By Waldo E. Gray

Anyone driving in either direction through eastern Elk County along US 160 cannot miss seeing the small green highway signs announcing the tiny unincorporated area of Oak Valley.    Located just three miles west of the Montgomery County line and six miles east of Longton, few people realize the area was once a flourishing place.

In 1871, John Johnson moved to the recently opened Howard County and settled in the Elk Valley near the confluence of Hickory Creek and Elk River. Coming from northern Kansas Read more

The fall 2009 Homecoming at Central-Burden is scheduled for this Friday evening, Oct. 16, with coronation at 6:15 p.m., just prior to the varsity football game against Flinthills.
“Small Town USA” will be the theme for this year’s festivities.  The homecoming royalty this year includes candidates (front row) Daniel Wheeler, son of Denise Wheeler of Burden and Lyman Wheeler of Denver; Jacob Lawson, son of David Lawson of Burden and Sherry Buske of Ark City; Kenny Mills, son of Kenneth and Nancy Mills of Burden; Cale Ellis, son of Charlie and Linda Ellis of Grenola, (back row) Jennica Mann, daughter of Rita Borror of Burden and Rodney Mann of Udall; Autumn Hopper, daughter of Rick and Karen Hopper of Rock; Emily Watt, daughter of Neil and Cheryl Watt of Cambridge; Raegan Fanning daughter of Roni and Bob Scott of Burden.

Dollar General has announced plans to open a new store near the west edge of Sedan, and site work has already begun.

The new store will be located at 600 West Main Street and will have 9,014 total square feet.  The store will employ approximately 6 to 10 people, depending upon need.

According to Rebecca Sanders at the the corporate headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn., the Sedan store will feature a layout that makes shopping simpler for customers. Some of its highlights include: convenient cash register locations away from the entryway, seasonal products featured in the center of the store, coolers at the front of the store and more visible department signage. Sanders said the store will offer customers the brands and products they use most in a small, easy-to-shop store.

Sanders said Dollar General will be involved in the community and will give back through grants to community organizations.

A February 2010 opening date is anticipated and construction will begin immediately.

Dollar General operates stores in 150 Kanas communities including Caney, Cherryvale, Neodesha, Independence, Coffeyville, Oswego, Eureka and Fredonia, in addition to most larger cities.

Dr. Shannon Simmons, DC, CKTP, has opened “In-Line Chiropractic” at 121 W. Main in Sedan.

Dr. Simmons and her husband, Shane, have completely redecorated the office including new paint and all new carpeting. It is the building formerly occupied by Larry Cameron Real Estate.

Shane works as assistant manager for Orscheln Farm and Home at Arkansas City. They moved to Sedan from Manhattan.

Dr. Simmons earned her undergraduate Read more