Monument Rocks in Gove County, also known as the Chalk Pyramids, is for sale.

The formation, one of the “8 Wonders of Kansas” and a National Natural Landmark, is part of the 13,000 acre Pyramid Ranch being sold in a private phone auction by a Ulysses real estate firm. The sale also includes 12,000 acres of mineral rights.

The current land owner, the family-owned Thies Pyramid Corporation, has allowed public access to the Monument Rocks site for many years.

Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Kansas from sun-up to sun-down until sunset on July 25, 2012 as a mark of respect for the victims of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado.

“Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and I offer our thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated in Aurora, Colorado,” Governor Brownback said.  “The entire nation mourns the loss of the innocent victims.”

President Obama has also ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings.

TOPEKA, KS—The Kansas Historical Society has announced the newest National Register of Historic Places listings.

The four listings were entered into the National Register  July 3, 2012 and include a commercial building in El Dorado, an Abilene residence, and a school and church in rural Osage County.

This brings the total Kansas listings in the National Register to 1,276.

David R. Gorden House – 400 N Cedar Street, Abilene, Dickinson County

Civil War veteran David R. Gorden arrived in Kansas in 1866 and found work with the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegraph operator. In 1869, he transferred to Abilene where he served as UP’s first station agent during the height of cattle-shipping activity. Gorden had many local business interests and also served as Abilene’s postmaster from 1889-1894. He hired architect Franklin Keagy of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to design this residence, which was completed in 1877. The two-and-a-half-story house reflects the late Victorian-era Gothic Revival style, with its brick exterior, decorative gable trim, paired peak-head windows in the front gable, and round-arch double-door entrance. The gables are not as steeply pitched as classic examples of Gothic Revival residential architecture, and the house form mimics that of the Folk Victorian gable-front-and-wing. It was nominated for its local significance in the area of architecture.

 For information about all the latest Kansas nominations:  https://www.kshs.org/p/register-database/14638

Rooks County Undersheriff Chad Sterling is the county’s new sheriff.

Gov. Sam Brownback has appointed Sterling to fill the unexpired term of Randy Axelson, who resigned in May after being charged with methamphetamine distribution.  The 43-year-old Axelson faces nine felony counts of methamphetamine distribution. He is free on $45,000 bond.

Rooks County Republicans forwarded Sterling’s name to Brownback.

 

TOPEKA, KAN. – In a year already marked with much celebration, its 25th anniversary year, the Kansas Lottery has achieved a new record for sales. Sales of Lottery products in Fiscal Year 2012, which began July 1, 2011 and ended June 30, 2012, were nearly $244 million (unaudited).

Executive Director Dennis Wilson says the Kansas Lottery will transfer $72 million to the State in FY12, the highest transfer in a single year since the Lottery started selling tickets in 1987.

Prizes paid also hit a new record mark at $137.5 million.

The recently ended fiscal year also saw the opening of two additional casinos with state-owned gaming to join Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City.  Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane and Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, combined with Boot Hill to transfer $43.4 million to the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund – another record for the Kansas Lottery.

The Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund and local governments will each receive records amounts also, with transfers of $3.9 and $5.9 million, respectively.

Where Does the Money Go?

Traditional lottery revenue goes into the State Gaming Revenues Fund. On a yearly basis, the first $50 million is divided by a formula which first transfers $80,000 to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund. Then 85 percent of the balance is transferred to the Economic Development Initiatives Fund, 10 percent to the Correctional Institutions Building Fund, and 5 percent to the Juvenile Detention Facilities Fund. Any receipts in excess of $50 million must be transferred to the State General Fund.

The 2007 Kansas Expanded Lottery Act created the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund (ELARF). The state’s share of revenue from state-owned and -operated casino gaming is transferred from the ELARF for purposes of reduction of state debt, state infrastructure improvements and reduction of local ad valorem tax, and/or for such other purposes as directed by the Kansas legislature.