News

Royal Valley board approves new curriculum

New curriculum for the 2023-24 school year was approved during the Royal Valley Board of Education’s retreat last week. At the board’s annual retreat, which was held at Royal Valley High School, board members approved the purchase of new curriculum from Savvas Learning Company of New Jersey on the...

Ballot set for general election

School board positions are up for grabs in this year’s general election in Jackson County after the filing deadline for this year’s election expired on Thursday, June 1, it has been reported. A total of 20 county resident have filed for 12 school board positions, according to Jackson County Clerk...

Studio 1 Dance Center students recently held their annual recital. Those shown in the photo dancing to "Tina" include (from left to right) Maddie Heineken, Landri Dieckmann, Mya Marten, Olivia DeBusk, Bridget Woltje, Tinsley Bradley and Kaylin Segenhagen.

Studio 1 Dance Center recital

County fair schedule set

Before you know it, it’ll be Jackson County Fair time again. Preparations are under way for the 98th-annual Jackson County Fair, which will take place at the Northeast Kansas Heritage Complex from Monday, July 17 through Thursday, July 20, with a wide variety of 4-H and open class exhibits, a...

City sales tax renewed

Holton voters approved a 10-year extension on the city’s half-cent sales tax for infrastructure improvements by a margin of nearly six to one, despite a low voter turnout, it has been reported. Jackson County Clerk Kristie Richter reported that the unofficial vote tally on yesterday’s special sales...

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...