Next Tuesday, August 7, voters will take to the polls to cast their vote for several important nominations for public office including House of Representatives District 1, Kansas Governor, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance, Kansas House of Representatives and Stevens County Commissioner District 1.

Hugoton residents will vote at Memorial Hall. Moscow residents will vote at the United Methodist Church. If you’re unsure where you need to vote, what offices are on your ballot or even if you’re a registered Democrat or Republican, please click here. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Voters need to bring a government-issued photo ID to the polling place. A list of acceptable documents is available here.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Stevens County Election Officer Amy Jo Tharp at 620-544-2541.

The Hermes has compiled a very short biography of each candidate for readers to review. Please research each candidate carefully before casting your vote Tuesday.

Stevens County Commissioner, District 1

Jim Bell has lived in Moscow since 1976. He served Stevens County as a commissioner for one term from 2010 to 2014. Jim has also served the community with the Pioneer Electric Co-op Board, and was a member of the Stevens County Gas & Historical Museum for three years. Jim is married to Lorene, and the couple has three children: Trina Young, Susie Van Berkum and Allen Bell. Jim and Lorene also have four grandchildren.

Joe D. Thompson is the incumbent for the Commissioner District 1 seat since his initial election in 2014. He is a lifelong resident of Stevens County and graduated from Moscow High School. Joe D. farms in the eastern part of Stevens County and is married to Valerie, a Moscow teacher. The couple has three sons. Joe D. has served as the USD 209 school board president, and also as a board member at the Hugoton Assembly of God. Joe D. has also been president of the Stevens County Soil Conservation District and the Stevens County Farm Bureau Association.

House of Representatives, 124th District

Jeffrey Locke is a Republican running for the office of Kansas State Representative of the 124th District. He has served – and continues to serve his community as a teacher for more than 30 years. Mr. Locke also ran as a Republican candidate in the 2010 race for the Kansas House of Representatives District 2. He was elected to the Kansas Republican Party State Committee continually in the Second Congressional District and is now in the 1st Congressional District. He was also elected a city councilman in Arma. Mr. Locke was appointed by Governor Brownback as a commissioner to the Kansas Volunteer Commission and was also appointed as a citizen representative of Selective Service in his location in southwest Kansas. Contact his campaign by phone at 620-238-1378.

Grant County Commissioner Martin “Marty” Long is running for the Kansas House of Representatives’ 124th District seat. Long is a fourth-generation farmer in Grant County. He and his wife Debbie own the Corporate East Hotel in Ulysses. Mr. Long was elected to the Grant County Commission in 2004 and is currently serving his fourth term. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Port Authority of Southwest, and the Vice Chairman of the Western Kansas Development Organization. Mr. Long is a member of the Grant County Fair Board and Country View Baptist Church. Contact his campaign by phone at 620-353-8541.

To read the rest of this story,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Carter’s Country Superstore, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

The Parade of Champions at the Stevens County Fair include back row, left to right, Jacob Bell, Laramie  Brecheisen, Nick Gold, Jay McClure, Kynna Crawford, Frances Gaskill, Lakota Persing, Sydney Beesley, Jayden Burrows, Megan Newlon, Faith Beesley, Rebecca Johnson and Carter McClure. In front are Clayton Grubbs, Tobias Grubbs, Olivia Salmans, Madison Kurts, Lindy McClure, Joshua Burrows, Kadence Hernandez, Farrah Gaskill and Alaina Gold. Congratulations to all these young people for a job well done!

Linda Stalcup, CEO of Stevens County Hospital and Pioneer Manor, proudly announced the Manor received no deficiencies during  their annual Kansas State survey team inspection that  Pioneer Manor  had this past month.

When this team came in, they looked at everything including all the systems. They talked to the residents and families. They are making sure that the Manor is providing the best standard of care. This year, when the team finished their inspection, they told Linda that they found zero deficiencies.

Linda commented that this is the first time the Manor ever received zero deficiencies.  Other times, they have  found minor deficiencies and occasionally  major ones.  The Manor has made a lot of changes and have a lot of people in the right places now.

This team loved the current Manor. They stated this was the cleanest kitchen they had ever seen and the housekeeping was excellent. The maintenance of the building was great also.

Pioneer Manor has a right to be proud of their facility.

Congratulations to you all!

The time has come! The annual Pollyannas’ Sorghum Queen contest will take place this Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Hugoton High School Auditorium. Fourteen Stevens County ladies will be competing to win a crown. The 2018 Sorghum Queen will reign over the Stevens County Fair next week, along with her court: First and Second Princesses and Miss Congeniality.

Girls competing for the title of 2018 Sorghum Queen include Aubrey Brechbuhler, Shaylee Cox, Kynna Crawford, Frances Gaskill, Rolanda Gerber, Casle Heger, Brookelynne Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Reygan Kiley, Ella Martin, Emma McClure, Toby McClure, Luz Romo and Abby Tharp.

Prizes for the Queen include the following:
Tiara Pollyannas
Rose Bouquet Kramer Nordling
$100 prepaid card Citizens State Bank
One year subscription The Hugoton Hermes
One Month Membership Fitness Center
$25 cash Jeff Ramsey Farm Bureau
$50 cash Jordan Air $15 cash EZ Access
Gift RJ’s Gift Creative Specialties
Gift Shannon Crawford Farms
$50 gift card Equity Bank
$50 gift certificate Janet’s Bridal & Boutique
One month tanning Tanalon
One large pizza Pizza Hut
$10 cash Buffie’s Nails
$25 cash State Farm
$25 cash Hoskinson Water Well Service
8×10 photo Lynnie’s Nest

Good luck to all the participants! See you at the Fair!

To find out all the prizes for First & Second Princesses and Miss Congeniality,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Carter’s Country Superstore, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

The Hugoton City Council convened for their regular meeting Monday, July 9 at the council meeting room. Present at the meeting were Mayor Jack E. Rowden and Councilmen Dean Banker, Frankie Thomas, Dan Corpening, Shannon Crawford and Jason Teeter.  Also attending the meeting were City Clerk Carrie Baeza, Outside Utilities Supervisor  Paul Nordyke, Electric and Park Systems Supervisor Gary Rowden, City Inspector Josh Grubbs, City Attorney Wayne R. Tate, Police Chief Courtney Leslie, Vicki Hubin of the Western Kansas Child Advocacy, Wayne Reynolds, Evalina Reynolds, Blain Stump, Kara Stump and Hugoton Hermes reporter Ruthie Winget.

Mayor Rowden presided.

The council approved the minutes of the previous June 11 and June 18 meetings. They also approved the Municipal Judge’s report for June.

City Inspector Josh Grubbs stated he had been sending out a lot of Code Violation notices, mostly weed violations.

The council voted to approve the quarterly charge offs.

The council also approved Resolution No.  2018-3, the financing of the acquisition of the Police Department by a lease purchase agreement.  This Resolution can be seen on page 7 of this issue.

Vicki Hubin of the Western Kansas Child Advocacy stopped by the meeting to explain what their organization has been doing in Stevens County. The City Council approved a motion to donate $1,500 to help this organization.

The council also approved the motion to reappoint Darin Heger to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The Planning Commission met June 12, 2018 and recommended to change zoning from I-1 (Industrial) to B-1 (Business) for the property at 839 E. Eleventh Street.  The council voted to rezone this property. See Ordinance 846 on page 3B of this issue. Blain and Kara Stump were present at the meeting. They stated they plan to open a restaurant called Stumpy’s in this location. They hope to open as soon as they can get the remodeling completed. They plan to offer home cooking, also steaks and mashed potatoes and gravy.

To read the rest of this story,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Thrifty King, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

Father’s Day is usually a pretty good day for ol’ Dad – but this year’s holiday really took the cake for Galen Hancock. This year, he won at three locations – Equity Bank, where he was awarded $20 in cash; at Bultman Tire, with a $50 gift certificate, and finally, at the Fitness Center, where he won a free month’s membership and the title of Super Dad 2018! As such, Galen was also awarded $50 in Chamber Bucks from Chamber Director Alisha Owens. What a day! Galen is married to Cynthia and they have two children, Gabe and Christy.

Galen is not the only dad to be honored, lucky Larry Dunn will be able to keep his vehicle in tip top running order with a free oil change from Ghumm’s Auto Center! Warren Willis definitely won’t have a problem spending his $25 gift certificate at Flatlanders Farm & Home!

Brian Gaskill can put his new $25 gift certificate to good use in his yard or back patio when he picks out something special at Yardmaster. Dave Piper can go shopping around town with the $20 Gas Capital Dollars he was awarded from Citizens State Bank. Don Farmer can show off his family when he takes them to dinner at the Jet Drive-In to collect his two free dinners along with a couple drinks.

Joel McClure is the lucky father whose name was drawn at Creative Specialties winning him a $25 gift certificate. The Hospital Auxiliary’s Little Gift Shop in the Corner announced their winner Gerald Hill will get his gift of choice. Hugoton Drug filled a nice big gift basket with a bunch of surprises for their winning father, Kevin Staggers. Daniel Alfaro will stay informed with his prize of a free year of The Hugoton Hermes!

Jay Witt can treat his family with a dinner for two and a night out at Acosta’s & Nieto’s Cafe. American Implement will honor Lonnie Pierce with a $50 gift certificate to spend at their store. And last but not least, Tanner Nebius can enjoy a “cold one” – or maybe two – with his $25 gift certificate from Twisted H Liquor.

Congratulations to all these lucky dads and all you other wonderful dads also. Happy late Father’s Day!!

The Stevens County Economic Development Board met June 12, 2018 for their regularly scheduled meeting in the craft room of the Senior Center.  Present at the meeting were Director Jan Leonard and board members Jack Rowden, Judy Parsons, Neal Gillespie, Walt Beesley, Curtis Crawford and Jonathon Pearcey.  Also attending the meeting were Secretary Alisha Owens and Hugoton Hermes reporter Ruthie Winget.  Board members Doug Martin, Adrian Howie and  Ron Honig were absent.

President Judy Parsons presided.

Treasurer Jack Rowden reported the balance of the checking account to be $1,292.50 and the Special Accounts balance to be $33,876.27.  The board voted to transfer $3,100 from the Special Accounts to the checking  account to pay bills.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

EcoDevo Director Jan Leonard informed the members he had turned in the proposed 2019 budget to the Stevens County Commissioners. He also stated since Janie Gaskill is doing the books, they would be able to drop Hay & Rice. The board approved a motion for Janie Gaskill to do all the bookkeeping and the yearly audits.

Alisha was able to obtain the ROZ updated list. She stated she would email the list to all the board members.

Director Leonard contacted Verbio as well as Synata, but there is nothing to report at this time.

Leonard reported he was still working on the tourism brochures. He is still collecting information about Dr. Bundy, Bonnie & Clyde and Buddy Heaton. Jan recently received a letter from the Topeka museum saying they had accepted the vials found in the Hugoton tunnel to put in an exhibition. The contents of the vials have not yet been tested.

To read the rest of this story,
check out this week’s issue of The Hermes –
available at the following stores:
Thrifty King, Dollar General, Daylight Donuts,
Hugoton Drug, Stevens County Retail Pharmacy
and Eagles Landing in Hugoton
The Store in Moscow and the Corner Stop in Rolla
or subscribe online now by clicking here!

The Stevens County Library is pleased to announce Reading Rocks, a summer rock scavenger hunt…because Libraries “Rock”!

There are two ways you can participate in the Reading Rocks program.
1) Stop by the Stevens County Library and paint one of our prepared rocks with a book-, reading-, or music-related theme. Turn your rock over to library staff for labeling and sealing. Library staff will then hide the rocks around Stevens County in public spaces.
2) If you happen to find a Reading Rock in the wild, leave it there and snap a photo and post it to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #SCLROCKS2018.

Don’t forget to tag the library @stevenscounty library! Look for all the beautifully designed Reading Rocks on the library’s Facebook page or Instagram. At the end of the summer, the library will collect the Reading Rocks to start a library rock garden!

Visit the Stevens County Library’s Web site for more information about summer 2018 reading programs!

The American Red Cross is counting on volunteer donors to give blood and help ensure patient needs can be met this summer.

Around Memorial Day, the Red Cross sees a steep decline in blood donations. Busy summer schedules, vacations and school breaks also cause a drop in donations. Accidents and medical emergencies don’t take a summer break – patients need blood every minute, every day.

In the summer of 1973, Ramona Johnson was playing at the park when she was injured jumping off the swings. She was bleeding profusely from a 7-inch gash in her leg. By the time she reached the hospital, she needed an emergency transfusion. She credits the donors who took the time to give blood with helping to save her life.

Johnson’s childhood experience receiving blood compelled her to make her first blood donation more than 10 years ago. “A little voice told me that this would be a great way to give back,” she said. “I have been faithfully donating every eight weeks since.”

The public is asked to schedule an appointment to help ensure that hospitals and patients have the blood they need this summer. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, clicking here or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities May 21 to June 15

June 13, 2018
Stevens County Fairgrounds,
Highway 51 and Washington Street in Hugoton
from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m.
June 14, 2018
Western Avenue Church of Christ,
215 S. Western Avenue in Liberal
from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m.

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, click here or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health, may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions here or use the Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.

For more information, please visit RedCross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org,
or visit us on Twitter @RedCross.