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I might pass this driver, but I sure won't honk at her!

... so my two buddies went squirrel hunting.

We always look forward to the table setting event in Elk County. We're involved in lots of communities in this area and this is the only place where such a fundraiser is held. The table setting might sound like a girlie thing ... but it's definitely not. Everybody, from every walk of life, will be there. Can't wait to sink my teeth into that delicious prime beef that came from Flint Hills ranches.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=90422293722&ref=nf

http://www.taylornews.org/rwr/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/halleuljahcolumn.mp3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDARfDJw80s&feature=player_embedded

Text "HAITI" to "90999," and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.

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The hearing to be hosted by the USD 282-West Elk Board of Education will be held as planned tonight (Monday, Jan 4), according to the secretary at the board office. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. and consist entirely of a hearing on the proposal to close Moline and Severy elementary schools and merge all instructional activity to the Howard campus. Anyone may attend and make their views known. Those speaking will be asked to sign in when they enter the auditorium. Those addressing the hearing will be limited to five minutes each. The hearing will adjourn at 9 p.m.

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   Donald Drumwright of Severy enjoys "cheering up" his mom, who is disabled. One way he does that is to purchase lottery tickets for her to scratch.
   "It's entertainment and brain exercise for her," explained Drumwright.
   Drumwright and his mother both got cheered up last night, when a $1 Blackjack instant ticket the son had purchased for his mother turned out to be a $10,000 winner!
   "My mom scratched it off and got all excited," Drumwright said. "I checked it and, sure enough, it was a big winner."
   Drumwright, who is single and works for Griffith Steel in Wichita, says he and his mom haven't decided yet what to do with the prize money.
   The lucky ticket was purchased at Speedy Foot & Fuel, located at 1400 E. 16th St. in Wellington.
   The win is the second large win claimed by a Severy man this week. Four days ago, Roy Higbee of Severy claimed a $200,000 prize for matching first five numbers in the December 12 Powerball drawing. 

Prairie Star will carry the following legal notice in this week's edition, in addition to a news story about same. The USD 282 Board of Education took this action at Monday night's meeting:

                                            PUBLIC NOTICE OF HEARING FOR CLOSING SCHOOL BUILDINGS
                                                               (Pursuant to K.S.A. 72-8213b)
   Notice is hereby given pursuant to Kansas law of a public hearing to be held on the 4th day of January, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at the West Elk Jr/Sr High School Auditorium, Howard, Kansas, regarding the Unified School District No. 282, Elk County, Kansas proposal to close Moline Elementary School located at 416 North Plum, Moline, Kansas 67353 and Severy Elementary School located at 203 South Severy Street, Severy, Kansas  67137, for the following reasons:
   1. Steady decrease in district enrollment;
   2. Decrease in State Aid;
   3. Increased operational and maintenance costs.
   Students attending Moline Elementary School and Severy Elementary School Buildings will be reassigned to West Elk Jr/Sr High School campus.
   A representative of the board of education will present the proposal to close Moline Elementary School and Severy Elementary School Buildings and the board will hear testimony as to the advisability of the proposed closing.
***The Public Hearing is scheduled to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.  Testimony will be limited to 5 minutes per person.  Written testimony may be sent to the Board Clerk, Paula McAlister, West Elk Central Office, PO Box 607, Howard, Kansas  67349.

   
Severy man bags $200,000 Kansas Lottery check

       After a weekend of deer hunting, Roy Higbee wasn't able to find that trophy deer to hang on his wall.  He did, however, get a big $200,000 check from the Kansas Lottery he can hang on his wall.  The Severy resident matched the first five Powerball numbers in the Dec. 12 drawing, winning a $200,000 cash prize!
   "My wife Tamara and I were out deer hunting on Saturday when we decided to stop at a convenience store to get something to eat," said Higbee.  "I ended up with $5 left and decided to buy a Powerball ticket."
   Higbee was shocked when that spur of the moment purchase proved to be worth $200,000.
   "We stopped at another convenience store Sunday morning before heading out to our deer stand," said Higbee.  "That's when I checked my ticket.  The Check-A-Ticket machine kept reading, 'Sign back of ticket.  Claim at Lottery.'  I thought something was wrong, so I asked my niece Crashena, who was working at the store, to check my ticket.  When she told me I'd won $200,000, I couldn't believe it.  I thought she said $200.  She had to repeat herself several times."
   Needless to say, Higbee and his wife didn't deer hunt that day.
   "We got out to our deer stand and I didn't feel like hunting," said Higbee.  "We decided to go shopping instead."
   Higbee, who works for Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, said he couldn't wait to go to work tomorrow and share his good news.
   "There are a few guys that pool their money every week and buy Lottery tickets," said Higbee.  "I asked to be part of the pool and they wouldn't let me.  I can't wait to show them what I've won."
   The Higbees, who have been married five years, plan to buy a newer home and car with their winnings. 
   The winning ticket was purchased at Tripco Enterprises, Inc., located at Highway 400 and K-99 junction in Severy.

Voters in Chautauqua County voted 3 to 1 Tuesday to approve a one-cent countywide sales tax. It will be used to finance a new jail and law enforcement center in Sedan. The final vote was: Yes 598, No 185. A breakdown of the vote can be found at taylornews.org.

Advance 59 Y - 75 N
Howard 228 Y - 163 N
Moline 48 Y - 190 N
Severy 26 Y - 159 N
Elk Falls 14 Y - 35 N

Total Yes votes: 375

Total No votes:  622

West Elk voters turn down bond issue, 622-375


Voters in West Elk USD 282 soundly turned down the $5.55 million bond proposal to consolidate all school facilities onto one campus in balloting on Tuesday.

The final result: Yes 375 votes, and No 622 votes.

This will bring to a halt plans to construct a new elementary school in Howard and the eventual closure of grade schools in Severy and Moline.

The USD 282 Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday night, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. Board members must now decide which direction to take as the school continues with its three-campus school district.

http://nationaljuggernaut.blogspot.com/2009/09/this-cartoon-seemed-far-fetched-in-1948.html

Highway accident claims life of Longton teenager


   A one-vehicle accident on Highway 160, two miles east of Longton, claimed the life of a Longton teenager early Sunday.
   The Kansas Highway Patrol reports that Steven P. Wehling II, Longton, died as the result of injuries sustained in the accident.
   Wehling was driving west on Highway 160 when he apparently lost control on a curve, went into the north ditch and struck a tree.
   It was several hours later before the wreckage was found. Investigators said the wreck happened sometime between 2:30 and 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
   Steven Wehling is the son of Karin Coatney and the step-son of Kent Coatney who reside in Longton.

I've mostly observed in the past couple of weeks as forum members have taken the hide off each other at times.

Some of it was sad to me, but I've got a theory about the whole thing: We're family here. And I don't know about you, but in my family we do some fussing at times. You too, heh?

We've almost lost a couple of our most loved forum members due to some of our silliness and I do hope they will have second thoughts and join us again. Every one of us has given thoughts at times to yanking the plug and never returning to the forum again. Then we find ourselves checking it, just to see if anybody is sorry for saying ugly things or trashing a forum brother or sister, and before we know it --- we're posting again.

I know a good number of you, and some I don't.  But I detect a good sense of humor among most of us. Even after a peppered duel (like Diane and Billy going after it) I always see smiles returning.

We all have opinions and we are darn lucky to live in a country where we can express them freely. May that never change!

In the past week, we've grieved with a local family who lost a darling baby girl. Oh, what pain they must be feeling today. And what I've noticed is solidarity among forum friends in support of this wonderful family. It brings us back to family reality, doesn't it?

Even the terrible murder of a doctor in Wichita created deep discussion here, then we all agreed --- it was wrong, even if we vehemently disagreed with his manner of making a living. And even he has family members and friends who are hurting today.

So, I'm only writing this to say, "Be of good cheer, folks."

Others are suffering out there.  If you're not one of them, count your blessings today. Say a prayer for others. 

And above all ... keep being you!

I'm not sure, but I think I love you.

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