Several locations in the area will host Independence Day celebrations over the coming days.  The public is encouraged to attend these events and help celebrate with area residents.

The Longton Fireworks Display will be held Saturday, July 3 at the fairgrounds.  Fireworks will begin at approximately 9-9:30 p.m.  Those in attendance will need to bring lawn chairs.

Pleasant Valley Skilled Nursing in Sedan will host their Annual Family and Resident Independence Day celebration on Thursday, July 1, with events beginning at 8 p.m.  Festivities include a watermelon feed, followed by fireworks starting at dusk.  The public is encouraged to come and bring lawn chairs for seating.

There will be fireworks at the Howard City Lake on Saturday, July 3, at 9:30 p.m. In case of rain the show will be Monday, July 5.

The Elk County Rodeo Association, along with the Moline Chamber of Commerce, will sponsor a fireworks display at the Elk County Rodeo on July 4.

Two nights of Elk County Rodeo action will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 3-4, at the Moline Rodeo Arena.  Starting time will be 8 p.m. for both evenings, with Mutton Bustin’ starting at 7:30 p.m.

The Elk County Rodeo will be under the direction of Shawn Mills, rodeo president.  Williams & Long Rodeo Company will provide the stock and handlers for this year’s 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.
Admission is $7 for adults; $3 for children ages 6-12, 5 and under are free. Read more

These veterans showed certain patriotism as they carried the colors in last Saturday’s Crazy Days parade in Moline. Hundreds of friends enjoyed the day of celebration.

Everything is all set for the annual Moline Crazy Days festival, which will begin Friday evening, June 25 at 6 p.m. with the annual free been feed at the city park.  The baked goods and crafts auction will immediately follow the bean feed.  Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy an evening of fun with your friends and neighbors.

The Moline Chamber is sponsoring a new event this year, with the addition of the “Little Miss Moline” contest.  Crowning of the Little Misses will be Friday evening after the bean feed.  Also adding to Friday evening’s activities this year is a free children’s movie put on by the Moline Library.  Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to the tennis court in the city park to enjoy the movie, scheduled to show about dusk. Read more

Residents of the First Commission District in Elk County will have a choice of two candidates for Elk County Commissioner when they vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

ELK COUNTY
Incumbent Lawrence Jontra decided not to seek re-election to the commission.
Meanwhile, Gus Jones, who lives in Longton Township, filed as a Democrat for the position. Also filing before the June 10 deadline was Doug Ritz, a Republican who lives in Liberty Township.

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
In Chautauqua County, a three-way race for First District County Commissioner has emerged with Sundance Young, Goff Searl and Joseph Sutton filing for the only open office in county government.

Those three names will be on the primary election ballot on Aug. 3, and the two winners of that race will meet on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

Incumbent Verne Sweaney did not file for re-election.

The Knights of Columbus in Caney, Sedan, and Moline will hold a special breakfast for Father’s Day at the St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Moline.  The breakfast will be held on Sunday, June 20, from 7-10 a.m.

They will serve all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and a drink for $5 for adults, and $2.50 for children 12 and under.  The public is invited to attend and bring their dad or someone special for this event.

The Howard Chamber of Commerce has announced plans for their annual Steak Fry, which will be held Tuesday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Howard City Polk Daniels Lake shelter house.

This annual event encourages Chamber members and area residents to come for food, fun, and fellowship with the Howard community.  Tickets are available from several locations for only $10 per person.

For tickets or more information, contact Joanna Hunter at 374-2838 or 374-2567, Lynne Thompson at 374-3080 or 374-2321, or any other Howard Chamber of Commerce members.

The annual Howard Mud Run will be held this Saturday, June 19 at noon at the Howard Fairgrounds.  This year’s mud run will feature some of the fastest trucks in Kansas and Oklahoma.

The event will host eight truck classes and seven ATV classes divided by age.  There will be 100% payback on all money, as well as added money.  The mud run will follow MAMR rules.

Entrants should register by 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.  The fee to register is $20 for MAMR members, $25 for non-members, and $10 for ATV’s.

The public is invited to attend this event.  General admission will be charged, $7 for adults, and children 12 and under free.

For more information call Bob Nungesser at 620-374-2400 or Dave Nungesser at 620-515-3429.

Pastor Paul Stetz of the Sedan Assembly of God is announcing that his congregation will be meeting temporarily at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on East Elm, beginning Sunday, June 13.  The meeting times on Sunday are 9:30 a.m. for Sunday School with morning worship services at 10:30 a.m.  Evening services on Sunday will be at 6 p.m.

The temporary church phone is 725-3265.

The present Assembly of God Church building in Sedan has been sold and a new building will be constructed on East Walnut Street.

“We want to express our thanks to the Seventh Day Adventist congregation for allowing us to meet in their building during this transition period,” Pastor Stetz said.

On Thursday, June 17, the Rolling Prairie Extension in Sedan will host a Pasture and Wildflower Tour.  The tour will leave the courthouse at 5:30 p.m. and visit four pastures north of Sedan.

Two of the pastures have had chemical weed control done in the past two years.  Guests will be able to see the differences between products used and the weeds and woody species that were controlled.  At the other stops, we will  “measure” forage that is available for grazing and discuss the amount that is required for different sizes of animals. Read more

The 73rd annual Elk County Livestock and Conservation Tour will be Wednesday, June 16 in the southwest part of Elk County.  The tour will begin at the Community Building in Grenola at 7:30 a.m. with coffee and rolls.

Everyone will leave for the first tour stop at 8:15 a.m.  Tour stops and speakers include: Read more

Sedan Community Vacation Bible School is scheduled for June 14-18 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.  The theme this year is “High Seas Expedition: Exploring the Mighty Love of God,” with amazing Bible adventures, cool crafts, great games, awesome music, and swashbuckling snacks!

The opening and closing sessions this year will be at the First Christian Church of Sedan.  Children ages 4 to 12th grade are invited to attend. Read more

Elk Konnected will be sponsoring a Kids Day Camp this summer in five Elk County communities.  The camp is open to all 7 through 12 year olds.

Sessions will be held June 22-24 at the Elk Valley School commons area, June 29-July 1 at the Grenola Community Building, July 6-8 at the Moline City Park, July 13-15 at the Severy Community Building, and July 20-22 at the Howard Fair Building.

Attendees will participate in dancing, arts and crafts, games, cooking, outdoor activities, and many other activities.  Campers should fill out the form found in this week’s Prairie Star and return it to the address indicated at the bottom.

For more information call Jennifer Brummel, Elk County Economic and Youth Development Coordinator at 620-205-8514.

Hot weather is forecast for the rest of this week, and swimming pools in Sedan and Howard will be ready for anyone eager to cool off.

The Sedan pool has actually opened and Lynette Kill, manager, said the water is just the right temperature.

Admission prices for the Sedan pool are: Adult $3.00; 12 and under $2.50; family pass(immediate family) $130.00; adult season pass $80.00; child season pass $70.00.  Pool parties from 6 to 8 p.m. will be $75. Read more