4.  The events will take place at the Moline Rodeo Grounds. Contributions will gladly be accepted at the Howard State Bank, Moline Branch, P.O. Box 308, Moline, Fireworks Committee, Wanda Mills, 620-647-3462.

The Howard Annual Fireworks display will be on Friday, July 3, with the rain date as Sunday, July 5.  The fireworks display will be at 9:30 p.m. at the Howard City Lake.

The Elk County Rodeo at Moline will be held this year on Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4.  The Elk County Rodeo will be under the direction of Shawn Mills, rodeo president.

Barnes & Sons Rodeo Company of Tahlequah, Okla., will again provide the stock and handlers for this years’ rodeo which will be sanctioned by both the ACRA and IPRA.  The Mutton Bustin’ sheep will again be furnished by Marvin and Kathy Zimmers of Moline. Read more

Ron and Jessica Cummings of rural Howard have been named Elk County Farm Bureau Association’s Farm Family of the Year for 2009.

Both Ron and Jessica have been involved in cattle ranching and grain farming since the mid-1990s. Ron began helping his father, Allen Cummings, on the farm “from the time he was old enough to steer a truck and tractor,” says Jessica. Read more