Prairie Star

01/05/2025

Due to icy road conditions and low forecasted temperatures, USD 462 is canceling ALL SCHOOL ACTIVITIES for Monday, January 6th, 2025.
Stay warm and be safe!

12/31/2024

11/27/2024

ALL AREA FOOTBALL TEAMS RELEASED IN NOV. 28 ISSUE

Because the high school football season has concluded for local teams, the 2024 campaign ends with the release of the Montgomery County Chronicle/Prairie Star All Area Football Team.

It was an exciting season for all teams in both newspapers' readership areas. However, the efforts of Field Kindley High School senior running back Aaron Tunstal and West Elk High School head coach Chris Haag excelled. Tunstall was named the All Area Most Valuable Player, while Haag was named Coach of the Year.

Read this week's issue of the Montgomery County Chronicle and the Prairie Star for complete details of sports editor Brian Thomas' All Area Football Team for 2024. Congratulations to all honorees! The issue is available at local newsstands.

11/09/2024

Playing in a steady downpour of rain, the West Elk High School football team saw its season come to an end Friday night. The Patriots suffered a 34-14 loss to Little River in the regional round of the Eight Man-Division I playoffs at Pat Simmons Stadium in Howard. WEHS finished the season with an overall record of 9-1, which included a third straight District 1 championship. Complete details will appear in next week's edition of the Prairie Star.

11/07/2024

Due to the threat of stormy weather, Friday night's high school football regional playoff game between West Elk and Little River has been moved up to a 5 p.m. kick time. The game will be played at Pat Simmons Stadium in Howard.

11/03/2024

BREAKING NEWS: CHAUTAUQUA, ELK COUNTIES NOW UNDER FLOOD WARNING

Anywhere from 2 to 3 inches of rain have fallen on southeast Kansas overnight, causing the National Weather Service to declare a flood warning for Montgomery, Chautauqua, Elk, Labette, Neosho and Wilson counties until 3:15 p.m., Sunday.

Additional rainfall is expected throughout the day, with an accelerated chance of rain on Monday.

Therefore, the flood warning will likely be extended.

Flash flooding is reported on city streets throughout the area. Low-lying elevations are also prone to some rising creek or river levels.

11/02/2024

Don't forget to turn your clocks and time devices back one hour by 2 a.m., Sunday for the start of Standard Time!

11/01/2024

WEST ELK TO HOST LITTLE RIVER ON FRIDAY, NOV. 8 FOR REGIONAL CONTEST

West Elk High School’s 46-0 victory over Northern Heights on Thursday has propelled the Patriots into the regional round of the eight-man, division 1 football playoffs.

Now a perfect 9-0, West Elk will host Little River on Friday, Nov. 8. As of now, game time is set for 7 p.m.

Little River, now 7-2, was a narrow 42-40 victor over Lincoln on Thursday.

Should West Elk win the regional game, it will propel the Patriots to the sectional round on Friday, Nov. 15, where they would face the winner of the Chase County-Central Plains contest.

However, a loss to Little River would end the Patriots’ season.

Also on Thursday, Sedan High School saw its campaign draw to a close with a lopsided 50-0 loss to Chase County in Cottonwood Falls. Sedan concludes its season at 3-6.

More details will be printed in the Nov. 7 issue of the Prairie Star. Check back to the Prairie Star’s page for more updates.

11/01/2024

IMAGES FROM THURSDAY'S WEST ELK HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME; WEST ELK BEATS NORTHERN HEIGHTS, 46-0

10/25/2024

The West Elk (8M-I) seniors secured their 3rd straight District title last night as they shut out Central (Burden) 60-0. The Patriots finish the regular season undefeated as the offense thrived all season - averaging 58 points per game. West Elk is coached by Chris Haag.

10/19/2024

BOIL WATER ADVISORY ISSUED FOR WILSON COUNTY RURAL WATER DISTRICT 13; INCLUDES PORTION OF NORTHEASTERN ELK COUNTY

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the Wilson County Rural Water District #13 public water supply system,.

The water district extends from west of Fredonia to an area of northeastern Elk County.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.

• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.

• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

The advisory took effect on October 19 and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a waterline break resulting in a loss of pressure in the distribution system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

10/19/2024

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL FINALS FOR THE PRAIRIE STAR AREA

West Elk 66, Northeast-Arma 8

Oswego 55, Cedar Vale-Dexter 6

Sedan 62, Central-Burden 20

10/18/2024

BOIL WATER ADVISORY RESCINDED FOR CITY OF LONGTON

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Longton public water supply system located in Elk County. The advisory was issued because the water supplier could not maintain the minimum required chlorine residual. Failure to maintain required chlorine residual levels may put the system at risk for bacterial contamination.

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Longton water systems indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.

The boil water advisory continues for Chautauqua Co. Rural Water District 2 and Elk Co. Rural Water District 1 pending laboratory testing.

10/14/2024

Thanks to a donation from Nancy Floyd and Dee Farris, the Gregg Theater in Sedan will show "Average Joe" tonight, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., with free admission. The movie is about a Marine, who becomes a high school coach, and takes a legal stand to defend freedom and religious liberty. Everyone is invited to watch! Concessions will be available to purchase.