Lion Tommy Romero received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Program award. This is the highest honor a Lion can receive. He has been in the Lions Club for 40+ years! We appreciate all he does, not only for the club, but also the community! Tommy is very deserving of this award and his fellow club members and community are all so proud of him.

The Stevens County Hospital Auxiliary has awarded three Continuing Education Medical Scholarships and one Edith Weston Nursing Scholarship to qualified applicants for the 2020-2021 school year. Each applicant must be a resident of Stevens County and be accepted and enrolled in an accredited program of Medical Study. The program can be online or at a traditional college. The student must maintain a 3.0 average to qualify. The scholarships are renewable each year as long as the applicant continues to meet the requirements and funds are available. Funding for these scholarships is obtained through the support and sales at the Stevens County Hospital gift shop. The Edith Weston scholarship is provided by the family of long time Stevens County Hospital Director of Nursing, Edith Weston, RN.

Life time resident Sarah Martin is the recipient of the $500 Edith Weston Nursing Scholarship. Sarah is a 2018 graduate of the Seward County Community College Nursing Program and works as a Registered Nurse at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal. Sarah is currently a student of Graceland University’s online Nurse Practitioner program. Throughout her educational experience Sarah has maintained a 4.0 GPA and has received outstanding honors for her work. Sarah is the daughter of long time residents Jeff and Virginia Martin.

The dedicated students who have been chosen to receive the $500 awards for the Continuing Educational Medical Scholarships include the following:

Heather Adigun has been a resident of Stevens County for three years. She has been employed by Southwest Medical Center and the General Surgery Clinic in Liberal. Heather is currently a second year student of the Seward County Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program. At completion of this school year Heather will be able to take the NCLEX for Registered Nurse. Heather is the wife of the Hugoton High School girls basketball coach, Emmanuel Adigun. They have three children, Summya 15, Adrian 11 and Josiah 4.

Maddie Rome, wife of Matt Rome, is also a recipient of a $500 Continuing Medical Scholarship. Maddie is beginning her second year as a student at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy. Maddie obtained her prerequisites at Kansas University and is now being rewarded for her strong work ethic and excellent GPA by being allowed to take online classes while at home due to the Covid pandemic. Maddie’s proud parents are Martin and Davonna Daharsh and her grandparents are Floyd and Edwina Daharsh.

Lifetime resident Robin Hull is the third recipient of a $500 Continuing Medical Educational Scholarship. Robin is a Registered Nurse who is a 2015 graduate of Seward County Community College Associate Degree Nursing Program. Robin is currently a student with the Oklahoma Panhandle State University working to complete her Bachelor’s of Nursing Degree. Robin is currently employed by the Haskell County Health Department and has been dealing daily with the Covid issues for the residents of Haskell County. Robin is married to Mark Hull and they have three children and one grandson. Robin is the daughter of Hugoton residents Jack and Patrina Reynolds.

The hospital auxiliary would like to commend all of these students for their dedication and hard work in achieving their educational goals. Continuing stressful classes and clinical hours in the medical field in these unprecedented times have certainly been challenging for these determined students. Also a big thank you to the community for the continued support of the Little Gift Shop in the Stevens County Hospital. Without your support these scholarship funds would not be available. We hope to reopen in the near future and see all of our generous customers soon.

The Hugoton City Park is overrun with spectacular shining beauty Saturday afternoon and many turned out to take it all in. Gas Capital Car, Truck and Bike Show’s annual event picked the perfect day and chrome and engines galore filled the park featuring amazing classic vehicles.

Best Western Plus Stevens County Inn received the wonderful news that they have been selected to receive the Best Western Hotels & Resorts coveted M.K. Guertin Award for 2020. Only fifty Best Western Hotels out of 3,500 are honored to receive this award. This award is named after the founder, M.K. Guertin, of Best Western Hotels. The award recognizes properties that best demonstrate their foundational committment to providing superior customer care. Stevens County Inn has went above and beyond to deliver superior care to guests in good times and tough times, especially during this onslaught of COVID- 19. As an M.K. Guertin award winner, they will be recognized during Best Western’s virtual Convention the week of October 18. Congratulations, Stevens County Inn, for a job well done!

Lifelong Stevens County resident / fireman Phillip Thompson has dedicated 35 years of his life to helping keep residents and property in his hometown and county safe from fires, disasters and impending storms. You are not only deeply appreciated by your family Phil but also all of your fellow Stevens County people.

Quilts of Valor are given to these Veterans at the County Fair Thursday night. In back, left to right, are Barry Crane, Max Williams, Nathan Williams, Tylan  Peterson and  Douglas Clark.   In front are Vernon Anderson, James Bell, Mick Prine and Troy Estes.  Richard Sullivan was presented his quilt privately.

It is now official! The Stevens County Sorghum Queen and her court has been selected.  Left to right are First Princess Claudia Clark, Stevens County Sorghum Queen Lakota Persing, Second Princess Mary Beth Crawford and Miss Congenialty Effie Kolb.

The time is finally here. Friday is the day for the annual Sorghum Queen contest. Come to see all the 18 beauties this Friday at the Hugoton High School middle school auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Candidates along with their sponsors that have entered this contest are as follows: Denisse Delgado/Acostas & Neitos Cafe; Suhelia Rosas / Rosas Bakery; Shaylee Cox/Tan’alon; Hadlee Arrington/Jet Drive-In; Aubrey Brechbuhler / D&A Danner; Reygan Kiley/Heaters Sprinklers; Lakota Persing/Musgrove Insurance; Claudia Clark /Clark Ranch; Gillian Heger / Stumpy’s; Effie Kolb / State Farm Insurance; Jewels Noland / Pate Agency; Jenna Beesley / Janet’s Bridal & Boutique; Leslie Martinez /American Implement; Kynna Crawford/ Mane Hair Company; Mary Beth Crawford / Citizens State Bank; Marissa Mendoza/ Stalcup Farms; Isabella Hall / Hall Family Shorthorns; Grace Staats- Gibson/Sandoval Sandhill Ranch.

Social distancing is requested. Good luck to all these gorgeous candidates.

The Hugoton High School graduation took place Saturday, July 11 at the HHS football field. “Pomp and Circumstance” by Sir Edward Elgar was played as the students walked to their seats. Gavin Heger gave the Invocation. Mrs. Melody Witt, Principal of HHS gave the welcoming remarks. Hugoton had three valedictorians this year. The valedictorians and their parents were introduced by Mrs. Witt. Each gave a short speech.

Jenna Beesley introduced the commencement speaker, her mother, Mrs. Jennifer Beesley. Mrs. Witt then presented the class, accepting the class and the awarding of the diplomas was Mike Persinger, President of the Board of Education. He was assisted by the rest of the school board members.

Frances Gaskill announced the recognition of mothers while special music “Becoming Me” by Matthew West, “Good Riddance” and “Time of My Life” by Green Day was played. Terron Stegman gave the Benediction and Mrs. Witt announced the moving of the tassel.

Two Hugoton High School students have entered the military, David Barker and Gabriela Lopez. The class escorts were Wyatt Angell and Gillian Heger. Senior Sponsors were Jennifer Beesley and Gena Burnett.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020!