The Elk County Free Fair in Longton will get underway Thursday and run through Saturday.

Fair books and schedules have been distributed throughout the area to let everyone know what is going on.

After the exhibits are checked in and judged on Thursday, Aug. 5-7, entrants and friends can check to see what they have won. The kids’ races will be held at the ball park at 2 p.m. that afternoon. The 4-H members will have the beef fitting and showing and judging at 6 p.m. The adult round robin contest will be at 8:30 p.m. Read more

A West Elk Jr.-Sr. High School faculty member remains on leave with pay this week after being arrested on charges of various sexual crimes allegedly committed in a western Kansas county.

Dean L. Baum, age 53, was arrested on Friday, July 23, in Howard on a warrant from Wallace County, where he and his wife, Linda, have a summer home.

Wallace County prosecuting attorney Charles F. Moser said Baum, while living in his summer home on various occasions, allegedly committed sexual acts on a juvenile over a span of six years — from March 2003 to September 2009. Read more

A final winner in Tuesday’s race for Chautauqua County Commissioner was not determined in Tuesday balloting.

Goff Searl received 104 votes and Sunny Young pulled 102, while Joseph A. Sutton garnered 56 votes. The Chautauqua County Clerk’s office reported this morning (Wednesday) that six provisional ballots will need to be canvassed on Friday which could affect the outcome of this race.

Inaccurate information was released to the media Tuesday night by the Chautauqua County Clerks office, indicating that Young had won the primary race. Prairie Star was notified today (Wednesday) and stopped its printing to make this change. Check the taylornews.org website on Friday to learn who won this primary election. The winner of this Republican primary will be listed on the Nov. 2 general election ballot with no opponent.

In addition to the Chautauqua County Commission race, there were no other contested races that were specific to Chautauqua County, although many races will be decided in the November general election. Read more