Silver Lake Eagle Beacon

01/15/2026

Silver Lake After-Prom Cash Raffle Details Updated

The Silver Lake High School After-Prom Committee has announced updates to its cash raffle fundraiser benefiting the After-Prom celebration.

Tickets are now $25 each, and the drawing will be held on February 20 during a Silver Lake High School home basketball game, with the event livestreamed by the Eagle Beacon. Participants do not need to be present to win.

The raffle is organized by parents of the Silver Lake High School junior class. Multiple cash prizes will be awarded, with prizes starting at $75. Only 400 tickets will be sold, and the raffle is open to the public.

Anyone who previously purchased a ticket at the original $50 price has automatically received a second ticket at no additional cost, doubling their chances to win.

Tickets may be purchased from Silver Lake High School juniors/ seniors or at select home basketball games. You may also contact the Silver Lake Eagle Beacon. Cash, check and Venmo payments are accepted.

All proceeds support the Silver Lake High School After-Prom event, which provides a safe post-prom celebration for students.

01/15/2026

Things are happening in Silver Lake
January 15

Check out a new book at the Silver Lake Library
Get a haircut at Priddy Parlor
Go make an appointment at Michel Dental
Schedule an oil change with On the Go Garage
Schedule and appointment with Bob Schwarz Financial
Pick up something special at Eagle Wine & Spirits
Make a deposit at Silver Lake Bank or Stockgrowers State Bank
Schedule an appointment for your fur baby at Silver Lake Animal Health Center, LLC
Go see what's new at Window Design & Remodeling
Call Roofs by Brian for your free estimate.

Grab something to eat at –
Gambino’s Pizza, 404 S. Circle Dr.
Silver Lake Chinese Restaurant, 207 Railroad St., 785-582-5161
La Victoria Mexican, 10025 US-24
Faraz, Phillips 66, 10021 US-24
Casey’s, 424 Chestnut St
Dialogue Coffee House, 301 E. Railroad

01/14/2026

Free Baseball - Softball Clinic
Volunteers Needed

As preparations begin for the upcoming baseball and softball season, the Silver Lake Ball Association is planning to host at least one free training clinic for local youth players and is currently seeking volunteers to help make the effort a success.

The clinic is designed to focus on the fundamentals of the game, including pitching, hitting, and fielding, and will be open to players in the Silver Lake Ball Association program at no cost. The goal is to provide additional instruction, skill development, and confidence-building opportunities for young athletes while strengthening the overall program.

To support the clinic, the Ball Association is looking for volunteers from across the community. Those interested in helping include current high school or college players, former players with experience, adults with knowledge of the game, and community members who simply want to help youth learn and improve.

Volunteers do not need to be professional coaches; a willingness to teach fundamentals, encourage players, and serve as positive role models is what matters most.

Dates and times for the clinic will be announced once volunteer numbers are finalized.

Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to contact the Silver Lake Ball Association through Facebook or by email at [email protected]
The Silver Lake Ball Association continues to look for ways to support player development and provide positive experiences for youth athletes throughout the season.

01/14/2026

Make plans

Silver Lake Senior Night January 20th!

Front row seats will be reserved for the SLWC wrestlers.

A Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser will be available $10 for adults and $7 for kids - Dinner will be served from 5pm-6pm only in the High School Commons Area.

01/14/2026

The Silver Lake Eagles picked up a pair of convincing road wins Tuesday night at Jeff West, with the Lady Eagles remaining unbeaten and the boys continuing their strong midseason run.

The No. 1-ranked Silver Lake Lady Eagles entered the night at 9–0 and showed why they sit atop the 3A rankings, jumping out to an 8–0 start and controlling the game from the opening tip. Silver Lake led 22–8 after the first quarter, 38–17 at halftime, and 54–21 at the end of the third, cruising to a 62–24 victory over Jeff West (6–2).

Silver Lake knocked down seven three-pointers, shot 70 percent from the free-throw line, and forced 29 turnovers, while committing 17 of their own.

Lady Eagles scoring
Kailyn Hanni — 23
Karys Deiter — 18
Savanah Wende — 7
Paige Heiman — 4
Taelyn Thompson — 3
Peyton May — 3
Jaylie Whitehead — 2
Claire Erb — 2

In the boys game, Silver Lake (7–2) built a steady lead early against Jeff West (6–2). The Eagles led 16–10 after one quarter, 37–17 at halftime, and 57–34 after three quarters. A last-second three-pointer by Mason VanVactor sealed a 72–52 final.

Silver Lake connected on 10 three-pointers compared to just one for Jeff West and shot 70 percent from the free-throw line (7 of 10). At halftime, the Eagles had already hit five threes.

Boys scoring
Dayne Johnson — 32
Grady Bergmann — 12
Joel Miller — 8
Mason VanVactor — 6
Hunter Rooks — 4
Camden Kruger — 3
Lane Ray — 3
Cason Kraus — 3
Drew Womack — 1

Both Eagle teams will have Friday off before turning their attention to the Burlington Tournament next week.

01/14/2026

Things are happening in Silver Lake
January 14

8:00 am, Men's Coffee, Silver Lake United Methodist Church

11:00 am, Story Time at Silver Lake Library

3-4:00 pm, Silver Lake Library – Snag a Snack, for all SL students

5:30 pm, Silver Lake After Prom meeting at Silver Lake 66

6:00 pm, Fire Board Meeting at City Hall

6:00 pm, Silver Lake Schools, Board of Education Meeting at District Office

6:30 pm, Men's & Women's Bible Study at First Baptist Church

01/13/2026

Wrestling at Seaman

The Silver Lake Wrestling Club turned in another strong performance on Sunday at the Jr. Viking Tournament in Seaman, bringing home multiple podium finishes across all divisions.

Leading the way with first-place finishes were Anniston Braun, Lincoln Braun, Logan Christopher and Korben Cersovsky, each going undefeated on the day.

Second-place honors were earned by Rhett Johnson, Ryan Lohrbach, Isaac Noble, Jacob Christopher and Natlie Nelson after impressive runs through their brackets.

Finishing third were Ryker Rakestraw, Eleanor Misenhelter and Makinley Connor, while Jackson Tindall, Brecken Kennedy and Lucy Lamar added fourth-place finishes for Silver Lake.

01/13/2026

Ask the Beacon: City Official Compensation and Mayor’s Fund Explained

Following the most recent Silver Lake City Council meeting, questions were raised after the mayor and two city council members chose to donate their annual salaries. The Beacon reached out to the City Clerk to provide clarification on how elected officials are compensated and how the Mayor’s Fund is used.

How much do city council members and the mayor get paid?
City council members receive $50 per council session for their service.
The mayor receives $90 per council session, along with an additional $60 per month.

Is there a list of people who have received money from the Mayor’s Fund?
According to the City Clerk, no individuals have received money from the Mayor’s Fund. Instead, the city uses the mayor’s salary to purchase city logo merchandise that is given to citizens as a form of appreciation.

One example provided was from last year, when high school students who helped shovel snow received Silver Lake logo hats along with certificates of appreciation from the mayor.

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 5:30 pm. Meetings take place at Silver Lake City Hall and are open to the public.

01/13/2026

Silver Lake’s Dayne Johnson Earns Kansas Shrine Bowl Invitation

Silver Lake High School senior Dayne Johnson has been selected to participate in the 53rd Kansas Shrine Bowl, one of the state’s most prestigious high school football honors. Johnson was among 88 players statewide who received invitations to compete in the annual East vs. West all-star game, scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Emporia.

Johnson was chosen as a wide receiver for the Red Team, representing the East Team All-Stars. He earned the invitation following an outstanding senior season in which he averaged 129 receiving yards per game and totaled more than 1000 receiving yards on the year, establishing himself as one of the top offensive threats in the region.

The Kansas Shrine Bowl is an annual charity event organized by Shrine Bowl of Kansas Inc. All proceeds from the game and surrounding activities benefit the Shriners Children’s hospital system, which provides specialized pediatric care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. In addition to the football game, the week-long event includes band and cheer camps, parades, and a hospital experience designed to connect players directly with the children and families they are supporting.

Johnson will be joined at the Shrine Bowl by several familiar faces from the Big East League, including Cael Frazier of Holton, Carter Hajek of Nemaha Central, Andre Johnson of Rossville, and Osiris Unruh of Jefferson West. Rossville’s Derick Hammes will also be involved as a member of the coaching staff.

Courtesy Photos

01/13/2026

RAFFLE – LIMITED TICKETS!

Support Silver Lake After Prom and give yourself 30 chances to win cash—but don’t wait! Only 400 tickets are available, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Raffle Details:
• $50 per ticket
• 30 chances to win
• Cash prizes from $75–$300
• No need to be present to win

How to buy:
Reach out to any Silver Lake High School junior or senior, or look for sellers at activities and events happening at the high school.
• January 14 - After Prom Meeting at Silver Lake 66, 5:30 pm
• January 20 – HS Wrestling
• January 22 – JH Boys Basketball
• January 26 – JH Boys Basketball
• January 27 – HS Basketball

Payment options include cash, check, or Venmo. Tickets are issued once payment is received.

This is the biggest fundraiser of the year to help cover all After Prom expenses—great odds, great prizes, and a great cause.

Act fast—tickets are limited and going quickly!

01/13/2026

01/13/2026

Things are happening in Silver Lake
January 13

6-9 am, First Baptist Church of Silver Lake – Morning prayer, come & go prayer

10:00 am, Senior Center – card games

10:00 am, 2nd Tuesdays Book Club at Silver Lake Library

4:30 pm, Junior High Boys Basketball at High School

5:30 pm, Midweek Mingle at Silver Lake United Methodist Church

5:30 pm, Silver Lake Ball Association meeting at Silver lake 66

Send a message to learn more