May 2024

Events calendar

June 1 7 a.m. — First Saturday Bird Walk, Kauffman Museum, 2801 N Main St, North Newton. First Saturday Bird Walks depart from the kiosk… Login to continue reading Login…

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Thresher Awards recognize BC senior achievement in several disciplines

Five graduating seniors received Thresher Awards at Bethel College’s annual end-of-year Awards Convocation.Awards were given in art, forensics and theater, journalism, music and social work.The Thresher is the highest academic award at Bethel, given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding work overall as well as in their senior thesis or senior project.Hayden Honomichl, Great Bend, Kan., received a Thresher in theater and forensics.

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Newton USD 373 comes through storm relatively unscathed

Fred VanRanken, superintendent of Newton USD 373, believes that good fortune was shining on Newton schools during a derecho on May 19.The storm that knocked out power to thousands of Harvey County residents for several days, damaging buildings in its wake while downing trees across a several mile wide swath may have canceled school for a day, but left Newton USD 373 relatively unscathed.Building damage was limited to Chisholm Middle School, and even there seemed limited.“We were so, so fortunate,” VanRanken said.The district carries an insurance policy that could assist with the storm damage, if deductibles are met.

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‘Heartbroken’: Students and staff say goodbye to Wichita schools that are closing for good

WICHITA — Not long after Payne Elementary School opened near the corner of Harry and Meridian in west Wichita, it had more than 650 students.In the late 1950s, crews brought in a dozen portable classrooms to handle the overcrowding.This year, Payne Elementary is Wichita’s smallest school, with 231 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

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