The Scott County Record

Recent rains have inundated Battle Canyon south of Lake Scott State Park page 8

34 Pages • Four Sections

Volume 22 • Number 50

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Published in Scott City, Ks.

$1 single copy

Tasting booths, parade are Sat.

The final two days of the Scott County Fair will be packed with fun for the entire family, highlighted by the parade, Beefiesta tasting booths and the demolition derby - just to name a few of the big attractions.

All of the livestock competition will wrap up on Friday morning with the beef competition, followed by round-robin showmanship in the afternoon.

A highlight of the Scott County Fair for 4-Hers is the annual livestock auction, which will be held on Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m., in the show arena.

(See BOOTHS on page seven)

Rylan Wilkinson, 6, (left) and Kamdyn Moore, 8, both of Scott City, watch the 4-H horse show from the railing of the indoor arena on Tuesday during the Scott County Fair.

(Record Photo)

Scott City holding the line on mill levy With some major expenditures in their rear view mirror, the Scott City Council says its goal is to begin rebuilding the city’s cash reserves.

Only that process won’t happen quickly after the council gave initial approval to a 2016 budget that will provide only $61,000 more in property tax

revenue than what the city is receiving in the 2015 budget.

Of course, there is always the possibility that the city could receive more - or less - revenue from non-property sources such as the sales tax, water sales, etc.

The 2016 budget calls for a property tax levy of 72.853 mills - a very slight decrease

from this year’s 72.950 mills.

A primary goal of the council was to avoid a mill levy increase, despite having some major expenditures over the last couple of years.

In 2014, the fire department tapped its budget for $406,000 to purchase a new fire truck which was recently put into use.

In that same year, the council purchased a new sewer truck for $171,000. Both of those budgets are in rebuilding mode.

In late 2014, the council decided to purchase its own bonds in the amount of $451,000 for street and curb/ gutter improvements in the two new housing subdivisions. That

bond is being repaid by special assessments against the property owners at about $52,000 annually.

“It was a major expense, but the city had the money available and this allows us to collect three percent interest on the money rather than leaving (See CITY LEVY on page two)

City agrees to pick up drainage tab Marley Kirk carefully uses an eye dropper to place droplets of colored water on a pattern wheel during a Handwriting Club session at the Scott County Hospital.

(Record Photo)

A club that’s more than handwriting There are some who would say that handwriting is becoming a lost skill.

A visit to the handwriting club at the Scott County Hospital would indicate otherwise.

Five youngsters between the ages of five- and eight-yearsold have spent the past seven

weeks improving their handwriting skills with the help of occupational therapy assistant Sam Baldree.

So why is the Scott County Hospital involved in helping students with their handwriting?

It’s an ideal means of determining fine motor skills and

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

Creativity scores big in this baking competition Page 27

muscle development that, when identified early, can help prevent problems later on.

Sarah Hawkins, an occupational therapist at SCH, is contracted to visit the Scott County schools one day each week to provide services to the students.

During those visits, Sarah has observed students that could

use assistance, but don’t qualify for help through the contract with the hospital.

Following some field work in the schools by Baldree, she and Sarah decided to take a different approach in helping these students.

406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com Opinion • Pages 4-6 Calendar • Page 7 Beefiesta Thanks • Page 9 Youth/education • Page 11 LEC report • Page 12 Health care • Pages 14-15

The City of Scott City has agreed to pick up the tab for culverts to improve drainage on Jackson Street between Third Street and Fourth Street.

At the June 15 council meeting, the council had been told that when storage buildings and a large shed were constructed at the site the drainage ditch on the east side of Jackson had been filled in.

This redirected water to the west and, following recent rains, flooded a house and garage.

Councilman Fred Kuntzsch said that he has received phone calls from the property owners describing the situation different than what had been told to the council.

“There were requests to put in drainage, which the city never did,” said Kuntzsch.

“I’ve seen photos. There never was a drainage ditch.”

Kuntzsch said it didn’t seem fair to require those property owners to pay to improve a drainage situation “that’s the city’s problem.”

Mayor Dan Goodman pointed out that the home

(See CLUB on page 10)

Deaths • Pages 16 Church services • Page 17 Sports • Pages 19-25 Farm section • Pages 28-29 Classified ads • Pages 31-33 School supplies • Page 34

(See DRAINAGE on page two)

Figure-8 races bring excitement to the fairgrounds Page 19

The Scott County Record • Page 2 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Council overrides veto; awards City Hall bid In an unusual parliamentary move, Mayor Dan Goodman vetoed action by the Scott City Council, only to have that veto overridden by the council during Monday’s meeting.

According to long-time City Attorney John Shirley, he could recall a mayor veto happening only one other time.

It was far from a contentious confrontation between the mayor and council. Goodman’s veto came after the council had approved (on a 6-1 vote) the decision to accept a bid from LB Stucco (Luis Bejarano) for

sandblasting and stucco work on the retaining wall along the west and north sides of City Hall.

Initial concerns were about the $13,713 bid which Councilman Perry Nowak thought seemed too high. However, building inspector Paul Kasselman felt the bid was “pretty close to the going rate.” He noted that sandblasting was a big issue since most of those who expressed interest in the project wanted to powerwash the siding.

“That’s a lot of sandblast-

City Levy it in the bank where it’s collecting less than one percent (interest),” explains City Clerk Brenda Davis.

Those three items have also combined to have “a big impact on our cash carryover,” noted Mayor Dan Goodman.

The city’s assessed valuation climbed by nearly $900,000 to a record high of $23.44 million.

That means a single mill will raise $23,446, compared to $22,580 in the 2015 budget. The valuation hike, plus a mill levy that has remained almost unchanged, will combine to provide the city with a $61,000 bump in revenue.

“At that rate, we won’t be rebuilding our cash reserves very quickly,” admits Davis.

That doesn’t take into account areas where revenue hasn’t kept pace with inflation. The city will receive $99,754 in fuel tax distributions for its highway fund, “but that amount hasn’t changed in

ed the bid should be contacted about whether he had, or would acquire, liability insurance.

In order to open the floor for further discussion and give the council the opportunity to visit with the contractor about liability coverage, Mayor Goodman vetoed the council’s decision to accept the bid.

Councilman Fred Kuntzsch asked whether liability insurance had ever been required on other projects bid by the city.

“If the city hasn’t done anything negligent then it can’t be held liable,” said Shirley.

Kuntzsch said that if Bejarano would cover the doors and windows, as he had indicated he would do in his bid, then he could see no problem with awarding him the bid. He made a motion to override the mayor’s veto and award the bid to Bejarano. Again, it was approved on a 6-1 vote (Gary Eitel opposed).

It was also suggested that liability insurance be included as a requirement in all future bids and be a part of bid specifications.

(continued from page one)

the last 15 or so years,” Davis says. “We appreciate the money, but it doesn’t take into account our increased costs over that time.”

That means more local resources are required to pay the cost of chip sealing and other street projects in the city.

Sales Tax Grants It was also noted at Monday’s council meeting that the one-half percent sales tax levied at the city level is dedicated to grant programs. Each year, the city distributes about $300,000 in sales tax revenue to local nonprofits.

“From a tax standpoint, that the equivalent of about 14 mills that benefits our city without showing up on our property taxes,” says Davis.

It Can be Confusing While the mill levy is the main number that property owners are interested in with respect to the

K-4 resurfacing begins in Scott-Lane counties

A resurfacing project on K-4 Highway in Scott and Lane counties is underway.

The project runs from the K-4/US83 junction in Scott County to the K-4/ K-23 junction in Lane County.

During construction, traffic will be limited to one lane through the work zone, guided by a pilot car. Drivers can expect delays of 15 minutes or less.

The Kansas Department of Transportation urges drivers to be alert, pay

ing,” acknowledged Mayor Goodman.

After the bid was accepted on a 6-1 vote, Councilman Everett Green asked whether the bid specifications included a requirement that the contractor have liability insurance.

The main concern was that sandblasting would present a higher risk of damage around the building, particularly to the doors and windows.

When the council was informed that no liability insurance had been required, it was suggested the contractor award-

city, county and school district budgets, there are other numbers which can leave taxpayers scratching their heads.

Take net expenditures, for example. That figure is expected to finish at $4.7 million in the 2015 budget. The proposed 2016 budget shows net expenditures of $7.9 million.

That doesn’t mean the city is spending $3.2 million more in 2016 than in 2015, emphasizes Davis.

When a budget is calculated it includes a budget for each department and for various expenditures within each department. Once approved, the taxing entity can spend up to that budget limit without exceeding it.

For example, the 2014 budget approved by the city included budget authority of $2.35 million for the water department.

“The council knew it wouldn’t spend that much, but you allow yourself a cushion so that

when you have a major expense it doesn’t cause a sharp jump in the mill levy,” says Davis. “One of the reasons for allowing a cushion is to prevent a roller-coaster effect with the mill levy. That protects property owners.”

Consequently, the city had expenditures of $983,620 in 2014, which left a carryover of $1.1 million into the 2015 budget. The city anticipates having a carryover of just over $1 million in the water fund to start the 2016 budget year.

So when the water budget shows anticipated expenses of $968,000 for 2015, and “budget authority” of $1.9 million for 2016, it doesn’t mean the city plans to spend an additional $1 million in the water fund. In fact, says Davis, the council plans very little change in water fund expenditures during the upcoming year.

It’s a similar scenario with the sewer, special

Drainage

attention to all work zone warning signs, slow down when approaching a work zone and be prepared to stop.

KDOT expects work on this project to be completed by mid-September, depending on weather.

Venture Corporation of Great Bend is the primary contractor on this preservation project, which is tied to work on K-96 in Lane County, with a combined contract cost of approximately $5.6 million.

highway and municipal equipment funds.

Airport Sinking Fund One area in which the city is pooling money for a major expenditure is in the airport sinking fund.

A major project that the city hopes to move ahead with in 2016 is construction of T-hangars at a cost of about $500,000 - with $450,000 of that paid for through Federal Aviation Administration grants.

The city has already received $300,000 in FAA grants and will be eligible to receive another $150,000 which it intends to earmark for hangar construction.

The influx of FAA grant money, plus the hangar project, is the reason why the airport sinking fund has jumped from $1,700 in expenditures for 2015 to a budget of $893,000 in 2016. The mill levy for that line item will see only a very slight increase - from 1.903 mills in 2015 to 1.937 mills in 2016.

(continued from page one)

which was flooded “was built under grade.”

Kuntzsch agreed that the city assumed no responsibility for a home that was built in a low-lying area, but he said the city was responsible for having a drainage ditch that was inadequate.

He said that construction of the Law Enforcement Center only added to drainage problems in the vicinity.

Public Works Director Mike Todd said that despite efforts taken by the city, the home’s location in a lowlying area “will always be a problem.”

It was agreed to have the city install a pair of 15-inch culverts, 40-feet in length, at a cost of about $1,000 each.

What’s for Lunch in Scott City?

Sun. - Sat., July 26-August 1

Majestic Theatre 420 Main • 872-3840

Hours

Lunch • Tues., Wed., Thurs., Fri. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Evenings • Thurs., Fri., Sat. 5:30 -10:00 p.m.

Tues. • Open faced prime rib sandwich with french fries.

Wed. • Spaghetti dinner with side salad Thurs. • Club sandwich with chips.

Fri. • Taco dinner with rice and beans.

Tate’s Restaurant

1211 Main • 872-3215

5Buck Lunch

1304 S. Main • 872-5301

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

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

6

• Chili Cheese Dog $ • Deluxe Cheeseburger • 3 Piece Chicken Strips

Includes Fries, 21 oz. Drink and Small Sundae

49

Buffet

405 Main Call for take out - 909-5002 Tuesday - Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.

Sunday 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Bacon ranch hot ham and cheese (includes choice of side)

Bacon made from scratch, honey ham, swiss cheese on a brioche bun.

$850 $10

(with salad bar)

The Scott County Record

Community Living

Page 3 - Thursday, July 23, 2015

Vehicle tag deadline Fri.

Persons whose last name begins with the letters J, K or L are reminded that license tags must be purchased by Fri., July 31, to avoid a penalty.

Tags are due for autos, light trucks, motorcycles and motorized bikes.

License tags can be purchased at the county treasurer’s office.

Tags must be renewed during August for persons whose last name begins with M, N or O.

A huge turnout enjoyed the free Beefiesta barbeque on Wednesday evening at the Scott County Fairgrounds.

(Above) Some of the more than 1,000 people go through the Western State Bank food line while (right) nine-year-old Ian Tarman of Scott City enjoys some great tasting beef.

The evening also included the Stampede Ranch Rodeo and the first night of carnival rides.

(Record Photos)

Veteran’s rep in SC Tuesday

Jody Tubbs, representing the Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs, will be in Scott City on Tues., July 28, 10:00 a.m., at the Scott County Library.

She will assist veterans and their dependents with VA claims.

Anyone unable to meet with Tubbs on that day can contact her office in Colby on Monday, Wednesday or Friday at (785) 462-3572.

The Scott County Record

Editorial/Opinion

Page 4 - Thursday, July 23, 2015

editorially speaking

Not so transparent: Kobach avoiding chance to prove absence of fraud

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has built a political career by declaring that voter fraud is the biggest threat to our democracy. Until now, his attempts to “fix” the problem have accomplished little more than to keep eligible voters from the polls.

Kobach doesn’t seem so eager to promote transparency when faced with the real possibility of election fraud.

Beth Clarkson, a mathematician at Wichita State University, has seen some odd voting patterns in recent election returns. She feels the discrepancies warrant checking the accuracy of some Kansas voting machines. Reports of voting irregularities involving the same types of machines have been widespread in other parts of the country for years. When Clarkson did her own calculations after the November election, she believed she found voting irregularities similar to those in other states such as Ohio.

However, Sedgwick County election officials and the Secretary of State haven’t been cooperative in Clarkson’s efforts. Clarkson has been forced to file a lawsuit seeking access to the paper records that a voting machine records each time someone votes. The voting machines that Sedgwick County uses have a feature that most of the Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting machines in Kansas and around the country do not have: a paper record of the votes known as Real Time Voting Machine Paper Tapes.

Clarkson, a certified quality engineer with a doctorate in statistics, says her calculations of Sedgwick County returns from the November election showed that patterns exist in the data to suspect that “some voting systems were being sabotaged.”

In 2013 and again this past November, Clarkson filed open records requests with Sedgwick County, but officials refused to provide the requested information each time. Clarkson filed another lawsuit in February and mailed a summons to the Sedgwick County Commission and to Kobach.

Both, conveniently, deny receiving the summons.

So the battle continues.

One would think that the primary goal of Kobach and election officials in Sedgwick County would be to assure voters of the sanctity of our elections - not erect roadblocks.

This would be an opportunity for Kobach to prove whether his pursuit of election fraud is political rhetoric or reality.

Hypocrisy 101:

Anti-vet rhetoric comes back to roost in the GOP

When Donald Trump questioned whether Sen. John McCain deserved the title of “hero” it sparked outrage among many Republicans.

After all, who could possibly question the patriotism of someone who actually served in the military? The answer to that is Republicans.

It’s no surprise that Republican memories are extremely short - and politically one-sided - when it comes to being respectful, let alone honoring, those who have served in the military.

Take Max Cleland, for example. He gave up three of his limbs in service to his country in Vietnam, but that didn’t stop Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss from running images of Cleland next to Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein in a commercial that aired during a 2002 Senate election campaign in Georgia. While Sen. McCain initially called the television commercial “disgraceful,” he didn’t feel it was disgraceful enough to prevent him from campaigning for Chambliss and helping the Georgia senator to win re-election.

After all, politics comes before principles.

And there’s the famous swiftboating of John Kerry during his 2004 presidential bid. Kerry came under intense ridicule for the severity of the wounds that earned him three purple hearts.

However, Republicans mocked Kerry during their national convention by wearing band-aids with small purple hearts on them and criticism of Kerry’s war record continued throughout the campaign.

So, for Republicans to now attack Trump for following a political tactic that has been part of their playbook is hypocrisy personified. Are we to understand that it’s acceptable for Republicans to mock Democrats who have served in the military, but when Republicans turn on their own that’s off limits?

Republicans crossed this line years ago and now they can’t feign disgust when it’s become an embarrassment to them within their own party.

Donald Trump, for his arrogance and his faults, does serve a very useful purpose. He exposes his fellow Republicans for the hypocrites they really are.

Trying to take the GOP seriously There’s no question that Republicans are shrewd when it comes to running a campaign . . . but having Donald Trump as your party’s leading candidate for President of the United States, even if unintentional, is pure genius.

Trump is stealing the spotlight from Dez Bryant signing a long-term deal with the Cowboys, gasoline prices at their lowest level in about five years and the fact we were able to send a spacecraft to Pluto that has been in flight for more than nine years, powered by a ninevolt battery and is sending back photos of structures on the surface that could have only been built by intelligent forms of life.

Okay, there are no structures, but had there been nobody would know over the feud that Trump is having with other Republican candidates over the size of his Mexican workforce and his military service record.

In all honesty, Trump hasn’t just been good for the Republican Party, but he’s what America needs right now as it tries to

recover from a Supreme Court hangover.

The high court decides that Obamacare is the law of the land, even though it was never mentioned by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution. And as if to rub even more salt into our constitutional parchment, the court then decided that all bakers have to learn how to make gay wedding cakes - or something like that. Of course, every conservative Republican lined up on the side of those bakers who only specialize in heterosexual wedding cakes.

Who knew there was a difference?

While all of this is happening, no one is paying attention to Bernie Sanders gaining ground on Hillary Clinton in the race to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee and drawing the largest crowds at political rallies of any candidate. After

such a great NFL career in Detroit and keeping a low profile for so many years, who would have anticipated that Sanders had such an interest in politics?

With Trump as their leading candidate, Republicans are dispelling the myth that they have no sense of humor. Many thought Sarah Palin was a GOP one-hit-wonder, but Trump is proof there’s plenty of comedic talent waiting within the wings of the Republican Party.

Rick Perry, who is still trying to remember just how many federal agencies he would like to eliminate if elected President, fired back at Trump by declaring he is “without substance when one scratches below the surface. He offers a barking carnival act that can be best described as Trumpism: a toxic mix of demagoguery, meanspiritedness and nonsense . . . .”

Is this where we’re supposed to laugh?

Of course, Trump is without substance. He is a creation of how the Republican Party has evolved over the past sev-

en years of an anti-Obama mentality. During that time we’ve seen: •More than 50 votes in Congress to repeal Obamacare without one alternative plan from Republicans.

•Accusations that Obama was born in Kenya and lacks a birth certificate to prove his U.S. citizenship.

•A refusal to enact the Dream Act or bring about immigration reform.

•Pleas from the uninformed for the federal government to keep their hands off Medicare.

•Gamesmanship that takes the federal government to the brink of being shut down.

•Refusal by Congressional leadership to assume their responsibility for declaring war.

•Threats to shut down the IRS, EPA and the Department of Education.

This is what governance by the Republicans has become, so is it any wonder that Republicans can’t be taken seriously?

Or that Trump, without offering a single, tangible (See SERIOUSLY on page six)

Trumping the conservative anger Do not worry about Donald Trump becoming president. Worry, instead, about what his current - emphasis on current - stratospheric standing in the polls says about two things: the Republican Party and the other GOP candidates.

Granted, the latest PostABC News poll has Trump at 24 percent among Republican and Republicanleaning voters. He was at four percent on May 31.

The chart for the rest of the crowded field looks like a flat-line electrocardiogram.

Who are these Trump supporters? A Washington Post poll indicates they are not the most ideologically extreme. Among those who identify themselves as very conservative, just 17 percent put Trump at the top of the heap; for them, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker trumps Trump,

Where to Write

another view by Ruth Marcus

with 25 percent support.

Trump backers tend to be less well-educated: Among those with no college degree, 32 percent support Trump, compared with a mere eight percent of those with college educations.

They tend to be less affluent: Among those who make less than $50,000 a year, 31 percent back Trump.

They are younger: 28 percent of those between 18- and 49-years-old chose Trump, compared with 20 percent of those older than 50. Surprisingly - disappointingly - there is little Trump gender gap: He won the support of 25 percent of men and 23 percent of women. Ladies, I expected better.

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

But here’s why you don’t have to worry about Trump becoming president.

First, I predict the Post poll will turn out to be his high-water mark; it was mostly conducted before respondents knew of Trump’s he’s-no-war-hero slur against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), and Trump support dropped sharply on the final night of polling, following the McCain remarks.

Second, the poll contains the seeds of Trump’s demise. A whopping 62 percent of all those surveyed - and, tellingly, 31 percent of Republicans said they would definitely not vote for him. (The comparable numbers for Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton are in the low 40s.)

Moreover, 56 percent of all those surveyed, and 54 percent of Republicans, said Trump does not reflect

Sen. Pat Roberts 109 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-4774 roberts.senate.gov/email.htm

the “core values” of the Republican Party. Even on his now-signature issue, illegal immigration, Trump is out of step; asked whether undocumented Mexican immigrants are mostly undesirable elements like criminals or honest people trying to get ahead, 74 percent of respondents, and 66 percent of Republicans, chose the latter.

Trump’s appeal will, hopefully, be fleeting, but it feels different from the flavor-of-the-month parade of GOP front-runners - Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum - four years ago. His prominence cannot be attributed to simple celebrity and name recognition.

More than any of those predecessors, it taps into a fundamental anger among a portion of the electorate.

Trump is the un-Reagan unsmiling and unmoored (See TRUMPING on page six)

Sen. Jerry Moran 141 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-6521 www.house.gov/moranks01/

The Scott County Record • Page 5 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Getting down to business in Cuba U.S. companies more than eager to set up shop In case you missed it, the United States and Cuba now have diplomatic relations for the first time in 54 years.

Unfortunately, the outdated economic embargo is smothering the tremendous potential this opening offers.

First, some background.

The embargo, put in place in the early 1960s to punish the revolutionary government, has held back the Cuban economy and poisoned U.S.-Cuban relations for decades.

When Washington spurned Cuba, the Soviet Union became the island’s top trading partner, taking some of the sting off the embargo. But after the USSR collapsed in 1991, Cuba plunged into a deep economic crisis.

Venezuela mostly replaced Russia as a reliable supplier of cheap oil years ago. Now Cubans fear that turmoil in the South American nation will knock out this lifeline too.

behind the headlines

by Medea Benjamin

Long-term economic distress has frayed Cuba’s impressive education and health care systems. Its heavily subsidized food rations no longer meet basic needs. And the high prices unregulated markets charge are beyond the reach of the many Cubans who earn about $30 a month working for state-run enterprises and agencies.

A recent survey showed that nearly 80 percent of Cubans were dissatisfied with the country’s economic system, and 70 percent were eager to start their own businesses. This was especially true among young people, who are highly educated and fed-up with the state-run economy.

Since his older brother Fidel handed him the reins in 2008, President Raúl Castro has tried to transform the island’s lumbering, top-down system.

He’s pushed through Cuba’s biggest economic reforms in half a century.

State companies have shed jobs, and national labor laws now accommodate

more private enterprise. Today some 500,000 Cubans - almost one in 10 workers - are officially self-employed.

Cuba’s government wants to open up the economy while preserving social gains and guarding against growing inequalities. It’s concerned about an increasingly two-tier economy where people with access to tourist dollars or remittances from relatives abroad live in luxury, compared to those struggling on government salaries.

Racial inequalities are growing as well, partly because of the Cuban government’s tolerance of paladares - privately operated bistros. As these restaurants are located in people’s own homes, the arrangement favors the wealthier white Cubans who are more likely to have larger homes and relatives abroad who can provide start-up cash.

So Cuba sees a big need to expand its economy through foreign trade.

And U.S. companies are raring to do business there, with American officials flocking to the island to plead their case.

Let’s hear it for Jeb! Bush that is. Maybe the other Republican presidential seekers will stick with their mopey and dopey negative attacks against Barack Obama’s economic policies, but Jeb Bush is going positive.

Rather than just nattering about income inequality, for example, Bush is offering his own fresh ideas for middleclass recovery. In a recent interview, the self-described problem-solver got down to specifics, proposing a straightforward, simple mechanism for lifting people’s incomes: “People are going to have to work longer hours,” Jeb declared.

“Through their productivity,” he explained, “(they will) gain more income for their families.”

There you have the worldview of the latest Son of a Bush wanting to be president, perfectly free of any connection to the real world. You have to wonder, has he ever met a working stiff?

Americans today are scrambling between two or three part-time, low-wage jobs, working day and night, six days a week, to try patching together a living.

And full-time employees in our country already have the second longest workweek in the industrial world.

Also, I hate to pop the bubble that Bush the Third is living in, but working longer hours and increasing worker productivity does not increase one’s in-

And in ongoing school finance litigation, a three-judge panel has already ruled the block-grant system inadequately funds schools, thus violating the state constitution.

One of the biggest costs of the Kansas experiment, although not as easily quantifiable, has been stagnation.

With the state in financial crisis, all thoughts go toward surviving the chaos, pulling back and making do.

The Kansas political environment currently offers no capacity to consider questions such as: How do we make our schools world class? What are the next steps for our road system? Can we improve the health of our citizens?

Progress requires a stable budget and fiscal situation, which Kansas still does not have. While Kansas lawmakers were spending a record-long legislative session agonizing over finances, other states were thinking about their future and passing us by.

(See PAY-FORS on page six)

(See TALKING on page six)

(See CUBA on page six)

come. Since 2000, workers have hiked America’s productivity by 25 percent, but their median paycheck has had zero increase.

That’s because corporate bosses many of whom are behind Bush’s record campaign war chest of $114 million - have simply pocketed the new wealth that workers created through their greater productivity.

Jeb might as well have proposed that working people increase their incomes by doing what he did to become a multimillionaire - he chose rich parents. I suggest that he spend some of that campaign cash he’s been given to buy himself a ticket for a one-day visit to reality.

Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker and author

State ‘pay-fors’ are coming due Tax ‘experiment’ in Kansas coming at a steep price Gov. Sam Brownback was trying hard last January to shift the blame for an expanding state budget crisis.

Referring to the 2012 Kansas income tax cuts, he told the Topeka Chamber of Commerce, “What I got from the Legislature was a naked tax cut with none of the pay-fors.”

But in 2012, Brownback did not admit any misgivings. He happily signed the income tax cut bill, and until the state budget crisis hit, he trumpeted his decision as a shot of adrenaline to the Kansas economy.

Now, three years in, Kansans and the nation are realizing how high the costs of our tax experiment have been. “Payfors” have definitely been required.

The 2012 income tax cuts blew such

other voices

by Duane Goossen

a hole in the state budget that lawmakers had no real choice during the 2015 legislative session but to raise taxes somewhere. They chose the sales tax, cigarette tax and a few others.

Unwilling to challenge a veto threat from the governor, legislators could not correct the income tax policy that unfairly gives huge tax cuts to some of the wealthiest Kansans.

The income tax cuts have also been paid for by cutting back state services. The most prominent example is the switch of school aid to a blockgrant formula. The block grant lowered classroom funding and then froze that diminished funding in place for the next two years.

In response, school districts have shortened their school year, chopped programs and raised property taxes.

by Fareed Zakaria

A meeting this past Tuesday near Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad could possibly mark the beginning of the end of the United States’ longest war - the conflict in Afghanistan, which will enter its 15th year this fall. A delegation from the Afghan government met with members of the Taliban - with Pakistani, Chinese and U.S. officials present as observers.

Previous efforts Powell like this one have argues foundered, and this forcefully might go nowhere as that historiwell. But the war in cally, conAfghanistan is going flicts like to end in a forum like the one in this and not on the Afghanistan battlefield. have Talking to the ended only Taliban is tough for through many Americans to negotiations accept. Dick Cheney and not was speaking for military vicmany when he said, tory.

“We don’t negotiate with evil; we defeat it.” And yet, says Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair’s former chief of staff, he’s dead wrong.

In a new book, “Terrorists at the Table: Why Negotiating is the Only Way to Peace,” Powell argues forcefully that historically, conflicts like the one in Afghanistan have ended only through negotiations and not military victory.

Powell is no peacenik, having been an architect of Britain’s support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nor is he soft on terrorism. His father, a military man, was wounded by the Irish Republican Army. His brother was on that group’s death list for eight years . When he first met Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin, Powell refused to shake his hand.

But over the course of his decade as Blair’s most important aide, Powell came to recognize that terrorism cannot be solved exclusively or largely by military means. He quotes Hugh Orde, the former chief constable in Northern Ireland, who rightly says: There is “no example that I know of, of terrorism being policed out” or eliminated through the use of force.

Governments are loath to talk to terrorists. This is understandable because they regard the groups as barbaric, worry about legitimizing brutality and remain convinced that military force can defeat or at least cripple them.

But, Powell points out, most governments end up talking to terrorists.

The British government saw the Mau Mau in Kenya in the 1950s as a “conspiracy based on the total perversion of the human spirit” - “subhumans” with “death as their only deliverance,” in the words of Britain’s colonial secretary at the time. And yet it ended up talking to them.

The same pattern emerged with the IRA, the Basque separatists, the African National Congress and the Colombian FARC. Israel has even negotiated with Hamas on prisoner exchanges.

“I don’t mind the hypocrisy of governments on the subject of talking to terrorists,” writes Powell, “but I do mind the fact that we never seem to learn from past experiences, often with devastating consequences.”

The central idea behind Powell’s argument is simple enough: Terrorism is a reflection of an underlying political problem that almost always needs to be addressed politically. In Afghanistan, it reflects the reality that some part of the Pashtun population - which is about 50 percent of the country - believes that its interests are not represented by the government in Kabul.

The fact that the Taliban remains a force to be reckoned with - after almost 14 years of U.S. military intervention, a surge that tripled U.S. forces in the field, several elections and $1 trillion spent to oppose it -

Bush’s plan to make you richer

by Jim Hightower

Talking to terrorists is how you defeat them

The Scott County Record • Page 6 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Kansas teacher shortage is bad and getting worse

by John Schrock

The number of Kansas teachers moving to another state doubled the 2010 figures. Kansas teacher retirements are up as well.

Last week, the Kansas State Board of Education received the 2014-15 Licensed Personnel Report.

There was little in their data to ease the worries of some Kansas schools districts that are now seeing unfilled vacancies even in elementary education.

Three-fourths of the licensed school personnel are now women. Non-

white teachers are underrepresented compared to their proportion of the Kansas population, with only 1.5 percent black or African-American and one-half percent Asian.

In 2010-11, 331 teachers left Kansas to take a job in another state; last year, 654 left.

The economic downturn of 2008 did impact schools when funding was drastically cut. By 2010, there were 350 teachers lost by “reduction in force”; last year 80 more teachers left from continued reductions.

The number of teach-

Trump plummets in polls after failing to insult Kasich

by Andy Borowitz

DES MOINES, IA. (The Borowitz Report) Businessman Donald Trump’s failure to insult fellow GOP hopeful John Kasich a full 24 hours after the Ohio governor entered the 2016 Presidential race has sent Trump’s poll numbers plummeting, as many supporters expressed a sudden loss of confidence in the real-estate mogul.

Trump’s Kasich gaffe occurred at a campaign rally in Des Moines on Wednesday when the former reality-show star admitted that he did not yet know enough about the Ohio governor to properly insult him.

“I could get up here and call Kasich a loser, because my gut tells me that’s what he is, but you’ve come to expect something more special out of me,” Trump said. “If you bear with me, I promise you that I’ll come up with a world-class insult that we can all be proud of.”

The audience reacted with stunned silence, leading some observers to question whether Trump’s failure to insult Kasich would turn from a mere gaffe into a full-blown scandal.

Carol Foyler, a Trump supporter who attended the Des Moines event, said that she still liked Trump because of the insults he had delivered in the past, but she acknowledged that her belief in him had been shaken.

“When you’re in the White House and that phone rings, you’ve got to be ready to insult someone right away,” she said.

science teachers are now ary science area for 2014-

The number of teachers who simply “left the fully licensed in second- 15. However, based on profession” without retiring increased from 416 in ary sciences, a figure that the prior year data from 2010-11 to 740 in 2014-15.

ers who simply “left the profession” without retiring increased from 416 in 2010-11 to 740 in 201415.

Both the age of teachers and their number of years teaching are worrisome.

Since there is reliable attrition year-by-year, the number of younger teachers is simply inadequate to fill the upcoming retirements unless a higher rate of teachers remain in teaching and remain in Kansas.

Attempts to solve the science shortage are not providing significant numbers. The 2014-15 year was the first year that individuals could enter science-technologyengineering-mathematics (STEM) teaching from an adjacent profession without going through teacher training; only three teachers were added statewide under this STEM initiative.

This last year, only a little over 85 percent of

Seriously policy idea should emerge as the party’s frontrunner?

The general consensus is that Trump has become the conscience of the Republican Party. We were in a recent conversation with an individual who echoed that sentiment, saying that Trump is only saying what many people are thinking.

Unfortunately, that’s probably true.

Trump has become a magnet for people seeking simple answers to complex issues. Or, for

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo traveled to Havana recently with the heads of MasterCard, JetBlue, Pfizer, and Chobani. U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donahue took a delegation that included the CFO of Cargill and the chairman of Amway.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) traveled to Cuba this year to tout her

the KSDE, the number of initial teacher licenses showed the lowest numbers of new teachers entering the Kansas classroom in biology, chemistry, physics and earth science since records have been kept.

Not all individuals who acquire teacher training enter the Kansas classroom, so some excess production is needed to replace the cohort of retiring teachers.

(See SHORTAGE on page 7)

(continued from page four)

that matter, not seeking a solution at all, but simply wanting to feel they have a voice on the national stage. When Trump says the Mexican government is encouraging its rapists, thugs and criminals to cross the border into the U.S., he’s not talking policy, but playing on the fears of people who see the world around them is changing and don’t like what they see.

It’s as nonsensical as those low-information

Cuba

has been dropping for the last decade. However, few waivers were sought by districts for these out-offield teachers.

Waivers indicate that the teacher is making progress toward full licensure and only one biology, two chemistry and one physics teachers were granted waivers. The recent high increases in college tuition is a factor in securing qualified teachers.

I am awaiting a further breakout of the second-

Americans who would go to Republican town hall meetings and say “I want my country back.”

Yes, life under Obama has become pure hell. The stock market is at record highs, fuel prices are low, more people than ever have health insurance, unemployment continues to fall, Kansas City has a real baseball team again and gay couples can get married.

We’re just waiting for Trump to come forward with his plan to build an

“absolutely impenetrable” wall around every bakery in America so they don’t have to bake wedding cakes for anyone they don’t want to. When Trump, or a GOP rival, come forth with those details, then we’ll know Republicans finally have the serious presidential candidate they’ve been waiting for.

Until then, enjoy the laughs.

Rod Haxton can be reached at editor@screcord.com

(continued from page five)

state’s agricultural and lumber products. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed trekked there to push Coca-Cola and Delta airlines.

And the list goes on, even though U.S. businesses can’t offer Cuba credit or do business with government entities on this island nation just 90 miles away from Key

West. They’re mostly relegated to the sidelines, watching rivals from Spain to Russia to Mexico swoop in.

Ending the embargo would be a win-win for Cubans and Americans. It would allow all of us to travel freely to the island, and it would let U.S. companies trade freely with one of our closest neighbors, creating more jobs

in both nations.

Now that the Cuban flag waves at the reopened Cuban embassy in Washington, Congress should lift the antiquated legislation that stands in the way of true normalized relations.

Medea Benjamin is cofounder of CodePink and GlobalExchange. Her latest book is “Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control”

Andy Borowitz is a comedian and author

Talking

(continued from page five)

suggests that it has some significant public support.

This week’s negotiations might go nowhere. There are many parties involved and factions within each of them. But one of the lessons that Powell notes in the book is that often these talks begin too late because governments believe that one last military push will put the terrorists on the defensive, even though there is “precious little empirical evidence to support this one last heave argument.”

He reminds us that a crucial part of Gen. David Petraeus’s surge in Iraq was reaching out to Sunni militants who had been fighting U.S. forces, addressing their grievances and indeed bribing them to move from foes to friends. He notes that Petraeus admitted that the United States waited too long before it talked to people “with American blood on their hands.”

Of course none of this would apply to the Islamic State, or would it? In fact, Powell is bold enough to suggest that it could. After all, this is a particularly brutal and murderous group, but it is successful largely because it has tapped into the fears and rage of disempowered Sunnis in Iraq and Syria. That is a political grievance that can only be addressed politically.

Talking to terrorists is not giving in to their demands, argues Powell. But because governments are so spooked by the image and the optics of it all, they usually delay, fumble, make mistakes and prolong conflicts that could be resolved earlier and with much less bloodshed on all sides.

Trumping to any ideology other than Trumpism - but his surly message matches the times.

Keith Koffler, editor of White House Dossier, a conservative website, captured this well for Politico Magazine.

“Trump, who seems perpetually angry, is an expression of the angst of conservatives who believe the United States has gotten so deep into a mess

that a little extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice,” he wrote. “What they adore about Trump is that he is a pugilist who has emerged at a time when someone needs to start throwing punches.”

Which helps explain why too many of Trump’s competitors were so disappointingly tentative in taking him on - until his McCain comments made it safer to do so.

But the Post poll also

Pay-fors

The pay-fors have come into focus: Higher sales and property taxes, cut-back services, crisismanagement politics overtaking future planning.

What are the benefits?

Did Kansas get anything for all these pay-fors?

Fareed Zakaria is an Indian-American journalist, author and The Brownback adeditor-at-large for Time magazine ministration cites economic statistics that show Have questions about the Scott the Kansas economy has Community Foundation? been growing. That’s true. call 872-3790 Kansas has been on a slow

(continued from page four)

(continued from page five)

economic path upward, but below the national average. Other states that did not apply tax cuts have been growing faster.

The tax cuts did not give the Kansas economy any kind of measurable positive jolt.

Instead, Kansans have been on the receiving end of a lot of pay-fors.

Duane Goossen is a senior fellow at the Kansas Center for Economic Growth and a former Kansas budget director

helps explain the GOP reticence. In a two-way race between Clinton and Bush, she wins by 50 to 44 among registered voters. A Trump bid draws 20 percent of voters, increasing Clinton’s lead to 46 to 30 over Bush.

For now, anyway. In the end, my confidence that Trump will fizzle comes from Trump himself.

“You can’t con people, at least not for long,” he wrote in “Trump: The Art

of the Deal.”

“You can create excitement, you can do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of press, and you can throw in a little hyperbole.

But if you don’t deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on.”

On that, at least, Trump is right.

Ruth Marcus is an editorial writer for The Washington Post, specializing in politics, campaign finance, the federal budget and taxes

The Scott County Record • Page 7 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Shortage

Booths

(continued from page six)

In biology, over 200 new teachers are needed per year. Only 17 completed Kansas programs (initial, restricted, and temporary non-renewable) and an additional 10 completed out-of-state programs (initial, exchange, professional, provisional/alternative route, and temporary non-renewable). 15 teachers added biology by test-out.

Kansas needs 120 initial chemistry teachers. Only five came from Kansas programs, two from out-ofstate, one was Kansas provisional, and 14 added chemistry by test-out.

Kansas needs over 100 physics teachers. Four completed Kansas programs, one completed an out-of-state program, and 10 gained licensure by test-out.

In earth and space science, one completed a Kansas program, four completed out-of-state programs and 32 tested-out.

Since most test-out teachers have not taken college science lab courses, they lack that experience that makes the science meaningful and also provides lab experiences that they can simplify for use with their students.

Simply, more current teachers are adding science endorsements than there are new science teachers produced. This supply of current Kansas teachers who can cross-over and test-out is limited and will soon be exhausted.

Many teachers testified at the last KSBE open forum, pointing out various ways in which the teaching profession is being derided, disrespected, and blamed. As several State Board members noted, our teacher shortage is going to get worse before it gets better.

John Schrock trains biology teachers and lives in Emporia

The livestock buyer’s supper will precede the auction at 5:30 p.m., also in the show arena.

Pedal Pull, Games The outdoor arena will be filled with activity on Friday evening, starting with the kids’ tractor pedal pull contest at 7:00 p.m.

While that is taking place, there will also be games in the arena for the kids and adults. There will be three-legged races, sack races, an egg toss and more.

A ping pong ball drop will be held during the evening with prizes for those who get a ping pong ball.

According to Fair organizers, activities will be staggered so youngsters can participate in the games and pedal pull.

One of the big events of the evening will be the greased pig contest.

Parade, Tasting Booths That sets the stage for a

(continued from page one)

big finale on Saturday that will begin with the parade at 10:00 a.m., followed by the tasting booths at Patton Park from noon to 2:00 p.m.

The parade route will start in front of the Park Lane Nursing Home and then turn north onto Main Street and proceed to First Street, where it will end.

The Scott City Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Beefiesta tasting booths with this year’s event featuring more than 20 participants.

For years, the demolition derby has officially brought a close to the county fair as the final event held on Sunday at the end of fair week.

It will still close out the fair, but this time it will be on Saturday evening.

“We decided to try something different this year and move the demo derby,” says Fair Board Secretary Kay Harkness.

“There were some who felt the fair was too drawn

out so this was a way of cutting it down by a day.

We’ll see how it works.”

The demolition derby will start at 7:00 p.m.

The demolition derby continues to be one of the most popular attractions at the fair, bringing in between 15-20 vehicles and drawing a crowd in excess of 1,500.

872-2090

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No charge for community events

Turner Sheet Metal 1851 S. Hwy 83 Scott City, Ks 67871 (620) 872-2954 • 800-201-2954

Monday

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There will be demolition categories for cars and pickups. Conducting this year’s event will be Wicked Derby Promotions.

The Fair dance, with music provided by the Muzik Machine, will be from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Tuesday

27

Special Meeting, USD 466 Board of Education 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday

28

Thursday

29

Friday

30

Pack 66/Troop 149, 7:00 p.m., 608 Myrtle

Saturday

31 VIP BINGO 1:00 p.m.

1 Farmer’s Market SCHS South parking lot 9:00 a.m. - noon

Attend the church of your choice.

2

City Council Meeting

3

Pack 66/Troop 149

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5

6

7

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Battle Canyon falls

Three inches of rainfall that fell to the west of Battle Canyon and inundated the National Historic Site on Saturday led to the creation of a waterfall that poured into Sanctuary Cave and eventually flowed into a pond to the south. The heavy rainfall has created lush conditions around the site. Water pouring into an opening at the top of the cave attracted the interest of Victoria and Noah Sloan, Wyandotte, Okla., (bottom) who visited the site on Sunday afternoon.

(Record Photos)

The Scott County Record • Page 8 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Scott County Record • Page 9 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Scott County Record • Page 10 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Club

(continued from page four)

“We thought it would be good to get these kids into the hospital and make this something they would have fun doing,” Baldree says.

Since June 2, the five youngsters have been attending the 45-minute club sessions at the hospital twice each week. The last of the 14 sessions was held on July 23.

“On day one we did initial assessments of where the kids are with their basic skills, such as writing their name, cutting shapes with scissors and how much detail they put into drawing a face,” Baldree says.

Activities during the sessions are designed to build hand strength. That includes demonstrating how to hold a pencil so that the hand muscles don’t become so fatigued.

But there are also a lot of other exercises designed to improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills such as painting with Q-tips, lacing with shoestrings and even using a hole punch to build hand strength. Even using an eye-dropper or pinning items to a makeshift clothes line help to improve finger strength.

“To a lot of people it looks like we’re just playing, and for the kids it is fun, but there’s a purpose,” Baldree says. “We also do a lot of work on writing skills, as well, but we focus more on the process than the end product.”

“One of the kids was using both hands for everything so they really weren’t having much success at anything,” Baldree notes. “After working with the child to determine which they wanted to be their dominant hand we began building the strength in that hand.

“Now they’re writing much better and their basic skills have also improved.”

Another youngster had weak muscle structure and could barely grasp a pencil, says Baldree. Now that child has learned to hold a pencil properly.

The youngsters have noticed a difference since participating in the club.

“I write better,” says Marley Kirk. “Now I

know how to hold my pencil the right way.”

“I’m a lefty, but I’ve learned to write with my right hand,” adds Bretton Thomas, who says he enjoys playing the games most, especially when he’s a hopping frog.

Another bonus for the teachers and the parents will be children who bring a better attitude to the classroom.

“It’s interesting how kids will try to cover up for their flaws,” observes Baldree. “When they can’t do something well they have a tendency to act out. If we can identify the problem they’re trying to hide and make some changes, they won’t be nearly as frustrated and they’ll be a lot happier in school.”

The twice-weekly sessions were also popular with the kids who were rarely absent.

“One of the kids even asked their mother if it was okay to miss a day of vacation Bible school because they didn’t want to miss the handwriting club,” Baldree says.

There was no cost for the youngsters to participate. Baldree says this was an opportunity for the hospital to introduce the program, evaluate it’s success and see if it’s something they will continue offering.

While the club has been fun in the short term, Baldree feels it’s the longterm benefits that will offer the biggest rewards for the five inaugural members.

“I think this will make a big difference for these kids. Hopefully, this is something the hospital will do again next summer.”

(Clockwise, from top right): Occupational therapy assistant Sam Baldree looks on as Ian Rodriguez pins items to a clothes line.

Baldree assists Yarleney Celbillo as she squeezes play doh.

Bretton Thomas leaves fingerprints behind in a long strip of play doh.

A youngster gets some assistance with squeezing colored water from an eye dropper.

(Record Photos)

The Scott County Record

Youth/Education

Page 11 - Thursday, July 23, 2015

Altered KPERS rules a concern for retiree teachers

Education authorities have raised concerns about new rules for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System that they say could discourage retirees from teaching in Kansas classrooms.

Under the former rules, a teacher or school administrator could retire, draw a KPERS benefit and work full-time for either

a new school district or his or her same school district.

A surcharge was paid to KPERS, either by the employer or by way of the employer subtracting the surcharge from the employee’s salary.

But new legislation changes working-afterretirement rules for KPERS participants and

is expected to have the most impact on schools, particularly teachers and administrators who retire and return to work.

The new rules have a $25,000 earnings limit per year. After reaching that threshold, the employee would have to decide whether to keep working and stop receiving the KPERS benefit, or stop

working and keep receiving it.

“We’re going to have an extreme shortage if we can’t hire retirees,” said Buhler USD 313 business manager Perry McCabe, one of about 20 working retirees in USD 313.

McCabe and Gene A. Buie, executive director of United School Administrators of Kansas,

said the changes come at a time when there’s an increasing challenge to fill school positions because college students are not choosing teaching as a career path, some states are recruiting Kansas teachers and some teachers are dropping out of the profession.

“I don’t know that we have 2,500 people sitting

out there without teaching jobs and are ready to go in the classroom,” Buie said.

Mark Tallman, associate executive director for the Kansas Association of School Boards, said an expiring law meant the Legislature had to address the issue this year, but the resulting rules were “much bigger changes” than expected.

Turner earns doctorate from Southwestern

SCHS Class of 1980

Shelly Turner, Scott City, was among graduates taking part in spring commencement ceremonies at Southwestern College, Winfield.

Turner earned a doctorate in education degree in educational leadership.

BOE members re-elected is highest in Ks. since 1997

Members of the Scott Community High School class of 1980 who gathered during the All-School Reunion were (front row, from left) Nathan Turley, Don Scott, Kelly Conine, Joy (Hillery) Haverfield, Alan Williams, Pam (Schwab) Turner, Danny Bollinger, Calvin Logan, Katie (Weides) Eisenhour and Dwight Jacobus. (Left tower, left side, front to back) Marilyn Schmidt, Barb (Hattendorf) Brond and Wendy (Fry) Watts. (Right side) Carmen (Cutler) Miller, Lori (Janzen) Aldag and Debbie (Hughes) Harkness. (Right side tower, middle row) Karla (Hall) Stockman David Blackwell, Greg Burnett and Lewis Brown. (Back row) Bryan Voth, Brett Eisenhour, Rod Eitel and Todd Eaton.

(Record Photo)

Report: more Kansas children in poverty The percentage of Kansas children living in poverty increased between 2008 and 2013, although the state’s ranking for children’s overall well-being remained the same, according to the annual Kids Count report.

The report ranked the state 15th on overall child well-being, using data from 2013 that considered families’ economic health, community and family structure and children’s educational progress and health. The 2013 data was the most recent available.

The report found that

19 percent of Kansas children lived in poverty in 2013, compared with 15 percent in 2008.

It also found 24 percent of Kansas children had a parent who didn’t have full-time, year-round employment. Other data showed only six percent of teenagers weren’t either in school or working.

Nationwide, about 22 percent of children lived in poverty and 31 percent lived in a household without a parent who had fulltime, year-round employment. About 14 percent of children also lived in

“concentrated” poverty areas, meaning 30 percent or more of the population in their census tract was in poverty, according to the report. In Kansas, nine percent of children in areas of concentrated poverty.

Kansas ranked ninth in the country for economic well-being based on the percentage of children living in poverty; children whose parents don’t have full-time, year-round employment; children in households that pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing; and

teens who are neither in school nor working.

It is troubling that childhood poverty increased from 2008 and that more children are living in areas of concentrated poverty, said Shannon Cotsoradis, president and CEO of Kansas Action for Children.

“This should be a time of growing prosperity for Kansas children and families, but instead we are mostly stagnant,” she said. “Our state’s unsustainable tax structure threw Kansas into a dangerous, perpetual bud-

get crisis. As long as the Kansas budget is stuck in recession-era levels of investment, Kansas children will be stuck with a recession-era quality of life.”

Theresa Freed, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said the report showed fewer Kansas children were living in poverty in 2013 than in 2012. The number decreased from 135,000 children in 2012 to 132,000 in 2013, though the percentage was about 19 percent in both years.

Nearly 500 new school board members took office in Kansas on July 1 after being elected in April. Another 664 board members were re-elected.

This is the last year school board members will be elected in the spring. The Kansas Legislature moved local elections from April of odd-numbered years to November of odd-numbered years, beginning in 2017.

The 664 board members re-elected this year is highest number since at least 1997. Over the past 20 years, the number of school board members seeking and winning reelection has been trending upward, with fewer new board members elected.

(See BOE on page 18)

Watch for our inserts this week and every week in

The Scott County Record 1314 S. Main, Scott City 872-5854 www.heartlandfoodsstores.com

For the Record Give your freshman a money-smart college start The Scott County Record

by Nathaniel Sillin

Does your collegebound freshman know how to handle money at school?

Campus life can test even the most disciplined young adults on money matters. In the final weeks before you help your student pack up for the dorm, it’s a good time to pack in some money lessons as well.

The Scott County Record Page 12 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Start with what college will cost. On average, the Class of 2015 graduated with a little over $35,000 in student loan debt, according to Edvisors. Depending on your financial situation and how you’ve planned for your child’s college education, start with an overview of how your student’s college costs will impact your finances now and after graduation.

USD 466 Board of Education Agenda Mon., July 27 • 7:00 p.m.

Administration Building • 704 College •Comments from the public •Consent agenda 1) Approve previous minutes •Presentation of 2015-16 budget New business 1) Approve 2015-16 budget for publication •Executive session 1) Non-elected personnel •Resignations/hires •Executive session 1) Negotiations •Adjournment

Public Notice (First published in The Scott County Record Thurs., July 16, 2015; last published Thurs., July 30, 2015)3t IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF SCOTT COUNTY, KANSAS In the Matter of the Estate of ALAN BOLLINGER, deceased (Petition Pursuant to K.S.A. Chapter 59) No. 15-PR-13 NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE STATE OF KANSAS TO ALL PERSONS CONCERNED: You are notified that on July 10, 2014, a Petition for Issuance of Letters of Administration was filed in this Court by Jane Bollinger, an heir, devisee and legatee of Alan Bollinger, deceased.

All creditors of the decedent are notified to exhibit their demands against the Estate within the latter of four months from the date of first publication of notice under K.S.A. 59-2236 and amendments thereto, or if the identity of the creditor is known or reasonably ascertainable, 30 days after actual notice was given as provided by law, and if their demands are not thus exhibited, they shall be forever barred.

JANE BOLLINGER Petitioner Jake W. Brooks Attorney At Law P.O. Box 664, 101 E. 6th Scott City, Kansas 67871 620-872-7204

Public Notice (Published in The Scott County Record Thurs., July 23, 2015) 1t

SCOTT COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S PROCEEDINGS JUNE 2015 GENERAL FUND SALARIES ............................................ $ 88,957.84 COMMODITIES ....................................

11,937.71 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES .................

57,517.44 CAPITAL OUTLAY..................................

3,000.00 OTHER...................................................

3,298.92 COUNTY HEALTH FUND SALARIES .............................................

COMMODITIES .....................................

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES .................

CAPITAL OUTLAY .................................

OTHER...................................................

19,742.24 10,350.34 1,770.42 506.60 0.00

NOXIOUS WEED FUND SALARIES...............................................

COMMODITIES ......................................

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES...................

OTHER ...................................................

5,952.63 14,148.78 0.00 0.00

ROAD AND BRIDGE FUND SALARIES ..............................................

COMMODITIES.......................................

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES....................

CAPITAL OUTLAY....................................

32,931.79 26,401.09 3,266.66 0.00

FIRE DISTRICT FUND SALARIES ..............................................

COMMODITIES ......................................

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES....................

CAPITAL OUTLAY ..................................

389.28 302.51 664.00 0.00

TREASURER’S SPECIAL FUND SALARIES ...............................................

COMMODITIES .......................................

CONTRACTUAL SERVICES ....................

CAPITAL OUTLAY.....................................

OTHER .....................................................

JAMES M. MINNIX Chairman

3,574.44 0.00 131.59 0.00 1,323.18

ALICE BROKOFSKY Scott County Clerk

Friendship ‘Meals to Go’ available from the VIP Center only $3.25/meal • Call 872-3501

If your child will be paying off personal or student loans once they graduate, discuss how that reality should define financial choices throughout college. That doesn’t mean saving every penny and having no fun at all, but such a talk should reinforce how handling money intelligently, setting priorities and getting a jump on savings can position your child for a

much stronger financial start upon graduation.

Train them to budget. If your child hasn’t learned budgeting skills, it’s time for a crash course.

Budgeting is the first essential skill in personal finance.

Teaching children to budget now gives them a head start on dealing with post-graduation debt or long-term goals like affording a home or

car. Because teens often live their lives on smartphones, familiarize yourself with the growing range of budgeting apps to keep their money management on course.

Talk through on-campus banking and credit needs. Many parents start their kids with custodial savings and checking accounts at their local bank when they are younger. If your bank has

branches in the teen’s college town, that relationship can easily continue.

Responsible credit card use is also wise to start in college. Keep in mind that The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (or Credit CARD) Act of 2009 requires that anyone under 21 without independent income have a co-signer (See COLLEGE on page 13)

Families have varied insurance needs

Today’s families have varied insurance needs Sometimes the empty nest doesn’t stay empty.

In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans living in multigenerational households has doubled since 1980.

Baby boomers supporting their parents and their college graduates returning home are among the more than 50 million Americans living in multigenerational homes. These modern families may have unique concerns when it comes to home, health, auto and life insurance.

To help you understand

commissioner’s corner Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer

how to protect you and your family, our Kansas Insurance Department staff and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offer these tips.

Household Concerns Having an adult child, parent or other family member move into your household can be stressful. To make sure your insurance coverage is adequate, here are some questions to consider:

Public Notice (First published in The Scott County Record Thurs., July 23, 2015; last published Thurs., July 30, 2015)t2 REQUEST FOR ZONING CHANGE Notice is hereby given that the Scott City Planning Commission will hold a special meeting on August 13, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., at the Scott City Council Meeting Room at City Hall, 221 West 5th Street, Scott City, Kansas, to consider the following agenda items: 1) Application for amendment of the official zoning map

by Manuel J. Garcia and Erica Rodriguez to change the zoning from C-2 General Commercial District to R-1 Single Family Residential District for the following described property to wit.

Lots One (1) and Two (2), Block Two (2), Fairlawn Addition to Scott City, (603 W. 5th) All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at such hearing.

Dated: July 21, 2015 Rodney Hogg, Chairman Scott City Planning Commission

to occur, any resident’s belongings are typically covered by a standard homeowners agreement.

However, belongings are subject to limitations, and high-priced items may need extra coverage.

If you plan to charge your new household member rent, he or she may want to consider renter’s insurance. Renter’s insurance is typically inexpenHome Insurance When a new household sive and covers the rentresident moves in, know er’s property and liability what your homeowners up to policy limits. policy covers in terms of limitations or even exclu- Health Insurance Insurers now allow sions. First, check with your insurer or agent to adult children up to age see if you need extra cov- 26 to be covered by their erage. If a fire or theft were (See FAMILIES on page 13) •How long does your family member plan to live with you?

•Are you charging rent (a fee for room and board)?

•Does your new house mate have all of his/her belongings with him/her?

•Will this person regularly drive your vehicle(s)?

Scott Co. LEC Report Scott City Police Department July 11: A burglary and criminal damage to property was reported in the 700 block of Parkview Avenue.

July 14: Daniel Skibbe reported a burglary.

The Scott County Record • Page 13 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

State already lowers estimate for cash reserves The state’s cash balance could be even smaller next June than lawmakers realized when they approved a tax plan in June.

When lawmakers left Topeka last month, it was with the understanding the state would have $86 million in its cash reserves by the end of June 2016, which marks the end of the fiscal year, if the governor went ahead with $50 million in cuts.

But those estimates have already been lowered less than a month into the 2016 fiscal year.

The state’s nonpartisan Legislative Research Department now says that the state will have about $67 million in its reserves by the end of the fiscal year - and that’s assuming Gov. Sam Brownback makes a full $50 million in cuts.

So far, the governor has

Auto Insurance Car insurers are permitted to request information regarding who is living in your household and who drives your vehicles. If your new resident drives, notify your auto insurance company. If the resident owns his/her own car, your insurer may simply want a copy of his or her auto policy.

The attorney general’s office received more than 9,800 applications for concealed carry licenses in the 2015 fiscal year which ended June 30.

The 9,805 applications received were the fourth highest on record.

Since the Concealed Carry Licensing program began in 2006, the office has received more than 100,000 applications.

(continued from page 12)

child is at risk of identity theft from the minute he or she is assigned a Social Security number.

While most teens generally don’t have a credit report until they start earning a paycheck at age 16, be on the lookout for fraudulent activity earlier and make sure they get in the habit of ordering the three free credit reports they are entitled to each year.

Families parents’ health insurance policies. If your adult children are older than 26, they’ll need to look into an individual policy.

If an older relative moves in with you and is over the age of 65, that person may qualify for Medicare. For more information about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site. If your parent is moving in due to health concerns, you may want to carefully consider longterm care insurance.

Sen. Michael O’Donnell (R-Wichita), a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, called it irresponsible to toss “the hot potato to the governor to make cuts.”

“We have no guarantee that the governor will make the $50 million in cuts, and we don’t know where that money is going to come from,” O’Donnell said. “I feel like we abdicated our responsibility.”

The estimates have been lowered because the state missed tax estimates by more than $30 million for the final three months of the previous fiscal year.

That was partially offset by state agencies coming in $16 million under budget.

“We’re not even through the first month of the fiscal year, and we’re already down,” said Senate Minority Leader An-

thony Hensley (D-Topeka). “It certainly doesn’t bode well for fiscal year 2016. My guess is we’re going to end up in another budget shortfall situation.

Deja vu.”

The Legislature struggled to resolve the state’s budget gap this past session. It did not pass a tax plan until the 113th day of the record-long session after late nights.

AG receives 9,800 concealed carry applications

College to qualify for a card.

As such, you’ll be able to keep track of your child’s credit use.

However, if they default, you’ll be on the hook – so monitor your child’s bank and credit relationships closely until you agree they’re ready to manage them on their own.

Cover credit monitoring and identity theft. With smarter online thieves emerging every day, your

identified only $2 million in cuts.

That means that without further cuts, the state’s ending balance would be only $19 million, even if the state hit its revenue estimates each month through June.

“We continue our focus on finding efficiencies and reducing the cost of government for Kansas taxpayers,” the governor’s office said in an e-mail.

Throughout college, consider sitting down with children so you can review their annual credit reports together.

Bottom line: There’s plenty to do in the final weeks before your kids leave for college. Don’t forget to reinforce important money lessons before they go.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs

Attorney Gen. Derek Schmidt said that while the Legislature passed a law earlier this year allowing eligible Kansans to carry concealed without a license, he expects the licensing program to remain popular.

“There are still a number of benefits for Kansans who obtain concealed carry licenses,” Schmidt said. “Most nota-

bly, Kansas licenses are recognized by 36 other states, most of which still require a permit in order to carry concealed.”

Schmidt also encouraged all Kansans who intend to carry firearms to pursue training opportunities.

Currently, more than 90,000 Kansans have active concealed carry permits.

(Published in The Scott County Record on Thurs., July 23, 2015)1t

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING

The governing body of the Scott Recreation Commission will meet on Aug. 3, 2015, at 6:00 p.m., at the Scott Recreation Commission office, 823 South Main, for the purpose of hearing and answering objections of taxpayers relating to the proposed use of funds.

(continued from page 12)

Detailed budget information is available at the SRC office, 823 South Main, Scott City, and will be available at this hearing.

If the household member does not own a vehicle, you may want to add them to your auto policy if he or she is a licensed driver. Depending on the person’s age and driving history, this may impact your rates. If you misrepresent information to your auto insurance company about drivers using your vehicle, future claims could be denied, and your policy could be canceled or not renewed.

•How will my family pay final expenses BUDGET SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES and repay debts after my The proposed budget expenditures (below) are the maximum expenditure limits for the budget year. death?

•Will there be estate Prior Year Current Year Proposed Budget taxes to pay after my Actual 2014 Estimated 2015 Year 2016 Fund death?

In each policy area, General 348,094 336,840 391,500 you should visit with your Employee Benefit 27,722 23,092 38,496 local insurance agent or company to determine what is best for your famTotals 375,816 359,932 429,996 ily’s insurance needs.

If you have addition2013 2014 2015 al questions, contact our Lease Purchase: Consumer Assistance Principal Balance @ beg. of FY 198,562 212,513 169,747 Division, 800-432-2484, to speak to one of our Troy Lewis, vice-chairperson Life Insurance If you find your family consumer assistance rep- Scott Recreation Commission dependent on you to pro- resentatives. vide for them, you should review your need for life (Published in The Scott County Record on Thurs., July 23, 2015)1t insurance. To determine if you need coverage, ask yourself the following The governing body of the City of Scott City will meet on Aug. 3, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., at City Hall for the questions: purpose of hearing and answering objections of taxpayers relating to the proposed use of all funds and the •How much of the famamount of ad valorem tax to be levied. ily income do I provide?

Detailed budget information is available at City Hall, 221 W. 5th, Scott City, and will be available at this •If I were to die, how hearing. would my survivors - both BUDGET SUMMARY children and parents - get Proposed budget 2016 expenditures and amount of 2015 ad valorem tax establish the maximum limits by?

NOTICE OF 2016 BUDGET HEARING

of the 2016 budget.

The estimated tax rate is subject to change depending on the final assessed valuation.

2014

Fund General

Prior year Expenditures

2015

Proposed Budget 2016

Actual Tax Current Year Est. Actual Tax of Expenditures Rate* Rate*

Expenditures

Amount of 2015 Ad Valorem Tax

Est. Tax Rate*

3,528,583

54.161

3,187,000

59.270

3,516,290

1,394,099

59.460

Airport Sinking

258,403

2.063

1,700

1.903

893,000

45,422

1.937

Employee Benefit

232,589

8.402

256,722

10.319

294,000

233,835

9.973

Fire Equipment

407,888

1.591

1.458

212,000

34,774

1.483

Special Highway

159,453

182,879

298,625

Sewer

305,136

168,800

471,674

20,626

16,380

29,698

5,326

5,000

18,775

983,620

968,936

1,964,045

1,708,130

72.853

Airport Enterprise Special Parks Water Municipal Equipment

950

Transient Guest Tax

52,762

Non-Budgeted Funds

665,472

City Totals

6,620,808

Less: Transfers

126,256 55,800

66.217

4,843,217

224,688

72.950

8,049,051

95,000

120,000

95,000

Net Expenditure

6,525,808

4,723,217

7,954,051

Total Tax Levied

1,457,752

1,647,185

Assessed Valuation

22,015,557

22,580,424

23,446,015

Jan. 1, Outstanding Indebtedness

2013

2014

2015

745,800

3,280,000

4,250,548

3,000,000

1,186,300

0

95,987

38,625

0

3,841,787

4,504,925

4,250,548

G.O. Bonds Other Lease Pur. Princ.

TOTAL

*Tax rates are expressed in mills

Brenda Davis Scott City Clerk

The Scott County Record • Page 14 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

So were you really listening? by the American Counseling Association

We all believe we’re good listeners. We like to think that when someone close to us has something to tell us, that we really pay attention and understand what’s being said.

But experts say that often isn’t the case for a number of reasons.

Sometimes we’re poor listeners because it’s a basic human desire to want to swap stories. As a result we interrupt, trying to hurry the speaker along so that we can get to our own story. It’s more interesting to talk about ourselves, right?

Emotions can also be uncomfortable, our own and those of others, and yet that’s what many serious discussions tend to focus on.

Experts also report there’s something called “listener burnout.” Most of us have known someone who drones on and on about the same old problems. Our tendency then is to offer quick advice that will hopefully fix the problem and stop the endless story.

Listening well is an important skill in any close relationship and it’s a skill we can all improve.

Start by learning to recognize when someone close to you really wants to talk. There will usually be signals and hints that something is bothering him or her. That’s when it’s time to give your undivided attention.

Let the other person disclose what is troubling, and then acknowledge that you recognize this as a legitimate problem or experience. If you dismiss or minimize what has been said, or if you argue about details, it’s likely the conversation will end.

A key element is to encourage the other person to elaborate on what has happened or is so troubling. A good way is to ask open ended questions that show you want to hear and understand the whole story.

You can also show your interest by paraphrasing what has been said and asking if you’re hearing and understand the issue correctly.

As you become involved like this, it not only lets the other person know that you care, but also opens the door to being able to work together on possible solutions to whatever has caused the problem.

Yes, it’s more in our nature to want to focus on ourselves and air out our own problems, but if you truly love and care for someone, it’s important to learn to listen to and help with the problems he or she is facing.

Uninsured rate continues to drop

Gallup reports another low among Americans without health insurance.

The rate fell another half of a percentage point, from 11.9 percent to 11.4 percent, in the last quarter.

The uninsured rate has dropped nearly six percentage points since the fourth quarter of 2013, just before the requirement for Americans to carry health insurance took effect. The latest quarterly uninsured rate is the lowest Gallup has recorded since daily tracking began in 2008.

Gallup’s monthly trend indicates that the lower rate held steady throughout the second quarter. The uninsured rate fell to 11.3% by March, and the April, May and June averages were similar.

From a long-range perspective, the uninsured rate has declined across nearly all key subgroups since 2013. But the sharpest declines have occurred among Hispanics, blacks and lower-income Americans. The uninsured rate among Hispanics declined by 9.6 points from the fourth quarter of 2013. Similarly, the percentage of uninsured blacks dipped 8.9 points over this period.

Across major subgroups, those making less than $36,000 in annual household income have seen the sharpest drop - 9.9 points since the fourth quarter of 2013.

Medicaid expansion advocates put focus on stories, not numbers Andy Marso KHI News Service

One of the leading advocates for Medicaid expansion in Kansas says it’s time to change tactics.

Last week, Alaska became the 30th state to expand Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act. Kansas is one of the remaining states where Republican legislators and governors remain resistant.

Sheldon Weisgrau, director of the Health Reform Resource Project for the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved, told a group attending the Kansas Conference on Poverty that the lack of

progress calls for a new strategy.

“We all need to figure out how to advocate on this issue,” Weisgrau said.

“Obviously what we’ve been doing isn’t working.”

He said focusing on numbers - like the 90,000 uninsured Kansans who would gain coverage through the expansion and the billions of federal dollars it would funnel into Kansas - has not persuaded lawmakers.

Moving forward, his focus will be on reaching them emotionally, by sharing personal stories from Kansans who can’t pay for medical care that they need.

Weisgrau noted that the group of about 20 he was

speaking to at the conference all work with people in poverty, many of whom might fall into the ACA “coverage gap” because they’re too poor for private insurance subsidies but not eligible for Medicaid.

He asked if the people they work with know that they could get Medicaid coverage if the Legislature accepts expansion.

“A lot of you are shaking your heads,” Weisgrau said.

“That’s problem No. 1.”

Navigating the System One person in the audience, Steve Henoch, said the clients he works with know if they fall into the

gap because telling them is part of his job.

Henoch is a navigator for the healthcare.gov online exchange that the uninsured can use to purchase private insurance with federal subsidies. He works out of Salina Family Healthcare.

He said that, especially in the first year of the ACA, he had a number of people who desperately needed health care come in and fill out the online application with him, only to find out that they made too little money to qualify for subsidies.

Then he had to tell them there was simply no health insurance they could afford.

(See MEDICAID on page 15)

Retired generals say school nutrition vital to military readiness

A nonpartisan, nonprofit group of more than 500 retired generals and admirals see school nutrition as an important factor in military readiness.

The group, “Mission: Readiness,” released the Kansas version of a report drawing a connection between healthier school meals and the pool of potential recruits for America’s armed forces.

Retired U.S. Army Major General Larry Lust of Lenexa said nearly one of every three Americans age 17 to 24 is too obese to qualify for military service.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if that doesn’t cause you

some concern, you need to check your pulse,” he said.

Lust cited figures from the U.S. Department of Defense showing that 71 percent of young Kansans are not eligible to serve in the military. Disqualifying factors include lack of education and a history of crime or drug abuse, but the primary medical reason is obesity.

Lust said children get nearly half of their daily caloric intake at school, which makes the nutrient value associated with those calories important.

“We know what the old standards got us,” he said.

“The new standards are

If you think medical expenses are high now, think where we’re going to be if these numbers don’t change.

Retired U.S. Army Major General Larry Lust of Lenexa

helping us to walk back from where we are right now. If you think medical expenses are high now, think where we’re going to be if these numbers don’t change.”

According to the report, the military is not immune to these expenses: 12.4 percent of the fighting force was obese in 2011, compared with 7.7 percent in 2002. That means the rate of obesity rose 62 percent in just nine years.

Excess weight among

Certain ethnic, low-income groups suffer most from tobacco Andy Marso KHI News Service

The Legislature’s recent 50-cent per pack cigarette tax increase is helpful but not enough to stem the tide of tobacco use among populations already struggling with health issues, panelists at the Kansas Conference on Poverty in Topeka said.

Four public health experts who work with American Indians, Latinos, female prisoners and lowincome mothers hosted last week’s panel discussion on health inequalities.

Tobacco use was only one part of a broad range of presentations that touched on things like the chal-

lenges of follow-up care for women released from prison, cultural resistance to researchers and the “toxic stress” that seeps into all members of families in poverty.

But for Christina Pacheco, who works with American Indian tribes that have some of the greatest health disparities of any ethnic group, tobacco is a key topic.

Pacheco is a University of Kansas research professor who works with the Center for American Indian Community Health. She said smoking cessation efforts in American Indian populations face a number of complications, including tax issues.

(See TOBACCO on page 15)

service members and their families is costing the Department of Defense more than $1 billion a year in health care spending, Lust said. It costs another $500 million to replace the estimated 5,000 troops who are dismissed each year because they’re too unfit to serve.

The costs can’t all be measured in dollars, though.

Excess weight and weak bones are blamed for an unprecedented increase in (See READINESS on page 15)

Readiness non-combat injuries among members of a brigade serving in Afghanistan.

A 2010 study in The Lancet, the British medical journal, found there were 72 percent more medical evacuations from Iraq and Afghanistan for stress fractures, severe sprains and similar inju-

The Scott County Record • Page 15 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

(continued from page 14)

ries than for combat wounds. The report said these injuries were due, in part, to poor nutrition and a lack of physical activity during adolescence.

The military leaders say good nutrition can help reduce these problems, and schools can play a pivotal role in mak-

Medicaid

to several issues, including its cost, which Weisgrau said will continue to be a sticking point given the state’s beleaguered budget.

It is likely too late for the state to take advantage of the last year of full federal funding for expansion in 2016. After that, the cost-sharing will gradually drop to 90 percent federal and 10 percent state.

Weisgrau said that means expansion would Cost Remains a Factor Opponents of Medicaid cost about $800 million expansion have objected in state money between

The state cigarette tax applies to sales on Indian reservations but some federal taxes do not, meaning prices there likely will remain lower.

“Having the reducedprice cigarettes so readily available makes it so much easier,” Pacheco said. “Because that is one measure that has been effective for public health professionals at reducing smoking rates, (raising the) tax.”

American Indians have the highest smoking rates of any ethnic group in the country at 26.1 percent.

Pacheco said that creates serious health consequences for native tribes.

“A lot of the higher rates of cancer are attributable to cigarette smoking,” she said. “The other thing we look at is if you engage in one risky behavior you’re more likely to engage in a second, and they’re starting so young that once you get hooked it’s extremely hard to stop.”

The reasons American Indians are more likely

are beginning to catch on with kids.

“Unfortunately, though, there have been efforts to let schools retreat from these important standards,” Schmader said.

Amy Dawson Taggart, who founded “Mission: Readiness,” said child nutrition has historically had bipartisan support in

(continued from page 14)

“It’s horrible,” Henoch said.

Most of them did not know who their state representatives were or where those officials stood on the issue of Medicaid expansion, he said. Weisgrau said those are the type of people Medicaid expansion advocates need to get registered to vote and politically engaged.

He said a website to collect their stories soon will be live.

Tobacco

ing sure children get the nutrition they need.

Retired Army Brigadier General John Schmader of Easton said there’s evidence that the more nutritious school meals and snacks resulting from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which was championed by first lady Michelle Obama,

now and 2025. But he said that’s a small fraction of what the state is slated to spend in that same time period on subsidies to help lure corporations to Kansas, while the Medicaid expansion would draw $8.5 billion in federal funds that would create economic stimulus and jobs throughout the health care industry.

Additionally, he said, getting Medicaid coverage for more people would take financial pressure off other state and local programs that serve the uninsured.

“Every single state that has expanded Medicaid has seen reduced spending on the uninsured in other parts of their state budgets,” Weisgrau said.

He said that while Medicaid coverage is far from perfect, it is effective at limiting out-ofpocket costs for hospital stays and preventing medical bankruptcies.

“One of the things we know about Medicaid is that it - like health insurance is supposed to - provides financial security,” Weisgrau said.

(continued from page 14)

than other demographic groups to smoke cigarettes are complex, Pacheco said. For many tribes, tobacco use is part of their traditional religion and culture. After the colonial takeover of America stripped that culture from them, recreational tobacco use began to fill the void.

The key to reaching those communities, she said, is respecting their religious traditions while discouraging recreational tobacco use. For instance, she said signs that just show the word “Tobacco” with a line through it will be considered quite offensive by some tribes and should be avoided.

Pacheco also said tobacco companies have spent millions of dollars learning how to effectively market their products to groups like American Indians.

Public health advocates, she said, have not always been as good at targeting their smoking cessation messages.

“Just because you put a feather on a brochure, that doesn’t mean American Indians are going to pick it up and read it,” Pacheco said.

Public health advocates fought for a $1.50 per pack increase in the Kansas cigarette tax last session.

Pacheco said those efforts should be coupled with other proven methods, like indoor smoking bans, to decrease the American Indian smoking rate.

Hispanics have the nation’s second-lowest smoking rate at 12.1 percent, but even at that level it has effects on the population’s health, said Mariana Ramirez, another panelist.

Ramirez works with Juntos, a group focused on Latino health issues in rural and urban parts of Kansas.

Ramirez said those who immigrate to the United States from Latino countries generally enter in good health, because they walked a lot and had

active jobs in their native countries.

But once they arrive in the United States, they quickly adopt less healthy lifestyles and the health problems that come with them.

Then chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes that are prevalent in the Latino community become more dangerous with even the occasional cigarette.

“If we have people who are obese, who have high blood pressure and on top of that they smoke, that doesn’t help, right?”

Ramirez said. “Nicotine is a vessel constrictor, so you’re making it harder for your heart to pump.”

Ramirez said her group is launching a smoking cessation pilot program for Spanish speakers.

She said the increased state tax is a step forward, but not the end of the journey.

“Anything helps,” Ramirez said. “But we were really hoping it would be the $1.50 instead of just 50 cents.”

Congress since the school lunch program was created in 1946 to address the malnourishment that left 40 percent of would-be recruits unfit for service.

“Regrettably, it has gotten a little politicized in recent times,” she said.

“You can call a group of generals a lot of things. A hotbed of liberalism is not

typically one of them.

“What the generals are here today to talk about is the fact that high-quality child nutrition in schools is not conservative common sense or liberal common sense. It is plain common sense, and it is what’s good and right and true for the kids of this country.”

Pastime at Park Lane The First Baptist Church led Sunday afternoon church services.

Pastor Bob Artz led Bible study on Tuesday morning. Doris Riner played the piano.

Residents played pitch and dominoes on Monday afternoon. Game helpers were Joy Barnett, Chelsie Rose, Madeline Murphy, Dorothy King, Gary and Janet Goodman, Wanda Kirk, Hugh McDaniel and Mandy Barnett.

Richard Kirk’s family brought cake and ice cream for everyone in honor of his 77th birthday on Monday afternoon.

Russel and Mary Webster led Bible study on Tuesday evening.

Residents played bingo on Wednesday afternoon.

Madeline Murphy led the games. Barbara Dickhut and Mandy Barnett were the helpers.

Residents played cards on Wednesday evening.

Quilt Guild hosts a display

The Quilt Guild hosted a show on Thursday afternoon at Park Lane.

Ladies displaying their quilts were Wanda Kirk, Jeanette Kreri, Theresa Radnor, Alvera Chvilicek, Elvira Billinger, Arlene Cauthon, Sandy LaCoy, Betty Kough, Ora Sharpe, Devan Holder and Lil Francisco.

Wanda Kirk furnished donuts for everyone.

Craft day at Park Lane

The Immanuel Baptist Church hosted craft day on Tuesday afternoon with residents making bead crafts.

Helpers were Joy Barnett, Jennifer Murphy, Sue Barber and Mandy Barnett. Kendra Kendricks furnished cookies.

D’Ann Markel gave manicures on Thursday.

Residents played trivia games on Thursday evening.

Fr. Bernard Felix led Catholic Mass on Friday morning. Rev. Warren Prochnow led Lutheran services on Friday afternoon.

Deaths Edna M. Uppendahl

Edna M. Uppendahl, age 95, died on July 20, 2015, at the Scott County Hospital, Scott City.

She was born on Oct. 21, 1919, in Shields, the daughter of George H. and Augusta Strickert Uppendahl.

A graduate of Scott Community High School, she attended Kansas State University. She worked as a chemist for the Great Lakes Pipeline Company in Kansas City, Mo., for eight years years. She then moved to San Francisco, Calif., in 1949 and worked for the California Teachers Association.

In 1952, she moved back to Scott City to farm with her brother George.

She was a member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Scott City, and was a past Girl Scout leader.

Survivors include two nephews, Kenneth Pohlmann, Miami, Fla., and James Pohlmann, Bloomington, Ill. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother and one sister.

Graveside service was held on July 23 at the Dighton Memorial Cemetery with Rev. Warren Prochnow officiating.

Memorials are suggested to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church or Scott County Library in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, 401 S. Washington, Scott City, Ks. 67871.

Sr. Citizen Lunch Menu Week of July 27-31 Monday: Chicken grilled with tomato sauce, spaghetti noodles, carrot raisin salad, whole wheat roll, grapes.

Tuesday: Roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, capri vegetables, whole wheat bread, creamy fruit salad.

Wednesday: Baked fish fillet, baked potato, tossed salad, citrus fruit cup.

Thursday: Sweet and sour chicken or barbeque meatballs, rice, stir fry vegetables, whole wheat bread, mandarin oranges.

Friday: Chef’s salad, crackers, whole wheat roll, angel food cake with strawberries. meals are $3.25 • call 872-3501

The Wright family played on Friday evening.

Wanda Wright furnished refreshments.

The Blue Steele Band performed on Saturday afternoon. Band members were Mike Steele, Daniel Dunn and Keith Steele.

Clifford Dearden was visited by Tava See.

Dottie Fouquet was visited by Lil Francisco, Jon and Anne Crane, Fritzie and Lisa Rauch, Carson Faurot and Claire Fouquet.

Pat Lawrence was visited by Marilyn Waters.

LaVera King was visited by Margie Stevens, Gloria Gough and Carol Latham.

Verna Willman was visited by Nancy Johnson, Bossier City, La., and Harley Herschberger, Colby.

Cecile Billings was visited by Ann Beaton, Delinda Dunagan and Linda Dunagan.

Arlene Beaton was visited by Margie Stevens; Chris, Jamie, Brynna and Holden Beaton; Tom and JoNell Beaton; Caraline Beaton; Aaron, Holly and Landry Beaton; Ann Beaton and William Beaton.

Vivian Kreiser was visited by Sharon Lock and Sage Wilkerson.

Annual income determines Social Security credits

by Chad Ingram Social Security district manager

Q: How do I earn Social Security credits?

A: A Social Security credit (sometimes referred to as a “quarter of coverage”) is the basic unit for determining whether a worker is insured under the Social Security program. The amount needed for a credit increases automatically each year as average wages increase.

For 2015, workers receive one credit for each $1,220 of earnings.

A worker can receive a maximum of four credits for any year. Generally, you need 40 credits to be eligible for retirement benefits.

Learn more at www. socialsecurity.gov/OACT/ COLA/QC.html * * *

The Scott County Record • Page 16 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Q) I’m applying online for disability benefits.

What is the difference between the disability application and the disability report? Do I have to complete both?

A) Yes, you will need to complete both when you apply for disability benefits. To receive Social Security disability benefits, you must file a disability application.

A disability report provides information about your current physical or mental condition and we need this to process your disability application. You should complete a disability application, a disability report, and an authorization to release medical records to file a claim for disability benefits.

To learn more, and to apply online, visit www. socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.

by Jason Storm

Lowell Rudolph was visited by Kathleen Moore, Charlene Hughes, Detta Hagger, Tom and Kathy Moore, Larry and Marci Knobbe, Denton Berry and Steven Grigg.

Nella Funk was visited

by Kim Smith and Kianna Howard.

Corrine Dean was visited by Kim Smith; John, Kylee, Warren and Wyatt Kropp; and Dianna Howard.

Emogene Harp was visited by Alicia Harp, Rick Harp, Shala Del Koehn, and Haley and Cheri.

Bonnie Pickett was visited by Arlene Cauthon, Gloria Wright and Larry and Philene Pickett.

Boots Haxton was visited by Rod and Kathy Haxton.

Albert Dean was visited by Margie Stevens.

Geraldine Graves was visited by Janet Soeken, Myca Soeken, Eli Soeken and Charlene Becht.

Lorena Turley was visited by Neta Wheeler and Mike, Tracy and Bo Hess.

Jake Leatherman was visited by Nicole, Jacob, Cade and Gage Leatherman, McKinney, Tex.; and Rod and Mary Ann Leatherman.

Lucille Dirks was visited by Dale and Vicki Dirks and Floyd and Vivian Dirks.

James Still and Mike Leach were visited by Linda Dunagan.

Margaret Harper was visited by Amber Koehn and Teresa Noll and kids.

Darlene Richman was visited by Phebe Unruh.

Delores Brooks was visited by Fritzie Rauch; Lisa Rauch, Boston, Mass.; Charles Brooks and Cheryl Perry.

Dona Dee Carpenter was visited by Gloria O’Bleness, Larry LaPlant, Bill and Kandi John, Taylor Goodman and Fritzie Rauch.

The Scott County Record • Page 17 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Bioscience Authority halts investment, lays off staff The Kansas Bioscience Authority has stopped making new investments and decided to lay off half of its staff in the face of reduced funding from the state.

The authority, which was established during Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ term, invests public dollars in the biotech industry with the goal of incubating startups and attracting investment in Kansas for an industry with highpaying jobs. It has seen its state funding scaled back significantly since 2012.

The KBA decided last week to lay off seven of its 13 full-time staff members, said Duane Cantrell, the president and CEO. There is no longer a fulltime scientist on staff, for example.

It also will hold off on making new investments for now and scale back its operations.

“This is just a responsible response to the level of funding we’ve received,” Cantrell said. The shortterm goal is to ensure that the KBA does not go into default before the Legislature reconvenes in January.

“Our objective is to certainly get us to a point where those who have the obligation and right to make those decisions are in a position to then fund it and rebuild the staff, or whatever they want to do, or if they choose to shutter the KBA that’s a decision that the Legislature and the administration will have to make,” Cantrell said.

Late during the 2015 session, a bill was floated to enable the Kansas Department of Commerce to absorb the KBA’s assets and investment portfolio.

No author of the bill ever came forward and commerce officials would not talk about it at the time.

The KBA has a controversial history. A 2012 audit showed that its former president, Tom Thornton, had misspent funds and destroyed documents that had been subpoenaed by a taxpayer.

But it has also been touted by leaders of both parties for spurring growth in the bioscience

industry and helping sway the federal government to place the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Kansas.

Kansas taxpayers have put more than $200 million toward the KBA since its creation, but annual funding has been scaled back significantly since the 2012 fiscal year.

The KBA has seen portions of its funding withheld or redirected toward other things.

Statute allows for the KBA to receive up to $35 million each year. From 2012 through 2015, it received less than $29 million total. The KBA would have received an additional $111 million during that period if it had been funded at the maximum amount.

Irreparable Damage That includes $22 million the governor swept from the KBA last fiscal year to help plug a budget hole.

Cantrell said these reductions have irreparably damaged the KBA’s ability to perform its mission.

Eileen Hawley, the governor’s spokeswoman, said that, “While the governor supports the mission of the KBA, its operations must be conducted within its budgetary constraints.”

House Speaker Ray Merrick, R-Stilwell, made a similar point.

He said he has always been a fan of the authority and its vision.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have the money to keep putting in there,” he said last week.

“I hope they survive.

There’s just not the money to keep propping them up,” Merrick said.

Cantrell said that many of KBA’s investments are promising, but several years away from paying off.

Nick Franano, the CEO of two Olathe-based companies that have received investments from the KBA, said that Kansas is in danger of becoming “flyover country for startups again” if the KBA ceases to exist.

“I think it’s an enormous loss for the state of Kansas to just dismantle

that whole thing and not even under any really coordinated plan.

The governor and the Legislature just withheld all of the money and starved it,” said Franano, who is CEO of Metactive Medical, which is developing a product to treat strokes, and Flow

Forward, which is developing a product to prepare patients for hemodialysis.

Franano said Missouri will become more attractive to startups in the Kansas City area, because of potential investment from the publicly funded Missouri Technology Corp.

He said other companies might look to biotech power centers, such as Massachusetts and California, where there are more investors.

“Essentially, the tool box is empty. The last four years, you took the tool box and just dumped all the tools out on the way

down the road,” Franano said. “I guess there are lower marginal tax rates, but for startup companies, you know, marginal tax rates are just not motivating. We’re trying to build the companies of the future. We don’t pay taxes for a while. We need capital.”

Attend the Church of Your Choice

What is our greatest strength in Scott City?

Morality has been the strength of man since the Garden of Eden. It has been the strength of America since its beginning. John Adams said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Morality is having the character to do what you should do instead of what you have the freedom to do.

I recently read “a people cannot be given a freedom without morality or they will self destruct.”

With the great lack of morality that has risen in America, many are saying we are about to self destruct. There is a strong spirit in our great country to make us an immoral people. Breaking down the basic rules of immorality; destroying the importance of family, faith and belief in God, the sanctity of human life, marriage, scripture and destroying the idea there is a God we are accountable to are all pressures we are up against as Christians.

Status in life matters very little. God’s view of life as revealed in scripture is what matters. To be strong the soul of a man must have a knowledge of the scripture for moral reasoning and right living.

More than once the scripture records prayer for Christians that, “We may be filled with the knowledge and discernment of God’s Word in all spiritual wisdom and understanding...” (Please read Colossians 1; Philippians 1). We are to grow in knowledge and discernment of God’s will, which is His Word. I Peter says we are born again by the incorruptible Word of God. Incorruptible means it cannot be destroyed or spoiled.

The scripture is how we discern what really matters; discernment between good and evil; what’s good and better; what’s better and best. We need knowledge so we’ll know who, what and how to love. Without knowledge a Christian can love things we ought not to love and enter into relationships not good for us.

Two things that will hinder our strength as Christians is wrong thinking and our failure to practice what we know to be true. Philippians 4:8 tells us what to

think on. Any thought that doesn’t meet what is written there is “against the knowledge of God”. If we think in any other way we are walking in disobedience to God. Since many no longer use the Bible for moral reasoning and right living, moral strength has weakened in America. II Timothy 4:1-4 prophecies in the last days “many will turn their ears away from the truth.” We are in those times.

The Holy Spirit inspired the writings in Scripture to prepare us for what lies ahead. The Bible will help us to keep our thinking straight; it will help us to win in circumstances of life. And in these last days of great instability and uncertainty, it is our source of moral strength and stability.

End times are upon us as a people of God. Be prepared to take some flack for your unwavering stand on God’s Word; be stubborn in holding on to sound Biblical doctrine. Where our stance on the Word of God is concerned we must hunker down, maintain our position and endure the afflictions of persecution, false accusation and mental suffering that will follow because of the foul way people have begun to think in these last days.

But the power of the promises of God strengthens our faith and hope.

Know that our callings and convictions will put us at odds with some as they try to sway us from the morality we gain from relationship with Jesus and the knowledge of the holy written Word of God! We must be serious students of the Bible learning about God and His requirements for us.

We must associate ourselves with those who seek to do God’s will. We must make changes in our lives so we may enjoy the favor of God in our churches, in our community and its surroundings.

We are blessed with many strengths in our community. But what would you say is the greatest strength of Scott City? Could it be the first word of the first paragraph?

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

Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.

1st United Methodist Church 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.

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 18 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Returning to Western Kansas BOE an easy move for UMC pastor

During his 22 years in the ministry, John Lewis is well-traveled, having served seven churches before becoming the new pastor at the Scott City United Methodist Church.

Lewis is hopeful that his long resume´ won’t get any longer in the near future.

“This church has had a history of pastors who have served here for quite awhile. Pastor Dennis (Carter) was here for about seven years,” notes Lewis. “I would like to be part of that.”

A graduate of Wamego High School and Manhattan Christian College (1993), Lewis is currently working on his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary.

While completing his education at MCC, Lewis assumed his first pastorate at the small community of LaClede in Pottawatomie County. This was followed by stops at Ness City, Marysville, Haddam/ Morrowville, Abilene, Belleville and Culbertson/ Trenton (Nebr.) prior to starting his latest pastorate in Scott City on July 1.

Lewis, 46, brings with

him a background that’s as diverse as the communities where he’s lived.

He’s been pastor of an Assembly of God, a Christian Fellowship, Emmanuel UMC and a First American Baptist Church.

“I feel there are a lot more similarities than differences,” says Lewis about the variety of pastorates. “To a large degree, they’re all based on lay people being the guiding voice in the church.

“I’m a strong believer that a church is more than the pastor. It’s not my role to say how things have to be done,” he says. “I want to hear from our members and what they expect from the church.”

In that respect, Lewis says it’s important to listen to the parishioners and connect with them.

“This church has made things work very well before I came along,” Lewis notes. “I feel that God brought me here to add my gifts to the mix.”

And to make sure there’s an open invitation for everyone.

With 85 percent of Americans planning summer getaways, 90 percent of which will be by car, the personal finance website WalletHub offers its analysis of the “Best and Worst States for Summer Road Trips.”

Using 20 key metrics, WalletHub compared the 50 states to identify those that offer frugally minded road travelers the most fun for the least cost.

The data set ranges from average gas prices to the quality of roads to the number of attractions.

10 Best States 1 Oregon 2 Nevada 3 Minnesota 4 Washington 5 Ohio 6 Utah 7 Wyoming 8 Colorado 9 North Carolina 10 Idaho

However, with 487 members elected this year, plus 372 members elected two years ago, at least 43 percent of the 1,995 elected school board members have served two years or less. Not included are board members appointed to fill vacancies since 2013.

This year, most boards had four of seven positions on the ballot. (Some districts had additional positions open to fill vacancies.) Next year, most boards will have three of seven positions.

Kansas board members serve four year terms.

The recent controversies facing public education and concerns about funding, state mandates

and employee relations have not caused more members to leave board service, according to data compiled by the Kansas Association of School Boards.

The 364 board members not seeking re-election was the lowest for a year when four spots are on the ballot since 1999.

There was no evidence voters were more dissatisfied with their local boards, according to KASB. The 95 members who were defeated in either the primary or general election was slightly higher than four years ago, but was lower than every other comparable year since 1997.

Pastor John Lewis of the United Methodist Church in Scott City.

(Record Photo)

assigned to the Marysville Assembly of God Church that Lewis met his wife, Krystal, who was the Sunday school superintendent. The couple has two daughters, Sabrina, a freshman, and Erica, a seventh grader.

Just prior to Marysville, Lewis had been a pastor in Ness City for five years, Returning ‘Home’ which made the deciIt was while he was sion to return to Western

Best and worst vacation destinations

(continued from page 11)

Kansas much easier when the latest assignment was offered by the church.

“I’d come to Scott City with friends to play racquetball and to eat, so I was pretty familiar with the town. When this opportunity came along, in a sense it was like returning home,” he says.

“Hopefully, this is someplace we can call home for a long time.”

Fresh and Delicious!

Buy of the Week Wednesday - Tuesday, July 22-28

10 Worst States 41 New Jersey 42 Michigan 43 Rhode Island 44 Arkansas 45 Oklahoma 46 South Dakota 47 Mississippi 48 Delaware 49 North Dakota 50 Connecticut

Kansas ranked 38th overall, including driving/lodging costs (15th), road conditions and safety (33rd) and fun and scenic attractions (43rd).

Nebraska ranked 15th overall including driving/ lodging costs (9th), road conditions and safety (27th) and fun and scenic attractions (28th).

Key Stats California has 22 times more scenic byways than Connecticut.

The price of camping in Connecticut is double the price in Nevada.

The price of a three-star hotel room in Hawaii is three times more expensive than in Arizona.

Massachusetts has three times more fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled than Montana.

California has eight times more car thefts per 100,000 residents than Vermont.

Whole Seedless Watermelon

2

$ 98

each

1314 S. Main, Scott City 872-5854 www.heartlandfoodsstores.com

Sports The Scott County Record

horse play Horse competition provides a full day of fun for Scott County youth • Page 24

www.scottcountyrecord.com

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Page 19

figure-8 fun at the fair

Patience pays for Pounds in county fair race Patience and a little good fortune provided a winning combination for Chris Pounds in figure-8 racing at the Scott County Fair on Wednesday evening.

Starting from the second row in the main feature and trailing throughout the race, the Scott City driver finally saw the opening he was looking for with just three laps remaining, taking the lead for the first time and holding on to win.

It was the second figure-8 title of the summer for Pounds who also won at Hays. He was in second place at Dighton last weekend before his vehicle shut down and he had to pull out of the race.

Pounds knew that if he was going to pull off a win on Wednesday he would have (See PATIENCE on page 20)

(Top) Chris Pounds (middle) drives high on the berm to pass Paul Lewis of Dighton and close the gap on leader Matt Jones, Dighton, during Wednesday evening’s figure-8 race. (Above) Alex Kough has to see through steam and water as he collides into the rear end of Jace McKinney’s vehicle during a preliminary heat.

(Record Photos)

SC wins Cal Ripken state title

Defense and pitching have been the keys to the success of Scott City’s 12-years and under baseball team throughout the regular season.

There was no reason to think

the state tournament would be any different.

Scott City (20-4) avenged a pool play loss to Quivira Heights when they defeated Quivira, 4-2, in Sunday’s cham-

pionship game to win the Cal Ripken state title in Lyons.

After finishing second in their pool, behind Quivira, Scott City put together two outstanding games in bracket

play on Sunday with wins over Cottonwood Valley, 6-5, in the semi-finals, followed by the win over Quivira.

Scott City allowed just three runs over the final 10 innings in

the tournament.

“Even though we’ve had some big offensive games, that’s not our strength,” says coach Randy King. “We depend (See STATE on page 21)

1st place in SC scramble is a six-shot runaway

Quinten Wheeler (left) reacts to Brady Wheeler’s narrow miss of a birdie putt on the second hole during Sunday’s round of the annual Scott Community Golf Course four-man scramble.

(Record Photo)

The annual Scott City fourperson scramble turned into a runaway for the winning team of Reggie Burnett, Ty Alexander, Julie Sanchez and Dexter Peters.

The foursome carded a 36-hole total of 106 - 30 under par - for the two-day tournament. They finished six strokes ahead of the runner-up.

The tournament was still up for grabs after Saturday’s play with Jerry Buxton, Carlos Prieto, Garrett Jones and Lonny Dearden shooting a 15-underpar 53 to take a one shot lead.

Sitting one stroke back were the Burnett team along with Kelly Hoeme, Mike Lebbin, Chris Lebbin and Cody Brittan.

The Buxton and Hoeme teams fell off the pace as each (See SCRAMBLE on page 23)

The Scott County Record • Page 20 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Outdoors in Kansas by Steve Gilliland

Jordan Roane of Utica (No. 3) gets spun around by Scott City driver Jared O’Dea while another Scott City driver, Alex Kough, is close behind.

(Record Photo)

Giving respect to awesome possum Popular descriptive words and phrases come and go with generations.

When I was a kid they were fairly mundane, like neat, cool or far-out. Evidently one of the recently concocted phrases of today is “awesome possum!”

The other day at work I unlocked a door to let a girl get something she needed but was having trouble finding, and she declared my efforts “awesome possum” at least four times during the couple minutes it took.

I’m always looking and listening for experiences or utterances that might make for a good column, and what outdoor writer worth his or her deer jerky could resist not doing something with the phrase “awesome possum.”

There is probably no other critter that garners as much disdain as the lowly Virginia Opossum.

They have their place in nature like every other member, but much like the turkey vulture, it’s often tough to see.

One of the nicknames given the late country singer George Jones was “the possum,” and he did kinda’ look like one.

Trappers hate to find possums in their traps; rather than killing them, my brother and I used to grab the possums by their tale and fling them as far as we could, or simply hold them at arm’s length and punt them over the nearest fence.

I guess we figured that, like a boy named Sue, if they had survived to that point, they deserved to live another day.

Surprisingly, possum fur is very soft. Much of our possum fur goes to felt plants, where it is shaved, dyed and pressed together to make felt.

(See POSSUM on page 25)

Patience to rely on strategy because he didn’t have the fastest car on the track. That distinction belonged to Matt Jones, Dighton, who had already won a heat race showdown with Pounds in which the drivers finished first and second.

The game plan for the main feature was pretty simple.

“I was just hoping to keep within contact and not let him get too big of a lead,” says Pounds.

(continued from page 19)

“He had the faster car, but you never know when someone might get hit by another car or get pushed on the berm.”

And there are also the unknown occurrences which can change any race, such as accidents or stalled vehicle. When Alex Kough’s vehicle stalled on the first curve that created an unexpected obstacle for drivers for the next 19 laps of the 20-lap feature.

That turned out to be very opportunistic for Pounds.

Jones had the lead at the start of the 17th lap with Pounds close behind.

As they came to Kough’s vehicle, Jones had to hit the brake slightly and Pounds seized that opportunity to give the Dighton driver a bump which pushed him to the outside just enough for Pounds to make his move to the inside.

That was all Pounds needed and with less than three laps remaining he was able to hold onto the lead.

“I really like racing on this track. It’s the best one I race on,” said Pounds.

He says the track is twice as long as most figure-8 tracks and because it uses a berm instead of tires to seal off the inside of the track it allows drivers a better opportunity to pass on the inside.

“The berm helps the better drivers,” says Pounds. “It allows you to plan some strategy and take a chance on the inside that you can’t do if there are tires. It makes a better race for the drivers and for the fans.”

Pounds is hopeful of picking up his third championship of the summer when he travels to Colby in another week, which he says will probably be his final race of the season.

10 deer test positive for CWD One case confirmed in Scott Co. A total of 640 deer were tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) during the 2014-15 seasons, and 10 of those were confirmed positive.

Samples were obtained from deer killed by hunters in south-central and southwest parts of Kansas and from sick and/or suspect deer observed in the eastern, north-central and northwest parts of the state.

The 10 confirmed positives included two mule deer, one from Rawlins County and one from Scott County; and eight whitetails including two from Decatur County and one from each of the following counties, Norton, Meade, Hodgeman, Pawnee, Kearny and Gray.

KDWPT Report CWD testing began in 1996 to help track the occurrence of CWD in the state’s wild deer, and nearly 25,000 tissue samples have undergone lab analysis since. The first CWD occurrence documented in a wild Kansas deer was a whitetail doe killed by a hunter in 2005 in Cheyenne County.

Most Cases in NW Ks. Seventy-four deer have tested positive since testing began, and most have occurred in northwest Kansas, specifically Decatur, Rawlins, Sheridan and Norton counties.

Although research is underway, there is currently no vaccine or other biological method of preventing CWD. The only tool is to prevent the spread of CWD to new areas.

Once the infective particle (an abnormal prion) is deposited into the environment - either through an infected carcass or from a live animal - it may exist for a decade or more, capable of infecting a healthy deer.

Despite the recent occurrences, the likelihood of finding CWD in a wild deer harvested in Kansas is small. That small likelihood decreases even more the farther from northwestern Kansas the deer live. In recent years, numerous cases of CWD have been documented in neighboring areas of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.

While CWD is fatal to infected deer and elk, humans have never been known to contract the disease. CWD is a member of the group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).

Other diseases in this

group include scrapie in sheep and goats, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) in cattle, and Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease in people.

CWD is Fatal CWD is a progressive, fatal disease that results in small holes developing in the brain, giving it a sponge-like appearance under the microscope.

Decreased brain function causes the animal to display neurological signs such as depression, droopy head, staggering, loss of appetite, and a lack of response to people.

The continuing deterioration of the brain leads to other signs such as weight loss, drooling, rough coat, and excessive thirst. Caution is advised because of unknown factors associated with prion diseases, but no human health risks have been discovered where CWD occurs.

Any sick deer or elk with signs listed above or exhibiting behaviors such as stumbling, holding the head at an odd angle, walking in circles, entangled in fences or staying near farm buildings for extended periods of time should be reported to the nearest KDWPT office or the Emporia Research Office, 620-342-0658.

Hunters can help protect the health of the Kansas deer herd and slow CWD’s spread by not introducing the disease to new areas in Kansas through disposal of deer carcass waste.

Avoid transporting a deer carcass from the area where it was taken, especially from areas where CWD has been detected.

If the carcass is transported, dispose of carcass waste by double-bagging it and taking it to a landfill. Landowners can also bury carcasses on their own property.

The Scott County Record • Page 21 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

State

(continued from page 19)

on our pitching and defense and we were pretty sound in both of those areas over the weekend.”

Rally in Semi-Finals Scott City did have to rely on some clutch hitting to rally for a 6-5 win over Cottonwood Valley in extra innings.

Cottonwood Valley had emerged as the winners of the National pool and jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings.

Scott City cut the lead to 4-2 entering their final at-bat in the sixth inning when the top of the batting order was coming to the plate.

Easton Lorg, Harrison King and Caleb Rios each delivered with consecutive doubles that scored two runs and tied the game at 5-5. Rios came around to score on a wild pitch with the go-ahead run.

The lead was short-lived when Cottonwood Valley took advantage of a fly ball lost in the sun that dropped for a hit, along with another ball that dropped in short center for a RBI single to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Cottonwood Valley had a chance to win the game with only one out and runners on second and third, but King got a huge strikeout and Rios fielded a grounder at shortstop for the final out.

That sent the game into extra innings with Sawyer Stevens leading off the seventh with a single. One out later, Carson Faurot followed with a RBI single that would be the winning run. Conner Armendariz was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base with Faurot on third, but Scott City was unable to bring either home for a couple of insurance runs.

It turned out they weren’t needed as King closed out the game with a groundout and a pair of strikeouts.

Unfortunately, with the game going an extra inning, that limited King’s availability for the

Members of the Cal Ripken state tournament championship in the 12-years and under division were (front row, from left) Loren Faurot, Carson Faurot, Easton Lorg, Conner Armendariz, Lucas Hoopes and Case Armendariz (mgr.) (Back row) Harrison King, Coach Randy King, Blaine Culp, Caleb Rios, Sawyer Stevens, Ronnie Weathers, Coach Rey Armendariz, Gabe Bowers and Coach Shane Faurot.

championship game.

Rematch With Quivira The state title game was an opportunity for Scott City to avenge an 8-7 loss in pool play to the Quivira All-Stars. Scott City scored two runs in the fifth inning and got a strong pitching performance from Rios in a 4-2 win.

Trailing 1-0 after one inning, Scott City tied the game in the top of the second inning when Blaine Culp walked and scored on a RBI single by Ronnie Weathers.

In the third inning, Lorg and King hit back-to-back singles and advanced to second and third with no outs. Rios hit a bouncer to the pitcher who made the throw to first, but Lorg was caught in a rundown between third and home to prevent a run from scoring.

With King advancing to third base during the rundown, Lucas Hoopes hit a clutch single for the go-ahead run.

Scott City gained a pair of crucial insurance runs in the fifth inning when Carson Faurot

hit a leadoff single and scored on a one-out single by Lorg.

After Lorg stole second base, he scored on a single by King that extended the lead to 4-2.

Quivira responded in their half of the fifth with a leadoff single and the runner advancing to third with one out and the top of the batting order coming to the plate. Quivira plated the runner on third with a single, but Rios was able to get the next two batters to hit into groundouts. The final out of the inning came when King fielded the ball deep in the hole at shortstop and was able to make the throw to first base, a half-step ahead of the batter which prevented another run from scoring.

In the bottom of the sixth, the first two Quivira batters were retired on groundouts.

After a walk and a stolen base put a runner on second, Rios ended the game and Scott City’s championship season with a strikeout.

King pitched the first two innings to use up the last of his eligibility on the mound

and Rios shut down Quivira with one run over the final four frames.

“Harrison was named the game’s MVP, but Caleb was the one who earned it with the game he pitched,” says King.

the bottom half of the inning.

When play resumed on Saturday, Quivira took control of the game with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. Hoopes singled to lead off the sixth inning and scored on a single by Culp. Two strikeouts 2nd in Pool Play and a fly out ended Scott City’s Scott City opened the tour- opportunity to send the game nament with a 12-2 thumping into extra innings. of Clearwater in Friday’s first round play.

Roll Over Rose Hill King (innings 1-2), Rios Scott City assured them(innings 3-4) and Lorg (fifth selves of a place in the semiinning) combined to pitch a finals with a 21-1 rout of Rose one-hitter.

Hill in a game shortened to four The second round game in innings by the mercy rule. pool play against Quivira had to It was a huge night for the be finished on Saturday due to offense, led by Gabe Bowers lightning. Scott City was lead- who was named game MVP ing 6-5 when the game was with two singles and a double, suspended. in addition to scoring three runs.

Scott City was trailing 3-2 King added three singles and when they pushed across three a double (scoring three runs), runs in the top of the second Rios was 2-of-2 with a single inning. They were able to take and double (scoring three runs) advantage of four walks and a and Carson Faurot was 2-of-2 two-run single by King that put with a pair of singles while also them on top, 5-3. scoring three runs.

Rios hit a solo home run over King and Rios each pitched the fence in the third inning and two innings and combined for Quivira answered with a run in a no-hitter.

SCOTT CITY

Cable TV Customers Is Going All DIGITAL WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

50+ high definition HD channels Improved picture quality Improved sound quality Updated guide - each TV will now have a guide Higher capacity DVR 50 free music channels Access to additional premium channels Improved parental controls TiVo is now available!

WHEN?

Throughout the month of August. Appointments will be made for 8/17, 8/24, and 8/31 depending upon your location.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Pioneer Communications will be in touch with you via letter and phone with further information.

We look forward to upgrading Scott City’s Television System!

1-800-308-7536 www.pioncomm.net

The Scott County Record • Page 22 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

TCU, Baylor favored to win Big 12 football title Big 12 media members voted on their football predictions last week and there were some surprises: neither Oklahoma nor Texas received a single vote to win the conference championship.

What a stunner.

TCU is faby vored to win Mac it all with Stevenson Baylor a close second. The Horned Frogs received an overwhelming 32 first place votes while the Bears had 10. No other team had a first place vote.

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and West Virginia were next in the early rankings, in that order.

They were followed by K-State, Texas Tech, Iowa State and KU. Some people never learn.

You would think that the media would know better than to pick Kansas State to finish so low. They’ve done that for years and haven’t learned from their mistakes.

K-State was 9-4 last season and finished third (7-2) in Big 12 play.

Admittedly the Wildcats lost a lot of talented players. Quarterback is Snyder’s biggest problem.

Late in the recruiting season, Snyder signed juco QB Jonathon Banks (6-3, 205).

His numbers are impressive. He completed 140 of 235 passes last season for 1,992 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed for 700 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading his team to nine victories.

He was chosen Offensive Player of the Year in the Northern California Football Conference.

Banks could be the answer to Snyder’s question at quarterback.

Snyder also has freshman Alex Delton, sophomore Jesse Ertz, and junior Joe Hubener who are all promising prospects. In any event, K-State is likely to have an outstanding quarterback by the time conference play begins.

KU’s spot in the cellar comes as no big surprise.

The Jayhawks were 3-9 in 2014 and lost most of their best players. Expectations have never been lower in Lawrence and that’s perfect for rookie coach David Beaty.

(See TCU on page 25)

Marshall Hutchins (second from left) is presented a $500 scholarship check by Kirby Garrison, representing the Scott Community Junior Golf Association. Hutchins is a two-time high school state qualifier and has also been a junior golf volunteer the past two summers. Looking on are his parents, Devin and Dawn Hutchins, along with many of this year’s junior golf participants and volunteers.

(Record Photo)

Zoetis donates $500 to SRC

Rey Armendariz, representing Zoetis in Scott City, recently made a $500 donation to the Scott Recreation Commission for youth programs.

KDWPT is sponsoring outdoor photo contest

PRATT - The peak of summer and start of fall can provide stunning lighting and subject matter for outdoor photographers. Whether it’s a catfish fresh out of the water, a crimson sunset over a pasture, or a whitetail peeking through a tree line, Kansas Wildlife and Parks magazine staff want to see what makes you Wild About Kansas.

Photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to submit their favorite wildlife, outdoor recreation, and landscape photos by Oct. 23.

There is no fee to enter.

Photographers can submit up to three original photos taken in Kansas. Photos must fit into one of the three categories - wildlife, outdoor recreation or landscape - and will be judged on creativity, composition, subject matter, lighting, and the overall sharpness.

Three prizes will be awarded in each category along with an honorable mention. Winners will be featured in the 2016 Kansas Wildlife and Parks January/February photo issue.

Entries must be received no later than Oct. 23.

An entry form must be submitted for each participant and can be obtained by visiting ksoutdoors.com/Services/Publications/Magazine/ Wild-About-Kansas. Photo format should be JPEG or TIFF and file size should be not less than 1mb and not more than 5mb.

For more information, visit ksoutdoors.com/ Services/Publications/Magazine/Wild-AboutKansas, or contact contest coordinator Nadia Marji at nadia.marji@ksoutdoors.com.

The Scott County Record • Page 23 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Scramble carded 59s on Sunday to finish second and third with 36-hole totals of 112 and 113, respectively.

Two foursomes had rounds of 57 on Sunday.

Stephen Prewit, Ben Spare, Chris Irvin and David Heyd combined to shoot 57-57--114 over the two days and finished fourth.

The other 57 on Sunday was shot by the team of Ryan Roberts, Shannan Roberts, Trace Herman and Rick Herman.

However, the Burnett team was untouchable on Sunday. They had pulled even with the Buxton team after carding a birdie on the first hole and took the lead to stay with another birdie on the third hole. The team had nine birdies and an eagle on their first 11 holes to take control of the tournament.

The Hoeme team had pulled to within one shot of the Buxton team for second place with just

(continued from page 19)

three holes remaining, but fell two shots off the pace with a par on the 16th hole. They followed with a birdie on 17 to again cut the lead to a single shot, but the Hoeme and Buxton teams each finished with birdies on the final hole.

Four-Way Tie There was a four-way tie for first place in the first flight with each team finishing with 119 shots.

The team of Aaron Goodman, Jason Weimer, Shane Jones and Davis Rath was at the top of the flight with a 57 after Saturday’s round, but slipped back into the pack with a 62 on Sunday.

Making the biggest move was the team of Aaron Rosin, Jacob McKenzie, Drew Chadd and Nick Kammerer who shot a 61 on Saturday and came back with a 58 on Sunday for the low round in the flight.

(Top) Team members (from left) Josh Bailey, Phil Kite, Marty Unger and Brian Gentry react to a missed birdie putt on the fourth hole during Sunday’s tournament action.

(Right) Skip Numrich (left) and Logan Numrich eye a chip shot into the third green.

(Record Photos)

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The Scott County Record • Page 24 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

horse play at the fair

Tuesday was horse day at the Scott County fairgrounds. Scenes from the day include (clockwise, from top): Awaiting the judge’s decision in the hunter under saddle competition were (left to right) Kylee Logan, Jennie Erven and Daneen Metheney.

Isaac Rowton leans into the turn during the junior barrel races on Tuesday evening.

Asher Huck competes in the senior showmanship division.

Corbin Wilkinson is all smiles after successfully catching both hind legs in a calf roping exhibition prior to the drawpot team roping on Tuesday evening.

Paige Hoelting attaches the rope to a gate in the trail competition.

(Record Photos)

TCU Beaty has a decent recruiting class coming for fall, but that isn’t the whole story. Kansas has been noncommittal about 25-35 walk-ons who will be on the team. The guess here is that KU will have close to 40 walk-ons for the 2015 season.

There’s not much difference between most highly recruited players and the youngsters who are close. Many kids in high school mature late - physically and mentally. For whatever reason, many high school players who are physically gifted never come close to their potential. That can be caused by any number of issues.

Coach Beaty and his staff have worked extra hard to find a number of the kids that have been overlooked. The recruiting carrot is the promise of a full scholarship if the player is successful on

Possum The green felt covering many pool tables is made from possum fur.

The Virginia Opossum is North America’s only marsupial, meaning that, like kangaroos, they raise and carry their young in a “marsupian” or pouch.

Baby possums exit their mothers pouch at two- to three-months-old, then ride around on her back for another couple of months.

Possums are generally placid and usually just hiss and show you a mouth full of pointed little teeth. They are not good at defending themselves and, if threatened, can fall into a sort of involuntary

The Scott County Record • Page 25 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

(continued from page 22)

and off the field.

The guess here is that up to 10 walk-ons could give KU some muchneeded depth this fall.

Kansas is in for a long season, but it might not be as lengthy as some think.

He’s a great kid and a terrific talent. People here will love him.”

Remember the Cliff Alexander situation from late last season? The NCAA never did announce a decision about that.

More NCAA Problems Here we go again with KU’s basketball team and a potential problem with the NCAA. Cheick Diallo (6-9, 220) is the Jayhawks’ top recruit. He was MVP of the McDonalds’ and Jordan Brand Classic all-star games. Diallo could well be the difference between a great team and an exceptional team.

Diallo is on KU’s campus and enrolled in summer school, but he hasn’t been cleared academically by the NCAA. Coach Bill Self said, “Hopefully that stuff will go well and everything . . . it’s great to have him here.

Gordon’s Absence The Kansas City Royals have a problem. If they lose left fielder Alex Gordon for an extended period of time it will eventually catch up with them.

Right field was an issue before Gordon suffered a severe groin pull. Alex Rios is hitting just .236 along with poor defense and a questionable attitude.

In left field, Jarrod Dyson is hitting .259 and Paulo Orlando .242. Neither is close to Gordon defensively or with the bat.

Gordon is the difference between KC having an outstanding outfield to one that’s mediocre.

(continued from page 20)

shock-like state, known as “playing possum.”

Just for the record, thinking back on all the encounters I’ve had with possums, I have never witnessed this.

Possums are omnivorous, meaning they will eat almost anything from insects, rodents and fruit, to carrion, and seem especially fond of dog food left in Rovers bowl overnight. They can adapt to living nearly anywhere they find food, water and shelter, and are perfectly at home in trees.

Their bare, boney prehensile tail helps them climb, but they cannot hang from their tail as

some traditional stories and drawings suggest.

Going through life as a possum would be a truly humbling experience, maybe something we should all have to endure for an hour or so just to put things in perspective (alright, that made a whole lot more sense when it was just a thought rattling around in my head.)

Anyway love em’ or hate em’, possums are survivors, so here’s hoping you have an “awesome possum” day, and Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

Steve can be contacted by email at stevegilliland@idkcom.net

The Scott County Record • Page 26 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Scott County Record Ricker’s award winner took him to the beach

Page 27 - Thursday, July 23, 2015

it takes creativity

Cooking was literally a day at the beach for Wyatt Ricker when preparing for this year’s Scott County Fair.

The 10-year-old 4-Her put his creativity to the test in this year’s decorated cake contest.

In the competition, entries are judged solely on appearance and their uniqueness - not taste.

Creating a scene that included Teddy Grahams sunning on the beach with umbrellas overhead and floating in the water, Ricker earned a purple ribbon.

However, he had to wait to hear about his result since he was at home with mono.

Showing the award winning cake in his place was his eightyear-old brother, Waylon.

The older Ricker couldn’t take all the credit for the beach scene. He said the idea came from a similar cake he’d seen at the fair in Eureka.

“It looked like a good idea and I thought it’d be fun to do,” says Ricker.

Waylon Ricker, 8, rests his chin on the table while the judge looks over the decorated cake that earned a purple ribbon for The foundation was a douhis brother at the Scott County Fair.

(Record Photo) ble-layered German chocolate cake that was surrounded by says Ricker. hours to prepare the decorated he crossed his fingers and “I thought it turned out pretty Kit Kat bars. The reason for The beach was made of cake entry on Sunday. hoped that it wouldn’t be too good,” admitted Ricker, who the chocolate bars around the brown sugar and blue icing He kept the cake in the refrig- hot when the cake was taken to was competing in his first decooutside was simple. formed the waves. erator overnight to prevent the the fairgrounds for judging on rated cake contest. “I’ll prob“I didn’t have to use icing,” It took Ricker about four chocolate from melting. Then Monday. ably do it again next year.”

Griffith lights it up with industrial decor Gui Griffith was looking for something unusual in the way of a lamp for his bedroom.

So the young 4-Her went antique shopping - not for a lamp, but for the parts he needed to make a lamp.

The result was a very unique project that earned Griffith a purple ribbon in the electricity division of the Scott County Fair.

“I want my (bedroom) to look like an industrial garage,” explained the 11-year-old.

In order to make a lamp that fit that theme, the young 4-Her went antique shopping for old license plates and an antique oil can. The idea came from the internet with help from his mother, Suzanne.

“My (4-H) leader said that only a mom could come up with an idea like this,” said Griffith with a laugh.

Griffith said that bending and soldering the license plates to form the “lamp shade” and attaching everything to the oil can base took less than an hour.

“It took longer to find the parts than it did to put it together,” he says.

The electrical wiring was Gui Griffith explains to electricity judge Allen Baker how he did the electrical connections for his lamp during Monday’s just as simple for the fourth consultation judging at the Scott County Fair.

(Record Photo) year 4-Her who is in his third year in the electricity project.

“I’d done wiring before, so matter-of-factly. “It was a fun Just because the Fair is over work is done. for my mom and grandma,” it wasn’t that hard,” he says project.” that doesn’t mean Griffith’s “I have to work on lamps he adds.

C-Mor-Butz BBQ Team and Catering proudly presents Stock

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Farm

The Scott County Record

Page 28 - Thursday, July 23, 2015

The long-predicted water crisis has arrived It’s not just producers and farmers who are getting hit with rising costs and growing shortages of water. When it comes to H2O, everyone better get prepared to pay more and get less.

In its long history, water has never been more precious, more controversial, more expensive or more essential to agriculture and commerce than it is

Meat of the Matter Dan Murphy contributing columnist Drovers CattleNetwork

right now.

A symbol of purity in cosmetic ads, a stand-in for quality in beer ads, the poster boy for violence and destruction during floods, hurricanes and tsunamis, water is cur-

ag briefs

FSA sign-up pasture land incentives

Beginning Sept. 1, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands.

The CRP-Grasslands initiative will provide participants who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers with annual rental payments up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land.

Cost-share assistance also is available for up to 50 percent of the covers and other practices, such as cross fencing to support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or other wildlife.

Participants may still conduct common grazing practices, produce hay, mow, or harvest for seed production, conduct fire rehabilitation, and construct firebreaks and fences.

Applications will be scored against ranking criteria and approved based on the competiveness of the offer. The ranking period will occur at least once per year and be announced at least 30 days prior to its start. The end of the first ranking period will be Nov. 20.

USDA will soon announce state-by-state allotments for the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE).

Through SAFE, also a CRP initiative, up to 400,000 acres of additional agricultural land across 37 states will be eligible for wildlife habitat restoration funding.

To learn more visit www. fsa.usda.gov/crp or consult with the local Farm Service Agency.

FSA committee deadline Aug. 3

The nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee ends Mon., August 3. The local administrative area (LAA) holding an election this year is in northwest Scott County.

“Through the county committee, the opinions of farmers and ranchers are heard on federal farm programs,” says Scott County FSA executive director Lora Wycoff.

To be eligible to serve on a county committee, a person must participate in an agency administered program, be eligible to vote in a county committee election and reside in the local administrative area where they are nominated.

A nomination form and other information about committee elections are available at www.fsa.usda.gov/elections.

rently so scarce out West that it threatens to decimate the nation’s most productive farming region (California) and cripple some of its most populous cities across the southwestern Sun Belt.

Water has even emerged as the calculus for measuring how ethical our food choices are: Hence the claim beef requires thousands of gal-

lons of water per pound to produce, while grains and legumes consume only a fraction of the amount of water that animal foods require.

So say the industry’s critics, at any rate.

The credibility of such accusations are suspect, but charges that livestock production and meat processing consume too much water have been

bolstered by the impact of a serious drought now entering its fourth year in the western U.S. In California, the drought is turning lawns brown and wreaking havoc with the state’s multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry. Even though farming has initially been exempted from the 25% reduction in water use mandated by

the state for California cities and towns, the drought is taking a serious toll on growers and farmers.

According to a recent study from the University of California-Davis, the drought will likely cost California farmers more than $2.7 billion in losses, wipe out more than 18,000 jobs and result in (See CRISIS on page 29)

Covered silage is cost-effective J.W. Schroeder Dairy Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

A reminder that despite the work, covering silage is costeffective.

When silage is not tightly covered, air and moisture can enter the silo easily and adversely affect the ensiling process and the quality of silage during storing and feeding. This creates a great potential for excessive drymatter (DM) and nutrient losses, moldy feed and other problems.

The extent of these losses in the top 2-4 feet is far greater than most people realize. Several studies at Kansas

State University reported at least a three percent loss in DM from the top three feet of silage in uncovered bunker silos, compared with bunkers covered with plastic sheeting weighted down with tires.

In a 12-foot-high by 80-foot-wide by 140-foot-long bunker, the top three feet of silage contains approximately 672 tons (as fed) of silage at a density of 40 pounds per cubic feet.

A 30 percent loss in this top three feet would equal 201.6 tons of as-fed silage. If this is corn silage, for example, and it is worth $50 per ton as-fed, the total loss would be at least $10,080.

This does not take into

account any negative effects that the top three feet of spoiled material might have on DM intake, milk production or reproduction. Nor does it consider that additional silage is lost on the sides and closed end of uncovered bunkers.

These added losses easily can amount to 2-3 percent of the total silage volume.

Assuming a two percent loss on the entire pile, an additional loss in this example would be 53.8 tons of silage worth another $2,690.

Technology is bringing more environmentally and user-friendly silage-covering products to the market each year, yet polyethylene (for example, 6-mil plastic) still

remains one of the most costeffective materials for covering silage.

After it is placed over ensiled forage, the plastic sheet must be weighted down. Tires are the most commonly used weights. They should be placed close together so they touch (about 20 to 25 tires per 100 square feet). To reduce the number of tires needed and prevent water from pooling inside the tires, they should be cut in half and placed with the open side down.

The cost of plastic is in the range of $0.115 to $0.120 per square foot, so covering an 80x140-foot bunker silo with concrete sides (includes a five (See SILAGE on page 29)

State-of-the art prairie skyscraper Standing tall above the plains, prairie skyscrapers dot the Kansas landscape. But, these local grain elevators are more than an easy location identifier.

Farmers have hauled freshly cut wheat to these businesses to sell, store and ship their grain. And farmers in central Kansas had one more choice for where to conduct their business with a brand-new Bartlett Grain shuttle-loading facility opening in Great Bend.

Grain elevators come in all sizes but fit into a few general categories. The most common in Kansas is called a country or primary elevator. These

Scott City Cooperative Wheat.................. $ 4.68 White Wheat ....... $ 4.73 Milo (bu.)............. $ 3.92 Corn.................... $ 4.12 Soybeans ........... $ 9.44 Sunflowers.......... $ 16.40 ADM Grain Wheat..................

Milo (bu.).............

Corn....................

Soybeans............

Sunflowers..........

$ 4.75 $ 4.07 $ 4.22 $ 9.44 $ 16.95

Julia Debes Kansas Wheat Commission

smaller elevators generally receive grain from farmers at harvest, but do not move it directly to mills or buyers.

Instead, grain will move from this type of facility by truck or train to a larger elevator where it will be consolidated with grain from other elevators and farmers.

The new Bartlett Grain facility in Great Bend is an elevator on that larger scale.

This shuttle-loading facility can receive grain either direct-

Weather

Market Report Closing prices on July 21, 2015 Bartlett Grain Wheat.................. $ 4.68 White Wheat ....... $ 4.73 Milo .................... $ 3.91 Corn ................... $ 4.11 Soybeans (new crop) $ 9.44

Wheat Scoop

L

July 14

93

66 1.42

July 15

89

64

July 16

94

65

July 17

96

65

July 18

91

64

July 19

90 66 .37

July 20

90 64

P .62

Moisture Totals 2015 Total

2.75 15.97

Ag Facts Popcorn’s nutritional value comes from the fact that, like other cereal grains, its primary function is to provide the body with heat and energy.

County Plat Maps

By Western Cartographers Scott • Lane • Wichita • Ness • Logan Gove • Greeley • Finney • Wallace • Kearny Pick them up today at:

406 Main • Scott City • 620 872-2090

500,000 bushel bins in addition to two 50,000 bushel bins.

Each of the facility’s 1,000 bushel capacity dump pits can move 18,000 bushels of grain an hour.

Fullerton said that he hopes to fill a couple of shuttle trains each month. To do so, the facility has a load out capacity of 60,000 bushels per hour, filling a rail car in four minutes and taking eight to ten hours to load an entire train.

In order to maximize this potential, Fullerton explained that a shuttle-loading facility must be ideally located to both receive and ship grain.

(See SKYSCRAPER on page 29)

Friendship ‘Meals to Go’

H

July

ly from farmers or buy grain from other elevators. In turn, this elevator can load grain onto a 110-car shuttle, a train that hauls grain as a single unit from origin to destination.

According to Andrew Fullerton, a Bartlett grain buyer, this means grain can be delivered at harvest to Great Bend, inspected by the Kansas Grain Inspection Service, sealed and sent to destinations as far away as Mexico without cars being unloaded or combined with other sources.

This one-stop-shop service requires more storage than a typical country elevator.

The Bartlett facility has five

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

The Scott County Record • Page 29 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Beef producers continue to support checkoff

Three out of four producers (76 percent) continue to support the Beef Checkoff Program and the more they know about the program, the more supportive they are. In addition, the number of producers who say they do not support the program, at 10 percent, is at its lowest level ever.

The random survey of 601 beef and dairy producers nationwide was

conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media and Market Research. An overwhelming majority of beef and dairy producers continue to say their beef checkoff has value for them in many ways: •81 percent of producers say the beef checkoff has helped to contribute to a positive trend in beef demand.

•71 percent of producers say the beef checkoff

Crisis the forced fallowing of more than 564,000 arable acres.

And that’s this year alone.

“This study does not address long-term costs of groundwater overdraft, such as higher pumping costs and greater water scarcity,” according to the study’s conclusions. “The socioeconomic impacts of an extended drought, in 2016 and beyond, could be much more severe.”

Richard Howitt, a professor emeritus at UC-Davis and one of the authors of the study, said the situation for farmers could get worse.

Howitt told National Public Radio that despite cuts of 60% in surface

water supplies, access to underground water has allowed farmers to compensate for at least 70% of that. He said that meant the net reduction is about eight percent of total irrigation water.

However, groundwater is now running dangerously low, especially in California’s Central Valley, the heart of the state’s farm country, an area that doesn’t have the reserves of groundwater available elsewhere.

“The impact (of the drought) is concentrated in areas that don’t have access to underground water, the Central Valley, the San Joaquin Valley,” the U-C Davis study noted.

Harland challenged fellow board members to “get out there and tell your friends and neighbors about the program.

We’ve volunteered our time to review programs here during this meeting in Denver. We had some tough decisions to make, because there are so many great programs to choose from. Now we need to go back to the country and spread the word to those

folks who weren’t here to see these programs in person.”

One of the key priorities of the working group which Harland chairs is to ‘increase the understanding of how the checkoff works . . . how (it) benefits them and their role as stakeholders,’ she notes.

For more information about the beef checkoff investment visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.

Rising Costs All Around Meanwhile, beyond the crippling shortages of rainfall and irrigation water that threaten U.S. agriculture - and ultimately, the nation’s food supply - urban residents are confronting another set of problems related not to supplies but to aging delivery systems.

As the “era of cheap water comes to an end,” said Tom Curtis, the head of government affairs for the American Water Works Association, rising costs for delivering water are poised to impact states and municipalities already struggling under budgetary constraints.

Not only farmers and producers, but virtual-

ly everyone either is or shortly will be faced with surging costs for an essential commodity which generations have taken for granted will always be available, and always be affordable.

Just go ahead and delete that expectation.

For starters, the main water lines in many older cities were installed as long as a century ago and now urgently need to be replaced. The price tag?

According to AWWA estimates, such a project would cost more than $2 trillion over the next 25 years to upgrade and expand drinking water and wastewater systems nationally.

That’s the conservative

estimate, by the way.

Meanwhile, cities across the Sun Belt are facing the prospect of future water shortages and are already spending massive amounts of money searching for additional sources of supply.

Tapping into newer aquifers and building bigger reservoirs are temporary fixes, but don’t solve the essential problem of providing sufficient water for millions of people living in what are desert landscapes.

There’s one other problem facing the majority of urban areas, both large and small: EPA rules require replacement of the dual storm-sewer and sanitarysewer systems currently

in place. Such systems overflow during storms or incidents of heavy precipitation and discharge raw sewage into surface waters.

That’s going to cost more hundreds of billions of dollars that cities and states don’t have sitting in some rainy-day account.

So guess who’s going to pay for it all? Every other resident of virtually every municipality in the country.

Water has become as critical as oil - blue is indeed the new black and it’s poised to become not only as precious but equally expensive.

Dan Murphy is a food-industry journalist and commentator

(continued from page 28)

if you should cover but what covering you should choose. While that discussion is not covered here, when all the calculations are made in this example, the total value of silage saved is far greater than the total cost of covering, providing about a 7.6-to-1 return on your investment (before the cost of disposal of the used plastic).

These results are similar to those reported by Kansas State University researchers. Plus, you have the added benefit

Skyscraper He said the Great Bend facility has easy road access to US-56, heavy axle rail access as well as consistent bushels produced, satisfactory employee pool and solid potential customer base.

The Great Bend facility joins nine other Bartlett elevators in Kansas, including shuttle-loaders in Wichita and Kansas City.

Fullerton said that while they will deliver wheat to the best desti-

information about their industries,” says Producer Communications Working Group (PCWG) Chair Jeanne Harland.

“This survey found that only five percent of producers actively seek information about their checkoff,” the LaFayette, Illinois, cow-calf producer adds.

During the summer meeting of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board,

(continued from page 28)

Silage percent overlap) would cost about $1,344.

Assuming that covering the forage takes about 25 man-hours of labor to roll the plastic and throw the tires at $12 per hour, the total labor is $300 for this pile for the year.

The initial cost of tires to cover this silo would be about $250 to $500.

If we assume an initial tire cost of $350, with the tires having a 10-year expected useful life, this amounts to $35 per year.

Your decision is not

contributes to the profitability of their operations.

•71 percent say the checkoff represents their interests.

•68 percent of producers believe the checkoff is well managed “While the survey found that the majority of producers reported seeing positive news about the checkoff, 85 percent said they only found these facts while looking for other

that your valuable animals are not exposed to the potential toxins in the spoiled silage.

I remember my dad lamenting the cost and time to put up silage, but in the same breath, he reminded me that silage was sure good feed to make milk.

Through the years, we have accepted waste as a part of doing business.

However, the dramatic increase in the costs of growing and harvesting feed and forage has

(continued from page 28)

nation, this facility is designed for exporting high quality Kansas hard red winter (HRW) wheat.

“Wheat is our plan wheat for export,” he said.

“Customers consistently recognize the quality of Kansas HRW and that is why we have facilities here in Kansas.”

For farmers, the new Bartlett facility provides another choice for where to deliver their grain - at harvest or later from on-

reduced profit margins.

Reducing spoiled silage waste is one very effective cost-reducing decision.

And while new methods and materials are on the way, employing almost any technology that reduces waste and maintains feed quality is a sound and logical enterprise decision.

The bottom line is that sealing the exposed surface is one of the most cost-effective management decisions in any silage program.

Shop at home.

Support your community.

farm storage. For international customers, this facility provides another option for originating high quality HRW directly from the center of Kansas.

“People do business with people,” Fullerton said. “We are on the same team. We are here to promote Kansas wheat and add value to this market.”

That makes this prairie skyscraper a win-win for the entire industry.

Demolition Derby at the Scott County Fair Sat., July 25 • 7:00 p.m.

807 N. Main • Scott City (620) 872-7244 • 1-800-779-7244 Store hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. • Saturday 7:00 a.m.-Noon

7

$

The Scott County Record • Page 30 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Call 872-2090 today!

Per Week

The Scott County Record Professional Directory

There’s no better way to reach your potential customers in Scott County and the surrounding areas.

Walker Plumbing, Inc.

Agriculture

Preconditioning and Growing

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

• 45 Years Experience • Managed and owned by full-time DVM • 2,000 Head capacity Office - 872-5150 • Scott City Stuart Doornbos Home - 872-2775 Cell - 874-0951

423 S. Mesquite Rd. • Scott City • 872-2130

Construction/Home Repair

Sager’s Pump Service • Irrigation • Domestic • Windmills • Submersibles

Cell: 874-4486 • Office 872-2101

ELLIS AG SERVICES • Custom Manure Conditioning • Hauling and Spreading • Custom Swathing and Baling • Rounds-Net or Twine • Gyp and Sand Sales • Custom Harvesting

Custom Steel Buildings, LLC All steel and metal building system 26 GA R-Panel and 4" R 14 insulation standard

We can build your building to meet whatever specs you may have. Call today for your free quote.

Brandon Dirks • 620-874-5083 Justin Koehn • 620-214-3550

RTRex Turley, Plumbing Master Plumber Residental and Commercial Plumbing

Water Systems, water lines, sewer cleaning faucets and fixtures, garbage diposals and more

Marienthal, Ks.

620-909-5014 (H) • 620-874-4128 (C)

SPENCER PEST CONTROL

CHAMBLESS ROOFING Residential

All Types of Roofing

Commercial

Call Brittan Ellis • 620-874-5160

Cedar Shake and Shingle Specialists Return to Craftsmanship Attention to Detail and Quality Guaranteed 620-872-2679 • 1-800-401-2683

Automotive

Dirks Earthmoving Co.

RESIDENTIAL – COMMERCIAL Termite Baiting Systems • Rodents Weed Control • Structural Insects Termite Control Box 258, Scott City • (620) 872-2870

Precision Land Forming of terraces and waterways; feed lot pens and ponds; building site preparation; lazer equipped

Richard Dirks • Scott City, Ks. (Home) 872-3057 • 877-872-3057 (Cell) 872-1793

Medical

Landscaping • Lawn/Trees

Berning Tree Service David Berning • Marienthal

620-379-4430

Tree Trimming and Removal Hedge and Evergreen Trimming Stump Removal

Fully Insured

Contact:

SCOT AYTES • 874-1646

Red

Specializing in

all coatings t Paint i or any other color

Paint inside and out residential, commercial, and industrial.

Free estimates and 16 plus years of experience.

PC Painting, Inc. Paul Cramer 620-290-2410 620-872-8910 www.pcpaintinginc.com

Pro Ex II

Over 20 Years Experience

Professional Extermination Commercial & Residential

• Termites • Rodents • Soil Sterilization • Pre Treats • Lawn Care • Fly Parasites

John Kropp, Owner • Scott City 874-2023 (cell) • 872-3400 (office) • prox2@live.com

Charles Purma II D.D.S. P.A. General Dentistry, Cosmetics, and Insurance Accepted

We welcome new patients.

324 N. Main • Scott City • 872-2389 Residence 872-5933

Pro Health Chiropractic Wellness Center (Scott City Chiropractic) “TLC”...

Technology Lead Chiropractic

Dr. James Yager 110 W. 4th St. • Scott City • 872-2310 Toll Free: 800-203-9606

$

7

The Scott County Record • Page 31 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Call 872-2090 today!

Per Week

Professional Directory Continued

Horizon Health

Services

For your home medical supply and equipment needs!

We service and repair all that we sell.

1602 S. Main • Scott City • 872-2232 Toll Free : 1-866-672-2232

Berning Auction “Don’t Trust Your Auction to Just Anyone”

For all your auction needs call:

(620) 375-4130

Dr. Jeffrey A. Heyd

Russell Berning Box Q • Leoti

Optometrist 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

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

CHS - M&M CO-OP, Yuma, Colo., is seeking a qualified general manager.

This is a multi-location grain shuttle, energy and LLC agronomy cooperative with sales of $150 million. Successful agricultural business management experience desired.

To apply: http://tinyurl. com/p3lnvqx. For more info contact Larry Fuller, 701-220-9775 or e-mail larry.fuller@chsinc.com ––––––––––––––––––––– LIFE AGENTS wanted. Earn $500 a day.

Great agent benefits.

Commissions paid daily.

Liberal underwriting.

Leads. Leads. Leads. Life insurance license required.

Call 1-888-713-6020.

––––––––––––––––––––– C O N T R A C T SALESPERSON selling aerial photography of farms on commission basis. $4,225 first month guarantee. $1,500-$3,000 weekly proven earnings.

Travel required. More info at msphotosd.com or 877/882-3566.

NO EXPERIENCE? Some or lots of experience? Let’s talk. We support every driver, every day, every mile.

Call Central Refrigerated Home (888) 670-0392. www.

CentralTruckDrivingJobs. com.

––––––––––––––––––––– BUTLER TRANSPORT. Your partner in excellence. Drivers needed.

Great hometime. $650 sign-on bonus. All miles paid. 1-800-528-7825. www.butlertransport.com.

––––––––––––––––––––– CDL A or B DRIVERS to transfer vehicles from local customers and body plants to various locations throughout U.S. No forced dispatch. Safety incentives. No freight to handle.

We specialize in reducing your deadhead. Apply online at www.mamotransportation.com under Careers or call 1-800-5013783.

Homes 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

ES N JO UB S CL B Driving M A L

for the PURPLE!

Retail

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

CLAYTON HOMES. National open house. Your first year utilities are on us up to $3,000. Down payments reduced for limited time. Lenders offering $0 down for land owners.

Special gov’t programs for modular homes. 866-8586862.

Construction

For Sale S T O R A G E CONTAINERS. 20 ft., 40 ft., 45 ft., 48 ft. and 53 ft. centralcontainer.net or 785-655-9430.

––––––––––––––––––––– ALL NEW. Happy Jack DuraSpot. Kills and repels fleas, ticks and larvae.

Repels mites, lice and mosquitoes.

Contains Nylar IGR. Orschlen Farm & Home. www.happyjackinc.com.

ROCK SOLID. Sentinel all-steel buildings. Great service and selection.

High quality. Value priced.

Get the building you’ve dreamed about. Sentinel Building Systems, 800327-0790. www.sentinelbuildings.com.

Get an on-line subscription for your college student

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!

Mon. - Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

402 S. Main, Scott City • 872-1300

Brent Rogers

Sales Consultant b.rogers@officesolutionsinc.biz

Office (620) 276-3131 Toll Free 1-800-794-9052 Cell (620) 874-0014 Fax (620) 276-8876 1007 N. 8th, Garden City, KS 67846 www.officesolutionsinc.biz

Northend Disposal A garbologist company.

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

All Under One Roof

Revcom Electronics

Your RadioShack Dealer Two-way Radio Sales & Service Locally owned and operated since 1990

1104 Main • Scott City • 872-2625

Dining Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

www.reganjewelers.com

412 N. Main • Garden City • 620-275-5142 Support your hometown merchants who back your school and community activities throughout the year!

Classifieds

The Scott County Record • Page 32 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

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.

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.

Pine Village Apartments 300 E. Nonnamaker

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.

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Al-Anon at same time and location.

Contact: 874-0472 or 872-3137. 30t52

Why Rent?

When you can own your own home!

Nice 3-bedroom on corner lot with large double

garage. Price Reduced to $79,500.

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

NEW LISTINGS

2-bedroom, 1 1/4 story, with 2 bedrooms in

basement and detached garage. Now $39,000.

Very Nice East location

brick with 2 + 1 bedroom, 4 bath, 2-car garage.

Underground sprinklers.

Great Central Location

Brick with 2 + 1 bedroom,

1 3/4 bath, single-attached garage.

Let us build you a new home!

Thomas Real Estate

www.thomasreal-estate.com

914 W. 12th Scott City, Ks. 67871 (620)-872-7396 Cell: (620)-874-1753 or Cell: (620)-874-5002

Rentals

Real Estate

For Sale

HIDE AND SEEK STORAGE SYSTEMS. Various sizes available. Virgil and LeAnn Kuntz, (620)874-2120.

41tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– ALL BILLS PAID VALUE RENTALS, 2-3 bedroom houses available.

Stop by PlainJan’s to pick up an application or call 43tfc 620-872-5777.

––––––––––––––––––––– PLAINJAN’S WILL HAVE 30 X 50 metal insulated shop for rent, building will include electricity $350 per month.

Reserve yours today, call 39tfc 620-872-5777.

––––––––––––––––––––– 1 AND 2 BEDROOM apartments for rent. Please call 620-874-8353. 39tfc

COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS for sale.

40x60 ft. metal shop building and a 133x45 ft. (approx.) round top building. Serious inquiries only.

Seller is a real estate agent selling own property. 87426tfc 5109 or 874-2124.

BED FRAME. Head and foot boards, rails and slats for a full-sized bed. $50.

50t1p 872-3378.

Help Wanted

SILAGE TRUCK DRIVER needed through fall harvest. Travel mandatory. Pay based on experience. Potential for position to work into year-round employment. Call 78550t3p 672-8469.

––––––––––––––––––––– USD 466 NEEDS substitute route bus drivers. For applications and additional information contact Lance ––––––––––––––––––––– Carter at 620-872-7655.

VERY NICE one bed02tfc room apartment for rent. ––––––––––––––––––––– Has washer, dryer, refrig- TEMPORARY CLERK/ erator, stove and central SCALE help for Cargill air. Call 620-214-0803.

Cattle Feeders, Leoti.

48t3p Duties will include operation of the scales and samServices pling the trucks for silage and HMC harvest. Must WANTED: Yards to mow be 18 years of age or older. and clean up, etc. Trim If interested please call smaller trees and bushes 620-375-3105 and talk to too. Call Dean Riedl, Linda or pick up an appli(620) 872-5112 or 874cation eight miles north of 34tfc 4135.

Leoti on Hwy., 25.

45t11c ––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––– METAL ROOFING, SILAGE TRUCK DIVSIDING and TRIMS at ER needed. 1994 Peterbilt direct-to-the-public pric- with 32’ end dump, CDL es. Call Metal King Mfg., required, in Scott City and 620-872-5464. Our prices Leoti area. Call 620-874will not be beat!

37tfc 8101.

49t6p ––––––––––––––––––––– 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

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.

44tfc 397-5341.

––––––––––––––––––––– FOR SALE BLACK ANGUS BULLS, registered, tested, 2 year olds, yearlings, heifer bulls, delivery, conformation, performance. Contact: Black Velvet Ranch, Aaron Plunkett, Syracuse, Ks., 62033t19c 384-1101.

––––––––––––––––––––– LOOKING TO RENT pasture or farm ground to rent within 35 miles of Oakley. Please call Jim Porter 785-672-0393. 48t3c

The Scott County Record • Page 33 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Employment Opportunities SEEKING BIDS

CUSTODIAN

The City of Scott City is accepting bids for a copier in City Hall. Specifications may be picked up at City Hall.

Sealed bids marked “Copier Bid” must be received in City Hall, 221 W. 5th St. no later than 5:00 p.m., on Monday, July 20.

First Baptist Church is seeking a custodial employee. This position is a 32-40 hour position with some weekend and evening requirements.

Qualified applicants will have general building maintenance knowledge and skills, as well as being a person of trustworthy character.

Applications may be picked up from the church office, 803 S. College, Scott City or from the church website www.fbcscott.com To be considered for interview, applications should be submitted to the church office by July 29.

The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

MAINTENANCE WORKER 48t2c

CARRIER ASSOCIATE Scott City Post Office is now hiring a Postal Carrier Associate.

Duties may include: Sorts mail in delivery sequence for the assigned route, loads mail in vehicle, delivers mail to customers along a prescribed/regular schedule route.

Contact the Postmaster at 620-872-2650 for more information.

Applicants must apply on-line at www.usps.com/employment PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 49t1c

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR The Scott Recreation Commission is seeking applications for a part-time or full-time Assistant Sports Director position.

The position is responsible for developing, organizing, and running the programs of the commission, have the ability to assist in preparing the budget, direct the selection, training and work of all recreation personnel, and the maintenance, repairs at the sports complex and soccer fields.

Salary will be based on qualifications and experience.

Send cover letter, resume and references to: Scott Recreation Commission 823 S. Main, Scott City, Ks. 67871 or e-mail to scottrec@wbsnet.org

49tfc

The City of Scott City is accepting applications for a maintenance worker in the street, water and sewer department.

Benefits include: BC/BS, vacation and sick leave.

Applications may be obtained at City Hall, 221 W. 5th St. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

EOE Employer

48tfc

PARK LANE NURSING HOME Has openings for the following positions: Part-time/RN/LPN Part-time/CNA/CMA Shift differential pay offered for evening and night shifts!

Please apply in person at:

Park Lane Nursing Home

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-Professionals in the elementary, middle and high school. Scott Community High School is also in need of an ESL ParaProfessional. All positions work with students.

The positions are available for the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.

For more information and applications please contact: Susan Carter Board of Education Building 704 College, Scott City, KS 67871

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SCOTT COUNTY HOSPITAL HAS OPENINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS

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

49t2c

50tfc

PATIENT CARE Acute Care RNs Physical Therapist Respiratory Therapist C.N.A.s - FT and PT Float RN Emergency Department RN Outreach/Specialty Clinic RN CLERICAL Risk Manager Clinic Insurance Billing Clerk SERVICE Cook 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.

50tfc

The Scott County Record • Page 34 • Thursday, July 23, 2015

Steve Fenster (left) is presented an award by Larry Ruthi, Dodge City meteorologist, in recognition of 35 years of weather record keeping in Lane County.

NWS recognizes Fensters for 35 years of weather observation

Cooperative weather observers Steve Fenster and his wife Lois, both of Healy, were presented with a 35-year length of service award on behalf of the National Weather Service.

Steve is the primary observer and Lois is his backup. Presenting the award was Larry Ruthi, meteorologist-in-charge for the National Weather Service in Dodge City. Also representing the National Weather Service were Jeff Hutton, meteorologist, and Jesse Lee, observing program leader.

The Fensters have been recording temperature, precipitation and snowfall data since 1980.

The Healy station has been in the family since 1901. Lois’s grandfather, Herlan Stewart Jennison, was the first observer.

The station was originally located near Farnsworth, about five miles northeast of Healy.

The NWS’s cooperative weather observer program has given scientists and researchers continuous observational data since the program’s inception more than a century ago. Today, nearly 10,000 volunteer observers participate in the nationwide program to provide daily reports on temperature, precipitation and other weather factors such as snow depth, river levels and soil temperature.

“Satellites, high-speed computers, mathematical models and other technological breakthroughs have brought great benefits in terms of better forecasts and warnings.

“But without the century-long accumulation of accurate weather observations taken by dedicated volunteer observers, scientists could not begin to adequately describe the climate of the United States,” emphasized Ruthi.

Have questions about the Scott Community Foundation? call 872-3790