Starting the Rooks County Commission morning session on Tuesday, March 3rd, was a meeting with treasurer Denise Murchie. She presented the commissioners with a timeline for the upcoming tax sale. She noted that 190 parcels were listed, along with the newspaper printing expense.

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan, Kansas has named 229 high school seniors from 47 Northwest Kansas schools as winners in its 51st annual scholarship competition.

For Kansas gardeners, St. Patrick’s Day means something much more than donning a favorite green outfit and heading to local celebrations.

On Tuesday, March 3, Plainville USD 270 voters made a significant investment in the future of their schools. The community decisively approved a $5.49 million bond to improve local school facilities, though a second, larger $7.05 million proposal did not gain enough support.

The Plainville City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, started with the approval of the Consent Agenda, which included the February 17th minutes, the bills paid for $91,256.66, the KDHE Drawdown No. 20 for $26,089.00, the EBH Invoice for $24,721.00, and the APEC estimate for $181,368.00.

Since 1994, the Stockton Grade School Playground has been a cornerstone for students and the community. Now, it's receiving exciting renovations to create an even better space for our youngest learners. Thanks to the generosity of Linda Krysl ($1,500.00), the William H. Andreson Fund ($7,500.00), the Heartland Community Grant ($7,500.00), and the USD 271 Capital Outlay Fund ($15,000.00), the playground is being transformed. An additional gift is expected this week to further enhance the project.

During the Stockton City Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd, Rooks County Economic Development Director Roger Hrabe, who is retiring at the end of the month, introduced the new director, Jeanine McKenna, to the commissioners. McKenna, who has been the Emporia Chamber of Commerce Director for the past 25 years, has been working with Hrabe, since she was hired the first part of February, to learn all the aspects of her new position.

At the Tuesday, February 24th regular Rooks County Commission meeting, commissioners Tim Berland, Jake Prockish, and Tracy Rudman met with county attorney Danielle Muir and economic development director Roger Hrabe about the County's Neighborhood Revitalization Program. Hrabe had presented the commissioners with a proposal for changes to the program and application for their review. Nothing was decided at this time so that the commissioners could review the proposal. Still, suggestions included adding a line on the application for people to opt in to receive email reminders of when taxes are due, advertising the program in the fall and spring to remind people of it, using social media notices to promote it, and outlining possible reinstatement procedures. It is a program that has been utilized for over 25 years to promote new construction in the county, and information about it can be found at the appraiser’s office. It was noted that the application must be filled out before any construction takes place.

Child Care Aware of Kansas recently recognized 18 Northwest Kansas counties and communities as Child Care Community Champions, honoring their dedication to strengthening local child care systems. Among those Northwest counties and communities recognized from Rooks County was Painville Wellness Coalition.