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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 3,522 people were killed by distracted driving in 2021. Distracted driving also poses a significant threat in Canada, where the Canadian Automobile Association reports 47 percent of the nation’s drivers admit to typing or using voice-memo features to send a message while driving. Various behaviors constitute distracted driving, including eating, talking on the phone or adjusting a stereo or entertainment system. However, the NHTSA indicates texting poses a particularly significant threat, as sending or reading a text for just five seconds while driving 55 miles per hour is akin to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.

The third annual Lloyd Leitzel Memorial Scramble, a Flint Hills 3-D archery shoot, will be held this Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, at 2135 S Road, in Eureka. The two-day event, hosted by the Eureka Archery Club, will begin with a shotgun start on Saturday, at 9 a.m., with an individual 3-D 30-target shoot. There is a youth, adult and pro-class division, with the pro class offering 50% payback in the following classes: Open (50-yard max), Hunter (40-yard max), Women’s (35-yard max); Youth 16 & under (35-yard max) and Pro Class (50-yard max).

This Saturday, April 20, the Eureka High School golf teams will host the second annual Tornado Classic, a four-person scramble golf tournament at the Eureka Country Club.

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.

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.

The Eureka Herald won seven awards in the 2024 Kansas Press Association (KPA) Awards of Excellence (AOE) recently.

Several local positions will appear on the August Primary and November General Election ballots and a few may be open as current officials have noted they do not intend to file again.

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.

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.