Students and staff at Elk Valley schools are busy preparing for winter homecoming, which will take place this Friday, Jan. 7.  The theme for this year is “Super Heroes” and coronation will be held at halftime of the boys “A” game, which should be at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Students have been encouraged to show their spirit this week with homecoming activities including PJ Day on Tuesday, Gangster Day on Wednesday, Imitation Day on Thursday, and Friday will be “Show Your Spirit Day” by wearing black and orange.

Candidates for this year’s homecoming are Courtney Pinkosky, Monique Wade, Shelby Monjure, Gradey Atkinson, Roger Daniels, and Jason Ledford.  Kindergarten escorts are Ethan O’Leary and Jenni Bunyard.

Ty Riggs, son of Glenn and Judy Riggs from Sedan, won a $1,000 Intervet/Schering-Plough Ralgro “Wheels for Bucks”/Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF) scholarship. The scholarship was awarded at the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) annual convention, Dec. 3 in Wichita. Riggs is a senior at Kansas State University majoring in animal science. He was very active in FFA and 4-H, holding officer positions in both, including serving as president of the Chautauqua County 4-H Council. He currently manages his own registered and commercial Angus cowherd.

This week’s Prairie Star carries a story about a Sedan High School graduate who has been cast for a lead role in a soon-to-be-released movie, “Almighty Thor.”

Cody Deal, son of former Sedan resident Diane Boulanger, and grandson of Dean Boulanger who lives at Ochelata, Okla., has gained experience while living in Las Vegas over the past two years, working in modeling and making good contacts in the movie industry.

His grandmother, Frances Carpenter, still works at the Sedan City Library, and his aunt, Joyce Carpenter, resides in Sedan, along with his cousins, Jacque and Josh Carpenter.

His agent told Prairie Star on Monday that the movie is set for a February release in theaters, and also has been picked up by the SciFi Channel for television. The movie is set for DVD premier on April 26.

At Sedan High School, Cody graduated in 2004 as his class valedictorian, and served as senior class president. He also was first-team shooting forward in basketball averaging 20.4 points per game for the Blue Devils. Read more

Roger Floyd, Sedan grocer and community leader, stands by the new movie projector which the Sedan Theatre Group was fortunate to purchase for a nominal price of $1,000, including an ungraded sound system. Floyd said a local theater in Lincoln, Kan., recently purchased an all-new digital projector and sound system, and they made the old one available to the Sedan volunteers who operate the Gregg Theatre each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. “It was an unbelievable buy,” said Floyd who has worked with local volunteers since 1988 to operate the theater on a non-profit basis. He said a new projector system could easily have cost upwards of $40,000. The theater was closed last weekend but Floyd hopes to see the new equipment in full operation this week.  Jim Blankenship is the theater’s projectionist.

The Sedan Assembly Of God, formerly located at 131 N. Chautauqua Street, will start meeting next Sunday, Jan. 2, in its new building located at 621 E. Walnut.

Pastor Paul Stetz thanked the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Sedan for being so kind in allowing them to meet in their building for the past six months during the construction of a new church. Many volunteers helped make possible the new building, including many members of other local churches.

The congregation’s last service at the Seventh Day Adventist Church was on Dec. 26.

The new building is located one block east of the football field at the east edge of Sedan.

Five Republican Party members from Elk and Montgomery counties have declared their intent to fill a vacant Kansas House of Representatives position that was held by State Rep. Jeff King, R-Independence.

King represented the 12th House District until his appointment as state senator two weeks ago. The 12th House District includes the eastern half of Chautauqua County (all area east of K-99 highway), all of Elk County, and a large area of western and northern Montgomery County. Read more

As the celebration of Christmas draws closer, many area churches are gathering for special services to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.  Area residents, friends, and families are invited to attend any one of these services.

The Moline Baptist Church will be having a candlelight service on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

The Howard United Methodist Church invites all to come worship with them as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King.  Pastor Charles Cryderman will be holding Christmas Eve worship service on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.  The Howard United Methodist Church is located at 815 E. Randolph.  Please join the congregation in this Christmas celebration.

The Peru United Methodist church will hold an evening Christmas service on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. with refreshments to follow. Read more

The stately new home of Mark and Kim Jones, located a half mile south of Sedan along Highway 99 has turned into a holiday attraction.

A sign at the entrance of the property says “Drive In — Stop and Listen.” Further instructions say for visitors to tune their car radios to 106.7 on their FM radio dials to hear Christmas music that is syncronized with the attractive holiday lights on the home’s exterior.

In order to avoid a traffic problem, the Joneses advise visitors to turn into the drive to get them off the highway, then they can find a suitable place to turn around.

Kim and Mark invite everyone to come out, listen to the music and watch the light show.

The house is located on the east side of Highway 99, a quarter mile south of Sedan Floral.

Theresa Wilson will be honored Thursday afternoon by students, teachers and administrators at Sedan High School where she has worked as front-office secretary for the past 31 years.

Her last day at work will be Friday and she is enjoying visits with friends who have dropped by this week to say farewell.

“It has been a good run,” she said with a smile. “I’ve enjoyed my years working with various administrators and teachers, and of course, I’ve gotten to know every student who has walked these hallways.” Read more

Roland Cain, Sedan, was honored Dec. 3 during the Kansas Livestock Association Convention in Wichita for supporting the KLA for 60 years.

Cain ran a cow-calf operation in Chautauqua County for 56 years. He sold his cattle in 2007 and the ranch in 2008. He and Lois, his wife of 59 years, are enjoying their retirement.

Also celebrating 60 years of membership this year are Don Good, Manhattan, and Charlie Imthurn, Maple Hill. These three gentlemen bring to 31 the total KLA members who have belonged to the association over six decades. The longest-standing membership is held by Jansonius Farms of Phillipsburg, a member since 1918. Read more

Chassity Sisco, who was crowned Miss Rodeo Oklahoma in July 2009 during the Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Scholarship pageant, competed last week in national competition held in Las Vegas.

Her mother, Shawne Clapp of Cedar Vale, also made the trip to Las Vegas where Chassity won the People’s Choice Award in the national event.

A 2007 graduate of Cedar Vale High School, Chassity has spent the past year representing Oklahoma by making appearances throughout the state and across the nation promoting the sport of rodeo and  western heritage.

Even though she is a native of Cedar Vale, Chassity’s father, Gary Sisco, resides in Ponce City and that’s where most of her rodeo activity has taken place.

See this week’s Prairie Star for more details on this Chautauqua County native and her recent run at a national title.

Santa will be a busy traveler in the area this weekend as he’ll be visiting with boys and girls at different stops along his route.

The City of Elk Falls will host a visit from Santa on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. on Main Street in front of the Post Office. If the weather is bad, the festivities will move to the Senior Center.

Grenola’s annual Christmas Party and visit from Santa will be Sunday, Dec. 12 from 2-3:30 p.m. in the Grenola Community Building. The afternoon will begin with cookie decorating, games, coloring contests, musical presents and refreshments. Santa will arrive about 3 p.m., with candy and gifts for all the good little girls and boys. The Grenola Volunteer Fire Department will escort the jolly fellow into town on the fire truck. Kids of all ages - young and young at heart - are urged to attend!

Santa will be riding into Longton on the back of the city’s ‘57 fire truck on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. He will stop at the corner of 5th and Kansas (next to City Hall) to visit with children and pass out bags of Christmas goodies.

Santa will be in Sedan at the St. Charles Schoolhouse in the Hollow on Saturday evening, Dec. 11, from 5-6:30 p.m. He will listen to wish lists and have fruit and candy canes for all the children.

An evening with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be held in Severy on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the Severy Community Building/Senior Center. Mrs. Claus will read a Christmas story to children at 6:30 p.m. and Santa will arrive on his fire truck around 7 p.m. A vegetable soup and chili supper will begin at 5:30 p.m. to start the night off on a warm note.

Two concerts are planned for West Elk on Dec. 14. The elementary students will perform at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium, while the junior high and high school concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

Both concerts will feature band students as well as singers, said Linda Shilts-Baum, WEHS music director. “There will be songs from different countries, as well as traditional music for the Christmas season,” she added.

Both concerts are free and open to the public, with patrons and parents invited for the evening.

The Sedan Instrumental and Vocal Music Department will present their Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Warrender Auditorium at Sedan High School.  There is a total of 83 students involved with this concert.

Then the Sedan Elementary Programs will be held on Monday, Dec. 13 in the Warrender Auditorium of Sedan High School.

The kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grade students will perform in their concert beginning at 6 p.m.  There will be a 15 minute break, then the 3rd – 6th grade students will perform beginning at approximately 7 p.m.

These concerts are free to the public.