PO Box 968 Emporia , KS
66801
KVOE
NEWS LINKS
·
Click here to see
photos of the September flood from KVOE listeners.
·
Click here to see
photos of the September flood from KVOE staffers.
·
Click here
to see photos of the Granada Theatre with gala grand opening events Oct. 3 and
Oct. 10-12.
·
Click here
for the KVOE Archives page with various photos and links.
The Emporia Smoking
Debate
·
Click
here to view a draft of the proposed non-smoking
ordinance from Clean Air Emporia.
·
Click here
to view a draft of the provisions that Clean Air Emporia will not agree to.
·
Click here to view
the smoking ordinance as proposed by
·
Click here to read
current statewide smoking regulations in light of
For the latest weather-related
information, including advisories, watches and warnings, stay tuned to KVOE-AM,
KVOE-FM and Mix 104.9. For additional information, visit www.weather.gov/topeka, www.weather.gov/wichita or www.spc.noaa.gov.
INTERSTATE
BAKERIES LOOKS AT ENDING BANKRUPTCY
U-s Bankruptcy judge Jerry
Venters has given Interstate Bakeries---the operator of the Dolly Madison plant
in Emporia---permission to commit to $600 million in financing agreements that
will allow Interstate to finally come out of nearly four years of bankruptcy. The Kansas City Star reports that the
arrangements will give a New York investment fund majority ownership in the
newly restructured company. Interstate has agreed to chip in something for its
unsecured creditors, who had been slated to get nothing under the
re-organization. Ripplewood Holdings has agreed to invest $130 million in Interstate,
consisting of $44-point-2 million in cash, and $86 million in convertible
debt. In exchange, it will receive a 50
percent equity stake in the re-organized company. It will also get warrants to
acquire an additional 15 percent stake at a price of $12.50 a share. Also, Silver
Point Capital LP and three other lenders that together hold about $450 million
or about 53 percent of IBC's pre-petition secured debt have agree to swap that
$147-point-3 million in notes, and about $86 million in debt. The lenders have
also agreed to a $339 million loan to help finance interstates exit from
bankruptcy. That would supplement a $125 million dollar revolving loan from
general electric credit corp. To further finance interstate once it comes out
of protection of the bankruptcy court.
LYON
COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE INVESTIGATING INCIDENTS, INCLUDING APPARENT ROBBERY
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Lyon County Sheriffs officers
say that two women have been taken into custody after an incident over what was
said to be missing money, and another woman was struck in the face. Lyon County
Undersheriff Richard Old told KVOE News that a 17 year old female told officers
that she was approached by two others, identified as 18 year old Lyrissa Alanis
of Emporia and 22 year old Debbie Ultreris of Emporia, regarding missing money.
The three were in a car that went to an area west of Emporia where the 17-year-old
victim said she was confronted, and then struck in the face, and her cell phone
taken. She was found walking in the 400 block of West Highway 50 by a sheriff’s
deputy, and a description of the car was put out by the deputy. Alanis and Ultreris
were later taken to the Lyon County Jail. The case is being investigated by the
Lyon County Sheriffs Department and the case has been forwarded to the Lyon County
Attorneys Office. Old said possible charges include robbery and battery.
In another case, Old
said that two juveniles have been detained after a number of cases involving
spray paint and vandalism occurred in the Olpe area. The cases involved painted
windows, mailboxes, cars, and buildings. The two juveniles were said to be 14
and 15 years old from Olpe, and were released to their parents. Lyon county Undersheriff
Richard Old said that they are collecting cases and incident reports now.
TRUCK
OVERTURNS; INJURES MANHATTEN MAN IN NORTH LYON COUNTY
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
One person was taken to
a Topeka hospital after a truck ran off the road on highway 56 in north Lyon
county Monday morning. The accident happened about 10:30 am on Highway 56 near County
road "L", just west of Allen, when a Schwann's truck driven by 22
year old Kevin C. Scott of Manhattan ran off the road, went into a ditch,
throwing Scott out of the truck. The truck rolled over several times. Scott was
taken by Lifestar helicopter to Storemont Vail hospital in Topeka.
CITY
COMMISSION FACES HEFTY AGENDA
By Jeff O'Dell/KVOE News
The Emporia City
Commission this week talks about a proposal to rezone property at 1839 North
Merchant, the location of a former motel, from C-2 to R-3 for multiple family
apartments. The location has been the site of several attempts at
redevelopment, and discussion this week looks at its potentional use for
college oriented housing. The city commission also looks at an amendment to the
Neighborhood Revitalization Area to include that property. The commission gets
a report on the proposed Tax Incremental Financing district for a retail
development project at 24th and Industrial that could include a Lowe's home
improvement store. Plans for the proposed Planned Unit Development at the
location are also on the agenda. The planning commission recently voted to
recommend to the City Commission that the PUD not be put in place. The
commission reviews the status of the emergency siren system. And they review
the proposed Community Development Block Grant program grants to demolish
dilapidated structures.
ESU
NAMES ALUMNI DIRECTOR
By Chuck Samples/KVOE News
Emporia State University has tabbed the alumni relations director
of a New Hampshire university to the same post.
Peter Brodie, the alumni
relations director at Franklin Pierce since 2004, will start at ESU on Nov. 24
and will be on campus for Homecoming week starting Oct. 22.
University Advancement
director Judith Heasley says Brodie's depth of experience and many years of
working in higher education -- especially in developing alumni chapters and
creating revenue streams -- was exactly what the university needed.
In a statement released
by Emporia State, Brodie said he was amazed by the support the university has
within the Emporia community, the passion and dedication of the staff and the
dedication of the administration to provide high-quality educational
opportunities.
Brodie has also served
as alumni relations director at Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y.
SMALL
BLAZES ALONG TURNPIKE KEEP FIREFIGHTERS BUSY
By Chuck Samples/KVOE News
Emporia firefighters had to put out a string of small fires along
the Kansas Turnpike south of town Sunday.
Firefighters dealt with
at least six small fires -- burning less than an acre each -- from mileposts
124 to 117, or about three to 10 miles southwest of Emporia. Firefighters also
had to put out another small fire at milepost 128, or a mile north of the
Emporia exit.
The first fire occurred
shortly before 5 pm. The cause of all the fires is currently undetermined.
MEMORY
WALK HAS RECORD TURNOUT
By Chuck Samples/KVOE News
Organizers of the annual
Alzheimer's Memory Walk are overwhelmed by the turnout for Sunday's event at
the Lyon County Fairgrounds. On KVOE's Morning Show with Ron Thomas on Monday,
Paula Sauder said the runners and walkers raised $16,000 and counting.
All the money goes to
the Heart of America chapter of the Alzheimer's Association to help research
efforts, victim care and local support groups. The chapter has $500 grants
available so victims can pay for medications, respite care and other items.
A record 200 people
participated.
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY PLEASED WITH SUNDAY CROWD
By Chuck Samples/KVOE News
The Lyon County Historical
Society is happy with the turnout for Sunday's Music and Dining at Sunset at
the historic Richard Howe Farmstead. On KVOE's Morning Show with Ron Thomas on
Honday, Historical Museum director Greg Jordan said nearly 70 people attended
the fundraiser for the Historical Society and the Emporia High Orchestra.
Fundraising totals
should be announced this week. The Historical Society portion goes to
programming, and Jordan said the society wants to change stereotypes about
history through exhibits on relatively recent events.
Jordan says the
Historical Museum still has a major space crunch, which has worsened with time.
It has been looking for a new facility for years, but is now seriously
considering a fundraising drive to build a new facility. That could cost $2
million to $3 million, but Jordan says the Historical Society's mission could
be cramped if the space limitations aren't solved soon.
WAW
CHILDRENS BOOK AWARD WINNERS MEET KIDS WHO SELECTED FAVORITE BOOKS
By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News
Lisa
Harkrader, left, signs autographs for kids at Emporia State University in the WAW
Childrens Book Awards. Right, Ann Martin talks with KVOE’S Jeff O’Dell.
The William Allen White
Children's Book Award ceremonies drew up to 900 Kansas school kids to Emporia.
Saturday, the two writers and award winners, Lisa Harkrader of Tonganoxie, and
Ann Martin of Woodstock, New York were signing autographs for kids.
Harkrader’s current book
talks about a boy searching for his father, whom he believes to be an NBA star.
Martin's book is called
"A Dogs Life" and takes a look at life from the viewpoint of a stray
dog.
Harkrader said she
like's writing children’s books because fiction can be fiction and you can be
lost in the world when you are a child. She usually has one or two, sometimes
three book projects going at a time. Kids
around the state voted on the awards, and up to 900 kids from around Kansas are
in Emporia for the book award presentations and the ceremonies.
ID
THEFTS GROW AROUND THE STATE
The
Associated Press
State officials are
warning of a new target of identity theft -- the dead. And the State Attorney
General’s Office said that similar thefts are occurring around the state and in
Hartford. Attorney General Steve Six warned consumers that criminals appear to
be trying to steal the identities of dead Kansas to open charge accounts
through retail stores. The schemes are
appearing in Hartford, Topeka, Overland Park, Wichita, El Dorado, Lawrence,
Abilene, Andover, Newton, Hays and Kansas City, Kansas. Six says family members who believe a
recently deceased relative's identity may be compromised should verify the
information on retail credit accounts and make sure a debt is owed. They should
report any fraud to law enforcement.
Six's office offers tips for repairing identity theft at www.ksag.org or
calling 800-432-2310.
_____________________________________________________________________________
KVOE 
During our 7 am Hour of News and
Information on weekdays,
KVOE has special interviews on local and area news stories and events.
To highlight an event or news item, call Ron Thomas or Chuck Samples at
342-1400 in Emporia
or 800-279-1964 in Lyon County and
surrounding counties. You can also email kvoe@kvoe.com.
·
Tuesday: Emporia Arts Council
director Melissa Windsor updates Arts Council activities and fundraising for
its new facility on Commercial Street.
·
Wednesday: Emporia
Municipal Golf Course manager Rich Jaggard previews a busy October for
tournaments.
·
Thursday: Newman
Regional Health spokesperson Nancy LeClear talks about the hospital’s Drive
Thru Flu Clinic that day.
·
Friday: Jesse Solis discusses the
dedication of several Braille American flags on Oct. 15.
AREA ROAD AND BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
KVOE
will list road and bridge construction projects in Emporia, Lyon County and
surrounding counties as they are made available.
Emporia/Lyon County
·
Graphic Arts Road
bridge over Interstate 35. Closed until Dec. 15 as the Kansas Turnpike interchange is redesigned.
·
Road “K” north of
Road 350. Closed until further notice as bridge is replaced.
·
Road “B” between
300 and 310. Closed until Oct. 10 as concrete box culvert is installed.
Talk Of Emporia
Ralph Schellhammer talks about
Square Dancing lessons offered by the Bluestem Swingers. Photo by Jeff O’Dell/KVOE
News.
ü
Wednesday, Oct. 8 Sue
Blechl talks about the Public Library Book Sale.
ü
Friday, Oct. 10 –
ESU media relations director Dave Sparks previews the Bonner and Bonner
Diversity Lecture.
ü
Monday, Oct. 13 –
Emporia State Homecoming activities.
ü
Wednesday, Oct. 15 –
Main Street Kayla Oney talks about the Main Street Freedom Fest and annual
auction.
ü
Friday, Oct. 17 –
Lyon County Health director Lougene Marsh outlines the annual mass flu
vaccination exercise at the Anderson Building on Oct. 21.
Talk of Emporia” airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:06 am. To
schedule an event or activity, call the news department at 342-1400 or email Jeff O’Dell or Chuck Samples.
Candidate Forum 
With the general election on Nov. 6, KVOE will once again bring you
special programming
to let you make a more informed choice when you vote.
Incumbents are listed first where applicable. Other candidates will be
listed first by alphabetical last name.
The tentative schedule is as follows and is subject to change:
Ø Oct.
20: Republican Jim Barnett and Democrat Kitty Frank, 17th
District Kansas Senate
Ø Oct.
21: Republican Peggy Mast and Democrat Carol
Strickland, 76th District Kansas House
Ø Oct.
22: Republican Theresa Walters and Democrat Phil
Winter, First District Lyon County Commission
Ø Oct.
23: Democrat Chris Bartel and Republican Rollie Martin,
Third District Lyon County Commission
Ø Oct.
24: Democrat Mike Dorcey and Republican Tammy Vopat,
Lyon County Clerk
Ø Oct.
27: Republican Jerry Moran and Democrat Jim Bordonaro,
First District U.S. House
All programs begin at 10:06 am on 14 KVOE.