The Hays City Commission will meet in regular session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.
Water is expected to be the primary topic of conversation, as a resolution of intent to develop R9 Ranch will be considered.
King’s Gate Addition project under consideration by the Hays City Commission
The Edwards County land long has been eyed as a potential water source for the city of Hays and surrounding area. The project to build a pipeline to deliver is estimated to cost $65 million and take years.
City Manager Toby Dougherty told commissioners at last week’s work session that the regulatory process alone could take between five and 15 years.
The city has collected a special sales tax since 1992 to help fund water projects, and a reserve of $27 million has been built up over the years.
Also on the agenda is a proposal to extend city waterlines along 41st Street adjacent to King’s Gate Addition. A developer agreement with Covenant Land and Developing will be considered by the commission to facilitate the project.
The total construction cost of the 12-inch waterline extension would be $85,000, with the city’s portion of the project estimated at $17,800.
Topeka (AP) — The Kansas Senate is considering a bill shortening the time for inmates convicted of capital murder to appeal their death sentences to the state Supreme Court.
The measure on Wednesday’s debate calendar would specify time limits for filing documents in such appeals and for the Supreme Court to hear arguments on them.
The changes were sought by proponents of capital punishment concerned about the pace at which death penalty appeals reach the high court — in some cases, more than a decade.
Kansas enacted capital punishment in 1994 but has yet to carry out an execution. Nine men are under death sentences in state prisons.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A weekend memorial service is planned for a 52-year-old Lawrence man who authorities say was killed by a 19-year-old housemate.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports the service for Harold Sasko will take place on Sunday at Christ the King Catholic Church in Topeka.
Sasko was found dead Jan. 17 in the Lawrence house he shared with Sarah B. Gonzales McLinn. She was later arrested in Florida and charged with first-degree murder.
Sasko owned the Lawrence CiCi’s Pizza franchise as well as two more in Topeka. McLinn reportedly had worked for Sasko and had been living in his house since 2012.
McLinn is being held on $1 million bond. If she’s convicted, the Douglas County prosecutor plans to seek a sentence of life without a chance for parole for 50 years.
Some people have the mistaken idea that farmers and ranchers are harming our environment. You hear it everywhere: at the coffee shop, church, public forums, even in the grocery store where people buy the food farmers and ranchers produce for us to eat.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.
Children arrive home from school and tell parents about “harmful” practices farmers use. It’s easy to understand why folks think the way they do about today’s agriculture.
Few businesses are as open to public scrutiny as a farm or ranch in the United States but the only picture many have of agriculture is what they read in newspapers or see on television. Even fewer people have set foot on a modern farm.
The fondest wish of most farmers and ranchers is to pass their land on to their children. They work years to leave a legacy of good land stewardship. Most farmers learned about conservation and respect for the land from their parents.
Today’s farmer and ranchers are doing their part to protect and improve the environment. They use such practices as early planting, pest control, good soil fertility conservation tillage and many other innovations that help grow more food while protecting the land, water and air.
Farmers adjust practices to meet individual cropping conditions. Such practices can vary from farm to farm – even from field to field.
As in any other business, farmers and ranchers must manage their operations on a timely basis and use all the technology available to improve quality and productivity. If they don’t they will not be able to stay in business for long.
Today’s farmer has drastically cut chemical use during the last couple of decades. Many no longer apply chemicals before planting. Instead, as the crop matures, farmers gauge potential weed growth and apply herbicides only if needed.
Farmers handle chemicals with care and according to instructions on the label. They realize they can be toxic or harmful to people and the environment, and they are the first to come in contact with them.
From planting through harvest, farmers battle weather, weeds, insects and disease. Efficiency is their best defense against unstable world markets, political barriers and fringe groups who may attack their farming methods.
Yes, farmers and ranchers must live in the environment they create. They know all too well the importance of keeping the ground water clean. More often than not, farmers drink from wells on their land. They understand that their family drinks from the water they pump from the ground every day.
Farmers and ranchers can and will do more to improve their environment. They can continue to rely less on herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers. Agricultural producers can also conserve more water, plug abandoned wells, monitor grassland grazing and continue to implement environmentally sound techniques that will ensure preservation of the land.
Production agriculture works, and will continue to work because it is flexible enough to accept and adapt to change. No agricultural system – or any other system for that matter, is perfect. Farmers and ranchers will continue to search for better ways to farm and ranch through research and education.
In the meantime, farmers and ranchers will continue to take their stewardship seriously. They’ve devoted their lives to safeguarding their farms and families, while providing us with the safest food in the world.
John Schlageck, a native of Hoxie, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion.
TOPEKA—Three western Kansas properties are among nine nominations to the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.
The Kansas Historical Society voted Saturday to forward the nominations as announced in a news release Tuesday.
The National Register of Historic Places is the country’s official list of historically significant properties. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
Below are summaries of the nominations:
Norcatur City Hall
Norcatur City Hall – 107 N Decatur Avenue, Norcatur, Decatur County
In 1935, Norcatur residents voted 213 to three in favor of matching a federal grant of $26,000 to erect a new city hall. Despite construction delays and the frequent turnover of project managers, the Norcatur City Hall was completed in August 1937 under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal-era work relief program. Civic buildings erected as part of this program typically featured expressions of Classical or Moderne architecture. The Norcatur City Hall reflects a vernacular interpretation of the Streamlined Moderne style with its stucco and concrete exterior, multi-light steel casement windows, pipe railings, flat roof, and modest horizontal tile accents. This style gained favor in the 1930s in part because of its de-emphasis of extravagant architectural ornament in favor of clean lines and modern materials. The small-town city hall housed the local government office, jail, fire department, and a basement assembly hall where civic groups and others could gather. It closed in 1985. The building is nominated as part of the New Deal-Era Resources of Kansas multiple property nomination for its local significance in the areas of government, entertainment, recreation, social history, and architecture.
Minier, Abram M., House – 307 South Avenue, Highland, Doniphan County
Abram M. Minier, a grandson of John Bayless, a founder of Highland, commissioned the construction of this Craftsman bungalow in 1916. Though the builder of the house is not known, it was built from a house plan by Gustav Stickley first published in the November 1909 issue of The Craftsman and later published as Cottage No. 78 in Stickley’s 1912 catalogue More Craftsman Homes. The catalogue estimated the construction of the house to be $5,000. There were some minor modifications between the published plans and the blueprints for this house. For example, the fireplace was constructed as brick rather than stone, and the interior plan was modified slightly to incorporate a small, screened porch on the rear elevation. The home otherwise contains all the signature Stickley designs including wood shingle siding, exposed rafter tails, a full-width front porch, heavy structural beams, built-in bookcases and seating, and Mission-style hardware. The Minier House is nominated as part of the Historic Resources of Highland multiple property nomination for its local significance in the area of architecture.
Birchmore, John W., House – 1204 N Buckeye Avenue, Abilene, Dickinson County
Episcopal priest John W. Birchmore purchased a four-acre tract in 1878 and contracted to build this Second Empire-style residence. Examples of the Second Empire style can be found in many Kansas communities, often on residences built in the 1870s and early 1880s. A hallmark of the style is the mansard roof, a double-pitched roof with a steep lower slope. This residence features a mansard roof with pedimented windows, another common characteristic of the style. While it also is common to see Second Empire residences with a tower, this element is usually centered prominently on the front elevation. The Birchmore House has a tower, but it is located on a secondary elevation and has a cone-shaped roof rather than the more typical mansard roof. Birchmore served St. John’s Episcopal Church in Abilene for a short period, and the residence was sold several times in subsequent decades. Much of the surrounding acreage was sold off in the early-and mid-20th century for development. It is nominated for its local significance in the area of architecture.
Truitt, James, House – 305 N Steuben Avenue, Chanute, Neosho County
The James Truitt House in Chanute is an excellent example of late 19th century Queen Anne-style architecture. The two-and-a-half story residence exhibits the hallmarks of the style including an irregular plan, a complex cross-gable roof, variations in exterior wall texture, and multiple porches with Eastlake-inspired spindlework. It was commissioned in 1887 by James Truitt, a nurseryman who had moved his family from Kentucky to Chanute in 1878. Before relocating, Truitt was a successful nurseryman, having won awards as a fruit-grower, gardener, and florist in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. While living in Chanute, he operated Truitt and Sons Greenhouse until his death in 1914, and founded Chanute Nurseries, which continued long after his passing. The house is nominated for its association with Truitt and for its Queen Anne architecture.
Sylvan Grove Union Pacific Railroad Depot
Sylvan Grove Union Pacific Depot – 131 S Main Street, Sylvan Grove, Lincoln County
The Sylvan Grove Union Pacific Depot was built in 1887 and is an example of a combination depot, meaning it served both freight and passenger needs. This rail line was originally known as the Salina, Lincoln & Western Railway Line, which later became a part of the Union Pacific Railroad. The depot is located at the south end of Sylvan Grove’s Main Street and is in its original location. The depot closed in 1968 and the rails on either side of the building were removed following the 1993 flood. The wood-frame building is an example of a standardized late-19th century combination depot with minimal ornamentation, though the eave brackets and gable-end embellishments reflect the Victorian-era Stick style. It is nominated as part of the Historic Railroad Resources of Kansas multiple property nomination for its local significance in the areas of transportation and architecture.
Lowe Center School, District #115 – Indian Road & 27th Road, Washington County
The Lowe Center School was built in 1884 in response to a growing rural population in Washington County in the early 1880s. School attendance records note between 20 and 35 students enrolled at the school into the early 20th century. The one-acre property is located north of Morrowville in Lowe Township and served rural residents of this area until it closed in 1963. The building is typical of one-room country schoolhouses built in the late 19th century. The wood-frame building rests on a limestone foundation, has clapboard siding, and features a gable roof with a bell tower. There are two outhouses behind the school. It is nominated as part of the Historic Public Schools of Kansas multiple property nomination for its local significance in the areas of education and architecture.
Sand Creek Tributary Stone Arch Bridge northwest of LaCrosse
Sand Creek Tributary Stone Arch Bridge – 2 miles west, 1.4 miles north of La Crosse, Rush County
The Sand Creek Tributary Stone Arch Bridge was constructed by local men employed by the Works Projects Administration in 1942. This double-arch limestone bridge was one of the last of several New Deal-era construction projects in Rush County. Its limestone construction is typical of structures built in this area and is representative of master stone builders and the craftsmanship of construction workers trained by the WPA. A tributary of Sand Creek flows beneath the bridge during seasonal rains, but remains mostly dry otherwise. The bridge is nominated as part of the New Deal-Era Resources of Kansas and Masonry Arch Bridges of Kansas multiple property nominations for its local significance in the areas of government, social history, and engineering.
Lone Elm Campground Swale – 21151 W 167th Street, Olathe, Johnson County
The Lone Elm Campground Swale is located in Lone Elm Park at the southernmost edge of Olathe. This city park’s single trail swale is situated along the combined route of the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California trails as it headed southwest out of Westport, Missouri to present-day Gardner, Kansas where the Santa Fe Trail split-off from the Oregon and California trail. The earliest known group headed for Santa Fe passed through this site circa 1823, and use of this part of the trail drew to a close in 1861 with the onset of the Civil War, which ended long-distance trail traffic from Independence. This trail remnant is one of the few intact trail remains in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, as urban and suburban development has greatly encroached upon the trail in this region. The nominated site also contains a historical marker erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1906. The property is nominated as part of the Historic Resources of the Santa Fe Trail in the areas of commerce, transportation, exploration/settlement, and social history.
Little Arkansas River Crossing – Windom vicinity, Rice County
The Little Arkansas River Crossing site is located in Rice County, approximately five miles southwest of Windom. Being on the main route of the Santa Fe Trail, 90 miles west of Council Grove, the Little Arkansas River was crossed by most trail traffic, including military traffic. William Becknell initiated trade with Santa Fe in 1821 and most likely crossed the Little Arkansas River at this site that year. Certainly, though, this crossing was used from the initiation of wagon traffic over the trail in 1822 to the advancement of the railroad to Junction City in 1866. Travelers bound for Santa Fe would take the train to Junction City then continue southwest along the Butterfield Overland Despatch route to Fort Ellsworth, then southwest on a connecting road to Fort Zarah, where they resumed the main trail. This new route from Junction City spelled the end of long-distance trail traffic east of Fort Zarah (near present-day Great Bend). The nominated site contains two trail swales and a monument erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1929. The property is nominated as part of the Historic Resources of the Santa Fe Trail in the areas of commerce, transportation, and social history.
To read drafts of the nominations and links to photographs, go to kshs.org/14633.
The city of Hays has been in a Water Watch since 2012. Water customers are asked to voluntarily conserve water inside and outside their homes and businesses.
Jason Riegel was hired by the city approximately three months ago as its first water conservation specialist.
Hays and much of western Kansas is in its third consecutive year of drought. The city is considering two changes to better conserve water supplies into the future, including the amount of irrigated landscape allowed on new developments and a green plumbing code.
Riegel explained:
Hays has two main water supplies, the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek. A large well relocation project has been completed on the Smoky Hill River aquifer that gives the city more in-ground storage. According to Riegel, the storage is now being used because the Smoky Hill River has been dry for two and half years.
The releases of water from Cedar Bluff Reservoir in Trego County early last year refilled the Smoky Hill aquifer. For now, the city of Hays is not entitled to another release.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A company that makes car safety seats is recalling nearly 3.8 million of them because children can get trapped by buckles that may not unlatch.
But the action by Graco doesn’t satisfy federal regulators, who say the recall should include another 1.8 million rear-facing car seats designed for infants.
The recall covers 11 models made from 2009 through 2013 by Graco Children’s Products of Atlanta. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s the fourth-largest child seat recall in U.S. history.
But the agency criticized Graco in a letter today, saying that the recall excludes seven infant car seat models with the same buckles. It says the company and the government have received complaints about stuck buckles on those seats — and that parents have sometimes had to cut harness straps to remove their child.
Graco says its tests found that food or beverages can make the harness buckles sticky and harder to use. A spokeswoman says the rear-facing infant seats aren’t being recalled because infants don’t get food or drinks on their seats. She says the company will send replacement buckles to owners of infant seats on request.
TOPEKA (AP) — The Kansas Senate is pushing the state toward a confrontation with the federal government over protecting greater and lesser prairie chickens.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported the Senate gave first-round approval Tuesday to a bill declaring that the federal government has no authority to set policies on prairie chickens or any activities that affect the birds’ habitat.
The Senate planned to take final action Wednesday, when passage would send the measure to the House.
State Wildlife Parks and Tourism Secretary Robin Jennison has said he expects the federal government to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species or to impose a conservation plan. Western Kansas lawmakers and farmers worry they’ll face extra costs and new land-use restrictions.
But some lawmakers question whether Kansas can block federal action.
The Hays Arts Center has brought in the international exhibit “In The Name of Love,” an exhibition that features pieces from four different countries. Some of the pieces have been shown all over the world.
“It’s been in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, the National Art Gallery of Namibia, at one of the United Nations offices and major museums in Geneva, Switzerland,” said Brenda Meder, director of the Hays Arts Council. “And now it’s here in Hays, Kansas, and very proudly at the Hays Arts Center.”
The development of the project began in August 2013 when Eric Sader, former director of Jana’s Campaign, contacted Meder about the project after Victims2Survivors, an African-based advocacy group, contacted him about the project. Meder then began brainstorming — and came up with the idea of bringing the exhibition to Hays in February, a month dedicated to the idea of love.
“For how many people is this what love looks like?” said Meder. “Is this how they respond to the concept of love?”
After more discussion with Jana’s Campaign, the project was then brought to a Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 class, a course that, according to professor Christie Brungardt, teaches leadership through the practice of service learning. A group of six students in the class picked up the project and helped Meder organize the project. They admit they were a little worried after last week’s winter storm.
“We tried to keep our cool” said team member Julie Sperfslage. “We had a lot planned previously, so we just knew what was supposed to happen, so we just kept updating along the way and we got artwork from China over break and then we had some artwork from here in Hays, so it was just a matter of hoping that the stuff from Namibia made it to Hays.”
The groups were also able to bring Hem Matsi, co-founder of Victims2Survivors, to Hays from Namibia. She has a goal for people as they view the artwork.
“I just want people to start a conversation (about gender-based violence)” Matsi said. “If we can start talking about gender-based violence, if we can start feeling free to report it, if we can start being free to advise, love and support each other, that will be the start of ending gender-based violence.”
“In the Name of Love” will be at the Hays Arts Center until March 8. Admission is free.
Capitol’s Luke Bryan has been added to the 4th Annual ACM Fan Jam at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas April 6, concurrent with the 49th Annual ACM Awards. He joins previously announced Fan Jam hosts Florida Georgia Line for the concert, which will be featured during the awards telecast via remote. Bryan will also be hosting the awards show with Blake Shelton. More here.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Speakers at a Statehouse rally have urged Kansas lawmakers to give families more choice in where their children attend school and how they’re taught.
More than 50 people took part in Tuesday’s gathering to promote an array of options for what is broadly called school choice.
Some speakers advocated giving families tax credits or vouchers for private schools or home schooling.
They also urged expansion of a Kansas law that allows for limited charter schools, which are overseen by public school districts. In addition, lawmakers voted last year to create so-called innovative school districts that would be exempt from some rules and regulations
Speakers said the underlying issues are whether public schools are meeting children’s needs and the extent of parents’ control over how and what their children are taught.
