With the winter months upon us, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reminding homeowners about the fire dangers associated with heating equipment. Improper use of such equipment like portable or stationary space heaters, wood burning stoves and fireplaces can be incredibly dangerous, and their misuse is a leading cause of U.S. home fire deaths.

According to NFPA, half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January and February. More than half of the home heating fire deaths resulted from fires that started when something that could burn – like upholstered furniture, clothing, blankets and bedding – was too close to heating equipment. Read More →

The Stevens County Board of County Commissioners met in their first 2016 regular session Monday, January 4 with all members, Pat Hall, Dave Bozone and Joe D. Thompson present. Also present were County Clerk Pam Bensel and RoGlenda Coulter from The Hugoton Hermes. County Counselor Paul Kitzke was not present.

The following is just an agenda for the morning with a few of the unofficial highlights.

The agenda for the meeting this week was a short one again. It included Bills at 8:30; Lori Hensley at 9:00; Tony Martin at 9:30; and Josh Morris at 10:00.

When this reporter arrived, the Commissioners were finishing going over the bills. Motion was made and passed to accept and pay the bills.

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Before you commit to all those New Year’s resolutions, make sure to end 2015 with a bang at several local hot-spots!

Put on your dancing shoes and head over to LB’s Bar & Grill at 615 S. Monroe in Hugoton, for a rockin’ party with Broken Bar V from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

If you feel like dancing but don’t particularly like the bar atmosphere, go to the Activity Center at 624 S. Main for their New Year’s dance with live country music by Bob Walter, from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.

Feel more like a mix of music? Barb’s Den at 109 E. Sixth in Hugoton will host a DJ from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

You can also ring in the new year at Antlers Bar & Grill in Moscow with the 12 Gauge Band from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. There will be drink specials and champagne at midnight!

Please celebrate responsibly and have a very Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from The Hugoton Hermes

Hugoton and the surrounding area has always been rich with a variety of churches for residents and their visitors to attend. This Christmas season, you are encouraged to enjoy some special services at your choice of church.

Hugoton’s Assembly of God, at 138 S. Main, will offer a candlelight service Christmas Eve at 6:00 p.m. The service is expected to last approximately an hour, and will include special music and communion. Bethel Friends, at 1040 S. Jefferson, will also have Christmas Eve services Thursday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. Communion will be offered.

The Church of Christ invites everyone to come hear a very enlightening sermon from Minister Lee Rottman this Sunday, December 20, beginning at 11:00 a.m. If you’d like, you’re also invited to Sunday School beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Church of Christ is located at 1045 S. Van Buren, right across from Hugoton High School.

The Church of God in Hugoton will offer a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. with communion. The Church of God is located at 801 West City Limits. First Christian will have a Christmas Eve service at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 24 at their building at 600 Van Buren in Hugoton.

River of Life will host a Christmas service Sunday, December 20 at 10:30 a.m. at 424 S. Jackson. Trinity Baptist announced they will have some special music included with their regular service this Sunday, December 20 starting at 10:45 a.m. Hugoton’s UMC will host “Blue Christmas” services at 5:00 p.m. at 828 S. Main this Sunday, December 20.

Moscow residents – and anyone else – are invited to attend the United Methodist Church’s annual Cantata this Sunday, December 20 starting at 11:00 a.m. after Sunday school. Be sure to get there early, so you can hear the children play the bells before the Cantata! There will also be a potluck lunch afterward. The UMC is located at 304 Main in Moscow. Then Thursday, December 24, get over to the Moscow Baptist Church for their Candlelight service at 7:00 p.m. You can find Moscow Baptist at 2035 Road Y in Moscow.

Celebrate the “reason for the season” this year at the church of your choice, and have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas will be here before we know it! With the approaching holiday, many businesses in town have opted to observe different hours than usual to allow their employees time to celebrate with their families. Read More →

As the holiday season progresses, time is at a premium! In between shopping, visiting friends, putting up decorations, baking cookies and ALL the other things you have on your schedule, be sure to carve out a few minutes for these local events.

Hugoton High School’s annual Blue and Red Classic basketball tournament begins Thursday, December 10. The Lady Eagles will take the court in the West Gym at 6:30 p.m. to face the Hooker Bulldogs. Then the boys’ team will face Hooker at 8:15 p.m., also in the West Gym. Get your copy of a bracket from page 8 of this week’s Hermes, and be sure to head over to the high school to fill it out and cheer on the HHS Eagles!

If you missed the Chamber’s Christmas Carnival last Saturday, don’t despair! Santa will be making another appearance at Yardmaster at Third and Main in Hugoton Saturday afternoon, December 12 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be hot cocoa and cookies available, and the first 100 kids to show up will get a free goody bag while waiting for their FREE picture with Santa!

While making your rounds at local shops, pick up a couple of extra toys to drop off for Stevens County Healthcare’s Third Annual Toy Drive. Toys will go to area children who may not receive a Christmas gift otherwise. Drop off boxes are located at Stevens County Hospital, Pioneer Manor, Dollar General and Flatlanders Farm & Home. Toys will be picked up from those locations December 15, so don’t delay! If you know of a child who needs a Christmas gift, please call Alisha at 620-544-6162.

You can also help local children with Christmas shopping by participating in the Ninth Annual Shop With A Cop event. You can volunteer to wrap presents, recommend a child in need, or make a donation. Mail donations to Hugoton Police Department, PO Box 788, Hugoton, Ks. 67951 or drop them by the HPD at 405 E. Fourth in Hugoton. To find out more, call 620-544-4959.

The holiday season is already in full swing! This Friday, December 4 will be the annual PEO Cookie Sale at the Citizens State Bank Annex at 601 S. Main in Hugoton. Fill up a box with delicious homemade baked goods from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.! Santa Claus is making the rounds again this year, and Hugoton looks to be his next stop. The jolly guy will be in town at Flatlanders Saturday, December 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to take pictures with your favorite furry friends. You can even dress your pets in costumes, or choose from their selection! Then he’ll go over to the Stevens County Activity Center to greet area children from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will also be games and face painting at the Activity Center, so be sure to stop by and see Santa this Saturday, December 5. Read More →

Thanksgiving is upon the nation, and with it, the official start of the holiday season. Namely, the intense Christmas shopping push including such savings events as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. However, in all the stress of preparing for the season, you might have forgotten about Small Business Saturday, November 28 and Giving Tuesday, December 2. Instead of heading over to Guymon or Liberal to spend your dollars in another county, stay right here in Hugoton and enjoy some great deals at local shops.

Contrary to popular belief, Black Friday initially referred to the day after Thanksgiving when employers would receive countless calls from workers claiming illness to gain a four-day weekend. Philadelphia, Pa. police officers began using the term “Black Friday” in 1961 to refer to the awful traffic conditions due to off-duty workers beginning their Christmas shopping. This year, be thankful you live in a rural community where traffic jams are extremely uncommon. Avoid the crowds and head to Flatlanders Farm & Home for countless specials on cookbooks, kitchen accessories, tools, and even furniture – the Real Tree Camo Relaxer Chair and patio table and chair set are the definition of “steals”! The store also offers ten percent off all guns and boots. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. for Black Friday. You can also stop at the Dollar General store on Eleventh Street where you can find discounts for everything from electronics and kitchen gadgets to bedding and clothes. And if you haven’t put up your Christmas tree yet, Dollar General offers half-price trees, ornaments and tree toppers. Hugoton’s Dollar General will be open Thanksgiving Day, November 26, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Black Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Read More →