The
Hugoton
Hermes
Thursday, May 5, 2016
Volume 129, Number 18 18 Pages, 69 Cents Plus Tax Per Copy
Stevens County Commissioners discuss public transportation The Stevens County Board of County Commissioners met in regular session Monday, May 2, 2016 with Commissioners Pat Hall, Dave Bozone and Joe D.
Thompson all present. Also present were County Counselor Paul Kitzke, County Clerk Pam Bensel, RoGlenda Coulter from The Hugoton Hermes and District
Above is a map depicting the proposed location of the horse track by Alfredo Don
Two Commissioner Candidate Don Beesley. The following is just an agenda for the morning with a few of the unofficial highlights. The agenda included Bills at 8:30; Rodney Kelling at 8:45; Sherry Martin at 9:00; Dorothy Hagman, Mike Willis and others at 9:15 with Paula Rowden; Tony Martin at 9:30; Eunice Schroeder at 10:00; Susan Schulte at 10:15; Chris Lund at 10:30; SDSI & RCDC budgets at 11:00; Alfredo Don Juan at 11:30; and lunch at 12:00. When this reporter arrived at 8:35, the Commissioners were finishing talking with Sherry Martin. She was presenting Juan. Commissioners gave Mr. Don Juan the budget for Stevens County Conservation. some advice at Monday’s meeting.
She explained where all the money goes for her department. They have a very good board and are very conservative. They have cut everything they can including travel expenses, although this is not stopping their continued training. Sherry is the only district employee now, has not had a raise in wages in a few years and does not receive benefits (health insurance). They used to have a seed business but do not do that anymore. This provided a fund of “old money” they can use for scholarships - which will probably become a thing of the past. She said their budget is just as thin as it can get. She explained the office situation of her department. Commissioners warned the valuation is taking another big hit so money will be even more short. Rodney Kelling was next to take the floor. He has been trying to get in to talk to Paul Kitzke about some Fire Department business. Paul set a time for him
to get in to get the details for an ad to run in the paper. Rodney talked about some leaks in the roof of the EMS building. Commissioners advised him to get a couple of companies to give their opinions about spot fixing it. He said some of the fire department’s bunker gear is getting in bad shape. Some have been patched, and that is not advisable. Each set costs $2500. Rodney also told of an upcoming EMT class. They visited about EMT shifts and insurance. The requirement is two shifts a month. Rodney has to fill in when needed. The Commissioners talked about replacements for the hospital board. Johnny Denton has accepted one position; another person is being considered; and one other person turned it down at this time. Next was the group of people concerned about doing away with public transportation. Those coming in were Dorothy Hagman,
KDOT approves road projects
Pierson named Eagle Scout Scout Troop 189 had an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Alexander Pierson Saturday, April 30 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Hugoton. Alex in welcomed everyone, and the Scout Color Guard presented the flags and all recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Joel Garcia gave the invocation. Ted Bansemer spoke about being an Eagle Scout. Alex's mother, Hope Pierson, pinned the Eagle Medal on Alex while his father Terry Pierson presented the Service Certificate to him. Erick Nordling presented the Eagle kerchief to Alex. Alex gave his mother an
Eagle pin and his father the Eagle lapel pin. Fellow scouts retired the colors. Buddy Clark offered the benediction. Refreshments and fellowship followed the ceremony. Scout Troop 189 is sponsored by the Hugoton United Methodist Church and over the years there have been 34 Eagle Scouts from Troop 189. Alex built a flag retirement trailer as his community service project. The Pierson family live in Moscow and Alex graduated from Moscow High School Sunday, May 1. Alex's older brother Zachary is also an Eagle Scout.
Alexander Pierson is pinned with the Eagle Medal Saturday. Standing to Alexander’s left
are his parents Hope and Terry Pierson and to his right is Erick Nordling.
Community urged to pray for nation Thursday The months on the calendar just keep flying by, and amidst all the graduations, end of school activities and looming summer vacations, is one very special holiday - the National Day of Prayer. This year, the day is marked for this Thursday, May 5. The local community is welcomed by the Stevens County Ministe-
rial Association to meet Thursday, May 5 at 12:00 noon at the flag pole in front of the courthouse at 200 E. Sixth. This year also commemorates the sixty-fifth anniversary of the Day of Prayer. The theme for 2016’s Day of Prayer is “Wake Up America”, and seeks to emphasize the
2016 National Prayer by Dr. Tony Evans, 2016 Honorary Chairman
Erick Nordling and Ted Bansemer present the Eagle kerchief to newly pinned Eagle Scout Alexander Pierson.
Royalty owners gather for annual SWKROA meeting The Southwest Kansas Royalty Owners Association met Saturday morning at the Hugoton High School auditorium for their Sixty-Eighth Annual Meeting. SWKROA’s Executive Secretary Erick Nordling presided over the meeting. Doug Smith of Pinegar, Smith and Associates of Topeka was the opening speaker. He informed the members of the legislative
updates of interest to them. Following him was David Seely, SWKROA General Counsel and attorney with the Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson and Kitch, LLC firm of Wichita. David spoke of legal updates on issues affecting the royalty owners. Edward Cross, president of the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Continued to page 4
Continued to page 4
Dear heavenly Father, we come to You today as a humble people desperate for Your supernatural intervention on behalf of our beloved nation. First, we thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed on our land, blessings that have allowed us to bring so much good and benefit to not only our own citizens but also to the rest of the world. The very ideals upon which this country was founded were based on biblical truths, no matter how some try to rewrite history to deny that very fact today.
need for individuals to return to the God of the nation’s forefathers in reverence for His Holy Name. For this year’s observances, Dr. Tony Evans has written a special prayer to be simultaneously read throughout the nation at 12:00 noon. This recitation will create “a huge wave of prayer, flowing from one coast to the other, illustrating the unity of God’s people and acknowledging His dominion over the circumstances facing [America].” For more information, you can visit nationalday ofprayer.org.
The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in Kansas. The following projects were approved from the March 23, 2016 letting. • Meade - 60 C-4685-01 Signing on various major collector roads, signing, Signs Up LTD DBA Haren's Trees And Critters, Webster City, Ia, $63,999.99. • Stevens - 95 C-0308-02 - City of Hugoton (Safe Routes to School) sidewalk and bike path construction, pedestrian & bicycle paths, Bryant & Bryant Construction Inc., Halstead, Ks, $193,243.80. • Butler - 8 C-4655-01 1.5 miles north and 1.0 mile east of Andover on Southwest Prairie Creek Road, bridge replacement, 0.2 mile, B & B Bridge Company LLC, St. Paul, Ks., $618,820.75.
Don’t Forget to register Mom & Grandma for the 2016 Super Mom Sweepstakes! Drawing: May 9
This is why our hearts are so broken over how You continue to be marginalized and dismissed by both our people and our institutions. We are also saddened by the fact that Your people have contributed greatly to the spiritual apathy that now engulfs us. Our satisfaction in remaining religious without being fully committed to living out the truths of Your Word has caused us to become co-conspirators with the forces of evil that are destroying us as a society. It is for this reason that we personally and collectively repent of our carnality and recommit ourselves to becoming visible and verbal disciples of Jesus Christ. Enable us, by Your Spirit, to no longer be secret agent Christians but rather to publicly declare and live out Your truth in a spirit of love so that You feel welcome in our country once again. Thank You for Your promise to hear our prayers when we call to You with hearts of repentance and obedience, which is how we are appealing to You today, Father. On behalf of Your church, we affirm afresh the priority You are to us that You would fill every dimension of our lives as we seek to bring You glory through the advancement of Your kingdom in our personal lives, our family lives, and in the lives of our churches and our government leaders. We confidently invite heaven’s intervention into all the affairs of our nation and we praise You in advance for Your answer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Anna Neufeld is the eight year old winner in The Hugoton Hermes’ annual Easter Egg coloring contest. Anna’s mother is Katharina Neufeld of Rolla. Congratulations and great job!