BUNKER HILL – Children have incredible imaginations and what better way to foster that imagination, than for them to write their own stories. We would like to invite you to join Smoky Hills Public Television as we encourage children in central and western Kansas to build critical literacy skills by creating their own stories and taking part in the SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest.
Smoky Hills Public Television is looking for stories from kids throughout the viewing area. The SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest is designed to be a valuable, hands-on, active learning tool. The contest is for children in grades K-3.
The contest is currently underway, and entries can be submitted to SHPTV through March 30, 2018. Smoky Hills Public Television will select local winners and award prizes in April or May. The rules and entry form are available at www.smokyhillstv.org.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking for help to identify a suspect.
Just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to an armed robbery at the H-Food Mart and Tobacco located in the 100 block of West 21st Street in Wichita, according to a social media report.
A store employee told police an unknown suspect entered the store, pepper-sprayed the employee and took her purse and cigarettes from the business and fled the store.
Anyone with more information is asked to call Wichita Police.
Hello from Topeka! Welcome to the 2018 Session. The first week was filled with the usual committee reorganization and hearing from the Governor on the State of the State. Once again, this year I am pleased to be serving as vice-chairman of Water & Environment committee and a member on the Taxation, Transportation committees.
Since the end last session, and the ruling by the Kansas Supreme Court, we knew the biggest issue we will face is school finance. Some see a simple remedy, adding an additional $600 million to K-12, but will that solve the challenge we face?
At the heart of the conflict before us is our charge to provide the resources necessary for a suitable education that meets the Court’s vague definition of these measures. Our constituents have entrusted us with the job of balancing the State budget and investing their tax dollars prudently and judiciously. Mental health, early childhood, foster care and infrastructure needs are among the many areas we must invest in for the quality of life of our citizens. The rubber has hit the road. With all of these competing priorities, how can we find peace and instill stability?
Decisions on budgeting require scrutinizing and prioritizing. Stability is based in decisions that consider the needs of today and the expectations and demands of tomorrow. For many years now, the process has instead revolved around mandates asking us to prioritize one state function over all others.
It is important to all of us that have been elected as a member of the Kansas Legislature that we need to keep the big picture in mind and not one issue over all others.
School funding dominates our state budget. It is shortsighted to suggest that these other terribly important areas do not also lend to the needs of our communities and their public schools.
As I said earlier, Governor Brownback presented the annual State of the State Address to the on the second day of the session. He reported that the state of our state is “indeed strong and very promising,” as also unveiled his plan to inject $600 million into K-12 education over five years, however, he did not provide any method to fund such an increase. He also noted the need to hire additional teachers and increase their salaries.
The State General Fund (SGF) profile of the Governor’s Budget shows a $300.7 million deficit for FY ’20, even with assuming that the Highway Fund sweep and transfer from the CIF continue.
The Governor’s Education proposal is financed partially by a $13.9 million transfer from the Children’s Initiative Fund (CIF). Of the $200.8 million added for FY ’19, $87.8 million SGF was included in 2017 SB 19. The Governor adds an additional $100 million SGF for following four Fiscal Years.
The Governor’s Budget Report does not fully fund KPERS for FY ’19. The $194 million payment that was delayed will not be made, it does not restore the four percent cuts made to Higher Education along with not funding enhancement requests requested by the Judicial Branch.
The Governor’s Budget Report does contain $190.7 million of enhancement requests, which includes his new school funding proposal. This amount does not include K-12 and Health and Human Services Caseloads and KPERS School contributions.
While I appreciate the effort to put forth a budget proposal, this one has landed with a big thud. I hope to learn more in tax committee this week.
If you come to Topeka during the session, my office is in Room: 352-S. My phone number is 785-296- 7463 and email is: [email protected] and my cell number is 785-302-8416.
It is my honor to be your representative.
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House District 110 covers:
Norton and Phillips Counties
Ellis County: Cities: Catharine, Ellis and Schoenchen; Townships: Big Creek(part), Buckeye, Catherine, Ellis, Herzog(part), Lookout(part) and Wheatland(part)
Graham County: City: Hill City; Townships: Hill City(part) and Nicodemus(part)
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Chapter 171 of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi initiated more than 140 students as new members during a ceremony at the end of the fall 2017 semester.
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. More than 100,000 members maintain their active status in Phi Kappa Phi, which offers them numerous benefits as dues-paying members, including access to $700,000 in awards and grants every year.
“Bright, talented and hard-working students worthy of our support, nurturing and recognition,” said C. Bryan Young, president of KU’s Phi Kappa Phi chapter and director of the University Honors Program. “Locally and nationally, we, as a society, rely upon our top academic talent to innovate and deliver solutions and services that address today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. These newest members of Phi Kappa Phi have demonstrated their commitment to learning and discovery, and that commitment has benefits for us all.”
Top-performing graduate and professional students as well as undergraduates at the junior or senior level are invited to become Phi Kappa Phi members. Juniors must be in the upper 7.5 percent of their college or school, seniors must be in the top 10 percent, and graduate and professional students must have completed one full year of study and rank in the top 10 percent of their academic division.
New members, their academic unit and their hometowns include:
HaysMed Convenient Care Walk-in Clinic, 3216 Vine St., Suite 20, is seeing patients at HaysMed Family Medicine, 2509 Canterbury, until further notice.
“The clinic is having some problems with its HVAC system,” HaysMed Marketing Director Gayla Wichman said Tuesday morning. “They have to identify where the trouble is, and you just can’t do that with patients in the building.”
The location change for walk-in patients started Monday afternoon. “HaysMed Family Medicine has an extra pod where they can easily see people,” she explained.
Wichman is unsure when the Convenient Care clinic will reopen. “We don’t know anything definite yet, but hopefully we’ll be back to normal operations before the end of the week.”
Clinic hours for walk-ins remain the same, from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Martin HawverOK, the session is now a week (or, four days) old and the best news that can be reported by anyone who wanders the Statehouse for a living is that there have been no injuries.
The governor’s budget? Even the simple descriptions of it are political. Many Republicans are still fuming that the governor proposes to spend too much money, meaning tax increases are ahead, if not this session just before a new governor is elected, then the session after. Democrats are at least positive on Gov. Sam Brownback’s five-year, $600 million increase in K-12 funding, but not much else so far.
And Kansas House members who are seeking reelection, and those who want to unseat them, generally are cautious. The total dollar figure for K-12 sounds about right, but over five years? Any chance the Kansas Supreme Court which declared last session’s K-12 plan unconstitutional will go for a five-year fix? Nobody, at least nobody who wears a black robe to work, is saying…
Probably one of the better pieces of news is that the outgoing (either this spring to a federal job, or at his term end) governor is planning to pay—yes, use real money, not a financing gimmick—$18.1 million in the rest of this fiscal year and $30.8 million in the upcoming fiscal year for the state’s share of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) contributions for teachers. The state’s pension plan, recall, has been mostly refinanced, pushing contributions into the future like you do if you refinance your home.
Another bright spot? Brownback plans to boost the budget for Statehouse operations by $200,000 so that public (and other) interest groups won’t have to pay up to $500 to hold a gathering under the dome to talk to their lawmakers. (Although for a few groups that hold Statehouse rallies, we’re figuring a two-drink minimum would have covered those now-cancelled fee hikes.)
But…the bright spots are relatively sparse. While the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees parse each line item of the governor’s budget, which projects surpluses (yes, cash in the bank after the bills are paid) of $266 million on June 30 and $150 million the following year, few believe the fiscal year will end with that much cash.
In fact, the only new expenditure in the budget that appears to be virtually assured is a relatively cheap ($8 million this year and next) remake of the state’s programs for the roughly 7,000 children who are the responsibility of the state, who have been removed from their parents’ homes for their safety.
That provision increases investigative staff at the Kansas Department for Children and Families so that we can locate the kids who leave their foster care homes or their adoptive parents, allocates $1.5 million for additional staffers to ensure those children’s welfare, and provides new emergency shelter for those children so they don’t wind up sleeping in offices of child-care contractors.
Anyone against that? No hands held up. And, it is Lt. Gov. who hopes to grow up to be Governor Jeff Colyer who is the owner of that child welfare provision, both as a government executive and a Republican candidate for governor.
What else is assured from Brownback’s $6.923 billion budget for this year and $6.899 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year? Not much.
So, the Legislature is up and running, in the first few weeks of dissecting the budget, seeing what the state can afford and can’t afford and just how political parties in general and voters in specific will like or dislike the lawmakers as they vote in August and again in November.
We’ll see how this works out…
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
The first free hearing screening of the semester to be held in western Kansas by Fort Hays State University graduate students will be offered in Norton.
The screening will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 2, at the Almena State Bank, Norton Branch, 302 E. Holme Street, Norton.
“The FHSU Speech-Language Hearing Clinic is continuing into its second semester of its second year of providing hearing screenings sponsored by a grant from the Kansas Masonic Foundation,” said Marcy Beougher, speech-language pathologist and an instructor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.
The grant will provide numerous opportunities for older adults in western Kansas, and in some areas of eastern Colorado and southern Nebraska, to receive important health screening services that are currently scarce or difficult to access.
“This fall we had two successful screenings in St. Francis and Ulysses,” said Beougher. “Through these community screenings hosted by active Masonic lodges, we are trying to reach individuals who likely would not have access to a free hearing screening.”
The Norton screening will be hosted by the Naphtali Lodge No. 310 of Almena and provided by graduate students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders under the supervision of an FHSU Herndon Clinic instructor.
Appointments may be scheduled ahead of time, but walk-ins will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site will have four stations, with each screening lasting approximately 15-20 minutes. Information about hearing loss and follow-up services available will be shared during the screenings. Free educational materials and earplugs will be provided by the Kansas Masons.
“The students are gaining excellent clinical experience as well as mandatory clinical hours from each screening,” she said. “We are grateful to the Kansas Masons for their support of this quality program.”
The second screening of the semester will be Feb. 16 in Hoxie.
To schedule an appointment for the Norton screening, contact Tammy Steinmetz at 785-669-2486 or [email protected].
For more information, visit fhsu.edu/herndon-clinic/ or contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at 785-628-5366.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.Can a person ever have too much of a good thing?
I believe this may be the case when you look at all the soft drinks, flavored water and sports beverage choices today. They’re everywhere.
You can’t walk into a supermarket or convenience store without bumping into the many drink offering displays.
And flavors. Wow.
Just think of some taste you desire like fudge malted gumball, cheese yogurt yummy or silvery satin strawberry. It’s out there and you can buy it and drink it down.
Without question, the best part of these drinks for me is the packaging.
It’s unbelievable. And the creativity?
It’s almost too much for one to digest.
Anymore, I don’t even care what’s in the container. I just want to hold it in my hand, caress its coolness, admire its latest, unique logo and look good doing so.
While many are content with the multitude of diet sodas, and flavored waters like blackberry blush, my drink of choice is chocolate milk. I really enjoy it. I have since I was a small child.
Today’s explosion of new soft drinks, flavored waters and sports drinks has one major worrisome aspect I cannot help but point out.
Pitchmen, women and yes kids are filling our heads with the idea these flavored drinks can be part of a well-rounded, balanced diet. Their ads and infomercials are as numerous as grains of sand on our beaches – and they’re spending billions.
The most alarming part of this sales pitch is that so much of it is aimed at our youth. In case you haven’t been in today’s schools this drink deluge is very much a part of the contemporary scene.
Soft drinks have no business being considered part of a balanced diet at our schools or anywhere else. These drinks have little, if any, nutritional value.
Look at the ingredients in a soft drink the next time you pick one up. Most people wouldn’t have a clue what these ingredients are, myself included.
To be part of a balanced diet, a food product must have nutritional value. I believe soft drinks have such a negligible amount, they cannot be considered seriously as part of any “balanced” diet.
Unlike water, soft drinks won’t even quench your thirst. They leave you longing for a tall, cool glass of water.
Talk to a nutritionist or physician and what is the ingredient we’re supposed to drink at least eight glasses of?
That’s right. Nature’s own liquid – water.
What about that wonderful white liquid chocked full of calcium we call milk?
Where does it fit in our daily diet?
Milk belongs in almost everyone’s diet. Nutritional research has stressed that men and women between the ages of 11 and 24 need the equivalent of five servings of dairy products daily. This can be milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream and a whole array of other good-tasting dairy foods.
Juice from oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, cranberries, strawberries and other fruits is another item that belongs as part of a balanced diet. Food products from natural primary crops – not always secondary, highly processed food products – are essential to our youngsters’ diets. We owe it to them and their good health.
Other drinks made from tomatoes, carrots, celery and other vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber. Vegetable drinks should be included as part of our daily diets.
But let’s return to soft drinks. You’ve got to admit it’s a brilliant stroke of marketing to link sports and flavored drinks with a well-rounded, nutritionally balanced diet. Infer something often enough and people will begin to believe.
Soft drinks linked with a balanced diet and nutrition is about as palatable to me as the drink manufacturers laughing all the way to the bank.
There is no substitute for healthy, nutritious food in our daily diets. Students and adults should reach for a tall glass of water, juice or milk the next time they’re thirsty. These are truly nutritious products that belong in a daily balanced diet.
The occasional Coke or Dr. Pepper can be a real treat, and everyone should indulge their simple pleasures from time to time.
But the rest of the time, keep it simple – chocolate milk, fruit juices or water will do just fine. You’ll be doing yourself a favor and you’ll be supporting farmers and ranchers who supply these fresh, tasty, nutritious drinks.
Bottoms up.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
SEWARD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and USD 480 school district officials are investigating an alleged threat against schools in Liberal.
On Monday, a student notified administration at Eisenhower Middle School, 2000 North Western Avenue in Liberal, that a threat was made over social media involving the middle school, Seymour Rogers Middle School and Liberal High School students and campuses to occur on Wednesday, as reported on the school district’s social media page.
Administrators notified the Liberal Police Department. USD 480 officials reported they have adopted the ALICE response protocol for emergencies in the district schools and know this protocol teaches a proactive response to school emergencies.
Anyone with information regarding on this threat, is asked to contact the Liberal Police Department at 626-0141. Authorities released no additional information on Monday.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting near the Washburn University campus early Sunday and have suspect in custody.
After turning himself in to police in Lawrence, Zachary Buck-Schrag, 21, was transported Monday evening to the Department of Corrections in Topeka. He is being held on charges of Felony Murder, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Just after 12 a.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard in the area of 22nd Park and Mulvane near the Washburn University campus in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
Officers found a passenger car in the tree line. The driver identified as Travis Larsen, 37 , Topeka, was dead.
Buck-Schrag has a previous conviction for flee/attempt to elude police, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have suspect in custody.
Just after 12 a.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard in the area of 22nd Park and Mulvane near the Washburn University campus in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
Officers found a passenger car in the tree line. The driver identified as Travis Larsen, 37 , Topeka, was dead.
Police say someone was seen running from the scene onto the Washburn University campus. The school issued an alert asking students to shelter in place but lifted it when the suspect couldn’t be found on campus.
On Monday police asked for help to locate a person of interest in the case, according to Lt. Colleen Stuart. Zachary Buck-Schrag, 21, turned himself into police in Lawrence on Monday afternoon.
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call DET Lance Green at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.
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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting, have identified a woman shown in security camera images and are asking for help to locate a person interest.
Just after 12 a.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard in the area of 22nd Park and Mulvane near the Washburn University campus in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
Officers found a passenger car in the tree line. The driver identified as Travis Larsen, 37 , Topeka, was dead.
Police say someone was seen running from the scene onto the Washburn University campus. The school issued an alert asking students to shelter in place but lifted it when the suspect couldn’t be found on campus.
Police now want to find a person of interest in the case, according to Lt. Colleen Stuart. Zachary Buck-Schrag, 21, is described as a white male, 5-foot-11, and weights 170 pounds.
Schrag is considered armed and dangerous. Police advised if you see him do not approach him but call 911
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call DET Lance Green at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.
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Police have identified a woman seen near the crime scene- photo courtesy Topeka Police
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have asked for help to identify a woman shown in security camera images.
Just after 12 a.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard in the area of 22nd Park and Mulvane near the Washburn University campus in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
Officers found a passenger car in the tree line with the driver deceased.
Late Sunday morning, police requested the public’s help in identifying a woman seen in security camera images. She is believed to have been in the SUV which is parked at the gas pumps in the photo.
Police did not indicate how she might be connected to the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding this attempt to identify is encouraged to call The Topeka Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau at 785-368-9400
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Police on the scene of Sunday’s suspicious death-photo courtesy WIBW TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.
Just after 12 a.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard in the area of 22nd Park and Mulvane near the Washburn University campus in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
Officers found a passenger car in the tree line with the driver deceased.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Topeka Police Criminal Investigations Bureau at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.
SHPTV
