It may be a tight squeeze on timing, but the USD 282 West Elk Board of Education still plans to move all instructional activity to the Howard campus in August, it was confirmed at Monday night’s board meeting.

Supt. Corey Reese said approval still has not been granted by the Kansas State Department of Education to pay for the modular classrooms that will be a central part of the move, but he anticipates such approval to be made by May.

“It’s a pretty straight forward process,” said Reese. “We’re typically not allowed to spend money Read more

The Elk County Community Choir has been busy preparing for their next Singspiration, “Because He Lives!” which will be held this Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m., at the Howard United Methodist Church.  Refreshments will be served following the performance.

The group is honored to have Linda Shilts-Baum as director for this event. Linda is musical director for the West Elk School district.

The Elk County Community Choir was founded with a desire to pull the local church community together. They had a vision to bring in people from all over the area to form a choir that would present a singspiration two times a year and contribute some special performances as requested.

The choir is comprised of approximately 50 people representing 12 churches and is excited that their current singspiration includes two area youth.

As always, in addition to the regular program the group will have several specials mixed in the choir’s performance.

A new family life center will be constructed at the south edge of Howard soon, following groundbreaking ceremonies held Sunday.

The Flint HIlls Assembly of God is planning the facility which mostly will be a large gymnasium-like building, along with smaller rooms to be used for various purposes.
The church will continue to utilize its present worship building and sanctuary located at 115 N. Wabash in Howard. Read more

J. Waller is shown here getting ready for the annual Redbud Tour in Sedan. It is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 10-11.

The Sedan Area Chamber of Commerce will again serve as sponsor of the event. Wall is president of the Chamber.

Chamber of Commerce representatives will be located in the north parking lot of Floyd’s Market, under the big American flag, providing maps of the county as well as giving away free redbud saplings. Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

The Flint Hills Assembly of God Church will hold a ground breaking ceremony Sunday, April 11, at 2 p.m. on their property just north of West Elk High School for their new Family Life Center. This time is rescheduled from the original date, as bad weather forced the ground breaking to be postponed.

This facility will have a gymnasium which will accommodate and be available for West Elk to use for practice and other activities, as well as public use for large occasions such as banquets and reunions.

The congregation of Flint Hills Assembly of God would like to invite the public to join them and they will answer any questions you have about the other uses planned for this new facility.

An annual open house and book sale will be held Friday, April 16, at the Sedan City Library.

Everyone is invited to come by for refreshments and sign up for drawings.  The “Guess the Number of M&Ms” contest was so popular last year that the libary will do it again, so bring your thinking hat and see if you can guess the right amount this year.

Librarian Kathleen McCorkle said the library is asking for people who like to help get crafts ready to give her a call. Also, the library will need help with the summer reading program for children.  If you like to do crafts please give Kathleen a call. Read more

The Sedan Area Chamber of Commerce has announced that the dates for the 2010 Annual Redbud Tour will be Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11.

With spring in the air, the Chamber of Commerce is hoping Mother Nature will cooperate and the redbud trees will be in full bloom for the weekend event.

Representatives from the Sedan Area Chamber of Commerce will be located in the north parking lot of Floyd’s Market, under the big American Flag, providing maps of the county as well as giving away free redbud saplings. Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day.

By Shirley Black
Another successful table setting was enjoyed by more than 200 guests from Elk County and beyond last Saturday evening.

The event, sponsored by the Elk County Community and Education Foundation and held at Moline Grade School, raised several hundred dollars which will be used to help fund a scholarship for seniors who live in Elk County or attend school there.  There were 29 tables on display and each attendee received three chances to vote on their favorites.  The top prize winners was “Fun, Faith and Fashion” by Traci Smith of Traci’s Trends. Second place went to “Checkerboard Chow” by Mills Feed and Supply, third to “Romantic Rose” by Carey Triboulet and Dana Denton, fourth to “Tea and Roses” by  Marjean Jacobs.

Fifth prize went to Janet Hadlock and Family for “Grandmother’s Garden,” sixth prize to “Backyard BBQ” by Jane Osburn and Pam Watkins, seventh prize was awarded to “Down on the Farm” by Annette Barnaby and Velva Hoyt, eighth place to “Experience Elk Falls” by Jane Fry of Elk Falls Pottery, ninth to “Dine Like a Deere” by   Shelly Hare and Beth Jones of Country Cakes and More. Read more

The Sedan High School After Prom Committee will hold bingo at 6 p.m., Saturday evening, March 13, at the Fair Building. Juniors and seniors have been selling bingo tickets but there are plenty of seats still available. The evening will start off with minis and there will be several other fun games featured throughout the evening. A concession stand will sell some great food. No childcare will be provided this year.

Lucky bingo winners will receive gift baskets valued at about $25-$40. Some of the baskets that will be available include a football basket, movie, fishing, camping, cooking and several other great ones.
Baskets, food donations and volunteers are still needed; monetary donations are always welcome. Read more

The Chautauqua County Spelling Bee was hosted by Cedar Vale Schools on Wednesday, Feb. 17.  Sixth grader Ben Call, son of Dwight and Mary Call, was named champion.  Those participating in the spelling bee were (back row) Jonathan Howard, Brace Unruh, London Clapp, Mattie Burdette, Emery Bowman,  Colton Massey, Tyler Holt, (middle row) Chester Cummings, Brylee Unruh, Natalie Jarvis, Joel Haden,  Spence Battiest,  Ben Call, Tim Call, (front row) Abby Newby, Michella Warmbrodt, Gage Miller, Jesse Spradling, Robyn Dale, and Noah Rhodd.

Judy Foster of rural Sedan attended the first ever Kansas State Women’s Basketball Player’s Reunion at Manhattan, on Sunday, Feb. 21.

Foster attended an athlete work/study facility tour and a special luncheon for all alumni and guests in Vanier Football Complex on the campus of Kansas State University in the morning.

At the KSU-OU women’s basketball game in the afternoon, she and 69 other alumni were recognized at halftime. The group met on court and were individually introduced to the audience.

Judy played from 1965 to 1968 on the team that was in on the launching of the Big 8 Women’s Basketball League - now the Big 12 Women’s League. The actual league was begun in the fall of 1968.  Due to that fact, she has an ‘Honorary Letter’ in Women’s basketball at KSU.

Seeing former teammates that she had not seen in 40+ years was the highlight of the day, with the recognitions of the day following a close second.

Cub Scout Pack 15 of Chautauqua County proudly announces that on Feb. 2, 2010, Raymond Squires received the Arrow of Light Award.

The Arrow of Light is the Cub Scout’s highest award. It requires lots of hard work along with memorizing the Boy Scout Oath and Laws.

After receiving the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouts transition into the Boy Scout Troop.

Raymond is a Webelos Cub Scout and a fifth-grader at Cedar Vale Elementary School.  Raymond’s parents are Thomas and Norma Squires of Cedar Vale.

Everyone in his pack and community are proud of him.

Go to   http://www.kshsaa.org/BASKETBALL/Brackets/2ASS6.htm

2010 Sedan Ministerial Alliance Lenten Luncheon Series

On Wednesday, Feb. 17 at noon, the Sedan Ministerial Alliance began the 2010 Lenten Luncheon series at First United Methodist Church.  This year’s theme is, “Where in the World is God?” and a light lunch will be served at each participating church.
There will be no charge for the meal, but donations will be taken to benefit the ministries of the Area Ministerial Alliance.  The schedule is as follows:
Feb. 24 - First Christian Church
March 3 - Sedan Assemblies of God
March 10 - Epiphany Episcopal Church
March 17 - First Christian Church
March 24 - Seventh Day Adventist Church
March 31 - First Baptist Church

The series will conclude with a Good Friday service on April 2 at 1 p.m. at the Sedan First Baptist Church.  Pastor John Warring will be bringing the message.  No meal will be served at that time.  For further information, please contact Pastor John Warring at 620-725-3606.

To most local residents, “Hubbell’s Rubble” is just a pile of scrap metal, creatively fashioned into Jerry Hubbell’s idea of artwork.

Some may even call Hubbell a sculptor when they see him welding on an old bicycle or piece of farm equipment and squnting one eye to make sure it turns into something recognizable.

Regardless, the vacant lot loaded with Hubbell’s Rubble gains lots of attention for the community which boasts it as a tourist attraction on the town website.

But last week, Hubbell raised some eyebrows when his handmade collection of metal artwork gained the attention of the Wall Street Journal. A front page article featured several Kansas roadside sculptors, each one no doubt smiling at the honor.

As Wall Street Journal writer Stephanie Simon wrote: “For the most part, the sculptors of the Kansas roadside Read more