Stanton County News

Region's harvests are mostly a success story, though some suffer drought. By Amy Bickel - The Hutchinson News - abickel@hutchnews.com Wheat trucks coming across the scales at Buhler's elevator are few these ...

A motion for a new judge in the Stanton County murder case of husband and wife Chad and Shannon Floyd was denied Friday.

“It was an excuse to be with Steve”

By Kathy Hanks - The Hutchinson News - khanks@hutchnews.com The box from Oxford University Press arrived last week. via The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson Kansas

“Basically the wheat is thinner than normal and stressed a little bit”

Winter wheat fields in the north-central part of Kansas have fared better than expected so far this season, but fields in the western third of the state show stress from lack of moisture, industry experts said ... via Topeka Capital-Journal

For the second time, a southwest Kansas jury has deadlocked in a case against a couple accused of killing the woman's ex-boyfriend whose body was never found. via KHGI

“I can't imagine the trauma a parent would go through.”

For the second time, the murder trial of husband and wife Chad and Shannon Floyd in Stanton County has ended in a hung jury. via Garden City Telegram

“They made it sound like the conversation never took place when they know it did”

Closing arguments were made this morning in the murder re-trial of Chad and Shannon Floyd, with the jury set to begin deliberations in the afternoon. via Garden City Telegram

“I'm glad it's been brought back out of the cobwebs because you don't see many of these old fountains anymore”

Eighty-year-old Melvin Winger still remembers ordering an ice cream cone and a Coca Cola from the counters of the town's soda shop in the 1930s, when he was just a kid. via The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson Kansas

Prosecutors rested their case against a couple accused of killing a local man in a case so sensational, "48 Hours" is telling it to a national audience. via KSNW-TV

“Some guys are going to the feed yard with the cattle, which isn't a good deal right now with the feed prices.”

Break from drought in '07 short-lived, leaving little hope for this year's wheat By Amy Bickel - The Hutchinson News - abickel@hutchnews.com In southwest Kansas, it seems it's either feast or famine. via The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson Kansas

“When you lose one student, it's tragic. Our students are dealing the best we can with losing four students and one recovering. And we're doing all we can to support the families.”

Out of habit, principal Rodger Hilton answered '419' when asked Friday how many students attend Ulysses High School.

Then, quietly, he corrected himself.

'415,' he said.

Ulysses lost four of its students -- all girls, all sophomores--during a lunchtime accident Thursday. Two were cousins.

A steady stream of students visited with grief counselors Friday to help them deal with the loss, Hilton said.

Even Hilton, at the school for 10 years, said he had never been through anything like this as a principal. Read more

“And we thought that price had gone way up. "A month and half ago, it had gone up to $639. Now it is over $700.”

But jump in production costs is causing concern. By Amy Bickel - The Hutchinson News - abickel@hutchnews.com Farm commodity prices may have surged in the past 12 months, but as planting season looms for farmers ... via The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson Kansas

“I think we need to bring back that pride in teaching”

Lawmakers don't need to look too hard for examples of the crunch that the state's growing teacher shortage is putting on school districts. via Chanute Tribune

“Because we see what our teachers have to do.”

Many Kansas school districts must spend a growing share of their budgets sending recruiters outside the state and sometimes even outside the country to find new teachers, a panel of educators noted Friday. via Chanute Tribune

Annual Bazaar: Manter United Methodist Church's annual event will include a meal of turkey, dressing, fixin's and pie served from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., a cake walk at 7 p.m., and an auction of quilts and ... via Garden City Telegram

"The Asylum" Haunted House: 7:30 p.m. to midnight today and 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at 507 Court in Scott City. via Garden City Telegram

“They have energy and enthusiasm for what they're learning.”

Kansas ranks 38th in teacher salaries in the United States., according to the most recently available rankings from 2005-06, despite high levels of achievement produced in the classroom. via Garden City Telegram