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Brewster Plans Big for America’s 250th: Community Invites Region to Celebrate on Flag Day Weekend

May 7, 2026

From a downtown parade and kids carnival to live music, a community BBQ, fun run, street dance, and plenty of family-friendly activities, organizers are inviting all of northwest Kansas to come celebrate Flag Day weekend in small-town America. Organizers are still seeking parade entries, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, classic cars, and creative community involvement to help make the event something special.

Food for Thought Season Closes with History, Growth, and Annual Meeting at Prairie Museum

April 28, 2026

The Prairie Museum of Art and History brought its Food for Thought series to a close for the season on April 16, pairing the final program with the Thomas County Historical Society’s annual meeting inside the Garvey Room. The combined event offered attendees both a look back at a year of progress for the museum and a historically rich presentation centered on the early symbols of American independence.

HEARTLAND CHRISTIAN SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

March 27, 2026

Welcome back from spring break! Mr. Shane Timson was our chapel speaker this past Wednesday. Shane works for NWKS Radio(KLOE and KWGB), and he shared some of the stressful times he has experienced at his job and how he has allowed God to be in complete control. Shane related that when challenging times and events occur, we have two choices: 1) to remain calm and to trust Jesus; or 2) to not remain calm and get caught up in the chaos. His other main point was “greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world”. Thank you, Mr. Timson, for sharing with our staff and students.

SHERMAN COUNTY 911 COMMUNICATIONS CELEBRATES NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK

March 27, 2026

Sherman County 911 Communications is celebrating the second full week of April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This week, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually, honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.

Former director of Prairie Museum publishes memoir Book will be available for purchase in museum bookstore

March 11, 2026

Randy Mathews, who served as director of the Prairie Museum from March 2023 to December 2024, is the author of “Twenty Minutes ‘til Doors – (Mostly) true tales from the showbiz fringe.” In his personal memoir, Mathews shares favorite stories of his experiences as a stagehand, lighting director and other technical roles, starting in high school in the early 1970s and extending through most of the 1980s.

Prairie Museum of Art and History Hosts Packed “Food for Thought” on Volga German Heritage

February 26, 2026

On a rare cold February afternoon in Colby, nearly 70 guests filled the Garvey Room at the Prairie Museum of Art and History for its monthly Food for Thought luncheon. Despite the weather, the aroma of a homemade German-inspired buffet welcomed attendees on February 19, as Norma Pipkin delivered an engaging and deeply personal lecture on the journey of the Volga Germans and their eventual settlement in Kansas.

Booked for Lunch Brings Poetry and Community Together at Pioneer Memorial Library

February 10, 2026

The monthly Booked for Lunch series at Pioneer Memorial Library continues to grow into a cornerstone community gathering, blending literature, conversation, and local talent into a welcoming mid-day program. The latest installment, held Wednesday, February 4, filled the library with a standing-room-only crowd eager to hear from local poet Rich Hawkins and his newly released book, On Sitting Bull Hill.

Chairman Moran Leads Hearing to Review Reforms to the Veterans Health Administration with VA Secretary Doug Collins

February 3, 2026

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – today led a committee hearing with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins about VA’s efforts to reform the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through the Restructure for Impact and Sustainability Effort (RISE) reorganization initiative.

Citizens Health Celebrates Grand Opening of New South Campus in Colby

January 22, 2026

The lobby of the new South Campus at Citizens’ Medical Center was filled with anticipation Thursday morning as community leaders, healthcare professionals, and residents gathered to celebrate a milestone years in the making. On January 22, 2026, Citizens Health officially marked the grand opening of its new South Campus in Colby, a facility that many speakers described as both a commitment to the present and an investment in the future of northwest Kansas.

Community Spotlight: Bob Kelly Retires as Logan County EMS Director

January 2, 2026

After decades of steady leadership, calm decision-making, and service rooted in community, Bob Kelly is stepping away from his role as director of Logan County EMS. His retirement was marked not with ceremony or speeches, but in a way that suited both the man and the mission: a brief, casual, come-and-go gathering at the EMS office where friends, coworkers, and community members stopped by to share conversation, snacks, and well-wishes.

Center Pivot Brewery Opens in Colby, Marking a New Chapter for Downtown Growth

December 26, 2025

Center Pivot Restaurant and Brewery officially opened its doors in Colby on December 26, marking a significant new chapter not only for the business itself, but for the broader momentum building across downtown Colby. Located at 360 N. Franklin Avenue, the brewery and restaurant represents the relocation and expansion of a concept that first took root in Quinter and has now found a larger, more central home in Thomas County.

Children Find Holiday Magic at TCCF’s Santa’s Workshop

December 9, 2025

The Thomas County Community Foundation’s beloved Santa’s Workshop once again filled the office complex with joy on Saturday, December 6, drawing young shoppers and an army of volunteers for one of the organization’s longest-running traditions. The program, now roughly four decades old, invites children ages 4 to 10 to step into a transformed holiday shopping space where they select meaningful gifts for parents, grandparents, teachers, or other loved ones — all without the grown-ups by their side.

Thomas County Commissioners Press Forward at Dec. 8 Meeting

December 8, 2025

The Thomas County Commissioners worked through a wide-ranging agenda Monday morning, addressing ongoing IT transition issues, overdue hazardous waste cleanup requirements at the landfill, and heightened public frustration over Jake brake noise north of Colby. The meeting was held December 8 at the courthouse and began with routine announcements of receipts totaling $120,922.98 and $60,461.50 for the half-cent and quarter-cent sale tax revenue.

Colby Scholars Bowl Team off to Great Start

December 7, 2025

Colby High School’s Scholars Bowl squad is off to a fast, disciplined start this winter, opening the season with three strong tournament finishes and continued growth across its young roster. With Kansas Scholars Bowl operating under the KSHSAA format — rapid-fire rounds of 16 questions across math, science, social studies, language arts, fine arts, year-in-review and miscellaneous topics — consistency is often the difference between an average team and a competitive one. Through the first month, the Eagles have shown they can be both composed and competitive.

CCC Board Takes First Look at Dormitory Bids During Special Session

December 4, 2025

The Colby Community College Board of Trustees held a special session on December 1 to hear presentations from two construction teams vying to build a new 80-bed residence hall and a new maintenance facility on campus. No action was taken, but the board spent more than two hours listening to proposals, comparing design features, and outlining what additional information will be required before a selection can be made.

Thomas County Commissioners update

November 26, 2025

Thomas County commissioners worked through a packed agenda during their November 26 regular meeting at the courthouse, hearing ongoing complaints about north-side truck noise, environmental compliance requirements for a local feedyard, IT transitions, and employee holiday scheduling. The meeting followed the agenda as published by the county clerk, with presentations from multiple county departments and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) officials.

Office of the President, Seth Carter CCC Campus Update

November 24 2025

Colby Community College was recognized by WalletHub as being in the top 2% of all community and technical colleges in the nation. In addition, the College has been named an Aspen Prize Top 200 U.S. Community College. This is a competitive process that will eventually lead to the top community/technical college in the nation. The winner of this honor will receive a $1,000,000 grant. The College is actively working on the required data and narrative submission for this project. We will know the results by mid-2026.

Thomas County Economic Development Alliance meets for November Meeting

November 24 2025

The Thomas County Economic Development Alliance met on November 19 to review financial standing, explore ongoing development initiatives, and discuss emerging opportunities that could shape the region’s long-term growth. The meeting touched on everything from downtown revitalization and housing shortages to potential ag-based development and a new promotional video highlighting Colby’s economic landscape.

Airport Board Discusses Growth, Safety, and Expansion at November Meeting

November 4, 2025

The Colby Airport Board met Monday morning, November 3, at Shalz Field to discuss several updates and future plans for the growing facility north of Colby. The meeting, attended by City Manager Ron Alexander and airport management from High Plains Aviation, centered around infrastructure improvements, new leadership appointments, and long-term development strategies that could position the airport as a stronger driver of local economic growth.

Six Candidates Share Vision Ahead of Board of Education Election

October 31, 2025

As voters prepare to head to the polls on November 4 to elect three new members to the Colby USD 315 Board of Education, six candidates have stepped forward to share their thoughts, priorities, and vision for the future of local education. Each candidate was asked to respond to four general questions that help the community understand who they are, what issues they see facing the district, and how they plan to serve if elected.

Press Release - Thomas County Economic Development Alliance

October 27, 2025

Under Kansas law, counties have three options with respect to the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink in public places: 1) Prohibit the sale; 2) Permit the sale only if establishments derive at least 30 % of gross receipts from food consumed on-premises (currently in place in Thomas County); or Permit the sale without any portion of their gross receipts needing to be from food sales (November 4, 2025 ballot question).

Public Invited to Town Hall on Nine Mile Corner Safety Project

September 30, 2025

Thomas County residents will soon have the chance to weigh in on a major proposal that could reshape one of the region’s busiest intersections. A public town hall meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. inside the Commissioners Chambers at the Thomas County Courthouse to discuss the possibility of constructing a roundabout at the Nine Mile Corner, east of Colby where highways 25 and 83 intersect.

Colby BOE Reviews Budget, Enrollment, and Facility Concerns at Packed September Meeting

September 15, 2025

The Colby Public Schools Board of Education met Monday, September 15, before a nearly full house, with new teachers, students seeking early graduation, and two candidates for the upcoming board election in attendance. With extra chairs nearly exhausted, the evening’s meeting reflected strong community interest in district issues ranging from enrollment and facilities to teacher contracts and the 2025-26 budget...