The Hugoton USD 210 Board of Education met in a special meeting Monday, Janury 25. Members present were Matt Mills, Todd Gayer, Stephanie Heger, Mike Persinger, Dettra Crawford and Paula Rowden. Barry Hittle was absent. Also present were Adrian Howie, Traci Shields, Davonna Daharsh, Kay McDaniels, Arick Miller, Scott Strom, Clayton Rekz and Aaron Buys.

A group from 360 Energy Engineering came in to discuss the design development midterm handout for the elementary school projects. At the January 5 special meeting the board voted to enter into a Design Services agreement with 360 Energy Engineering. Scott Strom talked about the HVAC upgrades at the elementary. One interior room has no ventilization air and will have to have some work done. He discussed the use of the split cooling system installed last year. He recommended moving it to the kitchen to provide supplemental cooling. That way they can avoid turning on the chillers just to cool the kitchen in early mornings and also in the summer time. He detailed the equipment the district would need for heating and cooling. It included chillers, high efficiency condensing boilers, variable speed pumps, dedicated outdoor air system, hot water piping, windows, ceilings and much more. Read More →

Congratulations to the members of the 2016 Hugoton High School Winter Homecoming Court!

Freshman attendant is Rebecca Johnson, daughter of Matt and Nancy Johnson; sophomore attendant is Brooklyn Harper, daughter of Brian and Aymee Harper; and Junior attendant is Marisol DonJuan, daughter of Odilon and Olga DonJuan. Read More →

With the winter months upon us, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reminding homeowners about the fire dangers associated with heating equipment. Improper use of such equipment like portable or stationary space heaters, wood burning stoves and fireplaces can be incredibly dangerous, and their misuse is a leading cause of U.S. home fire deaths.

According to NFPA, half of home heating equipment fires are reported during the months of December, January and February. More than half of the home heating fire deaths resulted from fires that started when something that could burn – like upholstered furniture, clothing, blankets and bedding – was too close to heating equipment. Read More →

The Stevens County Board of County Commissioners met in their first 2016 regular session Monday, January 4 with all members, Pat Hall, Dave Bozone and Joe D. Thompson present. Also present were County Clerk Pam Bensel and RoGlenda Coulter from The Hugoton Hermes. County Counselor Paul Kitzke was not present.

The following is just an agenda for the morning with a few of the unofficial highlights.

The agenda for the meeting this week was a short one again. It included Bills at 8:30; Lori Hensley at 9:00; Tony Martin at 9:30; and Josh Morris at 10:00.

When this reporter arrived, the Commissioners were finishing going over the bills. Motion was made and passed to accept and pay the bills.

Read More →

Before you commit to all those New Year’s resolutions, make sure to end 2015 with a bang at several local hot-spots!

Put on your dancing shoes and head over to LB’s Bar & Grill at 615 S. Monroe in Hugoton, for a rockin’ party with Broken Bar V from 5:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

If you feel like dancing but don’t particularly like the bar atmosphere, go to the Activity Center at 624 S. Main for their New Year’s dance with live country music by Bob Walter, from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.

Feel more like a mix of music? Barb’s Den at 109 E. Sixth in Hugoton will host a DJ from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

You can also ring in the new year at Antlers Bar & Grill in Moscow with the 12 Gauge Band from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. There will be drink specials and champagne at midnight!

Please celebrate responsibly and have a very Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from The Hugoton Hermes

Hugoton and the surrounding area has always been rich with a variety of churches for residents and their visitors to attend. This Christmas season, you are encouraged to enjoy some special services at your choice of church.

Hugoton’s Assembly of God, at 138 S. Main, will offer a candlelight service Christmas Eve at 6:00 p.m. The service is expected to last approximately an hour, and will include special music and communion. Bethel Friends, at 1040 S. Jefferson, will also have Christmas Eve services Thursday, December 24 at 6:00 p.m. Communion will be offered.

The Church of Christ invites everyone to come hear a very enlightening sermon from Minister Lee Rottman this Sunday, December 20, beginning at 11:00 a.m. If you’d like, you’re also invited to Sunday School beginning at 10:00 a.m. The Church of Christ is located at 1045 S. Van Buren, right across from Hugoton High School.

The Church of God in Hugoton will offer a Christmas Eve candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. with communion. The Church of God is located at 801 West City Limits. First Christian will have a Christmas Eve service at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, December 24 at their building at 600 Van Buren in Hugoton.

River of Life will host a Christmas service Sunday, December 20 at 10:30 a.m. at 424 S. Jackson. Trinity Baptist announced they will have some special music included with their regular service this Sunday, December 20 starting at 10:45 a.m. Hugoton’s UMC will host “Blue Christmas” services at 5:00 p.m. at 828 S. Main this Sunday, December 20.

Moscow residents – and anyone else – are invited to attend the United Methodist Church’s annual Cantata this Sunday, December 20 starting at 11:00 a.m. after Sunday school. Be sure to get there early, so you can hear the children play the bells before the Cantata! There will also be a potluck lunch afterward. The UMC is located at 304 Main in Moscow. Then Thursday, December 24, get over to the Moscow Baptist Church for their Candlelight service at 7:00 p.m. You can find Moscow Baptist at 2035 Road Y in Moscow.

Celebrate the “reason for the season” this year at the church of your choice, and have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas will be here before we know it! With the approaching holiday, many businesses in town have opted to observe different hours than usual to allow their employees time to celebrate with their families. Read More →

As the holiday season progresses, time is at a premium! In between shopping, visiting friends, putting up decorations, baking cookies and ALL the other things you have on your schedule, be sure to carve out a few minutes for these local events.

Hugoton High School’s annual Blue and Red Classic basketball tournament begins Thursday, December 10. The Lady Eagles will take the court in the West Gym at 6:30 p.m. to face the Hooker Bulldogs. Then the boys’ team will face Hooker at 8:15 p.m., also in the West Gym. Get your copy of a bracket from page 8 of this week’s Hermes, and be sure to head over to the high school to fill it out and cheer on the HHS Eagles!

If you missed the Chamber’s Christmas Carnival last Saturday, don’t despair! Santa will be making another appearance at Yardmaster at Third and Main in Hugoton Saturday afternoon, December 12 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be hot cocoa and cookies available, and the first 100 kids to show up will get a free goody bag while waiting for their FREE picture with Santa!

While making your rounds at local shops, pick up a couple of extra toys to drop off for Stevens County Healthcare’s Third Annual Toy Drive. Toys will go to area children who may not receive a Christmas gift otherwise. Drop off boxes are located at Stevens County Hospital, Pioneer Manor, Dollar General and Flatlanders Farm & Home. Toys will be picked up from those locations December 15, so don’t delay! If you know of a child who needs a Christmas gift, please call Alisha at 620-544-6162.

You can also help local children with Christmas shopping by participating in the Ninth Annual Shop With A Cop event. You can volunteer to wrap presents, recommend a child in need, or make a donation. Mail donations to Hugoton Police Department, PO Box 788, Hugoton, Ks. 67951 or drop them by the HPD at 405 E. Fourth in Hugoton. To find out more, call 620-544-4959.