MCPHERSON COUNTY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 12-noon on Monday in McPherson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer driven by Marjorie Huelsmann, 69, Salina, was southbound on Interstate 135 two miles north of McPherson.
The driver was attempting to pass a southbound semi when it moved over to pass another vehicle and struck the Trailblazer.
The Trailblazer traveled into the median and rolled.
Huelsmann was transported to the hospital in McPherson. The semi driver from Nebraska was not injured.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
We’ve been telling people that it’s a different culture inside the Statehouse than virtually anywhere else in Kansas, and it got proved again last week—over the issue of state payments to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
Now, KPERS is a big deal, of course, with more than 200,000 active workers and retirees stretching from the state to school districts to local units of government.
Mess with KPERS, and you’re messing with a lot of voters…and their neighbors, friends and family.
So, as the likelihood that the state’s dwindling revenues tilt toward a deficit budget and the need for the state to find money to push into the State General Fund (SGF) between now and July 1 to have a balanced budget, KPERS came into view.
The concept: Allow the governor to delay the state’s last quarterly payment to the pension fund during this fiscal year which ends June 30 and to make that payment by Oct. 1—at 8% annual interest.
We’re talking about maybe $100 million that would be delayed in payment to KPERS, and nobody knows for sure, but it’s looking like the state may need at least part of that amount to end the current fiscal year with a constitutionally required ending balance of at least $1.
KPERS pensioners and contributors essentially went wild, legislators in the House and Senate say, charging lawmakers with either stealing their pension checks or aiding and abetting Gov. Sam Brownback in stealing their pension checks.
The House, in its budget bill, allowed the governor to delay that KPERS payment, pay the interest and get by the June 30 ending balance date. House members said they later heard only from angry pensioners on the delay of the payment into the retirement fund.
The Senate, in its version of the budge, nixed the KPERS borrowing-repayment with interest deal because of the letters, emails and phone calls they were getting from constituents.
Inside the Statehouse, it was dramatically different, for under-the-Dome reasons.
First, the House’s version of the bill requires the governor to repay that borrowing from KPERS, over a year, with interest, and the Senate’s version allowed the governor a year to repay KPERS with interest.
If your house or car payment depends on KPERS checks, any messing with the pension fund is worrisome…but that wasn’t going to happen either way. It’s making a late payment, and just like on your house or car, if the payment is late, you pay a penalty fee. That’s essentially what the interest payment with the KPERS borrowing is…a late payment penalty.
It’s the simplest way to go, except to sweep more money from the highway fund, but it sounded icky to pensioners who may or may not remember the issue when it comes time to vote this fall on House and Senate members.
The path now—assuming that lawmakers don’t change their minds or the House refuses to budge on the compromise House/Senate budget bill—is for the governor to make smaller cuts to virtually every other agency of the state.
Now, there’s the chance that somehow the state’s revenue soars in the next couple months, but nobody’s betting on that.
What are the options to fill a budget hole? Well, to cut spending, which is already low; to pass a budget bill from which the governor line-item vetoes some spending. Or, not likely, that the governor vetoes the budget bill and sends the Legislature back to work.
The simplest—unpleasant, yes, but simplest—solution is the KPERS payment delay.
But it means House and Senate candidates spend more time on your doorstep this summer and fall, and those palm cards get so big you have to fold them twice to get them in your pocket.
That’s the up-side?
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com.
DOWNS–George Henry Weeks, 78, passed away Tuesday, February 9, 2016 in Beloit, KS.
He was born August 11, 1937 in Beaver, Ks., the son of George S. and Viola (Leurman) Weeks.
George graduated from Cawker City attended Fort Hays Kansas State College. He was a farmer/rancher.
George is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Terry Lynn, in 1998.
Survivors include, his wife, Doretta; daughter, Cindy (Fred) Olsen of Manhattan, son, David (Debbie Barnes) of Downs, daughter, Susan (Jim) Younger of Hays, son, Todd (Mary) of Hillsboro; brothers, Edwin Dean (Carol) of Cawker City, Loren (Jolene Sherrard) of Downs, 10 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Memorial service will be held Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Downs. There will be no visitation. Private inurnment will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be given to Kansas City Hope Lodge and Downs Senior Center in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs, KS 67437.
Marissa Lamer, Hays Public Library Kansas Room Librarian
HPL
Marissa Lamer has joined the Hays Public Library as the new Kansas Room Librarian. Lamer is a native of Salina and comes to Hays from the Kansas City area, where she worked for the last two years.
Lamer hit the ground running at the Hays Public Library. “I’m digging in and establishing a routine. I will be bringing some new, exciting programs to the library and I’m really looking forward to helping patrons by finding out what kinds of materials and services they need.”
Lamer is a graduate of Emporia State University where she received both a Bachelor’s of Arts in History (2012) and Master’s in Library Science (2014).
Lamer is glad to be back in western Kansas. “I lived in Kansas City for a couple of years, but I am much more at home in Hays. The Hays Public Library has a great reputation and after meeting Eric Norris, the library’s director, and the rest of the staff, I knew I wanted to be a part of this library.”
“One of my favorite aspects of working in a public library is getting to know people with different backgrounds and life experiences,” Lamer said. “I really enjoy meeting people. Feel free to stop by and say hello the next time you’re in the library.”
You can reach Marissa Lamer at the library by calling (785) 625-9014 or email [email protected].
GREAT BEND -USD 428 held a press conference Monday afternoon in response to an alleged incident that took place aboard a district school bus on February 6. A Great Bend High School freshman was allegedly sexually assaulted by other members of the boys swim team.
Superintendent Brad Reed took no questions from the assembled media and read from a prepared statement in which he addressed three issues that he called false statements.
The first concerned whether or not the district had tried to sweep the incident under the rug.
Brad Reed Audio
The second issue that Reed referred to as a false statement, was the accusation that the district had not issued any statements regarding the issue and was trying to hide something.
Brad Reed Audio
Reed also addressed reports of students being allowed to participate in the state swim meet this weekend even though they had committed serious infractions. Reed said no student in USD 428 who should receive discipline would ever be allowed to represent the school or the district.
Reed said swim coach Steve Beaumont, Principal Tim Friess and Athletic Director Dave Meter have been on top of the incident from the time it happened, and have handled it in an appropriate and swift manner.
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GREAT BEND -U.S.D. 428 Superintendent Brad Reed addressed the media Monday afternoon at the district office in Great Bend on the alleged sexual assault that occurred on a Great Bend High School activity bus.
By SOPHIA ROSE YOUNG FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Scrolling through her Facebook feed, Stacy Cairns-Abdein, a Virtual College student at Fort Hays State University earning her Master of Professional Studies in social entrepreneurship, saw an opportunity to help a friend who simply asked the virtual world if anyone knew of an organization in Alabama collecting donations for Syrian refugees.
“No one did, so I decided that I would try to set up a small winter clothing drive,” said Cairns-Abdein.
Cairns-Abdein did a little research and found that Helping Hand, a non-profit in Atlanta, had a container shipping to the refugee camps in Jordan at the end of November.
“I contacted Helping Hand to work out the logistics of getting the donations from Birmingham to Atlanta,” said Cairns-Abdein. “I asked my local mosque if I could use their facilities as a drop-off center, setup a Facebook page and then printed off fliers.”
Cairns-Abdein’s small intention to help a Facebook friend donate turned into hours of physical labor.
“In only 10 days, we gathered enough winter clothing and supplies to fill over 200 large boxes and fill a U-Haul. The majority of donations were brand new, and the estimated total value was over $250,000,” said Cairns-Abdein. “We gathered an equal amount of clothing that is more appropriate for milder weather and we have those in storage to send to refugees that may relocate to the U.S.”
Items being saved for possible refugees who relocate to the U.S. include brand new business suits, household items, backpacks and children’s shoes.
Friends and strangers helped spread the word. Cairns-Abdein’s mother, sister and three daughters worked tirelessly for more than 30 hours sorting and packing.
“In addition, the Birmingham Interfaith Community were very supportive,” said Cairns-Abdein.
For the past few years, Dr. Keith Campbell, professor of sociology at FHSU, has taught several courses that Cairns-Abdein enrolled, but it was during her first M.P.S. course in the fall of 2015 with Campbell when Cairns-Abdein realized that “programs and projects to help others are just as important at the grass roots level as they are on a national or international level.”
“Dr. Campbell helped me refocus my attention to smaller, community-based projects with the realization that they can make just as much difference in the world. This realization actually helped me refocus my career aspirations and I am currently working to develop my own local social services organization in the Birmingham area,” said Cairns-Abdein.
It was Campbell and a global challenges course with Andree Brisson, instructor of interdisciplinary studies, which directly influenced Cairns-Abdein’s decision to pursue social entrepreneurship.
Cairns-Abdein received her bachelor’s in general studies with a concentration in human services from FHSU along with certificates in community development and cultural anthropology and globalization. Cairns-Abdein currently works as a freelance grant proposal writer and substitute elementary school teacher. She is actively looking for full-time work in the non-profit sector.
Kansas Girl Scouts are not only learning to become leaders and entrepreneurs when they participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, they’re helping give back to others.
During Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s Cookie Sale, which started Saturday, Feb. 13 and ends Sunday, March 20, Girl Scouts are preparing to become leaders as they develop important skills – goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics – that set them up for success in life.
Priced at the same $4 per package, with all of the proceeds staying in Kansas to support Girl Scouting, the nine Girl Scout Cookie varieties are back for customers to choose from: Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Lemonades, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Shortbreads, Cranberry Citrus Crisps, Thanks-A-Lots, and the gluten-free Trios (chocolate chips nestled in a gluten-free peanut butter oatmeal cookie). The popular Lemonades – savory slices of shortbread with a tangy lemon-flavored icing – are celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2016.
This year, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland is also poised to hit the 100,000 Cookie Share mark, thanks to Girl Scouts and their customers sharing cookies through the council’s Cookie Share Program.
Cookie Sale customers can simply purchase a package of cookies and donate it to service men and women and their families, and local charities like the Kansas Food Bank. Since the Cookie Share Program started in 2010, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland has distributed more than 94,500 packages of cookies through the program, including 16,150 “Cookie Shares” in 2015.
Selling Girl Scout Cookies is a tradition that dates back to 1917, nearly 100 years ago, when Girl Scouts began selling home-baked cookies to raise money for their troops and their communities.
Along with traditional door-to-door sales and cookie booth sales, Girl Scouts use Digital Cookie sales, an additional learning component in the Girl Scout Cookie Program that teaches girls skills and 21st-century technology relevant in today’s world. Girl Scouts can share with a close network of friends and family their personalized webpage on a secure system emphasizing girl safety – a great option for family members who do not live nearby. Digital Cookie customers can pick quantities of six or 12 packages of any one Girl Scout Cookie variety, or an eight-pack sampler with one of each variety, to be delivered to their homes, plus the cost of shipping.
“Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, the largest girl-led business in the world, each girl creates and runs her cookie business to support her goals and ambitions – whether it’s attending a Girl Scout camp, completing a service project that impacts her community, or even traveling the world,” said Liz Workman, CEO of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. “I hope that every cookie customer takes time to ask our girls about their goals. Also, be sure to ask them about Cookie Shares, which support both the Girl Scout and members of the military or local charities.”
Make plans today to invest in a girl. The Girl Scout Cookie Sale is underway across the 80 Kansas counties served by Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. Looking for a Girl Scout to buy cookies from? Enter your zip code at girlscoutcookies.org, call the Cookie Hotline at 888-686-MINT, or download the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app that’s free for iOS and Android phones or mobile devices. Go to kansasgirlscouts.org to learn more about Girl Scouting in Kansas.
About Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland serves more than 15,000 girls and adults in 80 Kansas counties through its operational headquarters in Wichita, Kan., and regional offices in Salina, Hays, Emporia and Garden City. Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls’ healthy development and is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is throwing his support behind Republican Sen. Marco Rubio for president.
The governor issued a news release Monday endorsing Rubio, of Florida, as a “true conservative” who can unite the party and beat the Democratic nominee in the fall.
Brownback also lauded Rubio’s “proven track record of protecting life, defending religious liberty and undoing Obamacare.”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas law enforcement would be required to file a missing person report within two hours of receiving a minimum amount of information under a bill approved by a Senate committee.
The measure that passed Monday in the Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee sets a specific time period in which the report must be provided to the National Crime Information Center and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Under current law, reports simply need to be entered “as soon as practical.”
Overland Park Republican Senator Greg Smith is chairman of the committee and wrote the current law, which went into effect in 2013. His daughter was abducted and killed in 2007.
The committee on Tuesday will debate changes on a bill that would overhaul the juvenile justice system.
HUTCHINSON– A large crowd gathered on Monday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena to celebrate the signing of a new contract between the American Legion and the National Junior College Athletic Association.
The agreement will keep the NJCAA men’s basketball tournament in Hutchinson for the next 25 years.
The contract follows a promise from the NJCAA that they would keep the tournament in Hutchinson if improvements were made to the sports arena
The planned improvements include replacing the plumbing, electrical and heating systems and adding air conditioning and new locker rooms. Additional plans include a new main entrance, lobby and ticketing area, multi-purpose rooms, more restrooms, three full-sized practice gyms, a Hall of Fame and a new weight room. Additional seating compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be also be created on the upper level of the arena.
It also means a long-term commitment for the American Legion.
Tournament Director Jerry Ricksecker says they are ready to fulfill the contract with special wording in place if that were to change.
The contract calls for a provision for the Legion to partner with another organization or even pass it on to another entity if they ever cannot fulfill their obligation.
Monday’s ceremony included comments from NJCAA Executive Director Mary Ellen Leicht, City Manager John Deardoff, and Chamber President Jason Ball.
The NJCAA is the second-largest intercollegiate athletic association in the United States, with over 500 member colleges, and nearly 60,000 student-athletes competing in 48 national championships each year.
Rep. Troy L. Waymaster, Kansas House District 109 February 12, 2016
FY 2016 & 2017 Supplemental Bill Passes the House
Wednesday, February 10, the House of Representatives debated and amended the supplemental budget bill for fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
Even though we passed the budgets for both of these years during the 2015 session, due to the lower expected revenues that we have been experiencing over the course of the past few months, we needed to make adjustments in order to have a positive balance for the state of Kansas. In the bill, we did make reductions in spending for the current fiscal year and adjustments for the spending levels in 2017. By passing this bill, the House now has a position when we do go to conference committee with the Senate, something we did not possess last session.
In this budget measure, we identified in the Appropriations Committee that the Department of Corrections, and namely correctional officers, are understaffed. The budget bill allows for a 2.5% pay increase for the correctional officers, which is about $2.45 million. This bill also allows the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to spend already appropriated funds to increase the pay of current employees to remain competitive with law enforcement. The bill also adds $3 million to address staffing shortages and other issues at Osawatomie and Larned State Hospitals.
Regarding KPERS, this budget bill protects KPERS from across the board cuts, which the governor is allowed to do if balances fall below $100 million. It does allow the governor the permission to delay a state payment to KPERS only in 2016, however, if there is any delayed payment, it would need to be made in the first three months of fiscal year 2017, plus an 8% interest. KPERS cannot be subject to allotments in 2017. Alan Conroy, director of KPERS, said that these changes would not have an actuarial impact on the pension plan.
Other provisions added to the budget bill were that the House added a 19% bonding cap for KDOT, includes a proviso that requires legislative approval if the governor desires privatizing Larned or Osawatomie State Hospitals, and gives the Children’s Cabinet the ability of using federal dollars for Parents As Teachers. The bill passed, 68-56; I voted “yes.”
Amendment to Protect the University of Kansas Medical Center
Last week, during the discussion with the final budget bill, Representative Marc Rhoades introduced an amendment that would restrict the bonding of regent schools as of July 1, 2015. If the school(s) do not comply with this amendment, then they would experience an alteration in their finances.
Being that the University of Kansas Hospital Center falls under the auspices of the University of Kansas, they, too, would need to comply with the amendment. Since the amendment passed in committee, although I voted no because of this very reason, I brought forth an amendment that would exclude the University of Kansas Medical Center. The medical center must have more fluid financing than the main campus. My amendment passed and was added to House Substitute for Senate Bill 161.
Kansas Supreme Court Rules on Education Funding
Thursday, hours before the House of Representatives was to vote on the 2016 and 2017 budget bill, the Kansas Supreme court rendered its ruling on education.
The Supreme Court declared that they found inequities between school districts and that the legislature has not resolved the inequity in funding with the current financing method. That financing method was passed last year as House Substitute for Senate Bill 7, also known as the Block Grant Funding Bill. Before the passage of SB 7, for which I voted “No,” the schools in Kansas were funded through a formula that included parameters of funding, for example base state aid per pupil. With the implementation of SB 7, the formula was dissolved and replaced with the funding of block grants based on the amount of funding each school district received in the prior year. The funding amount was intended to then be held stable for the next two school years, allowing the legislature to construct a new school finance formula by July 1, 2017.
The court case has been split into two arguments: Is the overall funding adequate, and is school funding being equitably distributed to districts. The Supreme Court’s rendering on Thursday only addressed the equity portion of the Gannon case. The other portion, relating to adequacy, was not determined and oral arguments are scheduled for this spring.
The history behind this case is that a three judge panel ruled that SB 7 did not meet the constitutionality of funding, where the state then appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court stated that SB 7, “was no more than a freeze on unified school district operational funds for two years.”
The Supreme Court has now challenged the legislature to draft a new finance formula by June 30, 2016 or if we fail to do that, then it “will mean no constitutionally valid school finance system exists through which funds for 2017 can lawfully be raised, distributed, or spent.” This decision has just made the 2016 session even more interesting.
Pages and Contact Information
On Monday, February 8, I had eight students from Russell and Larned serve as pages in the House of Representatives. Those that served as pages were Ross McNett, Reed McNett, Whitley Leiker, Brooke Leiker, Chloe Leiker, Lacey Nuss, and Ashlyn Long. They were accompanied by Angela Leiker, Russell, and Jennifer McNett, Larned. During the pages time here, they took pictures with Governor Sam Brownback, attended the House Session, had lunch, toured the State Capitol, and went to the top of the dome.
If you or someone you know would be interested in being a page, please contact my office and we can make the arrangements.
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
MCPHERSON COUNTY – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just before 12-noon on Monday in McPherson County.
