Cumulative number of earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.0 or larger in the central and eastern United States, 1973-2015. The rate of earthquakes began to increase starting around 2009 and accelerated in 2013-2014-USGS image CLICK to ENLARGE
SETH BORENSTEIN, Associated Press
KELLY P. KISSEL, Associated Press
SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma and Kansas changed their drilling regulations amid a rise in the number of earthquakes last year, but only Kansas has seen a marked drop in the number of temblors.
An Associated Press analysis shows that between late 2014 and late 2015, the number of Kansas quakes fell by 60 percent. Oklahoma’s rose 10 percent over the same period.
Kansas regulated how much wastewater could be injected into the earth after its use in oil and gas drilling. Oklahoma initially put limits on how deep the water could go.
Scientists say it is too early to reach firm conclusions, but fear that Oklahoma’s trend of having more, smaller earthquakes could be setting a course for the big one. Earthquakes two weeks ago knocked out power in an Oklahoma City suburb.
HOUSTON, Texas – Fort Hays State’s Cory Keehn qualified for the USA Olympic Team Trials in the half-marathon on Sunday in the Chevron Houston Marathon. He finished with a time of 1:04:26.
Keehn hit the 1:05:00 standard to qualify for the USA Olympic Team Trials in the half marathon in February. He finished 29th in the race and 19th among competitors from the United States. Keehn kept an impressive 4-minute, 55-second pace per mile over the 13.1-mile race.
The winning time in the race on Sunday was 1:00:37 by Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopa. The top runner from the U.S. finished fourth, that being Luke Puskedra from Oregon in 1:01.29.
The USA Olympic Team Trials for marathon and half-marathon are in Los Angeles, Calif., on February 13, 2016.
ELLIS–Although it’s a federal holiday, the Ellis City Council will still meet in its regularly scheduled session this evening at 7:30 p.m. in Ellis City Hall.
Agenda items include an update on the waterline improvement project from Driggs Design Group. Council members will also consider a resolution calling for a sales tax election and have an introduction of the Tourism Task Force.
The complete Jan. 18 agenda follows.
AGENDA
January 18, 2016
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)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on January 4, 2016
b) Bills Ordinance #1989
(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)
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.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Denis Vine
b) Tourism Task Force Introduction
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Update on Waterline Improvement Project – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
b) Consider Resolution Calling for Sales Tax Election
c) Consider Revised Ordinance Amending Court Costs
d) Discuss Costs for Additional Street Rehabilitation Projects
e) Discuss Alley Drainage in 800 Block Washington Street
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Resolution Updating Authorized Representative with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Consider Approval of Department Employee
(2) Inspection Report on Water Treatment Plant
(3) Comparative Water Report
(4) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Consider Approval of Department Employee
(2) Public Hearing Notice for Re-Zoning Property
(3) Health Insurance Monthly Summary
(4) Unofficial Committee Meeting Minutes
(5) Annual Safety Report
(6) Annual City Car Savings Report
(7) Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank Annual Report
(8) Department Update
4) Attorney
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Reminder of Work Session with Trades Board
(2) Reminder of Local Government Day
(3) Sample Evaluation Forms and Job Descriptions
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT
HUTCHINSON -A Kansas teenager was injured in an accident just after 12:15 p.m. on Sunday in Reno County.
The Reno County Sheriff reported a vehicle driven by Kenda Raber, 17, Nickerson, was traveling near the intersection of 56th and Lorraine. She lost control of the vehicle and it rolled.
Raber was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center with a head injury, according to deputies.
The first legislative update of the new year will be Saturday, Jan. 30.
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Coffee is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Ellis County Administrative Building commission chambers.
State Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays, and state Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, are scheduled to attend to discuss the legislative session in Topeka and answer questions from constituents.
Sponsors for the Legislative Coffee are Midwest Energy and AT&T.
BUNKER HILL – Kick off your Valentine’s weekend with Smoky Hills Public Television’s annual fundraiser Valentines & Wines on Feb. 13 at the American Legion in Hays.
As in the past, Valentines and Wines will include a meal, an opportunity to taste a variety of wines, craft beers and liquor and silent and live auctions.
“Smoky Hills Public Television hosts a variety of events for children throughout the year, but Valentines & Wines is an opportunity for us to provide an entertaining evening for the adults. We greatly appreciate everyone who supports this event by making a donation or purchasing a ticket,” said Event Coordinator Tricia Flax.
Valentines & Wines is a fundraiser for Smoky Hills Public Television. All of the proceeds help SHPTV maintain its commitment to quality programming and educational services.
A variety of items have been donated for the silent and live auctions. Those include a basketball signed by the University of Kansas men’s basketball team, a football autographed by Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, a basketball from Fort Hays State, gift certificates, packages for Kansas excursions and much more.
Tickets for this event cost $40 per person or $300 for a table of eight. Members of Smoky Hills Public Television qualify for a discount, which they can receive by contacting the station. Tickets are available by calling SHPTV at (800) 337-4788 or online at www.smokyhillstv.org.
Billy Imada, founder, chair and chief collaboration officer of IW Group Inc., will be the featured presenter of Fort Hays State University’s Entrepreneur Direct speaker series from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, in Eagle Communications Hall of the Robbins Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.
This free presentation is open to the campus and public.
IW Group is a full-service communications firm specializing in the growing multicultural markets in the United States. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations, advertising and training, Imada and his company represent some of the top global and domestic brands including American Airlines, Bank of the West, Coca-Cola, Farmers Insurance, Godiva, Kaiser Permanente, McDonald’s, MetLife, Verizon Wireless, Walmart Stores, Walt Disney Imagineering, Warner Bros. Pictures and many others.
Before founding IW Group, Imada served as a human resources manager for a major national subleasing company and worked as an employment recruiter for a small start-up placement agency. He is an active speaker and trainer, developing training programs for companies such as Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc., Bank of America, Fidelity Investments, Macy’s, Merrill Lynch, Nike and many others.
Entrepreneur Direct is an FHSU speaker series featuring successful entrepreneurs sharing stories and advice with students, faculty and the public in an informal setting. A panel asks questions about entrepreneurship and encourages interaction with the audience.
First Care Clinic will celebrate an employee award and building improvements in a ceremony Wednesday.
Nicole Moser, Dental Outreach Director, will be awarded with the Outstanding Dental Hygienist Award by Oral Health Kansas.
In addition, the Hays clinic will mark the grand reopening of the main entrance of the facility, 105 W. 13th. Several improvements were recently made to improve the main patient entrance.
The ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday. The public is invited.
Edward Stanley Ciempa, age 76, passed away at his home in Ransom, Kansas on January 16, 2016.
He was born on September 14, 1939, in Springfield, MA, the eldest son of Edward Anthony and Mary (Dudas) Ciempa.
After growing up near Cleveland, OH, he graduated from Carnegie Medical Institute in Cleveland and became a registered lab and x-ray technologist. A lifelong love of hunting and fishing brought him to Ransom, where he began a 48-year career at Grisell Memorial Hospital.
On November 4, 1961, he married Thelma Luetters. For most of their married lives, they shared an avid passion for the game of golf. She preceded him in death, along with his sister Elizabeth and both parents.
Survivors include three children, Daren Ciempa, Denver, CO; Darla (Paul) Karlin, Hays; Jason (Josie) Ciempa, Loco Hills, NM; sister, Carol Applegate, Geneva, OH; and brother Tony, Ware, MA.
Parish Vigil and visitation will be Monday January 18 at St. Aloysius Church, 7:00 P.M.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at St. Aloysius Church, Ransom, 10:30 A.M.
Burial services will be scheduled following cremation.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to American Cancer Society, or American Heart Association.
Last fall, I was contacted by Michael Huff, an independent author, wildlife photographer and coyote hunting guide living in Pennsylvania. Michael has a new book “Understanding Coyotes,” and offered to send me a copy and asked that I review it.
Coyotes currently live and thrive in all contiguous states in the U.S. and in every Canadian Province. They also flourish in large cities like New York City and Chicago, often totally unbeknownst to the residents.
Steve Gilliland
I once read a study about coyote populations that said 70% of a local coyote population would have to be removed for seven years in a row before any lasting effect would be seen to that population. Michael exhibits an amazing understanding of these prolific critters we call coyotes, and in his book he truly and thoroughly takes the reader to school concerning the life of the survivalist coyote.
Besides citing reams of research and dozens of books by other authors, Michael shows that his time in the woods as a coyote hunter and hunting guide has served him well as he put this book together. I have a pretty nice library of books on coyote trapping, but the chapters in his book on coyote biology and types of coyotes go well beyond what’s presented in other books I own.
He concludes his tutorial with a chapter on “Understanding and Overcoming the Super Senses,” a chapter about the insanely acute vision, smell and hearing of the coyote, and offers tips to hunters and wildlife photographers for temporarily fooling those senses.
Michael calls his book “The comprehensive guide for hunters, photographers and wildlife observers.”
I think his book is a worthy investment for any of the above, and can be found on Amazon or by contacting Michael at [email protected].
• • •
OK, so you’ve made the usual New Year’s resolution to eat healthier, including more salads and fish. Well the Kansas Dept. of health and Environment has issued revised fish consumption advisories for 2016 because of mercury and other contaminants found in higher than healthy concentrations in some Kansas fish.
The entire report with all the various advisories and specific locations can be read on the Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism website, ksoutdoors.com, but I’ll offer a summary.
In a nutshell, the report advises the general public and especially women who are pregnant, may become pregnant or are nursing to restrict consumption of locally caught fish (mostly bottom-feeders and mostly from reservoirs and rivers) to one meal per week. The report is found under the heading “News Releases” and is entitled “2016 Fish Consumption Advisories Issued.” It is very easy to read and understand, and gives very specific fish species and locations.
It’s too bad we have to worry about contaminants in our Kansas fish. I don’t buy into all the hype about global warming, but it’s obvious some dramatic changes are being seen in our weather and environment.
Likewise, I wonder if the KDHE is being a little over-dramatic about local fish contamination, but I would say there is some reason for alarm or they wouldn’t bother. Please go to the website ksoutdoors.com and read the report so you can remain healthy as you continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A national networking event for businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups is coming to Wichita.
KWCH-TV reports that the program, called 1 Million Cups, is a weekly gathering that allows business owners, start-ups, or anyone with an idea they want to pursue meet and talk.
The program will be free and open to the public every Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. starting Feb. 10 at Wichita State University Old Town location. People in Wichita will present their ideas to the audience and then engage in a question-and-answer session.
The program started in Kansas City and is now in 80 cities across the U.S.
The program’s representatives say they have seen 1 Million Cups improve business life across the county, and they expect to see similar results in Wichita.
