Topeka – Governor Sam Brownback signed a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation for 24 counties this morning because of severe storms, flooding, flash flooding, hail, tornadoes and lightning that began June 1 and continues.

The Kansas counties named in the proclamation are Atchison, Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ellsworth, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewell, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Shawnee and Smith.

Today, KDEM personnel are conducting aerial damage assessments over areas of North Central Kansas where much flooding was reported in recent days. KDEM staff will look for damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will be contacting county emergency managers next week to narrow down eligible damage costs for a possible federal Public Assistance program request.  These funds, if approved by FEMA, would provide local government entities and eligible non-profit organizations to receive reimbursements for certain expenditures as a result of the storm.

The Rooks County Health Center in  Plainville is one of five finalists for the Governor’s Award of Excellence, the top award given to a business by the state.

The Kansas Department of Commerce has named 27 Regional Business Excellence Award winners and 104 Merit Award winners as part of Business Appreciation Month, the Department’s annual celebration of Kansas businesses and their contributions to their communities and the state economy.

Each of the 131 businesses was nominated in one of four categories: Manufacturing/Distribution, Service, Retail and Hospital/Non-Profit.

Five of the 27 Regional Business Excellence Award winners have been named Finalists for the Governor’s Award of Excellence which will be announced June 29 at the Kansas Cavalry Encampment in El Dorado. The five finalists are:

Community HealthCare System (Onaga and five other locations)
Rooks County Health Center (Plainville)
Mid Kansas Coop Association (Moundridge)
AuBurn Pharmacy Inc. (Garnett and multiple other locations)
Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center (Chanute)

Volunteers from Ellis County 4-H clubs spent their morning placing luminaries around Felten Middle School Track in Hays for the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  It runs from 7p.m. Friday night through 7a.m. Saturday morning.  

Donations are accepted for the luminaries which are decorated with the names of people who have battled cancer.

The luminaries are lighted at dusk and the reading each name begins at 10p.m.

Members of the Hays Beautification Committee, assisted by the Hays Parks Department,  are hanging day-glo pink and yellow tags on trees qualifying for the city’s tree rebate program.

A long list of Preferred and Acceptable trees is available at the Parks Department, City Hall and on the city’s website.  Years of research by K-State and other groups indicate which species of trees grow best in western Kansas weather.

Rebates are available for homeowners who plant qualified trees purchased from an Ellis County seller.