Squeals of delight echoed throughout the field as Heather McClendon brought breakfast to her herd of swine.
Squeals of delight echoed throughout the field as Heather McClendon brought breakfast to her herd of swine.
KANOPOLIS — On a temperate Saturday afternoon, nearly every slot at the Kanopolis Drive-In was filled with cars.
DODGE CITY — The Ellsworth boys’ and girls’ cross country teams traveled to Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City Saturday to compete in the Class 3A Cross Country Regionals.
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SALINA — History was made Saturday afternoon as the Ellsworth girls’ varsity tennis team won its first state tennis championship in the program’s history at the Salina Tennis Center.
Squeals of delight echoed throughout the field as Heather McClendon brought breakfast to her herd of swine.
KANOPOLIS — On a temperate Saturday afternoon, nearly every slot at the Kanopolis Drive-In was filled with cars.
WILSON — While the Smoky Hills Community Foundation gathered with its supporters Nov. 1 to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the evening looked back, in addition to looking to the future.
Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council saw a motion to draft a council code of ethics defeated.
Three Ellsworth County communities elected a new mayor in the Nov. 4 election, while a seat on the Central Plains USD 112 Board of Education is still undecided. Residents across the county also approved a countywide sales tax.
The sounds of youthful laughter and eager bird dogs flushing pheasants will fill the crisp autumn air as young hunters learn not just how to shoot, but how to do so safely when the local Pheasants Forever hosts its annual Youth Pheasant Hunt Nov. 9.
Phyllis Rae Winckler, of Wilson, Kan., passed away on Nov. 7, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born on Aug. 27, 1937, to James and Ruth (Borman) Peterka in Rural Lincoln County, Kan. She was married to Paul G. Winckler on Sept. 1, 1957, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sylvan Grove, Kan. He preceded her in death on July 10, 2020.
Gary Jesse Thille, 80, of Sterling, Kan., passed away Nov. 2, 2025, at Sterling Village. He was born Sept. 6, 1945, in Beloit, Kan., the son of Murray Maxwell and Anna Lolita (Anderson) Thille. Gary resided in Sterling the past three years, formerly of Ellsworth, Kan. He graduated from Ellsworth High School. Gary was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church, Ellsworth.
Doris Evonne Oller, 85, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in Salina, Kan.
Born on May 23, 1940, in Ransom, Kan., Doris was the fourth child of Margaret (Jarvis) and Leroy Ruff. She grew up in Wilson, Kan., and attended Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kan. Doris married Albert Oller in April 1959, and they had two children, Monty Wayne and Lori Jean.
Ailene (Mickey) Bowie was born Dec. 14, 1934, in Arkansas City, Kan., and exited earth Nov. 6, 2025, in Lindsborg, Kan., at the age of 90. She was a retired business teacher at Wichita East High School. Mickey married Howard Bowie on Dec. 21, 1957. He died Dec. 22, 2015.
LAWRENCE — The Ellsworth girls’ cross country team and senior Hunter Kinsley and freshman Octavio Rodriguez from the Ellsworth boys’ team competed at the KSHSAA Class 3A State Cross Country Championship Nov. 1 at Rim Rock Farm north of Lawrence. Earning their highest team finish since the 2005 State Runner-Up team, the girls finished sixth out of 12 full teams, while Kinsley and Rodriguez finished in the upper half of their fields.
HUTCHINSON — The Ellsworth volleyball season was one to remember. Achieving many personal and team goals along the way, the Bearcats went 32-11 on the season, winning most of their sets and matches by large margins, going undefeated in regionals and substate, before topping it off with their first trip to the state tournament since 1997.
We voted, let’s move forward
We are well past the midpoint of fall and closing in on winter. It is not an official thing, but to me, the defining point on the calendar between fall and winter is Thanksgiving. Generally, it is the time of the year when harvest is at least winding down, if not done, and the livestock are all in their wintering places.
Acknowledging junior high FB team The Ellsworth Bearcats Junior High Football team cinched their final win of the season against Lyons two weeks ago. The Bearcats won this League game 44-6. This is extremely impressive, because it means they had a completely undefeated season. No, seriously, they won against Sterling 8-0, Beloit 36-6, Southeast of Saline 38-16, Republic County 44-0, Minneapolis 34-0, Sacred Heart 36-14, and of course, Lyons.
Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them. The plans we make can shift without warning, and challenges often arrive uninvited. Still, it’s not the setbacks that define us — it’s our resilience in the face of them. How we respond is what matters more.
