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Feb. 5, 2011     

 

      

 

 

    

 

 

 

PHOTO SHOWCASES

 

 

      

KVOE NEWS SOUNDOFF 

 

 

 

 

FIRE DAMAGES HOME EAST OF EMPORIA SATURDAY MORNING

 

 

 

  

 

Left: Smoke rises from the attic and around chimney of a home about 9 miles of Emporia on Old Highway 50 Saturday morning. Right: firemen work the fire, eventually getting inside where they found charred framing and insulation. Photos by Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News.

 

 

BY Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 4, 2012

 

 

Heavy smoke was coming from the roof of a house about 9 miles east of Emporia on old Highway 50 Saturday morning. The fire was at the home of David and Ivy Magee of 1743 Rd. 175 One of the residents came out of the house and saw the smoke coming out of the attic of the home about 10 a.m.

 

Firemen from Emporia were called, and mutual aid was received from fire departments from Olpe and Neosho Rapids. Battalion Chief Rex Fisher said the fire was building fast, and they arrived in the nick of time.

Fisher said the fire was reported when one of the residents came out of the house and saw the smoke coming from around the eaves.

The extent of fire was primarily in the attic, with smoke damage elsewhere.  The cause was under investigation. The family was especially distraught because they were renting this house after losing their house and two cars in the
Reading tornado last May.

 

 

 

 

PETITIONS STILL CIRCULATING IN LYON COUNTY REGARDING EXTENSION JOINING A DISTRICT

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 4, 2012

So far, those involved in carrying a petition asking for a ballot question regarding allowing Lyon County Extension to join two  other counties to form an Extension District, have not said how many signatures they have collected. Twenty five people are said to be carrying petitions requesting a question in the upcoming election regarding whether Lyon County Extension should join Franklin and Osage County, creating a single extension district. Lyon County Commissioners  eventually voted to allow Extension to do so.

Opposition by some developed who were concerned about the costs, and unlimited taxing authority on the part of Extension.

 Now petitions are circulating in the community to collect signatures of those favoring the question going to a vote of the public. Extension said it would allow greater specialization and skills and stabilize funding, and says the additional tax burden could be around $8,600 total. Others, Bob Agler says Lyon County's contributions could jump from the current level of $223,900 to anywhere between $350,000 and $387,000.

One of the petition proponents, Phil Dillon, declined to specify the number of signatures on the petitions so far, but said he is delighted at the turnout. There is a minimum of 990 verified signatures that will be required to bring the question to

 

 

 

ORIGINS OF GASOLINE-LIKE ODOR REMAINS A MYSTERY IN LEBO

 

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 2, 2012

Coffey County officials and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment continue investigating a gasoline odor in Lebo. The odor, which was first detected last week, has been traced to old storm sewer lines. The smell filled some buildings in Lebo.

Coffey County Emergency Management Coordinator Russell Stuckey said they used a fire hose to flush some lines out, and some of the lines were capped. But at this point, the source still remains to be determined.

It could be from gas stations in the present and from the distant the past.   State officials say the public’s health was not a risk. Stuckey said that KDHE workers who specialize in under ground storage tanks are on the scene.

 

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LYON COUNTY SPELLING BEE GOES QUICKLY

 

   

 

Left: Winner Jennica Smith.   Right, third place winner Dylan Brown, Smith, and second place winner Joel Dieker. Photos by Greg Rahe/KVOE News.

 

By Roger Hartsook/KVOE News
Posted
Feb. 2, 2012

The Lyon County Spelling Bee was a short affair Thursday lasting only 5 rounds and ran under one hour.  After all was said and done, Jennica Smith of Emporia Christian School was the winner.  The winning word was: “behemoth".  Joel Dieker also of Emporia Christian School took second. Jennica’s brother, Christian Smith, won the event last year.

Both will advance to the next round of competition at the state level.

The Scripps Regional Spelling Bee will be held in Topeka, Mar. 3 at Topeka West High School.

 

 

EMPORIA CITY COMMISSION MEETS IN STUDY SESSION WEDNESDAY

 

Property Maintenance code will be in its third draft

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 4, 2012

Emporia City Commissioners this week will review the Lyon County Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan details how various entities and organizations react to different situations, and were approved by the Lyon County Commission last week. The commission discusses the Convention and Visitor Bureau Tutorial project. Commission also talks about extension of the runways at the Municipal Airport. Commissioners take a look at the third draft of the Property Enforcement Program.

They review a draft ordinance of consumption of alcohol on city property. Another draft to be reviewed is that of amendments to the Alcohol Social Hosting Ordinance. Commissioners will review their policy on board appointments. They also review the 2011 Budget Report.

At noon, the City Commission meets with the Human Relations Commission in a working lunch. The Emporia City Commission meets in a study session this Wednesday in conference room 1AB on the east side of the Civic Building.

 

 

FEBRUARY IS SPAY AND NEUTER MONTH AND SOME HELP IS AVAILABLE ON COSTS

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 4, 2012

A unique fundraiser is going on right now for the Humane Society of the Flint Hills.   February is spay and Neuter Month and The Humane Society is offering a $10 discount for the spay and neuter of pets. The offer is limited to residents of Lyon, Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee Counties.  Judy Dieker, Executive Director of the Humane Society of the Flint Hills, along with Phil Carselowey were guests on the Talk of Emporia this week. Dieker said that a lot of people take advantage of this program. 

Phil Carselowey of   Emporia Motors is doing a fund raiser of his own. Everyone who comes in to Emporia Motors in February and shakes the hand of Phil Carselowey, one dollar will be donated to the Humane Society of The Flint Hills. And everyone who buys a car from Phil in the month of February, $80 will de donated to the Humane Society.

Questions should be directed to the Humane Society of the Flint Hills at 342-4497.

Buying equipment for the Cardiac Rehab Unit at Newman Regional Health is the goal of Beta Sigma Phi annual Heart Dance February 11 at the Granada Theatre. The dance and social event, called the "Red Dress Ball", takes place from 8 p.m. until midnight. And each year, it is conducted to generate money for some aspect of care at the Hospital. This year, the goal is to buy   exercise equipment for the cardiac rehab unit. Director of the Cardiac Rehab unit, Karen Schell, said this equipment lets people exercise, and who may have other health problems going on. 

Not only will ticket money benefit the hospital, baskets will be sold at bid. Beta Sigma Phi also has an endowed fund with the Newman Regional Health Foundation. Lisa Kirmer said the public is invited.

Tickets are available for $20 each at the Granada Theatre, Newman Regional Health Foundation office, and Modern Air Conditioning. Black Tie is optional; red dresses are encouraged but not required. 

 

HARDEES DONATES $440 TO THE JONES BREAST CARE CENTER

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 4, 2012

It was a successful fund raising event Friday night at Hardees restaurant for the Jones Breast Care Center that will open at Newman Regional Health. 

Newman Regional Health's Foundation Director, Jodi Heerman, said about $400 was raised from the sales of meals at Hardees. That puts them now at around $444,000; and getting closer to the goal of $600,000.  

The Jones Breast Care Center will feature state-of-the-art equipment and dedicated staff for diagnosis and treatment. This will also mean area women can get medical attention daily instead of sporadically, as is the case now.

If you want to donate, call Heermann at 343-6800 or email jheermann@newmanrh.org. You can also get more information by going www.newmanrh.org.

 

REC CENTER POOL TO CLOSE FOR REPAIRS

 

By Roger Hartsook/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 3, 2012

 

The natatorium in the Lee Beran Recreation Center will be closed for a time next week as repairs take place. According to Jennifer Bennett, Marketing Supervisor for the Emporia Recreation Commission, the pool will be closed from Tuesday Feb. 7 to Monday Feb. 13 to repair ceiling tiles above the deep end.

 

Bennett indicated the pool will be drained so Emporia Construction and Remodeling can put up scaffolding. Broken ties that hold the ceiling tiles will be replaced and re-tied.  If the planned work goes as scheduled the pool should reopen on Monday Feb. 13.

 

 

 

CABLEONE SWITCHES SOURCE ON FOX CHANNEL FOR HIGH DEFINITION

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 2, 2012

CableONE in Emporia has added Fox in high definition to their channel line up, and it comes after an enormous amount of work. 

CableONE manager Joe Michaels said that customers would see a much better picture as they are now taking their feed from another source.   Michaels said they had wanted to do something for some time. The new feed comes by way of a circuitous route. 

You'll find Fox on channel 475 on the digital boxes, otherwise on high definition televisions on 69 dot 475.

 

 

READING TO GET HELP WITH LAGOON SYSTEM

 

By Jeff O’Dell/ KVOE News

Posted Feb. 3, 2012

 

The City of Reading will get some state help with their lagoon system.  According to Engineer Bruce Boettcher of BG Consultants, a problem has arisen that has to be fixed as soon as possible. He said $201,000 will come from the Urgent Need Community Development Block Grant for work on Reading’s sewage treatment lagoons.

 

Boettcher said last year’s tornado threw a lot of debris into the lagoons, the pipes got clogged up, the sediment level has risen and the fence needs replaced. Boettcher said the work has to be done as soon as possible, and fortunately there is some money available for that.

The grant award totals $201,000 and will come from the Kansas Department of Commerce. The project will bid on February 21, 2012 at 10:00 AM at the Reading City Hall.  If the public has any questions, contact the City of Reading at 620-699-3870.

 

EMPORIA MAN CHARGED IN CASE INVOLVING A TEEN

By Jeff Odell/ KVOE News

Posted Feb. 3, 2012

A 42 year old Emporia man has been charged with several counts involving a 15-year-old-girl. 

Edward L. Atkinson of Emporia was charged with one count each of rape, attempted rape, attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy, and two counts of contributing to a child's misconduct.

The alleged events took place on Dec. 31 of 2011 and Jan. 1, 2012. Atkinson's bond was set at $100,000. His preliminary hearing will be for Mar.8 at 3 p.m.

 

EMPORIA WOMAN TAKES COUPONING TO AN EXTREME

By Jeff Odell/ KVOE News

Posted Feb. 3, 2012

Everybody is looking for ways to save money, and couponing may be a help to the budget. Lindsey Smith was our guest on Newsmaker Interview this morning, and will be teaching classes at the Flint Hills Technical College, about the world of coupons and using them to cut the cost of living. She says after watching people get major savings on television, she was going to get the same.

Smith said even if your first instinct is to not save a coupon, save it, because you never know what it may lead to; perhaps even benefiting a military organization. She doesn't buy in large quantities, just stocks up on a year’s supply of something. She notes things expire, they take up space, and that is not a value.

 Smith keeps her coupons in a three ring binder and may have 3,000 coupons at a time. But she said she can save real money, 50 to 80 percent, for a normal shopping trip

She teaches a class at the Flint Hills Technical College. Her first class starts next Tuesday, Feb. 7th, and will teach 4 classes. Three of the classes are already full and the, and the fourth class is half full. She encourages you to keep checking back with FHTC because they will add classes as demand requires. Smith also says you should constantly monitor the papers for coupons. Anyone can coupon and does it not take that much time to organize them once you get started.

 

LEGISLATURE WORKING OVERTIME ON LEGISLATION BEHIND THE SCENES

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 2, 2012

17th District State Senator Jeff Longbine says Kansas Legislative committee work has been pretty intense.  For instance, Longbine says earlier this week legislators debated 25 bills on one day alone.  Longbine was our guest this week on KVOE’S Morning Show. What looms ahead is the governor’s tax proposal. Longbine said that could have real impact on Emporia, with especially with Governor Brownback’s lack of emphasis on Historic Tax Credits.

Longbine says Kansas Legislative committee work has been pretty intense, with debate on up to 25 bills per day going on right now in the first days of the 2012 legislative session. Normally they do 10 to 12 bills per day.

Brownback’s tax proposal involves some large changes, and Longbine says that includes sales taxes.  Sales taxes being part of the proposal has made for some difficult times for those legislators who were against them before and awaiting their sunset, but now may start supporting them. It will be difficult to explain to constituents.

Longbine said he would not be surprised if the tax package is the very last issue to be resolved in the legislative session.

 

LYON COUNTY’S ALLOTMENT OF SYMPHONY TICKETS GONE IN 3 HOURS

 

  

 

Left: The Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau had a steady line of people starting at 5 a.m.  wanting Symphony in the Flint Hills tickets.  Photo by Terry Bontrager.  Right: The line wound its way through the Trusler Business Center as well. Photo courtesy of the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

By Scott Hayes/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 1, 2012

Lyon County residents needed only 3 hours Wednesday morning to lay claim to the 500 Symphony in the Flint Hills tickets allocated to county residents. 

Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Betty James said they had a line forming at 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, even though tickets weren't available until 8:30 am.  All of the tickets were gone by 11:30 am.  James says the Symphony coming to Lyon County for the first time is great for the area. 

James says staffers anticipated quite a crowd this morning and had worked to iron-out the logistics.  Tickets go on sale to the general public March 10.  The Symphony in the Flint Hills concert is June 9. 

Tickets reserved Wednesday will need to be paid for by March 10.  Make arrangements through the Kansas City Symphony box office at (816) 471-0400.

 

LYON COUNTY COMMISSION GOES AHEAD WITH APPEAL TO FEMA ON FLOOD PLAIN GRANT

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 2, 2012

Lyon county commissioners have filed an appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding grant money to help Fanestil Meats move away from the flood plain. County Commission Chairman Scott Briggs told KVOE News they are basing their appeal saying that the county had done everything they were requested.

Briggs said he feels because a different group, other than the one that turned them down last time, is hearing this latest appeal, there is some hope.    

Fanestil Meats bought property on U.S. Highway Fifty. The business has been working to get away from the Cottonwood River flood plain for sometime, as large rises on the river creates problems for the plants production. Grant money was said to be available to help them, but the grant has been terminated.


Wednesday: County Commission talks about getting fallen trees out of creeks

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 1, 2013

Lyon County Commissioners got a report today from Flood Plain Administrator Sam Seeley on trees uprooted and which have fallen into creeks in northern Lyon County. The trees were pulled up in the May tornado as it traveled its way northward to Reading. Landowners along the way are concerned about the blockage in the creeks, and concerned that the trees will be blocking water flow.

Seeley says the county must be careful where the trees will be placed after being pulled out -- they must be 270 feet away from the waterway. He will make a map of where to place them.

Seeley said the trees could just be burned once they are in spots away from the waterway.

Country Controller Dan Slater said that there may be some financial help from state or federal agencies in this. Slater said there are many trees down in the tornadoes path.

Lyon County Commissioners heard County Emergency Management Director Rick Frevert talked about the county’s emergency mitigation plan, or handling large scale emergencies. A new plan is finished and the commission will discuss it Thursday, and possibly approve it.  Frevert said they have tried to involve as many entities as possible, getting their input, and feedback.

Frevert said FEMA has tentatively said the new plan is ok. The plan has to be rewritten every three to five years.

Frevert said they are building a data base of equipment available for use in emergency situations. He said that the data base covers various sections of the state and facilitates more equipment getting moved into the right locations more quickly.

 

NEW CHAMBER CHAIRMAN SETS PLANS FOR FUTURE

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Feb. 2, 2012

New Chairman of the Board for the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Steve Brosemer, talked about his direction for the chamber in the coming year.  The turnout for the Reading Ribbon cuttings was very good, Brosemer said, and a good start was having a strong turnout for that event. He also wants to do more with membership communication.

 He also agrees with Emporia Mayor Kevin Nelson regarding the population base. Brosemer said helping the outlying communities build themselves will also help build Emporia.

 

STATE REP. DON HILL PREDICTS VERY INTERESTING LEGISLATIVE SESSION

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

Posted Jan. 31, 2012

Despite some of the initial reaction by many legislators regarding Governor Sam Brownback’s plan of action for this year’s legislature and public policy, 60th District State Representative Don Hill says things are moving in the Kansas Legislature. Right now, budget processes are in front of legislators and two and three budget versions are being developed at the subcommittee level. However, he likes the progress made so far.  Hill said this will be a real interesting session to watch.

He said he previously voted for a sales tax that had a sunset built into it, and now it is back up for consideration. The tax will “sunset” June of 2013. Hill said he would not vote for anything that doesn't have a sunset, or time limitation built in.

Hill said KPERS would see some better numbers in the future. He is pleased that Alan Conroy has taken the lead. And portfolios values have increased; Kansas is now among the 10 best pension programs based on return. 

 

 

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