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.

Champions of the Sterling Invitational are from the left, Assistant Coach Heber Jimenez, Luis Guzman, Carson Slocum, Carson Bennett, Cade Mecklenburg, Ryle Riddlesperger, Emmett Gaskill, Gavin Williams, Dasean Lewis, Julian Delgodo, Isaac Martin, Griffin Heger, Jay Acosta,  Alexis Jimenez, Assistant Coach Gentry Slocum, Manager Isaac Marioni and Coach Trey O’Neil. Photo courtesy of Lisa Bennett.

Moscow has been awarded the SHAPE Award of Kansas from The Kansas Department of Labor. This was the first award given out this year. There have only been seven awards given out in ten years since they started giving them out in 2012. The Kansas Department of Labor makes over 500 visits to public entities a year. Moscow is one of the first in the southwest Kansas area and one of the first small cities to receive it. The Industrial Safety and Health Division recognizes safety conscious employers and employees in the public sector. The Safety and Health Award for Public Employees (SHAPE) program is designed for those public sector entities whose employees have not had a lost-time accident for a specific number of consecutive days.

Tim Cruz with the Kansas Department of Labor came to Moscow and walked through all of the city buildings. He made a report of what the city had to fix and it had to be fixed within 60 days and sent back. Some things are understandable as far as can’t fix because of money etc. but Moscow got things fixed and sent back. Inspectors then show back up in six months unannounced to check everything and Mosocw had zero hazards, thanks to the hard work of Toni Crawford, Permelia Clark and the city guy Nico.