News

It’s been a little over a year in the making, but ground is finally being broken at the Ellsworth County Medical Center Administration Building, Ellsworth, to transform it into a new rehabilitation department.The ground breaking is at 10 a.m. Sept. 30 in front of the admin building.

At Monday’s meeting of the Ellsworth City Council, the 2026 city budget was approved as presented after a public hearing.Interim City Administrator Allen Dinkel said each year, the city adopts a budget for the following year and levies ad valorem taxes to fund certain items of the budget.

The owners of 304 N. Douglas Ave. in downtown Ellsworth have been given an extension to Dec. 31 to complete the demolition/ reconstruction of the back of the building.The Ellsworth City Council approved that motion at their meeting Monday.

Community members hear possible updates to school district buildingsAbout two dozen community members, educators and board members gathered Aug. 26 in the Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School Commons to hear a presentation about the needs for Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo USD 327.

KANOPOLIS — Tradition, good food and good times with family and friends are what the annual fiesta celebrated by St. Ignatius Catholic Church is all about.The fiesta will be Saturday, Aug. 30, at the church in Kanopolis.

Voters will have the chance to decide if they wish to add a one-quarter percent (0.25 percent) county- wide retailers’ sales tax in Ellsworth County during the Nov. 5 general election.Ellsworth County Commissioners approved the special question during Monday’s meeting.

SALINA — The grandfather of an Ellsworth County woman accused of causing a fatal crash in rural Saline County then fleeing the scene, made his first appearance in Saline County court Tuesday morning.

KANOPOLIS — There’s a new mayor in town.During the Aug. 12 meeting, the Kanopolis City Council appointed Michelle Schwerdtfeger to serve as mayor.“As everybody probably knows, I’m moving out of town this week,” former mayor Anthony Hopkins said. “I’m no longer eligible to serve as mayor.

Ellsworth Boy Scout Troop 84 Scoutmaster Jon Halbgewachs blows an air horn Aug. 2 to signal the start of the 13th Annual Troop 84 5K Spirit Run/Walk at Preisker Park.

In June 2023, almost all of Ellsworth County was considered to be in “extreme drought” or “exceptional drought” by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Now, the county — and almost all of the state — do not have drought indications.