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PHOTO SHOWCASES
KVOE NEWS SOUNDOFF
Left: Smoke rises from the attic and around chimney of a
home about 9 miles of
BY Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
Heavy
smoke was coming from the roof of a house about 9 miles east of
Firemen
from
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
PETITIONS STILL CIRCULATING IN
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
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
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
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
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.
KVOE Links
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
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
Both will advance to the next round of
competition at the state level.
The Scripps Regional Spelling Bee will be
held in
Property Maintenance code will be in
its third draft
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
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
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
FEBRUARY
IS SPAY
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
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
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
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
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
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
It was a successful fund raising event
Friday night at Hardees restaurant for the
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
If you want to donate, call Heermann at
REC
CENTER
By Roger Hartsook/KVOE News
Posted
The natatorium in the
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
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
CableONE in
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
By Jeff O’Dell/ KVOE News
Posted
The
City of
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
By Jeff Odell/ KVOE News
Posted
A 42 year old
Edward L. Atkinson of
The alleged events took place on Dec. 31 of
2011 and
By Jeff Odell/ KVOE News
Posted
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
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
LEGISLATURE WORKING OVERTIME ON LEGISLATION BEHIND
THE SCENES
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
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
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.
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
Posted
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
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
LYON
COUNTY COMMISSION GOES AHEAD WITH APPEAL TO FEMA ON FLOOD PLAIN GRANT
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Posted
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
Posted
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
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
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE
Posted
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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