News

Ellsworth County Commissioners appear to be leaning towards a 3 percent increase in employee salaries for 2024. That was the overall direction indicated by commissioners at Monday’s meeting.

Ellsworth Mayor Dan Finnegan put a clarion call out for dedicated volunteers Monday during the Ellsworth City Council meeting to help save Ellsworth’s premier annual event — Cowtown Days.“Cowtown has been a challenge for three or four years,” said Finnegan, a member of the Cowtown Committee.

Signatures presented to the Ellsworth County Election Officer a week ago have been validated, and a special election will be held Aug. 1.The question on the ballot will read: “Shall the following be adopted?Shall USD 112 be disorganized pursuant to K.S.A.

Caps flew and tassles were airborn as 41 members of the Ellsworth High School Class of 2023 graduated Sunday.“As we leave Ellsworth High School, we’re all headed in different directions,” senior Aleyna Womelsdorf said.“Some of us will go on to college, some to trade school and some the workforce.

WILSON — The City of Wilson has selected a candidate to be its new police chief.At Monday’s meeting of the Wilson City Council, approval was given to offer James Reagan the full-time police chief job at a pay rate of $22 per hour.

KANOPOLIS — Brian Pruitt was sworn in as a new council member during the May 8 Kanopolis City Council meeting.Lead pipes within city limits again came up during discussion with maintenance supervisor Mike Bunch.

The costly possibility of renovating and expanding the Ellsworth County Jail is once again on the plates of the Ellsworth County commissioners to consider.

Supporters of Wilson Jr./ Sr. High School filed a petition Tuesday to move forward with a vote to dissolve the USD 112 Central Plains school district.“Our kids have been hurting this year,” Wilson resident Kenny Beneda said. “This school board does not care about those kids.

This is the time of year Ellsworth City Administrator Dustin Stambaugh keeps one eye on the sky and the other on streamflow in the Smoky Hill River — and hopes for rain.At Monday night’s regular meeting of the Ellsworth City Council, Stambaugh offered a brief update on the city’s water situation.

The USD 327 Ellsworth Kanopolis-Geneseo board of education addressed several aspects of transportation during Monday night’s meeting.“The insulation needs to be replaced,” Transportation Diretor P.J. Weinhold said of the district’s bus barn.