The Scott County Record by The Scott County Record

The brass section in the SCHS pep band performs during Tuesday’s basketball game.

32 Pages • Four Sections

Volume 23 • Number 23

Thursday, January 14, 2015

Published in Scott City, Ks.

$1 single copy

it’s all about the budget

Lawmakers can’t ignore continuing loss of revenue The Kansas Legislature opened its 2016 session this week with some major unfinished business hanging over their heads from 2015 - as in a budget deficit of about $200 million and growing. The red ink is the result of tax cuts approved by the legislature in 2012, combined with revenue that has c o n s i s t e n t l y Don Hineman failed to meet budget projections. “We’re at least $200 million short and that’s providing we hit the mark on revenue projections for the next six months,” says 118th District State Rep. Don Hineman (R-Dighton). “Recent history indicates that’s not going to happen.” That means the legislature will have to decide what steps to take in order to have enough money to finish out the current fiscal year which ends June 30 before it can build a budget for the next fiscal year. And there’s still the prospect of a Supreme Court ruling which could require the legislature to come up with another $200 million to $300 million more in state funding. Even with the state budget bleeding red ink, Hineman is skeptical that the legislature will seek additional tax revenue to close the gap. “We’re not going to raise tax revenue this year,” says Hineman. “It was so difficult for the legislature to pass the sales tax increase last spring.” Even if the legislature were to pass a tax increase, Hineman points out that it wouldn’t generate revenue quickly enough to solve the current budget crisis.

Area schools have been big losers with block grants

Cuts Are Only Option In addition, Hineman says the state has “swept” just about every dollar possible out of various departments and into the state’s general fund to close the funding shortfall. The state has gained some additional money through a $400 million bond issue through the Kansas Department of Transportation. However, Hineman has joined a number of lawmakers who are critical of the administration and legislative leadership who are using the “Bank of KDOT” to finance operations in the general fund that aren’t related to the highway department. “I expect some portion of (the KDOT bond issue) to be transferred to the state general fund, but it won’t be enough to balance the budget,” warns Hineman. “The only other option is budget cuts and I have no clue where those will come from.” Hineman feels departmental budgets have already been trimmed significantly since the big recession in 2008 and have been trimmed to the bone even more over the last couple of years in response to declining tax revenue. “For the most part, state employees have not received a pay increase for eight years. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to wonder why we can’t hire enough state (highway patrol) troopers, Fish and Game officers or state hospital employees,” says Hineman. “This is a long-term problem which will be with us for years to come.” If the governor and legislative leadership holds firm on their pledge not to increase taxes and if the governor keeps his promise to “hold harmless”

Whether you’re a school administrator from a large or a small district, from rural or urban Kansas, most can agree on one thing - the block grant funding formula for public education is neither fair nor equitable. They’re hoping the Kansas Supreme Court will be in agreement as it continues to be studied by the court. “I think the block grant plan is absolutely unconstitutional in terms of equity,” notes State Rep. Don Hineman (R-Dighton). “Sooner or later the Supreme Court will rule and there will be consequences.” Any district which has seen an increase in enrollment, in the number of ESL (English as a Second Language) students or in the number of students who qualify for free/ reduced price lunches have been losers under block grants. Jamie Rumford, superintendent of USD 466 (Scott County) estimates that the block grant program has cost the local district about $292,000 in the current school year. That figure is based on an enrollment increase of 47 students, along with weighting factors in the old formula that would have amounted to approximately $225,000. On top of that, the district would have received an additional $67,500 in local option budget (LOB) funding. Rumford did apply to the state for $334,670 in “extraordinary needs” due to lower oil/gas valuations and higher enrollment. The Senate Finance Council awarded $144,146. However, that doesn’t provide the district with additional money in the budget that can be spent on staff or supplies. Instead, that money will be applied to next year’s budget which will lower the tax levy by about twothirds of a mill. This is in contrast to the estimated $292,000 in additional money under the old formula that could have been used to hire staff and for classroom or infrastructure needs. That’s a point also made by Randy Freeman, superintendent of the Dighton school district. Appearing before the same finance council, Freeman requested more than

(See REVENUE on page two)

(See GRANTS on page eight)

Recycling center preparing for changes Recycling in Scott County has been put on temporary hold as the county makes the transition to a new collection center. The county ended its agreement with the Northwest Kansas Regional Recycling Organization on Jan. 1. Since then, it has been in contact with two other companies that accept recycled products. While final details have yet to be worked out, it appears

the county is nearing a contract with Stutzman Refuse Disposal, based in Hutchinson. In the meantime, the recycling center is undergoing some electrical upgrades and other modifications in preparation for new equipment that will be arriving. “We’re waiting for a compactor to arrive. Until we have one we can’t accept recycled material and we don’t want it just piling up,” said Public

406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com

Newly crowned SCHS queen to bring awareness to teen suicides Page 9

Works Director Richard Cramer, explaining part of the reason for the brief shutdown. “This is also an opportunity for us to make some improvements to the building.” A tentative agreement calls for the county to lease a compactor from Stutzman for $400 per month. The center will also have a baler that can bundle cardboard and shredded paper. Originally, it was thought that

Stutzman would offer a singlestream recycling process which meant that all material would be baled together. While not requiring recycled paper to be separated would be much easier for local residents and employees at the center, a downside of single-stream is that the county could no longer accept shredded paper. With the baler, the county will still accept shredded paper.

Leasing the baler will cost $250-$300 per month, but Cramer feels it will cut down on freight costs since recycled material could be more easily bundled. “If we can put cardboard into 1,000 pound bales we’ll get paid for it - not a lot, but we will get something,” Cramer says. “With the single stream

406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com Opinion • Pages 4-6 Calendar • Page 7 Youth/education • Page 9 LEC report • Page 10 Deaths • Page 12

Church services • Page 13 Health care • Pages 14-15 Sports • Pages 17-24 Farm section • Pages 26-27 Classified ads • Pages 29-31

Griffith wins gold at Norton, matmen are fourth Page 17

(See RECYCLE on page two)

Revenue public education from further cuts, what does that leave? “I think the area at greatest risk is higher education,” Hineman notes. “It’s really risky to look at cutting K-12 education given the ongoing lawsuit. We already have a waiting list for social services and mental health services are suffering. I’m afraid the only thing left is higher education.” A ‘Flawed Theory’ Despite a tax cut plan that was based on a “flawed theory,” Hineman doesn’t see the legislature making any changes during the upcoming session even as many state services are being put at risk. “Some people are committed to seeing (the tax cuts) work, which is why there’s not enough

The Scott County Record • Page 2 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

(continued from page one)

support to roll back the tax cuts,” he says. While a growing number of Kansans see the tax policy as a failure, a number of ultra-conservative lawmakers and special interest groups see the policy as a means of accomplishing their two primary objectives which Hineman says is to reduce taxes and shrink government. “Those folks are just fine with what’s happening right now. They’re fine with seeing programs eliminated or cut,” says the state representative. “But I don’t think that’s what the general public wants.” Hineman says a survey of constituents within the 118th District “validates” the results of a survey released in late 2015 by the Docking Institute at Ft. Hays State University.

Recycle process we won’t get paid (for cardboard.” Cramer says the electrical wiring is in place for a baler but will need to be added for the compactor. The NWKRRO recently picked up a final load of recycled material and their baler which left the county with no means of baling any material brought in by residents. Cramer is hopeful the agreement with Stutzman will be signed

In the Docking survey, 67 percent of respondents felt taxes on large corporations should be increased and 61 percent felt Brownback’s tax policy has been “a failure” or a “tremendous failure.” “A lot of the people I’m hearing from want us to go back and fix the 2012 tax cut. They say that increasing the sales tax was the wrong thing to do,” Hineman says. “They feel that the state’s primary obligations are to take care of our highways, education, health care delivery and to balance the budget, which isn’t happening the way it should.” Hineman says that public dissatisfaction with the budget and tax policy cuts across political lines. “When you’re talking about highways, educa-

tion and social services, these are important issues which cut across philosophical boundaries. If you mess with these you do so at your own risk,” Hineman notes. “And there are a lot of people who feel the income tax structure isn’t fair, it’s not right and we need to fix it.” After last year’s recordsetting 113-day session, legislative leadership is promising a much shorter session this year. Sen. President Susan Wagle is promising a 75-day session. “That would be extraordinary,” says Hineman. He says that since this is an election year for the full legislature there’s an added sense of urgency so lawmakers can return home and hit the campaign trail.

Vet’s rep in SC Tuesday

(continued from page one)

shortly and equipment in place to reopen the center. “On the safe side, we said maybe we’d be closed for about four weeks, but I hope that we can reopen in another week, maybe two,” he said. Freight will be a major cost factor with Stutzman with the shipping of recycled material costing the city $2.50 per mile round trip. Cramer is hopeful that

with freight costs of about $1,100 per month, and the leasing of equipment, the county can keep the cost at about $18,000 annually. Annual dues to the NWKRRO had been costing the city just under $20,000. A membership increase that took effect on Jan. 1 would have pushed the annual assessment to $39,488. “Given our location and the few options

“One thing that could make the session move along much faster is the fact we passed a biennial budget last year that’s also good for 2017, so it’s not like we’re starting over with a new budget,” Hineman points out. However, two-year budget that was approved a year ago was also based on certain revenue projections that have yet to happen. The legislature will still have to reach agreement on how to balance expenses with revenue. And if the Supreme Court should issue a ruling that declares state funding of public education unconstitutional, that could blow up the budget process and any plans for a short session. “To be honest, I’m not sure what to expect,” Hineman adds.

that are available to us, I think the agreement with Stutzman is as good as we could hope for,” Cramer says. “We have a lot of people who like to recycle and it’s a service that the county can provide. We’ll never be able to cover our costs. The best we’ll ever be able to do is hold down the cost as much as possible, which is what this agreement will do.”

Jody Tubbs, representing the Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs, will be at the Scott County Library on Tues., Jan. 19, 10:00 a.m., to assist veterans and their dependents with VA claims work. Anyone unable to meet with Tubbs at that time can contact her office in Colby on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays at (785) 462-3572. Support Your Schools

What’s for Lunch in Scott City? Sun. - Sat.,January 17-23 Majestic Theatre Braun’s Butcher Block 420 Main • 872-3840

Weekday Soup Specials

No Membership Required

Hours

Lunch • Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Evenings • Thurs., Fri., Sat. 5:30 -10:00 p.m. Dress casual!

Tues. • Open faced prime rib sandwich with french fries. $10.95 Wed. • Smothered steak with mashed potatoes and gravy $7.95 Thurs. • Reuben sandwich with chips $7.95 Fri. • Pork burrito dinner $6.95

Monday - Chicken Corn Chowder

1211 Main • 872-3215

5Buck Lunch 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Chili Cheese Dog • Deluxe Cheeseburger • 3 Piece Chicken Strips Includes Fries, 21 oz. Drink and Small Sundae

Tuesday - Cheesy Chicken Tortilla

1304 S. Main • 872-5301

Thursday - Cream of Potato with Bacon

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Soup $395 Soup and Drink $495 Soup, Sandwich and Drink $795

Full Buffet

Friday - New England Clam Chowder

Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Closed Sunday

212 Main St., Scott City 620-872-7238

The Scott County Record

Community Living

Page 3 - Thursday, January 14, 2016

Advance directives: a resolution worth keeping There is one resolution I would like everyone to think about this year, and no, it’s not eating healthier and losing weight. It’s end-of-life decisions - also known as advance directives. Each of us should have these documents in place. You don’t have to be “old” to fill out your advance directives, or the papers that tell how you want to be cared for at the end of your life. We don’t know what will happen with our health or when our life will end. The sooner you fill out the directives and make

Births

end-of-life decisions the better off those you love will be able to cope with the unthinkable. There are three types of advance directives that you will need to fill out. None of these documents is difficult to complete nor long. These are Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (which is different and should be sepa-

rate from your Durable Power of Attorney for Financials), the Living Will and the Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) directive. Before you make choices in your directives, we encourage people to discuss options with their family, friends and health care provider. Listen to their opinions, but the final decision is yours to make. We encourage discussion so that there are no surprises when the directives have to be put into place. The more people who know about your

Recipe favorites . . . Fajita-Style Chicken Chili

PARENTS OF SON Travis and Crystal Ludowese, Goodland, announce the birth of their son, Carsten Allen, who was born on Dec. 7, 2015, in Denver, Colo. He weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz. and measured 20-1/4 inches long. He was welcomed home by his big brothers, Taysen and Coltynn. Maternal grandparents are Rex and Sandi Murray, St. Francis. Paternal grandparents are Glen and Janell Ludowese, Scott City. Great-grandparents are Twila Murray, Goodland, and the late Milton Murray, Donna Ruddell, Goodland, and the late Richard Ruddell; Rosetta Tuzicka, Scott City, and the late George Tuzicka; and the late Floyd (Jack) and Vivian Ludowese.

Tips for the kitchen

•If you happen to oversalt a pot of soup, just drop in a peeled potato. The potato will absorb the excess salt. •When boiling eggs, add a pinch of salt to keep the shells from cracking. •Never put citrus fruits or tomatoes in the fridge. The low temperatures degrade the aroma and flavor of these persnickety fruits. •To clean cast iron cookwear, don’t use detergents. Just scrub them with salt and a clean, dry paper towel.

Prep: 15 mins Cook: 6 mins Slow Cook: on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours Ingredients 1 tablespoon canola oil 2-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced diagonally 2 large onions, cut into 1/4-inch slices 2 large sweet red peppers, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices 1 can (15.5 oz.) pink beans, drained and rinsed 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon salt Shredded cheddar, sour cream, guacamole and flour tortillas (optional) Directions Coat slow cooker bowl with nonstick cooking spray. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook 6 minutes, until lightly browned. Cook in 2 batches, if necessary. In slow cooker bowl, layer onions, peppers, cooked chicken and beans. Combine tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt. Pour over beans. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours. Serve with shredded cheddar, sour cream, guacamole and flour tortillas, if using. For easy cleanup: Line your slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Add ingredients as directed in recipe. Once your dish is finished cooking, spoon the food out of your slow cooker and simply dispose of the liner. Do not lift or transport the disposable liner with food inside.

directives, the better chance that they will be done as you chose. In Kansas, advance directives are legally binding and you do not need a lawyer to fill them out. You can get the information that you need at the K-State Extension website (http://search.ksre. ksu.edu/?qt=living+wills) or the Extension office. Another resource is http:// www.wichitamedicalresearch.org/ which also has advance directives. Once you have completed your documents, make sure that you have copies on hand. Give cop-

ies to all your loved ones, your lawyer, the hospital that you use and your doctor. You might even want to carry a copy in your wallet or handbag. But really, what are the differences and why would you want to have them in place? The Living Will is and advance directive that allows you to record in writing what type of care you want at the end of your life. It is basically a list of instructions that your family and health provider must follow. This allows you to have a say or voice in what hap-

pens if, for some reason, you can’t communicate. The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is the document in which you name the person who will oversee to your needs in the event that you cannot and that person will need to follow your orders. This person is called the health care agent. You might have to have more than one agent on board should the first choice not be able or available to meet your needs. (See DIRECTIVES on page 8)

The Scott County Record

Editorial/Opinion

Page 4 - Thursday, January 14, 2016

editorially speaking

Workforce woes:

Tattoos, location aren’t the state’s biggest issues

One has to wonder whether the Brownback Administration is simply delusional, ignorant or some disturbing combination of the two. In just the past week the Kansas Department of Transportation has announced it is transferring 18 employees - including 16 engineers - from Topeka to Lawrence. Reasons given for the move are twofold. KDOT Secretary Mike King says it will put the state’s engineers in closer proximity to research and testing facilities operated by the University of Kansas, which would make sense. The second reason is to stop the loss of a “significant number of good engineers.” Perhaps there’s some merit to the first argument, along with the state saving about $250,000 in building rent. But it ignores the bigger point. It’s highly doubtful that the 25 engineers that KDOT has lost during the past year would have stayed had their jobs been located in Lawrence rather than Topeka. People will follow the money. When budgets are repeatedly cut and wages aren’t keeping pace with the private sector, public employees will look elsewhere. This dilemma also affects the Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Kansas Fish and Game and other state agencies. In order to increase the field of candidates from which it can choose, the KHP is looking at the prospect of waiving its policy that prohibits troopers from having visible tattoos. If the policy is changed, maybe it will help . . . in the very short term. But even a state trooper with a tattoo needs to make a living. The same is true of KDOT engineers. The cost of living isn’t lower in Lawrence than it is in Topeka. Here’s the second part to the Administration’s loose grip on the facts. Following last week’s announcement that Kansas City outfielder Alex Gordon had inked a $72 million contract to remain with the Royals, the governor’s office took to Twitter boasting that Gordon would save about $1.8 million a year on his taxes by living in Kansas rather than California. However, the governor’s crack research team whiffed on at least three major issues. 1) The Royals are located in Missouri, not Kansas. 2) Gordon lives in Nebraska, not Kansas. 3) And Major League Baseball players are required to pay income taxes in every state where they play during the season, which means he will still be paying taxes to California when the team plays on the road against the Los Angeles Angels. Eileen Hawley, the governor’s spokeswoman, said that the governor’s office did not check where Gordon files taxes before twittering. They were trying to use the situation as a “fun way” to promote the state’s income tax policy. As for making up your own facts, well, that’s half the fun.

Figure the odds:

Texting drivers are the real ‘terrorist’ threat

Here, for those having problems recognizing it, is reality: You’re not going to die at the hands of a terrorist. The odds are 63.8 million to one. You are not going to win the lottery. The last one had odds of 292 million to one. Yet we will get behind the wheel of a car and drive Kansas roads unconcerned that we are 7,194 times more likely to die driving Kansas roads than we are likely to win the Powerball. We have one chance in 8,868 of dying in a crash here in Kansas sometime this year - unless you’re texting, in which case your odds of crashing are substantially greater. Each year cell phones are involved in 1.6 million auto crashes causing a half million injuries and taking 6,000 lives. This is because cell phones take a driver’s eyes off the road for five seconds - during which the vehicle, at 55 mph, travels roughly the length of a football field. But the average textingrelated crash occurs three seconds after the driver is distracted - or about 60 yards down the highway. Texting while driving is six times more likely to cause an auto crash than driving while intoxicated. That is because a drunk is aware he is driving on the road whereas texters think they’re in control because they aren’t drunk. This means we’re six times more likely to crash with someone texting than with someone drinking. Yet for some reason dying at the hands of terrorists has fixated our fear to the point that we want to trash Constitutional guarantees of our own freedom to make ourselves feel safer. On average during the past few years, five persons nationwide died at the hands of foreign terrorists in America. This year 6,000 of us will die in an accident involving cell phones. You do the math. - Clay Center Dispatch

Brownback’s pyramid scheme If you thought the budget fiasco in Kansas was bad before, then brace yourself. Here’s the rest of the story. By now, you may be familiar with how the Brownback Administration has been tapping into the Kansas Department of Transportation - halfjokingly referred to as the Bank of KDOT - to fill the growing pothole known as the budget deficit. What you may not know is how Gov. Sam Brownback and Republican leadership in the Kansas Legislature have been pulling off a budget scheme that would make Bernie Madoff proud. When the state budget was approved last spring, it included a provision - at the request of Brownback - to suspend the KDOT debt cap for 2016 and 2017. The goal wasn’t to embark on a spending binge to improve highways and bridges across the state. Instead, lawmakers had discovered a means by which they could circumvent the balanced budget

requirement of the state’s constitution. And they were attempting to do so with as little fanfare as possible. State Rep. Don Hineman (R-Dighton) said there was not widespread understanding last spring that the debt limit had been suspended. “The chairs of the Ways and Means and Appropriations committees claim this was public knowledge, but I don’t remember it ever being brought up and neither do my colleagues. We would have remembered if something this important had been brought to our attention,” says Hineman. Attempts by the governor and legislative leaders to conceal their activity was further highlighted by the issuance of another $400 million in bonds on Dec. 2 which was supposedly for the T-Works highway improvement

program. This raised KDOT’s bonded indebtedness to a record-setting $1.2 billion. However, knowledge of this latest $400 million bond issue didn’t surface until two weeks after the fact and only after it was discovered by the media. What lawmakers did was apparently legal though arguably unethical. “It’s pretty obvious the plan is to use this money to fill part of the hole in the general fund,” notes Hineman. “This is reckless fiscal policy. You do not take out long-term debt to pay your current bills. That’s not conservative and it’s not responsible.” How long term is the representative talking about? He saw the prospectus for the recent $400 million bond issue and the first principal payment is not due until 2025. “We’re borrowing the money now to pay this year’s bills and we won’t start paying the principal for another 10 years,” emphasized Hineman. “How can you endorse this pol-

icy and call yourself a fiscal conservative?” Just in case you were wondering, that’s seven years after Brownback leaves office. In all likelihood, a number of the ultraconservative lawmakers who are also responsible for this disastrous fiscal policy will also be out of the legislature by that time and enjoying their annual Christmas cards from the Koch brothers. These so-called conservatives are decimating the sound budget principles that have long been the foundation of Kansas government. Bearing the brunt of this morally bankrupt policy will be those in Kansas who can least afford it as well as our children and their children who will have no choice but to pick up the tab. We’ve seen it before. It’s strikingly similar to the pyramid scheme used by Wall Street scam artists who promise huge returns on investments, but deliver on those promises by continually attracting (See SCHEME on page six)

Don’t underestimate Trump’s rage For Democrats who might be rooting for Donald Trump, thinking he would be easy to beat in November, I have some advice: Be careful what you wish for. In his campaign, or rampage, Trump has done more than take a sledgehammer to the Republican Party. He almost seems to be reinventing politics in a way that makes both major parties seem hidebound, sluggish and concerned mostly with selfperpetuation - which, in fact, they are. When he announced his candidacy, no one outside of Trump’s household dreamed he would be dominating the Republican field with three weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses. Given the way he has set the agenda for the campaign, it’s tempting to call him a master strategist

Where to Write

another view by Eugene Robinson

- except I don’t believe he has a strategy. Or needs one. Instead, Trump is guided by instinct. The whole campaign has been like his stream-of-consciousness Twitter feed or his improvisational jazz-riff campaign speeches. He tests a new theme and gauges the response. If it’s working, he pushes harder; if not, he moves on. Kick out the illegal immigrants and build a wall on the border. Bar Muslims from entry because they might be terrorists. Abolish gun-free zones, even in schools. Many of Trump’s positions are abhorrent. Many are inconsistent with traditional American values, Republican Party dogma,

Gov. Sam Brownback 2nd Floor - State Capitol Topeka, Ks. 66612-1501 (785) 296-3232

various articles of the Constitution and Trump’s own views in the past. But substance is, in a way, less important than style. Trump couldn’t possibly do half of what he promises, and probably doesn’t really want to do much of the rest. The important thing is that Trump, by being transgressive in the way he speaks, gives listeners the license to be transgressive in the way they think. When he rails against “political correctness,” he’s talking about the manners and courtesies that many of us would call being “civil.” But his in-your-face bullying strikes a chord with the large segment of the Republican electorate that is tired of being polite: lower-middle-class, n o n -co lleg e-ed u cated white voters who have not prospered over the

Sen. Pat Roberts 109 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-4774 roberts.senate.gov/email.htm

past two decades and see demographic change as a threat. Trump was quick to understand how angry the Republican base is with the party establishment. Vote for us, GOP leaders said, and we’ll stop illegal immigration, repeal the Affordable Care Act, slash spending to the bone, reduce the long-term federal debt and basically stop everything President Obama is trying to do. They failed to deliver and now someone is calling them on it. For Trump, saying outrageous things that would end any other politician’s campaign or career is no risk. On the contrary, it’s a necessity. His appeal to primary voters involves a baldfaced appeal to racial and ethnic animus; he gives his supporters permission (See RAGE on page seven)

Sen. Jerry Moran 141 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-6521 www.house.gov/moranks01/

Time for a pro-worker economic prescription by Richard Kirsch

The conventional wisdom in Washington is that tax breaks for corporations lead to economic growth. Tax assistance for working families, on the other hand, may help them make ends meet, but it doesn’t have much impact on the economy. The conventional wisdom has it backwards. And so did Congress, when it wrestled through a huge tax package that gave corporations plenty to celebrate as lawmakers finished their work for 2015. If we’re going to drive our economy forward and provide economic security to Americans, we need to get this right. And so does the next president. In the year-end deal, Republicans led the charge for extending corporate tax breaks, racking up more than $351 billion worth over 10 years. Democrats, meanwhile, pushed for boosting tax credits for lowwage workers and people with children. In all, those breaks for the rest of us added up to $118 billion - less than half as much as the corporate tax breaks. This balance fits the pro-corporate prescription for economic growth put out by virtually every Republican presidential candidate. But according to an economic analysis by Moody’s - an economic research service aimed at the business world - working family tax credits would boost the economy by many times more than corporate tax breaks. Moody’s reports that allowing businesses to write off investment expenses more quickly leads to 29 cents in economic growth for every one dollar in reduced corporate taxes. More generally, they say, cutting corporate tax rates leads to 32 cents in economic growth for every dollar corporations don’t pay in taxes. There’s much more bang for our buck in the credits for working families. The biggest of those is the Earned Income Tax Credit, a break for low-wage working people that boosts the economy by $1.23 for every dollar. The tax credit for childcare is even better, with a return of $1.38. The bottom line is that these $351 billion in corporate tax breaks over ten years will increase economic growth by about $105 billion. But the $118 billion in tax credits for working families will boost the economy by about $149 billion. In other words, working family tax credits will drive over 40 percent more economic growth at one-third the cost. The reason? Virtually every dollar returned to working people gets pumped back into the local economy. Families spend the money on basics, like rent, childcare, groceries, getting to work, and doctor’s bills. Despite what big businesses tell us, reducing corporate taxes has little impact on investment or jobs. Corporations only decide to invest in a new place or hire more people when they believe they can sell more products not when the taxes they pay on those sales go down. Instead of spending those tax breaks on new hires, corporations are more likely to hike CEO pay and pad their stock price and dividends. So why is the conventional wisdom so wrong? Because corporate front groups and lobbyists - some 1,400 of them in Congress - have spent years peddling the tall tale that corporations are job creators (See ECONOMIC on page six)

The Scott County Record • Page 5 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

outrage in Oregon Armed takeover of federal building gives protest a bad name by John Kiriakou

The armed men occupying an isolated federal building in a remote Oregon bird sanctuary say they won’t leave until the federal government stops its “tyranny.” Yet it’s not clear what that tyranny is, exactly. One of the group’s leaders is Ammon Bundy, who, along with his brother, participated in their father Cliven’s fight against the federal Bureau of Land Management in 2014, when the government tried to move the elder Bundy’s cattle off protected land. Their tense standoff with federal authorities became a cause célèbre among many movement conservatives. That protest took on a life of its own, with anti-government activists around the country converging on the Bundy farm in Nevada to show their support. In the end, the feds gave up and walked away. It was initially less clear what the younger Bundy wants, besides snacks and Facebook donations. He’s since told reporters that he essentially wants two things. First, he wants the federal government to relinquish control of the wildlife refuge where he and his friends are holed up, “so people can reclaim their resources.” Second, he wants a lighter sentence for a local rancher and his son. They’re serving time after being convicted of committing arson on federal land. There’s a range of broader principles at

About 100 protesters gathered January 2 in Burns, Ore., for a rally in support of a local father and son facing prison time for arson.

play in the actions of Bundy and his followers. They don’t just argue that farmers shouldn’t pay federal grazing fees, or that the federal government owns too much land. They say that government’s out of control, and the constitution must be defended. (Don’t take our guns away, either, they add.) You get the idea. As somebody who’s been on the receiving end of the federal government’s wrath, part of me wants to sympathize with them. I actually do agree that government is out of control. We have far too many prosecutions for piddling crimes in America. We have draconian mandatory minimum sentences, especially in drug cases. Solitary confinement is so severe here that the United Nations has deemed it a form of torture. But whatever the particulars of the case against the ranchers that started the protests - they were charged under antiterrorism laws for burning grazing land

- the federal government has gone very easy on Bundy and his friends. When cult leader David Koresh decided back in 1993 that he was going to barricade himself in a compound with his followers and his guns, federal agents attacked, resulting in the deaths of 80 people. The previous year at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, three people died, including a U.S. marshal, when federal authorities opened fire on Randy Weaver and his family after Weaver missed a court date. Both of those disasters loom large in the imaginations of militia-minded anti-government activists. Yet maybe Bundy and his clan don’t understand how good they have it: One can only wonder whether the feds would be standing idly by if Bundy and his white, heavily armed followers were African-American, Latino or Muslim. Fortunately, we have processes in our country that allow us to challenge the (See OREGON on page six)

Building a wall of campaign dishonesty by Jim Hightower

In a faraway land, a long time ago, a civilization existed that was governed through a fairly rational political system. Even conservative candidates for high office had to have a good idea or two - and be quasiqualified. That land was the USA. It still exists as a place, but these days, Republican candidates don’t even have to be sane much less qualified - to run for the highest office in the land. All they need is the backing of one or more billionaires, a hot fear-button issue to exploit, and a talent for pandering without shame to the most fanatical clique of know-nothings in their party. (See WALL on page six)

Glacial pace of Medicaid expansion Kansas needs to get moving on a realistic plan The best that can be said of expanding Medicaid eligibility in Kansas is that it’s a journey. At a well-attended forum on Tuesday at Johnson County Community College, Sen. Jeff King (R-Independence) predicted that expansion is at least 16 months away. “It’s not going to be short. It’s not going to be easy. It may not be this year,” King said. He’s right about the long and difficult part. Kansas already has stalled so long it has passed the three-year window in which the federal government would pay the full cost of the expansion. Ditto for Missouri. About 150,000 people in Kansas and twice that many in Missouri are believed to be uninsured because of the states’ failure to increase Medicaid eligibility to the threshold called for in the federal Affordable Care Act. But King’s presence and posture at the event - sponsored by local chambers of commerce, hospitals and businesses signified a sort of progress. The senator is conservative on most issues and used to avidly oppose expanding Medicaid.

behind the headlines by Barbara Shelly

Then Mercy Hospital of Independence closed because of financial problems, leaving the town without a hospital. “The hospital I was born in, the hospital my kids were born in, is gone,” King said. “I know Medicaid expansion is not a panacea, but my constituents would have other options if we had it.” King did something rare for politicians today. Instead of digging in on his party’s ideology, he did some research. It involved spending a day with Dr. Julie Griffin, who runs a health center in Coffeyville, Kan. King met some of Griffin’s patients - people who work hard for low pay and suffer the health effects of poverty. Some were slowly dying, King said. The encounters changed his perspective. He now wants to consider a “Kansas-based” Medicaid expansion plan, one that won’t cost the state’s general fund and is done through private insurers. King’s stance is a far cry from an email missive sent out by Gov. Sam Brownback’s deputy communications director in October. “Medicaid expansion creates new entitlements for able-bodied adults without dependents, prioritizing those who

choose not to work before intellectually, developmentally and physically disabled, the frail and elderly, and those struggling with mental health issues,” Melika Willoughby wrote. “This isn’t just bad policy, this is morally reprehensible.” Brownback and Willoughby should take a page from King’s book and get to know some potential Medicaid recipients before they deride them as lazy couch surfers. Perhaps they, too, should spend a day with Griffin. Doug Leonard, president of the Indiana Hospital Association, addressed that topic. “The fact that we have turned ‘ablebodied people’ into a pejorative is wrong,” he said. “There’s a personal story with each one of those people.” Leonard was in attendance to talk about the Healthy Indiana Plan, which expands Medicaid eligibility to state residents who make up to 138 percent of the poverty level. It requires all participants to make a monthly payment, ranging from $1 to $27, depending on family size and incomes. Those contributions fund “personal wellness and responsibility” accounts, which work like health savings accounts. Experts say the Indiana plan stresses personal responsibility more than other states’ expansion mechanisms, making it attractive to conservative states still (See MEDICAID on page six)

The Scott County Record • Page 6 • January 14, 2016

AG Schmidt still living in era of ‘reefer madness’ by Patrick Lowry

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt wants to know whether Colorado marijuana is causing any problems in Kansas. He has heard it does, but doesn’t have data to support the position. So the AG has made requests of every county and district attorney, sheriff and chief of police throughout the state to survey them about their

experience with Colorado marijuana in their jurisdictions. “There are numerous and persistent anecdotal accounts of marijuana acquired in Colorado and illegally transported into Kansas causing harm here,” Schmidt said in a press release. “But because of technology limits, the confirming data is elusive. Since Colorado’s experiment with legalization is affecting Kansas, we need to

We don’t live in the “Reefer Madness” era any longer. Medical marijuana is proving to be a safe, reliable, cost-effective and in some cases the only treatment that works for a variety of illnesses and disease. People are moving from Kansas to Colorado, one of 23 states plus the nation’s capital that has approved marijuana for medicinal purposes, for that reason alone. Will the attorney general survey the medical community for a counterpoint?

know more about what is actually happening here so policymakers can make informed decisions. “We need data that shows what is actually happening in Kansas as the result of Colorado’s

Oregon Scheme

experiment. In my view, any response needs to be thoughtful and informed by factual data, not emotions.” Apparently the Kansas Incident Based Reporting System, which tracks

criminal justice information, does not identify the source of marijuana involved with a reporting incident. We only can assume the sources of heroin, alcohol, prescription drugs and huffing devices aren’t identified either, but Schmidt very specifically is attempting to assess the “Colorado marijuana phenomenon.” The question we have is why? Possession, use and sale of marijuana is illegal in Kansas. It

doesn’t matter whether it comes from Colorado, California or Colombia. Sentencing guidelines don’t discriminate based on origin, either. We suspect the AG merely is debating whether to join Nebraska and Oklahoma in their pointless lawsuit against Colorado, and their claims of harm caused by the illegal importation of marijuana from Colorado.

corporations while further limiting the ability of government to perform its duties. Further cuts to our social services safety net, toward the public education of Kansas children and in the state’s infrastructure that we all rely upon are of small consequence. How different is this from the disdain that Madoff had for the victims of his financial fraud that resulted

in guilty pleas to 11 federal felonies and earned him 150 years in prison? Only there will be no jail time for the fiscal shenanigans committed by Brownback and his coconspirators. Instead, it will be up to future lawmakers - if they choose to act responsibly - and our children to clean up one helluva mess.

(See MADNESS on page 7)

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government without taking up arms or holing up in federal buildings. They’re called elections. Don’t like a law or a federal policy? Petition your member of Congress - that’s a constitutional right. We can also march in the streets, solicit support in the press, and file lawsuits. It’s the American way. Taking over a federal building at the point of a rifle, on the other hand, gives protest a bad name. If we all protested that way, our country might look more like Somalia than the land of the free. John Kiriakou is an associate fellow with the Institute for Policy Studies

Economic (continued from page five)

“new” money from unsuspecting clients that is then redistributed to their earlier investors. In this case, the “new” money is hundreds of millions of dollars in long-term debt that’s being used to help pay off those who have received hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks. What lawmakers are doing may not be in di-

rect violation of the state’s Constitution, but it’s “a violation of the spirit of the Constitution,” argues Hineman. We would take that a step further and argue that if it’s not criminal then it ought to be. Not that any of that matters to the ideologues in the Brownback Administration or those who hold down leadership po-

Republicans would rather be shot than agree with Obama by Andy Borowitz

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) Following President Obama’s nationally televised town hall about guns in America, a new poll shows that a majority of Republicans would rather actually be shot by a firearm than agree with him. In an indication of the challenges facing the President in persuading Republicans, those surveyed named a wide variety of specific guns that they would choose to be personally shot by rather than seeing eye to eye with Obama. When asked to state their preference, 43 percent stated “handgun,” 27 percent replied “shotgun,” 21 percent responded “assault rifle,” while only two percent named “agreeing with Obama.” The poll results are reminiscent of a poll taken last month about climate change, in which a majority of Republicans said they would rather see their habitat destroyed by rising sea levels than agree with President Obama.

who need lower taxes to do what they do best. Like any myth, repeating it over and over again makes it more believable, even when it’s not true. Clearly, working and middle-class families are the engines of the economy. When people have good jobs that can support their families, that provides more customers for businesses and boosts the economy. Remember this when Andy Borowitz is a comedian and author the Republican candidate for president tells you that instead of raising the minimum wage or making childcare or college (continued from tuition more affordable, page five) we should cut corporate taxes. Also, they must be able to wall themselves off from It’s not just a matter of reality so that facts and truth cannot deter them. what’s fair - it’s that fairIndeed, the GOP’s “One Great Issue” of the 2016 ness is the biggest driver Campaign is: The Wall. Ted Cruz practically snarls of economic growth. when he declares again and again that he’ll “build a wall that works.” Marco Rubio is absolute about it Richard Kirsch is a senior fellow at the Roosevelt Institute - “We must secure our physical boarder with a wall, and a senior adviser to US- absolutely.” Action And Donnie Trump has basically built his campaign atop his fantasy of such an imperial edifice - “We’re going to do a wall,” he commands. There are, of course, certain problems that you might expect them to address, such as the exorbitant cost of the thing, the extensive environmental damage it’ll do, and the futility of thinking that people aren’t clever enough to get around, over, under, or through any wall. But don’t hold your breath waiting for any common sense to intrude on their macho posturing. Trump even made a TV ad depicting hordes of marauding Mexicans invading our country - proof that a huuuuuuge wall is necessary! Only . . . the film footage he used is not of Mexican migrants, but of Moroccans fleeing into Spain. But after all, when trying to stir up fear of foreigners, what does honesty have to do with it?

Wall

sitions in the legislature. They aren’t concerned with whether massive income tax cuts represent good policy or whether using long-term debt from KDOT to pay current salaries and utility bills is morally responsible. They are much more concerned with fulfilling the ultraconservative goal of giving tax breaks to the wealthiest individuals and

Medicaid considering the move. The Indiana plan has covered 136,000 former Medicaid recipients and an additional 219,000 newly eligible subscribers, Leonard said. Nearly 1,000 new medical providers, including 335 physicians, have joined the network. Indiana is paying for its portion of the expansion through a higher tobacco tax and payments from hospitals, Leonard said. It is not expected to cost the general fund. Sen. Jim Denning (R-Overland Park) called Indiana’s plan “unsustainable” and predicted it would cost the state money as early as next year. Asked for his source on that forecast, Denning cited a pessimistic blog post on the Forbes website. Leonard said Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s administration already had rebutted many of the

Rage

to bemoan the fact that “they” - Mexicans and Muslims, primarily, but also African Americans and uppity women - are changing the nation. Trump’s arena-size rallies have become set pieces in which big, boisterous crowds get to act out their “Make America Great Again” fantasies. If protesters didn’t show up to advocate the Black Lives Matter movement or tolerance toward Muslims, Trump would have to hire actors to play those parts. Antagonists are necessary for the moments of catharsis when interlopers are identified, scorned Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public and physically ejected. It speaker and author is theater, not politics, a symbolic enactment of the grand purification Trump promises. The other candidate

Rod Haxton can be reached at editor@screcord.com

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allegations in the post, and he described the post as “really nonsense.” Several analyses, including one recently done for the Kansas Hospital Association, have projected that Kansas could afford its share of Medicaid expansion through new revenues from providers and by shifting current state costs, such as health care for prisoners and individuals with mental illnesses, into the Medicaid program. Denning said he didn’t believe that expansion in Kansas would ever be “budget neutral.” The forum provided for the kind of substantive discussion of Medicaid expansion that the Kansas Legislature refuses to have. While nearly all Democrats and a number of Republicans favor it, conservatives who control the House and Senate refuse to move forward. Recently, House leader-

ship booted three moderate Republicans who support expanded eligibility off the committee that considers health issues. Besides lawmakers, the forum included businessman Terry Dunn, former Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary Robert Moser and former Kansas Senate president Dave Kerr of Hutchinson. All spoke repeatedly of the need for Brownback and the Legislature to “begin to have the conversation.” But as Tom Bell, president of the Kansas Hospital Association, noted, this is the fourth year Medicaid expansion has been on the table and the only plan of action is to begin a conversation. “That’s a problem,” Bell said. It is. Let’s hope it doesn’t take 16 months to resolve the problem. Barbara Shelly is a columnist for the Kansas City Star

(continued from page four)

touching a nerve with the cultural and economic left-behinds - minus the racism - is Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, who is also kind of an un-politician. This is a bad year to rule anything out, so maybe Sanders will win both Iowa and New Hampshire and go on to seriously challenge Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. But if he falls short, the eventual GOP nominee will face a formidable and experienced politician who cannot possibly run as anti-establishment. If the Republican nominee is Trump, do you believe for a minute he would consider himself bound by the things he said during the primaries? I don’t.

Trump can hardly back away from his categorical pledge on immigration - to expel 11 million undocumented migrants and build a wall along the border with Mexico - so maybe that would energize Latino voters in support of Clinton. But he would do everything possible to lower passions among other loyal Democrats while stoking them among the new “take back the country” voters he hopes to turn out. How disgusted is the country with traditional politics and politicians? Democrats had better explore that question - or be surprised by the answer. Eugene Robinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and former assistant managing editor for The Washington Post

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The Scott County Record • Page 7 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Madness While Schmidt claims he doesn’t want any responses informed by emotions, the very requests for information his office sent out suggest otherwise. The introductory paragraph signals the AG’s feelings on the matter: “As you know, the State of Colorado in recent years has moved toward ‘legalizing’ marijuana under state law including enacting in 2010 a statutory scheme for the distribution of ‘medical’ marijuana and in 2012 a further expansion of state law to allow for the possession, use, and sale of certain amounts of marijuana for recreational purposes.” The use of quotation marks is telling. And we weren’t the only ones to spot them. Bleeding Kansas, a group advocating decriminalization of marijuana, wrote in its own press release: “Does

(continued from page six)

AG Schmidt think that democracy is an ‘experiment?’ Colorado law was changed by a vote of the people, via ballot initiative.” The same goes for “medical” marijuana. It is obvious the attorney general doesn’t believe there is such a thing, or at least finds it suspect. That perspective is fine, providing he doesn’t attempt to persuade others of his personal views in any professional endeavors. Using them in his official request of local officials, while citing state law as the basis for that request, gives a misleading impression. The judicial and law enforcement personnel certainly will have to comply with Schmidt’s request. The “data,” however, likely will be suspect. As the AG advises in the request, officials will describe why they “believe” any marijuana came from Colorado. That

is not hard data. And we hope the AG does not treat it as such. Rather than expend resources attempting to reinforce archaic moral stances, the AG and other state leaders need to respond to the will of the people. Results from last spring’s Kansas Speaks survey, conducted by FT. Hays State University’s Docking Institute, reveal almost two-thirds of Kansans favor approving medical marijuana. Almost as many support the decriminalization of the drug for recreational use. We don’t live in the “Reefer Madness” era any longer. Medical marijuana is proving to be a safe, reliable, cost-effective and in some cases the only treatment that works for a variety of illnesses and disease. People are moving from Kansas to Colorado, one of 23 states plus the nation’s

capital that has approved marijuana for medicinal purposes, for that reason alone. Will the attorney general survey the medical community for a counterpoint? Additionally, four states plus the District of Columbia allow recreational marijuana. Eleven more states are close to approving it. Why? As Bleeding Kansas pointed out: “The rate of absolutely zero deaths from a marijuana overdose remained steady from last year, according to figures released this month by the Centers for Disease Control.” Piling up even more anecdotal evidence might curry favor for the attorney general with a decided minority of Kansans. We would hope the AG doesn’t expend too much time, or taxpayer dollars, fighting a losing battle. Patrick Lowry is editor of the Hays Daily News

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The Scott County Record • Page 8 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Grants $182,000 to offset a sharp drop in oil/gas valuations and the district received $150,679. “There’s a perception that we got this extra cash, which didn’t happen. It means we can lower property taxes by that amount,” emphasizes Freeman. “We didn’t get extra money that we can spend on our students or staff.” Winners and Losers In one sense, the Dighton district wasn’t a “loser” under the block grant plan because it saw an enrollment drop this year. With block grants, state funding is frozen at the 2014-15 level for two years. Where an enrollment drop would have meant reduced funding for many districts, that won’t happen during the two years the block grant program is in place. “For us, the block grant plan worked out well this year,” Freeman says. But that doesn’t mean he supports the program. “We have students who need extra assistance because of their socio-economic background, nonEnglish speaking students and others who require more resources that we don’t get under block grants,” notes Freeman. “The old formula was well thought out. It took into consideration a lot of variables. It was fair.” The Wichita County school district wasn’t so fortunate under the block grant plan, losing between

Directives (continued from page three)

This document is different than the one you would have your lawyer draw up for your financial needs. It is wise that you have different people on these two documents. This health care agent also has the right to make treatment decisions for you, who can take care of you and to receive and review your medical records. A health care agent cannot revoke a previous existing document regarding your wishes such as a Living Will. The DNR prevents you from receiving medical care needed to save your life. Most terminally ill people and older people have these. A DNR does not allow another person to remove you from life support. A DNR is a directive that expresses your desire to not to be resuscitated should you not be breathing or your heart stops. I can’t emphasize how important it is to have these documents in place. I will be happy to share more. to reach me, the Scott County Extension Office phone number is 620-872-2930.

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$40,000 and $60,000 compared to what it would have received under the old finance formula, according to Supt. Keith Higgins. “Under the old formula we would have received credit for our enrollment increase. By the time you figure at-risk students and other weighting factors, (block grants) really hurt us,” he says. Higgins points out the district was able to take advantage of the weighting factor for ESL students. They would receive additional money for the time students were in a classroom with a staff member who was ESL certified. “Our ESL population is increasing with kids from Mexico and California who aren’t fluent in English. That weighting helped in terms of hiring staff, getting (computer) software and other things which aided classroom instruction,” says the superintendent. “In this part of the country, the increase in job opportunities are in those areas that bring in transient labor. A lot of those are not Englishspeaking families.” Impact in the Classroom If ESL students can’t get the instruction they need at an early age that places a greater burden on the district and also has long-term consequences the longer that students struggle with their English skills. “The extra funding

we receive helps pay for one-on-one instruction,” Higgins says. “As this funding dries up, you’re limited in what you can do.” The district already has a difficult time hiring and retaining para-professionals for the ESL program at $8 an hour. “We’ve been fortunate to hang onto the paras we already have, but it’s difficult finding new people. We don’t have the money to put into the program and you can’t expect people to survive on $8 an hour, even with health benefits.” Fear More Cuts While most districts feel block grants have put them in a maintenance mode for two years, there’s also concern that the worst is yet to come. Of immediate concern is how the legislature will respond to declining state revenue and at what point it will try to fill the budget gap with money that had been promised to public education. “I can see them cutting our distributions,” worries Higgins. “We’re being as frugal as we can be until we know what money we’re actually going to receive.” Freeman says the Dighton district has enough cash reserves in its contingency fund to get through the current school year, but doesn’t know what to expect beyond 2015-16. “Could we get by another year under block

grants? I don’t know. It depends on how much of my contingency I have to use up,” he says. And while the Scott County district has been able to rebuild its reserves to about $1.6 million, he’s also quick to point out that the board of education was forced to take some major cost-cutting steps two years ago in order to close an unexpected $1.1 million budget hole. The result was some staff cuts that provided immediate budget relief, but which the district wants to restore. Additional hirings will also be necessary to meet the continued growth in enrollment. Rumford is worried, however, that the board’s cost-cutting moves could be held against it in the future. When the district was awarded extraordinary needs funds last October, Rumford says one of the Senate Finance Council members said he wanted to see cash balance reports. “If we’re making gains in our reserves, like we did this year, that could hurt us next year when we apply again for extraordinary needs funding,” Rumford says. “They want us to spend down our reserves, but when you never know from year to year whether the state will provide us the money they’ve promised, or when that money will arrive, then we need those reserves to fulfill our obligations.”

The Scott County Record

Youth/Education

Pageant winner to put focus on teen suicide

As the newly crowned queen in the Junior Miss division of the Princess of America Pageant, Shelby McLachlan had no hesitation about where to focus her attention during the upcoming year. “They have what is called a Crown with a Cause and you’re expected to do community service,” says the sophomore at Scott Community High School. She has chosen to work with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “My best friend killed himself in February,” explains the 16-year-old. “I don’t want people to feel the pain that he, his family and his friends felt. I don’t think enough people take teen suicide seriously enough. Hopefully, I can help change that.” Pageants aren’t new to McLachlan who watched her older sister, Shannon, who was a Miss Kansas Homecoming Queen in 2013. Shannon helped coach Shelby in preparation for the Princess of America Pageant which was held in Kansas City on Jan. 10. Shelby was competing in the 16-18-year-old division. The areas of competition include interview, personal introduction and formal wear. “My sister got me started in this. I always admired the girls on stage because they had so much more confidence than I did,” she says. Next stop for the new Junior Miss will be the national competi-

Have questions about the Scott Commnity Foundation? Call 872-3790

16 area students earn FHSU honors

Sixteen students from Scott, Lane and Wichita counties have been named to the fall semester Dean’s Honor Roll at Ft. Hays State Universitiy. To be eligible, students must have enrolled in 12 or more credit hours and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Virtual College students are eligible. Area honor students include: Dighton: Amelia Borell, a freshman majoring in biology (pre-med and pre-dentistry track); Clayton Capra, a senior majoring in music education; and Hannah Speer, a senior majoring in agriculture (animal science). Healy: Shannon Ballinger, a senior majoring in education; and Kiara Sharp, a junior majoring in English. Scott City: Zachery

Glass, a sophomore majoring in computer science; Riley Hawker, a sophomore majoring in general studies (massage therapy); Dakota Hayes, a senior majoring in health and human performance; Warren Kropp, a sophomore majoring in biology (pre-physical therapy); Callan Rice, a junior majoring in early childhood unified; and Megan Thornburg, a sophomore majoring in radiologic technology. Leoti: Kassandra Baker, a senior majoring in tourism and hospitality management; Jesus Gallegos-Ornelas, a junior majoring in accounting (public); Clancy Masterson, a senior majoring in elementary education; and Teneille Whitham, a junior majoring in nursing. Marienthal: Tracey Baker, a senior majoring in education.

Animal science academy for high school students Princess of America Junior Miss winner Shelby McLachlan

tion at Branson, Mo., in August. About 200 girls will be competing in the four age divisions.

Midwest grant puts behavioral health books into local libraries Compass Behavioral Health has been awarded a $550 donation from the Midwest Energy Community Fund fall disbursement. Funds will be used to increase behavioral health knowledge within the community. The Scott County and Wichita County libraries have each received 20 books. Displays in the libraries will also bring them to the public’s attention. Compass provides comprehensive behavioral health services to 13 Southwest Kansas counties, covering nearly 11,000 square miles. Counties served are: Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Hodgeman, Kearny, Lane, Morton, Scott, Stanton and Wichita. “We work to ensure the behavioral health services we offer are comprehensive, competent and accessible,” says Kent Hill, regional director for Compass Behavioral Health. The Midwest Community Fund awards grants twice a year; application deadlines are March 1 and October 1. Applications are being accepted now for disbursements later this spring. Interested organizations should visit www. mwenergy.com and the “Community” tab, for guidelines and an application.

Page 9 - Thursday, January 14, 2016

Shelby is the daughter of David and Debi Scott, Healy, and Gerald McLachlan, Pittsburg.

Dighton royalty

Students with an interest in the livestock industry and related careers can apply now for the Kansas State University Animal Sciences Leadership Academy. The academy is an intensive four-day educational experience designed to enhance the leadership skills and animal science knowledge of students in ninth through 12th grades. The academy’s goal is to develop young leaders within the livestock industry and prepare them for a successful future in this field. “The experiences gained through KASLA will help develop your understanding of the industry and ignite your potential as a young leader in agriculture,” said 2015 participant Molly Bertz of Mayview, Mo. Sessions will take place June 8-11 and June 29-July 2 in Manhattan. Students may apply

for one or both dates. Applications are due April 1 and can be found at http://www. YouthLivestock.KSU. edu. The program’s itinerary will feature interactive workshops, tours and faculty mentor time with animal science professors. Industry leaders will also join the participants frequently to share their knowledge and expertise. Throughout the week, participants will work in teams to evaluate current events within the animal science industry and educate others. The program also focuses on developing personal leadership skills through workshops and activities. Only 20 students will be accepted for each session. Contact academy director Sharon Breiner with questions at sbreiner@ksu.edu or 785-5326533.

George, Tankersley earn degrees from Kansas State Crowned king and queen during the Dighton High School winter Homecoming prior to the basketball game with Quinter last Friday evening were Michael Hanna and Kiara Budd. (Record Photo)

Tyrel George, Scott City, and Tasha Tankersley, Leoti, are among nearly 1,450 students who completed degree requirements in December at Kansas State University. George earned a master of science degree and Tankersley earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness.

State health plan would include educators

A tentative plan to save Kansas government more than $2 billion over five years relies heavily on proposed changes to the state employee health plan and Medicaid. The report, written by the New York-based consulting firm of Alvarez and Marsal under a $2.6 million contract with the state, includes 105 recommendations for “achieving major cost savings.” Lawmakers and Gov.

Proposal would hike out-of-pocket costs Sam Brownback have struggled to balance the state budget in recent years due to sharp drops in revenue, caused in part by income tax cuts approved in 2012. Last year, they were forced to approve large sales and tobacco tax increases to avert a $400 million budget shortfall. They start this year’s

session facing a projected $190 million deficit in the fiscal year 2017 budget, which they must balance and approve before adjourning. Outlining the savings report Tuesday to members of the House Appropriations Committee, Melissa Glynn, a managing director of the firm, acknowl-

edged that some recommendations would be easier to implement than others. But on the whole, she said, “we think these are very possible recommendations.” However, one immediately sparked controversy. The report says the state could save nearly $124 million over five years by limiting state workers

to one health insurance option, a high-deductible plan that would require employees to cover a significant portion of their medical costs with money from a health savings account to which both they and the state would contribute. The recomendation also calls for reducing the state’s share of premium costs. Rep. Mark Kahrs (See HEALTH on page 16)

For the Record Take a close look at Social Security in 2016 The Scott County Record

by Nathaniel Sillin

If you’re not close to retirement age, it’s easy to ignore what Social Security is doing. However, some significant announcements late last year make now a very good time to pay attention. What follows is a summary of notable changes to Social Security at the

The Scott County Record Page 10 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

start of 2016 and ways to ensure you’re making the right retirement planning and claiming (http://www. consumerfinance.gov/ retirement/before-youclaim/) decisions based on what’s ahead: •2016 Social Security payments won’t increase. In late October, Social Security (https://www. ssa.gov/myaccount/) announced that there

Scott City Council Agenda Mon., January 18 • 7:30 p.m. City Hall • 221 W. 5th •Call to Order •Approve minutes of Jan. 4 regular meeting •Mayor’s proclamation recognizing former fixed base operator Scott City Aviation •John Holzmeister - fixed base operator update •Discuss annexation of property •Open agenda: audience is invited to voice ideas or concerns. A time limit may be requested Parks Department 1) Recommendation for hiring pool manager 2) Set manager monthly and hourly wages Police Department 1) Misc. business Parks Department 1) Misc. business Public Works Department 1) 2015 water usage Clerk’s Department 1) Misc. business

ments began, but here’s the rub - all three occasions occurred after 2010. In short, most seniors will have to live with an average monthly payment of $1,341 with married beneficiaries receiving a total of $2,212. •Married and divorced individuals may have to rethink the way they claim benefits. Also last October,

KHP wants input on officers with tattoos The Kansas Highway Patrol is experiencing a shortage of manpower statewide and is exploring ways of attracting more applicants for its trooper and other vacant positions. One area the agency is exploring is a change in its tattoo policy. “As we move into 21st century policing, the Patrol is interested in what the public has to say regarding tattoos in law enforcement,” says Col. Mark Bruce, the Highway Patrol’s superintendent. Currently, the KHP’s tattoo policy automatically disqualifies law enforcement officer candidates from the application process for having: •Any offensive tattoo, scarification or brand, regardless of location on the body. •Any tattoo, scarification or brand that would be visible when wearing an agency provided uniform or required work attire. Any such marking(s) appearing on the head, face, neck, hands, or arms (below the bottom of the bicep). (As a general rule, any marking(s) visible when wearing a shortsleeved v-neck shirt.) There is a brief survey on Google Forms that the KHP is asking the public to fill out. The survey will be open through Fri., Jan. 29. To take the survey visit http://goo.gl/forms/ vyf3JAkwDL.

•Mayor’s comments

Public Notice (Published in The Scott County Record Thurs., Jan. 14, 2016) 1t

SCOTT COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S PROCEEDINGS DECEMBER 2015 GENERAL FUND SALARIES ............................................ $ 98,844.78 COMMODITIES .................................... 13,903.78 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ................. 64,408.47 CAPITAL OUTLAY.................................. 22,153.76 OTHER................................................... 90.00 COUNTY HEALTH FUND SALARIES ............................................. COMMODITIES ..................................... CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ................. CAPITAL OUTLAY ................................. OTHER...................................................

22,073.87 16,178.10 1,178.14 140.00 0.00

NOXIOUS WEED FUND SALARIES............................................... COMMODITIES ...................................... CONTRACTUAL SERVICES................... OTHER ...................................................

5,135.78 0.00 80.00 0.00

ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND SALARIES .............................................. COMMODITIES....................................... CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.................... CAPITAL OUTLAY....................................

37,162.24 59,436.84 53,219.02 0.00

FIRE DISTRICT FUND SALARIES .............................................. COMMODITIES ...................................... CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.................... CAPITAL OUTLAY ..................................

389.28 162.00 9,428.44 0.00

TREASURER’S SPECIAL FUND SALARIES ............................................... 13,075.28 COMMODITIES ....................................... 697.00 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES .................... 162.79 CAPITAL OUTLAY..................................... 0.00 OTHER ..................................................... 460.50 ALICE BROKOFSKY Scott County Clerk

Washington settled a federal budget battle in part by closing some notable loopholes in Social Security law that allowed certain married couples to substantially increase their benefits over time and certain divorced individuals to claim benefits from former spouses under certain circumstances. These new restrictions on so-called file-and-sus-

pend and restricted-claim strategies go into effect this coming May. In short, if you’re close to age 62 (the earliest age you can start claiming Social Security benefits) getting qualified advice has never been more important. •Other COLA-related issues. When there’s no costof-living adjustment, (See SOCIAL on page 11)

Scott County Commission Agenda Tues., January 19 County Courthouse 3:00 p.m.

Reorganizational meeting: appoint chairman; designate official newspaper; designate depositors for all county funds. Approve accounts payable, report from Great Plains Development, dues for SW Area Agency on Aging

3:30 p.m.

Open bids for Carpenter land lease

4:00 p.m. Review bids for renovation of the former medical clinic 4:30 p.m.

Public Works Director Richard Cramer

Agenda may change before the meeting. Contact County Clerk Alice Brokofsky for an updated agenda (872-2420) or visit www.scott.kansasgov.com

Daniel and Karen Sattler to Christian and Christine Cupp, Lot 9, except east 30.79 ft. and all of Lot 8, Blk. 3, CA Steele and Sons Third Addition. Javier Ruiz to Elsa Villarreal, south 66 ft. of Lot 4, Blk. 1, Fairlawn Addition. Summer Ford to Western Kansas Property Management, Lot 9, Blk. 51, Original Town. Levi and Dani Heinrich to Whisper Livingston and Brenton Carson, Lots 15-16, Blk. 2, Nonnamaker Addition. Shawn and Lisa Powelson to Kenneth J. Wilkens, Scott City Police Department east 80 ft. of Lot 1 and all of Lot 4, Blk. 19, Original Jan. 5: Criminal damage to property was reported Town. in the 1400 block of South Church St. Jan 5: Elizabeth Smith was waiting for a vehicle in front of her to turn in the 100 block of East 9th Street when she was rear-ended by Laura Hickert. Jan. 5: Daniel Weichel was backing up in the 1300 block of South Main when his trailer struck a building overhang. Jan. 11: Brecken Dunagan was arrested at the LEC for probation violation. Jan. 11: A protection order violation was reported. Scott County Sheriff’s Department Jan. 7: Marian Nolan reported criminal damage to property.

Scott Co. LEC Report

•Financial and investment reports

JAMES M. MINNIX Chairman

wasn’t enough inflation in 2015 to create a cost-ofliving adjustment (COLA) to monthly benefits this year. Understandably, this announcement shook up recipients who look to Social Security for a significant part of their monthly income. It’s only the third time payments were frozen in the past 40 years since automatic COLA adjust-

The Scott County Record • Page 11 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

KHP seeks title fee hike to hire more troopers More than a third of the counties in the state have no Kansas Highway Patrol officer serving them, according to data from the law enforcement agency. There were 36 counties without a dedicated trooper as of November, and another 29 that were served by one trooper. The other 40 counties are served by two or more officers. Statewide, the Highway Patrol has 82 fewer troopers than it did 10 years ago,

Social

(continued from page 10)

there’s no change in the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax, which will stay at $118,500 in 2016. This means earnings above that level aren’t subject to the Social Security portion of the payroll tax or used to calculate retirement payouts. At the same time, the Social Security earnings limit for people who work and claim Social Security payments will stay at $15,720 in 2016 for people ages 65 and younger. Social Security beneficiaries who earn more than this amount will have $1 in benefits temporarily withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit. •Some benefits are going down - a little. The highest possible Social Security payment for a 66-year-old worker who signs up for Social Security this year will be $2,639 per month, down $24 from $2,663 in 2015. The reason? Social Security noted that despite no cost-of-living adjustment there was an increase in the national average wage index, one of the statistical guideposts the agency uses to calculate benefits. •Service changes. If you haven’t created a My Social Security account, do so for two reasons: First, there have been reports of ID theft related to thieves attempting fraudulent signups for such accounts. Second, the agency is making more detailed account data available online such as estimates of monthly payments at various claiming ages. Also, Social Security expanded office hours in some of its field locations in 2015, so if you need face-to-face assistance, check hours of operation at your closest local office (https://secure.ssa.gov/ ICON/main.jsp). Bottom line: Social Security froze benefit amounts for the coming year, and that has an impact on both current and future recipients. You can’t fully understand your retirement without understanding how Social Security works, so now’s the time to learn.

State has 82 fewer troopers than 10 years ago which has hindered the agency’s ability to carry out its mission, according to Col. Mark Bruce, the Highway Patrol’s superintendent. Bruce sent a letter to lawmakers asking them to support a $7.50 increase in vehicle title fees to allow the patrol to hire an additional 75 troopers to cover the state. Titles have cost $10 since 2003. In 2006, the KHP was staffed with 501 troopers.

That has decreased to 419. “The overall effectiveness of the Patrol in performing our mission and our ability to support the local law enforcement community in Kansas has been negatively impacted,” Col. Bruce said. Lt. Adam Winters, the patrol’s public information officer, said many troopers have retired in recent years and the agency has had trouble recruiting and retaining replacements.

County Commission December 15, 2015 Scott County Commissioners met in a regular meeting with the following present: Chairman James Minnix, Commissioners Jerry Buxton and Gary Skibbe; and County Clerk Alice Brokofsky. •A bid was presented from D.V. Douglass Roofing, Garden City, for repairs on the former medical clinic roof. It was: 1) Check and reseal all vent pipes, roof drains, wall flashing laps, A/C curbs, expansion joint, metal cap flashing in the amount of $4,685. 2) Install Top Guard 4000 modified roof system to the entire roof area and wall detail at a cost of $9,530. The bids were accepted. •Bill John representing Norder Holdings discussed Norder being removed from the Neighborhood Revitalization program due to the seconded half of property taxes being paid late. John stated the taxes being paid late was an oversight from Norder headquarters located in Nebraska. John asked if the rebate could be reinstated. The rebate for the 2015 tax year would have amounted to $21,194.77. Commissioners agreed they could not set precedence since another late taxpayer was not allowed to be reinstated. It was the consensus of the three entities involved in the NRP not to waiver from the program. •A Zella Carpenter check in the amount of $5406 to Park Lane Nursing Home for November special assistance was approved. •The following change orders were approved: Abatement Kurt Norman $ 40.36 Abatement Kurt Norman $ 79.24 Abatement Kurt Norman $ 189.58 Abatement Rock Pile $ 97.34 Added Derek James Smith $ 18.96 Added Irvin Lozan Astudillo $ 16.00 Added First Baptist Church $ 29.80 Added Kevin D Davis $ 18.22 Added Kevin D Davis $ 18.02 Abatement Double B Dozer $ 15.44 Abatement Travis Hinrichs $ 133.10 Abatement Jeremiah Samuel Mason $ 21.22 Abatement Jeremiah Samuel Mason $ 81.60 Added Raymondo Salinas $ 18.22 Added Raymondo F Salinas $ 94.66 Abatement Tamara Wilcoxson $ 17.98 Abatement Leah Jennison $ 276.78 Added John Fairleigh $ 229.28 Added Leah Jennison $ 177.84 Abatement Bryan and Linda Mulligan $ 822.72 Added Bryan and Linda Mulligan $ 821.32 Abatement Beef Belt LLC $ 499.72 Abatement Darren Duff/Cannonball Cattle $ 183.48 Abatement Roy E Dague $ 47.12 Abatement Douglas and Kim Heberlee $1,286.26 Abatement Wheatland Electric Coop Inc $ 229.94 •Public Works Director Richard Cramer informed the commission of the trash that is accumulating in the road ditches and adjacent land leading to the Scott County landfill. Cramer would like for loose trash going into the roll off boxes to be bagged and that debris being dumped at the construction/demolition be tarped when being transported. Commissioners efforts to implement the plan. •Cramer also had estimates for the recycling center. He has been in contact with Dustin Kelp from Stutzman Refuse Disposal located in Hutchinson. They have agreed to accept recycled products. Scott County would need to sign a contract for 60 months, at a cost of $400 per month to rent a compactor for single stream recycling. Cramer said that Northend Disposal or Stutzman would haul the recycled products to Hutchinson once a full load is available at $2.50 per mile round trip. The contract has been accepted upon review by County Attorney Rebecca Faurot. •The following road permits were approved and signed: Lario Oil and Gas: water line installed, S22, T19S, R33W, and S15, T19S, R33W.

KHP recently graduated 20 new troopers from its academy. Most were sent to more populous areas. Bruce called the proposed fee increase “a user fee that ties directly to the Patrol’s statutory mandate to enforce laws relative to the operation of vehicles.” Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce (R-Hutchinson) said he would most likely support KHP’s request or a simi-

lar proposal. “We need to get more law enforcement officers out on the street,” he said. Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley (D-Topeka) said the request deserves serious consideration, but he also criticized the governor’s income tax cuts. The state faces a combined shortfall of about $190 million for the current and next fiscal year. Lawmakers raised

the sales tax last year to address an earlier shortfall. Brownback has said he will not pursue tax increases this year. Hensley called the proposed fee hike a tax increase in disguise. The Highway Patrol’s request comes while the Kansas Department of Corrections is also having difficulty retaining prison guards, a situation that lawmakers of both parties blame on uncompetitive pay.

Medical marijuana advocates oppose Kansas AG’s survey

An organization that advocates for the legalization of medicinal marijuana responded Wednesday to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s announcement that his office is collecting information about how marijuana from Colorado is affecting Kansas. “Sadly, in Kansas, we have grown accustomed to our leadership caring about neither facts, nor the expressed will of the Kansas people,” said Lisa Sublett and Chris Gordon of Bleeding Kansas. The organization cited a public opinion survey that found 68 percent of Kansans support medical cannabis and 63 percent support decriminalization of the drug. Bleeding Kansas also said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded more than 73,000 deaths in 2014 from illicit drugs,

prescription drugs and alcohol. However, there were no deaths from a marijuana overdose, the organization said in a news release. Additionally, people with certain medical conditions are leaving the state because there isn’t access to legalized medicinal marijuana. Bleeding Kansas said the current system - including prisons, jails, court fees and property seizures - puts “money in Kansas coffers.” Last week, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office sent more than 500 surveys to all county and district attorneys, sheriffs and chiefs of police throughout the state. The inquiries requested responses about the agencies’ experience with Colorado marijuana, Schmidt’s office said in a news release. Since Colorado’s decision more than three years

ago to legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, Kansas law enforcement agencies have reported encounters in Kansas involving marijuana acquired in Colorado. Anecdotal reports of the types of problems law enforcement has experienced with marijuana brought from Colorado include people driving under the influence of marijuana, distribution in Kansas of edible marijuana food products from Colorado, people who “bundle” marijuana acquired in Colorado into larger amounts and transport it into Kansas for illicit resale and increased juvenile access to marijuana products. Such circumstances have been more numerous in counties near Colorado, though they have been reported throughout the state, Schmidt said.

Support your hometown merchants throughout the year!

Pastime at Park Lane Alan Graham led Sunday afternoon church services and Doris Riner played the piano for the hymns. Several residents played Wii bowling on Monday evening. Pastor Bob Artz led Bible study on Tuesday morning. Doris Riner accompanied hymns on the piano. Rev. Warren Prochnow led Lutheran Bible study on Wednesday morning. Residents played bingo on Wednesday afternoon. Helpers were Madeline Murphy, Barbara Dickhut and Mancy Barnett. Residents played pitch on Wednesday evening. Ladies receieved manicures on Thursday. Kathy Moore led story time on Thursday afternoon.

VIP Band entertains on Thurs.

The VIP Band performed on Thursday afternoon. Band members were Margie Stevens, Arlene Cauthon and Melody Stevens.

Residents enjoy pitch, dominoes

Residents played pitch and dominoes on Monday afternoon. Game helpers were Joy Barnett, Madeline Murphy, Lynda Burnett, Dorothy King, Wanda Kirk and Mandy Barnett.

Residents played trivia games on Thursday evening. Fr. Bernard Felix led Catholic Mass on friday morning. Residents watched “The Living Planet” on Saturday afternoon. Thanks to the Lake Wide Awake 4-H Club for making the Kansas Day centerpieces for the dining room tables.

Deaths Chad, Cheney, and Becky Cagle and husband, Brent, Lawrence; four brothers, Randy, Livingston, Mont., Tony, Leoti, Jim, Columbia, Mo., and Sydney, Chandler, Ariz.; one sister, Caecilia Gropp, Scott City; and 10 gandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Anaclair “Annie” Winter. Funeral Mass was held on Jan. 12 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marienthal, with Fr. Benjamin Martin officiating. Burial was in St. Mary Cemetery, Marienthal. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary Catholic Church or the Leoti EMTs and can be made through Price and Sons Funeral Home, Box 161, Leoti, Ks. 67861. Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at priceandsons.com.

Mary Patricia Hermes Mary Patricia Hermes, 72, Edmond, Okla., died January 6, 2016, in Edmond, Okla. Mary was born in Dallas, Tex., on July 4, 1943, the daughter of Gerald and Mary Hermes Marian (Eileen) Minor. Mary was a member of the Westwood Church of Christ in Edmond, Okla., where she helped lead a prison ministry. She loved to cook, craft and play games. She was a longtime resident of Scott City before moving to Edmond

Harms and Hunter Smith. Yvonne Spangler was visited by Yvette Mills. LaVera King was visited by Milt and Velda Riddiough, Gloria Gough, Carol Latham, Marsha Holloway, Toni Wessel and Andie Wasinger. June Shuler was visited by Sharron Brittan, Bob and Judy Winderlin, Kim Smith and Mark McCandless. Cecile Billings was visited by Ann Beaton and Delinda Dunagan. Louise Crist was visited by Don and Tara Williams, Jean Burgess, Jerald and Karon Hadley, and Sue Rose. Jake Leatherman was visited by Otto Harp. Boots Haxton was visited by Rod and Kathy Haxton. Lucille Dirks was vis-

Sr. Citizen Lunch Menu

J. Alan Winter J. Alan Winter, 65, died on January 7, 2016, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Ks. J. Alan was born Feb. 9, 1 9 5 0 , at Scott City, the son of Joseph Ed- J. Alan Winter ward and MaryAnn Claire (Baker) Winter. He had been a Larned resident since 2015, moving from Cheney. He was a retired crop adjuster. J. Alan was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Marienthal, as well as a 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include his wife, Rita, Larned; two sons, Richard, Goodland, and Aaron, Marienthal; three daughters, Renee Hamilton and husband, David, Ada, Okla., Amanda Mische and husband,

Dottie Fouquet was visited by Mark Fouquet, Jon and Anne Crane, and Donna Gaschler. Pat Lawrence was visited by Marilyn Waters. Lawana Rothers was visited by Gene and Von Dyne Williamson. Thelma Branine was visited by Nathan and Ashlyn Kastings, Lance and Carol Ellis, Cody and Stephanie Harms, Hadley

The Scott County Record • Page 12 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

in 2010 to be closer to her grandchildren. Survivors include two sons, John, and wife, Mindy, and Don and wife, Deanna, all of Edmond, Okla.; a daughter Tricia Lane, and husband, Jason, Midwest City, Okla.; a brother Gerald (Gary) Minor and wife, Gerri, Crystal River, Fla.; and seven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Hermes, and parents. Funeral service was held on Jan. 11 at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Gracelawn Cemetery, Edmond.

Week of January 18-22 Monday: Shepherd’s pie, carrots, whole wheat roll, gelatin with pears. Tuesday: Hot chicken salad casserole, rice, tossed salad, banana muffin, creamy fruit salad. Wednesday: Barbeque pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, creamy cole slaw, mandarin oranges. Thursday: Hot open face turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes, gravy, spinach salad, applesauce. Friday: Lemon pepper cod or pepper steak, rice, stewed tomatoes, whole wheat roll, bread pudding. meals are $3.25 • call 872-3501

by Jason Storm

ited by Floyd and Vivian Dirks and Dale and Vicki Dirks. Carol Auten was visited by Becky, Julie and Gene; Kim Wilkins, and Pam and Teddy. Bonnie Pickett was visited by Jon Tuttle, Larry and Philene Pickett, and Gloria Wright. Albert Dean was visited by Margie Stevens. Lorena Turley was visited by LaCinda Griffin, Nycole Thompson, Jameson Tracy, Neta Wheeler, Tracy Hess, Phyllis See, Penifer Salinas Keller, Shelby Salinas and Karen Harms. Vivian Kreiser was visited by Sharon Lock. Clifford Dearden was visited by Tava See and Kirk and Janet Ottaway. Geraldine Graves was visited by Tava See and

Otto Harp. Kathy Roberts was visited by Kelli. Lowell Rudolph was visited by Tom and Kathy Moore, Rev Don Martin, D. Neitling and LuAnn Buehler. Elmer Erskin was visited by Sandy Kahl, Milt and Velda Riddiough, David and Sharon Powers; Leasha, Dawson and Piper Fox; Ryan, Nick and Zoey Powers; Lonny, Colleen and Krissa Dearden; Marsha Holloway, and Mindy, Cole and Haley Allen. James Still and Mike Leach were visited by Rev. Don Martin. Corine Dean was visited by Sharron Storm and June Shuler. Dona Dee Carpenter was visited by Larry LaPlant and Gloria O’Bleness.

The Scott County Record • Page 13 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

KSU expert: 10 early signs, symptoms of Alzheimer’s More than five million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Not only is Alzheimer’s the sixth leading cause of death in the country, but it currently cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. With the U.S. population aging, it is estimated that by 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s will surpass seven million. By 2050, the number could reach 16 million. Mirroring the national statistics, Alzheimer’s disease is also the sixth leading cause of death in Kansas, said the Alzheimer’s Association. About 12 percent of Kansans currently have the disease or related dementia. Erin Yelland, assistant professor in the School of Family Studies and Human Services at Kansas State University, said there are 10 main signs of Alzheimer’s. If signs seem to be there, the first thing to do is contact a primary care physician. Early diagnosis is important. “Alzheimer’s disease is predictable,” said Yelland, who is a K-State Extension adult development and aging specialist. “We know certain issues are going to come up, and we know the process of decline that you might be experiencing. By educating yourself, you can understand what might be happening, but more importantly, your family members are going to understand what they are going to experience while you’re battling this disease.” The 10 signs, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, include: 1) Memory loss that disrupts life The first early sign of Alzheimer’s disease is memory loss and an evident decline in cognitive function, Yelland said. People in early stages might forget important dates or events, ask the same information repeatedly, or need to rely on notes or family members to provide reminders for things they used to do on their own. Experiencing some memory loss and forgetfulness as we age is normal, Yelland added, but Alzheimer’s disease brings more dramatic instances of memory loss

that disrupt daily life and functioning. 2) Challenges in planning or solving problems Concentrating might become more of a problem. Forgetting to pay bills could become more frequent. Following a simple recipe could pose a challenge. “For example, a person with normal cognitive functioning can make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” Yelland said. “For a person with Alzheimer’s disease, this may be a complicated task, because it has many steps involved: getting out the bread, getting out the peanut butter and jelly, and applying those ingredients to the bread. “It might even be that the person with Alzheimer’s disease will end up with the peanut butter and jelly on the outside of the sandwich, simply because that judgment and recall of steps get tangled in the brain.” 3) Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure For those with an early onset of Alzheimer’s disease, they will likely notice doing daily tasks they were once accustomed to has become a greater challenge, Yelland said. At home, this could mean having trouble running the dishwasher, or finding the correct button to turn on the microwave, oven or television. Driving to and from work or other once-familiar places becomes difficult for those with the disease. At work, doing once routine tasks becomes burdensome. When writing a check, for example, they could forget what information goes on each line. Yelland said that ultimately, these people might start to notice that “the normal” in their lives doesn’t seem normal to them anymore. 4) Confusion with time or place “Commonly, people (with Alzheimer’s disease) don’t remember what year it is,” Yelland said. “I might forget the date, but eventually I’ll figure it out. For people with Alzheimer’s disease, the key is that they might not eventually figure it out.” They might also confuse seasons of the year: going outside in the winter wearing shorts and a

t-shirt, or wearing a parka during the summer. They might forget where they are and how they got there. 5) Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships Experiencing vision problems is another sign of Alzheimer’s disease, Yelland said. This could bring on difficulty in reading, judging distances, and determining color or contrast, all of which could lead to problems with driving. 6) New problems with words in speaking or writing Those with Alzheimer’s disease might have trouble conversing with others, lose their train of thought and repeat themselves. They often struggle with finding the right word or call things by the wrong name, such as referring to a watch as “hand clock” or “wrist clock.” This aspect can be

particularly tough on families, especially if the person suffering from Alzheimer’s can’t remember a loved one’s name. “One of the biggest things I tell people is just be patient and don’t argue,” Yelland said. “Don’t say, ‘Why don’t you remember that person?’ Stay calm, so they stay calm. Don’t get agitated.” 7) Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps Yelland said most people know that when they lose something, such as a car key, they simply have to trace their steps to find it. This is not something people with Alzheimer’s disease can do easily. They might lose an item and cannot think back to when they last saw it. They might put objects in unusual places or accuse other people of stealing something they cannot find.

8) Decreased or poor judgment People with Alzheimer’s disease often experience changes in judgment or decisionmaking. For example, they might use poor judgment when dealing with money. They might forget to keep themselves clean or comb their hair. 9) Withdrawal from work or social activities “Oftentimes when all these frustrations and hard times are happening, people with Alzheimer’s disease do realize it,” Yelland said. “They know what’s happening to them, and it’s hard for them to deal with it.” For this reason, a person with Alzheimer’s might start to retreat from others. They may not want to participate in social events or do their favorite hobbies. They may not be able to keep up with what’s going on

in the news or with their favorite sports teams. 10) Changes in mood and personality People with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia could experience a swing of emotions that range from confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. Some days will likely be more pleasant than others for them. Certain times of the day might be better, too. Yelland said there’s a sundowning phenomenon often associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, meaning people are more cognitive and able to do things in the morning. By the evening, things become a bigger struggle. While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, Yelland said about 90 percent of what is known now about the disease has been discovered in the last 15 years.

Attend the Church of Your Choice

God Wants to Strengthen You, Ask Him The Lord has given us “a lamp unto our feet and a light upon our pathway” for 2016! A way clearly for the New Year. It is Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God says, “I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU.” His thoughts and purpose is to make us strong in our spirit, our inner man. He wants to strengthen us! He knows ahead of time what we will face in this New Year. In Ephesians 3:16, Paul prayed, “be strengthened by His Spirit in the inner man.” You see, we can have the Holy Spirit in us and still have a weak spirit. Life’s experiences can weaken us physically AND weaken our spiritual man as well. But, it is a Biblical principle that the Lord will give more strength to the inner man if we ask for it. James 4:2 says, “You have not because you ask not.” Have you ever prayed asking God to strengthen your spirit. I have had people who have been Christians for years tell me they have never made that prayer to

God! The most important part of our daily prayer life should be about asking Father God to strengthen our spiritual heart (the inner man) in the power of God. The quality of your life for 2016 depends on your spirit, the real you. Proverbs 18:14 says, “The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear.” (Amp). When the spirit is strong it can overcome weakness and sickness. If the spirit is strong, you can manage any situation. Father God longs to bless our inner man with strength and might but He is waiting for us to ask. In fact, I am convinced the Lord withholds many things until we ask. So pray daily, Ephesians 3:16, through out this New Year and watch as it becomes your best year ever. As Christians, believing what God says He will do, we open our spiritual hearts and we declare in strong faith, “Father God, release Your spiritual strength daily into my spirit, my inner man in Jesus’ Name. Amen!” A strengthened spirit is our source of energy and ability. God wants to strengthen you! Ask Him!

Pastor Ed Sanderson, Assembly of God Church, Scott City

Scott City Assembly of God

Prairie View Church of the Brethren

1615 South Main - Scott City - 872-2200 Ed Sanderson, Senior Pastor 9:00 a.m. - Pre-Service Prayer 10:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service and Children’s Church Wednesday: 7:00 p.m. - Bible Study and Prayer

4855 Finney-Scott Rd. - Scott City - 276-6481 Pastor Jon Tuttle Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m. Men’s Fellowship • Tuesday breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Held at Precision Ag Bldg. west of Shallow Water Wednesday Bible Study, 7:00 p.m., at the church

St. Joseph Catholic Church

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

A Catholic Christian Community 1002 S. Main Street - Scott City Fr. Bernard Felix, pastor • 872-7388 Secretary • 872-3644 Masses: 1st Sunday of month - 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Other weekends: Sat., 6:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. Spanish Mass - 2nd and 4th Sundays, 1:30 p.m.

1102 Court • Box 283 • Scott City 620-872-2294 • 620-872-3796 Pastor Warren Prochnow holycross-scott@sbcglobal.net Sunday School/Bible Class, 9:00 a.m. Worship every Sunday, 10:15 a.m. Wed.: Mid-Week School, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Pence Community Church

Community Christian Church

8911 W. Road 270 10 miles north on US83; 2 miles north on K95; 9 miles west on Rd. 270 Don Williams, pastor • 874-2031 Wednesdays: supper (6:30 p.m.) • Kid’s Group and Adult Bible Study (7:00 p.m.) • Youth Group (8:00 p.m.) Sunday School: 9:30 • Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.

12th & Jackson • Scott City • 872-3219 Shelby Crawford, pastor Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship, 10:45 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday: God’s High School Cru, 7:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church

Immanuel Southern Baptist Church

803 College - Scott City - 872-2339

1398 S. US83 - Scott City - 872-2264

Kyle Evans, Senior Pastor Bob Artz, Associate Pastor

Robert Nuckolls, pastor - 872-5041

Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. • Worship: 11:00 a.m.

Sunday morning worship: 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Wednesday Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.

Gospel Fellowship Church

1st United Methodist Church

Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.

5th Street and College - Scott City - 872-2401 John Lewis, pastor 1st Sunday: Communion and Fellowship Sunday Services at 9:00 a.m. • Sunday School, 10:30 a.m. All Other Sundays • Worship: 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. • MYF (youth groups) on Wednesdays Jr. High: 6:30 p.m. • Sr. High: 7:00 p.m.

First Christian Church

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

701 Main - Scott City - 872-2937 Scotty Wagner, pastor Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.; Worship, 10:45 a.m. Wednesday is Family Night Meal: 5:45 p.m. • Study: 6:15 p.m. Website: www.fccscottcity.org

Elizabeth/Epperson Drives • Scott City • 872-3666 Father Don Martin Holy Eucharist - 11:45 a.m. St. Luke’s - 872-5734 (recorded message) Senior Warden Bill Lewis • 872-3347 or Father Don Martin - (785) 462-3041

Scott Mennonite Church

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

12021 N. Eagle Rd. • Scott City

9th and Crescent - Scott City - 872-2334 Bishop Irvin Yeager • 620-397-2732 Sacrament, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 10:50 a.m. Relief Society and Priesthood, 11:20 a.m. YMYW Wednesday, 8:00 p.m.

120 S. Lovers Lane - Shallow Water Larry Taylor, pastor Sunday School: 9:30 a.m.

Franklin Koehn: 872-2048 Charles Nightengale: 872-3056 Sunday School Worship Service: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Evening Service: 7:00 p.m.

The Scott County Record • Page 14 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Kansas lawmakers discuss PA limitations doctors can supervise drew patient safety concerns from urban legislators last week. But one western Kansas senator said the change is vital for rural areas relying on physician assistants to make up for doctor shortages. Kansas physicians are

Proposal would lift two PA limit for doctor supervision Andy Marso Kansas Health Institute

A regulation change that will lift the cap on the number of physician assistants that Kansas

This is a good source of health care for Western Kansas. We’ve struggled to get doctors. Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, (R-Grinnell)

limited to supervising two physician assistants unless they work at a large medical facility like a hospital or appeal to the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. Under legislation

passed the last two years, the board has proposed new rules that would allow doctors to have unlimited physician assistants working with them at their primary practice

and a total of three at any satellite locations where they practice less than 20 percent of the time. Rep. John Carmichael (D-Wichita) raised the possibility of doctors taking into their practice more physician assistants than they could safely supervise. He floated 100

Gaps remain in Medicaid efforts to help people kick smoking habit Shefali Luthra Kaiser Health News

Figures from the U.S. surgeon general indicate about 15 percent of Medicaid’s expenses - $40 billion in 2010 - are caused by smoking. By contrast, Medicaid spent $103 million in 2013 on smoking cessation drugs.

The 2010 federal health law has a provision that was supposed to make it easier for people on Medicaid to quit smoking. But in a number of states, it’s not yet having widespread success. That’s the main takeaway from a study published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs. The Affordable Care Act says all state Medicaid programs have to cover

tobacco cessation drugs meaning they have to pay for things like nicotine patches, Chantix, nicotine gum or Wellbutrin, when patients are using them to try to quit smoking. But it leaves states relative freedom in how they go about doing so and what conditions they place on how the benefit is applied.

That flexibility has consequences, according to the study’s authors. They examined Medicaid data and found that very few enrollees - about 10 percent nationwide in 2013 - received medicine that might help them stop smoking, even though Medicaid recipients are about twice as likely as average Americans to be

smokers. Both from a public health standpoint and an economic one, that’s a problem, said Leighton Ku, director of the Center for Health Policy Research at George Washington University and the study’s lead author. Figures from the U.S. surgeon general indicate about 15 percent of Medicaid’s expenses $40 billion in 2010 - are caused by smoking. The authors estimated that (See SMOKING on page 16)

Budget cuts for KanCare prescriptions, ‘health homes’ Megan Hart Kansas Health Institute

This is a cookie-cutter approach which is going to exacerbate people’s illnesses, lengthen their recoveries and put them at unnecessary risk. - Rick Cagan, executive director, Kansas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness

In a presentation to members of the House and Senate committees that control spending, Budget Director Shawn Sullivan outlined how Brownback planned to cover a projected $190 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2017 budget. The proposal relies on a series of revenue transfers and $105.7 million in spending reductions to balance the budget and generate an ending balance of nearly $88 million. About $24 million of the proposed reductions would come from the prescription drug change and elimination of the “health home” program for Kansans with severe

mental health illnesses. Another $14.4 million would come from other changes related to health care, on top of $11.6 million in reduced costs from Medicare Part B the state expects, for a total of about $50 million in lower health care spending in fiscal year 2017. The proposal estimated the state could save $10.6 million by allowing the three managed care organizations that administer Medicaid in Kansas by requiring providers follow a “step therapy” program when prescribing drugs. Doctors and patients

would have to document that low-cost drugs didn’t work before prescribing more expensive alternatives. The proposed change wouldn’t affect current KanCare recipients, Sullivan said. It would apply only to those who enroll after it’s implemented. The legislative KanCare oversight committee had recommended in December that the managed care organizations be allowed to use step therapy. The Legislature must approve a change to state law before the policy

can be implemented. Rick Cagan, executive director of the Kansas chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said step therapy is a particular concern for people who take medications for a serious mental illness. A medication may be effective for one person with depression but not another, meaning that some people would have to wait longer to try the medications their doctors think would be most likely to help them. “This is a cookie-cutter approach which is going to exacerbate people’s illnesses, lengthen their recoveries and put them at unnecessary risk,” he said. “Individual prescribers need to have the full

as an arbitrary example. “That’s entirely permissible, with no direct board oversight or explanation as to why?” Carmichael asked during a meeting of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations. “Is that what (See LIMITATIONS on page 15)

Create measurable goals in the new year around healthier living Lose Weight? Check. Start Exercising? Check. Stop Smoking? Check. M a n y Americans make New Year’s resoby Dr. James Yager, D.C. lutions regarding, ProHealth Chiropractic fitness, healthy Wellness Centers eating, or both. Almost as many people cannot take advantage of the benefits associated with these lifestyles changes because they give up before reaching these goals. Benefits associated with physical activity and healthy eating include weight management, decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers, and improved health. People tend to be busier today than 20 or even 10 years ago. American adults are more overweight today than in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Why? It is easier to be physically inactive than to be physically active. It is more convenient to consume high-calorie, low-nutrient foods from a vending machine or fast-food restaurant than to plan and prepare healthier meals and snacks. But, don’t worry, it’s not too late to commit to making healthier choices, and you can start today by making small changes. Change is always hard, but fulfilling New Year’s resolutions can be done. To make lifestyle changes, a good idea is to use smart goals. A baby-step approach with simple, but specific goals. You have to be specific because otherwise it’s just talk. Start small and make resolutions that you think you can keep. For example, instead of saying “I will exercise more,” say “I will walk a mile around the park tonight after work” or “I will play basketball on my lunch hour three times a week.” Honor your commitment to yourself by identifying the reason for wanting to change a particular behavior. (See GOALS on page 15)

(See BUDGET on page 15)

(See MENTAL on page 15)

Specialty Care, Hometown Service

The Outreach Services Clinic at Scott County Hospital If you need a medical specialist, Scott County Hospital offers a variety of options for your care. Talk with your physician about a referral to meet with one of our visiting specialty doctors.

Cardiology Dr. Janif

Cardiology Dr. Thapa

Cardiology Dr. Ferrell

Cardiology Dr. Freund

Immunology/Allergy Dr. Faraci

Nephrology Dr. Baracaldo

Neurosurgeon Dr. Henry

Oncology/Hematology

Orthopedics Dr. DeCarvalho

Podiatry Dr. Burkey

Pulmonology/Sleep Dr. Ballard

Urology Dr. Lopez

Urology Dr. McDonald

Registered Dietitian & Diabetic Educator Courtney McCarty

Dr. Tibayan

SCOTT COUNTY HOSPITAL Leading You To A Healthy Future

201 Albert Avenue Scott City, KS 67871 • (620) 872-5811 www.scotthospital.net

Call (620) 874-4854 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

The Scott County Record • Page 15 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Single health insurance plan for state employees A tentative plan to save Kansas government more than $2 billion over five years relies heavily on proposed changes to the state employee health plan and Medicaid. The report, written by the New York-based consulting firm of Alvarez and Marsal under a $2.6 million contract with the state, includes 105 recommendations for “achieving major cost savings.” Lawmakers and Gov. Sam Brownback have

Proposal includes higher deductible, out-of-pocket costs struggled to balance the state budget in recent years due to sharp drops in revenue, caused in part by income tax cuts approved in 2012. Last year, they were forced to approve large sales and tobacco tax increases to avert a $400 million budget shortfall. They start this year’s session facing a projected $190 million deficit in

the fiscal year 2017 budget, which they must balance and approve before adjourning. Outlining the savings report Tuesday to members of the House Appropriations Committee, Melissa Glynn, a managing director of the firm, acknowledged that some recommendations would be easier to implement than

Budget Limitations (continued from page 14)

range of options.” The health home change would save about $13.4 million by ending a pilot program designed to improve the health outcomes of KanCare recipients with “severe and persistent” mental illnesses by better coordinating their care, Sullivan said. A study found that the program improved the health of those who participated in the program, but not significantly more than non-participants, he said. The federal government paid for 90 percent of the cost of the health homes for the first two years, but that rate is due to fall to 56 percent. The state would have had to pay about $13 million annually to continue the health home program starting in August.

we’re doing here?” Kelli Stevens, general counsel for the Board of Healing Arts, said Carmichael’s scenario “theoretically” could happen under the new regulations. But with only about 1,000 physician assistants in the state, she deemed it unlikely. She also said the board would continue to monitor physicians to ensure their practices were safe. “Physicians and P.A.s must still be able to meet the standard of care,” Stevens said. “That supervision still has to be adequate.”

others. But on the whole, she said, “we think these are very possible recommendations.” However, one immediately sparked controversy. The report says the state could save nearly $124 million over five years by limiting state workers to one health insurance option, a high-deductible plan that would require employees to cover a sig-

nificant portion of their medical costs with money from a health savings account to which both they and the state would contribute. The recomendation also calls for reducing the state’s share of premium costs. Rep. Mark Kahrs (R-Wichita) said though he’s not ready to endorse the recommendation, it’s

worth discussing. “High-deductible plans are fairly normative in the private sector, so I think it’s a fair conversation to have,” Kahrs said, adding that he wants to discuss how such a change in policy might affect the state’s ability to attract and retain good employees. Rep. Jerry Henry of Atchison, the top Democrat on the committee, opposes the change, contending it would (See FATE on page 9)

(continued from page 14)

Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, a Republican from Grinnell whose district stretches across much of northwest Kansas, said he understood his colleague’s safety concerns but urged the committee to be open to the board’s rule changes on physician assistants. “This is a good source of health care for western Kansas,” Ostmeyer said. “We’ve struggled to get doctors.” Sixteen Kansas counties were designated as primary care health professional shortage areas as of February 2014, reflecting that need for doctors in less-populated areas of

the state. Ostmeyer said he didn’t see much potential for doctors to abuse the rule and hire more physician assistants than they could safely supervise. Stevens told the committee that the board still would be able to investigate doctors it thinks have

overextended themselves. Numbers alone won’t be the determining factor though, she said, noting that there’s currently no limit for the number of advanced practice registered nurses that doctors may have working with them. “There are practitio-

ners who color outside the lines, but I don’t think it’s a numbers problem,” Stevens said. “It’s more the adequacy of the supervision, and that’s why the board is requiring very, very detailed information and substantive analysis of that relationship with each and every P.A.”

Goals (continued from page 14)

Set personal goals by acknowledging what you want. Make a plan to divide the overall goal into smaller, specific goals. List practical steps to achieving those goals and monitor your progress along the way. Be patient as you make gradual lifestyle changes, as you may slip off course once in a while. Re-evaluate your plans and make changes as necessary. Reward yourself for your accomplishments. After all, this is a lifetime commitment, one day at a time, so you might as well start enjoying a lifetime of rewards. Dr. James Yager is a member of the Scott County Foundation Healthcare Committee. For more information contact the Scott Community Foundation (872-3790)

Are YOU at risk?

Screenings will be Monday, February 1st at Scott Co. Hospital

Your personal and family medical history and lifestyle choices can put you at risk for vascular problems. However, a quick and simple health screening can identify problems before you even have symptoms. Three screening options are available to you at Scott County Hospital:

Pre-registration is required Register online at www.haysmed.com/cvscreens or call 1-855-HAYSMED (429-7633).

HEART ATTACK. STROKE. BLOCKAGE IN YOUR LEGS.

Stroke Scan Examines carotid arteries to detect early signs of plaque build-up. Sound waves “listen” to the blood flowing by the plaque build-up in the carotid arteries.

Aortic Aneurysm Scan Looks for abdominal aortic aneursym. An aneurysm in the aortic artery (a “ballooning” of the artery wall) may cause the artery to burst.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Scan Symptoms & risks include ... • Cramping, aching, or fatigue in your legs when you walk • Poor healing ulcers on your feet or toes • Smoking, hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol Any of these may be a sign of blockage in the leg arteries and needs to be checked.

Scans are $30.00 each or $75.00 for all three

Ask to speak to Radiology and request a CV Screening at Scott County Hospital. A service of HaysMed, the DeBakey Heart Institute, and

SCOTT COUNTY HOSPITAL Leading You To A Healthy Future

The Scott County Record • Page 16 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Smoking (continued from page 14)

number will reach $75 billion this year. By contrast, Medicaid spent $103 million in 2013 on smoking cessation drugs. “This is something where you can improve health, you can save you money,” he said. “And we’re just not very effective at it.” In 2013, the study found, about 1.7 million prescriptions were filled or refilled for drugs to help Medicaid patients quit smoking. That’s estimated to be enough to treat about 830,000 people - out of about 8.3 million Medicaid patients whom the researchers estimated were smokers in 2013. Some states have done a markedly better job than others. In Minnesota, for example, almost 27 percent of smokers on Medicaid were using medications to help them quit smoking, the researchers found. In Texas, only 1 percent did. Ideally, Ku said, 100 percent of smokers on Medicaid would get help quitting. But even the Minnesota experience - which has the highest proportion of Medicaid smokers getting those prescriptions - indicates the extent to which other states currently fall short, he said. It’s not entirely clear why, according to the researchers. But there are a number of factors that could be at play. In some states, patients have to make co-payments toward the medication or get prior authorization from the Medicaid program before getting the drug. Those are more or less “functional barriers” that keep Medicaid beneficiaries from getting the medicine that could help them quit, said Michael Fiore, a professor of medicine and director of the University of Wisconsin Medical School’s Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. Fiore wasn’t involved in the study. And often, the study notes, people don’t realize Medicaid covers smoking cessation drugs. “This is still a new thing,” Ku said. “It’s underappreciated, underrecognized.” The federal government hasn’t placed much emphasis on the regulation, he added, though he thinks more state Medicaid agencies are starting to prioritize it.

Health (R-Wichita) said though he’s not ready to endorse the recommendation, it’s worth discussing. “High-deductible plans are fairly normative in the private sector, so I think it’s a fair conversation to have,” Kahrs said, adding that he wants to discuss how such a change in policy might affect the state’s ability to attract and retain good employees. Rep. Jerry Henry of Atchison, the top Democrat on the committee, opposes the change, contending it would penalize state workers and make it harder for the state to recruit and retain them. Henry said the change “squeezes state employees . . . who haven’t had a raise in six or seven years.” “They’re going to lose purchasing power by going to this,” he said. The report also recommends that the state no longer allow retirees who are not yet 65 to continue their state health coverage until they become eligible for Medicare. Moving them into bridge plans offered in the insurance marketplace created by the federal Affordable Care Act would save the state an estimated $12 million to $15 million a year through 2021, the report says. To Include Schools Another recommendation focuses on reducing the cost of providing health insurance to the nearly 70,000 full-time employees of Kansas school districts. Currently, the state’s 286 districts have the option of participating in the state employee health plan, but few do. The report says creating a new “consolidated” state plan for school employees could save up to $80 million a year. The new plan would be separate from the state employee plan but would share administrative costs. Reducing Medicaid Errors Several of the 260

(continued from page nine)

pages in the consultant’s report are devoted to addressing potentially costly administrative problems in the state’s privatized Medicaid program, known as KanCare. According to the report, Kansas has among the highest payment and eligibility error rates in the nation. Its payment error rate is 17.9 percent, almost 50 percent higher than the next highest state. Its eligibility error rate of 12.8 percent is nearly four times the national average of 3.3 percent. The report says the eligibility error rate “is the most concerning” because it means the state is paying the private insurance companies that run KanCare to cover people who aren’t eligible for the program. A recent executive order issued by Brownback transferring the main responsibility for determining KanCare eligibility from the Department for Children and Families to the Department of Health and Environment and steppedup efforts to implement a new enrollment system that has been delayed for years and plagued by cost overruns are “important steps” toward addressing the problems, the report says. But they’re not enough. The consultants recommend “outsourcing all eligibility functions” to a private company. Reducing the eligibility error rate to the national average would save the state an estimated $60 million a year, according to the consultants.

Saving on KanCare The state could achieve up to $6.5 million a year in KanCare savings by focusing on several childbirth policies, according to the report. Ensuring that babies aren’t delivered prior to 39 weeks gestation unless it’s medically necessary would reduce the number of low birth weight babies and expensive stays in neonatal inventive care units. And encouraging pregnant women enrolled in KanCare to deliver in birthing centers staffed by certified nurse midwives instead of hospitals could save more than $3,400 per birth, according to the report. That’s easier said than done. Increasing the use of birth centers would require changing state licensing laws to allow nurse midwives to practice independently. Currently, they must have a signed collaborative agreement with a sponsoring physician. “Kansas should define the role of CNMs (certified nurse midwives) and protect public safety by defining the scope of midwifery while recognizing and enabling full practice authority for CNMs,” the report says. Backers of a bill granting midwives full practice authority hope the consultant’s report will help make their case. But fears that any health bill could lead to a floor debate on Medicaid expansion could limit the bill’s chances of getting out of the House or Senate health committees.

USD 466 Lunch Menu Week of January 18-22 Breakfast Monday: No school. Tuesday: biscuit and gravy, orange. Wednesday: mini-donuts, cereal, diced peaches. Thursday: chicken on biscuit, banana. Friday: pancake sausage on a stick, pineapple tidbits. Lunch Monday: No school. Tuesday: Cheese pizza, *burritos, green beans, mandarin oranges. Pizza Hut at SCHS. Wednesday: Chili, *fish sticks, cheese sticks, baked potato, cinnamon roll, peaches. Thursday: Chicken and noodles, *ham pattie, creamy potatoes, winter blend vegetables, dinner roll, strawberries and pineapple. Friday: Crispitos and cheese sauce, *chicken nuggets, corn, cinnamon bread steaks, tropical fruit. *second choice at SCMS and SCHS

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Sports The Scott County Record

Mat kings Takedown Kids Wrestling Club members hosted their annual tournament on Saturday • Page 24

www.scottcountyrecord.com

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Page 17

Beavers have no answer for Horns under the boards Scott City’s defense was good enough to keep them in Tuesday’s Great West Activities Conference game against Holcomb. Despite holding the No. 1 ranked Longhorns to their lowest scoring game of the season - 14 points Holcomb 52 below their season average - the Scott City 36 SCHS boys couldn’t find enough offense in a 52-36 loss on the home court. A 12-0 Holcomb scoring run that turned a 13-10 lead into a 25-10 cushion with 3:50 left in the first half was more than the Beavers could overcome. Only four Beavers made the scoring column and they never cut the gap to less than 13 the rest of the night. “Defensively, we played well enough to win,” says head coach Glenn O’Neil. “Offensively, you can’t miss three or four easy opportunities for layups. Defensively, as well as we played, we still had two major breakdowns that allowed them to make two wide open threes. Turn those mistakes around and suddenly a 16 point difference is down to four or six (points). Then you have a game.” For all intents, the Beavers (4-3) were able to keep it a close game for only the first nine minutes when junior guard Justin Faurot’s basket cut the deficit to 13-10 early in the second period. Following Holcomb’s 12-0 blitz, junior guard Bo Hess answered with back-to-back field goals that cut the lead to nine points, 25-14, but that’s as close as SCHS would get the remainder of the night. The Longhorns opened up a 34-14 lead early in the second half before junior guard Drew Duff and senior guard Dylan Hutchins hit a pair of threes during a brief 8-3 SCHS scoring burst. Holcomb’s biggest lead of the night was 21 points, 49-28, in the fourth period. (See BOARDS on page 21)

Scott City junior Justin Faurot is fouled by two Holcomb defenders as he attempts a shot in the lane during Tuesday’s action. (Record Photo)

SCHS senior Cooper Griffith brings Marion’s Tyler Palic back to the mat in the championship finals of the Norton tournament on Saturday. Griffith was a 5-3 winner to claim a gold medal in the 195-pound division. (Record Photo)

Griffith remains unbeaten, grabs gold at Norton Invite The Norton Invitational could be considered a tale of two tournaments for the Scott Community High School wrestlers. Head coach Jon Lippelmann was real pleased with the early performance of his squad as seven grapplers advanced to the semifinals. The rest of the day, however, left Lippelmann and his squad realizing they still have a lot of work ahead of them. “It was a good start and a pretty disappointing finish,” says Lippelmann, whose team picked up just one win in the semi-finals and only four wins in the consolation bracket. The strong start to the day was

still enough to give the Beavers (101.5) a fourth place finish in a strong field behind Garden City (231), Manhattan (183) and Norton (161). Two anticipated matches involving state-ranked opponents from SCHS and Norton never materialized. Defending state champion Zach Tucker, ranked No. 2 at 113-pounds, was looking at a possible matchup with No. 1 ranked Skylar Johnson, a third place finisher at the same weight class last season. The showdown was derailed by Manhattan’s Joe Braun (21-1) who defeated Tucker, 7-3, in the semi-finals and followed with a 5-0 decision in

the finals over Johnson. Tucker bounced back with 4-2 decision over Estin Slack (Oakley) in the consolation finals to claim third place. “Zach has problems with anyone who can control the legs. We saw that against (Hoxie’s Dayton) Porsch and now with the Manhattan kid,” says Lippelmann. “This time we didn’t get turned to our back, which is an improvement, but it’s something we have to correct. I can guarantee we’ll be seeing more of that at Lexington and Garden City.” Likewise, a showdown between 195-pounders Cooper Griffith, ranked No. 1, and Norton’s Jordan (See GRIFFITH on page 18)

SC girls ride quick start for romp over Horns Twice this season the Scott Community High School girls have led their opponent at the end of the first quarter. It’s no coincidence that both times they came away with Holcomb 36 a win. Scott City 49 The second time was against Holcomb in GWAC play on Tuesday night, 49-36. It’s as simple as coming out aggressive from the opening tipoff and following the game plan, says head coach Sarah McCormick. “I always want us to be attacking,” she says. “I think the girls are starting to understand that if we follow the game plan we’ve been practicing then

things will start going our way. I think they’re starting to understand that. They can’t do their own thing.” Scott City (2-5) jumped out to an early 10-2 lead following a basket by senior guard Nicole Latta at the 4:09 mark and never trailed. Just as importantly, they never allowed the Lady Longhorns to answer with an extended scoring surge of their own. Holcomb’s longest scoring spurt of the game was five points - and one of those cut the SCHS lead to 10-7. Scott City was able to keep the Lady Longhorns from gaining any offensive momentum and never saw their lead shrink to less than seven points in the second half. (See SC GIRLS on page 19)

SCHS senior Madison Orr reaches for a loose ball during Tuesday’s GWAC win over Holcomb. (Record Photo)

The Scott County Record • Page 18 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Outdoors in Kansas by Steve Gilliland

To smoke or not to smoke

I make few if any new year’s resolutions, but this year I’ve decided to take up smoking. For some time I’ve wanted to learn how, and since making my resolution I’ve been doing lots of research. As with any other subject, the internet teems with “how-to” information on learning to smoke, and as it turns out smoking is actually very healthy. Oh, I can see now that this all sounds bad. What I mean is I’ve decided this is the year when I will learn to smoke meat! Last year I bought a nice little charcoal grill at a garage sale. The guy said he used it to smoke, but my first and only attempt at using it fell flatter than Western Kansas and I was ready to declare that smoking meat was just not for me. A couple of weeks ago at a Sunday school Christmas party, one guy brought a turkey he had smoked and another brought a smoked pork shoulder. That was it. I had to learn how. Smoking is the art of slowly cooking with some sort of offset heat, unlike grilling, and adding certain wood, woodchips or pellets to give the meat or vegetables a smoky flavor. Commercial smokers are available in several styles and homemade smokers can be made from old tanks, refrigerators, freezers and almost anything else that can be turned into a fairly airtight structure where the heat and smoke can be controlled to cook the product slowly. The only thing limiting homemade smoker vessels is the imagination. Smokers fall into one of two styles, vertical or offset, and into one of five categories; pellet smokers, pro(See SMOKE on page 22)

Budd’s 5 treys lead second half rally Kiara B u d d nailed f i v e threepointWheatland 32 ers and Dighton 39 scored a team high 15 points in leading Dighton High School to a come-frombehind 39-32 win over Wheatland-Grinnell on Tuesday in Northwest Kansas League action. Playing without junior center Jordan Speer for a second consecutive game, and with center Dakota Hoffman riding the bench with two early fouls, the

Lady Hornets struggled at times in the first half, trailing 20-16 at the break. “We didn’t do a very good job of taking care of the ball in the first half,” notes head coach Amy Felker who saw her team commit 14 turnovers before the intermission. “Normally, we handle the press pretty well, but for some reason we didn’t make good decisions last night.” Dighton owned an early 8-5 lead, but saw that disappear in the second period when the visiting Lady Thunderhawks poured in 15 points while

Hoffman was off the floor. “I didn’t want to risk having Dakota pick up her third foul so we were trying to get by until halftime,” Felker says. Hoffman, who finished with a double-double - 12 points and 14 rebounds - returned in the third period when Dighton was able to regain a 31-24 lead with a 15-4 scoring run. Both teams scored eight points in the final period. “With Dakota back in the game the girls would drive and then make passes to Dakota inside,” says Felker. “A lot of her offense and rebounds

came in the second half.” In addition, Budd was 5-of-8 from three-point range. “Kiara got hot so we were calling plays for her. There were times the defense was slow to react to her and other times when she was able to get off a good shot even with the defense on top of her,” says the head coach. “If we can continue to see this kind of offense from her that’s going to be a real boost for us heading into the league tournament.” Junior guard Sara Cramer added nine points,

Hoffman leads DHS girls past Dogs With Dighton center Jordan Speer on the bench due to an injury, Dakota Hoffman knew she’d have to step up big in Friday’s league contest against Quinter. The senior responded with a team high 16 points and eight rebounds in a 37-20 Northwest Kansas League win. “I told Dakota that she’d have to play like she was six-foot, that’s she’d have to battle and push around their big girls,” says DHS head coach Amy Felker. “Even Emily (Sheppard), Payden (Shapland) and Kenadee (O’Brien) were able to get the backside rebounds.” Those three combined for 14 rebounds. Speer was sidelined with a muscle tear in her left knee that occurred during practice over the Christmas break. Felker is unsure how long the 5-10 junior center will be out of the lineup. “When she got sick right before the Sharon Springs game we didn’t have any time to prepare. At least this time we knew what the situation was and we had Wednesday night to drill,” says Felker. “When you’re missing an important piece of the puzzle then everything changes. We had girls who had to step into different roles and make adjustments.” Those adjustments, along with some rust that had accumulated over the long holiday break, appeared evident throughout most of the first half as DHS held only a 16-14

seven assists and five rebounds. The Lady Hornets also expect to have 5-foot-10 center Speer back in the lineup for Friday’s game at St. Francis and for next week’s league tournament. “This may turn out to be a good thing for Jordan and the team,” Felker says. “I think it helped her to watch things from the bench like a coach. She was able to see things a little differently. And it also gave the other girls confidence to know they can win without Jordan in the game.”

Griffith

DHS junior Sara Cramer stretches for a rebound during Friday’s action against Quinter. (Record Photo)

lead with just over 2-1/2 minutes remaining in the second period. Hoffman closed out the half with a basket and a three point play that was the start of a 20-1 scoring blitz over the next 13 minutes. “The key to the game was defense and rebounds. We couldn’t give their three big girls second-shot opportunities, and we didn’t,” Felker says. “I felt we frustrated them defensively.” At one time, Dighton scored

17 unanswered points, including a 12-0 stretch to open the second half. Junior guard Sara Cramer, who was also in double figures with 10 points and five steals, scored the first basket of the third period and Hoffman continued her strong play in the paint where she converted a three-point play. A jumper by Cramer at the free throw line, a threepointer from Kiara Budd and Hoffman’s final field goal of the night stretched the advantage to 33-14.

(continued from page 17)

Dole, ranked No. 2, didn’t happen on Saturday and apparently won’t happen later this season. Dole was sidelined with season-ending shoulder surgery. Griffith defeated Norton’s backup, Maverick Engel, 4-2,in the quarter-finals to go along with a pair of falls which advanced him into the finals. In the championship match, Griffith (13-0) scored with a pair of takedowns on his way to a 5-3 decision over Marion’s Tyler Palic. “Coop’s got a lot of power and no one can hold him down, but we need to work on turning our opponents (to their backs) and on takedowns,” says Lippelmann. “Twice the Marion kid was able to get a heel. Coop didn’t give up a takedown, but it’s something we need to work on.” In a round-robin bracket, freshman Theron Tucker (106) lost to Garden City varsity and junior varsity opponents to claim a bronze medal. Also advancing to the consolation finals after dropping matches in the championship semi-finals were freshmen Jack Thomas (132) and Wyatt Hayes (152). Thomas dropped a 2-0 decision to Tucker Rhoades (Hays-TMP) in the semis and followed with a 5-1 decision over Morgan Raines (Oakley) in the consolation semi-finals. The third place match against Smith Center’s Colton Hutchinson went to the ultimate tie-breaker before Thomas gave up an escape in the fourth overtime in a 7-6 loss. Hayes lost an 8-5 decision in the semifinals to eventual champion Alec Castillo (Garden City), but earned his way into the consolation finals with a first period fall against Trenton Chisham (Norton). That set up a consolation finals match against Mario Rodriguez (Ulysses) which Hayes lost by a 15-8 decision. Also advancing to the championship semi-finals, but not winning on the back side of the bracket to earn a spot in the consolation finals were Tre Stewart (182) and Garrett Osborn (220).

The Scott County Record • Page 19 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

K of C free throw contest is Sunday

The annual Knights of Columbus free throw competition will be held at the Scott Community High School gym on Sun., January 24, starting at 1:00 p.m. The contest is open to boys and girls from ages 9-14 years. Each contestant shoots 15 free throws. Age group winners can advance to district competition. Entry forms can be picked up the day of the event. Doors to the gym will open at 12:30 p.m. Everyone is asked to enter through the east door of the gym.

Duff, Hess have career highs against Eagles

Dighton sophomore Jordan Horn steals the ball from a diving Abram Caasi during Friday’s NWKL win on the home floor. (Record Photo)

Lingg sends Dogs to pound with 3-point shooting spree After being silent for nearly three quarters, Tyler Lingg drilled threepoint baskets Quinter 35 on three conDighton 47 secutive possessions to spark a late scoring surge as Dighton High School pulled away from Quinter for a 47-35 win in front of a Homecoming crowd on Friday. Lingg, a 6-5 junior, saw limited playing time in the first three quarters due to a lingering ankle injury. But with the Hornets protecting a 28-27 lead late in the third period, Lingg drilled three shots from behind the arc during a 9-1 run that gave Dighton some breathing room. “When you have a player who starts shooting like that it

SC Girls N. Latta got the Lady Beavers off to a quick start with eight of her 10 points coming in the first period. After that it was sophomore guards Bailey Latta and Kaitlyn Roberts who helped seal the win with their long-range shooting. During a 1-1/2 minute stretch early in the third period, B. Latta drilled three treys that stretched Scott City’s advantage from 20-13 to 32-16 with 4:49 left in the quarter. Roberts added two of her three treys in the same quarter, the last one coming in the final moments which helped put the breaks on an 8-1 Holcomb scoring run and gave SCHS a 36-24 advantage heading into the final period. “It’s very, very valuable that we started getting some offense on the perimeter. It’s much

makes coaching a lot easier,” said head coach Dean Cramer with a grin. The first 22 minutes were anything but easy for the Hornets who couldn’t shake loose from the stubborn Bulldogs. In fact, Quinter held an early 11-5 lead before the Hornets were able to build a five point cushion of their own, 24-19, following a three-point basket by junior guard Lake Lewis early in the second half. The Hornets owned a 28-27 advantage before Lingg knocked down the first of his treys with 1:32 remaining in the third period. Less than a minute later, Lingg added another threepointer and he opened the fourth quarter with a trey that gave Dighton a 37-28 lead. A rebound and putback by Lewis, along with a fastbreak

basket by sophomore guard Jordan Horn stretched the lead to 41-28 with 6:16 on the clock. Lingg and Horn put an exclamation point on the late scoring surge with back-to-back treys just 43 seconds apart that opened up a 47-31 spread with 3:51 remaining in the game. Lingg led the Hornets with 12 points and six rebounds while Horn added 11 points (5-of-10 FG). Lewis and Isaac Torson each finished with eight points. “Isaac has worked hard and we’ve counted on him for a lot more minutes the last couple of games while Tyler’s had his ankle injury,” Cramer says. “He’s getting a lot more touches in practice. It showed tonight and it will help on down the road.” The head coach feels that

teams have a tendency to overlook Quinter and not give their post people enough credit. “They were doing a good job early in the game of posting up and that forced us to do a better job of getting around them and denying the entry pass,” Cramer says. “In the third quarter we were more effective at pressuring the ball and we did a better job of battling inside and keeping the ball out of the hands of their post player. When they were reversing the ball they were sealing us on the backside. I told the boys they had to fight their way in front of (their post player) in order not to get sealed off,” he says. As a team, Dighton was 17-of-48 from the field, including 7-of-16 from beyond the three-point line.

If a team is struggling offensively then Colby is the cure. Bo Hess and Drew Duff each had career high scoring nights and the Scott Community High School boys coasted to a 74-38 road win last Friday. The outcome was never in doubt as the Beavers poured in more than 20 points in each of the first three quarters in rolling up their highest scoring night of the season. They were on top 23-12 after one quarter and 43-24 at halftime. Hess scorched the nets with 11-of-13 shooting from the field on his way to a 28 point performance. Duff was nearly perfect - 5-of-6 - from beyond the three-point line and collected 18 points. As a team, SCHS was 29-of45 from the field (64 percent), including 9-of-14 from the three-point arc.

(continued from page 17)

harder to stop us when we have an outside and an inside game,” noted McCormick. B. Latta and Roberts, who led the team with 15 and 13 points, respectively, finished off their big offensive nights by combining to hit 8-of-10 from the charity stripe in the closing eight minutes. “I’ve told the girls if we can get to the free throw line more than (our opponent) then we will win,” says McCormick. But that goes back to being aggressive and attacking the basket. “If we just pass it around on the perimeter than we’re not forcing teams to react. Let’s get a little closer (to the basket) and be on the attack,” McCormick reminds her girls. An emphasis on situational basketball during practice has started to reap

benefits during game time for the Lady Beavers. “We’re working a lot more on setting up situations in practice - what to do when there’s a minute left in the game and we’re down by three; what to do when there’s a minute left and we’re ahead by three. We’ve been in these situations this season, but we’ve looked scared. We didn’t know how to react,” McCormick says. “Tonight, we looked liked we’d been in this situation before and we knew how to respond.” The next step, says the head coach, is not just playing teams close, but learning how to finish. “I don’t want us to be satisfied to just be in these games anymore. We have to be hungry and get the win which we did tonight,” she says. “Now we have to build on that.”

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Defense has been special for the Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs have one of those special NFL defenses that are so few and far between. KC won by their 11th in a Mac row, defeating Stevenson Houston 30-0 in the wild-card playoff. KC’s defense didn’t earn their reputation of excellence by shutting out an inept Houston offense. The Chiefs defense has played well throughout the season. It was KC’s first playoff win since 1994. After the game, Coach Andy Reid said, “Was it 1994? I didn’t feel it, but I know how important it is . . . you get to the playoffs and the first round, if things don’t go well, that rips your heart out.” Kansas City will play at New England this Saturday (3:45 p.m.) with a chance to qualify for the AFC Championship game and then with another win - a trip to the Super Bowl. Quarterback Alex Smith is playing winning football and the Chiefs are capable of making it to the NFL championship game. AFC East champion New England (12-4) has suffered through numerous injuries and KC is capable of beating the Patriots. If the Chiefs’ pass rush is on track, they will be able to slow QB Tom Brady and his offense. Kansas City doesn’t have any noteworthy weaknesses in their defensive backfield and that’s vital because New England will have to pass to move the ball. The Chiefs’ defense will stuff the Patriots’ running game. The prediction: Kansas City 24-New England 17. Shox on a Roll Wichita State’s basketball team is 10-5 overall and 4-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference after their impressive 83-58 win at Southern Illinois. Wichita State isn’t going to breeze through the MVC like they did last season. Coach Marshall has been starting Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker at the guard positions, Anton Grady (sr., 6-8, 230) and Shaq Morris (so., 6-8, 230) have split time at center, Evan Wessel at small forward, and Zack Brown (so., 6-6, 216) at power forward. (See CHIEFS on page 21)

2016 fishing regs are available on-line

PRATT - A new year means new seasons ahead, and it’s never too early to start planning. Anglers with an itch to get the low-down on all things fishing related in Kansas this year should check out the online version of the 2016 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary. Simply visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Fishing / Fishing Regulations” to download your copy of the free, easy-to-use, full-color pamphlet. Printed copies will be available wherever licenses are sold by mid-January. Apart from a helpful section highlighting new regulations for the 2016 season, the summary also includes information on important fishing regulations such as special seasons, creel and length limits, license fees and legal fishing methods. Because creel and length limits vary from lake to lake, the2016 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summaryis a must-read for all anglers. The summary also lists all public waters, along with their location and any special regulations in effect. Anglers can see which community lakes don’t charge extra fees for fishing, as well as community lakes designated as Family Friendly Facilities (FFF) that will include flush toilet facilities, security patrols, security lighting, easy access to the water and do not allow alcohol. Anglers can also read up on aquatic nuisance species (ANS), as well as regulations governing the use of live baitfish. Select pages are devoted to fish identification, featuring color illustrations. Current state record fish are listed, and there is also a Master Angler Award Application for anglers who catch fish that qualify for this certificate award program.

The Scott County Record • Page 20 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

The Scott County Record • Page 21 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Defense is key in Dighton, W-G rematch Earlier this season, when Dighton and Wheatland-Grinnell were locked in a tight game it was the Thunderhawks who came away with the win on a buzzer-beater. That’s why the steady and consistent message Wheatland 39 f r o m Dighton 45 h e a d coach Dean Cramer heading into Tuesday’s rematch was defense. “Defense was the dif-

ference in the fourth quarter,” says Cramer, whose team was protecting a 33-32 lead entering the final eight minutes. “We made sure they worked for every shot they had.” DHS (6-2) was successful in doing just that while coming away with a 45-39 win on the home floor. The only breakdown in Dighton’s defensive pressure came in the second period when W/G sophomore guard Chandler Ostmeyer scored nine of his team high 12 points.

Ostmeyer was limited to just three points the remainder of the night and the Thunderhawks connected on only four second half field goals. “We took away their ability to penetrate and we forced them to work the ball a lot longer on offense. When that happens you start to wear a team down and I think that’s reflected in their field goal shooting in the second half,” Cramer says. “There was one stretch with about four minutes left in the game that they

took about 70 seconds off the clock trying to get an open shot.” Cramer gave high marks to the defensive effort by guards Marcos Cruz and Jordan Horn in limiting the effectiveness of Ostmeyer who scorched the Hornets for 18 points when the two teams last met in the semi-finals of the Castle Rock Classic. “Marcos is such a good defender and I wanted him on the floor late in the game to stop Ostmeyer. What he did for us is just as valuable as the guy

who scores 15 points,” noted Cramer. DHS jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and owned a 16-6 edge at the end of the first quarter, but saw that advantage disappear over the next 16 minutes. They were still leading by a point in the fourth quarter when junior guard Lake Lewis hit the fourth of his treys to open up a four point cushion. Moments later, junior guard Dylan Foos added another trey on his way to scoring 11 points. “Dylan played a real

Scott City to host wrestling invite Sat. Fifteen teams will be competing for the Scott City Classic title on Saturday when mat action gets underway at 9:00 a.m. There are 17 wrestlers who are ranked within the top six of their respective weight divisions in Classes 3-2-1A, 4A and 5A. The deepest weight class, at least on Scott City Classic paper, is 120-pounds which features three Sat., Jan. 16 • 9:00 a.m. ranked wrestlers in Class 3-2-1A - Dayton Cimarron, Ellis, HaysPorsch (Hoxie, No. 1), Bryce Younger TMP, Holcomb, Hoxie, Holly (Ellis, No. 4) and Dylon Niswonger (Leoti, (Co.), Lakin, Larned, Liberal, Leoti, Scott City, St. Francis, No. 6). Sublette, Tribune, Ulysses The 195-pound division also promises to be competitive with three ranked opponents, led by Scott City senior Cooper Griffith who is 13-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 3-2-1A. Also ranked in the weight class are Diego Maravilla (Ulysses, No. 6, 4A) and Victor Monarrez (Liberal, No. 6, 5A). There are some key matchups for Scott City wrestlers which could have an impact on regional seeds later this season. Freshman Theron Tucker (106) has dropped out of the state rankings, but could climb back into the top six with a potential match against Larned freshman Kristopher Nolde (No. 5, 3A). If Wyatt Hayes wants to get into the finals of the 152-pound division he will have to go through either Mario Rodriguez (Ulysses, No. 6), who has defeated him by decision twice this year, or senior Clay DeWaal (St. Francis, No. 5), a finalist at the Norton tournament. Another potential key match for SCHS will be in the 220-pound division where junior Garrett Osborn (10-5) could face Trayton Doyle (St. Francis, No. 6).

Boards As might be expected, the taller Longhorns dominated the glass with a 36-16 advantage. Sixfoot-seven junior Conner VanCleave alone had 19 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. “One of our primary goals coming into the game was to shut down (junior guard) Christian Merz and, except for a couple of possessions when we lost our coverage, we did a pretty good job,” says O’Neil. Merz was one of only two Longhorns in double figures with 13 points, but he was 3-of-5 from beyond the three-point line. “We left him wide open

Chiefs In reality, that’s a fourguard starting lineup and it won’t last. Look for Markis McDuffie (fr., 6-8, 190) to take Wessel’s place as a starter. McDuffie is a special talent and coming fast; he will give the

State-Ranked Wrestlers Competing in Scott City Classic Wt. 106

Wrestler Krisopher Nolde

Team Larned

Ranking 5

Class 3-2-1A

113

Zach Tucker

Scott City

3-2-1A

120

Dayton Porsch Bryce Younger Dylon Niswonger

Hoxie Ellis Leoti

1 4 6

3-2-1A 3-2-1A 3-2-1A

138

Tristan Porsch Ricky Hockett

Hoxie Hays-TMP

1 6

3-2-1A 3-2-1A

145

Greg McClurg Dalton Hensley

Liberal Ellis

4 5

5A 3-2-1A

152

Clay DeWaal Mario Rodriguez

St. Francis Ulysses

5 6

3-2-1A 4A

160

Chance Rodriguez

Holcomb

195

Cooper Griffith Diego Maravilla Victor Monarrez

Scott City Ulysses Liberal

1 6 6

3-2-1A 4A 5A

220

Trayton Doyle

St. Francis

3-2-1A

285

Taye Washington

Hoxie

3-2-1A

(continued from page 17)

twice and he made us pay for it,” notes O’Neil. The equally big challenge was to keep VanCleave from taking over the boards. “He is big, he’s active and he uses his body well, but on at least four of his rebounds we lost sight of the ball. We tried to block him out and he caught either an air ball or a deflection. To allow those to happen is fundamentally unsound.” Scott City’s ineffectiveness under the glass was perhaps the most glaring issue in Tuesday’s loss. “I don’t think (Holcomb) had very many uncontested shots. The difference was that when they got to the boards they

kept pounding and eventually made their shots,” O’Neil says. “There are too many situations, not just in this game but during the season, when we think we can get into a jumping contest. “Against Holcomb, we were trying to do that against boys who were bigger and a little more athletic and we were losing those battles.” Hess led the Beavers with 11 points (5-of-11 FG) while Hutchins added 10 points. Hess and Drake McRae, with seven and six rebounds respectively, accounted for 13 of the team’s 16 rebounds. Except for Hess, SCHS was scoreless in the paint.

(continued from page 20)

Shockers extra rebounding and scoring. KU transfer Conner Frankamp had his best game as a Shocker against Southern Illinois, hitting four of seven threepointers on the way to 14 points. It’s important that

Frankamp shoots well because his size is a liability on defense. Wichita State is going to have another excellent team before it’s all said and done. The Shockers are improving fast.

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steady game. He didn’t force anything and he took the shots that came to him,” Cramer notes. Foos was 5-of-8 from the field in addition to grabbing four rebounds and handing out two assists. “We were concentrating on getting the ball inside and they were sagging their defense. That opened up the outside for our three-point shooters,” says the head coach. Junior Tyler Lingg added nine points and a team high 15 rebounds.

The Scott County Record • Page 22 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Twice JV boys battle back, Smoke come up short against Horns There’s no doubt the Scott Community High School junior varsity was undersized in Tuesday’s game against Holcomb. B u t c o a c h B r i a n Gentry w a s n ’ t Holcomb 50 Scott City 44 using that as an excuse following their 50-44 loss on the home floor. “It was still a game that we could have won and we had our opportunities late in the game,” says Gentry. “There are other areas where we need to improve and if we get better doing those things than rebounding doesn’t become quite as big an issue.” On Tuesday, however, there was no denying that “rebounding is what gave them their early lead and it’s what gave them the win at the end,” says Gentry. That’s no surprise considering that the Longhorns had 6-foot-7 sophomore Kobe Dickson on the court in the first quarter while building a 16-7 lead. When he left the game they were able to follow with 6-foot-4 sophomores Jordon Smith and Steven Crain who made life tough under the boards for SCHS. It didn’t get any easier for the Beavers with their 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Zach Carson picked up his third foul late in the first quarter and had to watch from the bench. Twice the Longhorns were able to build big leads and each time Scott City (2-2) was able to cut the deficit to four points. Holcomb built a 26-12 advantage midway into the second period and SCHS responded with a 12-2 scoring burst that made it a 28-24 game following freshman guard Marshall Faurot’s threepointer with 5:10 left in the third period. That was followed by another Scott City scoring drought which allowed Holcomb to build a 40-

Scott City sophomore Reid Brunswig grabs a rebound during Tuesday’s action against Holcomb. (Record Photo)

24 lead. During the next eight minutes, the Beavers sliced away at the deficit until six consecutive free throws by Faurot once again made it a four point spread, 46-42, with 2:35 on the clock. Faurot, who finished with a game high 23 points, was 11-of-11 at the charity stripe. SCHS was 15-of-17 at the line. “As a team, when we see more defensive pressure we lose our focus mentally. We had opportunities to get the lead to less than four points in the final two minutes and we missed a contested shot on one possession and committed a turnover on the next,” says Gentry. “We had the opportunities and we didn’t execute.” Gentry says the team played a basic zone defense with the intent of forcing Holcomb to shoot from the outside.

“The only three they scored was their first basket of the game, so the defense accomplished what we wanted,” Gentry says. “It’s not the only three they took because they shot a lot of threes after that, but in the first and second quarters they were able to get offensive rebounds and score. “We have to rebound better as a team and, in the end, that was the difference in the game.” Gentry says the team must also learn how to make a quicker transition between zone and man defenses. “We have to be able to switch our defenses up. Against their smaller lineup I wanted man pressure and every time we did it seemed that we gave up an easy basket. We couldn’t adjust on the run,” says the coach. “When we’d transition from zone to man we gave

up a basket almost every time. There were about six possessions when that happened and I’m pretty sure (Holcomb) scored on each one of them. It was a breakdown on our part. These are things we work on every day in practice, but during a game situation we didn’t make these plays down the stretch.” Roll Over Colby Limiting Colby to just 12 points during the first three quarters, the JV boys rolled to a 55-23 road win last Friday. SCHS put together a balanced offensive effort led by Faurot and junior guard Jess Drohman with 13 points each while sophomore Nick Nowak added 12 points. The Beavers built a 25-8 lead at the half and poured in 19 points during the third quarter to open up a 44-12 cushion.

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pane smokers, electric smokers, charcoal smokers and wood smokers. Vertical smokers place the heat source at the bottom and the cooking surface directly above, diverting the heat and smoke somehow to make it indirect. Offset smokers place the heat source off to one side of the cooking surface and draw the heat and smoke in and around the meat. Pellet smokers have an offset firebox, usually with an apparatus that automatically feeds pellets to the fire. They are noted for their simplicity. Propane heat can be used with most any smoker design and propane smokers are also known for their simplicity. Electric burners can also be used as the heat source, making for an easily-operated smoker. They are often used in a vertical cabinet of some sort. Both charcoal and wood can be used as the heat source for either vertical or offset style smokers. Although known as the trickiest to control both temperature and smoke application, wood

(continued from page 18)

and charcoal smoked meats are known for their taste. Pellets and woodchips can be purchased in different varieties. Pellets are the heat and smoke source for pellet smokers and woodchips are added as the smoke source for propane, electric and charcoal smokers. Fruit and nut tree woods of various kinds are used as both the heat and smoke source for wood smokers. As I said, the internet simply teems with information about smoking meat. A wonderful website is www.smokingmeat. com that has all manner of different links from discussion forums to recipes and even a classified section where you can buy used smokers and equipment. I will either rebuild my little Char Broil grill or start from scratch and build what I want. In the meantime, learn to smoke (meat) and continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors. Steve can be contacted by email at stevegilliland@idkcom.net

The Scott County Record • Page 23 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Orange and Black Classic

Boy’s Division • January 21-23 • at Colby

Girl’s Division • January 21-23 • at Colby

Palmer Ridge (5-4)

Pine Creek (7-3)

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. High School

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. Community Bldg.

Friday 4:45 p.m. High School

4th Place

Saturday, 2:00 p.m. High School

Scott City (4-3)

Friday 3:00 p.m. High School

Friday 4:45 p.m. Comm. Bldg.

Palmer Ridge (6-3) Thursday, 4:45 p.m. High School

KC Schlagle (3-6)

Fountain/FC (2-8) Saturday, 8:15 p.m. Comm. Bldg.

Champion

Thursday, 6:30 p.m. High School

Wichita West (0-6) Colby (1-7)

4th Place

Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Community Bldg.

McCook (8-5) KC Schlagle (5-1) Thursday, 8:15 p.m. High School

McCook (7-5)

Fort Lupton (2-6) Saturday, 4:00 p.m. Community Bldg.

3rd Place

Takedown Kids Wrestling dec. by Ethan Wallace (Greater Gold), 8-5; dec. Gunner Wente (Hoxie), 6-5; pinned Kayden Davis (Colby), 0:13. Second place 52: Trenton Frank dec. Drew Ballard (Team Lightning), 5-0; pinned Gannon West (Leoti), 0:54; pinned Brendon Seibel (Ellis), 0:41; dec. Nathan Cates (Colby), 2-0. First place 55B: Eli Lisenby pinned Victor Bravo (Greater Gold), 0:55; dec. by Cameron Persing (Hugoton), 5-2; pinned Koen Oien (Oberlin), 0:35; dec. River Loader (Ulysses), 7-6. First place 58: Tyler Roberts dec. Aden Reilley (Colby), 6-4; dec. by Deegan Knox (Goodland), 6-4; dec. Ashton Wynn (WaKeeney), 6-4; dec. Blake Latham (Gray Co.), 10-5. Third place 58B: Gage Marquez pinned by Alexander Chavez (SW Grapplers), 0:47. 61: Blaze Gossman pinned by Jacob Gonzales (Ulysses), 0:37; dec. by Aaron Samson (WaKeeney), 4-3. 61: Matthew Wheeler dec. Aaron Samson (WaKeeney), 4-0; dec. Noah Dowell (Hoxie), 1-0; dec. by Jacob Gonzales (Ulysses), 7-5. Second place 61B: Kamdyn Moore dec. by Wyatt Mannel (Liberal), 4-2; pinned Ben Wolak (Goodland), 0:58; pinned Antonio Rivas (Syracuse), 0:12. Third place 61B: Brodey Rohrbough dec. Michael Neis (Gray Co.), 5-0; dec. by Wyatt Mannel (Liberal), 7-2. Second place 64: Waylon Ricker maj. dec. Adan Ornelas (Lakin), 9-0; maj. dec. by Talon Wark (Colby), 11-0; dec. by Talan Sauvage (Oberlin), 6-4. 64B: Hunter Fry dec. by Kasten Wren (Scott City), 6-4; dec. Ryker Schmidtberger (Colby), 5-2; maj. dec. by Alek Miller (Colby), 17-4. 64B: Kasten Wren dec. Hunter Fry (Scott City), 6-4; maj. dec. by Saben Herrera (Greater Gold), 20-8; dec. by Kyle Douglas (Lakin), 7-5. 67: Kade John pinned Tyson Ryburn (Oakley), 0:22; dec. Mathew Bretz (Oakley), 6-0; dec. by Alex Rodriguez (Scott City), 4-0. Second place 67: Alex Rodriguez pinned Nathan Weber (Colby), 1:35; pinned Ian Giancola (Hoxie), 2:33; dec. Kade John (Scott City), 4-0. First place 80: Jacob Franco dec. Jesse Gomez (Liberal), 5-2; pinned Zane Gerstberger (Leoti), 0:17; pinned by Sam Watkins (Hoxie), 0:35. Second place 9-10-Years-Old 64: Evan Fry tech. fall Carlos Maldonado (Syracuse), 17-0; pinned by Bryan Montoya (Ulysses), 0:38; pinned by Nathan Haddix (Atwood), 0:33. 76: Collin McDaniel tech. fall Dylan Metzger (Greater Gold), 15-0; tech. fall Lukas Zodrow (Oberlin), 17-0; pinned Miguel Hernandez (Greater Gold), 2:29; maj.

7th Place

Friday 3:00 p.m. Comm. Bldg.

Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Comm. Bldg.

Saturday, noon High School

Friday 6:30 p.m. Comm. Bldg.

Saturday, 4:00 p.m. High School

SCHS Wrestling dec. Duncan Bell (Hoxie), 14-0. First place 76: Kooper Wright pinned Mackenzie Cauthon (Sublette), 0:44; pinned Noah Matchell (Colby), 1:33; pinned Jamie Turner (Sublette), 0:28; pinned Jarek Crow (Goodland), 0:06. First place 82: Case Armendariz dec. by Juan Rico (Ulysses), 11-5; pinned by Matthew Montoya (SW Grapplers), 1:44; pinned by Jaden Nuss (Hill City), 0:07; pinned by Ace Plummer (Oakley), 0:34 85: Houston Frank pinned by Adam Mendoza (Hugoton), 1:53; dec. Wayne Shepard (Hoxie), 4-3; dec. Jake Taliaferro (Hays), 6-2; dec. Zane Betz (Colby), 6-0. Second place 110: Bryton Gregory pinned by Jake Edmunson (Colby), 0:39; dec. by Elliot Weber (Colby), 1-0; pinned by Dawson McGranahan (WaKeeney), 0:12 120: Izak Venegas maj. dec. by Anthony Najera (Sublette), 14-3; pinned by Justin Degollado (Ulysses), 0:35. 130: Jackson Rumford pinned by Carmelo Orosco (Ulysses), 1:10; pinned Kaden Aeschilman (Oakley), 0:52. Second place 11-12-Years-Old 80: Zach Rohrbough dec. Drew Bell (Hoxie), 6-2; pinned by Julian Marquez (Holly), 3:35. Second place 100-105: Kale Wheeler pinned Cale Younger (Ellis), 2:05; pinned Ben Dunlap (SW Grapplers), 1:05; maj. dec. Rolis Loya (Colby), 15-3. First place 130: Ronnie Weathers pinned Bobby Rayas (Leoti), 0:56; pinned by Donovan Balluch (Hoxie), 2:50. Second place 150-165: Lance Miller dec. Gavin Schippers (Hoxie), 7-2; dec. Damian Ortiz (Scott City), 5-0; pinned by Trevor Grubbs (Syracuse), 1:50. Second place 150-165: Damian Ortiz pinned by Trevor Grubbs (Syracuse), 4:27; dec. by Lance Miller (Scott City), 5-0; pinned Gavin Schippers (Hoxie), 1:56. Third place 190: Jarron Gregory pinned Brecken Webber (Sublette), 0:38; pinned Hannah Lampe (Syracuse), 0:42. First place 13-14-Years-Old 105-115: Justus McDaniel pinned Brandon Heinrichs (Ulysses), 0:44; pinned Trystan Johnson (Hays), 1:10; tech. fall Rowdy Martin (Ulysses), 16-0. First place 120-130: Kaden Wren pinned Shayden Geyer (Leoti), 0:47; dec. Trey Medina (Greater Gold), 5-2; pinned George Weber (Great Bend), 1:04. First place 135-145: Caleb Vandergrift won by injury default over Savannah Loader (Ulysses), 0:47; dec. by Weston Maravilla (Ulysses), 4-0. Second place 235-265: Luke Wright pinned by Ayston Perez (Ulysses), 0:30; pinned by Dylan Warner (Hays), 2:30.

Champion

Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Community Bldg. Friday 6:30 p.m. High School

Friday 8:15 p.m. Comm. Bldg.

Colby (3-5)

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. Community Bldg.

Saturday, noon Community Bldg.

Scott City Open January 9, 2016 6-Years and Under 40B: Kale Clinton dec. by Adan Espino (Oakley), 6-1; dec. by Braxto Parks (Syracuse), 4-2; dec. by Kasch Buehler (Gray Co.), 4-0; dec. Hiram Tame (Colby), 13-6. 43B: Noah Wheeler lost by maj. dec. to Porter Meyer (Hoxie), 10-2; maj. dec. by Joshua Eddie (Ulysses), 14-0. 46B: Jaxon Fisher pinned by Jackson Combs (SW Grapplers), 0:34; pinned Zachery Vogel (Gray Co.), 0:44: pinned Efren Ugalde (Leoti), 0:48; pinned Noah Wolak (Goodland), 0:32. Third Place 46B: Carson Gabel pinned by Drake Metzger (Greater Gold), 0:43; dec. by Noah Wolak (Goodland), 10-3. 49B: Cooper Irvin pinned Kelby Buehler (Gray Co.), 0:33; pinned Jesse Wilson (Ulysses), 0:30; pinned by Landon Mainus (Colby), 2:55. Second Place 49B: Ayden Warta pinned by Landon Mainus (Colby), 0:21; pinned by Jesse Wilson (Ulysses), 0:58. 49C: Liam Emberton pinned by Alexander Houtsma (Syracuse), 0:57; maj. dec. by Bentley Thurston (Scott City), 14-5; pinned by Peyton Odom (Lakin), 0:50. 49C: Bentley Thurston maj. dec. by Peyton Odom (Lakin), 10-0; maj. dec. Liam Emberton (Scott City), 14-5; pinned by Alexander Houtsma (Syracuse), 0:29. Third Place 52: Kasey Rohrbough dec. Weston Loeppka (Lakin), 9-6; dec. by Tayson Guerrera (Leoti), 8-1; pinned Juan Ortiz (SW Grapplers), 0:44; dec. by Christian Guzman (SW Grapplers), 8-5. Fourth place 52: Kirbey Rohrbough dec. by Tate McGreer (Colby), 7-4; dec. by Christian Guzman (SW Grapplers). 52B: Jagger SpanglerCarlson pinned by Tage Sullivan (Colby), 2:32;; pinned by Griffin Zerr (Hoxie), 0:55; maj. dec. by Kaden Murray (SW Grapplers), 9-1; tech. fall by Collin Shockley (SW Grapplers), 15-0. 55B: Brody Rios dec. Emanuel Sepulveda (Liberal), 7-6; pinned Braxton Reed (Leoti), 0:42; pinned Colton Heronemus (SW Grapplers), 0:53; dec. Gage Epp (Hoxie), 11-5. First place 58B: Ayden Lewis pinned by Konner Collett (Goodland), 0:29; pinned by Aniston Wiginton (Ulysses), 1:53. 61-64: Easton Eisenhour pinned Cooper Meese (Leoti), 1:53; dec. by Chase Meyer (Hoxie), 7-6. Second place 70-76: Max Depperschmidt pinned by Giovanni Benitez (Greater Gold), 0:30; pinned by Broady Nelson (Ulysses), 0:21. 7-8-Years-Old 49B: Konner Rohrbough

Scott City (2-5)

Thursday, 4:45 p.m. Community Bldg.

Pine Creek (3-8)

Friday 8:15 p.m. High School

7th Place

Fountain/FC (2-8)

J.R. Durham Invitational January 9, 2016 • at Norton Team scores: Garden City 231, Manhattan 183, Norton 161, Scott City 101.5, Smith Center 96, Hoxie 88, Marion 54, McCook (Ne.) 53.5, Oakley 53, Cozad (Ne.) 43, HaysTMP 43, Holcomb 43, St. Francis 38, Beloit 37.5, Cimarron 35, Ulysses 29, Atwood 26, Tribune 7 106: Theron Tucker dec. by Alex Herrera (GC), 6-0; pinned Troy Wooten (Man), 1:05; pinned Alex McPail (Cim), 0:23; pinned by Sion Audrain (GC), 1:28. Third place 113: Zach Tucker pinned Andres Sanchez (GC), 3:07; dec. by Joe Braun (Man), 7-3; dec. Estin Slack (Oak), 4-2. Third place 126: Alex Depperschmidt tech. fall Matt Boyer (Uly), 18-2; pinned by Sammy Guevara (GC), 1:43; pinned by Abraham Sanchez (Man), 2:34. 132: Jack Thomas dec. Ezra Darnall (Mar), 4-2; dec. by Tucker Rhoades (Hays-TMP), 2-0; dec. Morgan Rains (Oak), 5-1; dec. by Colton Hutchinson (SmC), 7-6 4OT. Fourth place 152: Wyatt Hayes pinned Noah Leon (Trib), 0:22; dec. Zephry Kilham (Man), 10-3; dec. by Alec Castillo (GC), 8-5; pinned Trenton Chisham (Nor), 0:47; dec. by Mario Rodriguez (Uly), 15-8. Fourth place 160: Abe Wiebe pinned Preston Nollette (Oak), 0:40; maj. dec. by Chase Ryan (SmC), 18-4; pinned Reid Sater (Hol), 2:00; pinned by Rico Cherico (GC), 2:02. 182: Tre Stewart dec. Anthony Merida (Atw), 5-2; pinned by Gavin Lively (Nor), 3:08; dec. by Eric Langan (McC), 5-2. 195: Cooper Griffith pinned AJ Bunning (Man), 0:30; dec. Maverick Engel (Nor), 4-2; pinned Avery Hawkins (SmC), 1:51; dec. Tyler Palic (Mar), 5-3. First place 220: Garrett Osborn pinned Dalton Kuhn (SmC), 1:51; pinned by Chris Cox (Oak), 1:37; pinned by Kaleb Taylor (McC), 0:25.

3rd Place

3-2-1A Regional Wrestling February 19-20 Beloit High School Teams: BellevilleRepublic County, Beloit, Bennington, Brookville-Ell Saline, Ellsworth, GypsumSE of Saline, Hays-TMP, Hoisington, Lincoln, Lyons, Mankato-Rock Hills, Marysville, Minneapolis, Osborne, Palco, Phillipsburg, Plainville, Riley County, Russell, Salina-Sacred Heart, Salina-St. John’s Military Academy, ScandiaPike Valley, Smith Center, Stockton Cimarron High School Teams: Anthony/HarperChaparral, Atwood, Cheney, Cimarron, Ellis, Garden Plain, Hill City, Hoxie, Ingalls, Lakin, Langdon-Fairfield, Larned, Leoti, MontezumaSouth Gray, Moscow, Norton, Oakley, Oberlin, Scott City, St. Francis, Stafford, Sterling, Sublette, Tribune, WaKeeney

Support Your Hometown Merchants

The Scott County Record â&#x20AC;˘ Page 24 â&#x20AC;˘ Thursday, January 14, 2016

young kings of the mat

Members of the Scott City Takedown Kids Wrestling Club competing in their home tournament last Saturday were (clockwise, from top): Kale Clinton puts a Colby opponent to his back. Matthew Wheeler tips an opponent for near-fall points. Damien Ortiz waits for the official to slap the mat for a fall. Teammates Kasten Wren (left) and Hunter Fry compete against each other. Kasey Rohrbough tightens up a head lock. There were nearly 450 youngstes competing in the tournament. (Record Photos)

The Scott County Record

Lake Scott under ice

Page 25 - Thursday, January 14, 2016

Farm

The Scott County Record

Page 26 - Thursday, January 14, 2016

Kansas farmland values continue gradual decline USDA lowers acreage for ‘16 wheat crop The price of Kansas farm ground continues to soften - along with national farm ground prices - because of falling farm incomes and fewer bidders, according to brokerage Farmers National. The good news for

farmers is that crop prices all jumped between four cents and 18 cents earlier this week as the USDA lowered its earlier estimates on the U.S. corn and soybean crop. It also lowered its estimate on the amount of acreage planted for the upcoming wheat harvest. The USDA reports that corn and wheat held in storage were greater than

ag briefs

Land leasing workshop in SC on Jan. 26

K-State Extension in Scott, Finney and Wichita counties will be hosting a leasing workshop on Tues., Jan. 26, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, at the William Carpenter 4-H Bldg. Featured speaker is Dr. Mykel Taylor, assistant professor, K-State Agricultural Economics. Topics will include lease arrangements, tenant-landlord relationships, calculating an equitable lease, and using the KSU leasing spreadsheet. The cost of the workshop is $10 if pre-registered by January 20 or $15 at the door. A noon meal is included in the registration fee. Pre-register to the Scott County Extension office (872-2930), jbeckman@ ksu.edu; the Finney County Extension office (272-3670) or kbarth25@ksu.edu; or the Wichita County Extension office (375-2724) or abaker@ ksu.edu

KSU sorghum school Feb. 2

K-State Extension, in conjunction with the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission, will hold an In-Depth Grain Sorghum School on Tues., Feb. 2, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Wm. Carpenter 4-H Bldg., Scott City. The school will cover weed control strategies, crop production practices, soil fertility and nutrient management, insect control, irrigation, limited irrigation and iron chlorosis, sugarcane aphid, risk management and conclude with a farmer panel discussion. Lunch will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but participants are asked to pre-register on or before Fri., Jan. 29. Online registration is available at K-State Sorghum Schools: http://bit.ly/ KSSORGHUMSchools. Pre-registration is also available by calling the Scott County Extension office (8722930) or email: jbeckman@ ksu.edu to attend.

at 282 million bushels, up 41 percent from 2014. The yield for soybeans was 88 bushels per acre, which tied a record set in 2009. The price increases were welcome news to farmers who have seen more than a year of breakeven - or worse - prices after five years of record profits. Falling farm incomes have weighed on

earlier estimated. Many farmers and grain buyers have held onto stocks because of low prices. At the same time, the USDA raised its earlier estimates for Kansas’ fall harvest which includes: Corn: 580 million bushels, up two percent from 2014. Soybeans: 149 million bushels, up 6 percent from 2014; and grain sorghum

land prices, which have started to fall from record prices. The number of farmers looking to buy land remains strong, said Brock Thurman, vice president for Farmers National, but the number of non-farm investors has dropped as falling prices have cut the investment return. If non-farm investors

could still get a 3-5 percent return on renting the land out, they might be interested in buying, but nearby farmers typically will outbid them. “Most guys are trying to break even, with some in the red numbers,” Thurman said of farmers. “But they want to control acres because they’re eternal optimists and there’s always next year.”

Preventing predation in livestock Ask livestock producers in Kansas to name the most threatening predator to their operation, and most, if not all, will have the same answer: coyotes. In Kansas, this member of the canine family can be trapped year-round for fur or sport, or to control livestock predation. Kansas State University wildlife management expert Charlie Lee said that beyond Kansas, coyotes and other predators such as mountain lions, bobcats and even domestic dogs, have been and continue to be a problem for livestock producers nationwide. USDA data shows that the

loss of sheep and lambs to predators is nearly 250,000 annually, costing producers about $20 million. In Kansas, about 1,600 sheep and lambs are lost annually to predators. But, sheep and lambs are not the only livestock lost to predators. Nationwide, cattle and calf losses from animal predators total nearly 220,000 head, resulting in a loss of $98.5 million. Kansas’ producers reported roughly 800 cows and 3,900 calves lost to predation, which equaled a $2.2 million loss. “Unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of good research data

or statistical studies to determine which livestock practices are best to prevent predation,” Lee said. “Livestock management practices vary widely across the nation and certainly within the state. That much variability results in lots of problems for a research trial.” “However, with more than 100 years of Kansas State University being involved in wildlife damage control, we’ve learned a few things that producers can do to minimize those problems.” Understanding Predation Predation on livestock appears to have some relationship to coyotes’ energy needs,

Lee said. Winter losses, however, are generally lower than other times of the year, despite high-energy needs of individual coyotes. Coyote breeding season is approaching in February, which brings litters of roughly five to seven young per litter in late April to early May, he said. This spring whelping season usually increases demands for food, and some coyotes will turn to livestock as the source. Coyotes that kill livestock are usually called “offending animals,” Lee said, but not all coyotes will kill livestock. Producers can look for certain signs of a coyote kill. They (See LIVESTOCK on page 27)

Kansas, U.S. wheat farmers report drop in planted acres Lower prices is primary reason in 8% cut in Kansas U.S. farmers planted fewer acres into winter wheat last fall as growers in top-producing states, including Kansas, cut back on the crop, a government report released Tuesday shows. The National Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the nation’s seeded area for

Market Report Closing prices on January 12, 2016 Bartlett Grain Wheat.................. $ 4.12 White Wheat ....... $ 4.12 Milo .................... $ 2.95 Corn ................... $ 3.48 Soybeans (new crop) $ 7.84 Scott City Cooperative Wheat.................. $ 4.11 White Wheat ....... $ 4.16 Milo (bu.)............. $ 2.90 Corn.................... $ 3.47 Soybeans ........... $ 7.85 Sunflowers.......... $ 13.45 ADM Grain Wheat.................. Milo (bu.)............. Corn.................... Soybeans............ Sunflowers..........

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this year’s crop at 36.6 million acres, down seven percent from a year ago. The agency did not indicate the reasons for the decline, but the industry group Kansas Wheat said a combination of things likely factored into the decision by growers to seed fewer acres, including lower prices for the crop, which is planted in the fall and harvested in the spring and summer. In Kansas, winter wheat acres are down eight percent to 8.5 million acres.

Weather H

5 6 7 8 9 10

46 46 35 33 31 42

27 28 27 25 16 10

January 11

January January January January January January

.30

0.30

2016 Total

government’s wheat planting estimate. “But I was a bit surprised they were as down as they were.” Also likely factoring into the planting numbers is the profitability of the various crops. “Prices have been going downward, so that probably affected planted acres as well,” Boswell said. Other top wheat-producing states also had lower acreages. Texas planted just 5.3 million acres, down 12 percent. (See ACRES on page 27)

Friendship ‘Meals to Go’

Moisture Totals January

Marsha Boswell, spokeswoman for Kansas Wheat, said one reason for the fewer acres could be because of a rainy fall the state had. That delayed the soybean harvest because farmers couldn’t get combines into those wet fields. Since many Kansas farmers double-crop their fields, the delayed harvest of soybeans meant some farmers couldn’t get back into those fields in time to plant their 2016 winter wheat crop. “We expected them to be down,” Boswell said of the

.30

Food Facts In the U.S., broccoli was probably first grown by immigrants from Italy in home gardens in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1923, a group of Italian vegetable farmers in Northern California started to grow broccoli commercially and in a few years they were shipping fresh broccoli to Boston and New York.

Good for special diets • only $3.25/meal • Call 872-3501

The Scott County Record • Page 27 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Livestock might see bite wounds in the throat, neck, and the top or back of the skull in lambs; bite wounds to the rectal or pelvic area in small calves are usually signs of coyote predation, as is the occasional presence of a bobtailed calf that tried to get away from the predator. Nonlethal Controls Lee advises producers who suspect predation to first exercise nonlethal animal husbandry practices. Producers should start with regular monitoring of pastures to recognize a potential problem before a loss occurs. Maintaining calving and lambing facilities near buildings where there’s more human activity also seems to reduce loss. “The No. 1 thing that research has shown to reduce livestock losses

Acres Oklahoma seeded 4.9 million acres, an eight percent drop. Colorado and Montana are both down with 2.25 million wheat acres each. The government’s report shows that most of the winter wheat grown in the United States is hard

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(continued from page 26)

in sheep and lambs is to pen the livestock at night. A predator-proof pen to confine animals until the problem predators are captured can greatly reduce losses,” Lee said, recognizing that option might not be feasible for all producers. “Avoid problem areas such as rough, brushy pastures, where it’s difficult to observe animals closely,” he added. “It’s easier for predators to catch animals in that rough-type terrain than it is on flat ground. There are some locations on each individual ranch that are better coyote habitat than others. Avoid places you suspect might be a problem.” Altering the timing of calving and lambing seasons could also be helpful, Lee said, to reduce exposure of young animals to predators. Another nonle-

thal control option is using guardian animals, such as dogs, donkeys and llamas, to help protect livestock. But, while some individual guardian animals work well, some don’t, and producers usually must undergo a trial-anderror process to find the one that works best with their operation. Noisemakers, such as scare cannons, radios and motion-detecting noise devices, have some limited success when used with visual deterrents that might include lights, scarecrows or flags. But, Lee said producers must move these around fairly often so predators don’t get used to them. Lethal Controls Lee said if nonlethal means have not worked, producers should consider taking lethal action with

(continued from page 26)

red winter, the type commonly grown in Kansas. The USDA said its estimate of 26.5 million acres nationwide for hard red winter is down 9 percent from a year ago, with the biggest declines in planted acreage in the Great

Gearing up for the crop insurance fight by Traci Bruckner • Center for Rural Affairs

Crop insurance is an important and necessary component of an effective farm safety net. However, it is a very complex program that will work more effectively with much-needed, commonsense reforms. Under current law, we are subsidizing crop insurance at an average rate of 62% on every acre without limit regardless of farm size or wealth. We have an issue with that. Our tax dollars - the public trust - subsidize the largest operators no matter how big they get. To be certain, crop insurance is a valuable and necessary tool for farmers. Fundamentally, we believe in government helping family-scale farmers manage risk. But, we think there ought to be a limit. One federal study points to a single farming corporation that insured crops across eight counties and raked in $1.3 million in taxpayer subsidies in just one year. In turn, the largest and wealthiest farms use their premium subsidies to bid land away from smaller farmers and beginning farmers. We are working to develop policy reforms that cap subsidies, create opportunity for beginners and diversified farmers, and link meaningful stewardship practices to enrollment in the program. The nation’s largest farms must carry their fair share of the cost of doing business, like any other economic sector. This will be a tough fight. We don’t expect to win easily. But for over 42 years we’ve been fighting for family farmers and ranchers. We’re not backing down when it comes to crop insurance reform. Traci Bruckner is with the Center for Rural Affairs. She can be reached at tracib@cfra.org

Plains states. A record low acreage was seeded in Nebraska, the agency said. Estimates for the other winter wheat types included 6.72 million acres of soft red winter wheat and 3.43 million acres of white winter wheat nationwide.

the use of firearms and trapping devices, such as foothold traps and snares. “Although nonlethal methods reduce the likelihood and severity of the losses, sometimes when the losses begin, you’re going to find it necessary to remove the predators,” he said. Lee has taught nonlethal and lethal controls for nearly 30 years across Kansas, and he often receives calls to assist in predator control. Contact him at clee@ksu.edu or 785-532-5734 if you have experienced losses and want tips or assistance. More information on controlling predators, particularly coyotes, is available at local extension offices throughout Kansas or in the K-State Research and Extension publication, “How to Trap a Coyote,” available online (http://bookstore.ksre.ksu. edu/pubs/C660.pdf)

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The Scott County Record • Page 28 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

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Construction/Home Repair

Walker Plumbing, Inc. Backhoe & Trenching services • Irrigation & gas leak repairs • Full-line irrigation parts T-L center pivot dealer Floor heat systems Pump & install septic systems Boring equipment

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The Scott County Record • Page 29 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Call 872-2090 today!

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Services

Kansas Classifieds Ad Network

The classified ads below are appearing in 147 Kansas newspapers with a total circulation of 500,000 the classified display ads appear in 142 Kansas newspapers with a total circulation of 457,000. KCAN line ad is $300 for up to 25 words and $12 each additional word. A 2x2 display ad is $800 per insertion and a 2x4 display ad is $1,650 per insertion. To find out more, contact The Scott County Record at 872-2090.

Help Wanted

Truck Driving

P H A R M A C Y DIRECTOR for southeast Nebraska critical access hospital. Requires BS Pharmacy, excellent organizational, customer service and planning skills. Experience in healthcare pharmacy management preferred. Competitive salary, benefits. Apply at www.jchc. us. For information call HR at (402) 729-6850. ––––––––––––––––––––– PLANT OPS/SAFETY/ emergency preparedness director for southeast Nebraska critical access hospital. Requires bachelor’s, excellent organizational, customer service, planning skills. Experience: safety management, OSHA, environmental safety, Homeland Security preferred. Competitive compensation. Apply: www.jchc. us. Information: HR (402) 729-6850.

CONVOY SYSTEMS is hiring Class A drivers to run from Kansas City to the west coast. Home weekly. Great benefits. www.convoysystems.com. Call Lori at 1-800-9266869, ext. 303. ––––––––––––––––––––– BUTLER TRANSPORT. Your partner in excellence. Drivers needed. Great hometime. $650 sign-on bonus. All miles paid. 1-800-528-7825. www.butlertransport.com.

Education

BILLING SKILLS in demand. Become a medical office assistant. No experience needed. On-line training can get you job ready. HS diploma/GED and PC/Internet needed. 1-888-424-9412. ––––––––––––––––––––– CAN YOU DIG IT? Heavy equipment operator career. We offer training and certifications runbulldozers, backhoes Sports/Outdoors ning and excavators. Lifetime “Don’t Trust Your Auction to Just Anyone” OUR HUNTERS will pay job placement. VA benetop $$$ to hunt your land. fits available. 1-866-362Call for a free base camp 6497. For all your auction needs call: leasing info packet and quote. 1-866-309-1507. (620) 375-4130 For Sale www.BaseCampLeasing. Russell Berning Box Q • Leoti com. S T O R A G E CONTAINERS. 20 ft., 40 All Under One Roof ft., 45 ft., 48 ft. and 53 Sporting Goods ft. centralcontainer.net or 785-655-9430. Your RadioShack Dealer GUN SHOW. Jan. 16-17. Two-way Radio Sales & Service Saturday, 9:00-5:00; Sunday 9:00-3:00. Kansas Expocentre (19th and Topeka Blvd.) in Topeka. Locally owned and operated since 1990 Buy-Sell-Trade. For info: 1104 Main • Scott City • 872-2625 (563) 927-8176.

Berning Auction

Dr. Jeffrey A. Heyd Optometrist

Revcom Electronics

20/20 Optometry

Treatment of Ocular Disease • Glaucoma Detection Children’s Vision • Glasses • Contact Lenses

Complete family eye center! 106 W. 4th • Scott City • 872-2020 • Emergencies: 214-1462

Scott City Myofascial Release Sandy Cauthon RN

Bolen Enterprises Prairie Dog Control

1101 S. Main, Scott City 620-874-1813

Call me to schedule your Myofascial Release

•34 years experience •Bonded/Licensed

Bob Bolen 785-821-0042 • Fax 785-852-4275

Retail

Gene’s Appliance Over 200 appliances in stock! COMPARE OUR PRICES!

We have Reverse Osmosis units in stock. Remember us for parts in stock for all brands of all appliances. Sales and Service Days • Mon. - Sat. Deliveries • Mon.-Sat.

Largest Frigidaire appliance dealer in Western Ks. 508 Madison • Scott City • 872-3686

Networktronic, Inc.

Computer Sales, Service and Repair Custom computers! Networking solutions!

Northend Disposal A garbologist company.

Mon. - Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 402 S. Main, Scott City • 872-1300

Scott City • 872-1223 • 1-800-303-3371

Support your hometown merchants who back your school and community activities throughout the year!

Dining

Classifieds

The Scott County Record • Page 30 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Buy, sell, trade, one call does it all 872-2090 ot fax 872-0009

Classified Ad Deadline: Monday at 5:00 p.m. Classified Ad Rate: 20¢ per word. Minimum charge, $5. Blind ad: $2.50 per week extra. Card of thanks: 10¢ per word. Minimum charge, $3. Classified Display Ad rate: $6.00 per column inch. Classified advertising must be paid in advance unless business account is established. If not paid in advance, there will be a $1 billing charge. Tear sheet for classified ad will be $1 extra.

Services

Real Estate

C O M P U T E R SERVICES for PC and Mac computers. Computer repair and virus removal. Call or email Josh at OsComp to schedule an appointment. 24-hour help line 620-376-8660 or email josh_4974@hotmail.com. ––––––––––––––––––––– WANTED: Yards to mow and clean up, etc. Trim smaller trees and bushes too. Call Dean Riedl, (620) 872-5112 or 8744135. 34tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– METAL ROOFING, SIDING and TRIMS at direct-to-the-public prices. Call Metal King Mfg., 620-872-5464. Our prices will not be beat! 37tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– FURNITURE REPAIR and refinishing. Lawn mower tune-up and blade sharpening. Call Vern Soodsma, 872-2277 or 874-1412. 4015tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– MOWER REPAIR, tuneup and blade sharpening. Call Rob Vsetecka at 620214-1730. 4515tfc

COMMERCIAL BUILDING for sale. 133x45 ft. (approx.) round top building. Serious inquiries only. Seller is a real estate agent selling own property. 874-5109 or 874-2124. 26tfc

House for Sale 1-3 BEDROOM, 1 bath, FH/A, basement, new roof, large yard. Call Mike 620-874-2425. 23tfc

Is your subscription paid?

Help Wanted USD 466 NEEDS s u b stitute route bus drivers. For applications and additional information contact Lance Carter at 620-8727655. 02tfc

Agriculture WANT TO BUY. Stored corn. Call for basis and contract information. 1-800-579-3645. Lane County Feeders, Inc. 32tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– WANT TO BUY. Wheat straw delivered. Call for contracting information. Lane County Feeders. 397-5341. 44tfc

Rentals 1 AND 2 BEDROOM apartments for rent. Call 620-874-8353. 23t1 ––––––––––––––––––––– STORAGE UNIT for rent. 22x40 ft. unit with with 10x14 ft. door for camper, car or anything. Call 620-214-2978. 23t4 ––––––––––––––––––––– TRAILER FOR RENT. All appliances furnished. Call Brandfas Trailers at 620-872-3621. 23t1 ––––––––––––––––––––– HIDE AND SEEK STORAGE SYSTEMS. Various sizes available. Virgil and LeAnn Kuntz, 620-874-2120. 41tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– PLAINJAN’S RENTAL houses and duplexes. Stop by the office or call 620872-5777. 05tfc

Logan County Manor needing

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Tuesday nights at 8:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church basement (use west door). 412 College, Scott City. Al-Anon at same time and location. Contact: 874-0472 or 872-3137. 30t52

RN, LPN, CMA and CNA shifts. We are a 45-bed long-term care facility. We offer competitive wages, KPERS, health insurance, excellent PTO and paid membership to our Wellness Center. Contact Diana Dible at: 785-672-8109

EOE

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Like New…

Thomas Real Estate

www.thomasreal-estate.com

2 bedroom Skyline mobile home on it’s own lot, FZ-CA, oven-range, refridgerator, microwave, washer and dryer, PLUS DD and SD garages, lot’s of off-street parking.

NOW $49,900!

Lawrence and Associates

Deb Lawrence, GRI Broker Shorty Lawrence, Sales Assoc. 513 Main • Scott City 872-5267 ofc. 872-7184 hm. lawrenceandassocrealty.com Sheila Ellis, Broker Assoc. 872-2056 Kerry Gough, Sales Assoc. 872-7337 Russell Berning, 874-4405 www.berningauction.com

914 W. 12th Scott City, Ks. 67871 (620)-872-7396 Cell: (620)-874-1753 or Cell: (620)-874-5002 Owner 4% financing, Taco Grande Bldg. Roof has been resurfaced, posts sealed and new interior ceiling panels replaced. Call for appointment. We have new buyers that are looking for 3 and 4 bedroom homes, priced in the $80,000 to $150,000 range. Call Stephanie and Clyde to access this market. Property with home and large lot, 3 wells, 2 sewer systems in, Broadview Cabin site near State Park and Lake Scott.

ES N O J UB S CL B Driving for the M A L

PURPLE!

Jeremy • 620-397-1638 Stefanie • 620-397-8075

NEW ON THE MARKET! Needing a place to start your own retail business? A 60’x22’ concrete block and steel structured commercial building on a 140’x25’ lot in an excellent location! F/H and F/A, some shelving, restroom and ramp access in back. Call today for your private showing!

POOL MANAGER AND ASSISTANT MANAGER The City of Scott City is accepting applications for Pool Manager and Assistant Manager for the 2016 season. Applications may be picked up at: City Hall, 221 W. 5th St., Scott City. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 18, 2016.

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The Scott County Record • Page 31 • Thursday, January 14, 2016

Employment Opportunities FULL-TIME CUSTODIAN

SPECIAL EDUCATION PARA-PROFESSIONAL Do you enjoy working with kids in an educational setting? Would you like the working hours of a school day? Unified School District No. 466 is seeking HPEC Special Education Para-Professional in the high school. This position works with students. For more information and applications please contact: Susan Carter Board of Education Building 17tfc 704 College, Scott City, KS 67871

USD 466 has an opening for a 2nd Shift Custodian at the Scott City Elementary School. This is a full-time position with benefits. Applications can be picked up at the Administration Office, 704 S. College Street, Scott City, Kansas. USD 466 is an EOE Employer. 23tfc

MAINTENANCE Logan County Manor, has a full-time Maintenance Position, this is a 45 bed long-term care facility. We offer competitive wages, KPERS, health insurance, excellent PTO and paid membership to our Wellness Center. EOE Contact Mark Baalmann at: 785-672-8147 or 785-953-0680 18tfc

FOOD SERVICE Scott County School Food Service is interested in hiring a part-time position. Proposed hours for this position would be 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Applications may be picked up at: 704 S. College, Scott City or call Kathy Eaton at 620-872-7605. 18tfc

PARK LANE NURSING HOME

Has openings for the following positions: Full-time RN/LPN Full-time Dietary aide/Cook Full-time CNA/CMA Shift differential pay offered for evening and night shifts! Please apply in person at:

Park Lane Nursing Home

210 E. Parklane Scott City, KS 67871 Or visit us at our website: www.parklanenursinghome.org “Quality Care Because We Care”

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SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT Scott County Sheriff’s Department is accepting applications for: Jailer Applicants must be 21 years of age with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Looking for someone who is a team player. Must be willing to do shift work including days, nights, holidays and weekends. Background checks and UA’s completed on all prospective applicants. Applicants must not have any felony or misdemeanor charges or convictions. Scott County offers an excellent benefit package that includes BCBS health, KPERS, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays and furnished uniforms and equipment. Starting wage $12 per hour. Will train the right applicant. Applications may be obtained at and returned to: Sheriff Office 602 W. 5th, Scott City • (620) 872-5805

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SCOTT COUNTY HOSPITAL HAS OPENINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS

Pine Village Apartments 300 E. Nonnamaker

PATIENT CARE Acute Care RNs Emergency Department RN Float RN C.N.A.s - FT and PT Outreach/Specialty Clinic RN Physical Therapist Respiratory Therapist Clinic Medical Assistant Stocking Clerk - PT Infection Prevention RN Applicants for these positions are required to be able to read, speak and understand English. Pre-employment physical, drug/alcohol screening, immunization titer, physical assessment and TB skin test required. We are a tobacco free campus. We offer competitive pay and great benefits. Applications are available on our website at www.scotthospital.net or call 620-872-7772 for more information.

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Apartments available for qualifying tenants 62+ or disabled with rental assistance available. Hours: Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. by appointment Call Steve 872-2535 or (620) 255-4824. 19tfc

District 11 AA Meetings Scott City

Unity and Hope Mon., Wed. and Fri. • 8:00 p.m. 807 Kingsley Last Sat., Birthday Night, 6:30 p.m. All open meetings, 874-8207 • 874-8118

Dighton Thursday • 8:30 p.m. 535 Wichita St. All open meetings, 397-2647

The Scott County Record • Page 32 • Thursday, January 14, 2016