Every now and again you can watch the Legislature literally turn on its heels in debate.
An amendment pops up that old-time Legislature-watchers figure has no chance, and then, well, it’s suddenly very popular, if a dab out of character for the House or Senate.
Such surprising votes, one in the House and another in the Senate last week, were both spurred by Democratic amendments.
First surprise was the narrow adoption of an amendment to an otherwise pretty dull bill that would make “revenge porn” a crime. That’s when half of a broken-up couple distributes on the Internet sexy or obscene photos of the other.
That apparently happens a lot nowadays because those probably obscene or embarrassing photos stay on cell phones where they can be sent out by a rejected party in a broken relationship. This is a relatively new deal; we’ve heard nothing about “revenge porn faxes,” of course.
But the key: Rep. Sydney Carlin, D-Manhattan, offered up the amendment to make that porn a crime, and after a narrow start, it kept building and building, vote by vote until, by the end, there were 96 votes for her amendment.
That’s an example of most legislators—there were still 23 of those present who voted against the amendment—not wanting their names to show up on a list of House members who don’t mind revenge porn and voted against making it a crime. Wonder how that would look on a campaign leaflet? An incumbent is apparently OK with revenge porn? Even if there is a solid technical reason that a lawmaker might have to vote against the amendment, it’s probably going to take quite a bit of time to explain, isn’t it?
The second earthmover? Over in the Senate, where the chamber was reducing welfare benefits for the poor. The concept: Help the poor learn job skills and they’ll get jobs and off of welfare. Cut the length of time that the poor can receive those benefits, and they’ll be more interested in getting the training and education needed to get good jobs and not need welfare anymore.
That’s an idea popular with nearly everyone: Kansans supporting themselves with good jobs, earning enough money to take care of themselves and their kids. Who’s against that?
Well, the bill reduced from the current 36 to 24 months of financial support under the mostly federally funded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. That’s the welfare program.
Sure, there were good arguments for and against the reduction in months. Republicans said the average length of time on TANF is 16 months, and the state can for good reasons extend the 24 months by another year if circumstances require. Democrats say the Legislature last year cut the lifetime eligibility from 48 months to 36 months, and this is just another chop at support for the poor.
Not hard to figure that in the Senate, where 32 members are Republicans, the bill was going to pass.
And then, up popped Sen. Laura Kelly, D-Topeka.
She said because the state is reducing the length of those TANF payments to poor Kansans, the state doesn’t really need all the federal funds that it receives for the program. She said Kansas gets $102 million a year for those programs, and over the years has built up a $61 million reserve in that fund, essentially federal money that Kansas can’t spend on anything else so there’s really no need for Kansas to hold onto that federal money. It can’t be spent on anything else, and it can’t be swept into the ailing State General Fund, anyway.
So, her amendment set a cap of $25 million on that warehoused money and sends any amount above that back to Washington.
Republicans were a dab stunned. Send money back to Washington?
But her amendment was adopted apparently unanimously.
Who’d have thought?
Syndicated by Hawver News Co. of Topeka, Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. To learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit www.hawvernews.com.
Rep. Troy L. Waymaster, Kansas House District 109
February 19, 2016
FY 2016 & 2017 Supplemental Bill
As I mentioned in the last newsletter on Wednesday, February 10, the House of Representatives debated and amended the supplemental budget bill for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. Thursday of last week, the Senate passed its version of the budget bill, Senate Substitute for House Bill 2365. By having a budget passed in both chambers, the next step of the budget process was that the budget committees of each chamber, House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means, met to discuss, add, or subtract details into the final Conference Committee Report.
The most poignant changes that the conference committee members made to the report for fiscal year 2016 were: the addition of $3 million to address understaffing and recertification for Osawatomie and Larned State Hospitals; added language allowing the governor an enhanced allotment authority if the state’s general fund ending balance is projected to fall under $100 million; if there is a transfer from KPERS then a payment would be required with an assessed 8% interest rate by September 30, 2016; Prohibition of STAR Bonds in Wyandotte County for 2016 unless legislation is passed during the 2016 legislative session; and if the governor wishes to privatize either Osawatomie or Larned State Hospitals, thatt would require action by the state legislature.
Many of the items mentioned in the 2016 budget are also mentioned in the 2017 budget. Some of the differences are: deleted the transfer of Children’s Initiative Funding to the State General Fund and instead directed that money to the Children’s Cabinet for Grants; appropriated funds for a 2.5% pay increase for correctional officers; language was added to prevent the governor from transferring money from KPERS in 2017; included a provision that the debt service for the state highway fund cannot exceed 19%; stipulates that if there is any bonding over $5 million the only entity that can be used is the Kansas Developmental Finance Authority; and added $378,000 for safety net clinics in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The conference committee report passed the House on Wednesday, February 17, with a vote of 68-54. I voted “yes” on the conference committee report I voted “yes” on the conference committee report even though I do not particularly like some components of the budget bill, I acknowledge that we need to address the financial needs for the state of Kansas.
Efficiency Study: General Government Budget Committee
On Tuesday, the General Government Budget Committee, which I serve as chairman, conducted a briefing with the personnel from the auditing firm of Alvarez & Marsal, which is the firm that was contracted to complete the efficiency study. Some of the suggestions that were discussed varied from the way that the state of Kansas conducts its purchasing agreements, the selling of surplus property that is currently owned by the state of Kansas, negotiations with our vendors on making our payments on a longer payout structure and with discounts if the state would choose to pay them earlier, reduction and centralization of our fleet vehicles, and printing. Since the budget bill has now passed, in the month of March the committee will use it’s time to identify additional savings for the state.
Bills Debated in the House Last Week
In addition to the supplemental budget bill for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on nearly twenty other bills. Here are some details of the bills that we deliberated on this past week:
• House Bill 2480 from the committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources makes a number of technical changes to the existing law regarding livestock brands. The bill passed 98-23. I voted “yes”.
• House Bill 2490 is another bill that came through the committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources which makes some changes to current statute and specifies that the Secretary of Agriculture has the allowance to expand the definition of plants, include toxicants in the list of plant pests, and expand the scope of plant pests to include those which can cause a threat to public health. This bill passed the House by a vote of 109-13. I voted “yes” on this bill, as well.
• House Bill 2518 would require that all death or stillbirth certificates and medical certifications be filed electronically with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, beginning January 1, 2017. The House vote was 111-11, again, I voted “yes.”
• Substitute for House Bill 2289 would require that it be certified that prior to stopping the person operating or attempting to operate a vehicle, the law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to suspect the person was committing or had committed a crime or traffic infraction, or was involved in an accident resulting in property damage or injury. HB 2289 passed out of the House, 115-7, and I voted “yes.”
• The final bill I will mention is House Bill 2503 which would require all vehicle registration applicants to pay a $2 non-refundable surcharge for each vehicle being registered and that surcharge would be credited to the Kansas Highway Patrol Staffing and Training Fund. We will vote on this bill on Monday.
Session Calendar and Contact Information
On Monday, the Speaker of the House’s office made us aware that there were going to be some alterations to the session calendar.
The new session calendar has shortened our legislative session before the April break. The last day that morning and afternoon committees may meet will now be February 18, Turn Around Day has been has been moved forward to February 23 and we will be out of session from February 24 through March 1. The new session calendar also accelerates our schedule by having the date of first adjournment on March 25. The Legislature would then be on break for most of April and would return for veto session on April 27.
The honor to serve you in the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas is one I do not take lightly. Do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns and questions. I appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas.
Troy L. Waymaster,
State Representative
109th Kansas House
300 SW 10th
Topeka, KS 66612
TOPEKA – Lawmakers are debating a bill that would give the state more authority to monitor refugee resettlement in Kansas.
Rep. Tony Barton, R-Leavenworth, and Christopher Holton, vice president for outreach for the Center for Security Policy, spoke last week to the House Federal and State Affairs Committee in support of House Bill 2612, which would:
Create a state office for refugees within the Department for Children and Families (DCF).
Require the governor to appoint a state refugee coordinator.
Require that state coordinator meet with local agencies to plan and coordinate resettlement of refugees.
Allow local governments to submit applications for a moratorium on new refugee
resettlements in communities that “lack sufficient absorptive capacity.”
Allow the governor to suspend resettlement activity for up to a year if it’s determined the community doesn’t have the capacity (education, health care, law enforcement) to handle an influx of new refugees.
Allow the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to look into crimes committed by and against refugees.
Create a state database on refugee resettlement and share data with law enforcement.
“There is no adequate vetting process to determine if these refugees are a danger to our citizens. In some cases there are no records and no way to know who the refugees are,” Barton told the committee.
The bill includes the assurance that refugees are not placed or resettled in an area that may not be able to accommodate them, said Holton, whose organization is based in Washington, D.C., and promotes public policy on national security.
The bill would require the federal government to communicate with local refugee settlement agencies and with state and local governments.
“Clearly, the federal government has not been sufficiently consulting with state and local governments regarding the resettlement of refugees, as evidenced by recent executive orders and lawsuits by state leaders,” Holton said.
Part of Barton’s case for the bill includes an article from CNN with a statement from the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
“Clapper warned that ISIS and its eight branches were the Number 1 terrorist threat, and that it was using refugee exodus from violence in Iraq and Syria to hide among innocent civilians in order to reach other countries,” Barton said.
However, Ken Williams, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, opposes the bill because he says the specific idea of establishing a temporary ban on new refugee resettlement activities is impractical in certain communities.
“Imagine being forced to flee your country for fear of being tormented or even killed because of who you are and what you believe,” Williams said in written testimony presented to the committee.
In his statement, Williams said the goal of resettlement is to educate refugees to become self-sufficient in order to lead better lives. If enacted, the bill could make the resettlement process more complicated.
The issue of refugee resettlement and its impact on national security has been a concern for some state governments.
Gov. Sam Brownback has signed two recent executive orders on refugee resettlement. In 2015, the governor issued an executive order forbidding state agencies from assisting in the resettlement of Syrian refugees to Kansas. In January, he issued a second executive ordering to prevent state departments and agencies from assisting with the relocation of “refugees that present a safety and security risk to the state of Kansas, until such time as an adequate vetting process is in place with adequate assurances to the state.”
Hays Fire Chief Gary Brown confers with Shift Commander Chris Stegman.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The Hays Fire Department responded to a call about a house fire at 2522 General Lawton at 8 a.m. Monday morning.
According to Chris Stegman, shift commander at the scene, the building was filled with smoke when firefighters arrived. Stegman said a woman and her husband were home when a smoke alarm went off. The couple was not injured.
Firefighters initially were unable to find the source of the smoke. Stegman said a couple of crews will remain on the scene for awhile.
Hays firefighters were initially unable to find the source of smoke that filled the house at 2522 General Lawton Monday morning.
Alan Dale Hilmes, age 63, of WaKeeney, passed away Friday, February 19, 2016 at his home. He was born August 2, 1952, in Ransom, to Henry John and Armilla (Luetters) Hilmes.
After graduating from Ransom High School, Alan went to technical school to become a machinist. He worked for Curtis Machine, in Dodge City. On June 9, 2010, Alan was united in marriage to Linda Harrison in Indiana. She preceded him in death on June 13, 2014. He was a member of the VFW and was a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus Member. Alan was a talented woodworker, an avid fisherman, and he loved a day on the golf course. He will be dearly missed.
Alan is survived by a son, Kraig of Wichita; four daughters, Katherine (Chris) Cagle of Mullinville, Kassandra and Kellie of Wichita, and Kandice of Dodge City; ten grandchildren; three brothers, Fred (Gladys) of Ness City, Dan (Ninfa) of Othella, Washington, and Kenny (Brenda) of WaKeeney; a sister, Karen (Larry) Interman of Dodge City; and a sister-in-law, Carol Hilmes of WaKeeney. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two brothers, Larry and Donald; and a sister, Sandra Hilmes. Mass of Christian Burial will be 12:45 p.m., Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney. Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney. Military honors will be provided by the US Navy.
Visitation and viewing will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home in WaKeeney. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alan Hilmes Memorial Fund. Checks made to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmittfuneral.com.
Lois Jean Harvey, age 81, of rural Collyer, Ks, died Wednesday, February 17, 2016, at her home. She was born April 17, 1934, on the family farm in Trego County, Ks, to S. P. and Tabea (Deines) Fabrizius. Lois was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in WaKeeney, Ks, on May 20, 1934.
Lois attended Trego Center Rural School through 8th grade, then attended and graduated from Trego Community High School. She was confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church, Trego Center, Ks, on May 20, 1949. On April 17, 1955, she was united in marriage to Donald L. Harvey in the Zion Lutheran Church. They operated the family-owned dairy and farm. He preceded her in death in 2005. Lois was a member of the WELCA Women’s Organization and the Anything Goes Bridge Club. She enjoyed embroidering quilts for her grandchildren and was also known for her talent in the kitchen; she loved cooking for everyone. Family was very important to Lois and she cherished every moment spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, especially the surprise visits. Lois was always willing to lend a helping hand with about anything. She always looked forward to traveling with her husband and family, and she especially loved to shop with her daughter and granddaughters.
Her family includes four children, Michael Jon (Elizabeth) Harvey of Salina, Ks, Steven Craig (Deb) Harvey of WaKeeney, Ks, Bradley David (fiancé, Gayla) Harvey of Collyer, Ks, and Dona Jean Harvey of San Antonio, Tx; 14 grandchildren, Spencer Harvey, Ian Harvey, and Erin Harvey of Hays, Ks, Addison Harvey of Salina, Ks; Rebecca Capps of Kirwin, Ks, and Dona Jo Lowry of Almena, Ks; Kassie Remington of Quinter, Ks, Kelsey Howard of WaKeeney, Ks, Hayley Harvey of Arlington, Tx, and Marissa Harvey of Collyer, Ks; Jordon Hutto of LaVernia, Tx, Kelly Koenigsman and Amanda Koenigsman of Lawrence, Ks, and Brent Koenigsman of Hays, Ks; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Carroll E. Fabrizius (Judy) of WaKeeney, Ks; one sister, Wilma Peil of Manhattan, Ks; three sisters-in-law, Betty Harvey of Garden City, Ks, Karlynn (Albert) Yanke of WaKeeney, Ks, and Phyllis Womack of Houston, Tx. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother, Elvin C. Fabrizius; sister, Ella Reavis; four brothers-in-law, Lanny Harvey, Bruce Peil, Bill Womack, and Jack Reavis; and daughter-in-law, Karen (Werth) Harvey.
Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 22, 2016, at Zion Lutheran Church, south of WaKeeney, Ks.
There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church (Zion Roof fund). Donations made to the church may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th St., WaKeeney, Ks, 67672.
Condolences may be sent online www.schmittfuneral.com.
The Hays Police Department will be conducting training on Feb. 23 and 24 between the hours of 1 and 07 p.m. at 1301 Fort.
Police officers will be training with special equipment. This training is being done with great care and safety.
As a homeowner, you may see law enforcement officers move through your area. There is no need to be alarmed. The officers are merely conducting a realistic training exercise and there is no danger to the community.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the on-site supervisor, Sgt. Brandon Hauptman, or Chief Don Scheibler at (785) 625-1030.
In a letter to Ray Merrick, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives dated February 19, the organization Kansas Citizens For Science (KCFS) has asked that Sub HB 2292 not be brought to the floor for a vote. KCFS is committed to defending the science education standards currently in place in the state’s public schools.
“This bill would be a terrible setback for science education in the state of Kansas”, said KCFS President Philip Baringer.”There is no reason to do this and every reason not to do it.”
Sub HB 2922 would prohibit teaching anything that aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards, which were adopted in June 2013 by the Kansas State Board of Education as the Kansas College- and Career-Ready standards for science in Kansas public schools.
“Including Kansas’ strong science standards in this destructive bill is a terrible disservice to Kansas’ public school students,” said KCFS Vice President Cheryl Shepherd-Adams, a Hays High School physics teacher. “This bill would forbid students from learning anything related to physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy, or engineering processes. How could we expect our kids to be competitive?”
Kansas’ current science standards were developed with research and expert input from Kansas scientists and education professionals over a considerable period of time and adopted by the duly elected Kansas State Board of Education.
Shepherd-Adams said, “The House Education committee members who snuck this bill through the committee are the same ones who complain loudly about judicial overreach. What about this committee’s overreach? They’re grabbing power away from the state board of education that’s constitutionally charged with making these decisions.”
Kansas Citizens For Science is a grassroots, not-for-profit educational organization that promotes a better understanding of science by advocating for science education, educating the public about the nature and value of science and serving as an information research. KCFS has several hundred members across Kansas who are highly protective of Kansas’ hard-earned, stellar reputation in science and education.
The Kansas City Royals World Series trophy is coming to Hays. The Royals have announced the World Series Trophy Tour, presented by the Missouri Lottery and the Kansas Lottery, which will make several stops throughout Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska.
The trophy will be at Fort Hays State’s Gross Memorial Coliseum on Monday between 6-8 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Fans can see the trophy in person at each stop during a specified two-hour period on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, photo opportunities will only be available as either an individual or group shot. Fans will also have the opportunity to have a professional photo taken and can purchase those photos on-site and online at www.royals.com. A portion of all professional photo purchases benefit Royals Charities.
Kansas City Royals World Series Trophy Tour Presented by the Missouri Lottery and the Kansas Lottery
Monday, February 8 Cities: Warrensburg and St. Joseph, Mo.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. University of Central Missouri, Multipurpose Building
800 South Washington in Warrensburg
Hosted by KOKO-AM (1450)
6 – 8 p.m. Planet Fitness
1325 South Belt Highway in St. Joseph
Presented by Planet Fitness
Hosted by KFEQ-AM (680)
Tuesday, February 9 Cities: Lincoln and Omaha, Neb.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Location TBD in Lincoln
Hosted by KNTK-FM (93.7)
6 – 8 p.m. Hy-Vee
9707 Q Street in Omaha
Presented by Pepsi
Hosted by KOZN-AM/KZOT-AM (1620/1180)
Wednesday, February 10 Cities: Grand Island and Urbandale, Iowa
Events: 10 a.m. – Noon Conestoga Mall
3404 West 13th Street in Grand Island
Hosted by KLIQ-FM (94.5)
7 – 9 p.m. Hy-Vee
8701 Douglas Avenue in Urbandale
Presented by Pepsi
Hosted by 93.7 The Outlaw
Thursday, February 11 Cities: Cameron, Mo.
Event: 6 – 8 p.m. Cameron Regional YMCA
1903 North Walnut in Cameron
Hosted by KKWK-FM (100.1)
Monday, February 15 Cities: Marshall and Columbia, Mo.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Marshall High School
805 South Miami Avenue in Marshall
Hosted by KMMO-AM/FM (1300/102.9)
6 – 8 p.m. MFA Oil/Break Time Corporate Headquarters
1 Ray Young Drive in Columbia
Presented by Pepsi
Hosted by KZJF-FM (104.1)
Tuesday, February 16 Cities: Jefferson City, Mo.
Event: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Visit to Missouri State Capitol
201 West Capitol Avenue in Jefferson City
*Private event, media members are invited to attend
Wednesday, February 17 Cities: Pittsburg and Shawnee, Kan.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pittsburg State University, Robert W. Plaster Center
1701 South Homer in Pittsburg
Presented by the Kansas Lottery
Hosted by KKOW-AM (860)
6 – 8 p.m. Planet Fitness
13320 West 62nd Terrace in Shawnee
Presented by Planet Fitness
Hosted by KCSP (610)
Saturday, February 20 Cities: Riverside, Mo.
Event: 1 – 3 p.m. Riverside Red X
2401 NW Platte Rd in Riverside
Presented by the Missouri Lottery
Hosted by KCSP (610)
Monday, February 22 Cities: Junction City and Hays, Kan.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Courtyard by Marriott, Convention Center
310 Hammons Drive in Junction City
Hosted by KJCK-AM (1420)
6 – 8 p.m. Fort Hays State University, Gross Memorial Coliseum
(Doors open at 5 pm) 600 Park Street in Hays
Presented by the Kansas Lottery
Hosted by KAYS-AM (1400)
Tuesday, February 23 Cities: Salina and Wichita, Kan.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Central Mall Salina
2259 South 9th Street in Salina
Hosted by KSAL-AM (1150)
6 – 8 p.m. Academy Sports + Outdoors
2540 North Greenwich Road in Wichita
Presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors
Hosted by KFH-AM/FM (1240/98.7)
Wednesday, February 24 Cities: Hutchinson and Topeka, Kan.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Kansas State Fairground, Meadowlark Building
2000 North Poplar Street in Hutchinson
Presented by the Kansas Lottery
Hosted by KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5)
6 – 8 p.m. Washburn University
Lee Arena inside Petro Allied Health Center
1700 Southwest College Avenue in Topeka
Presented by the Kansas Lottery
Hosted by WIBW-AM (580)
Thursday, February 25
Cities: Moberly and Springfield, Mo.
Events: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Moberly Municipal Auditorium
109 North Clark Street in Moberly
Hosted by KWIX-FM (92.5)
6 – 8 p.m. Academy Sports + Outdoors
610 West El Camino Alto Drive in Springfield
Presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors
Hosted by KADI-AM (1340)
Saturday, February 27 Cities: St. Joseph and Independence, Mo.
Events: 1 – 3 p.m. Hy-Vee
201 North Belt Highway in St. Joseph
Presented by the Missouri Lottery
Hosted by KFEQ-AM (680)
6 – 8 p.m. Hy-Vee
4525 South Noland Road in Independence
Presented by the Missouri Lottery
Hosted by KCSP (610)
There is a young lad at my church I’d like to take turkey hunting this spring, so today I was perusing the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) website, making certain I understood the regulations governing youth hunting, and I learned some information about youth hunting in Kansas I did not know.
Any young person in Kansas 15 years old and younger can hunt with nothing more than a youth permit for the species they are hunting, but must be supervised by a licensed adult 18 or older.
Steve Gilliland
A youth spring turkey tag in KS is only $7.50. By law, a youngster in KS is eligible to take Hunter’s Education as young as 11 years old, but is not required to have completed Hunter’s Ed. until age 16. Also, age 16 is when KS youth are required to have an adult resident hunting license, and to purchase adult permits and tags.
Also noteworthy is the fact that 16 year olds in KS can still participate in special youth hunts even if they possess adult licenses and permits. So to sum this all up, 16 is the magic age; at 16, KS youth must have completed Hunter’s Ed., and must begin purchasing adult hunting licenses and adult permits.
If they are 15 or younger, they can still hunt under direct supervision of an adult 18 or older, and all they need is a youth permit for the species they are hunting. Kids 12 or older can hunt by themselves if they have completed Hunter’s Ed. and have the required permit.
April 1 – 12 is set aside in KS for Youth and Disabled turkey hunters only, and the KDWPT website lists 31 special youth-only turkey hunts around the state during that time frame. I have tagged along on a couple of these spring youth turkey hunts and they are very well orchestrated and lots of work is done ahead of time to scout birds, build or erect blinds, etc.
The kids are gathered together the night before to check permits and pattern shotguns, and the guides for the hunts are always local hunters that know the area and the birds there, and they will go out-of-their way to try to help each youth hunter harvest a turkey. To view the list and get the application, go to ksoutdoors.com, click on “hunting,” then “special hunt information,” then click near the top of the page to view the entire list of special spring turkey hunts. When the page of special hunts opens, you can use the boxes at the top to narrow the list to “youth hunts” only. The application deadline is February 29, so don’t delay to get a spot in one of these special youth turkey hunts.
Every kid in Kansas who wants to hunt wild turkeys should be able to do so. There are plenty of turkeys, plenty of opportunities for them to hunt and plenty of experienced turkey hunters that could each take a young hunter with them, so we should be able to accomplish that goal.
What say you fellow turkey hunters, can we each take a kid hunting with us this year as we continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors?
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Paige Nachtigel-Photo Harvey Co.Jim Nachtigel-Photo Harvey County
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas police chief investigating a child torture case involving three adopted Peruvian children is alleging that “somewhere, some time, the system broke down.”
The Wichita Eagle reports that North Newton police chief Randy Jordan says he’s trying to find out what happened. He says state welfare officials received around a dozen reports before the adoptive parents, Jim and Paige Nachtigal, were charged last week with three counts each of child abuse. But Jordan says none were forwarded to his department for further investigation. Some of the reports were from 2014.
State welfare officials have declined to discuss the specifics of the case.
Jordan says one possible source of information in the case will be post-adoptions reports. It wasn’t immediately clear if the Nachtigals have an attorney.
TOPEKA–The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) has announced 25 grant awards totaling $120,811. The grants were awarded by the Commission on Jan. 15 through the Strategic Investment and Arts Integration programs and adjudicated through a peer panel review process. KCAIC programs are designed to promote partnerships, enhance community and economic development, encourage risk and innovation, maximize statewide impact and highlight the role the arts play in all areas of community life. Grantees are selected by the KCAIC through an application and review process.
The Strategic Investment Program (SIP) recognizes the important role individual artists and creative organizations play in building and sustaining cultural and economic vibrancy in Kansas. By funding a variety of professional and organizational development opportunities that impact cultural programming, these grants support initiatives that use the arts to enhance community vitality, revitalize neighborhoods, generate local business, create and preserve job opportunities and impact tourism.
The Arts Integration Program (AIP) grants support the role the arts play in all levels of education, community service and workforce development. This program provides funding for educational institutions, arts organizations and community service non-profits to use the arts to increase student success, foster creative thinking, develop critical job skills and enhance community development.
The final deadline to apply for the Strategic Investment or Arts Integration programs in FY16 is Feb. 19. To learn more about KCAIC programs, please visit KansasCommerce.com/CAICPrograms.
A list of grant awards follows.
Strategic Investment Program Friends of Garden of Eden, Lucas, $2,438 – Organizational Development
The Friends of Garden of Eden will engage a consultant to conduct a 2-day board development retreat and produce a guiding document that will include an updated mission and vision statement; defined roles of the Garden staff, board members, and advisory committee; and an outline of governing processes and an annual calendar of deadlines.
Post Rock Opportunities Foundation, $5,000 – Organizational Development
Post Rock Opportunities Foundation will much needed enhancements and upgrades to their Kansas Originals website to increase financial and marketing features, including shipping, secure payment services and reporting functions, to local artists and craftsmen.
Theatre Atchison, Atchison, $1,647 – Equipment & Technology
Theatre Atchison will make needed upgrades to serve the organization’s technical needs to increase organizational efficiency and safety, enhance production value, and support additional quality programming including scene shop and paint shop equipment, stock scenery flats and platforms; technical booth computer and a video camera for educational workshops.
The Culture House, Olathe, $3,400 – Equipment & Technology
The Culture House will upgrade their current computer equipment to effectively support students in the enrollment process and other organizational tasks, including donation and grant tracking, off-site ticketing for performances, and improved marketing materials through enhanced graphic design.
Wichita Grand Opera, Wichita, $5000 – Equipment & Technology
WGO will undertake a number of infrastructure upgrades to improve operational effectiveness including the replacement of obsolete computer, communication, accounting, and server systems.
Theatre Lawrence, Lawrence, $5000 – Equipment & Technology
Theatre Lawrence will acquire professional cameras and related technology support systems, including computers and charging carts, for multiple program purposes including youth and adult programs, archival performances and special productions; promotional videos ; actor rehearsals; volunteer training and professional development; and enhanced technical and audio/visual operations.
Leavenworth County Historical Society, Leavenworth, $2,176 – Equipment & Technology
The Leavenworth County Historical Society will purchase equipment necessary to preserve and professionally display oversized prints from the Everhard Glass Plate Negative Collection, a collection of negatives taken by four Leavenworth pioneer photographers during the first century of the towns founding a depicting rare , irreplaceable images of Leavenworth residents and street scenes dating back to the 1860s.
Vernon Filley Art Museum, Pratt, $5,000 – New & Expanded Works
Vernon Filley Art Museum will purchase new exhibit signage, stands, barriers/stanchions, and produce promotion literature in order to properly and safely display and the works of internationally renowned sculptor John DeAndrea and realist painter Ariel DeAndrea. The program will involve the DeAndrea exhibit and an opening community reception with the artists, who will spend several days in Pratt during the exhibit. Promotional materials will be used to expand audiences and enhance the reputation of the community amongst high caliber artists and exhibition equipment will be used to support future programs.
Lucas Arts & Humanities Council, Lucas, $5,000 – New & Expanded Works
The Grassroots Art Center will create a new program entitled, “To Hail and Back.” The project will engage local professional filmmakers to produce a documentary featuring personal, intimate stories from local underserved residents of the catastrophic hail storm that occurred, April 24, 2015 in Lucas through an archival film featuring. The film will screen at a public showing in Lucas featuring in conjunction with a “Hail Therapy Tea Party” featuring the newly donated one-of-a-kind tea pots from visionary, self-taught artist, Jim Matthews of Garden City. The film will be used to create a new category of the next annual Lid-Off Film Festival in Lucas titled “Community Challenge” comprised of locally sourced films featuring Kansas communities.
Chamber Music at the Barn, Maize, $5,000– New & Expanded Works
In honor of its 20th Anniversary, Chamber Music at the Barn will commission a new work for chamber music by Grammy Award winning cellist and native Kansan, Eugene Friesen. This new work, based on Carl Sandburg’s 1918 poem, Prairie, will be produced and presented in two public concerts featuring Trio Globo with Kansas musicians (an instrumental string quartet and female vocal quintet ) with additional performance opportunities in the future in other small venues. In addition, the 2016 performance will be used as an invitational showcase opportunity for larger symphonies to hear the work toward possible future full-scale presentations of the work.
Fisch Bowl, Inc., Wichita, $3,700– New & Expanded Works
Fisch Bowl, Inc. will introduce an annual scholarship and exhibition program, entitled Neighborhood Superstar; an award that recognizes creatives who are actively practicing in underserved communities and celebrates the essential nature of creative work that has germinated independently of the spotlight to not only highlight the accomplishments of deserving artists, but to also create new relationships and opportunities that will encourage the existing arts infrastructure to support similarly obscure, yet meritorious, projects. In its inaugural year, the 2016 Neighborhood Superstar Award will honor the contributions of grassroots Wichita filmmaker RG Miller through a variety of exhibition and opportunities to support the selected artist’s ongoing practice including community film screenings, a formal gallery show of Miller’s props and cinematic ephemera, interactive workshops, and in-person engagement with the artist, thus enabling an interdisciplinary exploration of work that has only barely been introduced to the mainstream. Fisch Bowl believes that showcasing his work, and subsequently the work of other Neighborhood Superstars, will provide underserved communities the opportunity to engage and explore a shared creative language that fosters free-flowing creativity and healthy cross-cultural arts collaboration.
Theatre for Young America, Mission, $5,000– New & Expanded Works
Theatre for Young America will expand their interactive show “The Toughest Kid in the World”, which focuses on anti-bullying and anti-violence, to include a larger group of middle school students through touring on-site performances of the main-stage production at Kansas schools in the Kansas City area. Along with the performance of the show and subsequent Q&A, TYA has developed very successful workshops detailing conflict-resolution and anti-bullying. Actors in the production lead these workshops in small classroom settings with direct interaction with students and teachers. Teachers learn theater techniques that they can then use in the classroom after the TYA program is completed.
Arts Integration Program Graham County Arts Council, Hill City, $2,000 – Visiting Artists
Graham County Arts Council will bring multi-Instrumentalist Todd Green to Hill City to perform a public concert and evening lecture focused on breaking down the barriers that divide our culture from others by experiencing insight through their music and visit Hill City Elementary School and Hill City Junior/Senior High School to perform on over 30 acoustic string, flute and percussion instruments from all over the world that takes students a tour of many countries and their diverse styles of music through performance and informative explanations of the music and the instruments.
Brown Grand Theatre, Concordia, $1,400 – Visiting Artists
Brown Grand Theatre will bring Kansas Touring Roster artists Opera Kansas to Concordia for a public performance of “On the Road in Alsace: two Offenbach one act comic operas” and to present a master class to choir students at Concordia High School and Cloud County Community College as well as members of local community theatre group The Brown Grand Players.
Marshall County Arts Cooperative, Marysville, $2,500 – Visiting Artists
Marshall County Arts Cooperative will bring accomplished pianist and vocalist Martyn Lucas to Waterville and Frankfort for two public concerts and to conduct local all-day vocal clinics for students in the Valley Heights and Marysville school districts where he will share his vocal techniques and musical strategies culminating in a student performance for the community.
Wichita County Arts Alliance, Leoti, $1,800 – Visiting Artists
Wichita County Arts Alliance will bring The Richard Pena band to Leoti for a public performance and community talk at the Wichita County High School about his experiences featured in many documentaries about the Andes Survivors including: “Stranded” and History Channel’s “I am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash” where he served as an expert on the topic.
Western Plains Arts Association, Colby, $3,600 – Visiting Artists
Western Plains Arts Association will bring Kansas Touring Roster artists The Diamond Wranglers to Oakley for a public performance, a presentation for seniors living at the Logan County Manor, and a student presentation at Oakley High School featuring a discussion and demonstration of their instruments and musical style.
Lied Center of Kansas, Lawrence, $3,000 – Visiting Artists
Lied Center of Kansas will bring the Working Group Theatre to Lawrence for a public performance of “Out of Bounds” followed by a 20-minute Q&A forum, three middle school performances, a post-performance twitter engagement event where students will be encouraged to tweet positive thoughts, experiences, and actions plans inspired by the issues and themes that were presented using the hashtag #OutofBounds, and a school workshop for counselors and students focused on how students and counselors can be empowered to create safe environments in their schools and help reduce and prevent bullying.
Art That Touches Your Heart Foundation, Wichita, $4,650 – Visiting Artists
Art That Touches Your Heart Foundation, in partnership with Wichita State University and USD 259, will bring visual artists including Frank Frasier, Randy Leger, and Lucky Easterwood to Wichita for an exhibition, a charitable youth art show, mentorship, and awards program, and three high school visits, focused on developing and encouraging young African American students in art classes and careers by researching the history and display the cultural journey of the African American race from 1877 to 1977.
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, $5,000 – Integrated Arts Education
Johnson County Community College will offer the third phase of a multi-phase initiative to train Kansas artists to serve as teaching artists who will provide professional development for educators on arts integration throughout the curriculum. Phase 3 will continue offering arts-integrated curriculum to reinforce learning and strengthen the teaching skills of local teaching artists, but adds a focus on moving the professional development model to schools outside of Johnson County. Running the model outside of Johnson County with local teaching artists trained by JCCC Arts Education ongoing workshops, is a new piece of the existing program using the following criteria to identify future locations: 1) evidence of little or no arts curricula, 2) areas where professional development is limited, and 3) schools with underprivileged students.
Center for Living Education, Matfield Green, $10,000 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Matfield Station, The Gallery at Pioneer Bluffs, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University Prairie Studies Initiative.
The Center for Living Education and partners will bring artists from across the North American prairie region to Chase County for 2-week residency periods in 2016. The goal of this residency program is to spread awareness of the prairie as an ecosystem worth protecting by inviting artists from diverse communities to contribute their voices to a conversation about place. Resident artists will be provided accommodations for 10 nights and VIP access to the Tallgrass Preserve during their stay. Each artist will give a public presentation — in the form of a talk, demonstration or open studio during their stay. A group exhibition of work from resident artists will take place in Matfield Green, and a summit talk with all participating artists will be held at the Beach Museum in Manhattan, KS. This event will be available to remote locations via live stream.
Kansas City Community College, Kansas City, $7,600 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, Country Club Bank, Downtown Shareholders Association
Kansas City Community College will expand the Sheriff’s Arts Program through the guidance of Todd Meier, art professor, and Charlie Leader, theatre professor, and with the support of Kimberley Holm, Program Director of Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department. College students in the visual and performing arts will offer classes at the Adult Detention Center in drawing, painting, and improvisation. Artwork and improvisational productions created by detainees will be displayed in a number of facilities. An art show date will be scheduled for May on the college campus for the inmates’ families and the general public. Improvisation classes will provide detailed instruction in techniques useful to detainees as they are released and begin seeking employment. This program provides teaching opportunity for students interested in visual and performing arts education, experience with therapeutic effects of visual and performing arts instruction for an institutionalized population, exposure to entrepreneurship through sales of created artwork, and enhances employability skills upon detainees’ release.
Opera Kansas, Wichita, $9,500 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Century 21 A.R.T.S Afterschool Program, USD 259, Woodland United Methodist Church, Several additional Wichita area schools and senior living facilities.
Opera Kansas will integrate 10 different one act opera performances and educational lecture programs into several community locations as part of their Operation Education program including new program presentations, new curriculum content, additional schools, and a Senior Living Outreach program. The mission and goal is to integrate opera into facilities that match plot to place and/or content area that either enhance non-music curriculum content area, including history, civics, geography, citizenship, literature, mathematics, science and music or reflect the location in which the opera is set. The program will introduce new audiences to opera both young and old; enhance appreciation and understanding of the art form through Opera 101 lectures, enhance the quality of life and education for participants, and provide intimate performances in the community.
City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott, $7,000 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Bourbon County Arts Council, Fort Scott Community College, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Beaux Arts Center, Young Professionals League of Bourbon County, Small Business Development Center of SEK, Bourbon County Schools
The City of Fort Scott and partners will create and produce The 2nd Story Festival of Arts & Ideas, an annual weekend event that brings together creative individuals and encourages the community to engage in the arts and innovative thinking. Following a Thursday evening performance by Branford Marsalis, the event will highlight the arts and innovation through panel discussions, break-out sessions, and workshops and will celebrate Fort Scott as a regional hub for the arts and entrepreneurship. Long-term goals for the event include a renovated downtown building to serve as a year-round center for the arts, an increase of public art throughout the city, an economic boost to the local economy and the perception of Fort Scott as a compelling place to live for creative individuals from the region.
Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, $15,000 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: City of Lawrence’s Solid Waste Management Division, the University of Kansas School of the Arts, Friends of the Kaw
The Lawrence Arts Center and partners will bring artist Aurora Robson, who is known for transforming plastic waste into large and intricate sculptures as well as for her advocacy work in ocean and river cleanup, to Lawrence. Robson will oversee the collaborative expansion of her piece “Withdrawal” by University of Kansas students in a public exhibition space as part of a KU summer course based on Robson’s Project Vortex curriculum “Sculpture + Intercepting the Waste Stream”; conduct a free, hands-on workshop for local artists and art students about using discarded objects and other waste materials provided by the City of Lawrence’s Solid Waste Management Division, and present an updated version of her TED talk “Trash + Love”. In addition, Robson will share her art and artistic process at the 2016 Free State Festival, an annual multi-disciplinary arts festival, which brings the very best in independent film, music, art, and ideas to over 20,000 people in Lawrence each June. Complementary activities include a panel presentation on local recycling practices, including composting, water conservation, and the city’s recycling facilities, led by speakers from Solid Waste Management; a Kaw River cleanup volunteer opportunity led by Friends of the Kaw; and arts education workshops for children and families about using discarded packaging materials as art supplies.
