• No. 2 singles player Hannah Vague placed 1st at league.

    Tennis dominates league meet

    October 07, 2026 - 06:22 | By Catherine Doud
    The Ellsworth varsity tennis team stayed afloat despite a rainy week that canceled two scheduled home tournaments last week.
  • Celeste Rodriguez, left, examines her work, as Cindy Lloyd drags a stencil to the next 10-yard line marker Sept. 2 at Shanelec Field. The custodial workers paint the field before the football season begins, and maintains it throughout the season. Photos by KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Celeste, Cindy walk, paint the lines

    October 07, 2026 - 06:22 | By Karen Bonar
    Before the Bearcat football team can take the field to play Friday night, the field has to be gameready.The starting lineup to the draw lines on the field is Celeste Rodriguez and Cindy Lloyd.Members of the custodial staff, Celeste and Cindy wheel out the string to create lines and fire up the...
  • Sophomore Octavio Rodriguez competes at the SES meet, where he placed ninth and set a personal record of 17:25.

    Girls’ cross country places third at SES

    September 30, 2026 - 06:22 | By Jeremy Obermeyer
    GYPSUM — The Ellsworth cross country teams competed in the Southeast of Saline Invitational Sept. 22.“This was the first meet we’ve been able to have in the afternoon this season, and Mother Nature was good to us,” head coach Eric Coonrod said.
  • The Fort Harker Guardhouse Museum is considered by some paranormal investigators to be the epicenter of the fort’s paranormal activity, possibly due to its prior use as a cellblock. Local residents have occasionally reported seeing what appear to be military guards standing on the upper deck of the building.

    Haunting at Fort Harker

    September 30, 2026 - 06:22 | By Catherine Doud
    KANOPOLIS — Fort Harker Guardhouse Museum is a popular place for historic tours yearround. Fort Harker Interpretive Guide Greg Heller has led thousands of informative visits around the complex.But this weekend’s tour will be a little different.
  • Acclaimed blues artist James Armstrong talks to the crowd while presenting a master class Saturday afternoon at the Roots & Blues Festival in T he Barn at the Midland Railroad Hotel.

    Wilson draws crowd to Roots & Blues Festival

    September 22, 2026 - 14:07 | By Ellsworth
    WILSON — It was still a hot Kansas afternoon when the Roots and Blues Festival kicked off at 2 p.m. Sept. 19 with a master class by acclaimed blues musician James Armstrong.

    Editor's Pick

    Celeste Rodriguez, left, examines her work, as Cindy Lloyd drags a stencil to the next 10-yard line marker Sept. 2 at Shanelec Field. The custodial workers paint the field before the football season begins, and maintains it throughout the season. Photos by KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Celeste, Cindy walk, paint the lines

    3 hours ago By Karen Bonar
    Before the Bearcat football team can take the field to play Friday night, the field has to be gameready.The starting lineup to the draw lines on the field is Celeste Rodriguez and Cindy Lloyd.Members of the custodial staff, Celeste and Cindy wheel out the string to create lines and fire up the...
    The Fort Harker Guardhouse Museum is considered by some paranormal investigators to be the epicenter of the fort’s paranormal activity, possibly due to its prior use as a cellblock. Local residents have occasionally reported seeing what appear to be military guards standing on the upper deck of the building.

    Haunting at Fort Harker

    1 week ago By Catherine Doud
    KANOPOLIS — Fort Harker Guardhouse Museum is a popular place for historic tours yearround. Fort Harker Interpretive Guide Greg Heller has led thousands of informative visits around the complex.But this weekend’s tour will be a little different.

    News

    Wilson rejects interlocal agreement request from county

    3 hours ago By Alan Rusch
    WILSON — At Monday’s meeting of the Wilson City Council, the council, by unanimous consensus, shot down a request by the Ellsworth County Commission to have Mayor Jeff Keith sign a proposed interlocal agreement between the county and all five cities in Ellsworth County, which would implement the...

    Obituaries

    Alt Text for Image

    Ann P. Kaiser

    2 weeks ago By News Staff
    (1948-2026)Ann P. Kaiser peacefully passed away on Sept. 13, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn.
    Alt Text for Image

    Betty Jean (Langerman) Heinze

    2 weeks ago By News Staff
    (1930-2026)Betty Jean (Langerman) Heinze died Sept. 13, 2026, at Salina Regional Hospital. She was born on Nov. 26, 1930, in Ellsworth, Kan. Betty graduated from Wilson High School. She was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Earl Robert Heinze, on Aug. 15, 1948.

    Sports

    Senior Sydney Soukup attempts to block a shot during game one against Minneapolis Sept. 29. KAREN BONAR/Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter

    Bearcats tame Lions at home

    3 hours ago By Jeremy Obermeyer
    The Bearcats and Lions clashed in an NCAA league volleyball doubleheader Sept. 29, as Ellsworth welcomed Minneapolis to the EJSHS campus.Although Minneapolis gave Ellsworth a scare early, it was the Bearcats who had the final word.Minneapolis started with the serve to open the first match, but the...

    Columns

    From Our Readers

    1 week ago By ‘somewhere In Iran’
    My father, Cpl. Harold P. Byerley, served in the U.S. military between 1942-45 in the European theatre and southeast Asia.So many of my father’s generation didn’t talk about their service.My father was attached to a quartermaster company, serving as a truck driver.