Small Town Losing Grocery Store

ST. JOHN, Kan. (AP) — A small central Kansas town is scrambling to find ways to respond when its only grocery store closes Feb. 6.

More than 200 people attended a town hall meeting Sunday to discuss the closing of a Dillon’s Market store.

Mayor Juliann Owens says the store was closing for financial reasons and because the small store can’t be expanded.

When the store closes, St. John residents will have to drive more than 25 miles to Great Bend or Pratt, or 12 miles to a small grocery store in Stafford.

For now, residents are planning ways to help those who can’t drive to get groceries. The St. John city council will discuss funding a bus to take people to the other towns for groceries.

Associated Press information from: KAKE-TV