Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 8. The High Plains music fest is slated to take place at Hugoton’s Dirtona Raceway again this year. Featured artists will be the Josh Abbott Band, Logan Mize, Exit West and Genevieve Allen. Get ready for an incredible night of Red Dirt Country, Classic Country, and Southern Rock. Ticket sale proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and other local charities.

A full day of activities is planned! Start off at the High Plains Fall Fling Vendor and Craft Show at the Eagle RV Park – right across the road from Dirtona Raceway. Vendors will sell their wares all day Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. As you shop, delicious smells from the second annual IBCA-sanctioned High Plains BBQ Bash will likely be wafting over the area. Check-in for the contest will be Friday, september 7, and cooking will be going on all day.

A new attraction this year will be the giant kites courtesy of Great American Kites & Events. The show is free to the public, and is also scheduled for Saturday, September 8 at the Eagle RV Park! the kites will be displayed from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

A group of about 15 AirStream owners – friends of Lee and Sherry Reynolds – will make their way north from Texas and Louisiana to attend the Music Fest and other area events this weekend. The group loves that “small town” feeling, and Hugoton and Stevens County will definitely offer that! Please make them feel welcome if you run across them!

Music Fest tickets are now available at a discounted rate at Yardmaster, Flatlanders and the Hugoton Area Chamber of Commerce office. You can also buy tickets online here. There, you’ll also find more information about the weekend’s events. Music Fest tickets will also be available at the gate the night of the event. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and music starts at 6:00 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Commissioners convened for their regular meeting Monday, August 20. All commissioners Pat Hall, Joe D Thompson and Tron Stegman were present. Amy Rich served as clerk due to Amy Jo Tharp’s absence. County Counselor Paul Kitzke arrived later in the morning.

Amy offered a few details about items on the day’s agenda. She mentioned Elaine Rowden would be coming in to talk about her official job description at the Fitness Center. They also spoke about recent electrical work at the Center and looked over the final bill.

Rodney Kelling came in to give his report. Moscow Mayor Billy Bell called in to the meeting to ask Rodney’s and the commissioners’ permission to use the Fire Department building as a possible rain location for the town’s upcoming street dance. The conditions included no alcohol or tobacco products on the property, and the provision that the trucks and firefighting equipment be easily accessible.

Rodney also told the commissioners the fire station’s roof has started to leak again. Quotes for permanent repairs run from $65,000 to $100,000; for replacing screws, painting the seams, applying a spray coating or replacing the tin completely. Rodney then asked about possibly improving the visibility of Commercial Road, after EMS experienced difficulty locating a house there on a recent call. Commissioners said they’d talk to Tony Martin about possibly putting up a street sign and blading the road. Commissioners also spoke with Rodney about intersections that could benefit from rumble strips, specifically mentioning the location of the recent fatality accident.

Tony Martin came in to talk about the Road and Bridge Department. The commissioners asked him about the hard-to-find road Rodney had mentioned. They asked if Tony could install street signs at each end so it’s more easily visible, and Tony readily agreed. He then talked about the loader that had blown over recently; insurance said to go ahead and replace the windows in that machine. The stacker will likely be totaled, and Tony should know for sure within approximately ten days. The logistics of replacing the stacker were discussed briefly.

To read the rest of this story,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Carter’s Country Supercenter, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
Slim Pickins in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

Monday evening’s school board meeting opened with a budget hearing. Superintendent Adrian Howie went over a few items in the budget after Mike Persinger called the meeting to order. Mr. Howie explained changes in this year’s budget to those present. He said at this time they’re projected to pay off the bond early, saving taxpayers up to $100,000. There were no objections and the budget hearing adjourned. A copy of the 2018 budget for USD 210 is available at Central Office.

August’s regular board meeting commenced after the budget hearing adjourned. Mike commented about the middle and high school parking lots and thanked Mr. Howie for his fiscal responsibility, which allowed for the parking lots to be repaired.

The board recognized new staff members as introduced by the building principals. Mrs. Witt introduced Jaclyn Yowell, Angela Heger, Kara DeLaurentis, Ray Kennedy, Abel Medina, Jeison Rodriguez, Nicholas O’Loughlin and Craig Wind as new high school employees. Mr. Eslinger introduced Jacy Knoth and recognized Mr. Medina again, as he’ll be teaching at both the middle and high schools. Intermediate Principal Sonja Watkins introduced Erica Martinez and Ashley Knier. Primary School Principal Tiffany Boxum introduced Delaini de la Cerda. New HHS employee Kathy Cooper was unable to attend the meeting. Mr. Howie introduced the board members to the new teachers.

The board approved the handbooks as presented without further discussion. They then discussed the Parents As Teachers grant, and agreed to a 65 cent per dollar match by USD 210 after recommendation from Mr. Howie.

To read the rest of this story,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Carter’s Country Supercenter, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

US House of Reps
Republican
Roger Marshall 553
Nick Reinecker 131
Democrat
Alan LaPolice 23

Kansas Gov/Lt Gov
Republican
Jim Barnett/ Rosie Hansen 56
Jeff Colyer/ Tracey Mann 266
Kris Kobach/ Wink Hartman 336
Patrick Kucera/ Patricia Reitz 1
Tyler Ruzich/ Dominic Scavuzzo 1
Ken Selzer/ Jen Sanderson 62
Joseph Tutera Jr./ Phillip Clemente 2
Democrat
Arden Anderson/ Dale Cowsert 2
Jack Bergeson/ Alexander Cline 6
Carl Brewer/ Chris Morrow 8
Laura Kelly/ Lynn Rogers 15
Joshua Svaty/ Katrina Gier Lewison 5

Secretary of State
Republican
Randy Duncan 172
Keith Esau 31
Craig McCullah 53
Scott Schwab 242
Dennis Taylor 85
Democrat
Brian McClendon 25

Attorney General
Republican
Derek Schmidt 591
Democrat
Sarah Swain 26

State Treasurer
Republican
Jake LaTurner 549
Democrat
Marci Francisco 25

Insurance Commissioner
Republican
Vicki Schmidt 299
Clark Shultz 315
Democrat
Nathaniel McLaughlin 29

Kansas House of Reps
Republican
Jeffrey G. Locke 297
Martin (Marty) Long 404

State Board of Education
Republican
Jean Clifford 539

District Court Judge, 26th District, Div. 1
Republican
Bradley E. Ambrosier 556

District Court Judge, 26th District, Div. 3
Republican
Linda Gilmore 612

Stevens County Commissioner, District 1
Republican
Joe D. Thompson 127
James N. Bell 88

Next Tuesday, August 7, voters will take to the polls to cast their vote for several important nominations for public office including House of Representatives District 1, Kansas Governor, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance, Kansas House of Representatives and Stevens County Commissioner District 1.

Hugoton residents will vote at Memorial Hall. Moscow residents will vote at the United Methodist Church. If you’re unsure where you need to vote, what offices are on your ballot or even if you’re a registered Democrat or Republican, please click here. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Voters need to bring a government-issued photo ID to the polling place. A list of acceptable documents is available here.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Stevens County Election Officer Amy Jo Tharp at 620-544-2541.

The Hermes has compiled a very short biography of each candidate for readers to review. Please research each candidate carefully before casting your vote Tuesday.

Stevens County Commissioner, District 1

Jim Bell has lived in Moscow since 1976. He served Stevens County as a commissioner for one term from 2010 to 2014. Jim has also served the community with the Pioneer Electric Co-op Board, and was a member of the Stevens County Gas & Historical Museum for three years. Jim is married to Lorene, and the couple has three children: Trina Young, Susie Van Berkum and Allen Bell. Jim and Lorene also have four grandchildren.

Joe D. Thompson is the incumbent for the Commissioner District 1 seat since his initial election in 2014. He is a lifelong resident of Stevens County and graduated from Moscow High School. Joe D. farms in the eastern part of Stevens County and is married to Valerie, a Moscow teacher. The couple has three sons. Joe D. has served as the USD 209 school board president, and also as a board member at the Hugoton Assembly of God. Joe D. has also been president of the Stevens County Soil Conservation District and the Stevens County Farm Bureau Association.

House of Representatives, 124th District

Jeffrey Locke is a Republican running for the office of Kansas State Representative of the 124th District. He has served – and continues to serve his community as a teacher for more than 30 years. Mr. Locke also ran as a Republican candidate in the 2010 race for the Kansas House of Representatives District 2. He was elected to the Kansas Republican Party State Committee continually in the Second Congressional District and is now in the 1st Congressional District. He was also elected a city councilman in Arma. Mr. Locke was appointed by Governor Brownback as a commissioner to the Kansas Volunteer Commission and was also appointed as a citizen representative of Selective Service in his location in southwest Kansas. Contact his campaign by phone at 620-238-1378.

Grant County Commissioner Martin “Marty” Long is running for the Kansas House of Representatives’ 124th District seat. Long is a fourth-generation farmer in Grant County. He and his wife Debbie own the Corporate East Hotel in Ulysses. Mr. Long was elected to the Grant County Commission in 2004 and is currently serving his fourth term. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Port Authority of Southwest, and the Vice Chairman of the Western Kansas Development Organization. Mr. Long is a member of the Grant County Fair Board and Country View Baptist Church. Contact his campaign by phone at 620-353-8541.

To read the rest of this story,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Carter’s Country Superstore, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

The Parade of Champions at the Stevens County Fair include back row, left to right, Jacob Bell, Laramie  Brecheisen, Nick Gold, Jay McClure, Kynna Crawford, Frances Gaskill, Lakota Persing, Sydney Beesley, Jayden Burrows, Megan Newlon, Faith Beesley, Rebecca Johnson and Carter McClure. In front are Clayton Grubbs, Tobias Grubbs, Olivia Salmans, Madison Kurts, Lindy McClure, Joshua Burrows, Kadence Hernandez, Farrah Gaskill and Alaina Gold. Congratulations to all these young people for a job well done!

Linda Stalcup, CEO of Stevens County Hospital and Pioneer Manor, proudly announced the Manor received no deficiencies during  their annual Kansas State survey team inspection that  Pioneer Manor  had this past month.

When this team came in, they looked at everything including all the systems. They talked to the residents and families. They are making sure that the Manor is providing the best standard of care. This year, when the team finished their inspection, they told Linda that they found zero deficiencies.

Linda commented that this is the first time the Manor ever received zero deficiencies.  Other times, they have  found minor deficiencies and occasionally  major ones.  The Manor has made a lot of changes and have a lot of people in the right places now.

This team loved the current Manor. They stated this was the cleanest kitchen they had ever seen and the housekeeping was excellent. The maintenance of the building was great also.

Pioneer Manor has a right to be proud of their facility.

Congratulations to you all!

The time has come! The annual Pollyannas’ Sorghum Queen contest will take place this Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Hugoton High School Auditorium. Fourteen Stevens County ladies will be competing to win a crown. The 2018 Sorghum Queen will reign over the Stevens County Fair next week, along with her court: First and Second Princesses and Miss Congeniality.

Girls competing for the title of 2018 Sorghum Queen include Aubrey Brechbuhler, Shaylee Cox, Kynna Crawford, Frances Gaskill, Rolanda Gerber, Casle Heger, Brookelynne Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Reygan Kiley, Ella Martin, Emma McClure, Toby McClure, Luz Romo and Abby Tharp.

Prizes for the Queen include the following:
Tiara Pollyannas
Rose Bouquet Kramer Nordling
$100 prepaid card Citizens State Bank
One year subscription The Hugoton Hermes
One Month Membership Fitness Center
$25 cash Jeff Ramsey Farm Bureau
$50 cash Jordan Air $15 cash EZ Access
Gift RJ’s Gift Creative Specialties
Gift Shannon Crawford Farms
$50 gift card Equity Bank
$50 gift certificate Janet’s Bridal & Boutique
One month tanning Tanalon
One large pizza Pizza Hut
$10 cash Buffie’s Nails
$25 cash State Farm
$25 cash Hoskinson Water Well Service
8×10 photo Lynnie’s Nest

Good luck to all the participants! See you at the Fair!

To find out all the prizes for First & Second Princesses and Miss Congeniality,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Carter’s Country Superstore, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

The Hugoton City Council convened for their regular meeting Monday, July 9 at the council meeting room. Present at the meeting were Mayor Jack E. Rowden and Councilmen Dean Banker, Frankie Thomas, Dan Corpening, Shannon Crawford and Jason Teeter.  Also attending the meeting were City Clerk Carrie Baeza, Outside Utilities Supervisor  Paul Nordyke, Electric and Park Systems Supervisor Gary Rowden, City Inspector Josh Grubbs, City Attorney Wayne R. Tate, Police Chief Courtney Leslie, Vicki Hubin of the Western Kansas Child Advocacy, Wayne Reynolds, Evalina Reynolds, Blain Stump, Kara Stump and Hugoton Hermes reporter Ruthie Winget.

Mayor Rowden presided.

The council approved the minutes of the previous June 11 and June 18 meetings. They also approved the Municipal Judge’s report for June.

City Inspector Josh Grubbs stated he had been sending out a lot of Code Violation notices, mostly weed violations.

The council voted to approve the quarterly charge offs.

The council also approved Resolution No.  2018-3, the financing of the acquisition of the Police Department by a lease purchase agreement.  This Resolution can be seen on page 7 of this issue.

Vicki Hubin of the Western Kansas Child Advocacy stopped by the meeting to explain what their organization has been doing in Stevens County. The City Council approved a motion to donate $1,500 to help this organization.

The council also approved the motion to reappoint Darin Heger to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Planning Commission met June 12, 2018 and recommended to change zoning from I-1 (Industrial) to B-1 (Business) for the property at 839 E. Eleventh Street.  The council voted to rezone this property. See Ordinance 846 on page 3B of this issue. Blain and Kara Stump were present at the meeting. They stated they plan to open a restaurant called Stumpy’s in this location. They hope to open as soon as they can get the remodeling completed. They plan to offer home cooking, also steaks and mashed potatoes and gravy.

To read the rest of this story,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Thrifty King, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!