Blankenship to Wellston

Shane Blankenship has joined First Bank & Trust Co. as Vice President and Banking Center Manager in Wellston. Blankenship has 28 years of experience in the financial industry. “I am very excited to welcome Shane to First Bank & Trust Co.

Barrel racers qualify for Vegas

Two Chandler junior high students have qualified to compete in the Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship in barrel racing from Dec. 6-13 in Las Vegas. Seventh grader Marley Miller, 12, and eighth grader Dilynn Schafer, 13, will set out the first week of December to complete.

Blind plea in abuse case

A Lincoln County resident has waived his right to a jury trial and entered a blind plea of guilty on the day his trial was starting. Brandon Matthew Tarpenning, 40, who deputies say resides in the Harrah area, was first charged in Lincoln County District Court on Dec. 30, 2022 with child neglect.

Teachers at Park Road Elementary

EMILY KALKA Groups of children bundled up in coats, jackets and sweatshirts gathered in the chilly morning air as the sun slowly rose over Chandler on Thursday morning.

Lincoln County Commissioners meeting

Lincoln County commissioners this week authorized the Sheriff’s Office to go out for bid on a pre-engineered steel building and approved agreements with an engineering firm for bridges in Districts 1 and 2.

Wellston man to prison

A Wellston man has pleaded no contest to six counts of sex crimes with a minor under 16 and has been handed a state prison term. Gary Wayne Shafer, 68, originally was charged in Lincoln County District Court on Sep. 19, 2022 with one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16.

Hearings for two charged in Carney man’s death

Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for an Iowa man a Wellston woman charged in the connection with the death of a Carney man. Each faces three felonies. Each is being held in the Lincoln County Jail in Chandler without bond.