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.

The Stevens County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session Monday, May 21, 2018 with all members, Pat Hall, Joe D. Thompson and Tron Stegman present. County Clerk Amy Jo Tharp, County Counselor Paul Kitzke and RoGlenda Coulter from The Hugoton Hermes were also present.

The agenda for the morning was a short one and included Robert Lucero at 8:45; Shed Bid Opening – 9:00; Tony Martin – 9:30; Darin Heger/Vernon Anderson – 10:00; Extension Board – 10:30. The following includes highlights from the morning; official minutes can be seen at the Clerk’s office.

When this reporter arrived the Commissioners were talking with Robert Lucero about issues around the courthouse. They talked about reseeding the accidentally killed grass in front of the Memorial Hall and Law Enforcement Center. Concrete was talked about – it could save a lot of money down the line – water, fertilizer etc. More checking will be done.

Next on the agenda was the opening of bids for the sheds at the Fitness Center. Around 30 bids were sent in. Kenny Burrows turned in the highest bid for the gray 12’x12’ double door shed for $900 and the brown 10’x12’ single door shed for $700. Jeremy Hogg had the high bid for the white carport / shed combo with the bid of $2,276. Bid winners are to move the sheds within 30 days and pay before moving.

Rodney Kelling checked in for Fire/EMS. He reports Stevens County is still in extreme drought and the burn ban is still on. Both Hugoton and Moscow banned fireworks in their city limits. It was requested The Hermes run the CodeRed system address to sign up for notifications of emergency events. Find instructions for how to enroll in CodeRed by clicking here.

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!

Laura Holcomb has been selected as Super Mom 2018! Laura has two beautiful daughters, and was excited to take home a $25 gift certificate from Creative Specialties, as well as 50 Chamber Bucks from the Hugoton Area Chamber of Commerce. Congraulations Laura!

Other winners included Kristen Howie at Acosta’s & Nieto’s Cafe and Elizabeth Cruz at Pizza Hut. Buffy Schooley at NAPA Auto Parts, while Karie Gaskill took the prize at Flatlanders.

Janet’s Bridal awarded Stephanie Heger with a $25 gift certificate, and Tarcy Betsworth was drawn at Hugoton Drug. Linda Noyes won $25 cash at Equity Bank, and Toni Crawford got 20 Gas Capital Dollars from Citizens State Bank. Ruth Goodrum was awarded a $25 gift certificate from China, while Britany Harper won at Jet Drive-In. Rebeka Acuña got to pick her prize at the Little Gift Shop in the Corner.

Yardmaster’s winner was Jodi Staggers, and Shawna Strecker won at Elegant Exchange. Edith Maravilla won at Stevens County Retail Pharmacy, and Taylor Haar was the lucky winner at Los Agaves! Kates Pet Grooming picked Corrine Lines as their winner, and Pam Hagman won at Tan’alon.
Congratulations to all of these local Super Moms – you deserve it!