TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state agency acknowledges it sent out a news release shortly before November’s election that incorrectly claimed poverty in Kansas had declined under Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that when the Kansas Department of Children and Families was made aware of the inaccurate information, it did not issue a revised statement to the media.
The news release issued Oct. 20 said the state’s poverty rate fell 2.3 percent between 2011 and 2013. When the Kansas Health Institute notified the agency the rate was not accurate, the state issued a correction to the KHI but not to any other media.
DCF spokeswoman Theresa Freed says the agency misread a report on poverty. She says there has been only a slight decrease in poverty during the Brownback administration.
GALVA, Kan. — McPherson County authorities and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation continue an investigation into the discovery of a body in a a car in a ditch near Galva on Saturday.
Authorities reported that an autopsy on the body of the man is being conducted and that the death may not related to the car crash where the victim was found.
Name of the victim has not been released.
Additional information in the case is expected to be released this week.
LAWRENCE – Water use – and abuse – has emerged in recent years as a major challenge in Kansas, affecting all aspects of life in the state. It is a focus for multidisciplinary research at the University of Kansas and is the subject of a statewide policy initiative, the 50-Year Vision for the Future of Water in Kansas. Water is also a concern beyond the borders of the state. A distinguished group of researchers from all Big 12 universities will meet Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Lawrence to share their findings and discuss opportunities for future intercampus collaborations concerning water. The workshop will be preceded Monday, Nov. 17, by a panel discussion on “Confronting the Continuing Depletion of the High Plains Aquifer in Western Kansas.” It will take place at 5 p.m. at The Oread, 1200 Oread Ave. Rex Buchanan, interim director of the Kansas Geological Survey, will serve as moderator. Panelists will be Jay Garetson, a farmer who irrigates in southwest Kansas; Stan Townsend, a farmer who irrigates in northwest Kansas; and Mark Rude, executive director of Groundwater Management District 3 in Garden City. The program is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow. Tuesday’s workshop will include participants from KU, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, the University of Texas at Austin and West Virginia University. Jeff Vitter, KU provost and executive vice chancellor, will open the workshop at 8 a.m., and the program continues through noon at the Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union. It is also free and open to the public.
George M. Hornberger, Distinguished University Professor at Vanderbilt University, will give keynote remarks at the workshop. He will speak on “Challenges and Opportunities in Water Resources Research and Education.” Hornberger is director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and the Environment and chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
“Research and education in water resources will be different in the future than today, primarily because humans have become such a dominant part of the water cycle,” Hornberger said. “In addition to important work in the many disciplinary areas that are part of water resources science and engineering, there is a need for interdisciplinary research that takes advantage of cutting-edge technologies to grapple with the complex water-related challenges of today and tomorrow.”
Six overview talks will be presented Tuesday morning. They will lay out key problems, the state of the science and possible paths forward:
“Can We Eat, Drink AND Turn on the Lights?,” Danny Reible, Donovan Maddox Engineering Chair, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas Tech University
“Shale Gas Development in the Appalachian Basin: Water Requirements, Management, and Quality Implications,” Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute, West Virginia University
“Desalination: Prospective Technology for Mitigating Water Scarcity,” Jadwiga (Jad) Ziolkowska, assistant professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma
“Reservoir Sedimentation: A Focus on Upstream Sources,” Garey Fox, interim director, Oklahoma Water Resources Center, professor and Orville L. and Helen L. Buchanan Chair of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University
“Nutrients in Agriculture and the Environment,” Nathan Nelson, associate professor, soil fertility and nutrient management, Kansas State University
“Assessing the Major Drivers of Water-Level Declines: New Insights into the Future of the High Plains Aquifer,” Jim Butler, geohydrology section chief, Kansas Geological Survey, KU.
Tuesday afternoon, more than 40 invited researchers from Big 12 universities will convene in breakout sessions to discuss further opportunities for regional collaborations related to water research.
More information about the Big 12 Universities Water Workshop is available online.
The Hays Golden Corral restaurant, 383 W. Mopar Dr., will participate in the 2014 Military Appreciation Monday this evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Taft Yates, Master Sergeant, Ret., now the Ellis police chief, said all area veteran and active duty military members are invited to “enjoy the free meal and comradery served with a ‘Thank You’ for your service.”
Yates enlisted in the U.S. army in 1975 and retired in 1995. He spent 19 of his 20 years in various Ranger assignments.
Last year’s Golden Corral Military Appreciation Monday dinner honored honoring more than 433,500 veterans and active duty military nationwide with a free dinner buffet and beverage. All Golden Corral restaurants nationwide participated in the event to honor military heroes, past and present.
Golden Corral restaurants and guests contributed a record total of more than $1,409,000 for the Disabled American Veterans organization to be used by state and local chapters to assist veterans.
It was the fourth consecutive year that Golden Corral restaurants and their guests have raised over $1 million dollars for the DAV.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The City Union Mission in Kansas City says it will not allow legally married same-sex couples who are homeless to stay at the shelter.
Executive director Dan Doty says shelter officials believe that the Bible prohibits same-sex marriage. He says married same-sex couples will be referred to other shelters.
The Kansas City Star reports the mission is a private nonprofit that receives no governmental funding, meaning it is not bound by anti-discrimination rules. Officials at the Topeka Rescue Mission say they haven’t decided if the couples will be allowed to stay.
But other Kansas City-area shelters say same-sex married couples already are welcome to stay. That includes Salvation Army shelters in Kansas and Missouri, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph shelters and the Lawrence Community Shelter.
ELLIS–The city of Ellis has been undercharged for some time by Midwest Energy for its street lights’ electricity use. City council members will hear from Midwest Energy’s Bob Muirhead during their meeting tonight about the increased charge.
Council members will also consider utility ordinances applying automatic rate increases.
In other business, an update will be provided about the city’s exploration for new water sources.
The complete agenda follows.
AGENDA November 17, 2014 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
CONSENT AGENDA (Enc)
Minutes from Regular Meeting on November 3, 2014
Bills Ordinance #1961
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
SPECIAL ORDER
(I/O) Introduction of Officer Kirby Wechsler
(D/A) Discussion with Midwest Energy on City Street Lights – Bob Muirhead
(D/A) Discussion on Bond Continuing Disclosure Requirements – Rick Ensz, Cooper, Malone and McClain
(D/A) Request from Ellis County Coalition – Ryan Augustine
(D/A) Request from Polar Express – Dena Patee, Ellis Chamber of Commerce
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(D/A) Consider Utility Ordinances Applying Automatic Rate Increases
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
(D/A) Discuss Lots at 9th & Jefferson Street
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
(D/A) Discuss Repairs to Well #12
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
(D/A) (Enc) Update on Water Exploration
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
NEW BUSINESS
(D/A) Discuss Purchasing and Bidding Policy and Procedures
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
(D/A) Consider Purchase of Sno-Pusher Equipment
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Administrative
Public Works
(I/O) Update on Applicant Search
(I/O) Department Update
Police
(I/O) Department Update
City Clerk
(D/A) Consider Water Leak Adjustments
(D/A) Consider City Holiday Schedule
(D/A) Consider City Christmas Party
(D/A) Consider Employee Christmas Bonuses
(I/O) Department Update
Attorney
Mayor/Council
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION_______________________ SECOND__________________ VOTE___________
Underlining the importance of bilingual education, Fort Hays State University President Mirta M. Martin will connect with elementary school students Tuesday afternoon, reading to them in Spanish and English.
A highlight of the FHSU Department of Teacher Education’s Read4Respect Program, the event will get underway at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Washington Elementary School, 305 Main.
In addition to reading to the after-school program students, Dr. Martin will address the students’ families, many of which are non-English speaking, sharing her own experiences as an immigrant to the United States.
Made possible by an $18,000 Kansas Health Foundation Recognition grant, the teacher education program is designed as a service-learning project for the prevention of bullying. Funds from the grant provide books designed to teach empathy and respect for the students and to implement reading strategies.
“So many people have had a hand in the project,” said Dr. Valerie Zelenka, project director. “And to have Dr. Martin share her story Tuesday will impact so many families. It’s even possible that Dr. Martin’s successor could be one of the non-English speaking kindergartners there.”
In addition to the reading time, the after-school students will receive new books and book shelves made by FHSU’s Institute of Applied Technology students and Eric Deneault, assistant professor of applied technology.
A drawing for Thanksgiving packages also will be held. Turkeys for the packages will be purchased by Kappa Delta Pi, teacher education honor society.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska hospital says an Ebola patient being treated in its biocontainment unit has died.
Nebraska Medical Center said in a news release Monday that Dr. Martin Salia died as a result of the disease.
Salia contracted Ebola while working as a surgeon in Sierra Leone. He arrived Saturday to be treated at the Omaha hospital, where two other Ebola patients have been successfully treated.
Ebola has killed more than 5,000 people in West Africa.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The AC/DC song “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” has seen a sales bump since drummer Phil Rudd has been accused of seeking to have dirty deeds done for him.
Billboard reports digital downloads of that song are up 20 percent in the week after news broke that Rudd is charged with threatening to kill and drug possession.
There are plenty of small steps you can take to reduce holiday stress. Here are 10 tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving from K-State Research and Extension:
1. Arm yourself with a plan: Sit down and make a guest list. From the number of guests, plan your menu. Then you can create a complete shopping list and decide if you’re doing all of the cooking or if others will be bringing dishes. Take inventory of your dinnerware, kitchen tools and gadgets, spices and other staples in your pantry, and don’t forget to count chairs!
2. Shop early: Grocery stores get more packed the longer you wait, plus you run the risk of some of your needs being sold out. Try to do your shopping early morning or late evening at least one week before the big day.
3. Make-ahead magic: Plenty of side dishes, desserts, and breads can be made ahead of time. This frees up your counter space and your to-do list. If you do have to make several dishes on Thanksgiving, try to distribute them evenly between the stovetop, the oven, and the microwave.
4. Perform a test run: If you’re making a side dish for the first time or using ingredients that you aren’t familiar with, try them out beforehand so you’ll be prepared for success on Thanksgiving Day. Ditto if you’re using new equipment, like a new electric roaster or a brand new oven.
5. Shrink the menu: With the size of the feast on most of our tables, it really isn’t necessary to load your guests up on dips, snacks, or appetizers. A platter of cut fresh vegetables should hold early-arrivals until mealtime.
6. Set the table in advance: Set the table a day or two in advance to save holiday time for cooking duties. Cover with an extra tablecloth or a sheet to keep away dust, then remove the covering and add glassware on Thanksgiving morning.
7. Turkey duty: The Thanksgiving turkey is the centerpiece of the meal, but it doesn’t have to create a lot of stress. Just remember the most important thing: don’t forget to defrost the bird! Thawing in the refrigerator is the best method, but will take longer– allow about 24 hours for each 5 pounds of frozen turkey. You can also submerge the turkey in cold water to speed thawing. Your family may like to serve the whole bird a la Norman Rockwell, but cooking and carving the turkey the day before can save a lot of stress (and oven space.) Place the cooked turkey in shallow pans, add broth or drippings to keep it moist, refrigerate overnight and reheat in the oven or an electric roaster for serving.
8. Quick fixes: Purchasing store-bought desserts and adding your own flair is a great timesaver. Defrost a frozen pumpkin pie, top with streusel, and bake. Or simmer cranberries in orange juice and sugar just until they pop and spoon over purchased pound cake.
9. Love those leftovers: Make sure you have refrigerator/freezer containers in a variety of sizes to deal with leftovers quickly and safely. Remember, leftovers should be headed to the refrigerator or freezer within two hours after serving. You may want to prepare send-home plates for those who live alone or family members who couldn’t attend due to work or travel schedules. Make sure you have sturdy disposable plates on hand, cover well and chill until time to share.
10. Don’t sweat it: The true secret to being a gracious host or hostess (and keeping your own sanity) is to not let small problems ruin the day. If one of your side dishes burns, simply toss it out and enjoy the bounty you have left. If the turkey burns, order take-out. And don’t forget to laugh.
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
Fort Hays State University’s Ceramica Clay Club will conduct a pottery sale from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, and Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the Memorial Union.
Linda Ganstrom, FHSU Professor of Art and Design
Pieces for sale will include mugs, plates, teapots, bowls, platters, serving bowls, cake stands, jars, tumblers and more. Only cash and checks will be accepted for payment. Checks are to be made payable to Ceramica Clay Club.
“The sale teaches valuable business skills while its revenue assists in student art travel and hosting visiting artists,” said Linda Ganstrom, professor of art and design.
