Volume 125, Number 11 Thursday, March 15, 2012 16 Pages, 70 Cents Plus Tax Per Copy
The Hugoton Airport
Board met at the airport
meeting room for their
monthly meeting Wednes-
day, March 7, 2012 at
7:00 p.m. Attending the
meeting were board mem-
bers Dell Cullison, Dax
Gaskill, Robert Davis, Kim
Harper and Jeff Crawford.
Also present were Erick
Nordling, Ashley Fiss, air-
port manager Gary Porter,
secretary Risa Norton and
Hugoton Hermes reporter
Ruthie Winget.
Ashley Fiss gave an up-
date about the remodeling
project for the airport of-
fice and lounge. She
stated she had already
sent the site plan that
shows the parking and
where new concrete will be
to consultants Kirkham
Michael. When the con-
struction begins, she com-
mented the office space
and restrooms will be un-
usable. The council asked
Ashley to investigate the
possibility of renting a
trailer to use as a tempo-
rary office during this pe-
riod.
After reviewing the dif-
ferent color schemes for
the exterior and the inte-
rior of the new addition,
the council passed the
motion to use earth tones
for both the exterior and
the interior of the building.
Chairman Harper re-
ported of the FAA grant for
the apron addition. The
estimated cost for the pro-
posed aircraft parking
apron replacement is
$381,180. However,
$300,000 is the limit ap-
proved for this project for
this fiscal year. The airport
will be able to reapply to
FAA the following year for
the remaining $81,180.
The Republican Party
convened for a caucus
Saturday, March 10, 2012
to vote for a Republican
candidate to run for the
president of the United
States. Over 65 registered
voters turned out to listen
to the speeches but before
the day was over, 133 vot-
ers had cast their votes.
Judy Parsons read let-
ters from different Repub-
lican leaders as well as
letters from the candi-
dates. Several people
spoke out why they sup-
port their favorite candi-
date.
Rick Santorum won
most of the Kansas dele-
gate votes. Mitt Romney
came in second. The Na-
tional Republican Conven-
tion will be August 27-30
in Tampa, Fl.
This was the first cau-
cus to take place in
Stevens County since
1988.By his peers in the
world of music, Marlin
Cooper is called a “music
machine,” “master
teacher,” “unsung hero,”
“an impeccable musician”
and “surrogate father of
music and life.”
And now “Kansas Music
Educators Association
Hall of Famer” can be
added.
“Overwhelmed,” said
Cooper, who was inducted
Saturday into the KMEA
Hall of Fame at the 2012
KMEA In-Service Work-
shop which annually
draws upwards of 5,000
educators and students to
Wichita each spring.
The Director of Instru-
mental Music at Kansas
City Kansas Community
College for 27 years before
his retirement in 1999,
Cooper also taught one
year in the Gardner-
Edgerton school system
and six years in the
Shawnee Mission district
as an elementary instru-
mental instructor before
ending a career spanning
45 years in music educa-
tion.
The Kansas Depart-
ment of Health and Envi-
ronment’s Preparedness
and Safe Kids Kansas pro-
grams want to make sure
that Kansans know the
proper precautions to take
in preparing for severe
weather. As part of Severe
Weather Awareness Week
in Kansas, March 12-16,
individuals and families
can take action to make
sure they have what they
need in their emergency
disaster kit and refresh
their memory with the def-
initions of Warnings and
Watches.
In 2011, the National
Weather Service reported
about 68 tornadoes
statewide, and this serves
as a reminder that severe
weather can strike any-
where this tornado sea-
son.
“When severe weather
strikes you often have only
a few minutes to respond
and seek shelter. It is es-
sential for you and your
family to be prepared in
an emergency,” explained
Robert Moser, M.D.,
KDHE Secretary and State
Health Officer. “We recom-
mend that everyone be-
come familiar with the
type of weather they may
encounter at different
times of the year, prepare
an emergency disaster kit
and practice their emer-
gency plan frequently.”
Many people do not un-
derstand the difference
between a watch and a
warning. When conditions
are favorable for severe
Continued to page 8
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Marlin Cooper beams after his induction into the Music Hall of
Fame by the Kansas Music Educators’ Association.
Hugoton High School’s National Honor Society
hosts the fourth annual Mr. HHS Contest in the
Middle School Auditorium. NHS is building a
tradition of presenting the Mr. HHS competition
as a fundraiser for families in Hugoton. Joshua
Chavez is crowned Mr. HHS 2012 at the annual
contest. At top are the six top winners. Starting
at left is Stetson Honig, second runner up Reid
Davis, King Joshua Chavez, first runner up
Miguel Degollado, Mr. Congeniality David
Kurt, and Michael McComack. At right is
Danella Estrada giving Joshua a big kiss at the
contest. Danella escorted Joshua throughout
the competition. Photo courtesy of Kathy Pate.
The Board of County
Commissioners met in
regular session Friday
morning, March 9, 2012.
Dave Bozone and Gary
Baker were present along
with County Counselor
Bob Johnson, County
Clerk Pam Bensel and
RoGlenda Coulter from
The Hugoton Hermes.
James Bell was absent.
The following is just an
agenda for the day with a
few of the unofficial high-
lights. Official minutes
will be published at a later
date.
When this reporter ar-
rived the commissioners
were discussing some is-
sues with Dean Banker
about the new addition
near the new manor. Greg
Morris came in to discuss
the same.
Sheriff Ted Heaton
came in with the report
from his department.
Everything is okay. They
have five prisoners at this
time.
Alvin Riley brought in
the bids for a new truck or
a used truck for Stevens
County Fire Department.
After visiting with Mr.
Riley for some time, mo-
tion was made to allow the
new pickup to be pur-
chased from Riley Chevro-
let Buick in Hugoton.
Motion was made and
passed to reappoint Shel-
ley Kurt to the Stevens
County Library Board.
Great Plains Gas Com-
pression was discussed.
Dave told of the meeting in
Topeka that he attended
as did Paula Rowden from
the Stevens County
Health Department.
Maurice Gross was next
on the agenda. He came to
inquire about the pasture
land east of town and near
his feedlot. The commis-
sioners said they were not
sure what their plans are
for this ground consider-
Continued to page 3
Remember Severe Weather Awareness Week
Spring is “springing up” right before our eyes!
This beautiful tree was spotted right behind the
Jet Drive-In on Fourth Street in Hugoton. Con-
sistently warm temperatures and the tiny bit of
recent moisture must have coaxed these beau-
tiful blooms from their buds. Spring begins
Tuesday, March 20 this year.
First Stevens County caucus in 24 years draws many
Memorial Hall is filled with
Republican voters Saturday,
March 10 for the Stevens
County caucus. Robert Par-
sons reported 65 people lis-
tened to letters from
candidates Rick Santorum,
Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich
and Ron Paul. Final count of
voters tallied 133 ballots cast,
including a provincial ballot
from Morton County. At right,
Sandy Skinner and Holly
Grubbs register participating
voters.
Airport Board considers plans for remodelCounty commissioners discuss issues
Cooper inducted into KMEA Hall of Fame
