Volume 127, Number 39
Thursday, September 25, 2014
16 Pages, 70 Cents Plus Tax Per Copy
Homecoming activities are announced The 2014 Fall Homecoming festivities began Monday, September 22. Spirit Days for the week were Monday - Pajama Day, Tuesday - Hat Day and Wednesday Red/Blue Day. Thursday there will be a parade at 7:30 p.m. on Main Street. The parade will begin at
the park and will proceed down Main and stop at the fairgrounds in preparation for the Bonfire to begin at 8:00 p.m. The king coronation and pep rally will take place at the bonfire. Friday night, Citizens State Bank will host a Tailgate Party/Hamburger Feed from 5:00 to 6:45
p.m. CSB will close at 4:00 p.m. to host the party. Coronation will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the game to follow at 7:00 p.m. There will be a free homecoming dance for the high school students and their dates in the old high school gym from 9:00 to 11:30 p.m.
Governor Brownback proclaims September as Farm Safety Month To encourage all Kansas citizens to keep the state’s farm and ranches safe, Governor Sam Brownback has proclaimed September as Farm Safety Month and the week of September 21 through 27 as Farm Safety and Health Week. The safety and health of Kansas farmers, ranchers and their families is imperative to the livelihood of agriculture. Through proper training and education, agriculturalrelated fatalities and incidents can be prevented. According to the Census of
Fatal Occupational Injury, agriculture is seven times more hazardous than other United States industries. “Promoting the safety of agriculture to Kansas citizens is second to none. Agriculture is the driving force behind our daily lives. Proper and persistent farm safety will help keep the valued and treasured heritage of Kansas agriculture alive,” said Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey. The theme for National Farm Safety and Health
Week is “Safety Counts, Protecting What Matters.” This week is an opportunity to bring awareness to vital farm safety while celebrating Kansas’ largest industry that brings together the people who matter, whether in the field or around the dinner table. For more information, please contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture at 785-564-6700 or visit the KDA Web site: http:// agriculture.ks.gov/home.
Residents of Pioneer Manor celebrate National Centenarian Day Saturday National Centenarian Day was September 22. Pioneer Manor enjoyed a celebration and refreshments in the coffee shop that day to recognize and honor residents who have lived a century or longer. Residents being recognized were Clemmie Schmidt, 100 years old; Ruby Smith, 100 years old; Fanny Kagarice, 102 years old; and Velda Sandusky, 100 years old. A beautiful cake and refreshments were served to the crowd of well wishers.
Residents and guests are treated to a beautiful Centenarian birthday cake and fine company at Pioneer Manor Monday.
The 2014 Fall Homecoming candidates and escorts are, in back, seniors Bradley Hemann, Amanda Mills, Katie Weaver, Mariah Archuleta and Michael Baeza. Not pictured
is Jorge Montoya. In front are freshman attendant Dallie Hoskinson, junior attendant Lacie Swafford and sophomore attendant Katie Heger. Photo courtesy of Kathy Purcell.
Drug take-back day scheduled for September 27 Law enforcement officers across the state will be collecting unused leftover medications for safe disposal Saturday, September 27, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. Medications will be accepted at drop-off sites across the state from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday. The Hugoton drop-off site will be the Stevens County Law Enforcement Center at 505 South Monroe. To find another location, visit www.ag.ks.gov and click on the “Got Drugs?” icon. The collection events are part of a nationwide effort to safely dispose of leftover medications to prevent accidental or intentional misuse. Since the program began in
2010, the semi-annual event has collected more than 28 tons of unwanted medications in Kansas alone. “Unused medications are dangerous for kids, pets and the environment,” Schmidt said. “Getting these leftover medicines out of the medicine cabinets keeps them from falling into the wrong hands and makes our communities safer.” The National Drug Take-Back Day is coordinated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which collects and safely destroys the medications. Medicines languishing in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the
U.S. are increasing, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that traditional methods for disposing of unused medicines - flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash - pose potential safety and health hazards and should be avoided. Unused prescriptions can be turned in yearround at many local law enforcement locations. Kansans should contact their local sheriff’s office or police department for more information.
American Red Cross will be in Hugoton Tuesday
Clemmie Schmidt, 100 years old and Velda Sandusky, also 100 years old, are honored at the National Centenarian Day celebration at Pioneer Manor Monday, September 22. Manor
residents Ruby Smith is also 100 years old and Fanny Kagarice is 102 years old. However, they were unable to attend the celebration, but the ladies are pictured below.
Ruby Smith is 100 years old.
Fanny Kagarice is 100 years old.
The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood during Liver Awareness Month this October. They will be in Hugoton Tuesday, October 7, from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Stevens County Fairgrounds on Highway 51 and Washington Street. According to the American Liver Foundation, more than 6,000 liver transplants are performed each year in the United States making it the second most common transplant. Liver transplant patients may require in excess of 30 pints of blood during surgery. Volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those in need of transfusions during surgery. Donors with all blood types are currently needed, especially those with types O negative, A
negative and B negative. All those who attempt to donate blood during October will be eligible to win a $5,000 Visa gift card, courtesy of Suburban Propane. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at checkin. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), 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. To make an appointment to donate blood, eligible donors are encouraged to download the new Red Cross Blood Donor App from app stores (See related story on page 3) or text BLOOD-
APP to 90999 to receive a download link, visit red crossblood.org or call 1800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767). More information about liver disease and ways to help protect against liver disease are available at liver foundation.org. Area upcoming blood donation opportunities include: • Boise City, Ok. - October 1, 2014, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Boise City High School, 700 SE First Street. • Elkhart - October 2, 2014, from 11:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Elkhart City Hall, 433 Morton Street. • Sublette - October 8, 2014, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Sublette High School, 501 S Ellis. • Meade - October 3, 2014, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St John Forst Center, 500 W. Carthage.