Box 968        Emporia, KS 66801             Phone:  620-342-1400

 

 

  

 

 

 

Feb. 8, 2010

 

·         Click here to read the National Weather Service’s 2010 storm spotter schedule.

·         Click here to see “Snow Days.”

·         Click here to see “In The Fog.”

·         Click here to read “When Education and Budget Cuts Collide.”

·         Click here to see “Frightful Weather: The 2009 Christmas Blizzard.”

 

 

WEATHER-RELATED ALERTS

 

·         Winter storm warning for Greenwood County until midnight.

 

 

WEATHER-RELATED SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS

 

·         None currently to report.

 

Let us know your closing, cancellation, postponement or delay by calling 342-1400 in Emporia or 800-279-1964 in Lyon and surrounding counties. You can also email that information or weather photos to kvoe@kvoe.com. Adjustments will be posted in this space and aired on 14 KVOE, with alerts posted on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

North Lyon County School board member Wayne Symmonds, center, talks about his thoughts on Board action at the North Lyon County Board of Education meeting in Americus Monday night. Photo by Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News.

 

NORTH LYON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WILL CLOSE ADMIRE SCHOOL; AND JUNIOR HIGH KIDS WILL GO TO AMERICUS

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

 

There will be changes coming to the structure of the North Lyon County School District; and those changes include closing Admire school, and moving all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to Americus. Monday night, before a packed room in Americus, the North Lyon County School Board decided to close Admire school next year, and in a separate vote, they decided to move the junior high students to Americus. The vote to close the Admire school was 7 to 0, and the motion came from board member Sara Meenan who said she saw too many fixed costs, to serve very small class sizes.

 

In a separate agenda item, board members voted 4-3 to move all students in grades 6 to 8 to Americus School, from Admire and Reading and add them to the junior high kids in Americus. It’s a matter of maximizing use of facilities while more cuts come.  Superintendent Mike Nulton told KVOE News, the planning starts right away.

 

The moves came as a way to cut costs after both the Kansas Legislature and Gov. Mark Parkinson slashed allocations to public schools as a way to balance the state budget. Board President Bill Leffler said they would not see the end of state aid cuts. Superintendent Mike Nulton said legislators just don’t see school funding as the problem it is.

 

North Lyon County was facing a projected deficit for the 2010-11 school year of $500,000. The changes will be in effect for the coming school year.

 

 

 

HILLS APPLIANCE CENTER WILL CLOSE

 

By Jeff O’Dell, KVOE News

 

Long time Emporia appliance store Hills Appliance Center will close at the end of the month. Bill and Helen Hill have owned the store for about 25 years after buying the store from Paul Burris and George Pester in February of 1985. It was located at 322 Commercial, and later moved to 427 Merchant, then to 2914 West Highway Fifty in 2006. Rob Hill said Bill and Helen Hill will retire.

                                

Rob Hill said he will look elsewhere, and doesn’t see the potentional for an appliance store in Emporia. The store will likely have a liquidation sale at the end of the month. Service was a strong suit for the store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much appreciation was shown for the life and music of Emporia State Music Professor Dr Jeff Hodapp, who died December 30th at the age of 52. A memorial concert was held Saturday in Albert Taylor Hall. Hodapp died while visiting in Minnesota. Hodapp was an accomplished tuba player and low brass specialist, and played with a number of ensembles locally and nationally, and also played with the Emporia Municipal Band. The concert Saturday featured selections for piano, woodwind and brass instruments. He considered himself fortunate to be able to play and teach virtually any style of music. And transcribing and arranging music was among his interests.  Photo by Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News 

 

 

STORM LACKS EXPECTED PUNCH

 

 

A combination of heavy, wet snow and thin ice contributes to this postcard setting at C of E Park on Friday. Click here to see additional photos from KVOE listeners and staffers, and click here to submit photos. Photo by Chuck Samples/KVOE News.

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Anticipated heavy snows now do not appear likely across the KVOE listening area.

 

On Friday and Saturday, forecasters thought a convergence of two storm systems, abundant Gulf of Mexico moisture and polar cold air would lead to snowfall totals of 4-12 inches, with the heaviest totals along and south of the Kansas Turnpike. As the weekend progressed, however, warm air stayed in place longer than expected, keeping temperatures above freezing, and dry air pushed towards Kansas faster than first thought.

 

The end result? Meteorologists now expect 1-6 inches of snow, with Greenwood County listeners getting 3-6 inches by midnight. Other KVOE listeners, those in Lyon County included, should get 1-3 inches before the snow stops falling.

 

Stay tuned to KVOE or check www.KVOE.com for the latest weather and travel developments. Facebook users connected to “KVOE 1400 AM, Country 101.7 FM, Mix 104.9 FM and KVOE.com” will get alerts whenever we post updates.

 

Department heads grapple with snow removal budgets

 

 

Snowfall obscures vehicle tracks in the 1400 block of W. 12^th early Friday. Photo by Chuck Samples/KVOE News.

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Because of all the snow since Christmas Eve -- around a foot in Emporia and higher totals to our north and south – Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods is bracing for a big hit to his department budget. Woods says the snow has led to an estimated $100,000 in removal costs for the county since Christmas Eve, and some unspecified summer projects may not get done now because the money won't be available.

    

Emporia Street Supervisor Mike Dvorak says his budget has been hit hard as well. Estimated damage to the city budget is at least $50,000 this winter, largely because of the Christmas blizzard, which saw snow removal efforts for nearly a week.

 

 

 

 

 

 KVOE News Links

 

 

 

 

Gabrielle Ford, who developed a neuromuscular problem, and was taunted and bullied by fellow students in school, talks with Lowther North kids about the real impact of bullying. Photo by Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News.

 

BULLYING VICTIM STILL LIVES WITH EMOTIONAL SCARS

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

A speaker with a physical handicap talked about her experiences as the victim of bullying. For several years, she would not leave the house for several years after graduation from high school, for fear she would run into people. Gabrielle Ford has been talking in Emporia schools. She studied ballet eight years. But then came a diagnosis of a rare genetic neuromuscular disease. The disease is called Friedreich's Ataxia; the ballerina dream fell apart, and school bullies would later victimize Gabrielle, because of her condition. They would knock her books out of her hands, or push her over.

 

She has recovered her ability to leave her home, through her dog Izzy, which coincidently developed a very similar nerve problem, with similar symptoms.

 

Gabrielle's and Izzy's remarkable story was shown on Animal Planet. She tells students to think about what they do and the impact their words and actions have on other people.

 

Diane Jensen, SOS board chair, said that the bullying Gabrielle encountered from her peers because of her disease shows that it’s never too early to talk to kids about respecting themselves and each other.  

 

EMPORIA CITY EXPANDS THEIR VISION FOR CITY GOALS

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Emporia city commissioners are expanding their goal-setting horizons. Instead of focusing on the current year and the next five years out, commissioners discussed their visions for the next 20 years at their goal-setting meeting Monday night.  City Manager Matt Zimmerman said this is important because with the lofty goals getting voiced, it may take a long period of time to make those dreams a reality. Commissioners looked at the city's infrastructure needs, downtown priorities, relationship with Emporia State University and ways the city can diversify its job base. We'll have more details during our morning newscasts Tuesday.

 

 

EMPORIA BOARD OF ED MEETS WEDNESDAY NIGHT

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

The Emporia Board of Education meets Wednesday night. One of their agenda items is a review of the performance based budget recommendations.  The performance based budget committees have been meeting over the past several weeks, prioritizing different aspects of educational spending. The board will get a review of those. The board also gets a report on curriculum by instructional coaches. The Board of Education also gets reports from board members who represent the board of education on the Flint Hills Tech College Board of Trustees, and the Emporia Recreation Commission. The board considers a ratification of an addendum to the master contract, regarding voluntary early retirement plan. And they discuss an approval of request for a policy addendum for voluntary early retirement plan for classified staff and administrators. The Emporia Board of Education meets Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock at the Mary Herbert Education center.

 

TALLGRASS WORKSHOP WILL HONOR ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

Organizers of the Tallgrass writing workshop are remembering one of the events founders with a special award for budding authors.  Tallgrass workshop coordinator, Max McCoy, at Emporia State said the award is called "the Don Coldsmith Young Writers award for Kansas’s high school juniors and seniors and honors the lifelong achievements of its namesake by encouraging young writers in their craft. Awards will be presented during the 25th annual Tallgrass writing workshop to be held June 25th through the 27^th, on the Emporia State Campus. Works for consideration for the award should be set to Max McCoy, Tallgrass workshop coordinator, PO Box 4019, Emporia State University in Emporia 66801.

 

Deadline for receipt of submissions is May 15th, 2010 and cannot be returned.

 

McCoy said one of the speakers at the writing workshop will be Coldsmith's editor, Greg Tobin at Doubleday books, and will talk about the interplay between the editor and the writer. The Tallgrass Writing Workshop takes place June 25th through the 27th.

 

 

 

 

 

FLORES INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

It has now been five months since former Emporia resident Omar Flores was mortally wounded at an Emporia hotel, and the alleged shooter has not been apprehended.

 

Authorities have not officially said the name of the individual who allegedly shot Flores over 10 times in early September.

 

The only person charged in the Flores murder, Samuel Llamas, has a pretrial hearing March 3 and trial April 12 for his alleged involvement. Llamas is charged with felony murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

 

 

COTTONWOOD FALLS FAMILY LOSES EVERYTHING TO FIRE

 

Area residents asked to help

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Cottonwood Falls residents are rallying around a mother and teenage son who lost everything in a house fire last week.

 

On KVOE's Morning Show with Ron Thomas on Monday, relief effort organizer Jon Weiss said Janice Riley and Levi Yoho had a rude awakening at their home last Tuesday, rising to discover their house on fire. They escaped with the clothes they were wearing and nothing else.

 

The two are now staying with friends until they can find a place to rent.

    

Organizers are asking for clothes -- 30x30 pants and medium T-shirts for Riley, 34x30 pants and large T-shirts for Yoho -- along with household items, furniture, cleaners, toiletries, dishes, small appliances, cookware, non-perishable food, tools and bedding.

    

Donate items at the Cottonwood Falls City Clerk Office, 220 Broadway. For more information, call 620-273-6666.

 

The fire's cause is still under investigation but appears to be electrical in nature.

 

 

CHEMNUTRA AND COMPANY OWNERS IN FEDERAL COURT FOR SENTENCINGS

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

A Federal Judge has imposed three years probation, and $30,000 in fines for the company and its owners that distributed a tainted wheat gluten products to companies that made pet food, including Menu in Emporia. Las Vegas-based Chem Nutra, and its owners. Federal prosecutors in Kansas City say 43-year-old Sally Ging Miller and 57-year-old Stephen S. Miller also must pay a $5,000 fine, and their company, Chemnutra Inc., must pay $25,000.   

  

The couple admitted importing from China more than 800 metric tons of wheat gluten tainted with melamine, an unsafe food additive, and sold it to companies in the pet food industry, including the menu plant in emporia.   

  

Thousands of cats and dogs reportedly became sick or died after eating the tainted food. The case resulted in the recall of more than 150 brands of dog and cat food across the country in 2007.  The court ruled Friday that the Millers wouldn’t have to pay further restitution because of a $24 million settlement in a related civil suit in New Jersey.   A lot of workers lost work time in Emporia and around the country because of the tainted ingredients, which prompted recalls, and food investigations.

 

The Associated Press contributed information to this report

 

 

FATAL COLLISION IN OSAGE COUNTY JUST EAST OF ‘FOUR CORNERS’ JUNCTION

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

A 21-year-old Carbondale woman was killed in a collision in Osage county Friday. The accident happened on Highway 56 about a mile east of the US-75 and 56 Highway junctions.

 

The Kansas Highway Patrol report said the car driven by 21-year-old Amy Elizabeth Stadler of Carbondale was eastbound on Highway 56 when she went left of center for an unknown reason and struck a westbound car driven by 54 year old Patricia A. Cooper of Carbondale.

 

Stadler was killed, and Cooper was injured. She was taken to Stormont Vail hospital in Topeka, to be checked over. The road was closed for some time while officers investigated the accident.

 

 

EMPORIA CITY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY TALKS WITH EMPORIA RECREATION COMMISSION

 

By Jeff O'Dell/KVOE News

 

Emporia City Commissioners start their study session an hour early Wednesday. And they have set a specific time to talk with Emporia Recreation Commissioners, 9:30 am, about a master agreement for the Emporia Recreation Commission.  The Rec Commission and the City have been talking about a master agreement that nails down responsibility for various aspects of the building, but have not reached agreement yet. The talk is punctuated with the need for some major electrical repairs at the Rec Center. City Manager Matt Zimmerman said they want to move on the agreement soon.

 

Back up power options for the Emporia Water System are a topic of discussion. City Manager Matt Zimmerman said it’s getting to be an area of concern. Commissioners talk about a contract with Dave Emig for design and construction engineering services for the entrances of the civic building. The commission reviews a revised design for painting the little theatre and the northwest stairwell. They also will talk about 2009 fiscal year year-end financial reports. The Emporia City Commission meets Wednesday morning in a study session at 9 o'clock in city conference room 1-ab.

 

 

EGGS AND ISSUES RESUMES AGAIN NEXT SATURDAY

 

By Jeff O'Dell/KVOE News

 

Eggs and Issues events continue this month and the next will take place at the Sauder Alumni Center this coming Saturday. The Emporia Area Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau sponsor Eggs and Issues.

 

The next will be Saturday February 13th, at 8:30 at the Sauder Alumni center. Eggs and Issues and a series of six political forums, organized each year by the chambers legislative committee and the league of women voters. The first three forums give area legislators and their constituents, a chance to interact.

 

 Legislators update community members on current events and issues pertinent to their district. Community members can voice concerns and their ideas for legislation, and what they believe government should be doing. The last three forums let’s area residents talk with members of the Emporia City Commission, Lyon County Commission, and the Emporia Board of Education. Again, the next Eggs and Issues event will take place at 8:30 am next Saturday at Emporia State University's Sauder Alumni Center.

 

 

FILM FESTIVAL FEATURES FOOD, AND FOOD DISCUSSION

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

Those who are interested in fresh food, and producing and eating fresh food will be interested in a film festival in emporia about fresh food.  The Emporia Area Local Food Network, along with the Emporia Public Library and Flint Hills Technical College, will be hosting a local food film festival to increase awareness of local food issues within the community and around the world. The festival will start 6:30 the evening of February 15th, and continue each Monday night through March 15th. Discussion will follow each film. February 15th's program at the library is titled  "Fresh", February 22nd program at the library is "Asparagus! Stalking the American Life". March First’s program is "Food, Inc. It takes place at 6:30 pm at the Flint Hills Technical College.

 

March 8th will be "The Future of Food", at the Flint Hills Technical College, and March 15th event is called "Locavore" at the Tech College. A Locavore is a person who attempts to eat only foods grown locally.

 

 All programs start at 6:30 pm at each of the locations. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and will benefit the Emporia Area Local Food Network, which works to promote the production, processing, preservation, and consumption of local foods, with projects like the emporia community garden and the emporia community kitchen. The learning connection said that these promise to be entertaining and though provoking evenings of discussion and interaction.

 

The festival is made possible by the Emil Babinger charitable trust.

 

 

CONGRESSIONAL RACES ATTRACTS CAMPAIGN DONATIONS

 

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

State Senator Tim Huelskamp outpaced other candidates in Kansas' 1st congressional district in fundraising in the last quarter of 2009.  But Emporia State Senator Jim Barnett also continues to raise cash donations for the race.

 

Campaign finance records show that Huelskamp, a Fowler republican reported receiving nearly $137,000 in contributions during the period. He ended last year with $480,000 in cash. 

 

Senator Jim Barnett, of Emporia, received about $126,000 in contributions during the quarter and ended the year with nearly $375,000 in cash. 

 

He is one of six republicans seeking the GOP nomination for the seat held by Rep. Jerry Moran, a republican who is running for the senate. The sprawling district covers 69 counties in western and central Kansas. 

 

 

ST. PATRICK'S COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES BENEFICIARIES OF 2010 FUNDRAISING

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

Lord's Lambs Preschool and the Brown Bag Concert Series will benefit from donations generated by the St. Patrick's Committee.

 

Member Bev Durham says the annual auction has been a big help to local groups over the last 14 years with around $11,000 raised -- an average of over $7,900 per year to split between two charities.

 

The annual auction is Feb. 26 at Bruffs. The annual parade will be March 13 in downtown Emporia, and Durham would like to see around 100 entries by the March 1 deadline.

 

For more information, call Durham at 342-2092.

 

 

EMPORIA STATE SOLICITS MARY HEADRICK AWARD NOMINATIONS

 

 

By Emporia State University

 

Emporia State University’s Counseling Center is now taking nominations for the Dr. Mary F. Headrick award. The recognition is given annually to individuals who exhibit a passion for the promotion and professional growth of women.  

 

Students, faculty and community members are encouraged to nominate those they feel have carried on Headrick’s work. 

 

Headrick is recognized for the strides she made to help the women of Emporia State and the Emporia community, reach their full potential.  Nomination forms can be picked up at the Student Wellness-Counseling Center, 211 South Morse Hall on the ESU campus, and will be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 18.

 

Headrick graduated from ESU in 1960 with a double major in English and business education.  From there she went on to receive a master’s degree in counseling in 1962. She served ESU as a counselor for 27 years. She also established the Susan B. Anthony Scholarship, awarded to a student who demonstrates scholarship and the promotion and growth of women on the ESU campus.

 

A reception will be held in honor of the winner at 3 p.m. on March 10, in the Memorial Union’s Kanza Room.  For more information regarding the award, contact Aneta Bodkin in the Student Wellness-Counseling Center at 620-341-5221.

 

 

POLAR PLUNGE APPROACHES; KVOE TEAM READY TO HELP EFFORT

 

By Chuck Samples and Jeff O’Dell/KVOE News

 

The fourth annual Polar Plunge benefiting Kansas Special Olympics is coming Feb. 20 to Emporia’s Mouse Lake.

 

Activities begin with a breakfast at the Emporia Senior Center  at 8 am, the plunge itself at around 11 am and a post-survivor gathering at the Senior Center.

    

On KVOE's Newsmaker segment Friday, organizer Jana Fornelli said she is continually amazed by Emporia's enthusiasm for the event.

 

To register a team, go online to www.ksso.org and look for the Polar Plunge link. Teams need to contribute $75 minimum to take part.

    

To donate to the KVOE team including Scott Hayes and Chuck Samples, call the station at 342-1400 or 800-279-1964. You can also go online to www.firstgiving.com/teamkvoe. The plunge has raised at least $20,000 locally almost every year.

 

 

NO FURLOUGHS FOR COURT EMPLOYEES IN FEBRUARY

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE New

 

District court employees can breathe a small bit of relief. The State Supreme Court has eliminated contingency plans for closing the state's courts during the month of February.

 

Information officer for the State Supreme Court, Ron Keefover, said that the court, in a letter to all employees, announced that a number of budget saving steps that have been taken by the courts, including a statewide hiring freeze and revenue enhancements, resulting from a stimulus grant and a surcharge on most court filings, will stave off the necessity to furlough employees until at least March.

 

 A contingency plan drafted last summer proposed that the courts be closed for up to six weeks beginning February 15th, because of the severe budget deficit. 

 

 

EPD INVESTIGATING EMBEZZLEMENT

 

By Jeff O'Dell/KVOE News

 

Emporia Police are working on an alleged embezzlement case that took place at a business in Emporia. The incident took place over the last year, and totaled about $4,000. Emporia Police say they are investigating and will not comment on specifics yet.

 

 

VICTORY CELEBRATION LUNCH LOOMS FOR UNITED WAY

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

With less than a week to go in the United Way of the Flint Hills' annual fundraising campaign, work continues at full speed to reach the $600,000 goal.

 

Two major fundraisers are now done and another continues right up to the Victory Celebration Luncheon next week.

 

Drive chair Jennell Tebbetts and other organizers have not updated the fundraising totals since mid-January, but they say the community will be pleased with the result. The last update had the drive at just short of $550,000.

 

Tebbetts says Emporia may reach its goal where other cities around the state may not.

 

The last "Dine United" event of the drive raised almost $300 Wednesday. Bruffs donated 20 percent of its lunch revenues to the effort. Meanwhile, profits are coming in for the city-wide “Denim Day” which also took place Wednesday.

    

"Give $10, Tell 10," where residents donate and encourage their friends and family to do likewise, will continue through late Wednesday morning.

 

The Victory Celebration Luncheon takes place at 11:45 am next Wednesday at the Granada Theatre.

 

 

EMPORIA MIDDLE SCHOOL STARTS ENROLLMENT INFORMATION MEETINGS

 

By Jeff O’Dell/KVOE New

 

Emporia Middle School will host enrollment information meetings Feb. 22 for parents of current Sixth and Seventh grade students. EMS counselors Larry Ellis and Bonnie Jasso will provide information about the enrollment process and course offerings for the 2010-11 school year.

 

A meeting for sixth grade parents will be at 9 a.m. and a meeting for seventh grade parents will be at 9:45 am.   All parents are invited to a third meeting at 7 p.m. Team request forms also will be available at the enrollment meetings. For more information, call Emporia Middle School at 341-2335.

 

 

SAUDER CUSTOM FABRICATIONS HONORED

 

 

A tank exits the Sauder Custom Fabrications warehouse in east Emporia. Photo courtesy of www.saudrcf.com.

 

By Chuck Samples/KVOE News

 

An Emporia business has picked up a coveted state award.

 

The Kansas Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday night that Sauder Custom Fabrications has won the Ad Astra award for unique contributions to the welfare of Kansas.

 

President and CEO Dale Davis says Sauder wouldn't have picked up the award if its headquarters were in a larger city.

 

Sauder's products are used worldwide in refinery, petrochemical, chemical, power generation and gas process facilities.

    

Sauder was founded in 1926 in Madison by Aaron Sauder. Originally known as Sauder Tank Company, the business built tanks for the oil industry. Thirty years later, the company moved to Emporia and expanded to cover all oil equipment needs. The company entered the custom fabrication business in the 1960s and was renamed Sauder Industries, Inc.