August 2026 – Sumner NewsCow

City to hold Revenue Neutral Hearing for 2027 budget tomorrow at Wellington Memorial Auditorium

August 31, 2026 Cueball

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The Wellington City Council meeting will be held tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. as it always is on the first Tuesday of the month. But this is the only meeting that will be held at Wellington’s Memorial Auditorium.

That’s because it will hold a Revenue Neutral Rate public hearing, which is required when a levy exceeds the current revenue rate. The council will then vote on whether to approve the 2027 budget and Capital Outlay Plan for the year beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and ending Dec. 31. RNR is the mill levy required to generate the same amount of property tax revenue collected in the previous year based on current assessed valuations.

According to Wellington City Manager Jeff Porter’s memo to the city council in the agenda packet, the Sumner County Clerk has calculated the city’s RNR at 59.362 mills. The city is proposing a mill levy of 63.613 mills, exceeding it by 4.251 mills, but it remains below the 65.691 mill maximum levy authority established by the Council when it notified the clerk of the city’s intent to exceed the RNR.

The estimated annual impact of the proposed levy on residential properties at selected home values:

Sumner County Sheriff’s weekly jail bookings: Aug. 24 – Aug. 31, 2026

August 31, 2026 Cueball

Sumner Newscow report — The Sumner County Sheriff’s weekly jail bookings for Aug. 24, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2026, are as follows:

Overlay project is set to begin on K-42 in north Sumner County

August 31, 2026 Cueball

Sumner Newscow report — The Kansas Department of Transportation is set to begin an overlay project on K-42 from K-2 in Sumner County to 71st Street in Sedgwick County on or around Sept. 1. This is a little less than 12 miles.

Traffic will be guided through the construction zone by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours. The lane width is restricted to 11 feet, with length of vehicles restricted to 100 feet in the work zone.

Conditions permitting, the project should be finished by the end of November.

Pearson Construction, based in Wichita, is the primary contractor for the project, which totals around $2.5 million.

Wellington Police Weekend Report: Friday, Aug. 28 – Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026

August 31, 2026 Cueball

Wellington Police weekend report: Friday, Aug. 28 – Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026

Friday, August 28, 2026

Sumner County sports calendar Aug. 31 – Sept. 5

August 31, 2026 Cueball

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL THIS WEEK (Kickoff is at 7 p.m.)

Wellington at Clearwater
Belle Plaine at Hutchinson Trinity
Douglass at Conway Springs
South Sumner at Argonia-Attica (at Argonia)
Oxford at Chase County

All sports Wellington High and Middle School Calendar

Click to enlarge

BELLE PLAINE HIGH SCHOOL

Because of Labor Day next Monday, landfill, compost site and recycling center will be closed

August 31, 2026 Cueball

Sumner Newscow report – Due to the Labor Day Holiday (Monday, Sept. 7), the Landfill, Compost Site, and recycling center will be closed.

Monday’s commercial refuse collection will occur on Tuesday that week.

Crusader preview: The Wellington football team has depth and experience, but schedule will be tougher

August 30, 2026 Cueball

The 2026 Wellington High School seniors. (Newscow Graphic illustration)

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — A tougher schedule and the loss of some key players from the previous season will make 2026 a little more daunting. But fifth-year coach Jeremiah Meeks said he is very, very optimistic about the 2026 Wellington Crusader football team.

Here’s an interesting stat we just happened to dig up for no apparent reason. Only two teams have reached all three Class 4A state quarterfinals in football from 2023 to 2025. Wamego and… Wellington. Ok, Ok, all you cynics out there. Yes, Bishop Miege was knocked off by Kansas City Aquinas in the second round in a battle of Catholic school giants in 2023. And Andover Central and Kapaun are back in 5A. And playoff bracketing is a lot more about luck than anything else.

But it makes a point. Wellington has been incredibly consistent in the Meeks era, playing top-tier football.

2026 Wellington High School football team.

That can’t be taken lightly. Not only that, but their quarterfinal exits the past two seasons came at the hands of the eventual Class 4A State Champions. Wellington was 8-3 in 2026. The losses came against 3A State Champion Andale, Rose Hill, and 4A state champion Kapaun. Wellington lost 55-14 during the regular season against Rose Hill only to come back and beat them in the state’s second round. Funny how injuries before a game are as big a factor as anything in Wellington football.

This year’s team has a nice nucleus. Wellington has 68 players. They have seven returning starters on offense and seven on defense.

Moran visits Oxford High School today

August 28, 2026 Cueball

Sen. Moran is with Eliana Wendt, Cade Lewellen, and Logan Gaither

Sumner Newscow report — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran visited Oxford Jr./Sr. High School. Moran states:

“I had a great visit at Oxford Junior/Senior High School today. I appreciated the campus tour led by students Eliana Wendt, Cade Lewellen, and Logan Gaither, and I enjoyed learning about their studies and how the school is helping prepare them for a successful future. Thank you to USD 358 Superintendent Ashley Bugbee, Principal Teresa Commerford and everyone at the school for hosting me.”

Wellington High School opens season with JV tennis tournament in Maize South, Crusaders place second

August 28, 2026 Cueball

Sumner Newscow report — The Wellington high school tennis team began its season at Maize South on Thursday and had some great results.

The high school tennis team began their season at Maize South on Thursday and had some great results.

“We were pleasantly surprised with how the girls performed,” said Brian Aufdengarten, Wellington head tennis coach. “Wellington finished in second place overall, losing only by one point to Maize.”

Team Standings:
Maize 17
Wellington 16
Maize South Gold 14
Maize South Black 13
Buhler 3
Eisenhower 1.

Basil ‘Dean’ Elwood, 86, Oxford: Sept. 10, 1939 – Aug. 25, 2026

August 28, 2026 Cueball

Basil Elwood

Basil “Dean” Elwood, 86, of Oxford, died August 25, 2026.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 1 p.m. at the Oxford Christian Church, 120 W Clark St, Oxford, KS. Graveside services will follow at the Oxford Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, August 31, at Oxford Funeral Service, 104 N Sumner, Oxford. Memorials in his name may be made to the Cowley County Humane Society and left in the care of the funeral home.

Dean was born on September 10, 1939, in Miltonvale, KS, to parents Charles R. Elwood and Verma Deal. He graduated from Wichita West High School, then attended WSU before working for Wonder Bread. He had various careers in life. He worked for National Life Insurance Company, where he received various awards. He then moved his family to Oxford. He was a deputy for the Oxford Police Department. He later worked for Boeing and was also a contract jig builder in Tennessee and Texas.

Wellington Police Notes: Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026

August 28, 2026 Cueball

Wellington Police notes: Thursday, August 27, 2026

Bond stipulations released on the alleged DeJarlait kidnapping attempt of a South Haven high school girl

August 27, 2026 Cueball

Patrick Dejarlait

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — There have been several on social media who are questioning the bond release conditions of Patrick Desjarlait, 28, of Ponca City after an Aug. 17 incident at a South Haven area convenience store. Desjarlait is being accused of jumping into the car of a high school girl without permission and allegedly making suggestive remarks to her while she was driving.

A Sumner County District Judge released Desjarlait under his own recognizance on the following day.

Although Desjarlait is currently not in custody at Sumner County Jail, he is currently serving parole for being charged with personating another to create liability. He was sentenced to Oklahoma prison for 15 years, with all but seven years suspended. Desjarlait was discharged from prison on July 14, 2025 and is on parole until 2030.

So what does this mean as far as the current charges Desjarlait is facing for the alleged kidnapping attempt of the high school girl in Sumner County? He is currently charged with aggravated vehicular burglary, a level 5 felony, and attempted battery, a misdemeanor.

According to the conditions of the bond, Desjarlait must submit to the following stipulations. The defendant shall:

Crusader Club Hamburger and Gatorade Scrimmage

August 27, 2026 Cueball

Paw Patrol – the Dino Movie is playing at the Wellington Regent this weekend

August 27, 2026 Cueball

Wellington Police Notes: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026

August 27, 2026 Cueball

Wellington Police notes: Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026

Wellington school board roundup: Aug. 10, 2026

August 27, 2026 Cueball

Editor’s note — Below are the highlights from the April 13, 2026 Wellington School Board meeting written by USD353 Communication Specialist Russ Sturm. Please note that this is only a summary of each BOE meeting. Approved minutes posted by the Board Clerk can be found at USD353.com under the Board of Education tab.

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Discussion Items

Budget for 2026-27 School Year (amended item)

The district’s accountant, Randy Ford, joined the meeting via phone to present the finished 2026-2027 budget to the BOE and answer any questions. This was for discussion only.

Education Spotlight: Starbase

A few teachers from Lincoln presented information on Starbase. This is a program hosted at McConnell Air Force Base for 5th-grade students to gain hands-on experience while learning about various science concepts. Starbase covers Fifth Grade Kansas content standards in eight areas of science, three areas of math, two areas of English Language Arts, as well as technology and computer science.

Students work closely with trained staff over five days of lessons and activities and take a tour of areas of the Air Force Base.

This is for information only

Out-of-State Travel Request

Special Sumner Newscow weekly poll: Have you ever gone to a Rocky Horror Picture Show?

August 27, 2026 Cueball

Tim Curry.

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Crusader preview: 2026 Wellington volleyball team is coming in the season with very high expectations

August 26, 2026 Cueball

2026 WHS Volleyball team.

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It’s been a while since the expectations have been this high for a Wellington varsity volleyball team.

Kaylie Lagasse

Second-year head coach Kaylie Lagasse made this bold statement:

“We will be competing for a league title. We have all the right pieces to do so. We’re not just competing for a league title either – we want to go to the state tournament and compete and advance to Day two.”

Lagasse has a legitimate reason for saying this. The Crusaders are returning five of their starters and six lettermen from a year ago.

It was quite a ride for Wellington in 2025. The Crusaders tied their all-time school win record in volleyball with a 22-12 record. They reached the sub-state championship game, where they played perennial powerhouse McPherson for a chance to advance to state. In a rocking Canton-Galva gymnasium, McPherson won both sets to secure the title. McPherson would go on to the Class 4A state tournament, going 1-2 in bracket play.