Law enforcement officers across the state will be collecting unused leftover medications for
safe disposal  Saturday, September 26, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Monday.          Medications will be accepted at drop-off sites across the state from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday. Stevens County Sheriff’s Department will be collecting from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 505 S. Monroe in Hugoton. To find other locations, click here. Read More →

The Hugoton Community was saddened with the news of the recent tragic vehicle accident which took the lives of two local residents. Micaela Bojorquez, mother of six, lost her life Tuesday evening when the SUV she was riding in was struck by a semi driven by James Ford who also lost his life. Read More →

The flag pole project at Pioneer Manor is complete! A dedication ceremony is planned for Wednesday, September 16, at 10:00 a.m. The entire community is invited to dedicate the magnificent display outside the Manor, as well as recognize the donors and Veterans who made such a memorial possible. There will be entertainment and refreshments. Please mark your calendar!

The High Plains Music Fest is back – and better than ever! The second annual event looks to be quite an extravaganza, featuring acts such as Broken Bar V, Eric Welford, Kinsey Sadler and Stoney LaRue & the Arsenals at Hugoton’s own Dirtona Raceway, starting at 6:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight. Read More →

Hugoton Elementary School was recently recognized for hosting the top “Hoops for Heart” event during the 2014-2015 school year. Hoops for Heart took place in April, and HES students collected a whopping $10,965 to donate to the fight against heart disease. Hoops for Heart events take place all across the United States. Students play basketball and raise money for the American Heart Association. For more information, visit heart.org.

Intermediate School Principal Larry Lyder and American Heart Association’s Senior Youth Director for Western Kansas Jennifer Thompson  congratulated the HES kids and coordinator Ms. Terri Daniels for all their hard work last year!

Labor Day is coming up this next Monday, September 7. Many local businesses will be closed for the holiday.

The Hugoton Hermes will be closed all day Monday. Early deadline will be Friday, September 4 at 12:00 noon. The Stevens County Courthouse and the City of Hugoton will also be closed all day Monday. There will be no mail delivered for Labor Day, and the Post Office will be closed. Read More →

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback visited Hugoton Wednesday, August 19, for a Farm Bureau Association Legislative Update. The purpose of his visit was to reinforce the importance of agriculture to the Kansas economy. Read More →

Get your motor runnin’ this Saturday, August 22, as the Gas Capital Car Club will present their Twenty-fourth Annual Gas Capital Car, Truck & Bike Show.

The Hugoton City Park will be filled with enough cars, trucks and motorcycles to satisfy any gearhead! The show will start at 8:00 a.m. and will end around 4:00 p.m.

The Gas Capital Car Club gives out many awards during the show, including recognition for “Best of Show”, “Mayor’s Choice” – chosen by Hugoton Mayor Jack Rowden, “Club Choice”, “Best Bike”, “Longest Distance” and “Top Ten”.

Be sure to stop by the City Park Saturday morning or afternoon – or stay all day – and check out all the cool rides from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.!

Larry Brady was inducted into the Oklahoma Ag Teacher Hall of Fame August 4, 2015. His family had kept this award a secret from him for several months, and the whole gang was there to celebrate with him during this special and well-deserved day. Larry served in Balko, Ok. as an Ag teacher from 1961 until 1994 for a total of 33 years. While serving the Balko students he received his Honorary State FFA Degree as well as an Honorary American FFA Degree, and 62 of his students were recipients of a State FFA Degree. Larry was as effective in the show ring as he was in the classroom. Possibly his most prized story is that of Arnold, a runt that he sold for two sacks of feed. Many in the area know that Arnold went on to win the Grand Champion at the Oklahoma City Spring Stock Show. There Arnold sold for $24,000. From there, Larry went on to have his hogs win Tulsa as well as Kansas State Fairs. Although this story is one for the ages, Larry’s best accomplishment didn’t come in the show ring. Rather it came with the many lives that he touched and changed in the community of Balko.

The Stevens County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session Monday, August 3 with Pat Hall and Joe D. Thompson present. Also present were County Clerk Pam Bensel, County Counselor Paul Kitzke and RoGlenda Coulter from The Hugoton Hermes. Dave Bozone was ill, but was able to come in at 10:00 a.m. for the meeting with Jack Rowden and the City Council.

The following is just an agenda for the morning with a few of the unofficial highlights. Official minutes may be published at a later date.

When this reporter arrived, the bills had been looked over and Vernon Anderson had stopped in. Motion was made to accept and pay the bills and to approve the minutes. Read More →