Author: Becky Kiser
Russell Courthouse Square Named after Bob Dole
Russell County Commissioner Steve Boxberger announces the naming of “Robert J. Dole Russell County Courthouse Square” during Friday evening’s meet and greet with Senator Bob Dole, his wife Elizabeth and Senator Arlen Specter in Russell. The three senators are participating in Saturday’s Russell Prairiesta parade. Russell is the hometown of Bob Dole and Arlen Specter.
Prairesta Golden Eagle Egg Found
Carolyn Daubert from Otis, Kansas found Eagle Communication’s Golden Egg and turned it in to Eagle’s Customer Care Center in Russell at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2011. The egg was hidden in a fence post near the Russell Municipal Golf Course and the Disc Golf Course. Congratulations Carolyn!!!! It’s all part of Russell Prairiesta which continues through Sunday.
Ellis County Added to Drought Disaster Declaration Request
Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback sent a letter Friday to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting the USDA issue a drought disaster declaration for 25 Kansas counties, including Ellis County. This is the Governor’s second drought disaster request this year.
“The impact of production losses caused by drought, wildfires, and high winds in western Kansas is now beginning to be felt by many more Kansas farmers and ranchers across the south central part of our state,” Gov. Brownback said. “An agricultural disaster declaration will make them eligible for emergency loans administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency, as well as any other aid that may be available through the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments Program approved in the 2008 farm bill.”
The 25 counties included in the Governor’s second request are:
Barber Cowley Gray Lincoln Russell
Barton Edwards Harper Norton Sedgwick
Butler Ellis Harvey Phillips Stafford
Clark Ford Hodgeman Reno Sumner
Comanche Graham Kingman Rice Trego
“Despite the recent precipitation in many areas of the state, beneficial rains have been isolated or have missed the counties included in the Governor’s request,” Kansas Water Office Director, Tracy Streeter said. “In addition to the lack of moisture, excessive temperatures and winds over the past two weeks have compounded the drought conditions in south-central and western Kansas.”
The 21 counties included in the first federal declaration are: Finney, Gove, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Kearny, Lane, Logan, Meade, Morton, Ness, Scott, Seward, Sheridan, Sherman, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Wallace, and Wichita.
Kansas farmers living in the counties under the first federal declaration who believe they may qualify for assistance should contact their local FSA office for further information.
Russell, Rooks Counties Adopt Rural Opportunity Zones
Lane, Rooks, Russell, Scott and Woodson counties adopted Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZs) resolutions this week becoming full partners in the state’s effort to revitalize rural areas of Kansas, says Commerce Secretary Pat George.
With the adoption of the resolutions, individuals who move to one of these counties after July 1 can qualify to have 20 percent of their student loans repaid (up to $3,000 per year for up to five years) by the county and state, if the individuals graduated from an accredited post-secondary institution.
“So often today we give lip service to bringing our youth back to our small communities, but our actions don’t always back up our conversations,” said Roger Hrabe, Rooks County Economic Development Director. “The Rooks County Commission has been proactive in moving forward with the Rural Opportunity Zones tuition reimbursement program as a way to encourage our young people to explore opportunities in our county. Despite the struggle with population loss over the last few decades, our county has experienced an inflow of young people in recent years. They are anxious to raise their families in a safe, energetic, and progressive environment. Our hope is to build on that momentum through the Rural Opportunity Zones program.”
The ROZs program also provides a state income tax exemption for up to five years to individuals who relocate to a ROZs county from out of state. Counties do not need to opt in for individuals to participate in this portion of the program.
The program designates 50 counties as ROZs counties. They are Barber, Chautauqua, Cheyenne, Clark, Cloud, Comanche, Decatur, Edwards, Elk, Gove, Graham, Greeley, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Hodgeman, Jewell, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Lane, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Mitchell, Morton, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Pratt, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Trego, Thomas, Wallace, Washington, Wichita, Wilson and Woodson.
Russell Prairiesta Time Capsule Buried
The Russell Prairiesta officially kicks off Thursday morning with the burial of a time capsule at the Fossil Station Museum. It will remain buried for 50 years. Find out what’s in it tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14
Ellis County EMS Rehab Fund for Firefighters
These 100 degree temperatures are even harder on firefighters who’re also wearing heavy protective gear, and vulnerable to heat stress. Ellis County Emergency Medical Services has organized a non-profit “Rehab Fund” to raise money for bottled water, neck coolers and other items to keep firefighters cool on the scene.
E-M-S employee Ryan Werth says the need became apparent during the response to last June’s deadly elevator collapse in Russell, when several firefighters succumbed to heat stroke.
A “Rehab Fund” fundraising booth featuring food and raffle tickets will be set up at Saturday’s Riverfest in Ellis.
Hays Water Line Break: Customers Should Limit Watering
The Hays Water Department requests the public to restrict water use from 9 AM to 9 PM today, Wednesday, June 8, 2011.
Utilities Director Bernie Kitten reports a water line break on the West transmission line south of Hays and a second break on the East transmission line. With both lines out for repair today, the Hays system could experience problems maintaining pressure and storage for citizens and fire protection.
Kitten asks residents to limit water usage for watering lawns, washing clothes, washing cars and other needs until after 9 PM.
Russell Superintendent Inducted into KS Teachers’ Hall of Fame
USD 407 Superintendent David Couch was inducted into the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame in Dodge City Saturday. He was nominated by Kathy Cook, director of special education in Russell. Inductees must have served a minimum of 25 years as a Kansas teacher or administrator, and demonstrate the highest of standards, professionally and personally.
Couch started his career in 1974 in Windhorst, arriving in Russell in 1978 as a social studies teacher and coach at Ruppenthal Middle School. He then served as assistant principal and then principal of the Russell High School before being named the district superintendent in 1991. In 2003, Couch became superintendent.
Watch the induction ceremony tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.
KS Shrine Bowl Returns to Hays
The Kansas Shrine Bowl returns to Hays July 30th , the third time in its 38 year history, according to Executive Director Dave Mize. The state’s premier high school football all-star game will be played at FHSU Lewis Field. Hays High’s Casey Sedbrook will play for the West Team. The two previous Shrine Bowl games in Hays were 10 years apart, in 1997 and 2007.
Other activities will include band and cheerleading camps conducted the week before the game. On game day, a pro-style high school combine will be conducted. The day also features the traditional Shrine Bowl Parade through downtown Hays. Just before the game kickoff, two road races will be held as an additional fundraiser.
The 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children provide pediatric specialty care, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay.
Stockton Escapee Captured in Missouri
The man who escaped Sunday from minimum-security custody at the Norton Correctional Facility-East Unit in Stockton has been captured in Missouri.
Kansas and Missouri officials confirm apprehension of escapee Christopher John Anderson as of 6:15 a.m. Tuesday. Anderson is in the Bates County jail and will be returned to custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. He faces charges of aggravated escape from custody, burglary and theft.
Ellis County added to CRP Emergency Grazing Program
Ellis, Graham and Trego counties were added Friday to the list of counties now eligible for emergency grazing of grass enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program.
With the additions, farmers in 30 Kansas counties can now graze grass in the popular program. Typically, the grass is off limits to grazing or haying except in drought conditions.
According to the Farm Service Agency, counties must show precipitation rates in the four months prior to making the request are 40 percent less than normal, and show forage production is down at least 40 percent.
Emergency grazing is only allowed through September 30.
Russell, Rooks, Osborne Counties Part of Disaster Proclamation
Topeka – Governor Sam Brownback signed a State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation for 24 counties this morning because of severe storms, flooding, flash flooding, hail, tornadoes and lightning that began June 1 and continues.
The Kansas counties named in the proclamation are Atchison, Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ellsworth, Jackson, Jefferson, Jewell, Leavenworth, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Pottawatomie, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Shawnee and Smith.
Today, KDEM personnel are conducting aerial damage assessments over areas of North Central Kansas where much flooding was reported in recent days. KDEM staff will look for damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will be contacting county emergency managers next week to narrow down eligible damage costs for a possible federal Public Assistance program request. These funds, if approved by FEMA, would provide local government entities and eligible non-profit organizations to receive reimbursements for certain expenditures as a result of the storm.
