News

Debbie Cashier Harshaw, a member of Holton High School’s graduating class of 1983, was named the HHS Alumna of the Year at Saturday’s HHS alumni banquet. Harshaw, who recently announced her retirement from teaching at HHS after 30 years with the district, recently relaxed in front of her class display at Penny’s on the west side of Holton’s Town Square. (Photo by Brian Sanders)

Retired HHS teacher Harshaw named Alumna of the Year

For Debbie Harshaw, the timing was just impeccable. Harshaw recently finished a 30-year career with the Holton school district as a high school English teacher — her last official day is this Friday — and in addition to being recognized for her three decades of service to Holton High School...

Community Band announces 2023 schedule

Concert dates and rehearsals for the Jackson County Community Band, now in its 10th season, were recently announced. The band, which is comprised of area community members, will perform four times this summer in the county, including: * 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, at the Jackson County Courthouse...

Shown here are (front row, from left) Deb Rash, Judy Arnold, (back row, from left) Harmon Rash, Ryan Childs and Melvin Arnold, all of whom were involved in placing a memorial stone at Circleville Cemetery to mark the graves of seven unidentified people, reportedly former slaves, who are buried there. The Rashes and Childs are members of the Circleville Cemetery District. (Photo by Ali Holcomb)

New Circleville Cemetery stone honors former slaves

A memorial stone has been placed at Circleville Cemetery to mark the graves of seven unidentified people who are buried there. The seven people were former slaves, it was learned. Cemetery volunteers Judy and Merlin Arnold and Circleville Cemetery District board members Deb and Harmon Rash and Ryan...

Natural causes "likely" cause of jail inmate death: report

The death of an inmate at the Jackson County Jail last week was “likely” due to natural causes, according to a release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Shortly before 3 a.m. on May 23, Mark William Hull, 70, of Topeka was found unresponsive by jail staff. Attempts by Jackson County EMS to...

Holton city sales tax election is Tuesday, June 6

A special election to determine whether a half-cent sales tax for infrastructure maintenance and improvements and debt service will continue for the next 10 years in Holton will be held next Tuesday, June 6, it has been reported. Holton residents will be able to vote on the sales tax issue from 7 a...

Holton City Commission gets update on new fire engine

Holton’s fire department could be in possession of its new “first-out” fire engine as soon as this December, members of the Holton City Commission learned at their Monday, May 15 regular meeting. Interim City Manager Teresa Riley said the city’s new fire engine — the purchase of which had been...

County commissioners note savings in chip-and-seal work

Jackson County is saving more than $135,000 this year by hiring an outside contractor to complete 10 miles of chip-and-seal projects in the county, it has been reported. During the Jackson County Commission meeting on Monday, Wade Cormier, road superintendent, presented an analysis of what it would...

More glass orbs to be found in second "Scavenger Hunt"

The Jackson County Tourism Council’s second annual scavenger hunt, featuring 123 glass orbs this year, begins Saturday, it has been reported. Crafted by April Lemon of More Than Lemon in Holton, the colored orbs are about the size of an orange and will be hidden in public spaces throughout the...

Joe and Kelsey Tanking, Holton High School alumni now living south of Wetmore, are the owners of Wholehearted Farm, L.L.C., producing farm-to-table beef. Members of the Tanking family include (clockwise from top left in the photo above) Joe, Kelsey, Ivan, Henry, Hannah and Isaac. (Photo by Brian Sanders)

Tankings put "Wholehearted" effort into raising beef

Joe and Kelsey Tanking of rural Wetmore are relatively new to raising and marketing farm-to-table beef, but whatever they do, they are committed to doing it wholeheartedly. The Tankings — both 2009 graduates of Holton High School — are the proprietors of Wholehearted Farm L.L.C., which Joe said...

City OKs study on electric system

Every year, Holton’s city department heads meet with the Holton City Commission to discuss their budget proposals for the next year as well as hear updates on what those departments may need to run more smoothly in the longer term. But at Monday’s commission meeting, one of those department heads...