Phone:  620-342-1400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 28, 2010       

 

 

KVOE PHOTO SHOWCASES

 

·         Click here to see results from the Lyon County Fair 4-H livestock shows.

·         Click here to see “Storm Activity: July 20, 2010.”

·         Click here to see “Weekend of July 17, 2010.”

·         Click here to read the latest downtown water main project update from Emporia Main Street. Conditions are updated every Thursday.

 

 

KVOE SOUNDOFF

 

 

 

KVOE COLUMN

 

·         Click here to read Chuck Samples’ column, “What’s On My Plate.” Column posts every Friday.

 

 

EMPORIANS FOR GROWTH: SALES TAX MUST BE RENEWED

 

 

Emporians for Growth members Evora Wheeler (left) and Ray Toso (center) appeared on KVOE’s On-Air Blog on Wednesday with Regional Development Association President Kent Heermann. All three support renewing Emporia’s half-cent sales tax used currently for economic development and property tax relief. Photo by Chuck Samples/KVOE News.

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Emporians for Growth detailed its case for renewing a half-cent sales tax on KVOE's On-Air Blog on Wednesday.

 

The special Issues Forum came as the civic group tries to continue the tax currently used for economic development and property tax relief before it ends in 2014.

 

Group member Evora Wheeler said the tax has been instrumental in helping to bring business and industry to Emporia.

 

Fellow group member Ray Toso said the city’s property tax could jump as high as seven mils if the current tax is not renewed.

 

The tax was first approved in 1994 with collections starting in 1995.

 

Regional Development Association President Kent Heermann said the tax has generated over $27 million in revenue, with Emporia's general fund taking in about $13 million of that total. Most of the remaining money went into the city’s Industrial Development Sales Tax Fund for land acquisition, infrastructure payments, incentives and RDA operations.

 

Heermann credited the tax for helping to bring in new businesses like Camoplast, Hill's Pet Nutrition, Menu Foods and Norfolk Iron and Metal along with helping existing businesses like Tyson, Hostess, EVCO, Detroit Diesel, Hopkins and Vektek expand their local operations.

 

RDA relationship with Fanestil discussed

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Several questions from KVOE listeners on Wednesday's On-Air Blog dealt with the RDA's relationship with Fanestil meats as the company tries to move out of the Cottonwood River flood plain just south of Emporia.

 

Heermann said the RDA's confidentiality requirements forbid him from going into details on the Fanestil negotiations, but a "workable solution" was difficult to find because two of the city's three performance-based incentive benchmarks for job creation, capital investment and wages were "missing" in Fanestil’s plan.

 

Heermann said Industrial Park No. 4, Fanestil's preferred location, is lacking the necessary infrastructure to proceed in a timely manner, including no sanitary sewer or water nearby. There is also only single-phase power from Westar at that location, and there would need to be additional traffic safety improvements to the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Road "F."

 

Heermann said the RDA offered several other locations around Emporia to Fanestil, which declined those offers.

 

 

NTHF BEGINS UNCOMFORTABLE PROCESS OF EXPLORING OPTIONS OUTSIDE EMPORIA

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

The National Teachers Hall of Fame is worth keeping open, but can it stay that way in Emporia?

 

The NTHF Board of Directors is dealing with a more uneven budget picture, diminishing interest locally and the shutdown of similar programs like Disney and Wal-Mart-sponsored efforts nationally -- and as a result is starting to explore whether to move out of Lyon County in order to keep recognizing the best teachers in America.

 

Board President Dr. Mike Lane tells KVOE News the immediate concern is still whether the Hall can sell its former home at 1320 C of E Drive, as has been the case for years, but the need to sell that building has become much more urgent in recent months because the Hall's liabilities are now approaching the value of the building.

 

Lane says board members aren't as confident in the level of local support as they have been just a few years ago, and they are concerned the shutdown of national teacher recognition programs indicate a lack of overall interest in properly recognizing teachers for the work they do.

 

Lane says the board will now pursue grant options to support a major fundraising drive. It may well also begin looking for a major corporate partner, but Lane says the board will consider moving out of Lyon County if said partner says the Hall has to move as part of an agreement.

 

Branson, Mo., had expressed interest in hosting some NTHF activities two years ago. Lane says that option will not be pursued at this time because of financial concerns.

 

 

WILSEY MAN HURT AFTER CRASH INTO TRANSFORMER POLE

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

A Wilsey man was hurt in a crash in south-central Morris County on Tuesday night.

 

The Kansas Highway Patrol says 20-year-old Carey Penrod was westbound on U.S. Highway 56 approaching Delavan when his car went into the southbound ditch for unlisted reasons. The car hit a transformer pole.

 

Penrod was taken to Stormont-Vail hospital in Topeka. His condition has not been released. 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 KVOE News Links

 

 

 

 

Demolition of two houses at Fifth and Market street makes way for the new construction of a building to house the Mother-Child Project to be offered by Corner House Inc. The project is about helping mothers with addictions, including veterans, and their dependent children. It will help the mothers get through their addictions, and the kids work through changes that may happen at home as a result. Photos by Jeff O’Dell/KVOE  News.

 

 

 

HOUSING CONDITIONS AND CITY INCOME DOMINATES EMPORIA CITY COMMISSION TALK

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

Concerned about housing conditions, and cleaning up decaying neighborhoods, members of the   Emporia Human Relations Commission and those interested in housing conditions in Emporia told the Emporia City Commission they are interested in identifying properties that are substandard. Fred Nuer spoke to the city commission, and said they will work with different agencies to determine what is a problem and what is not. 

 

City commissioner Kevin Nelson said he is willing to let others help in the process.

 

Another clean up project comes up October second. June Hubert tells KVOE News it takes place October second, and will involve both sides of Constitution street to both sides of Union street, from 6th Avenue to 12th Avenue.  

 

Commissioners again looked at revisions to the city budget for next year. There are a couple of curve balls, coming for the city. City manager Matt Zimmerman said it’s getting harder to predict city income, especially in sales taxes, and gasoline taxes. Some news was not good, such as May sales taxes being down about 25 percent.

 

Commissioners Jeff Longbine and Bob Agler, both involved in new car sales, say they know what it was; lower sales of big-ticket items like news cars. Gasoline taxes are down $16,000, but water sales are up 26 percent, with a lot of late fees being paid.

                                                   

 

Merit raises, insurance costs, and what was referred to as "Obama Care" are unknowns. But health insurance turned out to be a plus with fewer claims, and getting some money back, with a zero percent increase.

 

Commissioners talked about again waiving the law against shooting fireworks for next year. They seemed favorable, except for the fact that the fourth is on a Monday, and people will be going back to work on Tuesday. They did not appear to overly favor sales of fireworks in the city.

   

City commissioners will have two meetings next Wednesday---an action meeting and then a study meeting.

 

 

EMPORIA BOARD OF EDUCATION HOLDS BUDGET FORUM BUT NO ONE CAME

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

The Emporia Board of Education Wednesday night was scheduled to hold a budget workshop for the public, but no one came. The workshop was intended to explain to any district patrons how income is determined and how money is prioritized and spent. Adoption of the budget could come in the near future, but no one appeared to hear the presentation by Assistant Superintendent for Business, Rob Scheib. The board waited an hour, and then began their regular action meeting at 7 pm.   

 

The board got a progress report on work being done in the districts buildings. Much of it is being done on improving buildings energy use, or updating its appearance.  Director of Maintenance, Bob Fancher, told the board, roof work at Walnut Elementary, has been delayed by rains. And the new turf at the field at the High School has been delayed. You may see the field lights on as workers try to make up for lost time, by working at night. Much of the summer work is improving energy efficiency, and Fancher said when that’s done, the engineering firm doing the work, Con-Edison said will check for savings.

 

The board was talking about the work in August of 2009 that would involve replace lights, fixtures, boilers, and gain energy efficiencies. Once the new equipment is in place, the use of energy would be measured, and determined if its operating as planned or needs further tuning or re-working.

 

The board got a quarterly budget report, and later went into executive session to talk about non-elected personnel.

 

 

AGING SERVICES FACES HIGHER DEMAND FOR SERVICES

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Demand is increasing for Lyon County's Aging Services Department.

 

Director Doug Stueve addressed Lyon County commissioners Wednesday, saying senior assistance intakes grew 12 percent from the first six months of last year to the first six months of this year. Assistance intakes have grown every year since 2007, forcing the department to ask for additional personnel to handle the load.

 

Meanwhile, LCAT ridership remains strong. There have been nearly 21,000 rides so far in 2010, up 300 from last year.

 

The new rural routes are seeing mixed results, with heavier than projected ridership on the north route and lower ridership than expected on the south route.

 

 

NRH SEES POSITIVE FINANCIAL MONTH

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

For the first time in several months, Newman Regional had a good monthly financial report.

 

Newman had over $234,000 in net income for June, well above the projected income of $38,000. This has reduced the year-to-date shortfall from around $1 million to about $775,000.

 

Patient days and the average daily census were below expectations, but the length of patient stays, payer mix and year-to-date case mix all improved over past months. Operating expenses were also significantly lower than budgeted.

 

 

ELECTION 2010: CANDIDATES, CALLERS FOCUS ON BUDGET QUESTIONS

 

 

Rep. Don Hill (left) and his Republican challenger, Daniel Buller, took questions from KVOE listeners and KVOE News staffers during KVOE's Candidate Forum on Tuesday. Photo by Chuck Samples/KVOE News.

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Budget matters dominated Tuesday's KVOE Candidate Forum involving Kansas 60th District Rep. Don Hill and his Republican primary challenger, Daniel Buller.

    

Hill said responsible spending and competitive tax policies have been central to his service during his four terms in office. However, hill said a controversial sales tax passed earlier this year got his vote -- albeit grudgingly. He said it was the "least bad option" and didn't jeopardize federal funds for schools or put local governments in a position to raise property taxes.

 

Buller said he would have voted against the sales tax and the 2010 budget, which he said contained a $200 million spending increase.

 

Hill defended himself against claims he voted to increase the budget by $200 million, saying the state's general fund budget actually went down $1.2 billion the past three years through budget cuts he voted for and gubernatorial action he favored. Hill said he voted against $186 million in spending increases put forth as amendments late in the 2010 session but voted for "two or three" increases of less than $10 million.

    

On other topics, Buller said he would have voted for the Kansas Health Care Freedom Act, which would have let the state opt out of federal health care reforms if it had passed. Hill was not in favor. He says the package needs improvements, but the best way to do so is by hiring representatives committed to making those changes.

    

With education, Hill and Buller both say education should get enough money to do their jobs competently, although Hill doesn't expect any funding increases next year and Buller questions whether increased money leads to better results.

 

 

ELECTION 2010: ADVANCE VOTES GAINS IN POPULARITY AS TIME GOES BY

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

Advance voting seems to gather more interest as time goes by. And that certainly is happening in Lyon County with this primary election.    Lyon county clerk Tammy Vopat said she is a bit surprised by the advance vote turnout.

 

75 people voted in advance Monday: over 800 by late in the afternoon Tuesday. So far there is a total of 537 advance voters.

 

Vopat said the weather plays a role in the turnout, with the greatest numbers occurring in the morning.   Vopat says she is very pleasantly surprised at the way advanced voting has gotten out the vote. 

 

Electioneering disallowed, Vopat says

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Lyon County Clerk Tammy Vopat is warning overexuberant political supporters to avoid electioneering as the primary election draws near.

 

Vopat says there were "a few" incidents of electioneering last week.

 

Electioneering includes wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that either clearly identify a political candidate or clearly indicate support or opposition to a ballot question.

 

Electioneering is not allowed within 250 feet of a polling place.

 

The primary election is Aug. 3. KVOE will have complete election coverage that night with results and reactions beginning almost as soon as the polls close at 7 p.m.

 

 

RECENT HEAT BOTHERS FEEDLOT CATTLE MORE THAN CROPS

 

By The Associated Press

 

Last week's heat wave was no friend to feedlot cattle in central and southwest Kansas. Some 2,600 head died in feedlots from Salina to Dodge City.

 

Lyon County Extension agent Brian Rees says there was no widespread die-off in Lyon County despite heat indices close to 110 at times and abnormally warm low temperatures.

 

Part of the reason is the lack of feedlot cattle. Rees says most area cattle are stocker cattle that are still on grass at this time of the season.

 

Statewide, crops did better than cattle in the heat last week. The Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service says corn is 14 percent excellent, 58 percent good and 22 percent fair. About 6 percent was in poor to very poor condition. Over 90 percent has silked.

     

About 17 percent of the Kansas sorghum crop has headed. Thirteen percent of soybeans have pods setting.

    

Locally, though, there is a wide range in corn and beans -- and the June flooding, not the July heat, is responsible. Rees says excess moisture has "caused holes" in the corn fields, but the crop looks very good in upland areas. Lowland corn may actually bring the overall county yield down to near average levels.

    

Rain delayed soybean planting considerably, especially in low-lying areas, and in some cases forced re-planting. Upland beans look "very good," but Rees is concerned about a second round of webworm possibly showing up soon.

 

KVOE News reporter Chuck Samples contributed to this report.

 

 

CROP WALK ORGANIZATION CONTINUES

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

CROP Walk 2010 isn't until late September, but organizers hope to get people lined up to participate now.

 

On KVOE's Newsmaker segment Tuesday, organizer Bill Ballard said "Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty" is a longstanding effort of Church World Service.

 

Last year, CROP Walk raised $1700. Ballard hopes the total goes well above that this year.

    

The Emporia Walk is Sept. 25 and kicks off from the First United Methodist Church. Participants get pledges before going the four-mile route. Most of the proceeds go to Church World Service. Twenty--five percent of the proceeds stay local, with the local funds evenly split between the Abundant Harvest food kitchen and the Lyon County Restricted Emergency Fund.

    

For more information, call 342-9511 or 343-2719.

 

 

BUDGET CONCERNS TAKE CENTER STAGE ON MORNING SHOW

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Emporia city and Lyon County commissioners will spend a ton of time on budgets over the next four weeks, and people closely associated with both boards gave their insights to where those budgets stand on KVOE's Morning Show with Ron Thomas on Monday.

 

Lyon County Commission Chair Scott Briggs said a dip in valuations, prisoner care and investment revenues are forcing a big decision -- and not just with the immediate budget. Briggs says commissioners wonder whether they should focus on funding state-mandated functions, reducing funding to quality-of-life allocations the county has funded for years as a result.

 

City Manager Matt Zimmerman says the city should keep the levy flat for the third straight year. An expected dip in valuations isn't as bad as first thought, and sales tax revenues look like they are starting to turn around. Zimmerman says the city doesn't have the same questions the county is facing about strictly funding state-mandated functions.

 

County commissioners are debating whether to adopt a budget reducing the levy by half a mil or one that boosts the levy by four mils. Complicating that decision is the reduced-levy budget may not be reliable because it is based on current-year trends that might not hold the rest of the year and has a larger cash carryover than commissioners expect will happen.

    

Zimmerman says the trick is determining the minimum level of service, the desired level of service and the level of service people want to fund through their tax dollars.

 

City commissioners are asking for your input before a public hearing Aug. 10 at the Lee Beran Recreation Center. County commissioners don't have any meetings planned yet, but they also want your input before the budgets have to be finalized Aug. 25.

 

School Board sets budget meetings

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

Members of the public who have questions about the proposed budget for the Emporia School District for the coming school year can get answers this week. The Emporia public schools will have a public budget information meeting Wednesday evening at 6 pm, at Mary Herbert Education Center.  The public budget meeting will be held before the regular Board of Education meeting at Mary Herbert Education Center.

 

 

CRIME STATS ON PAR WITH PAST YEARS

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Lyon County's crime stats are very similar to those of the last several years.

 

Through the first six months of 2010, 320 cases have been charged -- just six more than last year and two less than in 2008:

 

2010: 320

2009: 314

2008: 322

2007: 310

2006: 374

2005: 294

2004: 341

2003: 317

 

However, County Attorney Marc Goodman doesn't think those numbers are entirely accurate. Many cases have several charges attached, and Goodman says the actual number of charges may be a better gauge of the county crime scene. That change will go into effect with reporting for the last six months of the year.

 

On KVOE's Talk of Emporia on Friday, Goodman said burglaries, drug and domestic violence cases are heavy again mainly because of the ongoing recession, but financial crimes have dipped. Sex crimes also remain high.

    

Goodman dismayed by Court of Appeals, Supreme Court decisions

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

To say that Lyon County Attorney Marc Goodman is unhappy with the Kansas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court is a big understatement.

 

On KVOE's Talk of Emporia last week, Goodman said changes in legal interpretations after some of Lyon County's major cases are the reason why convictions against Wallace Dixon III, Kenneth Waddell and – most recently –Raul Magallanez were sent back for new trials. The Dixon and Waddell cases wound up in convictions when they were moved out of Lyon County, while trial dates are pending in the Magallanez case.

    

Goodman also discussed the process of charging cases, which he says evolves as investigations continue. This came up recently with what was originally charged as a sex abuse case involving a teenaged girl and five young adult males but was resolved when the defendants pleaded guilty to alcohol-related charges instead. Goodman said initial evidence warranted the sex charges, but later evidence either called the original casework into question or refuted it. The pleas, Goodman says, more accurately reflected what happened.

 

 

CAMP ALEXANDER READIES FOR BON VOYAGE WEEK

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Bon Voyage Week is next week at Camp Alexander.

 

On KVOE's Morning Show with Ron Thomas on Monday, Director Damon Leiss said the week brings together the most popular activities of previous camps this summer, including archery, water slides and "Gold Rush" -- a new spin on the old favorite, "Capture the Flag." It's all geared towards empowering kids of all ages.

 

Cost is $80 for the week, including LCAT transportation and food.

    

Leiss also discussed School's Out camps and possible activities later this year, including a haunted tour, a winter camp and parent's weekend camp. For more information, call 342-1386 or 757-6443 or go online to www.campalexander.org. You can also register at the camp office, 501 S. Commercial, from 8 a.m. to noon. 

 

 

NORTHERN FLYER ALLIANCE: OPTION 3 COSTLIEST, BEST

 

 

The Northern Flyer Alliance says Option 3 would provide the greatest economic impact to cities along the proposed route despite its projected start-up costs and operating subsidy. Map courtesy of KDOT.

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

The Northern Flyer Alliance says one option for passenger rail service in Emporia and elsewhere will have a bigger economic impact than three others under consideration -- even though it will cost more to put in place.

 

Option 3, as it's called, has a $479 million start-up cost and an operating subsidy of $8.1 million, higher numbers than any of the three competing options.

 

City Manager Matt Zimmerman, an NFA board member, says there's one key reason why option 3 stands out: daytime service. Zimmerman says train service will help business travelers, shoppers and tourists, and the best impact will happen during the day.

 

There is still a lot of work left, namely with finishing a service development plan and making sure the state legislatures along the proposed route are on board. It may be two or three years at the earliest before passenger trains stop in Emporia.

 

 

LEADERSHIP EMPORIA APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AND FUTURE LEADERS WILL BE GROOMED

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

An Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce program, called "Leadership Emporia" works to develop future leaders for the Emporia area. And applications are now being accepted for the 23rd class of Leadership Emporia.

 

This year’s program begins with an opening retreat on Thursday, September 16 and Friday September 17.  The additional five sessions are held on Thursday, September 23, October 7 and 21; and November 4 and 18. The celebration luncheon will be Friday December 10. Class members must be present at all seven sessions to successfully complete the course.  Leadership Emporia has been fortunate to continually transform its program offering the latest in leadership development.

 

Leadership Emporia has been working closely with the newly formed Kansas Leadership Center and through this training have developed programs and initiatives which teaches four competencies for civic engagement. This kind of civic leadership is learning through powerful experiences that provide conceptual frameworks, skills, tools and ways of being consistent with a more purposeful and collaborative leadership approach.

 

Tuition for Leadership Emporia is $300 and may be paid by the participant or a sponsoring employer or organization. The Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce will award a maximum of 3 $100 scholarships. Applications can be filled out by going to www.emporiakschamber.org. Applications must be returned to the Chamber of Commerce by Friday, August 13.

 

 

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS AN EFFORT TO THWART CRIME

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

National Night Out will be commemorated August 14th in Emporia. The idea is to get neighbors acquainted with each other, so that they feel more comfortable, and know when crime may be occurring because they will know when strange people are in the neighborhood. Brendy Allison is community services aide for the Emporia Police Department. She told KVOE News people are getting ready for block parties now.

 

Allison said she was real pleased with the way that the event went last year, with several block parties occurring. This year, Emporia Fire Trucks will visit block parties, and kids can ask questions and ring the bells.   Police cars will visit parties too, and people can hear the sirens, and look over the cars, and see what they can do. For information on having your own block party, contact Allison at 341-4327.

 

 

EMPORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY STARTS STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

What services will people want in the future from the Emporia Public Library? And in what format will it come? And how will it be delivered? Those are questions to be answered by the Emporia Public Library Board as they work on their strategic plan.

 

The process has just recently begun, and Library Director Sue Blechl, said the library is looking at direction for the next five or ten years. Blechl said they are setting the framework of the strategic planning process now. What is guaranteed to occur in the future is change.

 

Blechl said the strategic planning process is in its very early stages now.    An example of indicators for library needs comes in the use of downloadable books. Downloadable books are already here---free through the state library. Do they need more technology transfer devices or more book storage space?  The library board will be working on the strategic plan for some time in the future.