News

Eureka city residents are encouraged to attend a community meeting next Wednesday, June 19, at 6 p.m., at the Eureka Public Library where the topic of discussion will be the proposed continuation of the 1% sales tax.

(Editor’s Note: Office staff gathers weekly court news from the 13th District Public Access Portal. For more information on a case listed below or any case within the 13th Judicial District visit www.kscourts.org.

Greenwood County Hospital (GWCH) Auxiliary met for their monthly meeting on June 1 in the hospital basement.

Drawn by memories, many of us made visits to cemeteries over the Memorial Day holiday.

A celebration of life for John A. Gulick will be held on Saturday, June 15, at 1 p.m., at his home, located at 1698A State Highway 99, in Eureka.

Subject To Change

Sunday morning Toronto was a buzzing and I don’t mean from bees, flies or mosquitoes. The town was buzzing with the sound of chainsaws as people were busy trying to clean their yards after the storm that blew through early Sunday morning toppled trees, breaking limbs and downing power lines.

Mayor Richard Clark called the May 20 Howard City Council meeting to order at 7:30 pm at the Howard City Building with council members Martin Hunter, Gary Harrod, Derek Cookson and Jerrad Pope were present. Council member Shilo Crupper was absent. Also present was Shannon Nordquist, Kandy Dowell, Cassidy Brenner, Erica Cordell, Chelsie Powell, Evie Hargis and City Clerk Joanna Hunter.

Community Enrichment Manager for the City of Eureka Staci Crumrine attended the Greenwood County Commission meeting Monday, June 10 with County Extension Agent Ben Sims to speak on the Eureka Downs facility. Crumrine explained that a preliminary building inspection had been held recently. Following the inspection, the city was told the turf room located on the upper floor of the building could not be used until safety items were installed such as lighted exit lights and emergency lighting in the stairs in the event electricity goes out. Crumrine told commissioners that the city was asking for assistance in getting this in place prior to the Greenwood County Fair. At this time, Crumrine announced that funding in association with historic horse racing was anticipated to be received in July, but this work would need to be done prior to the receipt of these dollars. After noting that racing at Eureka Downs could potentially begin in 2026, she shared that the funding allocation anticipated to be received this summer would be for making the track and facility race ready. In further discussion, Eureka City Administrator Joel Laws noted that the monetary contribution previously made by the county for their contribution towards facility management, had gone towards utilities which total approximately $30,000 annually. Laws explained that the historic horse racing appropriation wouldn’t be received before the 2024 Greenwood County Fair. Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Eureka Steve French shared that a plan was drafted for replacing the base items necessary to get by for use of the upper level during the fair until the remainder can be addressed. Commissioners approved $871.56. County Commissioner Roy Ballard noted that he thought there could be savings on the utilities by ensuring that everything that can be, is turned off when the facility is not in use. Commissioner Mac Obourn noted that the current lack of inefficiency is a contributing factor. County land owner Shilo Fury attended the commission meeting seeking clarification into a matter pertaining to K Road, south of Piedmont, at the Greenwood/Elk County line. Fury noted that a map referencing this road as abandoned had been found, but research had been done in Elk County and no documentation had been found to substantiate passage of this. As he described the issue, Fury noted that a portion of the road is deeded to an owner of one of the properties along the stretch, and basically serves as a driveway. Legal Counsel Paul Dean clarified that this is approximately half a mile of road and about the first 1/4 mile has never been closed and Elk County shows that this is closed.