Arctic air continues to plunge into Kansas with temperatures on Thursday night predicted to hover around zero degrees.

This follows two weeks of bitter cold following the Christmas Eve blizzard that crippled local communities and caused enormous changes to be made in traveling plans by anyone planning to hit the highways on their way to grandma’s house.

While Elk and Chautauqua counties escaped the higher accumulations of snow, the forecast continues to worry those whose daily activities, jobs and school travel requires traveling.

The deep freeze will last for at least the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service which said the mercury could fall below zero in south-central Kansas this week for the first time since 1999.

Similar stories were being reported across the nation as a third of the nation fell into below 32 temperatures. Read more

Central High School in Burden will hold their 2010 winter homecoming this Friday night, Jan. 8, at the basketball games between the Central Raiders and Elk Valley Lions.

The theme for this year’s homecoming is “Do You Believe In Magic,” and the coronation ceremony will be held between the two varsity games at the Central High School Gymnasium.

The queen candidates for this year are Kelsi Martin, daughter of Lisa Dean of Wichita and Don Martin of Burden; Raegan Fanning daughter of Roni and Bob Scott of Burden; Jandi Handlin, daughter of Lance and Sheila Handlin of Burden; Autumn Hopper, daughter of Rick and Karen Hopper of Rock.

King candidates are Cale Ellis, son of Charlie and Linda Ellis of Grenola; Justin Martin, son of Brett Martin of Haysville; Jacob Lawson, son of David Lawson of Burden and Sherry Buske of Ark City; Kenny Mills, son of Kenneth and Nancy Mills of Burden.

Homecoming activities have been held throughout the week at the high school.  The homecoming date on the school calendar was rescheduled to this Friday due to conflicts.  Area residents are encouraged to attend homecoming on Friday evening and support the Central Raiders.

About a third of the auditorium was filled with school patrons Monday night as the USD 282 West Elk Board of Education listened to views on the proposed merging of three campuses into one.

Board president Marty Taliaferro told the audience that state laws require a hearing anytime a school is proposed to be closed, noting that proposal is to close elementary schools in Severy and Moline, moving all students to the Howard campus.

Supt. Corey Reese gave a brief update on information from the Kansas State Board Education.

“According to what I have received since the last board meeting, it appears that the state board has been granted the authority to make even more cuts than it has made already,” Reese said. “I don’t see this situation as getting any better, and the West Elk district stands to lose in the range of $400,000 more in state aid.” Read more