Keri Clark accepts a check on behalf of the Project After Prom Committee from Hugoton Masonic Lodge #406 member Steve Carter.

CONGRATULATIONS to Police Officer and Chaplain Tim Singer on the right and Police Officer Kenny Pike on their graduation from the Part-Time Police Academy at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center.

Lady Eagles, cheerleaders, band members and The Rowdy Crowd all pose for a picture after the heartbreaker game against Goodland Saturday evening at Hutchinson. The Lady Eagles placed second place at State after losing to Goodland by one point in the final seconds of the final game. Hugoton is proud of the hard work and goals the Lady Eagles accomplished throughout the basketball season. Congratulations on a great season.

The 2021 Windbreak winners Nick and Shannon Pool proudly display their plaque and sign after Luke Grubbs at right presented them to the couple.

Kelsee Burnett is the proud winner of the Project After Prom quilt auction. The auction took place at half time of the boy’s game against Ulysses Friday night.

Luke Grubbs at right presents the Community Service Award to Tommy Romero at the Stevens County Conservation Banquet. His wife Mary stands proudly at left.

Winners of the Above and Beyond award are the members of the Hugoton Police Department. Pictured left to right are, Chaplain/Part-time Officer Tim Singer, Officer Aaron Koehn, Animal Control Officer Stephanie Smith, Chief of Police Courtney Leslie, Officer Keith Quesada and Detective Matt Lamatsch.

Americans learned that trade with the Spanish Southwest might be profitable as they studied Zebulon Pike’s “Journal of the Western Expedition”, which was published in 1810. Many Americans tried to start trade with Mexico, but most had been unsuccessful as Spain still ruled over Mexico. Trade on the Santa Fe Trail from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe began in 1821 when William Becknell of Franklin, Mo. first set out with trade goods for the people of Northern Mexico, present-day New Mexico. He met a troop of Mexican soldiers and learned that Mexico had gained its independence. He was welcome to trade!! Many followed after him down the 800 mile Trail of Commerce and Conquest that had two main branches. The Cimarron Cutoff ran southwest from the Dodge City/Cimarron area through dry country. It saved traders 10 days and eventually carried 75% of the trade. However, there was little water and much Indian danger. The Mountain Branch came west passing through the area of present-day Kearny County (in Kansas). It was longer and caused problems for wagons moving over Raton Pass. However, there was more water and less Indian problems. The Army of the West marched down the Mountain Branch to Mexico in 1846 and took over Santa Fe. For some 60 years, traders, freighters, soldiers, buffalo hunters, gold seekers and others followed in Becknell’s footsteps along this first highway of United States westward expansion. The Santa Fe Trail Two Hundredth Timeline was created by many, many history-minded people to commemorate this National Historic Trail. Stop by to see the Timeline exhibit at the Stevens County Library Monday February 14 thru Friday February 18 from 9:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Several items on display are on loan from the Stevens County Gas and Historical Museum and local citizens.