Kansas Dirt Inc. is a dirt construction company located at 337 North US Highway 281 in St. John, Kansas. The company offers a multitude of services and has assisted the local communities in everything from demolishing condemned houses to hauling debris, collecting trash, digging ponds and much more. Kansas Dirt equipment has even been known to hoist an American flag higher than any other in a show of local patriotism.
There is a push to change the historical narrative of our Nation today; from a republic to a democracy. There is a difference between the two. The United States is a republic founded and grounded upon a Constitution; that governs for the people. Whereas democracy is centered on a majority rule of the citizens and eventually will dominate the people. In a republic, all citizens, whether in the majority or minority, have the same rights and voice; all are equal. In a pure democracy, the majority can overrule the rights of the lesser (Pittman).
Last Tuesday the Greensburg City Council discussed new police procedures, new fire station procedures, a new housing board authority member and the BASE grant covered in the prior special session. Rachel Newell expressed interest in serving on the Greensburg Housing authority board in order to fill a vacancy.
Kiowa County Board of Health Director Kerri Ulrich announced that the department has administered 203 free COVID tests since January 1 during a special board of health meeting last month. Enrollment in the Community Testing Program provides free testing supplies and a small reimbursement fee for each test given by the Department, and the program is guaranteed through the end of March. The department also has procured 200 inhome COVID rapid testing kits available for pick up, free of charge to county residents. To date, the Department has administered 3,100 COVID shots; 58% of the county has received at least one COVID shot and 54% with a completed series of three shots.
South Central Community Foundation (SCCF) is excited to offer 40 scholarships for the seven counties they serve. Applications or more information about each scholarship opportunity are available on the foundation’s website at www.sccfks.org. Scholarship applications are due by midnight on March 15th.
These last few weeks, teachers across the country are again being commanded to set aside their lessons and begin teaching to the state assessments. This interference with teacher professionalism has been going on for over two decades, accelerated by No Child Left Behind and surviving under E.S.S.A. accountability. Look at last year’s tests and drill into each student’s head the answers in order to score higher on this year’s assessment. As a result, state assessment scores go up while national aptitude tests and other measures of student creativity continue to drop. International assessments show the United States descending into the level of undeveloped nations.
The Skyline Board of Education for USD 438 met on February 14 to discuss various matters. The meeting was kicked off with a report from Superintendent Becca Flowers that included Legislative and KESA updates. Principals Diane House, Morgan Ballard, and Herb McPherson also gave reports on their building activities.
Pratt USD 382 science students had a successful show at the Regional Science Fair at Exploration Place on February 25 in Wichita. All students entered will be moving on to the next level of state competition based on their high scores at regionals.
The Rachel McCormick Memorial Scholarship committee announces that her family, friends, and alumni of the Mullinville High School have established a scholarship in the memory of Rachel McCormick. This $1000 gift is to be used for education expenses for the 2022-2023 school years and will be given to a college junior or senior majoring in music or music education from Kiowa, Pratt, Comanche, Ford, or Edwards counties in Kansas.
Kathleen Norman may not have a green thumb but she does have a gift for growing things, whether they be in a development group or in a garden tray. “I have not had success with gardening or house plants before,” Norman said.