The Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce is closing its doors for good.

Memorial Health System announced that it is part of a movement to improve health care for older adults, contributing to a goal of 20 percent of U.S. hospitals and health systems becoming age-friendly by 2020.

After asking the question “what now?” throughout most of 2020, Ashish Ghosh Hajra, the owner of the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, answered his own question at the Abilene City Commission meeting Monday.

Although masons are still in short supply, walls are still being built at the new Dickinson County jail.

“I like Ike” is the name of a new public art installation in one of Abilene’s downtown alleys.

A meeting between a couple Abilene school board members and administrators, one Dickinson County commissioner and other county representatives resulted in “good discussion,” Dickinson County Commission Chairman Lynn Peterson reported during the Nov. 19 commission meeting.

The prospect of a new Holiday Inn Express and Suites just north of Interstate 70 is back.

COVID-19 has changed many aspects of the way schools operate, but so far the virus has not derailed snow days in Abilene USD 435.

Starting this morning, Thursday, any person in Dickinson County shall cover their mouth and nose with a mask or other face covering inside of, or in line of, any indoor public space, and outdoors in public places when unable to maintain a 6-foot distance.

ENTERPRISE — The goal is to have a New Year’s Day walk on the nature trail through the Enterprise Ecological Park.

CHAPMAN — Chapman High School and Chapman Middle School classes will be held remotely Nov. 30 through Dec. 18. 

“The show must go on” might be the best cliché describing Abilene High School’s fall musical “Disney Descendants.”

Abilene City Manager Jane Foltz said at the study session Monday of the Abilene City Commission that she plans to retire from the city of Abilene on March 1, 2021.

Kennedy Primary School will move to remote learning starting today (Tuesday, Nov. 17) through Thanksgiving break due to COVID-19.

The Abilene Public Library will change is hours of operations closing at 5:30 p.m., weekdays starting Dec. 1.

COVID-19 didn’t cancel the 22nd annual Abilene Motorcycle Toy Run benefiting Toys 4 Tots Sunday. The parade of over 150 riders started at the parking lot of Lumber House True Value and went through the streets of Abilene, ending at Sterl Hall.

 The Abilene Public Schools Board of Education approved a number of new classified employees Monday, Nov. 9.

Once a top priority for the city of Abilene, the threat of the emerald ash borer hasn’t gone away.

SOLOMON — Operation Gorilla Family Project will be launched with Stuff the Bus which kicks off next week and the Angel Tree on Monday, Nov. 23,  at the DS&O lobby, 201 Dakota.

Dickinson County Commission Chairman Lynn Peterson will meet with a couple members of the Abilene Board of Education to discuss the school board’s COVID concerns.

The American Legion Riders rode through the streets of Abilene, carrying the American flag on Veterans Day. One of their routes was through the parking lot at St. Andrew’s Elementary where they were greeted by students. 

The city of Abilene isn’t giving up on its Christmas celebration this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Community Foundation of Dickinson County will join more than 900 community foundations across America celebrating Community Foundation Week Nov. 12 to 18.

Faye (Peck) Heath of Junction City is being inducted posthumously into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

Abilene Middle School will move to remote learning today (Wednesday) for at least one week because half the student body has been quarantined, according to information released Tuesday afternoon from USD 435.

A request to reduce the bond of a 39-year-old man awaiting a jury trial on two felony complaints and facing four other complaints was denied in Dickinson County District Court on Monday.

An anchor of the Abilene downtown business community is under new ownership.

Abilene’s rich history includes many characterizations that include the Wild West with Wild Bill Hickok, the cattle train movement, the legacy of our 34th President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the many innovations of C.L. Brown, including the United Power Company and the United Phone Company.

Updated Monday morning.

Construction on the new Dickinson County Jail was 60 percent complete at the end of October as county officials look toward phase 2 of the project that involves the renovation of the 64-year-old courthouse.

When asked what position she would like to play on the Kansas Wesleyan softball team Shelly Emig Crane said, “I’m a catcher.”

With positive cases of COVID-19 spiking locally, the Dickinson County Board of Health may institute a mandatory mask order in the near future — possibly as early as next week.