News

Grain prices mixed for the week Prices paid for grain at the Ellsworth Co-op at the end of the business day, Monday, April 27, were: Wheat, bu. — $4.36 down 24 cents from April 20. Milo, bu. — $3.26, up 2 cents. Soybeans, bu. — $7.34, up 1 cent. Corn, bu. — $2.71, down 8 cents.

Adali Spencer, owner of Spencer Cleaning, right, and her employee Rachel Voeltz, prepare to distribute free disinfectant to the public April 21 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. During the day, the public was invited to bring their disinfectant spray bottles in for refilling.

The Ellsworth County Healthcare Foundation recently added three new board members. Justin Nash of Holyrood, Craig Freeman of Wilson and Jessica Homolka of Lorraine will begin their terms May 1. The terms of two board members, Shawn Thomas and Don Nash, have expired after nine years of service.

Stacie Schmidt, executive director of Ellsworth County Economic Development, summarized the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on Ellsworth County businesses during Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council.

Kristen Waston, a Central Plains High School student, signs for cheer with Salina’s Kansas Wesleyan University, which she plans to attend in the fall while pursuing a degree in biomedical chemistry.

A look at life after Gov. Laura Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order ends May 3 was discussed at the April 23 meeting of the Ellsworth County Local Emergency Planning Committee. Kerianne Ehrlich, supervisor of the county health department, said she doesn’t know what Kelly will do after that date.

LORRAINE — Street repairs dominated discussion at the April 21 remote meeting of the Lorraine City Council.

It was a beautiful day, Gayla Swisher and Donna Nelson had their sewing machines with them and they wanted to help as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the country. So, they watched a video on how to sew cloth masks and got to work.

The Ellsworth Police Department and Ellsworth Fire Department responded Friday morning to the report of a pickup on fire at 702 E. First St., Ellsworth. Ellsworth Police Chief Emil Halfhill said the owners of the 1986 Toyota pickup are Eric and Amy Callahan.

Andrew Bair, chief executive officer of the Ellsworth County Medical Center, gave an overview April 22 of actions taken by the hospital to prepare for COVID-19. “Since March 16 we’ve been in a business not-as-usual mode,” Bair said. “We’re not doing things as we were before.