News

Junior Rice, Jim Lawrence and Glen Gibson were each presented with a VFW Continuous Membership Award in recognition of 50 years continuous membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. The awards were presented by Don Scott, VFW Post 2712 Commander, on Tuesday, April 9.

Representing the Eureka Pro Rodeo at the April 8 Eureka City Council meeting, Jamie Nelson provided an overview of the previous year’s event and shared details regarding the 2024 rodeo. This will be the 13th annual Pro Rodeo held in Eureka and will feature a new announcer, West Huggins. The funny man from Louisiana will be returning to Eureka and the rodeo lineup is anticipated to be good. Nelson noted that the goal for the event is to be bigger and better. The event will once again take place at the Greenwood County Community Center (GCCC/Eureka Downs). Returning this season, sponsors who contribute $250 and up are able to access the upper floor of the facility. This had previously moved to $1,000 and up sponsors due to high volume of spectators in the upper floor the inaugural year the event was hosted at the Eureka Downs. The 2024 Eureka Pro Rodeo will be held August 16 and 17. After noting that the community had come together to make the event being hosted at the Eureka Downs happen, Nelson voiced appreciation for the support, both monetary and otherwise, the City of Eureka has contributed. His donation request for the rodeo and other guest tax requests will be reviewed by the council finance committee.

Last Wednesday, April 10, Marshall Elementary School in Eureka announced during a special assembly at the close of school that they had been certified as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey Education. This recognition is evidence that the school has produced outstanding results in school and student outcomes, and because of the extraordinary impact the school is having on staff, students, parents and the greater community.

Are you ready for very noisy nights? Trillions of noisy cicadas will soon dig their way out from underground in a massive double brood emergence that won’t happen again until 2245. Two different types of cicadas are emerging; 13 year and 17 year cicadas.

Chairman Jake Liebau called the regular meeting of the Elk County Commission on March 25 to order at 1 p.m. Commissioners Doug Hendricks and Perry Russell were all present as well as County Clerk Kerry Harrod and County Counselor Paul Dean. Others in attendance included: Todd Winscher, Rural Fire; Don Sanders, Public Works; Erica Cordell, EM; Ken Mitchell, EMS; Rebecca Maltbie, Public Works; Stephanie Ollenborger, ROD; Chris Miller, Deputy Appraiser; John Walker, Sheriff; Stefni Hebb, Duputy Clerk; Malarie Chamberlain, Payroll Clerk; Chole Zaman, Data Collector; Nick Miller, Noxious Weed; Kristina Kraft, Deputy Treasurer; Shari Kaminska, Community Development; Gary Meyer; Peggy Meyer; Doug Meyer; Lee Schouten; Kaye Spooner and Tyler Garst.

- The Journey Is The Reward – Installment 6 of 6 -

Hamilton community member Barbie Schlotterbeck attended the April 9 Hamilton City Council meeting to discuss persisting issues with the former Hamilton Baptist Church’s sewer line. During discussion, Schlotterbeck explained that they had been in this church building since approximately 2015 and had gone from cleaning out the line once per year, to having to do so every couple of months. This subject had been included within discussion during a previous meeting, with council members being made aware of the issue. Last Tuesday evening, members of the council took a more in-depth look at maps of the area, while considering possible causes and solutions.

Greenwood County Hospital (GWCH) CEO Sandra Dickerson announced to Greenwood County Commissioners on Monday, April 15 that they were scheduled to close on the former CareArc building next week. Dickerson noted that she was checking in to see who needed to be present to sign documents with the title company in Emporia and they were looking to coordinate with County Legal Counsel Paul Dean. Dean asked if anyone had spoken with the title company to clarify details. When Dickerson noted she had not been in direct contact with the title company, Dean shared that he would be looking into the matter. Dickerson also shared that she was awaiting to hear final closing costs so GWCH can write a check for the purchase of the facility. Following this discussion, Dean requested an executive session for five minutes with commissioners. Following the session, no decisions were made.

WELCA met April 4 at the Christ Lutheran Church Bell Tower Room, with Joni Booth presiding.