CALENDAR

Monday, November 22 •Book Discussion group 9:30 a.m. at the Hospitality Center on North Kansas Street in Columbus. New members welcome. “Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah will be discussed. •Cherokee County •Cherokee County Commissioners meet in Room 109 of County Courthouse 9 a.m.

Cherokee County Outstanding Junior 4-H’er Gracie Hall

Cherokee County Outstanding Junior 4-H’er Gracie Hall, was presented her award by Parker Neeley. She is the daughter of Scott and Jenna Pritchett and Jake and Sam Hall. “Gracie Hall has stepped up as a member of the Shamrock 4-H Club.

During the Hometown Hero luncheon Gracie Leary

During the Hometown Hero luncheon Gracie Leary presented recipient Casey Davidson his recognition plaque. This is the 17 th year Baxter Springs High School has honored a Hometown Hero. Photo by Dee Riley.

Columbus City Council gets year end preview

Wrapping up some of 2021’s business City Administrator Daniela Rivas gave an update on the city’s projected year end. Unencumbered cash was projected at $420,000. Rivas indicated that the figure would be closer to $315,000, which would account for 15 percent of the city’s operating expenditures.

Prizeweek Puzzle consolation prize winner is announced

Former Prizeweek Puzzle grand prize winner Gayle Hanson was the consolation prize winner last week in the continuing puzzle contest. There was no grand prize winner last week as the puzzle continues to stump the players. Hanson was the first grand prize winner in the News-Report puzzle contest.

Davidson named Baxter Springs Hometown Hero

For the past 17 years the Baxter Springs High School has been honoring their Hometown Hero. They missed last year due to COVID restrictions, which made this year all the more meaningful.

Weir zinc smelter named EPA priority site

The Cherokee Zinc-Weir Smelter Superfund Site, located on the north side of the city of Weir, Cherokee County has been added to the federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is a list of the nation’s hazardous waste sites with the highest priority for clean-up.

School bus involved in accident with deer

A school bus was involved in an accident with a deer Friday at approximately 7:45 a.m. Leonard Eugene Mosler, 75, Columbus, was driving while suspended north on Highway K7 in a 2019 Chevrolet school bus when a deer entered the roadway from a wooded area on the east side of the road.