• The crowd gathers at Douglas Avenue and East 1st Street while the homecoming candidates are introduced.

    Homecoming activities bolster community spirit

    September 16, 2026 - 06:22 | By Karen Bonar
    At 11 a.m. Friday, it was a breezy 80 degrees outside.Up and down Douglas Avenue and around the community, Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School students were spreading school spirit ahead of that night’s homecoming game.“I’ve always enjoyed window painting. I think it’s fun,” junior Isabelle Tripp said.
  • Freshman Mazie Barta leads the pack at the Hesston Invitational Sept. 10. She set a PR during the race. ERIC COONROD/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Girls’ XC shows strength at Hesston meet

    September 16, 2026 - 06:22 | By Jeremy Obermeyer
    HESSTON — The Bearcat cross country team competed on a damp and overcast day Sept. 10 in the Hesston Invitational.
  • Ellsworth’s Gage Laas tries to grab a few more yards as Sacred Heart’s Landon Pfeifer grabs Laas’ jersey. The Bearcats lost the homecoming game 26-0. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Football falls to Sacred Heart on Homecoming

    September 16, 2026 - 06:22 | By Jeremy Obermeyer
    Coming off a win from a week ago, the Ellsworth football team welcomed the Sacred Heart Knights to Shanelec Field for Homecoming Sept. 11. The Knights came into the contest with a 1-0 record and are ranked No. 10 in Class 1A.The Bearcats fell to the Knights, 26-0.
  • Visitors fill their plates for lunch Sept. 6 at the Lorenz Picnic in rural Ellsworth County. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Annual picnic continues family tradition

    September 09, 2026 - 06:22 | By Karen Bonar
    CARNEIRO — About three dozen guests gathered for the annual Lorenz Picnic Sunday afternoon.While temperatures leading up to the Labor Day weekend were consistently in the triple digits, at 1 p.m. under the trees of the Lorenz homestead, the temperatures were much cooler.
  • Phyllis Orozco unwraps tamales for take-out orders in advance of the annual fiesta at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church.

    Community prepares for annual fiesta

    September 09, 2026 - 06:22 | By Karen Bonar
    KANOPOLIS — As more than half a dozen pots filled with tamales steam on the 10-burner gas stove, Phyllis Orozco and her sister, Teresa Trujillo, prepare to-go orders.“We make these in July and freeze them and cook them. I come back and help make tamales,” Orozco said.

    Editor's Pick

    The crowd gathers at Douglas Avenue and East 1st Street while the homecoming candidates are introduced.

    Homecoming activities bolster community spirit

    10 hours ago By Karen Bonar
    At 11 a.m. Friday, it was a breezy 80 degrees outside.Up and down Douglas Avenue and around the community, Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School students were spreading school spirit ahead of that night’s homecoming game.“I’ve always enjoyed window painting. I think it’s fun,” junior Isabelle Tripp said.

    News

    Kanopolis sets new date for budget hearing

    10 hours ago By Karen Bonar
    KANOPOLIS — No city council meeting took place Sept. 8 because not enough council members were in attendance.“It’s been past five minutes, no response from Michelle (Schwerdtfeger, council president),” Mayor Tom Wilkinson said.
    The cross country team stretches during a morning practice Sept. 4. ERIC COONROD/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Lengthy heat causes issues for games, adjustments for practices

    1 week ago By Catherine Doud
    Unrelenting late August and early September heat has been punishing for high school athletes this season. Ellsworth coaches, athletes, parents and teachers are feeling the heat as they work to keep athletes practicing and competing while still studying without risking their health.Ellsworth Jr./Sr.

    Obituaries

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    John Ralph Westerman

    1 week ago By News Staff
    (1946-2026)John Ralph Westerman was born on April 7, 1946, in Ellsworth, Kan., to Ralph and Neva Westerman. He passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026, with his wife Dorothy and daughter Julie at his side.John was the oldest of his parents’ four children and grew up helping on his father’s farm.
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    Vivian June Meier

    1 week ago By News Staff
    (1942-2026)Vivian June Meier, 84, passed away Sunday, Aug.30, 2026, at her home in Lincoln, Kan. She was born the first of three children on April 29, 1942, in Belle Plaine, Kan., to Rinaldo and Neva ( June) Lawless. She grew up on the family farm outside of Belle Plaine.

    Sports

    Ellsworth’s Gage Laas tries to grab a few more yards as Sacred Heart’s Landon Pfeifer grabs Laas’ jersey. The Bearcats lost the homecoming game 26-0. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Football falls to Sacred Heart on Homecoming

    10 hours ago By Jeremy Obermeyer
    Coming off a win from a week ago, the Ellsworth football team welcomed the Sacred Heart Knights to Shanelec Field for Homecoming Sept. 11. The Knights came into the contest with a 1-0 record and are ranked No. 10 in Class 1A.The Bearcats fell to the Knights, 26-0.

    Columns

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    25 years later: still struggling to understand

    1 week ago By Karen Bonar
    Friday marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.Like so many of our readers, I remember exactly where I was on that day.I was standing in the middle of a field on the Konza Prairie, photographing a pair of horse trainers. This was a self assignment for a photojournalism class.