The USD 210 Board of Education met Tuesday, August 31 for a special meeting at the Central Office at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order and the agenda was approved. The board discussed the phases for the district before a group of concerned parents. The number of covid related absences has risen to 65 in the district, with eight active cases. After much discussion a motion was made to move to Phase 3 at the high school and Phase 2 at the ECDC, elementary and middle school. Phase 3 is masks are required for all staff and students. Phase 2 is face masks are encouraged for all staff and students. The motion passed 5-2. The board also approved Mr. Howie to pursue the KDHE testing grant. A motion was made and approved to recommend masks for spectators at activities if they are unable to socially distance. The meeting adjourned. The next board meeting will be Monday, September 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central office.

The USD 210 Board of Education met Monday, August 30 for a special meeting at the Central Office at 6:30 a.m. The board approved the hires of Helena Giesbrecht for food service at the MS/HS building and Maria Caballero for food service at the elementary. The board also accepted the resignations of Janeth Castro as ESL aide at the high school and Cash Anthony as athletic director/assistant principal.

Teachers and staff enjoy the delicious food and conversation during the annual breakfast.

Local gardener Bernard Smith shows his crops of giant cantaloupe and squash.  Some of his cantaloupe weighs in at twelve pounds.

Molly McClure from the Hugoton FFA has been selected to be a National FFA Agricultural Proficiency Award Finalist in the Diversified Livestock Production Agricultural Proficiency Award area! This is truly an honor that only 180 FFA members received this year. Previously Molly has won the Southwest Kansas District and then the State Level award for this experience area. Molly will be interviewed by a panel of judges via Zoom and have the opportunity to be on stage at the National FFA Convention October 29 during the awards session. Photo courtesy of Les McNally.

Veterans are presented with Quilts of Valor Thursday evening at the fair. Left to right are Ron Simmons, Chuck Simmons, Jerry Stuckey, James Livingston, Robert Floyd and Tom Lahey. In front is Bailey Haynes,  the third woman to join the Marines from Stevens County.

Sorghum Queen court includes Second Princess Mylee Miller, Sorghum Queen Lilianah Archuleta,  First Princess Faith Beesley and Miss Congeniality Claudia Clark. In front are Flower Girls Olivia Roybal and Amelia Roybal.

The beautiful Sorghum Queen contestants meet up at Parsons Park for the traditional photograph. Left to right front row are, McKenna Hamlin, Faith Beesley, Cami Maravilla, Shaylee Cox, Claudia Clark, Aubrey Brechbuhler, Isabella Hall, Makayla Milhon and Mary Beth Crawford. On the back row left to right are, Taylor Grubbs, Mylee Miller, Jayden Burrows, Jayce Heger, Jewels Noland, Yacquelin Coreno, Lilianah Archuleta, Ella Beesley, Emmi Lott and Leslie Martinez.

The local theater is getting a new paint job which really brightens up Main Street of Hugoton. The High Plains Theater is being renovated in order to get it open for movies, concerts, theatrical performances and many other events.

New Hugoton Police Officers Aaron Koehn and Keith Quesada are introduced to the City Council Members.