Sunflower State still has the 10th cheapest gas in the nation
TOPEKA – Although average gas prices nationally have fallen for the past two weeks, Kansas has bucked the trend as one of only eight states experiencing an increase at the gas pumps. The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline rose two cents this week in the Sunflower State to $2.73/gallon.
“After some moderation in prices right around Memorial Day, we’ve experienced a slight jump in gas prices over the last couple of weeks in Kansas,” said Jennifer Haugh, AAA Kansas spokeswoman. “Steady demand and a relatively low gasoline inventory level in our region are the likely reasons we’ve seen some increase in retail prices. We are still pretty fortunate here in the Sunflower State to have the nation’s 10th cheapest average gas prices, 19 cents less than the national average.”
Fortunately, not everyone in Kansas saw gas prices rise this week. Of the 10 Kansas cities regularly highlighted by AAA Kansas (see chart below), only three cities (Kansas City, Kan. and Lawrence +9 cents and Wichita +8) saw gas price increases. Emporia (-4) joined Topeka (-2) and Hays (-1) with lower prices, while pump prices in four cities stayed the same.
According to AAA Kansas, this week’s Kansas gas price extremes are:
HIGH: Kensington (Smith County) – $3.01
LOW: Galena (Cherokee County) – $2.55
National Perspective
At $2.92, the national gas price average has dropped four cents since the beginning of June. Today’s average is three cents less than a week ago, six cents more than a month ago and 58 cents more expensive than a year ago. On the week, only eight states saw prices increase while all others dropped by as much as 13 cents or remained stable.
“Gas prices continue to dip across the country, but remain nearly 50-cents more expensive than last summer in every state,” said AAA Kansas’ Haugh. “The higher prices seem to be influencing driving habits. While consumer gasoline demand remains strong, it is slowing and not growing.”
Dropping by 713,000 b/d, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that demand registers – for the first time since mid-January – just under 9 million b/d. This is surprising, as levels have consistently measured above the 9 million mark every week in June since 2015.
Today’s national gas price extremes:
High: California – $3.72
Low: South Carolina – $2.58
Great Lakes and Central States Report
The majority of states in the Great Lakes and Central region are seeing cheaper gas prices on the week. Indiana (-13 cents) saw the only double-digit drop in the country, which brings the state’s gas price average ($2.87) well under the $3 mark it was at last Monday. Other notable week-over-week pump price decreases in the region: Illinois (-7 cents), Wisconsin (-4 cents) and Iowa (-4 cents). However, not every state is seeing this trend. Four states saw prices jump including Kansas (+2 cents), Ohio (+2 cents), Michigan (+2 cents) and South Dakota (+1 cent). With the weekly increase, Michigan’s gas price average is at the $3 mark, making the state’s average the second most expensive in the region behind Illinois ($3.02).
Inventory levels continue to hold slightly above the 52 million bbl mark. According to the latest data released by the EIA, this is the lowest inventory levels of the year for the region and about 2.6 million bbl below levels at this time last year.
In communities across Kansas, farmers’ markets continue to offer homegrown and homemade products. Everything from freshly picked fruits and vegetables to mouthwatering baked goods, fresh eggs, beef, lamb, pork, colorful flower arrangements and assorted bedding plants.
Today, 94 farmers’ markets are registered in the “From the Land of Kansas” program. Another 20-30 probably exist scattered throughout the state.
This access to fresh food and the joy of connecting with a farmer or rancher is something that is resonating with more and more people. Key here is the opportunity for consumers to talk to the people producing the food.
When people have the chance to talk to someone one-on-one, they believe that because the food is grown closer to home, it’s probably better, safer and tastier. There’s also a sense of responsibility from the vendors who stand there and talk to the people buying their goods.
Vendors like markets because they can sell their home-produced products directly to consumers with no middleman. Farmers’ markets are unique because the producer is also the marketer.
In most phases of production agriculture, the producer rarely has a chance to participate in this level of marketing. If a farmer grows wheat for example, he can sell it but has no control over price. In a farmer’s market he can set the price and negotiate with people.
Farmers’ markets are popular with a wide range of people. In university towns like Manhattan and Lawrence international students, accustomed to shopping in markets rather than grocery stores, frequent these establishments. Senior citizens are also regular customers.
Markets are also popular with people who have been transplanted from rural to urban areas. Folks who were raised in rural areas like that connection with the farm.
Without a doubt, farmers’ markets are a community event and a place to socialize. Many shoppers rise early in the morning, so they can talk to people and sometimes more importantly secure the best produce. You remember, the early bird gets the worm.
Shopping in an outdoor venue is also just more fun. There’s nothing like an open-air venue to buy fresh, healthy food.
And after a recent trip I took a couple weeks ago, I listened as a younger shopper told me it’s a serious, part of a socially responsible life.
“I’m buying from people in my own community,” she informed me. “I’m supporting people who I live with.”
Farmers’ markets are also family affairs. Kids are as much a part of the scene as the vendors and customers. In case you hadn’t noticed, kids like to eat too, and they know what they like.
And for the children who help their parents sell products, it’s a primary learning experience. Heck, I’ve seen many a second or third grader making change as Mom hands over the produce.
The friendly relationship between buyers and sellers, the festive atmosphere and the quality produce all make the farmer’s market a popular community event.
While I go to the market mainly for juicy, mouth-watering tomatoes and fresh, brown farm eggs, I sometimes find a real treat, something I haven’t bargained for or something my wife or I can’t replicate at home.
One of my favorite purchases at the downtown Manhattan farmer’s market are homemade tamales and salsa. English shelling peas are another treat. Talk about wonderful.
You know, I’d visit our farmer’s market even if I didn’t buy something, but that’ll never happen because I love to eat too much.
I just like being there. It’s the best show in town.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
City commissioners discuss an increase in the Transient Guest Tax to pay for most of the proposed Vine Street traffic roundabouts.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The Hays city commission recently approved a contract for engineering/design of three traffic roundabouts on north Vine Street.
That work is currently underway and the project should be ready for bid in late 2019. The $398,000 for engineering will be paid out of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) contingency fund.
Improvements to the corridor, which was developed in the 1960s, are estimated at $7.6 million. Current traffic conditions are considered unsafe, lack pedestrian access, and are difficult for visitors and travelers to navigate.
In order to pay for the roundabouts at the intersections of 32nd/33rd, 37th and 41st Streets, city commissioners are considering a charter ordinance to increase the Transient Guest Tax (TGT) rate to 7% from the current 5% TGT levied on all hotel stays in Hays.
According to information presented at the June 7 work session, a 2% TGT increase would generate approximately $416,000 annually to support a 20-year bond in an amount of $6.2 million.
That estimate includes the two new proposed hotels to be built north of Interstate 70, the La Quinta Inns & Suites and the Hilton Garden Inn, said Finance Director Kim Rupp. “We added that in,” he told the commission.
“We’ve been looking at funding opportunities and it’s been discussed before, that with a $1 million contribution from Stormwater Reserves for the portion of the project that would actually be designed to convey the stormwater through the system, a 2% raise in TGT could be used to pay for the rest of the project,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said.
The current 5% TGT is lower than most peer cities across Kansas. To increase the Transient Guest Tax, the city commission must pass a charter ordinance.
Passing a charter ordinance requires a two-third majority vote of the city commission. After passage, there is a 61-day period where the ordinance could be challenged by a petition of more than 10% of voters who voted in the last city election. If a valid petition is presented, the ordinance would be put to a vote of the Hays residents.
Assuming passage of the ordinance at the Thu., June 14 regular meeting, final publication would be June 25. The protest period would begin, ending on August 25. The Kansas Department of Revenue would be notified on August 27, and the new rate would be implemented on October 1.
In answer to a question from Commissioner Shaun Musil, Dougherty clarified the recently approved TGT benefit for the Hilton Garden Inn development is capped. “They get the 5% right now. Any future increases are retained by the city,” Dougherty explained.
Musil also asked about the possibility of grants for the roundabout project and whether the TGT could be lowered after being raised 2%. “Every time we raise a tax, it seems like everybody says we never lower it,” said Musil.
“If you raise the TGT in anticipation of prepaying the project and there’s added grant monies or the future commission decides we’re only going to do part of the project and not all of it, which would be a lower price tag, the commission could determine what the net income needed to be…They could either modify the TGT down to 1% or leave it at 2% for a shorter duration,” said Dougherty.
Discussion then turned to how TGT monies are used.
“It’s pretty open now,” Musil said, “and it didn’t used to be. We’re using it for funding of outside agencies and I don’t think it should be a blank check just because we have it. I think there should be some accountability.”
Mayor James Meier and Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller agreed.
“Not only accountability, but what are we doing with the money? We have no strategy,” Schwaller contended. “No offense to Melissa (Dixon, CVB Director). She’s been in the job for a year. I’d like to know what she intends to do with the money.”
Schwaller was quick to add that Dixon was doing a “wonderful job.”
“If we can use the money to build roundabouts, how come we can’t pay people to mow the Vine Street median using the Transient Guest Tax? Why does it have to be out of the Parks budget?
“We really need to have a strategy if we’re going to raise the TGT,” repeated Schwaller. “How’s the money going to be spent by both the city, outside agencies, and to improve Vine Street, which is the gateway – the entry – to the city?”
The CVB budget is funded by Transient Guest Taxes and is used for the promotion of Hays, including funding to a number of outside agencies. The city’s General Fund monies come primarily from a city sales tax.
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs also supported coming up with a strategy for using CVB dollars.
“We’ve criticized other groups for having excess money and not having a strategy and here we sit at CVB with the same thing.
“I’m sure Melissa (Dixon) would jump in on this,” Jacobs said. “I think it’s great to bring this up before the city budget process and figure out what the strategy looks like.”
“We agree,” Dougherty chimed in. “We’ve already begun the discussion process.”
HILL CITY — It seemed like just a normal western Kansas Memorial Day with some severe weather here and there. Flash flood warning alerts went out to cellphones around the Hill City area and, like most western Kansas natives assume, flash flood warnings in places of drought are usually nothing to be too concerned about.
In just a matter of 15 minutes, the town of Hill City was ravaged by a flash flood. Homes, trailers, businesses, fences, pipes and fields were all victims of the water that accumulated in the town of about 1,400 people.
Just a couple days prior to the flood, Hill City hosted the Todd Toll Memorial Softball Tournament at the Boyd-Powers Sports Complex. The complex featured a softball field, two baseball fields and a professional field. It was originally built to house the Hill City semi-professional baseball team, the Hill City Athletics, in the 1950s and 1960s. Crowds of up to 1,000 fans would show up to these games and, years later, as small-town baseball started to disappear, the community dedicated the fields to Bob Boyd and Darrell Powers — and slowly built up the fields to a beautiful complex through donations and community support.
“The entire fields were donated and they have been added onto over time,” said Shannon Toll, daughter of the late Todd Toll, for whom the tournament was named. “People came from all over the state and they loved the fields. I had people come up to me and tell me that these were the best fields in northwest Kansas next to Fort Hays State (Larks Park).”
The Todd Toll Memorial Softball Tournament was the largest Hill City had hosted in years, bringing in 15 teams from as far as Wichita and more than 200 fans.
“A couple of the top teams that finished in the tournament loved the fields so much that they donated their winnings back to the tournament to host again next year, and this was before the storm even happened,” Toll said.
Just as it seemed baseball and softball would make a comeback in Hill City, two days later the flood compromised the electrical and lighting systems, the clay was completely gone, fences were pushed over, foundations had caved in and the concession stands were wiped out. What wasn’t physically effected was chemically effected.
“Baseball and softball were making a comeback in Hill City with these fields. We were starting to get Legion teams together, and we were going to try and get a high school team started,” Toll said. “The whole thing came fast and destroyed all of it. It’s a complete new project, and we have to wipe the slate clean.”
After Toll found out about the fields, she immediately sprung into action to start a petition with Rusty Harmon, Tawny Ashbaugh, the families of Bob Boyd and Darrell Powers, as well as a number of others to see how many people would be on board to try to save the complex. Support for the petition was huge and, in a city meeting last week, organizers presented the petition and the city agreed to open a donation account.
“My dad was a county commissioner, carpenter, rancher and farmer. He was always involved in community and I grew up with these people. Our parents grew up together and went to school together,” Toll said. “They’re not just my friends and neighbors … they’re my family, and I believe we have the strength to get back on base.”
If you would like to donate, all checks can be addressed to Heal Hill City’s Home Plate, P.O. Box 22, Hill City, KS 67642. This is a 501(c)3 and the funds are going through the Graham County Recreation Commission. You can sign the petition by clicking on this link.
For any questions or more information, call or text Shannon Toll at 785-627-2111.
Today Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Isolated thunderstorms could develop as early as 5 pm, generally anywhere in south central Kansas. Additionally, storms will likely be movin pic.twitter.com/S6J6LxoGKl
Tonight A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. East wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north northeast after midnight.
Wednesday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. East wind 9 to 13 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South southeast wind 8 to 15 mph.
Thursday Mostly sunny, with a high near 98. Breezy, with a south wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Breezy.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 99. Breezy.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission met Monday to discuss what, if any, additional regulatory action they might take after a magnitude 4.4 earthquake northwest of Oklahoma City that was felt as far north as Manhattan Saturday morning. No injuries or damage were reported. Previous quakes in the area in April, and earlier, have already prompted some dramatic limits on oilfield wastewater disposal in the area.
Scientists may have found previously unmapped faults in Oklahoma that could be contributing to a sharp increase in induced earthquakes in our region. Oklahoma Geological Survey Director Jeremy Boak says the magnetic imaging study suggests the “new” faults extend from the end of mapped faults directly to areas of northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas where many quakes occurred.
Baker Hughes on Friday reported 1,062 active rotary drilling rigs across the US, up one oil rig and one gas rig. Texas added three active rigs for the week. Canada notched 112 active rigs, up 13. Independent Oil & Gas Service reported no change in the Kansas rig counts, with 11 active rigs in eastern Kansas and 23 west of Wichita.
Drilling is underway on one Ellis County lease and operators report drilling ahead at one site in Stafford County. They’re moving in completion tools at four sites in Barton County and six in Ellis County.
Operators filed 42 permits for drilling at new locations across the state last week, 26 east of Wichita and 16 in western Kansas. There’s one new permit for Barton County and one for Ellis County. So far this year, operators have filed 697 new drilling permits, which is nearly 100 permits ahead of last year at this time.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 21 newly-completed wells for the week, 644 so far this year. There were three new completions in eastern Kansas and 21 west of Wichita, including one each in Barton and Ellis counties.
The Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association (KIOGA) announces details of its 81st annual convention, August 12th through 14th at the Wichita Hyatt Regency. You can find details along with early-bird registration, sponsorship forms and trade show contracts at their Web site, at www.kioga.org.
Canada’s biggest crude-export pipeline operator told shippers it won’t proceed with recently announced rules setting an allowance for the amount of crude companies could nominate for transport. Enbridge was hoping to stop shippers from claiming more space than they can use on a key pipeline linking Alberta’s oil sands with U.S. refineries. Bloomberg reports that after discussions with shippers, Enbridge called off the changes, and Canadian crude prices surged by the most ever, jumping upwards of $12 a barrel.
Two Chevron employees are reported “in good health” and have been reunited with their families, after their release by Venezuelan officials Wednesday. The pair were arrested in April amid a national anti-corruption investigation. Neither the oil company nor the government have said whether they were charged with any crimes.
Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA has notified eight international customers, including China, it will not be able to meet its full crude supply commitments in June. S&P Global Platts reports the drop in supply from Venezuela is forcing China’s independent refiners to shop elsewhere, including Columbia, Mexico and Canada.
Royal Dutch Shell surpassed Exxon Mobil as the biggest oil and gas company on earth, according to the annual Forbes Global 2000. The magazine rates companies based on revenue, profits, assets and market value. Exxon Mobil is the second largest oil and gas company, followed by Chevron, France’s Total, and China’s Sinopec.
A Florida man will serve just over three years in prison for filing fraudulent oil-spill claims in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Joseph Bassler also faces a money judgment of $77,224 for his guilty plea last June. Bassler assisted companies filing business loss claims after the 2010 oil spill. He inflated claims by more than $600,000 on behalf of 62 clients and then accepted a portion of the proceeds.
A self-described “music visionary” in Texas is being sued by federal regulators for a ponzi scheme involving the oil industry. Paul Gilman allegedly funded some lavish spending habits with more than three million dollars raised from about 40 investors. He claimed his “revolutionary” sound-wave technology could, among other things, improve oil pipeline flows.
A Hays man was sentenced to more than four and a half years in prison for robbery at a Hays convenience store in November.
Jordan Stevens was sentenced to 55 months in prison for aggravated robbery Monday in Ellis County District Court.
Stevens pleaded no contest to the charge on May 14 after initially pleading not guilty in February.
According to court documents, on Nov. 3, 2017, Stevens entered the Tiger Mart Convenience Store in the 300 block of West Eighth in Hays just before midnight, brandished a firearm and demanded money. Stevens was identified as the suspect, by the store clerk and on surveillance footage from inside the store.
A vehicle matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle was located by police a short time later in the alley behind an apartment complex in the 2700 block of Colonial Drive.
Officials said Stevens and a female, identified as Kelsie Replogle, were arrested after clothes matching the robber’s description, a gun and $1,000 cash was located in an apartment.
Replogle was identified as the driver and pled no contest to a robbery charge in March. She was sentenced to 36 months probation.
Stevens will also be required to serve 36 months post-release supervision.
He has been in the Ellis County jail since November and was given jail credit of 220 days.
The Ellis County Sheriff’s Department assisted with a pair of fires over the weekend.
In a press release Monday, Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin said the sheriff’s department assisted the Ellis County Fire Department with a house fire at 5:54 p.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of Norfolk Road.
The house, which was unoccupied, was a total loss. There were no injuries reported.
The second fire was a bale fire reported at 1:45 a.m. Sunday at the northeast corner of Emmeram Road and Toulon Avenue. According to the press release, a total of 33 round bales were destroyed.
The cause of both fires was undetermined, but the press release said both fires are considered suspicious. The sheriff’s office and the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating both fires.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s office at (785) 625-1040 or the Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office at (785) 296-3401.
Kansas 4-Hers recently got a lesson on the difficult road to life for monarch butterflies during a Discovery Days class in late May. Twenty-two Kansas 4-Hers have begun an effort to preserve habitat that is critical for the survival of the monarch butterfly, in hopes of keeping it from becoming an endangered species.
KSRE NEWS
MANHATTAN – Nearly two dozen Kansas kids are stepping up to increase the odds of survival for the monarch butterfly, an iconic insect that is fluttering toward becoming an endangered species.
As of late May, they’d already taught lessons to nearly 1,000 other kids and even some adults on the best ways to build a habitat in which monarch butterflies can thrive.
“This is a conservation project to help the butterflies,” said 17-year-old Brett Droegemeier, a senior at Hays High School.
According to the U.S.-based Center for Biological Diversity, there were an estimated 682 million of the bright orange-and-black butterflies in North America in 1997. Last year, the same report noted the monarch population is down to 109 million.
The decline in monarch butterfly numbers led several groups to petition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the butterfly as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency will make a ruling on the petition in June 2019.
Twenty-two 4-H’ers in Ellis and Barton counties aren’t content to wait for that to happen.
Fueled by a $20,000 grant from the National 4-H Council, they are teaching a class called “Monarchs on the Move” to youths and others in their communities, encouraging them to plant and preserve milkweed – the major food source and breeding ground for monarch butterflies.
“They have been out in after-school sites and classrooms and libraries doing this,” said Susan Schlichting, the 4-H youth development agent in Ellis County. “They see how excited the kids get and how dedicated to preserving the monarchs the younger kids are. I think that has built the energy among our teen team, as well.”
Kansas 4-H’er Nathan Profitt is among 22 teens who are teaching the class, “Monarchs on the Move,” to help bring greater understanding to the plight of the monarch butterfly, which is currently under consideration as an endangered species.
There are more than 100 varieties of milkweed, but many farmers, homeowners and landscape professionals consider it a weed to be sprayed, pulled or mowed. Doing so may be prudent for growing food or improving a landscape, but it’s a disaster for monarch butterflies.
That’s because female monarchs will only lay their eggs on milkweed, as many as 500 eggs at a time. And the caterpillars that spawn from those eggs will only eat milkweed.
Most of the caterpillars won’t become butterflies. It’s thought that only 1 in 20 (5 percent) will make it to adulthood, due to such factors as heat, cold, wind, rainstorms, predators, or the weed being sprayed, pulled or mowed while the caterpillars are trying to feed.
As 15-year-old Lexi Straub puts it, “it’s not easy to become a monarch butterfly.
“Monarchs are just such a unique species of butterfly, and it’s something we want to keep around for future generations,” said Straub, who is from Ellinwood and is one of the 22 youths who are teaching “Monarchs on the Move.” “I think it’s important for more generations to come to have the same experience of enjoying this butterfly.”
Berny Unruh, a 4-H youth development agent in Barton County, said “Monarchs on the Move” is a national curriculum that covers the biology of the monarch butterfly, as well as its migration pattern, life cycle and benefits to the ecosystem.
At the end of the hour-long class, kids plant their own milkweed that they are encouraged to take and re-plant in their backyard.
“It’s been really neat to see the younger kids listening to the teenagers and going, ‘yes, we should take these home and we should take care of these plants and make sure there’s food for the caterpillars and we also need to make sure these flowers are growing nectar for our butterflies to continue on,’” Unruh said. “Hopefully because of efforts like this, the numbers of monarch butterflies will increase.”
Kansas was one of just five states that received the $20,000 grant from the National 4-H Council, which was able to provide the money in partnership with Monsanto, Inc. Those states are located primarily in the Midwest, which is a key pathway as monarch butterflies migrate from Mexico to Canada in the spring, and back again in the fall.
“A few years ago, there was a freeze in Mexico, and we almost lost the population; only a very few of them survived,” Droegemeier said. “Hopefully with what we are doing and what other organizations are doing, their population is starting to increase again. We are hopefully getting them out of being endangered.”
Droegemeier is involved in a project to put several hundred milkweed plants in an outdoor classroom at Hays High School. The group of teens recently spoke to their peers at the annual 4-H Discovery Days event in Manhattan, and this summer they will present “Monarchs on the Move” during the Kansas 4-H Insect Spectacular at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, among other speaking engagements.
“For the teens, this program is huge because they have the opportunity to stretch their leadership abilities,” Schlichting said. “Most of them are young leaders and this is their first chance to put together a program. They’ve worked together in teams to design a program and present it in schools and after-school sites.
“There are many skills that they are gaining through this process. It’s been fun to watch the confidence that they’ve gained.”
Ellis County’s next “Strategic Doing” will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 18, at The Press Restaurant in the Hadley Center, 230 East 8th Street, Hays. The meeting will include information about writing strong grant proposals and how to secure funding from various available sources.
This event is open to current Strategic Doing teams, as well as others in the community who would like to learn more about the projects and the process. During previous Strategic Doing meetings, participants have identified and prioritized community needs into eight areas, which designated teams are now working to address. These areas include:
• Becoming a more open, welcoming and inclusive community.
• Distribution of social service information in a like environment.
• Filling youth activity gaps in the community.
• Business development, including recruitment, retention and economic development.
• Effective transportation in the region for people, roads, and medical access across cities/towns and counties.
• Education initiatives and communication.
• Helping senior citizens become self-sufficient.
• Retention of graduating students, both from high schools and secondary education, including university, technical schools and professional academies.
Hosted in partnership with the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Strategic Doing aims to guide Ellis County residents through the process of prioritizing, planning and implementing sustainable county-wide community improvement projects identified by community members at-large. Projects and ideas that develop from these meetings will be eligible to apply for funding through the Dane G. Hansen Foundation Community Grant Fund at Heartland Community Foundation or directly to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP to Sandy Jacobs at 785-621-4090 or [email protected].
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Friends,
Lat week I called on my colleagues to deliver a comprehensive solution to our nation’s immigration system. We must end the sluggish pace at which we are addressing border security and immigration in Congress.
I also am working very hard behind the scenes to repair our trade deals. I met with both the Mexican and Cuban Ambassadors to continue to advocate for new and better trade relationships. As both self-imposed and retaliatory tariffs continue to weigh on our producers and manufacturers I want you to know I am working tirelessly on trade. Our President has promised to deliver new and better agreements, I will continue my work to ensure we achieve those.
In other news, we saw a touching story out of Salina, Kansas where a WWII vet’s family was reunited with their fallen soldier’s wartime memorabilia after more than 70 years. I’m so proud of my staff that worked hard to track down the family.
Simmons Pet Food, Emporia
Kansas sees *pet*ential in this growing industry
I recently visited the Simmons Pet Food factory in Emporia and quickly learned how Kansas is not just a leading provider of food for Americans, but for domesticated animals as well. Simmons Feed Ingredients boasts an innovative array of proprietary animal nutrition products, serving customers in all 50 states and more than 40 countries around the world.
The reason I visit great companies such as Simmons Pet Food is because of the value they bring to our Kansas communities. Being the home to not just one but three leaders in the pet food manufacturing industry means reliable jobs for families in the area. Simmons employs more than 600 people, and recently announced a $38 million expansion to the Emporia facility.
We discussed the negative impact the steel and aluminum tariffs are having on their business, as their pet food is distributed in cans made of these materials. I have called for the Commerce Department to target bad actors in their steel efforts, not allies who supply steel and aluminum that Kansas manufacturers so desperately need.
We got the BEEF!
Kansans do the best job of telling their stories. That’s why it is always a pleasure to have folks in D.C. that take the time to come by our office. Last week attendees of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Young Cattlemen’s Conference spoke on several key issues that we have partnered on to support our state’s beef industry. Stability in trade markets, livestock transportation regulations that take consider animal welfare and the 2018 Farm Bill were items that topped their list. I’m proud to have been a vocal supporter of each of these. Kansas’ First District leads the nation in cattle sales each year, demonstrating the importance of this industry to our state’s economy.
Small Business Committee looks at barriers for veteran-owned businesses
In recent years the VA has adopted rules and policies that increase barriers for veteran-owned small businesses, adding additional requirements that can delay or prevent these small business owners from contracting with the VA. Thursday, the Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight, and Regulations discussed the senseless road blocks imposed on our nation’s veterans.
I appreciate the Committee taking a look at such an important issue, and I look forward to continuing discussions as to how best help our veterans transition back to civilian life.
KS, AR, MN lead trade talks with Cuba Ambassador
I joined Senator John Boozman, Representatives Rick Crawford, Tom Emmer, and the Cuban Ambassador to the United States, José Cabañas, in a roundtable discussing the benefits of opening markets between Cuba and the United States. The panel mainly focused on strengthening agricultural trade between the two countries.
Improving our relationship with Cuba could lead to a stronger agricultural economy in our country. With farmers concerned about access to international markets a $2 billion potential market remains largely untouched just over the horizon in Cuba. I took time to emphasize the importance of opening more markets to export wheat and other commodities from our state and nation. Our Kansas farmers need access to opportunities to increase commodity prices. Because of Cuba’s proximity, U.S. wheat, corn, sorghum and other exports to the island have a solid advantage over competitors both in shipping costs and delivery times. If the U.S. was able to sell its goods to Cuba, Kansas could top $55 million in new sales, with a 25 percent increase in wheat sales.
Enough is enough.
I took to the House floor to address our broken immigration system. It is imperative that immigration reform provides a work visa for guest workers so that our state can continue to be an agricultural powerhouse. Working with former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Bob Goodlatte, such a program was developed and introduced in the Ag Act which I am proud to cosponsor. The program would replace the outdated, seasonal-only, H-2A visas with new H-2C’s for our dairy and feedlot industries. H-2C’s are much more efficient and are particularly important for our state’s livestock industry.
Later in the week we met as a Republican conference to further discuss an immigration bill, which would PRE-fund border security, so as to avoid repeating past mistakes. With members are still negotiating the details, we agreed that the remaining policies should closely follow the “four pillars” laid out by President Trump in his State of the Union speech. These pillars include securing the border, legal status for children brought here by their parents at a young age, the ending of the visa lottery, and limits to chain migration.
The brokenness of our immigration system and border security is on full display. Last month the Department of Homeland Security apprehended 50,000 people crossing illegally. I am looking forward to what we expect will be several votes on immigration in the House and keeping my promises to the people of the first district. This reform is crucial to our economy, our security, and our future!
WWII Veteran finds dog tags of Fallen Beloit soldier
Military veterans and their stories are a topic particularly close to my heart, which is why a recent story that has taken root in our district regarding a Kansas-born WWII war hero is so touching.
In February, our office fielded a call from a friend of 1st Lieutenant James Garberg, a WWII vet from Minneapolis, Minn. While going through his war time memorabilia Mr. Garberg found the dog tags of one of his soldiers, Ernest Childers Jr. from Beloit, Kan. Mr. Garberg and Mr. Childers, Jr. were part of the 32nd infantry regiment that retook Attu Island back from the Japanese in 1943. Lt. Garberg had carried Childers from the battleground after he suffered injuries that he later died from.
When Lt. Garberg’s friend, Lt Col. (Ret.) Mike DePuglio, contacted the office for help with finding Childers’ next of kin or any living descendants to return the tags to, we were glad to help. After a search, our caseworker found the fallen soldier’s nephew who was overwhelmed with emotions by the news of his uncle’s Lieutenant finding and returning the dog tags.
Friday, June 8 in our Salina District Office, Ernest Childers accepted the dog tags, marking the first time these tags have been in the possession of a member of the Childers family in over 70 years. What an incredible honor it is to have witnessed this story unfold firsthand over the course of the week!
Kansas Opportunity Zones
On the House floor I discussed one specific aspect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Federal Opportunity Zones, which are designed to promote economic development and job creation in communities throughout our country. The Treasury Department recently selected 29 opportunity zones in 17 different counties across the 1st District of Kansas. When a tract is deemed an opportunity zone, it allows taxpayers to defer capital gains tax if they invest in prioritized local projects. This is a win-win scenario for both businesses and communities that will spur growth and expansion.
As the Ellis County Commission continues working on the 2019 budget, commissioners will hear budget requests from outside agencies at Monday’s commission meeting.
According to information provided to the commission by County Administration Phillip Smith-Hanes, outside agencies received $1.07 million in 2018. That included the $23,000 provided to the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development. Smith-Hanes said that money is expected to be transferred to road and bridge for 2019.
Twelve agencies will provide presentations Monday and one next week.
In other business, the commission will consider a resolution allowing the discharge of fireworks in unincorporated areas of Ellis County July 2 to 4.
They will also consider donating six radios to the Gorham Fire District.
The commission will meet as the Public Building Commission with the regular commission meeting to follow at the County Administrative Center at 718 Main St. in Hays.
The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 34 traffic stops Fri., June 8, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Driving Under the Influence–7th and Vine St, Hays; 2 AM; 2:05 AM
Animal At Large–100 block E 17th St, Hays; 7:50 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block E 19th St, Hays; 8:27 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1000 block E 13th St, Hays; 8:33 AM
Water Use Violation–2700 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 9:02 AM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 6/7 12 PM; 6/8 12 PM
Identity Theft–2300 block Allen St, Hays; 3:50 PM
Found/Lost Property–200 block Ash St, Hays; 3:55 PM
Welfare Check–400 block E 13th St, Hays; 06/08/2018 04:01:37 PM
Water Use Violation–200 block E 6th St, Hays; 4:12 PM
Juvenile Complaint–1600 block Allen St, Hays; 4:29 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–3000 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 4/1 12 PM; 6/9 5 PM
Parking Complaint–200 block E 17th St, Hays; 9:05 PM
Disturbance – Noise–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 9:22 PM
Criminal Trespass–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 6/6 6:30 PM; 7:30 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 29 traffic stops Sat., June 9, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Suspicious Person–300 block W 8th St, Hays; 6/8 11:45 PM; 6/9 12:10 AM
Suspicious Activity–22nd St and Main St, Hays; 1 AM; 1:10 AM
Intoxicated Subject–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:47 AM
Driving Under the Influence–600 block Fort St, Hays; 1:56 AM
Animal Call–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 2:27 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block E 8th St, Hays; 6:15 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 34th St, Hays; 9:53 AM
Suspicious Activity–500 block Mission Mt, Hays; 12:11 PM
Mental Health Call–2000 block Patio Dr, Hays; 12:20 PM
Animal At Large–2400 block Virginia Dr, Hays; 6:40 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–300 block Main St, Hays; 10:30 AM; 7 PM
Suspicious Person–500 block W 27th St, Hays; 8:33 PM
Intoxicated Subject–1800 block Main St, Hays; 11:01 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and conducted 36 traffic stops Sun., June 10, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:09 AM
Disturbance – General–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:46 AM
MV Accident /DUI–1100 block Fort St, Hays; 1:51 AM
Driving Under the Influence–300 block E 8th St, Hays; 2:05 AM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:23 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–100 block Ash St, Hays; 11 AM
Found/Lost Property–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 8:53 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–400 block Autumn Ln, Hays; 1:30 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–500 block E 18th St, Hays; 1:35 PM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–1000 block E 33rd St, Hays; 1:50 PM
Animal Bite Investigation–300 block E 23rd St, Hays; 2:48 PM
Driving Under the Influence–19th and Milner, Hays; 3:55 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 5:53 PM; 5:55 PM
Shoplifting–700 block E 13th St, Hays; 5:55 PM
Sex Offense–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8 PM
Drug Offenses–1500 block E 17th St, Hays; 9:44 PM
