December 5, 2013

The Scott City Elementary School Kids’ Choir performs at a Christmas concert on Thursday

32 Pages • Four Sections

Volume 21 • Number 17

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Published in Scott City, Ks.

$1 single copy

Searching for suspect in robbery at Heartland

Christmas wish list

The search is still on for a Hispanic male who robbed the south location of Heartland Foods in Scott City on Tues., Nov. 26.

According to Scott City Police Chief Chris Jurgens a suspect with a Garden City address, who is in his mid-20s, has been identified.

“Finney County has warrants on the man. Our warrants are still pending,” he said.

The incident occurred at 9:40 p.m., shortly before closing time, when a cashier was putting cash receipts into the safe that is located between the two doors at the main entrance.

The suspect, who was not wearing anything to conceal his identity, entered the store and “flashed a gun at the clerk” who was putting money into the safe.

“We don’t know if it was a real gun,” Jurgens said.

That didn’t prevent two female cashiers from trying to stop the individual as he tried to leave the store.

One of the women was struck in the head, but she wasn’t seriously injured.

Four-year-old Bretton Thomas, Scott City, wasn’t taking any chances as he presented Santa with a written wish list during Santa’s visit to the community on Saturday afternoon.

(Record Photo)

(See ROBBERY on page two)

Former SCH may still get another chance There may be a future for the former Scott County Hospital that doesn’t include being a haunted house again next Halloween.

For more than a year, Chris Lund has been floating the idea of converting the building into temporary apartments for women who are making the transition from City on a Hill drug and alcohol treatment center near Marienthal, or from other similar programs in the state.

Of course, the big obstacle has been money for renovation

County hears City on a Hill proposal of the old hospital and day-today operating costs.

The City on a Hill director presented county commissioners with his most detailed proposal to date which prompted Commission Chairman Jim Minnix to express interest in the plan.

“It has possibilities,” acknowledged Minnix during Tuesday’s meeting, “but

it’s something I need to think about.”

Lund’s proposal requires several funding proposals to fall into place. He is in the process of applying for a USDA Neighborhood Revitalization loan for $350,000 to $400,000 that would be processed through Security State Bank. He is also seeking one-time funding of $50,000 through Scott

provide 10-14 jobs. If the center expands into the clinic and provides health care, Lund projects the need for another 10-12 employees.

Once renovation of the former hospital is complete, Lund says the treatment center would be self-supporting through reimbursement from Medicaid, private health insurance and state funding.

City’s sales tax grant program, $60,000 from the county, another $30,000 through the Scott Community Foundation, along with additional grants.

He estimates start-up costs at $545,000. Of that, $300,000 would be earmarked for remodeling and the remaining $245,000 would meet initial ex- Reintegration Services penses (payroll, insurance, etc.)

City on a Hill is the only The treatment center would (See PROPOSAL on page two)

Technology gets a big push with grants

Freddy Francis practices the alphabet on an iPad mini that was purchased for local pre-schoolers through the Foundation grant program. Kaine Unruh (background) works on one during Monday’s open house. (Record Photo)

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

Ag Mechanics team is first at FFA district contest page 9

The benefits of technology - from the classroom to the library - were on display for those attending the Scott Community Foundation’s grant open house on Monday.

Students from Scott Community High School were demonstrating how they use iPads in the debate program while pre-schoolers were using iPad minis to learn their letters and numbers.

And if you’re needing to have copies made of stories that appear in old newspapers or other documents on file at the Scott County Library, the job has been made much easier with the new Flip Pal scanner.

They were just some of the projects that were funded by $30,000 in grants awarded to 15 local organizations

406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com Opinion • Pages 4-5 Calendar • Page 7 Youth/Education • Page 9 LEC report • Page 10 Health • Pages 12-13

Deaths • Page 14 Sports • Pages 17-24 Christmas • Page 25/32 Farm section • Pages 26-27 Classified ads • Pages 29-31

during the past year by the SCF. “This is a chance for the community to see some of the benefits of Foundation grants and hopefully encourage others to make application for grants next year,” says Foundation Director Ryan Roberts.

The Scott County Library was able to purchase a Flip Pal scanner and three touch screen laptops that will be going into the new Teen Tech Cafe´ which will be opening in January.

The scanner has proven invaluable in duplicating articles from sensitive documents without the risk of damage.

“It’s an inexpensive solution to what seemed a difficult problem,” noted staff member Stephanie Fisher.

(See GRANTS on page eight)

Beavers will open season in Southwest Classic Page 17

The Scott County Record • Page 2 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

County okays revitalization program waiver Scott County Commissioners have given a local business owner permission to participate in the Neighborhood Revitalization Program even though the deadline for sign-up has passed.

Leanne Hunt, owner of Gene’s Appliance in Scott City, asked the commission to allow her to participate in the property tax rebate program because she wasn’t aware that it existed. Under the NRP, an individual who makes structural improvements

of at least $40,000 to residential or commercial property may request property tax rebates.

Hunt says the cost of the work was in excess of $60,000 and her tax bill showed an increase in appraised value of $47,780 - which would have met the NRP threshold. A note with the tax bill informed Hunt that she would have been eligible for the tax rebate program had she applied.

Applications to participate

Proposal

(continued from page one)

treatment center for women located in Western Kansas and one of only two in the state.

Operated by Chris and Tammy Lund on a farm near Marienthal, the facility offers a 90-day treatment program. However, the Lunds have been wanting to offer a second level of treatment for women after they leave City on a Hill and are trying to reintegrate into normal life, either through work or continuing their education.

“Too often, they go from here right back into the same environment that created most of their problems to begin with,” says Lund.

A second phase that’s envisioned by the Lunds would provide not only a place for the women, but their children as well, while they continue their rehabilitation. The transition process would require a place for them to stay for another 3-6 months.

While Lund has been approaching state and county officials with his idea for more than a year, it was only recently that

he was encouraged by representatives with the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in Topeka who asked about the status of his reintegration project.

“They agree that Western Kansas is underserved with respect to mental health services and substance abuse treatment,” Lund told the commission. “Only about 10 percent of the funding for those programs makes it out west.”

Lund feels the success of City on a Hill has caught the attention of state officials.

“While they were cutting budgets for other programs around the state they doubled our funding,” he noted. “We’ve gone from a facility that hardly anyone had heard about to one of the top treatment programs in Kansas.”

The Proposal Lund’s plans call for remodeling the west side of the hospital into a 20-bed residential unit that would accommodate women and their children.

must be filed within a year after construction has begun.

“I was not aware of the program until last week when I got the tax statement in the mail,” she advised the commission.

“I found out that when you get the building permit (from City Hall) that’s when you are made aware of the program.”

Hunt said she didn’t receive any paperwork from City Hall and wasn’t informed of the program.

Medicaid funding is available for the women ranging from $30-$66 per day while funding for children is between $30$44 per day.

Based on an average rate of $42 and full occupancy of 20 beds, Lund estimates revenue at $306,000.

A daycare center would be incorporated into the facility and could provide up to another $78,000 in revenue, according to Lund’s figures.

When asked if there was enough demand to fill 20 beds in the reintegration facility, Lund was optimistic. He said there are not enough beds in Kansas to meet the needs of women going through treatment programs.

In addition, many women who complete the 90-day program at City on a Hill would be eligible to continue their treatment at the proposed Scott City site.

“This would meet the rehab needs of those women who meet certain criteria,” emphasizes Lund. “It’s going to be a privilege to be admitted to

“This is about the third time that this has happened,” noted Commissioner Jerry Buxton, referring to requests to participate in the NRP rebate after the deadline has passed.

“There are people who don’t know about it or understand it,” said Minnix.

In order to address the issue of belated participants in the program, the staff at City Hall has been providing a written explanation of the NRP when it

issues building permits. Since that has begun, County Clerk Pam Faurot says it seems to have addressed the issue of late applications.

Underestimated Project So, how did this one slip through the cracks?

When the original building permit was acquired at City Hall on April 10, 2012, by Leanne’s husband, Bart, it listed the cost (See WAIVER on page eight)

Robbery this program. It’s not for everyone.”

Lund was offered the possibility of utilizing the clinic to provide health care not only for the women and children using the facility, but also being available to the community.

“I don’t think a community can have too many health care services,” Lund said. “That’s what the clinic was designed for.”

Minnix said the county was “looking at other options” for the clinic. Lund said that wasn’t a dealbreaker.

“Our main focus is the hospital,” he said.

Lund feels the proposal is one that will provide economic benefit to the community and serve a need in Kansas. After more than a year of discussion, he also feels the level of state support and other budget numbers show that the facility can be self-sustaining.

“I’m a lot more confident about funding today than I was 13 or 14 months ago,” he adds.

(continued from page one)

“He ran out of the store without his shoes,” says Jurgens. “The last anyone saw of him he was running down the alley behind Alco.”

One of the cashiers recognized the man who had been in the store previously with another woman that they knew. After contacting the acquaintance and providing her a description of the individual, police were able to figure out his identity.

What’s for Lunch in Scott City?

Sun. - Sat., Dec. 8-14

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 p.m.-10:00 p.m.

Tues. • Open faced prime rib sandwich with fries, $10.95

Wed. • French dip sandwich with french fries, $6.95 Thurs. • Fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy, $6.95 Fri. • Pork burrito with rice and beans, $6.95

What’s for Supper?

The Broiler

1211 Main • 872-3215

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

• Chili Cheese Dog • 1/4 lb Cheeseburger • 3 Piece Chicken Strips

Includes Fries, 21 oz. Drink and Small Sundae

102 Main St. • 872-5055 1304 S. Main • 872-5301

6

$

Mon. • Sat. 5:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Sun. • 5:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Mon.• Chicken fry

49

Buffet

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

Tues.• Hamburger steak with mushrooms and onions Wed.• Fried chicken Thurs.• Mountain oysters Fri.• Seafood specials Sat. • Prime rib

Breakfast specials every night.

The Scott County Record

Community Living

Page 3 - Thursday, December 5, 2013

Things get poppin’ with first KAN program Did you realize that popcorn is a healthy whole grain snack that is very filling while low on calories?

What a perfect snack to help control the overeating this holiday season.

That’s just one more reason to attend the first Knowledge at Noon program of the winter which will be about . . . you guessed it . . . popcorn.

The program will be held on Tues., Dec. 10, starting at 12:05 p.m., at the Bryan Conference Center, downtown Scott

City. Programs are done by 1:00 p.m. so those attending can return to work.

I will show how to switch up the flavor of popcorn while keeping the fat to a minimum. So bring your lunch (if you want), I will provide the drink and I will show you

Recipe favorites . . .

Pumpkin Rice Pudding

This tastes like pumpkin pie and makes a really great breakfast dish. Try it with cooked brown rice and substitute dried cranberries for the raisins, if desired.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 55 minutes Ingredients 2 quarts water 1 cup Arborio rice 4 cups skim milk 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise 1 pinch salt 1/3 cup white sugar 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup raisins ground cinnamon, for garnish Directions Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat and add the rice. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, for 7 minutes; drain well.

Using the same saucepan, bring the milk to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the rice, vanilla bean, and salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the rice is very soft and absorbs most of the milk, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, discard the vanilla bean, and stir in the sugar.

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 2 quart baking dish.

Pour half of the rice pudding mixture into a large bowl.

Add the pumpkin puree, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and ground nutmeg. Spoon the pumpkin rice pudding into the prepared baking dish. Mix the raisins into the remaining rice pudding mixture, and spoon it over the pumpkin rice pudding.

Bake, uncovered until firm, about 30 minutes. Serve warm, sprinkled with cinnamon if desired.

Cook’s note: You can substitute 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for the vanilla bean. Stir it into the cooked rice pudding.

how to make some yummy popcorn seasonings and flavors that will make excellent homemade Christmas gifts.

RSVP by Monday at 5:00 p.m. so adequate supplies will be available.

Whole Grain Benefits

According to the USDA’s Myplate program, eating whole grains may reduce the risk of heart disease and constipation in addition to helping with weight management.

Grains are also important sources of several nu-

Save money by having food do double duty

Throwing away food is the same as throwing away money, says a Kansas State University specialist.

“Using leftovers can help to pare down overall food costs and save time in the kitchen,” says Mary Higgins, Kansas State University Extension nutrition specialist.

Refrigerate leftover perishable foods within two hours and make a plan to use the leftovers promptly (usually within three days or less), or freeze them for use in future meals, said Higgins, who offered these examples: •Use leftover cheese cubes for grilled cheese sandwiches, and leftover dip as a sandwich spread rather than the usual mustard or mayonnaise.

•Cut leftover fruit into chunks and stir into flavored yogurt for a salad or dessert.

•Heat leftover rice, chopped leftover fresh vegetable sticks, and leftover chunks of turkey, ham or beef for a quick and easy stir-fry dinner.

•Crumble broken chips to garnish soups or chili, or crush and use them as a topping for a vegetable or main-dish casserole.

trients. B vitamins which include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and folate are found in whole grains.

You also get minerals such as iron, magnesium and selenium as well as dietary fiber.

The B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin and niacin play a key role in metabolism. In other words, they help the body release energy from protein, fat and carbohydrates. B vitamins are also essential for a healthy nervous system.

Many refined grains are

enriched with these B vitamins.

Folate (folic acid), another B vitamin, helps the body form red blood cells.

Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant should consume adequate folate from foods, and in addition 400 mcg of synthetic folic acid from fortified foods or supplements.

This reduces the risk of neural tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during fetal development.

Iron is used to carry oxygen in the blood. Many

teenage girls and women in their childbearing years have iron-deficiency anemia. They should eat foods high in heme-iron (meats) or eat other iron containing foods along with foods rich in vitamin C, which can improve absorption of non-heme iron.

Whole and enriched refined grain products are major sources of nonheme iron in American diets. Whole grains are sources of magnesium and selenium.

(See POPPIN’ on page seven)

The Scott County Record

Editorial/Opinion

Page 4 - Thursday, December 5, 2013

editorially speaking

Former SCH:

City on a Hill proposal is worthy of consideration

Credit Chris Lund for being persistent.

For more than a year the City on a Hill director has been trying to sell the idea of locating a reintegration center - a sort of halfway house - in the former Scott County Hospital.

His latest proposal, which includes a little more financial detail, does offer some interesting possibilities, as Commission Chairman Jim Minnix noted.

•It would make use of a major building in the community and save taxpayers the cost of demolition.

•It would create employment opportunities (10-14 jobs by Lund’s count).

•And it would provide a means of helping the female victims of drug/alcohol abuse and their families.

Those benefits are difficult to argue against.

Of course, money has been an issue during the past year and it continues to be. Lund is counting on the state, through Medicaid reimbursement, to fund the center’s operating costs once it is up and running. Given the uncertainty that surrounds state funding, Lund is taking the “faith-based” aspect of the treatment program to another level.

Lund is also hoping for about $195,000 in onetime funding from local government units and agencies to cover start-up costs.

Obviously a lot of pieces must fall into place for the reintegration program to happen. But Lund has provided an alternative to demolition that is worth consideration.

Slow and steady:

Sometimes the ‘bust’ is worse than the ‘boom’

For every boom there’s a bust.

It’s happened with the stock market, the housing market and farmland values.

Now you can add the oil boom in south-central Kansas to that list.

The Mississippi Lime Play isn’t providing the long-term economic boom that businesses, individuals and government entities in the Harper and Anthony area anticipated. Even the state budget, which had counted on more revenue from oil and other related activity in the region, has taken a hit.

Even though Shell Oil cautioned people not to build because of their interest in the area that didn’t prevent many from getting caught up in the oil boom hype.

Additional motels were built, along with apartment complexes. Now local individuals and developers must figure out what to do since they’ve overbuilt for the normal demand for housing in their communities.

No one wants to miss the gold ring when it passes by. Unfortunately, when there’s an opportunity for high reward it is often accompanied with high risk.

While there were undoubtedly some “winners” during the south-central Kansas oil boom, it’s equally apparent there will be some losers. It’s a lingering impact that they will have to live with for years to come.

It’s also a cautionary tale that any community can learn from.

Everyone wants to see growth in their community and it’s critical that local units of government and other key individuals (developers, financial institutions, etc.) be prepared to react quickly when those opportunities arrive. But, we are all better served when we take a long-term view of growth and take every step to make sure that we don’t get busted tomorrow by today’s boom.

Slow and steady isn’t always a bad strategy.

SC Foundation:

Grant program is another way we can help ourselves

The recent grant open house sponsored by the Scott Community Foundation was another reminder of how fortunate this community is.

During the past year, the SCF awarded $30,000 in grants to local organizations. Since 2000, the Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in grants.

That’s a pretty remarkable achievement.

The grants - ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars - enhance educational opportunities for our young people and, in general, continue to make Scott County a better place to live.

Grant programs such as this reinforce the Foundation’s role in helping us to help ourselves.

Who has time to wait for the facts?

A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. - Winston Churchill * * * With Churchill’s quote in mind, one would think that Republican lawmakers and Fox News commentators would eventually tire of being caught with their pants around their ankles.

Earlier this week Speaker of the House John Boehner couldn’t wait to tell the latest Obamacare horror story about a New York resident who claimed the government refused to insure children under two-yearsold. Cornelius Kelly had been making the rightwing media circuit of the New York Post and Fox News telling how government officials refused to allow him to include his 18-month-old child on the family’s health insurance plan with his other three children. And Boehner had to add a tweet about the ordeal.

Of course, no one bothered to get the facts.

It was discovered that

the father, a former rightwing candidate for political office, had submitted paperwork to enroll in Obamacare, but only listed three children. He apparently forgot that he had a fourth child which is a mistake anyone could make.

The problem had actually been corrected by government employees assisting with the health care sign-up even before Kelly began making the talk show circuit, but that didn’t stop him from telling his story.

There has still been no apology from Boehner or Fox News.

Unfortunately, this just wasn’t a mistake. It’s a pattern.

During the past week, amid Rush Limbaugh’s rantings that Pope Francis is a Marxist (for right-wingers, we’re not referring to Groucho), conservatives have been

feeding rumors that the U.S. is closing its embassy at the Vatican.

Rather than find out if there was any truth to the rumor, Jeb Bush (allegedly the smart brother) tweeted: “Hopefully, it is not retribution for Catholic organizations opposing Obamacare.”

Yes, we’re taking retribution to the Vatican City.

The State Department isn’t closing the Embassy, but is relocating it. Once the move is complete, the embassy will actually be closer to the Vatican. The move will save money and create better security.

Jeb didn’t bother to tweet those facts.

And therein lies the problem.

Fox News and the host of right-wing news organizations, along with far too many conservative politicians, aren’t about to let the facts get in the way of a half-baked story that will fire up their base.

When people get cancellation notices about health insurance policies, we agree that it’s cause for concern. But before jumping on the dump Obam-

acare bandwagon as it’s careening over a cliff, is it asking too much for Sen. Pat Roberts, Congressman Tim Huelskamp and others on the right to ask a few questions before ranting?

It’s been learned in the weeks since cancellation notices began arriving in the mail that many of these policyholders could find coverage options that were as cheap or cheaper through Obamacare - that many of these people could even get better health insurance plans.

Obamacare isn’t perfect, but it’s a start. Given the opportunity to work it offers tens of millions of Americans better health care options than they will ever have under the current system.

You won’t hear that on Fox News because stories about individuals who can no longer be turned down for insurance due to preexisting conditions isn’t exciting stuff, unless you happen to be that individual.

You can’t get the radical base fired up by tell(See FACTS on page six)

GOPs impoverished agenda

What are Republicans for?

We know they are against health-care reform.

They voted en masse against it, shut down the government to stop it and have voted nearly 50 times to defund it.

We know they are against government spending. They have voted for House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s draconian budgets, which would slash spending so deeply that even some Republicans are in increasingly open revolt.

But those budgets don’t go anywhere.

So what do Republicans propose that actually addresses the challenges facing the nation or its people?

Republican leaders are clearly concerned that their policy house is largely vacant. In his dis-

Where to Write

another view by Katrina vanden Heuvel

section of the lost 2012 campaign, Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus noted that Republicans suffer a “major deficiency” - the “perception that the GOP does not care about people.”

He urged a renewed effort to become “the champion of those who seek to climb the economic ladder.”

All that advice was lost in the anti-Obama venom that unifies Republicans.

But after the government shutdown sent Republican poll numbers plummeting to new depths, a new effort - or at least a new public relations push - has been launched.

The early reports make the administration’s

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

botched health-care takeoff look smooth by comparison.

Politico noted that Republicans trooping into House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s office received a paper titled “Agenda 2014.” The paper was blank.

As of now, details are scant, but Republicans seem to be focused more on identifying the problems than the solutions.

“The beginning should always be what are the problems we’re trying to fix,” said Republican policy chair James Lankford (Okla). Or as a GOP aide involved in the planning sessions was quoted: “Cantor wants to take us in a new direction, which is good. The problem is that we don’t know where we are headed, and we don’t know what we can sell to our members.”

Sen. Pat Roberts 109 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

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

Luckily, Cantor isn’t the only game in town.

The Washington Post published an adoring article on Ryan, Mitt Romney’s former runningmate. The Post reported that Ryan and his staff have been “quietly” visiting “innercity neighborhoods” and conservative think tanks, looking for creative ways to address poverty that can replace the “bureaucratic top-down anti-poverty programs” that Ryan’s budget would gut.

But the new ideas can’t include any new taxes or new spending - Ryan is staunchly against both.

That doesn’t leave much.

According to The Post, “his idea of a war on poverty so far relies heavily on promoting volunteerism and encouraging work through existing federal programs, including the tax code.”

(See AGENDA on page six)

Sen. Jerry Moran 141 Hart Senate Office Bldg.

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

Fast food giants feast on taxpayer subsidies

The Scott County Record • Page 5 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

by Sarah Anderson

The fast food industry is notorious for handing out lean paychecks to their burger flippers and fat ones to their CEOs. What’s less well-known is that taxpayers are actually subsidizing fast food incomes at both the bottom - and top - of the industry.

Take, for example, Yum Brands, which operates the Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut chains. Wages for the corporation’s nearly 380,000 U.S. workers are so low that many of them have to turn to taxpayerfunded anti-poverty programs just to get by.

The National Employment Law Project estimates that Yum Brands’ workers draw nearly $650 million in Medicaid and other public assistance annually.

Meanwhile, at the top end of the company’s pay ladder,

CEO David Novak pocketed $94 million over the years 2011 and 2012 in stock options gains, bonuses and other so-called “performance pay.” That was a nice windfall for him, but a big burden for the rest of us taxpayers.

Under the current tax code, corporations can deduct unlimited amounts of such “performance pay” from their federal income taxes. In other words, the more corporations pay their CEO, the lower their tax burden.

Novak’s $94 million payout, for example, lowered Yum’s IRS bill by $33 million.

Guess who makes up the difference?

A new Institute for Policy Studies report calculates the cost to taxpayers of this “performance pay” loophole at all of the top six publicly held fast food chains - McDonald’s, Yum, Wendy’s, Burger King,

What makes all this even more galling is that these fast food giants are pocketing massive taxpayer subsidies for their CEO pay while fighting to keep their workers’ wages at rock bottom.

Domino’s and Dunkin’ Brands.

Combined, these firms’ CEOs pocketed more than $183 million in fully deductible “performance pay” in 2011 and 2012, lowering their companies’ IRS bills by an estimated $64 million. To put that figure in perspective, it would be enough to cover the average cost of food stamps for 40,000 American families for a year.

After Yum, McDonald’s received the second largest government handout for their executive pay. James Skinner, as CEO in 2011 and the first half of 2012, pocketed $31 million

in exercised stock options and other fully deductible “performance pay.”

Incoming CEO Donald Thompson took in $10 million in performance pay in his first six months on the job. Skinner and Thompson’s combined performance pay translates into a $14 million taxpayer subsidy for McDonald’s.

What makes all this even more galling is that these fast food giants are pocketing massive taxpayer subsidies for their CEO pay while fighting to keep their workers’ wages at rock bottom. All of the big fast food corporations are members of the National Restaurant Association, which is aggressively working to block a raise in the federal minimum wage to a level that would let millions of fast food workers make ends meet without public support.

There’s an easy solution to

the perverse “performance pay” loophole. A bill introduced by Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) would simply set a firm $1 million cap for executive pay deductions - with no exceptions.

Corporations could still pay their CEOs whatever they choose, but at least taxpayers wouldn’t be subsidizing anything above $1 million. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates this legislation would generate more than $50 billion over 10 years.

It makes no sense for employees of highly profitable giant corporations to have to rely on government assistance for basic needs. It makes even less sense for ordinary taxpayers to subsidize the CEOs who are benefiting most from the fast food industry’s low-road business model.

(See FEAST on page six)

‘Nuclear option’ allows Senate to finally do its job

by Marge Baker

Republicans have forced filibuster votes on more execWhat do you do when a fac- utive branch nominees under tion of the U.S. Senate simply Obama than under all other refuses to do a critical part of presidents combined.

Drug-testing our lawmakers

by Jim Hightower

Tenacity can be an admirable trait in a leader - except when it’s stupid.

Stupid tenacity has afflicted several right-wing governors and legislators who grabbed hold of a bad idea that, in practice, has proven to be even worse than expected - yet they’ve clung to it like Captain Ahab on Moby Dick.

The bad idea was to whupup on the poor and jobless by making them submit to drug tests in order to get the benefit payments that can help hard-hit folks recover. Never mind that there was no evidence that such people are more likely than, say, a state legislator to be on drugs, punishing those who’re down

on their luck is considered smart politics in right-wing circles.

So, six states have imposed drug tests on people who seek unemployment benefits, and nine now require testing of welfare applicants.

What could go wrong, asked GOP officials as they rammed these vindictive insults into law?

Three things, actually: First, as predicted, very few drug users are being found; second, administering this government intrusion is (hello) very expensive for taxpayers; and, third, courts have been ruling these sweeping government searches unconstitutional.

Yet, pandering at all costs to the tea party fringe that dominates Republican elections,

state lawmakers won’t let go of this demonstrably-bad idea of trying to humiliate people in need of a helping hand.

Now, the fad is to pass “suspicion-based” laws that require applicants to fill out state questionnaires, then force those who seem to be a little “suspicious” to submit urine samples to the state. Texas and Mississippi, for example, are targeting those whose occupation might warrant drug testing.

Based on their dogged adherence to this stupid idea, I suggest that the occupation of “lawmaker” ought to top the list of those required by the state to pee in a cup.

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

its job?

That’s the dilemma that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faced in mid-November when the Senate’s Republican minority tried once again to stall the work of government by blocking President Barack Obama’s nominees to the courts.

Ultimately, Reid was forced to change the Senate’s rules to prevent the wide-ranging, unprincipled filibusters that Senate Republicans had made routine. This was more than a procedural squabble in the Senate: It was about whether a small number of senators could simply stop certain parts of the government from functioning.

We all know that tea party Republicans in the House forced the government to shut down for over two weeks in October, costing the economy billions of dollars and accomplishing absolutely nothing.

But fewer people know about the other shutdown in Washington.

Throughout Obama’s presidency, Republicans in the Senate have been quietly making it harder for large parts of our government to function by dragging their feet on and sometimes outright refusing to perform their duty of providing “advice and consent” on nominees to the courts and executive agencies.

Take a look at the numbers.

Senate Republicans so routinely block Obama’s nominees to the courts that they have had to wait an average of more than twice as long after committee approval for a simpleor-no confirmation vote as did President George W. Bush’s nominees.

Republicans have forced filibuster votes on more executive branch nominees under Obama than under all other presidents combined. And the Republicans have all too frequently obstructed and delayed this president’s executive nominees for reasons having little or nothing to do with their qualifications.

This campaign of obstruction came to a head this summer when Obama nominated three extraordinarily qualified nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often considered the second-highest court in the country behind the Supreme Court.

The 11-member D.C. Circuit was operating with three of its seats vacant. It was only reasonable that Obama move to fill those vacancies.

But Senate Republicans didn’t want those three seats on the D.C. Circuit to be filled by his nominees. So, they did (See NUCLEAR on page six)

CEO policies contribute to retirement deficit Deck the halls, this holiday season, with scenes of hunger.

Struggling families all across America now have less food on their tables. Budget cuts that kicked into effect November 1 have lowered the nation’s average federal food stamp benefit to less than $1.40 per person per meal.

Austerity American-style is squeezing elsewhere as well, from Head Start for kids to Meals on Wheels for seniors, and more cuts are looming, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill near still another budget deliberation deadline, this one midway through December.

The next federal program in the crosshairs? Maybe the biggest of them all: Social Security.

Average Americans, of course, don’t want Social

behind the headlines by Sam Pizzigati

Security cut. If anything, average Americans stand more committed than ever to keeping Social Security whole - and for good reason. Social Security currently stands as America’s only retirement bedrock.

Not too long ago, pensions also routinely delivered retirement security. But our corporations have cut back on traditional pensions. In 1980, 89 percent of Fortune 100 companies guaranteed workers a “defined benefit” at retirement. The rate last year: only 12 percent.

Companies have replaced traditional pensions with 401(k)

s, and many firms don’t even match employee 401(k) contributions. The predictable result?

The nation’s “retirement deficit” - the difference between what Americans have saved up for retirement and what they need to maintain their standard of living once retired - now totals $6.6 trillion, says Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research.

So, amid all this retirement insecurity, who actually thinks that cutting Social Security would be a good idea? The big push for cutting Social Security is coming from America’s “corporate statesmen.”

These corporate leaders - the nearly 200 CEOs who run the influential Business Roundtable and the over 135 chief execs who bankroll the lobby group

known as “Fix the Debt” - seldom ever mention “Social Security benefits” and “cuts” in the same sentence. They speak instead in euphemisms.

The nation, they intone, cannot afford the current level of “entitlement” spending.

In the name of “saving” Social Security for future generations, these CEOs are urging Congress to enact “reforms” that range from lowering the annual Social Security inflation adjustment to raising the Social Security retirement age to 70.

These two changes, point out Sarah Anderson of the Institute for Policy Studies and Scott Klinger of the Center for Effective Government, would slice the average Social Security beneficiary’s lifetime benefits by about 20 percent.

America’s CEOs, Anderson and Klinger note in a new report, don’t need Social Security. They already have ample retirement security without it.

In fact, these CEOs are sitting on the biggest retirement bonanza in modern human history. The retirement accounts of Business Roundtable CEOs currently average $14.6 million, enough to pay out a $86,043 monthly benefit once they retire.

The typical American worker within 10 years of retirement, by contrast, now has only enough in saved-up personal retirement assets to generate a monthly retirement payout of just $71.

Why are so many CEOs driving so hard to cut Social Security?

(See DEFICIT on page six)

The Scott County Record • Page 6 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

The diplomat who prevented World War III

by John Schrock

At the end of World War II, militant hawks wanted the West to pivot to a direct major confrontation with the Soviet Union. Instead, the Cold War stayed cold. Why? In 1946, our Treasury Department requested an analysis of Soviet perspectives. Since Ambassador Harriman was away, deputy chief George Kennan responded with “the long telegram” that brilliantly outlined a strategy for handling diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.

Navy Secretary James Forrestal was so impressed that he brought Kennan back to be head foreign affairs at the National War

Feast (continued from page five)

With Congress again mulling deficit-reduction strategies, it’s high time that Washington stopped letting fast food giants gorge on both of these absurd subsidies.

Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies and is the author of the new report “Fast Food CEOs Rake in TaxpayerFunded Pay”

Nuclear (continued from page five)

something unprecedented: They vowed to block anyone President Obama nominated to the court, no matter who they were.

This was an enormous departure from the way the filibuster had been used in the past, as a way to block nominees who were seen (rightly or wrongly) as too extreme or unqualified.

Coupled with the flood of executive branch filibusters, it became clear that the Republicans were using the Senate rules to systematically shut down huge parts of the government.

We send our lawmakers to Washington to do a job. Faced with an entire party that simply refused to do a large part of this job, Senator Reid was forced to take dramatic measures. When Senate Democrats voted to permit a simple majority of senators to end debate on most executive and judicial nominees, they did so in response to a Republican Party that had already twisted the rules of governing beyond recognition.

Americans rely on courts that can hear cases quickly and government agencies that can do the jobs that they are meant to do. We need a government that works. And we need a Senate that will do its job to make that happen.

College.

By 1948, Secretary of State George Marshall had Kennan head the brand new Policy Planning Staff, a high-level government think tank. Kennan realized that the punitive war reparations imposed at the end of World War I led to the rise of Hitler, and that path should not be taken again.

Kennan became the intellectual architect of the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild a devastated Europe.

The basis for Cold War containment came from his in-depth knowledge and experience with the Soviet peoples. He advised against any total war scenario.

Under attack, a people

will unite under the most despised despot. But let the Soviets get embroiled in little uprisings and the people will be disgruntled with their leadership.

Simply: “limited wars against Russia damaged the regime in power more than did total wars.” Under Truman, Eisenhower and later Presidents, Kennan’s policy prevailed.

Why am I discussing history in an education column? With some Kansas universities closing down their foreign language programs, I am concerned that we may no longer produce such wise men.

The young Kennan graduated from Foreign Service School in 1926 and served in Switzerland

and then Germany where he studied the history and politics of Eastern Europe and Russia. He mastered Russian, German, French, Polish, Czech, Portuguese, and Norwegian.

Kennan was then assigned to a series of critical posts from Latvia to our legation in Prague.

When the Czechoslovak Republic fell to Nazi Germany, Kennan was assigned to Berlin and was interned in Germany for six months after the U.S. entered the war in 1941.

When released, he was posted to Lisbon and then to London before Harriman called him to serve in Moscow.

Today, many Americans think that every country

needs to be “just like us.”

But Kennan knew that democracy cannot be exported: “national strength is a question of our internal strength, of the health and sanity of our own society.”

He felt that “America could not and should not attempt to tell other people how they should live their lives - Americans’ moral responsibility was for their own lives.”

The only way we influence others is by example, not by preaching or military coercion.

When asked how to counter the Soviet threat, he replied that we had to first look to “. . . our American failings, to the racial problem, to the conditions in our big cit-

ies, to the education and environment of our young people, to the growing gap between specialized knowledge and popular understanding.”

In 1952, he wrote in the New York Times: “Let us not attempt to constitute ourselves the guardians of everyone else’s virtue; we have enough trouble to guard our own.”

Lee Congdon’s biography of Kennan, subtitled “A Writing Life” describes why we should pay attention to the founder of this school of political realism. Kennan was expert with prose, but he had to suppress beliefs he knew would be unpopular and would have undermined his career.

(See DIPLOMAT on page 7)

Khamenei is Obama’s new best friend

TEHRAN (The Borowitz Report) - The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told reporters today his nation agreed to a deal on its nuclear program in the hopes that it would distract attention from the trouble-plagued rollout of Obamacare.

Facts ing them that grandma just saved about $800 per year on her prescriptions because the Medicare Part D “donut hole” coverage gap has been eliminated.

Fox News learned a long time ago that their audience (and the Republican voter base) isn’t interested in the facts. Liberal media organizations and Democrats need to

Deficit One reason: The corporations these CEOs run don’t pay much in the way of corporate taxes today.

They want to pay even less - and the less the federal government spends on Social Security and other “entitlements” like Medicare, the less pressure on lawmakers to seriously tax corporate income.

CEOs also have a personal reason to want to

Agenda

He’s repackaging private-school vouchers. And Ryan assumes that charity might take the place of the food stamps he’s cutting.

“You cure poverty eye to eye, soul to soul,” he told a Heritage Foundation forum. “Spiritual redemption: That’s what saves people.”

Prayer is good, but when it comes to public policies, as The Post story concluded, “Ryan’s speeches have been light on specifics.”

Marge Baker is the execuSome of those “speciftive vice president of People ics” are being offered by For the American Way the tea party. Ryan and Foundation Cantor may be casting about for ways to look compassionate, but the tea party remains on the hunt.

Politico detailed that Rep.

“It’s true, we’ve resisted any deal on nukes for over three decades,” the Ayatollah said. “But when we saw how much trouble Obama was having with his website, we realized it would be uncaring of us not to try to help him out.”

The Ayatollah said he

was not “overly optimistic” that signing a nuclear treaty with the West would be sufficient to distract attention from the President’s Obamacare woes, but, he added, “You never know. Every little bit helps.”

He said that he and

Iran’s leaders will be putting their heads together in the days and weeks ahead to see “if there’s anything else we can do to help Obama out of this health-care mess.”

“One idea we’re tossing around is to get the Iranian people to stop

chanting, ‘Death to America,’ the way they have for the past 34 years,” he said.

“At the very least, maybe dial it back until he gets that website straightened out.”

Andy Borowitz is a comedian and author

(continued from page four)

learn how to fight fiction with fiction in the battle for public opinion. Here are a few suggestions: •It was because of Obamacare that the Kansas City Chiefs were able to open the season with a nine game win streak.

Team owner Clark Hunt tweeted: “If we’d have had Obamacare sooner

maybe we wouldn’t still be waiting for our second Super Bowl 43 years later.”

•In response to the worst drought in the Midwest in nearly 60 years, Sen. Harry Reid tweeted: “I hope this isn’t God’s retribution for those states moving so far to the right politically.”

(continued from page five)

see Social Security cut.

Americans this year pay Social Security tax on only the first $113,700 of paycheck income. This tax ceiling rises each year with inflation.

But if we eliminated the ceiling entirely - and taxed the paychecks of CEOs and other high-income taxpayers at the same rate as the paychecks of average workers - 95 percent of the expected Social

Security budget shortfall over the next 75 years would disappear.

America’s CEOs don’t particularly care for this sensible approach to fixing Social Security’s fiscal future. They’d much rather just ruin Social Security for the rest of us.

Sam Pizzigati is an Institute for Policy Studies associate fellow and a co-author of the new report ‘Fix the Debt’ CEOs Enjoy TaxpayerSubsidized Pay.”

(continued from page four)

Tim Heulskamp (Ks.) and a group of conservatives are gearing up for yet another assault on healthcare reform.

Assuming that the budget negotiations don’t reach an agreement by the December deadline, Congress will have to pass a continuing resolution by mid-January to keep the government open and funded. Huelskamp and his allies think that’s a perfect time to cut $20 billion out of Medicaid and transfer it to the Pentagon.

That would eliminate Medicaid expansion - the one part of Obamacare that is working well - and placate Republicans worried about the cuts the military faces next year.

Cut health protection for the working poor and give the money to a Pentagon that is the largest center of waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government? Or slash food stamps while fending off every effort to close the tax dodges that allow companies like General Electric to avoid paying any taxes?

The Republican “war on poverty” looks a lot like a war on the poor.

It will take a lot of charity and volunteers and a lot more than “messaging” and “rebranding” to erase that indelible “deficiency.”

Katrina vanden Heuvel is editor and publisher of The Nation magazine

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•Nancy Pelosi, in true Sarah Palin style, recently said during a speech that, “It was only because of Benghazi that climate change cut Medicare benefits while we drill, baby, drill, and keep our Second Amendment rights protected from the nuclear option when, and only when, the President shows his birth certificate, so

that we can build a wall to make our borders more secure. And that’s all I have to say on that until the next time.”

Progressives just need to understand that, in today’s political world, being an idiot means never having to say you’re wrong.

Rod Haxton can be reached at editor@screcord.com

Poppin’

What do you think?

Do you plan to do at least 50% of your Christmas shopping at home?

Yes

5 ______

No

12 ______

Submit this form and your comments to The Record office, or log onto the website: scottcountyrecord.com Keep comments brief so they can be published in the newspaper. The numbers represent totals as of noon Thursday. For updated totals visit The Record website.

Diplomat Kennan advocated for professionalism in politics - the need for statesmen of proven ability and judgement to be shielded from the whims and pressures of public opinion and the vulgar requirements of seeking elected office— he saw this as a weakness of democracy.

Kennan felt that liberty “possessed a value only in a well-ordered society.

Otherwise, it degenerated into license.” But he realized that if he publicly discussed the shortcomings of our democratic system, he would be charged with supporting tyranny.

Now that we face total governmental dysfunc-

The Scott County Record • Page 7 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

(continued from page six)

tion, Keenan would have some allies today.

Perhaps with the “right” to vote, comes our “responsibility” to be better-educated.

Kennan died in 2005.

At the Institute for Advanced Studies are engraved these words by Kennan: “True scholars often work in loneliness, compelled to find reward in the awareness that they have made valuable, even beautiful, contributions to the cumulative structure of human knowledge, whether anyone knows it at the time or not.”

(continued from page three)

Magnesium is a mineral used in building bones and releasing energy from muscles. Selenium protects cells from oxidation. It is also important for a healthy immune system.

Dietary fiber from whole grains or other foods may help reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. It helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis.

And for those trying to lose weight after the holidays, or any time of the year, fiber-containing foods such as whole grains help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories.

But when most of us eat popcorn, it is often drizzled with oils (margarine), which delete the nutritional aspect of eating it as a whole grain healthy snack.

Instead, dress your plain popcorn by tossing with a little cinnamon. For a spicier kick, squeeze a little lime on the popcorn and sprinkle it with chili powder or curry powder. Or add a teaspoon of Parmesan for a cheesy treat. They’re better than butter, oil and salt and much healthier for you.

If you attend my Knowledge at Noon on Tuesday I will share a variety of recipes on how to dress up your popcorn.

John Schrock trains biology teachers and lives in Emporia

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, Pancake and sausage supper @ Prairie View Church of the Brethren, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

No charge for community events

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Tuesday

9

10

SCHS Scholar Bowl @ Colby, 4:00 p.m.

Extension KAN program @ Bryan Center, 12:05 p.m.

Wednesday

Thursday

11

Friday

12 SCHS BB vs. Pueblo East @ SCHS, 6:00/7:45 p.m.

Al-Anon meeting @ Community Christian ES Family Reading night, 6:00 p.m.

Church, 6:30 p.m.

7th/8th Girls BB GWAC round 1, 4:00 p.m.

Saturday

13 SCHS BB vs. Wichita Trinity @ SCHS, 6:00/7:45 p.m.

SCHS BB vs. Denver South @ SCHS, 6:00/7:45 p.m.

SCHS Wrestling @ Colby Inv., 2:00 p.m.

SCHS Wrestling Colby Inv.

SCHS Wrestling Dual @ Garden City, 6:00 p.m.

Attend the church of your choice.

14 @

7th/8th Girls BB GWAC finals @ Oakley, 8:00 a.m.

SCMS 7th/8th Winter concert, 7:00 p.m.

Pioneer Christmas @ Lake Scott, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

BINGO

15 Pioneer Christmas

SCHS b/c concert

16

17 K-Spirit of Christmas

18

St. Joseph Parish Center 7:00 p.m.

19

HS BB @ Ulysses

20

21 Christmas Prom

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The Scott County Record • Page 8 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Waiver of construction at $20,764 - well below the $40,000 threshold for NRP consideration.

“Normally we’ll hand out the paperwork and have people sign-off that they’ve been told about the program,” says City Clerk Brenda Davis.

“Since it was so far below the amount to qualify for Neighborhood Revitalization we didn’t provide the papers. It didn’t seem necessary.”

The building permit listed the name of the contractor and Shearmire Construction, a Scott City business that does concrete work. Since both companies were listed on the permit, it was also assumed that the $20,764 total was intended to include the building and concrete.

A plumbing permit was issued on May 14, 2012, and a mechanical permit (HVAC) was added on Oct. 31, 2012. Neither,

(continued from page three)

however, included the cost of the work, which is typical for such permits. Davis says permits for plumbing, electrical and HVAC work are issued primarily to make sure the contractors are bonded and licensed and so the building inspector is aware of the work being done.

By listing specific work to be done, the building inspector can then make sure it’s been done according to the city codes.

Davis said there are occasions when the cost of a project isn’t known at the time a permit is issued.

The city will allow those individuals to come in later with the final amount.

“If the final cost exceeds the original amount on the building permit, the individual is supposed to come back in and let us know the higher amount,” Davis says.

Building permit fees are based on the cost of the project. In Hunt’s in-

stance, the permit was based on the original estimate of $20,764 - not $60,000.

Minnix is hopeful the county can get past the point where it’s opening the door to NRP participation after the deadline has passed. The commission agreed to rebate the county’s share of property taxes, but Hunt will still need to make her request before the school district and city council.

If all three entities agree, Hunt says the property tax savings over the next five years will amount to about $6,000.

Davis feels the city has done its job in making people aware of the program before construction begins.

“But I don’t see how we can be held accountable if we’re given one cost estimate and it turns out to be much higher than that and the owner doesn’t tell us,” she adds.

Librarian Stephanie Fisher (right) demonstrates the document scanning capability of the Flip Pal to George and Natalie Armantrout during the grant open house.

(Record Photo)

Grants Technology, of course, is continuing to expand in the classroom and the acquisition of iPads have allowed SCHS debaters to acquire their evidence by means other than the traditional note card files.

“It’s a learning process.

We still have kids who prefer using the evidence boxes because it’s something they’re so accustomed to,” says debate coach Shairlyn Wasinger.

“It’s a matter of being more familiar with the technology and learning how to quickly navigate for information.”

The purchase of four iPad minis are helping pre-schoolers to learn not only their numbers and the alphabet, but also the proper way to write letters and numbers.

“I didn’t have any technology in my classroom,” says instructor Dawn Hutchins. “Pre-school tends to be a little further down the priority list.

“But even four-yearolds can benefit from this and it gives us another tool in the classroom.”

Meanwhile, the Scott County Extension depart-

We may not say it enough but it is heart-felt… (continued from page one)

ment was handing out samples of fruit smoothies that are part of its healthy eating initiative.

Extension Agent Carol Ann Crouch has used grant money in the past to purchase equipment to promote healthier diets at community programs and health fairs.

“We encourage people to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables,” she says.

“It’s gone over real well.

The fruit smoothies are a big hit with the kids.”

Other grant recipients during the past year include: $5,000: to subsidize the cost for individuals to become certified as emergency management technicians in Scott County. $4,290: to Spencer Flight and Education Center to help with cost of the annual Aviation Day Camp. $3,500: purchase recycled rubber for the playground at Palmer Park. $3,000: to help with purchasing equipment for the new digital media program at SCHS. $3,000: to provide an information kiosk for the

new Veteran’s Memorial in Scott City. $3,000: to purchase computerized babies for the family and consumer sciences department at SCHS. $2,500: to the Jerry Thomas Gallery to help with costs associated with the Battle Canyon Symposium last September. $2,500: to bring in a professional to train staff at the Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center who will help teach others how to keep children safe from sex offenders. $1,200: to purchase a laptop computer for the Scott County Fair Board to be used during the county fair. $850: to purchase a fire alarm system for the VIP Center that will be connected to the Law Enforcement Center 24/7. $750: annual Survivor Health Fair at the high school. $400: assist in purchasing a Native American male mannequin for a display at the El Quartelejo Museum.

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The Scott County Record

Page 9 - Thursday, December 5, 2013

4-H Club News New Horizons helps SCORE 4-Hers The New Horizons 4-H Club helped the SCORE program learn a little about the first Thanksgiving when they hosted After-School 4-H in November.

The members of the New Horizons read the SCORE students the story “First Thanksgiving” and then helped them make a retelling bracelet. Each student got to take home their bracelet along with a paper to help them tell their parents about what each bead on their bracelet means.

We are thankful for getting the chance to help others and to spread the word about something we think is so neat - 4-H!!

Kylee Logan, reporter

Asher Huck, Hayden Webster, Cole Birney, Josh Yeager, Chris Hall, Lane Hayes and FFA sponsor Kevin Davis.

Birney, Scott City FFA are first in district ag mechanics After a year’s absence, the FFA chapter at Scott Community High School is back on top in ag mechanics competition held recently at Dodge City Community College.

The local chapter has been a perennial champion at the event and led by senior Cole Birney they were once again the championship team in welding.

Birney was the high point individual, followed by SCHS team members Hayden Webster (8th) and Chris Hall (9th). Others taking part in the district contest were Josh Yeager, Lane Hayes and Asher Huck.

The competition was divided into four phases: Written test: involving welding terms, safety and identification of small engine parts.

USD 466 Lunch Menu Week of December 9-13 Breakfast Monday: Whole grain cereal, yogurt cup, apricots, fruit juice.

Tuesday: Biscuit and gravy, fresh grapes, fruit juice.

Wednesday: Scrumptious coffeecake, applesauce, fruit juice.

Thursday: Breakfast quesadilla, salsa, grapefruit, fruit juice.

Friday: French toast and syrup, honey dew melon, fruit juice.

Lunch Monday: Cheesy chicken spaghetti, *fish sticks, vegetable blend, french bread, pears.

Tuesday: Homemade chili, *tuna sandwich, cheese stick, tri-tater, cinnamon roll, peaches.

Wednesday: Pizza mozzarella sticks, *ravioli, marinara sauce, winter blend, applesauce.

Thursday: Chicken and noodles, *ham patties, creamy potatoes, green beans, dinner roll, strawberries and pears.

Friday: Sub sandwiches, *philly sandwich stuffer, tater tots, lettuce leaf and tomatoes, vanilla pudding, banana. *Second choice for SCMS and SCHS

Women’s Fashions Woman’s sizes small to extra large

Lots of jeans sizes 2-14 Fun tops and sweaters in all styles: casual • dressy • holiday

Measurement: in which students are to calculate the cost and amount of materials needed for a building project.

Welding: this involves the use of metal arc (stick) welding. Students had to show their skill in three types of welds - a butt joint, vertical-up T joint and a lap joint.

Blueprint: As the competition suggests, students are given six

pieces of metal and must weld them according to blueprint specifications.

“Blueprints were added about three years ago to competitions like this,” says FFA sponsor Kevin Davis. “It requires the boys to do some technical readings.”

There were 55 participants representing 14 FFA teams from southwest Kansas.

School Calendar Sat., Dec. 7: SCHS in KMEA honor band/choir at Dodge City; SCHS varsity wrestling at Hoxie tournament, 9:00 a.m.; SCHS JV wrestling at Hays-TMP, 9:30 a.m.; SCMS hosts GWAC wrestling tournament, 10:00 a.m.

Mon., Dec. 9: SCHS in scholar’s bowl at Colby, 4:00 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 10: SCES family reading night, 6:00 p.m.; SCMS 7th/8th grades winter concert.

Thurs., Dec. 12: SCHS in first round of Southwest Classic round-robin basketball, 6:00 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13: SCHS in second round of Southwest Classic round-robin basketball, 6:00 p.m.; SCHS in wrestling dual tournament at Colby, 2:00 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 14: SCHS in third round of Southwest Classic round-robin basketball, 4:00 p.m.; SCHS in wrestling dual tournament at Colby.

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For the Record A checklist for your family’s health insurance The Scott County Record

With health insurance in the national spotlight, Kansas consumers have much to think about in providing themselves and their loved ones with potential coverage.

Whether you have insurance coverage through your employer (as more than half of Kansans do) or you have to provide it for yourself and your family (which a little more than five percent of our state’s citizens do), it’s important to think about what you want and

The Scott County Record Page 10 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

commissioner’s corner Kansas Insurance

Commissioner Sandy Praeger

what you need.

Below is a list of ideas that are good conversation starters for considering your coverage.

•Make a list of the personal information for yourself and family, including Social Security Numbers, bank account information and the amount of income from

your W-2.

•Assess your prescription drug requirements, including name (brand or generic) and dosage. Does the health insurance plan you are considering cover your required drugs?

•Review your financial condition. Are you able to pay the deductible when at your providers’ office, and how much would you be comfortable paying?

•Do you want a health insurance plan with low or high deductibles and copays? Remember, a low

Public Notice (First published in The Scott County Record, Thurs., Nov. 28, 2013; last published Thurs., Dec. 5, 2013)2t PUBLIC HEARING TO CHANGE ZONING CLASSIFICATION Notice is hereby given that the Scott City Planning Commission will hold a special meeting on December 19, 2013, 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: Consideration of amendment of the official zoning map to change the zoning classification of the following properties from Ag-Agricultural District to C-2 General Commercial District, I-1 General Industrial District or 1-2 Heavy Industrial District: 1. A tract of land beginning at a point 1830 feet South of the Northeast corner of Section Twenty-five (25), Township Eighteen (18) South, Range Thirty-three (33) West of the 6th PM, thence South along the East section line 280 feet; thence West parallel with the North section line a distance of 600 feet; thence North parallel with the East section line a distance of 280 feet, thence East parallel with the North section line a distance of 600 feet to the point of beginning.

(Immanuel Southern Baptist Church, 1898 S. Main).

2. Lots Nineteen (19), Twenty (20), Twenty-one (21), Twenty-two (22), Twentythree (23), Twenty-four (24), Twenty-five (25), Twentysix (26) Twenty-seven (27), Twenty-eight (28), Twentynine (29), Thirty (30), Thirtyone (31), Thirty-two (32), Thirty-three (33), Thirty-four (34), Thirty-five (35), Thirtysix (36) in Harper Tract in Scott County, all located in the Northeast Quarter (NE/4) of Section Twenty-five (25), Township Eighteen (18) South, Range Thirty-three (33) West of the 6th PM. BK Auto Body, 1301 S. Hwy 83).

3. Lots Seven (7), Eight (8), Nine (9), and Ten (10) in Harper Tract located in the

deductible will increase your monthly premiums, while a high deductible will have lower premiums.

•Know that you are able to purchase health insurance policies outside of the Health Insurance Marketplace. But if you purchase a health insurance policy through the marketplace, you may pay a lower rate based on your income, and you might be eligible for tax credits or subsidies.

•Evaluate your health

Public Notice

Northeast Quarter (NE/4) of Section Twenty-five (25) Township Eighteen (18) South, Range Thirty-three (33) West of the 6th PM, Scott County, Kansas. (Edwards Spraying, South Highway 83).

4. Lots Eleven (11), Twelve (12), Thirteen (13), Fourteen (14), Fifteen (15), Sixteen (16), Seventeen (17) and Eighteen (18) in Harper Tract in Scott County, all located in the Northeast Quarter (NE/4) of Section Twenty-five (25), Township Eighteen (18) South, Range Thirty-three (33) West of the 6th PM. (Vacant lots North of BK Auto Body).

5. Lot Two (2), Block One (1), and Lot One (1), Block Two (2), Hoeme Addition to the City of Scott City, Scott County, Kansas. (ElQuartelejo Inn and Suites, 1610 S. Main; Scott City Pharmacy 102 Albert Avenue; and Scott City Eye Center, 104 Albert Avenue and Shopko, 1702 S. Main).

6. A tract of land located within the Southeast Quarter (SE/4) of Section Eighteen (18), Township Eighteen (18) South, Range Thirty-Two (32) West of the 6th P.M., more exactly described as follows: Starting at the Southeast corner of said Section 18 and thence going West along the section line for a distance of 1022.67 feet, thence turning 90º00’ and going north for a distance of 1180.00 feet, thence turning 90º00’ and going west for a distance of 443.33 feet, thence turning 90º00’ and going south for a distance of 1180.00 feet, thence turning 90º00’ and going east for a distance of 443.33 feet to the true point of beginning of the described tract, containing 12 acres more of less. (Nu Life Market, 1202 E. 5th).

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at such hearing.

(Published in The Scott County Record Thurs., Dec. 5, 2013)1t ORDINANCE NO. 1150 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE EIGHT CHAPTER TWO, SECTION SEVEN AND EIGHT OF THE CODIFICATION OF THE ORDINANCES OF SCOTT CITY, KANSAS RELATING TO WATER METERS AND WATER SYSTEM RATES AND REPEALING THE EXISTING SECTIONS. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF SCOTT CITY, KANSAS Section I. Title 8, Chapter 2, Section 8 is hereby amended to read as follows: 8-2-8: RATES: The water rates established in this section shall apply to all water usage which is billed to customers after January 1, 2014.

A. Enumerated (Inside City Limits): All property within the corporate limits of the City upon which any building has been or may hereafter be erected, having a connection with any mains or pipes which may hereafter be constructed and used in connection with the city water system, shall pay the following rates per month: 1) These minimum charges for the various meter sizes shall apply: Meter Size In Inches 5/8 to 3/4 1 1-1/2 2 3 4 5 6

Base Charges $13.90 $17.39 $21.73 $27.16 $40.74 $61.10 $91.65 $137.48

The base rate will entitle the customer to use two thousand five hundred (2,500) gallons and thereafter the rate shall be one dollar seventy cents ($1.70) per 1,000 gallons, except as otherwise provided in subsection A2 of this section.

November 25, 2013 2) To encourage conserRodney Hogg, chairman vation of, and efficient use of Scott City water all connections having Planning Commission a water usage in excess of forty thousand (40,000) gallons in any month, the rate Public Notice for the usage in excess of forty thousand (40,000) gal(First published in The Scott County Record on Thurs., Nov. lons shall be: 21, 2013; last published Thurs., Dec. 5, 2013)3t a) 40,000 to 59,999: $2.72 Scott County Mill Levy Rates per thousand gallons I, Lark Speer, Scott County Treasurer, certify that the tax levb) 60,000 to 79,999: $3.72 ies per $1,000 as valuation for the 2013 tax year are as fol- per thousand gallons lows: c) In excess of 80,000: State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.500 $5.44 per thousand gallons County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

64.331

City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

66.217

USD No. 466 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

61.300

USD No. 466 - Scott Recreation Commission . . .

2.250

USD No. 468 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

48.123

USD No. 468 - Recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.000

Fire District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.084

Wet Walnut Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.346

Isbel Township . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0.227

Lake Township . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.000

Valley Township . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.000

Lark Speer Scott County Treasurer

A. Enumerated (Outside the City Limits): All property outside the corporate limits of the City, upon which any building has been or may hereafter be erected, having a connection with any mains or pipes which may hereafter

into play. If you do not have health insurance by March 31, 2014, you may be responsible to pay a penalty to the IRS unless you are eligible for an exemption.

Learn if your employer will be offering health insurance and if the plan meets the “essential minimum coverage” provision.

Allow time. Enlist help if necessary through a navigator, an agent, the tollfree federal hotline num(See HEALTH on page 11)

Scott Co. LEC Report

be constructed and used in connection with the city water system shall pay the following rates per month: 1) These minimum charges for the various meter sizes shall apply: Meter Size In Inches 5/8 to 3/4 1 1-1/2 2 3 4 5 6

needs. Do you have any chronic health conditions, and/or do you need to visit a physician frequently?

Does the health insurance policy cover the services you require?

•Talk to your providers’ office to make sure the office is part of the insurance health plan network.

Be sure to include hospitals and other providers such as laboratory services. Include any specialty physicians or facilities.

Penalties for no coverage are set to come

Base Charges $27.80 $34.78 $43.46 $54.32 $81.48 $122.20 $183.30 $274.96

The base rate will entitle the customer to use two thousand five hundred (2,500) gallons and thereafter the rate shall be three dollars forty cents ($3.40) per one thousand (1,000) gallons, except as otherwise provided in subsection B2 of this section.

2) To encourage conservation of, and efficient use of water all connections having a water usage in excess of forty thousand (40,000) gallons in any month shall be: a) 40,000 to 59,999: $5.44 per thousand gallons b) 60,000 to 79,999: $7.44 per thousand gallons c) In excess of 80,000: $10.88 per thousand gallons C. Multiple Meters: All customers having more than one meter connection serving the same contiguous premises shall have their water usage from the multiple meters combined for billing purposes. The base rate shall be the combined total of the charges for the actual meter sizes of each such customer, based on the schedules in paragraphs A and B hereof.

The base rate so calculated shall entitle the customer to use two thousand five hundred (2,500) gallons on the subject premises. Usage in excess of two thousand five hundred (2,500) gallons shall be charged at the applicable rate for those premises.

D. Bills: Bills for water used shall be dated and sent out at such times as may be directed by the mayor and city council.

Section II. The existing Title 8, Chapter 2, Section 8 of the Codification of Ordinances of Scott City, Kansas is repealed.

Section III. This ordinance shall take effect and be of force from and after its passage and publication in the official city paper.

Passed by the council the 2nd day of December, 2013.

Dan Goodman, mayor City of Scott City, Ks. ATTEST: Brenda K. Davis, MMC

Scott City Police Department Nov. 27: Steve Turley II was arrested for disorderly conduct and transported to the LEC. Nov. 30: A theft report was taken in the 1300 block of South Main.

Dec. 2: Amador Sanchez was arrested on a Grant County warrant and transported to the LEC. Dec. 2: USD 466 reported criminal damage to property in the 100 block of E. 9th St. Dec. 2: Mariana Rodriguez, driving a 1998 Dodge, was backing out of a driveway in the 200 block of E. 5th Street when she struck a 2004 Honda owned by Elmer Medina-Murillo.

Dec. 3: Theft of property was reported in the 700 block of W. 12th Street.

Scott Co. Sheriff’s Dept.

Dec. 3: Theft of property was reported at 320 Camp Christy Drive.

Dec. 5: Saul Velez-Melchor reported hitting a deer on US83 Highway.

Dec. 5: Ronald Valdenar lost control of his 2004 Dodge Ram pickup while on Omaha Road, entering the northbound ditch and striking a power pole. The pickup came to rest on its passenger side.

Public Notice (Published in The Scott County Record Thurs., Dec. 5, 2013)1t

TREASURER’S QUARTERLY STATEMENT SCOTT COUNTY, KANSAS • AS OF OCT. 31, 2013

Total cash in the Scott County Treasury as of the above date $9,518,661.31

FUND

FUND BALANCES

General .................................................................. $ 1,984,768.76 Community Development Block Grant Loan ........

0.00 Micro-Loan Revolving Loan Fund .........................

85,338.57 Alcohol Program ....................................................

3,123.89 Indoor Arena Fund ................................................

524.21 Government Bonds - Hospital Project ..................

0.00 Special Cemetery Equipment .................................

28,575.78 County Employee Benefits .....................................

845,043.53 County Health - M. Koehn Memorial .....................

122.67 County Health - J. Binns Memorial ........................

412.35 County Health .........................................................

222,862.75 County Health - Bio-Terrorism ................................

25,659.36 County Health - Special Assistance ........................

9,078.06 Home Health ...........................................................

1,875.74 Hospital Maintenance ..............................................

8,816.42 Library Maintenance ................................................

119,524.34 Library Building ........................................................

13,384.62 Noxious Weed ..........................................................

32,256.88 Special Noxious Weed Equipment ...........................

111,212.95 Landfill Special Equipment Sales ............................

398.32 Road and Bridge ......................................................

849,480.28 Fire District ...............................................................

86,290.14 County Public Buildings ...........................................

913,753.00 Special Highway Improvement ................................

215,517.73 Special Road Machinery ..........................................

367,803.58 Equipment Reserve ..................................................

444,721.50 County Bond and Interest ........................................ 1,344,560.45 Hospital Bond and Interest ......................................

198,319.90 Sheriff Equipment Fund ...........................................

294.64 Special Law Enforcement ..........................................

7,009.83 Prosecutor Training and Assistance ...........................

5,637.39 Attorney Worthless Check Fees .................................

471.25 Register of Deeds Technology Fund ..........................

55,777.70 Motor Vehicle Operating Fund ...................................

14,393.03 Zella O. Carpenter (S.A.) ............................................ 173,010.91 Zella O. Carpenter ....................................................

508,740.00 Oil and Gas Valuation Depletion ...............................

479,544.75 Keystone General .....................................................

13.03 Keystone Hall ..............................................................

13.00 Scott Township General ...........................................

537.72 Advance Tax ..............................................................

527.67 Current Tax ...............................................................

0.00 Current Tax Interest ...................................................

3,679.39 Tax Escrow Accounting .............................................

28,271.00 Delinquent Personal Property Tax .............................

17,811.71 Redemptions .............................................................

46,854.19 Motor Vehicle Registration Tax .................................. 110,500.84 Recreation Vehicle Tax ...............................................

1,661.59 Rental and Excise Tax ................................................

0.00 911 Tariff .....................................................................

16,591.28 911 Tariff - Wireless .................................................... 104,567.77 Wildlife and Parks .......................................................

4,922.95 Federal Withholding ....................................................

0.00 Judgment Fees ...........................................................

14.00 Driver’s Licenses ..........................................................

58.00 Motor Vehicle ................................................................

3,853.50 Vehicle Registration Tax Interest ...................................

747.48 Motor Sales Tax ............................................................. 19,730.91 State Withholding ..........................................................

0.00 Total All Funds $ 9,518,661.31 State of Kansas County of Scott I do solemnly swear that the above statement is complete, true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief, so help me God. Lark Speer County Treasurer Subscribed to and sworn to before me this 19th day of November, 2013 Alice Brokofsky Notary Public

Health ber of 1-800-318-2596 or by calling the Kansas Insurance Department at 1-800-432-2484.

Call the Kansas Insurance Department to verify if an agent is licensed to sell policies on the marketplace; if a navigator is certified and has gone through training to help you; or if you havequestions regarding policies or coverage, whether

The Scott County Record • Page 11 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

(continued from page 10)

offered through the marketplace or outside it.

Evaluate the policy after you have received it to make sure it is the policy that you want.

Go online to the Kansas Insurance Department’s InsureKS.org website to look at information that might be useful if you are looking to enroll on the federal health insurance marketplace. There you

can use a cost calculator and see rate estimates.

Getting the health insurance you need and want can be a chore, I admit. It means taking personal responsibility to learn about the subject and applying the information to your situation.

While time-consuming, it is important for yourself and your family.

The Scott County Record • Page 12 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

A life and death fight with meningitis Charles Ornstein ProPublica

In two years covering government for the Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper, Andy Marso has become a familiar presence at the Kansas Statehouse with a reputation for tenacity.

Now, he’s written a book that helps explain the source of his dogged determination. It’s titled “Worth the Pain: How Meningitis Nearly Killed Me - Then Changed My Life for the Better.”

Eight years ago, Marso spent more than four months in the hospital including horrifying days in a “tank room,” where doctors incrementally cut

22-year-old comes to terms with amputations off dying skin and flesh from his feet and hands.

He was left with his right thumb and the balls of his feet but lost his fingers and toes. After the cutting came constant, intense pain - Marso likened it to having his appendages continually crushed in a vise - and months of slow rehabilitation.

The ordeal left Marso shaken, both mentally and physically. The serial amputations forced him to spend months relearning basic tasks such as walking and eating and he grappled with some of life’s fundamental ques-

Parties are a part of the holiday season by the American Counseling Association

The holiday season leaves many people feeling

anxious and nervous as they receive invitations to holiday office parties, family gatherings and other social events that they would rather avoid. That’s understandable. While such events can be a great time to socialize, they also can lead to disaster.

We’ve all heard, or experienced, the office party where someone did permanent damage to his or her reputation. Or that family gathering where Uncle Louie had one drink too many and told everyone what he really thought of them.

If upcoming holiday celebrations have you feeling tense and seriously considering not attending, here are some suggestions to help make such events less stressful and more enjoyable: •Keep the visit short. Whether an office party, family gathering or a neighborhood get-together, it’s good for you and your reputation to make an appearance. At the very least, show up early in the party, stay for a short time, then thank your host and leave. That’s better than being a no-show and you may just find you’re enjoying yourself and want to stay.

•Skip the alcohol. Even one or two alcoholic drinks can affect your judgment, and poor judgment leads to most party disasters. Stick to juice or soft drinks and lessen your chances of looking foolish or saying the wrong thing. If an alcoholic drink is “forced” on you, say thanks but don’t feel obliged to drink it.

•Plan ahead. Nervous about what to wear? Find out how others will dress and you’ll feel less anxious about your appearance. If there will be gift giving, check out what gifts and dollar values are appropriate. Don’t do gag gifts that will be embarrassing or risque.

•Avoid being critical. Negative comments at a party, even if made in confidence, always get repeated later to all the wrong people. Venting frustrations at office parties almost always produces negative results.

•Mind your manners. Don’t overeat at the buffet table. Do remember to thank your host.

•Avoid problem people. If you and a co-worker always clash, instead spend time with people you enjoy. If a relative always argues with you, simply refuse to respond and excuse yourself politely.

•There’s no reason to fear or avoid the holiday party. It should be an enjoyable event, even when you feel “required” to attend. Just plan on staying sober, being polite and sociable, and you may just find it a pleasant experience.

“Counseling Corner” is provided by the American Counseling Association. Visit the ACA website at counseling.org

tions in the process.

It essentially is a success story centered on answers he found to those questions.

“You are entitled to nothing. But you can accomplish anything,” Marso writes in the last chapter.

And he found a deeper faith in God. “The way I saw it, if God did not exist, then all of this had happened at random. I had somehow won an absurdly awful reserve-lottery and gotten a disease that afflicted a tiny number of people a disease threatening to

rob me of my limbs. I couldn’t stomach that. I had to believe that there was a God, and that this was part of His plan for me, even if it did not seem fair.”

Unable to get out of bed for months, Marso was left to think about things that wouldn’t be, such as carefree life with friends after graduation in an already-leased bachelor pad in Kansas City.

“That was supposed to be the place where I would spend a year living with my best friends, playing tennis, watching movies, having barbecues, telling

stories and laughing over beers out on the balcony.

That was my laid-back and lovely vision of life before meningitis. The first few months of that life already had been stolen and I felt the truth closing in: I might never get back there.”

A Rare Disease Bacterial Meningitis is relatively rare but potentially fatal. It can progress from flu-like symptoms to organ failure in a matter of hours, as it did in Marso’s case. In the last five years there have been fewer than 50 cases

in Kansas, six of which resulted in death.

People living in close quarters - such as dorm rooms and military barracks - are most susceptible. The U.S. military has required meningitis vaccination since the 1970s, and many universities have policies requiring students be vaccinated or sign a waiver.

When Marso was at the University of Kansas in 2004, he remembered seeing a poster about meningitis in the dorms, but that was it. KU had no policy to encourage vaccination against the disease (although Marso worked to change that just months (See FIGHT on page 13)

Consumers fear they won’t have health coverage by deadline Jordan Rau Kaiser Health News

Tambra Momi has been eagerly awaiting the promise of guaranteed health insurance.

Since 2011, she has battled Dercum’s disease, a rare and painful condition in which non-cancerous tumors sprout throughout her body, pressing against nerves.

Jobless and in a wheelchair, Momi needs nine different drugs, including one costing $380 a month, to control the pain and side effects. No insurer has been willing to cover her, she says, except a few that have taken her money and then refused to pay

for her medications.

Yet her effort to sign up for the health law’s coverage has been painful in its own way.

The Fort Mohave, Ariz., resident hasn’t been able to complete an application on the federal HealthCare.gov website.

Three attempts to submit an application over the phone haven’t panned out.

Once when she called back, she says she was told they had no record of the application. Another time, officials told her they could see the application but couldn’t open it.

“I was so elated with this whole thing,” Momi, 46, says about the health

insurance marketplace, “and now I’m praying to God that I’ll be able to get something.”

Enrollment has been open since Oct. 1, but hitches such as those that Momi encountered have put many people behind schedule. The next three weeks are critical for consumers keen on getting health coverage as soon as the health law allows it on Jan. 1. People who desire coverage by then need to sign up in the new marketplaces no later than Dec. 23. Consumers can still enroll up to the end of March, but their coverage will begin later.

For people in the states with well-functioning

insurance website - such as California, New York and Kentucky - this appears to leave plenty of time.

But making the deadline could be dicier for people in Kansas and the 35 other states where HealthCare.gov is the path to coverage.

On Sunday, the Obama administration said that it had met its goal of improving the website so that it works well for the vast majority of users - saying it now allows 50,000 users at a time, 800,000 visits per day, and is crashing or timing out less than one percent of the time now.

(See DEADLINE on page 13)

(See IMMUNE on page 17)

The Scott County Record • Page 13 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Medical society proposes higher malpractice awards The Kansas Medical Society will propose legislation in 2014 to raise the state’s $250,000 limit on non-economic damages awarded in medical malpractice cases.

“We’re going to ask the Legislature to increase the cap this coming session,” said KMS Executive Director Jerry Slaughter.

The cap on so called pain-and-suffering awards in medical malpractice

and personal injury cases has not been raised since it was enacted in 1988.

KMS will propose pushing the cap to $300,000 in 2014.

Additional increases, he said, would be considered after five years.

“We’re trying to strike a balance,” he said. “We want this to be meaningful, but we don’t want it to destabilize the (medical malpractice insurance)

Fight after being released from the hospital).

As befits a first-hand account of a deeply personal experience, Marso tells the story mostly from his own point of view.

But he also draws on information from family and friends. He describes the media interest in his plight and the sometimes agonizing transition from hospital life to a new one

decision last year that upheld the cap but warned that “the legislature’s failure” to increase it for more than 20 years was “troubling” and could increase the likelihood that subsequent challenges could be successful.

Raising the cap to $300,000 over five years, Slaughter said, would assuage the court’s concern.

The lawsuit that led to

(continued from page 12)

at home.

The book is also a patient’s story, as well as a window into modern medicine and the staff at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Marso recounts his life-saving antibiotic treatments, conflicting medical opinions about amputation, doctor opinions offered in unseemly ways, treatment accidents that put him at

Deadline However, officials acknowledged that extensive work remains to be done to buttress the troubled website, which has marred the rollout of President Obama’s signature health-care initiative.

The technological trials for these websites have turned an enrollment period that was supposed to be a leisurely threemonth stroll into a lastminute sprint for millions of Americans.

“The challenge ahead is you have a lot of people who need to get into the system,” said Sarah Lueck, an analyst with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington think tank

market.”

KMS represents a majority of the state’s physicians.

Slaughter said KMS has commissioned a study on how best to implement the increase, which is expected to be completed for the start in January of the 2014 legislative session.

Slaughter said the proposal is in response to a Kansas Supreme Court

risk.

He has high praise for most everyone at KU Med, but venom for his bedside psychiatrist and for the hospital food.

He formed a particularly close relationship with plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Lawrence, who worked to save as much of Marso’s hands and feet as he could, even though that led to weeks of agony

in the “tank room.”

It’s the story of how devastating medical emergencies can be to families.

His parents, two brothers and grandmother spent months away from work and school. His mother ultimately had to close her law firm in Minnesota.

All told, the treatments cost his family more than $100,000 - despite insurance.

(continued from page 12)

that focuses on issues related to low- and moderate-income people.

Within the Obama administration, concern is great enough about accommodating everyone who wants coverage by the first of the year that officials pushed back the deadline from its original date of Dec. 15.

Prompt enrollment is urgent for people in several circumstances. Some have no coverage, either because they haven’t been able to afford it or, like Momi, because they have pre-existing medical issues that led insurers to reject them in the past.

Some have insurance

that is going to expire.

That group includes people whose health plans have been canceled and those in a high-risk pool that is closing. For people with serious medical issues, such as cancer patients in the middle of treatment, the loss of coverage could be medically and financially devastating.

Sara Collins, a vice president at the Commonwealth Fund, a New York health care foundation, predicts two waves of people will try to sign up for plans in the first half of December: those who had tried to shop on the websites but were stymied by techno-

logical glitches and those who were able to look at plans but didn’t settle on one.

For those who wait until the Dec. 23 deadline - either by choice or because they encountered difficulties - insurers will have just a week to process the applications before people can start filing claims. Robert Laszewski, an insurance industry consultant, says insurers generally need two weeks to add newly covered people into their computer systems.

“The chances are we’re going to see lots of customer service problems,” he says.

Support your hometown merchants!

the ruling that upheld the cap involved a Douglas County woman, Amy Miller, who sued her doctor in 2004 for removing the wrong ovary during a 2002 surgery.

In 2006, a jury awarded Miller $760,000 in total damages: $360,000 for past and future medical expenses and $400,000 for past and future noneconomic losses.

The judge in the case

cut the non-economic portion of the award to $250,000 because that was the most allowed by state law then and now.

Miller’s attorney, Bill Skepnek, appealed the decision to reduce the non-economic portion of the damages, arguing that his client had an “inviolate” right to a jury trial, and that the cap had violated that right by lessening the role of the jury.

Pastime at Park Lane Residents played Wii bowling on Monday evening.

Residents watched, “The Hughes Brothers” video on Tuesday afternoon.

Residents played bingo on Wednesday afternoon.

Helpers were Barbara Dickhut, Madeline Murphy and MaryAnn Spangler.

Residents watched “Miracle on 34th Street” on Saturday afternoon.

Dottie Fouquet was visited by Mark and Terri Fouquet, Jon and Anne Crane, Joe Fouquet, Catherine Winter, Landon and Samantha Haney, Drew Lovelace, Donna Gaschler and Fritzi Rauch.

Hilda Gruver was visited by Tina Turley.

Joyce Bohnert was visited by Tina Turley.

Pat Palen was visited

by Rick and Jan Huck; Erin, David, Evelyn and Eliza Killough; and Luke, Aubrey, Henry and Charlie Steinbrink.

Residents enjoy pitch, dominoes

Residents played pitch and dominoes on Monday afternoon. Helpers were Arlene Cauthon, Dorothy King, Joy and Maranda Barnett, Hugh McDaniel and Madeline Murphy.

Quance entertains on Friday

Chet Quance sang a variety of songs on Friday afternoon. Wanda Wright furnished cupcakes for everyone after the program.

Verna Willman was visited by Bill Willman, Holcomb; Bob Willman, Don and Judy Browning, D’Ann Markel and Tracey.

Edith Norman was visited by Ron and Sue Riner, Randy Ryan, Gary Frank, Tom and Sara Shane, and Jan Norman.

Christine Evans was visited by Richard Evans.

Lula Dirks was visited

by Willetta Payne, Darla Luebbers, Dave and Deb Kraemer, Jerome Luebbers, Brandon Luebbers, Kacie G., and Nathan Goetz.

Deaths

Albert Dean was visited by Carol Davey and Kent Geist.

Harold and Ruth White were visited by Junior and Sharon Strecker.

Dona Dee Carpenter was visited by Bill John, Roger and Jackie John; Todd, Kim, Sami and Abbi John; Hugh McDaniel and Fritzie Rauch.

Vivian Kreiser was visited by Sharon Lock, Lori Poore, Celina Poore, Grace Beaton, Spenser and Kaleb Beaton, Joshua Beaton and Trenedy Beaton.

The Scott County Record • Page 14 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Jim and Yvonne Spangler were visited by Les and Mary Ann Spangler, Jordan VanCampen, Jillian VanCampen, Greg and Yvette Mills, Jerica Van Campen, Mark Gutierrez and Amy Kendrick.

Jake Leatherman was visited by Tamie Babb, Faye Summerville, Hugh McDaniel, Randy Ryan, Gary Frank, and Don and Judy Browning.

Mildred VanPelt was visited by David VanPelt, Pastor Dennis Carter, Jamie Longoria, Brooke Stanley and Carrie Murphy.

Rod and Kathy Haxton were visitors of their mother, Boots Haxton.

Earl Gorman was visited by Loretta Gorman, Connie Gruver, Brandon Gorman, Chuck and Barbara Brobst, Larissa Brobst, Orville and Marcine Gorman, Jay and Rae Gorman, Hugh McDaniel; Lyle, Leta, and Iris Mae G.; and Jane McBroom.

by Jason Storm

Phyllis Trembley was visited by Betty Scheuerman, Tava See, Leona Logan, Marvin and Louise Greenberg, Bob and Virginia Strong, Greg and Andie Strong, Kat the dog, Irwin and Carol Schwartz, and Blanca the dog.

Harriet Jones was visited by Nancy Holt and Rev. Don Martin from St. Luke’s Church.

Kathy McKellips was visited by Cassandra Schultz.

Herb Graves was visited by Emily Wright and Tina Turley.

Darlene Richman was visited by Tina Turley and Darla Luebbers.

Mike Leach was visited by Linda Dunagan, Julianne Dunagan, and Rev. Don Martin from St. Luke’s Church.

Judy Redburn was visited by Carol Ellis, Twilla MacLeane, Mary Torson, Wendy Derstine, Joy Barnett and Maranda Dawn Barnett.

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

Nella Funk was visited

by Kim Smith, Nikki Simmons, Sheila Boyd, Pam Brown and Tamera Turley.

Ruth Holland was visited by Deb Lawrence and Debbie Bush.

Mary Alice Lawrence King was visited by Shorty and Deb Lawrence.

Mike Kitch was visited

by Orville and Marcine Gorman.

James Still was visited

by Linda Dunagan and Tina Turley.

Delores Brooks was visited by Cheryl Perry, Charles Brooks, Fritzi Rauch and Lucille Dirks.

Jim Jeffery was visited

by Libbie Joles and Hugh McDaniel.

Bonnie Pickett was visited by Joel Wright, Larry and Philene Pickett, and Chris Pickett.

Sr. Citizen Lunch Menu

Evelyn Rose ‘Evie’ Stegman Evelyn Rose “Evie” Stegman, 80, died Nov. 30, 2013, at the Scott County Hospital, Scott City.

Evie was born on Oct. 27, 1933, on the f a m ily homes t e a d Evelyn Stegman east and north of Marienthal, the daughter of Joseph Mathias and Veronica Elizabeth (Heile) Berning. She was later baptized by Father Cyprian at St. Mary Catholic Church.

Evie was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, St. Mary Altar Society, Daughters of Isabella and the United States Postal Workers Union. She was a postal employee for over 22 years, retiring as Postmaster of the Marienthal Post Office.

On Nov. 21, 1959, she married Melvin Leo Stegman at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marienthal. He passed away on Aug. 25, 2010, in Hays.

Survivors include: four children, Timothy Stegman, LaGrange, Ky.,

Randall Stegman and wife, Vickie, Edgerton, Douglas Stegman and wife, Joni, Marienthal, and Sandra LaCoy, and husband, John, Jr., Scott City; two brothers, Joseph Berning, and wife, Bernice, and Edwin Berning, and wife, Kathy, all of Leoti; sister-in-law, Bernadine Berning, Wichita; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Stanley Stegman; and two brothers, Bart Berning and John Berning.

Vigil services were held Dec. 3 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Benjamin Martin officiating.

Funeral mass was held Dec. 4 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Benjamin Martin officiating.

Burial was at St. Mary Cemetery, Marienthal.

Memorials may be given to St. Mary Catholic Church in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, Leoti.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at priceandsons.com

Week of November December 9-13 Monday: Smothered steak with onions, mashed potatoes, gravy, marinated tomatoes, whole wheat bread, peaches.

Tuesday: Pork roast, gravy, mashed potatoes, cauliflower, whole wheat roll, blueberry dessert square.

Wednesday: Beef stroganoff on noodles, carrots, bread, mandarin oranges.

Thursday: Oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli, whole wheat roll, applesauce gelatin salad.

Friday: Beef stew or chili, green beans with pimientos, crackers, pears, cinnamon roll. meals are $3.25 • call 872-3501

Moving? Contact The Scott County Record to update your address, so you don’t miss your paper.

P.O. Box 377, Scott City, Ks. 67871 • 620-872-2090 • www.scottcountyrecord.com

The Scott County Record • Page 15 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Park Place People

by Doris Riner

It was a happy, thankful Thanksgiving Day for all the residents of Park Place. Residents staying and eating here tell me the dinner was super good and delicious!

Eating here were the Thons, Cliff and Phillys; Lou Pfanenstiel, Marian Sigurdson; Ardis Rose and son, Gary and wife, Kenna Rose, Gillette, Wyo. Edith Donecker’s family was here along with her son, Jim, and wife, Wichita.

Sherry Barnett enjoyed turkey dinner at the country home of her daughter, Angela and Dennis Gerstner.

Lela Bishop was at the home of her sister, Thelma Miller.

Joe Beaver was a guest at his son, Jay’s house.

Elvira Billinger’s daughter, Connie, Garden City, come to eat with her.

Mary Plum was a guest of her daughter, LaNora and Rick Dirks.

Margaret Lee had an early Thanksgiving dinner while her son, Richard, who was here from California. The Lee family gathered at the home of her daughter, Mary and Jerome Berning, for Thanksgiving.

Edwin Allen went out to eat with Dennis.

Yours Truly was at Joe and Roma Murphy’s in Great Bend for Thanksgiving and I spent the rest of the week with them.

Thanksgiving Day is a day set aside to stop and count your blessings (at least, take time to count a few of them . . . like a thousand or more), and thank the one and only God of our nation.

Attend the Church of Your Choice

Deaths

Black Friday

Janet Y. Murphy Janet Y. Murphy, 66, died Dec. 5, 2013, at the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.

She was born Nov. 24, 1947, in Compton, Calif., the daughter of Hubert and Lu (Disney) Hanes.

A longtime area resident, she was a program technician at the FSA office, Larned. Janet was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Red Hat Society, all of Larned.

On Sept. 9, 1967, she married Robert R. Smyth at Winfield. He passed away Dec. 5, 1992. On Nov. 27, 1993, she married Melvin M. Murphy, Jr. at Larned, he survives.

Survivors include: her father, Hubert Hanes; three sons, Russell Smyth, and wife, Gina, Shawn Smyth and wife, Dawn, all of Larned, and Kris Smyth, and wife, Sunni, Scott City; three daughters, Marie Schmidtberger, and husband, Wayne, Victoria, Cathy DeMond and husband, Lance, Broken Arrow, Okla., and

Melissa Hoogendoorn and husband, Darin, Lantana, Tex.; two brothers, Mike Hanes, Winfield, and Richard Hanes, Eudora; one sister, Susan Craig, Anderson, Mo.; 14 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother and a brother, Sam Hanes.

Visitation will be Sat., Dec. 7, 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 8, 1:00-8:00 p.m., with the family present from 2:004:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned.

Funeral will be Mon., Dec. 9, 11:00 a.m., at the United Methodist Church, Larned, with Rev. Bethann Black presiding.

Burial will be at the Larned Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Pawnee Valley Community Foundation or the Central Care Cancer Center, Great Bend, both in care of Beckwith Mortuary, Box 477, Larned, Ks. 67550.

Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.

Black Friday and everyone is lined up to bust through the doors of the store in pursuit of the best and greatest bargain of the season. The build-up of excitement for this seasonal activity has been relentless and some stores are willing to sacrifice Thanksgiving Day to beat the competition.

People even camp on the sidewalks all night to be the first to burst into the store and run for the ultimate sale item.

Just think what it would be like to come to church on Sunday morning and see tents on the sidewalk with people just waiting with excitement to be the first one through the door to receive the good news that will help them receive the gift of everlasting life in the kingdom of God. What would it look like to see people from all around standing outside the church just waiting to hear the Word of God read to them, words that lead to salvation in Jesus Christ the Son of the living God. To hear about a gift so wonderful that comes from God our Father who loves us so much that he sent His only Son, The Lamb of God, with a name that is above every name, the one who is the way, the truth and the life, who is and was and is to come.

Shouldn’t this good news and message be a million times more exciting than any shopping spree or bargain that could ever be offered by the world?

The greatest gift is Jesus Christ through whom we have salvation and it is in Christ alone it comes.

Now that is a gift worthy of all excitement and joy.

Steve Payne First Christian Church, Scott City

Scott City Assembly of God

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

St. Joseph Catholic 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.

Pence Community Church

Prairie View Church of the Brethren

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 • Wednesday mornings Breakfast at 6:30 a.m.

Held at Precision Ag Bldg. west of Shallow Water

Holy Cross Lutheran Church

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.

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 Kyle Evans, Senior Pastor Bob Artz, Associate Pastor

1398 S. US83 - Scott City - 872-2264 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.

First Christian Church

1st United Methodist Church

5th Street and College - Scott City - 872-2401 Dennis Carter, 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.

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

Sunday Evening Service: 7:00 p.m.

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.

The Scott County Record • Page 16 • Thursday, December 5, 2013 Youngsters who have reached 100 to 600 book milestones in the Scott County Library’s “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” reading program are:

Ava Hughes 100

Sophia Goode 600

Deacon Daniels 200

Aaren Radke 100

Bretton Thomas 300

Brandt Powelson 200

Colborn Trout 500

Madison Goode 600

Joselyn Miller 100

Kansas still a ‘great place,’ but public has less confidence

Kansas remains a great place to Iive, and Kansans are optimistic about the future, but they also revealed a significant amount of uncertainty in the fifth annual Kansas Speaks survey of public opinion in the state.

Overall, according to Ft. Hays State University’s Docking Institute of Public Affairs, Kansans who responded to the 2013 Kansas Speaks survey are feeling caught between different forces and unsure about what the future will hold.

First of all, Kansans believe the state is a great place to live. But that does not mean they look at events in the state with rose-colored glasses.

Although 87.4 percent of respondents rate Kansas as a good, very good or excellent place to live, only 53.4 percent rate the Kansas economy that highly.

Most people rate the economy as fair or good, but clearly the enthusiasm among Kansans for the state does not extend to the state of the economy.

In fact, 61 percent of respondents are concerned the Kansas economy will threaten their family’s welfare in the near future. There is an apparent concern for the economy, but one of the biggest uncertainties is what the people want to do about it. Sweeping into office in 2010, Gov. Sam Brownback promised to improve the Kansas economy through a low-tax, pro-business policy agenda showcased by a gradual reduction of corporate and individual income taxes.

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Don’t Know What to Cut In no specific areas did a mandate emerge for reduction in government spending. So while people who participated in Kansas Speaks generally think that government spending should decrease, they have no preference for specific and substantive cuts in the state budget.

In fact, they would like to see spending increases on the two policy areas that make up three-quarters of the state budget: education and social services.

Support for spending increases is so strong that three in five participants support school districts being allowed to sue the state Legislature to increase their funding.

Respondents are also decisive on how they would pay for extra spending, strongly favoring tax increases for large corporations and wealthier Kansans, with majorities supporting higher taxes for both groups.

Kansans are unsure of the future, skeptical of all political leaders’ ideas for improving the state’s economic health, and want the government to decrease spending, while at the same time they want increased funds going to schools and social services.

The one thing that is clear from the responses to this year’s Kansas Speaks is that uncertainty reigns.

Other interesting findings: •Wind is the clear favorite for where resources devoted to energy development should go with 45 percent.

•A 46.7 percent plurality of Kansans strongly oppose allowing concealed weapons to be carried in schools, hospitals and government buildings.

•Less than half (44.2 percent) of respondents said that, “if the election was held today,” they would vote to retain Sam Brownback for governor.

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Divided on Brownback After two years of Brownback’s governorship, respondents are divided on the effects of the plan. Survey participants are evenly divided on Brownback’s economic plan, with 38 percent satisfied with his handling of the economy and 40 percent dissatisfied with his performance.

Respondents to Kansas Speaks are also evenly divided on Democratic plans for the state’s economy, but more neutral.

Results suggest that people might not be enthusiastic about Brownback’s economic agenda but aren’t even sure what the Democratic plan is.

The actual percentage of supporters, 30 percent, and opponents, 36 percent, for Democrats is close to the numbers for Brownback, so no clear mandate on a direction for the economy emerges.

Most notable are the results on state spending. Many respondents (44.5%) think govern-

ment spending should be decreased, but other data suggest that Kansans don’t know where the cuts should come from.

More Kansans think funding for education, both K-12 (66.5 percent) and higher education (45.1 percent), and social services (50.1 percent) should be increased.

In those same categories, six percent thought K-12 funding should be decreased, 12.7 percent thought funding for higher education should be reduced, and 6.2 percent thought funding for social services should be reduced.

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The Scott County Record

Sports

Page 17 - Thursday, December 5, 2013

Classic will be tough test for Beavers Only two weeks removed from your last football game and with a lineup that includes four new starters, you’d like the opportunity to ease into the season.

That’s a luxury the Scott Community High School boys won’t have during three nights of

action in the Southwest Classic which begins next Thursday.

All three SCHS opponents are coming off very good 2012-13 seasons and return many of their starters - unlike the Beavers who are in rebuilding mode. That also means the Beavers find them-

Southwest Classic Thurs., Dec. 12: SCHS vs Pueblo East, 6:00/7:45 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13: SCHS vs Wichita Trinity, 6:00/7:45 p.m.

Sat, Dec. 14: SCHS vs Denver South, 4:00/5:45 p.m.

selves in a rare position.

“This year we’re the underdog in all three games,” says head coach Glenn O’Neil.

The Beavers will face

Pueblo East (20-3) in opening round action on Thursday.

The Eagles will test the undersized Beavers with a pair of 6-4 players,

including senior center Jimmy Valdez (12.1 ppg) and senior forward Dylan Gavin (15.0 ppg).

“They bring back four of their top six kids,” says O’Neil of the senior-dominated roster.

Senior guard T.J. Gradisar (5-0, 6.5 ppg) is joined by senior for-

Another era begins for SCHS boy’s hoops When you’re coming off an incredible three-year span in which your basketball team compiled a 75-3 record and won three consecutive state championships what can you do for an encore?

You try to assemble the pieces for a fourth state title.

Before the Scott Community High School boys can entertain thoughts of a fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament they have a lot of work ahead of them.

At the top of that list is building chemistry on a team that returns just one starter from last year’s 25-1 squad and developing some much-needed depth.

“It’s a big process getting everyone to understand their roles on a team even in those years when you have a lot of returning players,” says head coach Glenn O’Neil. “Some boys want to expand their roles and they’re not capable while others are more capable and need to step up. Often times kids don’t think they have any weaknesses.”

Assuming a much larger role on the team as the only returning starter is 6-foot-2 junior Trey O’Neil (11.6 ppg, 34-of-111 from 3-point).

“He’s earned it,” says Coach O’Neil.

“He’s put in the most time on the court by himself and by playing with others over the years. As a junior he feels pretty comfortable in that role.”

Getting some varsity court time late last season is 6-foot-3 junior Brett Meyer.

They will be joined by seniors Chris Pounds (5-11) and Brayden Strine (6-0), juniors Sloan Baker (6-1) and Chantz Yager (5-9) and sophomore Dylan Hutchins (5-8).

Lack Size, Depth After having All-State player Drew

ward Ryan Armijo (6-2, 3.9 ppg) and senior guard Jordan Cruz (5-9, 2.1 ppg).

State-Ranked Trinity On the second night of round-robin play, the Beavers will face Wichita Trinity, ranked No. 5 in (See CLASSIC on page 19)

Pelini has found his scapegoat

Rebounding will need to be everyone’s responsibility.

“We probably aren’t going to outrebound everybody in four out of every five games like we did last year but we have to break even with them. If we are outrebounded, it can’t be by very much.”

Senior Keigun Wells (6-0, 205) might be able to provide some muscle under the paint after being on the wrestling team last season. But he won’t see any action until after Christmas due to a stress fracture.

Things have not Rod b e e n Haxton, going parsports ticularly editor well for Nebraska football - at least not by NU standards.

National championships are a distant memory for the once proud Cornhuskers.

Heck, the last time they won a conference championship of any kind was the Big 12 title in 1999.

Head coach Bo Pelini was supposed to restore NU to their glory days, but instead he’s had at least four losses in each of his six seasons.

Frustration met with embarrassment last weekend when Pelini and his Huskers lost to lowly Iowa, 38-17.

Not to worry. In a news conference following the loss, a testy Pelini was able to explain why he and his Huskers haven’t been more successful.

It was the media’s fault for questioning how much longer Pelini will remain as head coach if NU doesn’t once again become one of the best college programs outside of Nebraska.

“It’s been a distraction,” Pelini said with respect to speculation about his job status. “It’s hurt our football team. If they wanna fire me go ahead.”

In other words, it’s the media’s fault for talking about the fact that Nebraska is just a slightly-betterthan-average team under Pelini.

It’s not the first time that the media has been a coach’s scapegoat.

(See SC BOYS on page 20)

(See PELINI on page 19)

SCHS senior Chris Pounds drives to the basket during practice. The Beavers will open their season on the home floor Thursday.

(Record Photo)

Kite in the post for the past two seasons, the Beavers now have to adjust to not having a player of his size or physical skills in the post.

“It’s not like we’re going to throw the ball into the paint a lot anyway.

Our strength is driving and shooting and passing off the drive,” says Coach O’Neil. “We won’t have a go-to low post player where you feel you can draw a foul or get a basket. For that to happen our guards will have to create contact and draw fouls on drives to the basket.

And our shooting will have to be pretty solid night after night.”

Dual success won’t come easy for SC

SCHS sophomore Abe Wiebe (right) listens to advice from assistant coach Aaron Dirks while working on takedowns during wrestling practice earlier this week.

(Record Photo)

It’s become a familiar scenario for Scott Community High School wrestling coach Jon Lippelmann.

A long football season means that a number of his wrestlers have very little time to prepare for their season opening tournament which will be at Hoxie on Saturday.

In fact, the football players on his squad didn’t get into the practice room for the first time until Monday.

That, however, may be the least of his problems this season.

With only about 17 grapplers - and very few of those ready for varsity level competition - the early dual schedule probably won’t be very kind to the Beavers.

Scott City returns just two state medalists from the Class 3A tournament as they prepare to make

the jump into Class 4A this season.

James Jurgens, a twotime state finalist and the 120-pound state champion last season, is one of the “big three” in the SCHS lineup.

He’s starting the year at 132-pounds, but is expected to make the move to 126.

“There’s no doubt that James will be one of the state’s top wrestlers whether it’s in 3A or 4A,” says Lippelmann.

A fifth place medalist in the 160-pound class at last season’s state tournament was Warren Kropp, who will start the year at 182-pounds.

“Warren knows this is his last chance so he’s set some pretty high goals for himself and he’s good enough to reach them,” Lippelmann says of the senior.

(See DUAL on page 20)

The Scott County Record • Page 18 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Outdoors in Kansas

by Steve Gilliland

In other words . . .

I was quite amused by a recent article listing new words added to the latest edition of the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

I guess I just never thought about adding new words to the dictionary. I figured that, like real estate, the words we have were all we would ever get, or all we would ever need for that matter.

Most of the newly added words have been around for awhile, but have now become popular enough in our English “jargon” to earn entrance into MerriamWebster.

Some of the words are amusing too.

Words like stay-cation, a vacation spent at home or nearby; frenemy, one who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy, and vlog, a blog that contains video material.

Likewise, we outdoorsmen have given birth to some pretty interesting words over the years that perhaps should also be compiled into some sort of official listing.

Here are a few of the more engaging ones I found: •hangers: deer or elk droppings so fresh they “hang” off the bottom of your boots; •swamp-donkey: a moose or huge old recluse buck deer; •mountain-money: toilet paper carried with you to the woods; •puny-dwindle: an arrow that falls short of its intended target because of a coat sleeve or other impediment to the bow string, and •grab-a-tree: the term given to relieving oneself in the woods, as in “I gotta go grabatree.”

I’d personally like to add three more words to our official listing.

The first is off-abit. This word can take several forms like off-a-little or offa smig. Its’ antonym is off-a-lot, and it’s used (See WORDS on page 21)

Dighton girls should be a 1A power A year ago the Dighton High School girls got a brief taste of the Class 1ADivision II state tournament, losing to Norwich in the opening round.

“We have high expectations,” says head coach Amy Felker about her Lady Hornets.

Those expectations include more than one-anddone at state again this year.

There’s plenty of reason for the Lady Hornets to enter the season with high hopes, starting with a lineup that includes four returning starters.

Dighton’s strength will begin in the paint where they feature 5-foot-10 senior Leslie Speer (12.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg) who will be joined by her sister Jordan (5-10, freshman). Also sharing time in the low post will be 5-9 senior Liz Heath (6.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg).

“We feel pretty good about our ability to score and control the boards with those three girls,” says Felker.

That also allows her to slide senior Shambrey Budd from the post where she played last year to the perimeter. She was particularly effective working the baseline last season

Madison O’Brien (left) and Sara Cramer chase down a loose ball during Saturday’s practice.

(Record Photo)

and could find similar success again this year.

“This is going to be a better situation for Shambrey. It can create some mismatches and that should create more scor-

ing opportunities for her when she drives to the basket,” says Felker. “I like having a strong girl on the wing who can do a lot for us.”

Running the show on

the perimeter and handling the ball at the point is returning senior guard Diamond Brown (5.0 ppg, 2.6 apg). Also getting a lot of varsity time last year was sophomore guard Ki-

ara Budd (5.3 ppg).

Providing added depth at guard are junior Regan Foos, sophomore Dakota Hoffman and freshman Sara Cramer.

(See DIGHTON on page 21)

Lessons learned during our month-long drought It hasn’t been a good week for the Chiefs.

For the second time in the last three games we lost to Denver which has realistically eliminated us from any chance of winning the AFC West.

And we no longer have the loudest stadium in the world.

First things first.

Even without linebacker Justin Houston and a hobbled Tamba Hali this was a game the Chiefs could have won. That shows how good we can still be.

Better yet, we did learn something during our three game losing streak.

•We can’t cover Denver’s wide receivers manto-man. We can - and will - make some adjustments if we see them again in the post-season.

•Knile Davis needs

Inside the Huddle

with the X-Factor

to return more kickoffs which was evident after his 108 yard return.

•The later in the season, the worse the weather, the better I like our chances against Peyton Manning even if it’s at Mile High.

We’re a team built for bad weather and Manning’s ability suffers when the conditions are miserable.

On the other hand, if we play at New England in the playoffs, all bets are off. The Patriots can probably handle miserable weather with anyone.

•Our offense is taking on another dimension by extending the field and making big plays that we

weren’t even attempting early in the season. With quarterback Alex Smith and his receivers gaining more confidence in something other than the short game that’s going to make us even more effective over the next few weeks.

We might add that from 2001 through 2010, head coach Andy Reid was 3212 with the Eagles during December. Reid and his coaches know how to win late in the season.

Despite not winning a game in a month, we are still in the enviable position of needing just one more win to nail down a playoff spot. We should get that done against the Redskins this weekend, which will give us a sweep of the NFC East.

Right now, our biggest concern is getting everyone healthy. Until we get

Houston back, teams can focus their attention on stopping Hali. We also need to get Brandon Albert back from what appears to be a hyperextended knee.

We have four games to regain our confidence and make a push into the playoffs. A win over the Redskins would be a good start.

2,000 seats for the game.

What did they get for their effort?

They established a Guinness noise record of 137.6 . . . just barely beating Arrowhead’s 137.5.

Keep in mind that CenturyLink Field was designed to enhance crowd noise. Arrowhead is a 50-year-old stadium in which was designed to provide the ultimate game-day experience.

If you want to measure “peak noise” then Seattle has bragging rights. But if you want to consider the average noise level for an entire game, no one can match Arrowhead.

Just ask the players who have played in both stadiums which is the more difficult. I’m convinced that more will tell you it’s Kansas City.

Breaking the Rules The word out of Seattle is that they broke our noise record during Monday’s game against New Orleans.

It would seem they used some questionable methods in doing so.

On TV you could see that fans had big, blue megaphones which are supposed to be banned from NFL stadiums. And Seattle added another (See LESSONS on page 22)

The Scott County Record • Page 19 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

SC girls anxious to see real competition For the last three weeks, head coach Shelby Crawford has been able to watch his girl’s squad adapt to his new “read and react” offense.

Next week he’ll be able to see if they can adapt what they’ve learned to an actual game when Scott Community High School opens its season against Pueblo (Colo.) East in the Southwest Classic. Tipoff for the first of three round-robin games in the SCHS gym will be Thurs., Dec. 12, at 6:00 p.m.

“We’re doing some good things in practice and we are making progress, but you never know until you’re in a game situation,” says Crawford. “We need to see how the girls will respond to strong defensive pressure and a team that will be physical, which we aren’t able to get in practice.

“That’s why we emphasize defense so much. It’s one thing that we can control.”

The key to Scott City’s offense will be their ability to create mismatches, especially against man-to-man pressure.

Against zone defenses, the goal is to create gaps in the defense with their constant motion.

“It should be very difficult for teams to play us man-toman if we can take care of the ball,” Crawford says. “If we’re patient and make the right reads we’ll be okay offensively.

“When we are running our offense right, a defense shouldn’t be able to stay with us for more than seven passes.

Not if we have proper movement and maintain good spacing,” Crawford says. “We’re lucky we don’t have a shot clock. The important thing is to remain disciplined.”

Without a true center, the Lady Beavers will adapt to their opponent. Senior Bailey Nickel (5-9) is the closest thing that SCHS has to an inside scoring

Classic the Class 4A-Division 2 preseason poll. Trinity is coming off a 16-6 season after losing all three games in last year’s Southwest Classic. They put together a 10 game winning streak before a season-ending 55-54 loss to Winfield in substate.

Trinity only graduated one senior from a squad which had the ability to light it up from beyond the three-point line.

On the final night of the tournament, SCHS will host a tall and physical Denver South

Roberts claims top prize in Pigskin contest

SCHS head coach Shelby Crawford discusses what he wants the girls to do with their fullcourt defense during Tuesday’s practice.

(Record Photo)

threat.

“We’ll have to work around the height factor with our spacing. Against man-to-man (defenses), Bailey is our strong post, but we’ll be playing her a lot to the outside and giving her opportunities to cut to the basket,” Crawford says. “She has the strength to take the ball inside, but she also has a nice outside shot. We want Bailey to challenge girls in the paint and, hopefully, get at least 10 free throws a game.”

Senior guard Kelly Wycoff could provide the Lady Beavers with an outside scoring threat.

“We just need for Kelly to gain confidence and give us some consistency,” Crawford says.

Rounding out the starting lineup will be senior guard Holly Wilcoxson and senior forward Riley Hawker.

The fifth spot will rotate between sophomore guards Nicole Latta and newcomer Mariah Campbell.

Two freshmen that Crawford hopes can earn varsity minutes are guard Kiana Yager and center Paige Winderlin.

“Both girls bring a lot of intensity to practice, but their

skill level isn’t what it needs to be at the varsity level,” says the head coach. “Given our overall lack of depth, they’ll probably get more playing time than I’d prefer because we don’t have any other options.

“Right now, I feel comfortable playing six deep. After that it’s freshmen and sophomores.”

With so many questions surrounding the offense, Crawford is hoping the defense can keep them in games.

“Our man-to-man is looking a lot better,” he says. “Last year, I felt the team had to resort to being a zone team because they were in foul trouble a lot.

We need to focus on providing defensive help in the lane and avoid the fouls.

“We hope this offense will crack open the scoring flood gates. But, until that happens, it begins with defense.”

Southwest Classic Pueblo East features a trio of returning starters who combined to average nearly 41 points per game on last season’s 14-11 squad.

Senior Kelsey Laughlin (16.1 ppg) leads the group, followed by sophomore Jailen

Minich (14.1 ppg) and 5-foot11 sophomore center Kassidi Day (10.5 ppg).

The following night, Scott City will play Wichita Trinity Academy (15-6) which returns five players who saw considerable playing time a year ago.

Senior Kristin Miller (5-8, 9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) led the team in the paint and was joined by 5-8 junior Caroline Zielke (5.9 ppg, 1.8 rpg).

The guard play is led by 5-4 junior Shiloh Miller (9.0 ppg) who was 21-of-44 from beyond the three-point line. Another scoring threat is 5-3 junior guard Whitney Guetersich (5.2 ppg).

SCHS can probably expect a very physical game from Denver South (11-12) which returns three of their key players, led by 5-6 senior guard Naudia Sweets (14.1 ppg, 2.9 spg).

Senior guard Courtney Kindell (6.0 ppg) and 5-9 guard/ forward Madison Moore (3.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg) also saw a lot of court time.

“The first three games will tell us a lot about where we’re at and what we need to focus on,” adds Crawford.

little guys, so we have to use head and shoulder fakes and get people in the air,” explains the head coach.

An undersized SCHS squad will be a little smaller for awhile with senior Keigun Wells (6-0, 205) out of the lineup until after Christmas because of a stress fracture in his foot.

Lack of varsity experience, however, will be the bigger issue facing SCHS early in the season.

“This is not the best time for us to be returning just one of

our top eight kids, but that’s the way it is. (The tournament) is a chance to see what we need to work on right away and build on it for the rest of the season,” O’Neil says.

“Last year, Trinity came in here and lost all three games, but finished 16-3 the rest of the year. Their 0-3 start didn’t hurt them. They learned from it,” he says. “We definitely don’t want to go 0-3, but we’ll find our strengths and weaknesses.

“We need to play in order to find out where we are.”

(continued from page 17)

(18-7) team that features senior forward Ibrahim Sylia (6-7, 13.0 ppg, 11.1 rpg).

“No one’s going to shoot over him,” noted O’Neil about the Division I prospect. “He’s a big kid with great athletic ability. Against competition in Denver’s city league he averaged five blocked shots a game.

“What we can do is increase our versatility inside with pump fakes and get him off his feet so we can get the foul. All big guys like to block little guys’ shots. We’re the

Tim McGonagle was unable to gain any ground on Ryan Roberts in the final week of the annual Pigskin Payoff, giving Roberts the $275 grand prize in this year’s contest.

McGonagle claims the $125 second prize after both contestants had 11 correct picks this past week.

Roberts had a total of 149 correct picks for the season, followed by McGonagle (148), Rick Wright (145) Gary Tucker (144), Barry Switzer (144), Chris Crocker (143) and Adam Kadavy (143).

The top winner in week No. 13 was David Perry with 13 correct picks. He won the tiebreaker over Chris Rodriguez who claimed second place money.

Third place went to Rick Wright.

There will be a final Pigskin Payoff in December for the college bowl games.

Pelini

(continued from page 17)

Following the loss to the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl that also cost his team a 17-0 season, New England head coach Bill Belichick famously said, “All this talk about a perfect season was a distraction.

“Every day that we had to read in the newspaper or see the talking heads on ESPN mention our chances at finishing undefeated it caused our team to lose its focus. Your never-ending talk about being undefeated hurt this team.”

The precedent had been set.

The media, once again, was to blame.

Pelini’s immaturity has been evident over the years. His outburst aimed at the officials during Saturday’s game and at the media afterwards was typical Pelini.

Bottom line: the reason Pelini’s future has been the topic of sports columns and media talking heads is because the NU coach hasn’t measured up in a program that still envisions that it’s a player on the national scene. When you lose three and four games a season at NU you’re going to be on the hot seat.

People are going to wonder, are you the right man for the job.

If you don’t like the “distraction” there’s a simple answer: win.

We don’t think the Cornhuskers will be able to compete at the level they want with Pelini as the head coach and, personally, that’s fine with us.

We hope they keep him around a long, long time.

The Scott County Record • Page 20 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

A tale of 2 football programs in Kansas Kansas State (7-5) assured itself of a good bowl game invitation following their 31-10 thumping of KU. by Head coach Mac Bill Snyder Stevenson will have most of his key players back next season, plus his normal number of quality recruits.

Quarterbacks Jake Waters and Daniel Sams will return for another season, along with wide receiver Tyler Lockett and center B.J. Finney. That’s a solid foundation for another potent offense.

K-State loses just four starters on defense and will have better depth and talent next year. Look for the Wildcats to make another climb into the nation’s ranked teams in 2014.

The big question hanging over the KSU program is whether the 74-year-old iconic coach will return for another year. Only Snyder knows the answer to that and he’s not offering any hints.

Just up the road a short distance at Lawrence the situation is much different.

KU (3-9) wrapped up a season in which their highlight was a win over West Virginia that snapped a 27game Big 12 losing streak.

It’s not much, but it’s something for a team that finds itself not only at the bottom of the Big 12 once again, but at or near the bottom in most every statistical category.

A feeling that KU may finally be turning things around hit a sour note when they were outscored 65-10 in season-ending losses to Iowa State and K-State.

Kansas AD Sheahon Zenger is on a seat that is not just hot, it’s nearing a flashpoint. Zenger hired head coach Charlie Weis two years ago and there’s been no appreciable improvement in the football program.

“I’ve been through many rebuilding projects and this is when you stay the course,” said Zenger following the KSU game.

KU fans can only hope he’s right.

(See TALE on page 23)

Newcomers should make big impact in Dighton’s quest for return to state

Often times when there’s a coaching change it’s a sign that the cupboard is bare for the upcoming season.

Anyone who assumes that with the Dighton High School boys may be in for a rude awakening.

First-year head coach Dean Cramer not only inherits a solid core of players from last year’s Class 1A state tournament qualifying team, but he welcomes the return of two seniors who missed last year due to injury.

The result could be a Dighton squad that not only expects to contend for a Northwest Kansas League title but is eyeing a return trip to the Class 1A state tournament.

Don’t expect any big changes, says Cramer.

“Coach (Earl) Steffens built a solid foundation and I just want to keep building on what’s been established,” he says. “We’re going to keep it simple.”

Steffens has the luxury of returning four players who saw

SC Boys That only further deepens what O’Neil considers the team’s biggest issue - lack of depth.

“We aren’t very deep and when we go to our bench we get small - quick,” says the head coach. “Dylan and Chantz come off the bench and both are under 5-10.”

The lack of depth and experience also shows up in practice.

“We don’t have enough depth to go 5-on-5 so that our practices are as competitive as

Dual “He’s knowledgeable and he brings a lot of power. That’s a pretty good combination in any match.”

While he didn’t qualify for last year’s state tournament, there are high expectations for sophomore Wyatt Kropp who is starting the season at 145-pounds.

“We’ll take a look at the competition and decide whether it’s in his best interest to stay (at 145) or drop down another weight,” says the head coach.

There were hopes that the “big three” would be the “big four” but that appears to be a remote possibility with sophomore Cooper Griffith looking at the prospect of shoulder surgery resulting from a football injury.

“The doctor says I can’t hurt

considerable court time on last year’s 15-8 squad.

They are led by 6-foot-3 senior guard Isaac Alinor (11 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg) whose inside-outside game can create matchup problems for opposing teams.

Joining him on the perimeter is 5-9 senior guard Ryan Horn (5.0 ppg) and 5-11 senior Matthew Mulville (7.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) who also has the ability to take the ball to the basket.

Horn (24-of-74) and Mulville (21-of-70) are also the leading three-point scoring threats from a year ago.

Giving the Hornets a big presence inside will be 6-foot5 senior Matthew Barnett (5.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg). However, he’ll also have plenty of company.

Senior Dalton Birney (6-5) is returning to the lineup after a two year absence due to knee surgery and rehabilitation. Senior Sam Moomaw (6-4) is back on the court after missing last season due to a knee injury.

“With Dalton away from the

game for so long it’s taken him a little longer to get into the flow of things, but he’s coming along,” Cramer says. “Both boys are anxious to prove they can contribute to the team and I expect them to be a big part of our success.”

Also adding to Dighton’s wealth of size is 6-4 freshman Tyler Lingg.

“One thing that helps is that the boys are working so hard in practice. Things get pretty intense,” Cramer says. “We also have good depth with our big people and at the guards.”

The Hornets will take advantage of their size with a patient half-court game and their ability to get second-chance points under the basket.

“We have boys who can shoot well from the outside and we can run the floor if the opportunity is there, but our strength is going to be our ability to get the ball inside.

We can do that by having Isaac drive the lane and creating opportunities for other players or by getting the ball into the

hands of our big people and having them take the ball to the basket,” says Cramer.

“We’ll adapt to whatever the situation calls for.”

And while the team figures to be capable of scoring a lot of points, that’s not where Cramer puts the emphasis.

“Defense and rebounding are what our team will be built around,” he says.

Dighton’s depth will allow them to push the pace at both ends of the floor.

“We tell the boys to go as hard as they can for as long as they can and then we’ll bring someone off the bench to give them a break,” says the head coach. “We can rotate a lot of different bodies into the game.

We have to figure out our best combinations.”

After losing in last year’s opening round of the state tournament, Cramer says the team’s expectations are higher this year.

“We want to go back and win a couple of games,” he says.

crease. When you’re unsure of yourself you’re already a step behind; and that puts you two steps behind a team that knows what they’re going to do.”

The absence of height will put more pressure on the perimeter shooting and that could be a team strength.

It begins with O’Neil and Meyer, but Yager and Hutchins can also shoot well from beyond the three-point line.

“If we shoot from the outside like we’re capable of it will open lanes for us to run a

different kind of offense. We aren’t going to run a high-low offense because we don’t have two posts who are strong in that area. Our posts have different strengths. They need to use their quickness and athletic ability to get on the boards and also run in transition,” says O’Neil.

“We need Chantz and Dylan to be tenacious on defense,” adds O’Neil. “Because of their size, we need for them to be a pest to other teams, to be constantly pressuring them.”

weight classes and several underclassmen or inexperienced wrestlers stepping into varsity roles dual wins will be hard to come by as a team.

As it now stands, the Beavers figure to be open at 113, 120, 160 and 170. Lippelmann may be able to slide one or two boys into the open weights if they get beat at another weight class “but you don’t necessarily want to do that to JV boys.

They need a chance to gain confidence at a JV tournament,” he says.

Senior heavyweight Cole Birney brings power, but little experience, to the mat. At the other end of the scale, sophomore Zach Tucker (106) brings experience, but very little power.

“We do have some out-

standing young talent,” adds Lippelmann.

The head coach sees “a lot of potential” in sophomore Abe Wiebe, along with freshmen Tre Stewart and Trey Loftus. However, Wiebe and Stewart are very inexperienced and Loftus isn’t expected to get a medical release as a result of knee surgery until after the first of the year.

“When you have numbers like this it does make you take another look at your schedule,” adds Lippelmann. “Northwest Kansas was built on duals and that’s okay when you have 35 kids on your team. You can’t do that with 14 to 17 kids.

“Even though we’re starting to see bigger classes in school, that doesn’t mean we’re seeing greater participation in sports.”

(continued from page 17)

we’d like. And we don’t have big guys either to match up against. When we finally do see a big kid it’s going to almost be a new experience for our kids,” he says.

Lack of experience also has an impact on practice intensity - for the time being.

“There’s still some hesitation about what we should be doing. It’s not a lack of desire but a lack of knowledge,” O’Neil says. “As they get more reps and learn the level of intensity during practice will in-

(continued from page 17)

it any worse by wrestling, so I plan to wrestle until the end of the year,” says Griffith.

If the surgery takes place, there will be about a five month recovery and rehabilitation period.

“If I have to miss sports, I’d rather it be now. That way I can be 100 percent for football and wrestling the next two years,” he says.

Lippelmann has hopes that junior Lane Hayes (220) can have a good season and possibly earn his first trip to state.

A Rough Start Look for the Beavers to face a slow start to their season with duel tournaments at Colby and Goodland following the Hoxie Invitational.

With at least four open

The Scott County Record • Page 21 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Castle Rock Classic • Boy’s Division Dec. 10, 13 and 14 • at Quinter 1) Hoxie

Tues., Dec. 10 4:30 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13 7:30 p.m.

8) Wheatland-Grinnell 4) Dighton

Fri., Dec. 13 7:30 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 10 7:30 p.m.

5) Quinter

Sat., Dec. 14 1:15 p.m.

4th Place

2) Ellis

Sat., Dec. 14 8:15 p.m.

Champion

Tues., Dec. 10 4:30 p.m.

7) Cheylin Fri., Dec. 13 4:30 p.m.

3) Atwood

Fri., Dec. 13 4:30 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 10 7:30 p.m.

6) Golden Plains 7th Place

Saturday • 1:15 p.m.

Saturday • 4:45 p.m.

3rd Place

Castle Rock Classic • Girl’s Division Dec. 10, 13 and 14 • at Quinter 1) Hoxie

Tues., Dec. 10 6:00 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13 6:00 p.m.

8) Quinter 4) Dighton

Fri., Dec. 13 6:00 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 10 3:00 p.m.

4th Place

5) Wheatland-Grinnell

Sat., Dec. 14 11:45 a.m.

2) Ellis

Sat., Dec. 14 6:30 p.m.

Champion

Tues., Dec. 10 3:00 p.m.

7) Cheylin Fri., Dec. 13 3:00 p.m.

3) Golden Plains

Fri., Dec. 13 3:00 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 10 6:00 p.m.

6) Atwood 7th Place

Saturday • 11:45 a.m.

Words to more delicately describe a missed shot with any kind of legal hunting weapon, as in “I had him in my sights and should have dropped him, but evidently I was just offabit.”

The second word is onsome. This word is often uttered by hunting or fishing guides to their clients just before leaving the lodge or marina.

“Let’s go get you onsome fish,” or “Let’s go put you onsome trophy Whitetails.”

Saturday • 3:00 p.m.

(continued from page 18)

And last but not least is my personal favorite if you watch any TV hunting or fishing shows at all, and that’s theres-a-goodone. Theresagoodone is used to describe any and all manner of quarry pursued by any hunter or fisherman, be it whitetail, walleye, black bear or black bass.

When a fisherman’s rod bends double he’ll holler “Oh theresagoodone!”

When the buck of a lifetime walks beneath his

stand, he’ll whisper “Theresagoodone.” As a spring gobbler makes a beeline for the decoys, the hunter will declare “Theresagoodone,” and so on and so forth.

I guess the antonym would be theresabadone, but for some reason, I’ve never heard that word used.

Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve can be contacted by email at stevegilliland@idkcom.net

3rd Place

Dighton

“We have girls who are capable of hitting the outside shot,” says Felker.

“Even Leslie has the ability to step out and hit the 15-footer.”

Even with some good athletes and quickness at the guard spots, don’t look for the Lady Hornets to play an up-tempo style.

“Our guards are quick and they can create pressure from time to time, but I can’t put our post people in that position,” Felker points out. “If we can push the ball we will, but we’re going to be disciplined enough not to force the issue. We have the ability to get a lot of good shots in the half-court offense, so we’re going to be patient enough to let that happen.”

There’s little doubt, however, that the key to this team’s success will be in the paint at both ends of the floor. The added physical presence of Jordan Speer could make the Lady Hornets pretty formidable with their inside game.

“Of course, there’s always a learning curve for a freshman,” notes Felker.

(continued from page 18)

“That curve should be a little less for Jordan on the defensive side of the ball with her size and rebounding ability.”

It’s not as though the Lady Hornets lack size on the perimeter either with Brown (5-7) and Budd (56).

“I feel that gives us the edge with our shooting on the outside and inside, along with our ability to dominate the boards once we are able to bring it together,” Felker says.

Even with so much scoring potential, the emphasis will remain on defense.

“We preach defense all the time,” Felker says.

“Once we get that part of our game together the offense will fall into place.”

Even with so many returning starters, Felker expects some adjustments during the first few games as the players understand their roles.

“After Christmas I think we’ll have a lot of that figured out. We should see a lot of improvement with these girls as they learn to play together,” says the head coach.

The Scott County Record • Page 22 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Bluejay Invitational • Boy’s Division Dec. 9, 10, 13 and 14 • at Quinter Cimarron

Tues., Dec. 10 8:00 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13 8:00 p.m.

Old Gym

Leoti Sublette

Fri., Dec. 13 8:00 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 9 3:00 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 14 2:00 p.m.

5th Place

Bucklin South Gray

Sat., Dec. 14 8:30 p.m.

Champion

Tues., Dec. 10 4:30 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13 3:00 p.m.

Old Gym

Deerfield Meade

Fri., Dec. 13 3:00 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 9 6:15 p.m.

Satanta 7th Place

Saturday • 2:00 p.m.

Old Gym

Saturday • 5:00 p.m.

3rd Place

Bluejay Invitational • Boy’s Division Dec. 9, 10, 13 and 14 • at Quinter Cimarron

Mon., Dec. 9 8:00 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13 6:15 p.m.

Old Gym

South Gray Sublette

Fri., Dec. 13 6:15 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 10 6:15 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 14 12:30 p.m.

5th Place

Leoti Meade

Sat., Dec. 14 6:30 p.m.

Champion

Tues., Dec. 10 3:00 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 13 4:30 p.m.

Old Gym

Deerfield Bucklin

Fri., Dec. 13 4:30 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 9 4:30 p.m.

Satanta 7th Place

Saturday • 12:30 p.m.

Old Gym

Pigskin Payoff Week 13 TieBreak David Perry 48 Chris Rodriguez Rick Wright 32 Zach Tucker 49 First State Bank Chad Griffith Walter Johnson Tim McGonagle Danny Morris Ryan Roberts Kerry Von Schriltz

Correct 13 13 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

Overall Total Ryan Roberts Tim McGonagle Rick Wright Barry Switzer Gary Tucker Chris Crocker Adam Kadavy First State Bank Steve Fenster Walter Johnson Clint Shapland

149 148 145 144 144 143 143 141 140 140 139

Lessons

(continued from page 18)

Someday we’ll take another shot at the record, but not this year.

Until then, Seattle can claim the Guinness record, but we all know which stadium is louder and prouder.

And we do it the right way.

Support Your Schools

Saturday • 3:30 p.m.

3rd Place

Tale Kansas cannot afford another dismal football season. The recruiting will be even more challenging and there’s no basis for believing Weis will have a competitive team next season.

As for solutions to a very old and complex problem, that’s up to Zenger. If KU’s recruiting is as poor as the last two classes, then the Jayhawks will continue to reside at the bottom of the barrel.

WSU Success No Fluke Wichita State University’s basketball team is quickly proving that last season’s trip to the Final Four was no fluke. The Shockers (7-0) defeated a talented BYU team 7562 in the championship game of the CBE Classic in Kansas City.

Wichita’s win in the title game was much closer than the score indicates. It was a rough and tumble game right from the tipoff. Head coach Gregg Marshall, now in his sixth season at WSU,

The Scott County Record • Page 23 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

(continued from page 20)

has established a reputation of producing teams that are tough defensively and effective on offense.

This year’s squad fits that mold.

WSU has two players who could start for most teams in the nation: Scott City’s Ron Baker (6-3, 213) and Cleanthony Early (6-8, 219). Both are talented and intense competitors.

Baker is a sophomore guard and his game-situation awareness is remarkable for a young player.

He makes unnoticed plays that save possessions and is developing into a shutdown defender. In addition, Baker is an adept ball handler and deadly shooter.

Small forward Early is the Shockers’ most potent inside offensive player.

He’s highly effective on shots in the pivot area and he can also shoot from long range. Early is a senior with NBA potential.

He’s off to a great start in his final season at Wichita.

Marshall is worth his weight in gold as Wichita’s head coach. The administration should do almost anything they can - financially and otherwise - to keep Marshall. He’s a winner in every respect.

KU Shows Flaws KU lost their first game of the season to Villanova (63-59) in the Battle 4 Atlantis semi-finals. KU’s freshmen played like freshmen against Villanova and didn’t look much better in a sloppy 67-63 win over UTEP. In KU’s losing effort against Villanova, several weaknesses were exposed.

Most notable was the Jayhawks’ atrocious shooting from the three-point line.

Point guard Naadir Tharpe and small forward Andrew Wiggins have not been playing up to their capability. Freshman point guard Frank Mason has been one of KU’s best players, but Coach Bill Self needs Tharpe playing at a high level for KU’s offense to run smoothly.

In order to improve KU’s three-point shooting, Self might have to find more playing time for guards Conner Frankamp and Andrew White. The problem, however, is that both have been missing their shots when they do get their opportunities on the court.

KU’s next two games are true road games at Colorado on Saturday (Dec. 7) and Florida on Tuesday (Dec. 10). The Jayhawks’ play in the recent tournament left no doubt that these next games will be challenging indeed.

Early road games against quality opponents will pay dividends when it counts the most.

“I think we have a long way to go to becoming a good basketball team,” said head coach Bill Self.

“That’s not bad, either. We rarely have great teams in November.” Kansas is going to have another excellent basketball team, but it’s going to take some time.

Field care critical for tasty venison “Gamey,” “tough,” and “dry” are three adjectives that should never describe your deer meat, and if proper practices take place while in the field, the reward can be quite a culinary treat.

Whether you are processing a deer for the first time, or are looking to try a different process, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has a brief, easyto-follow video on field dressing your harvest that will walk you through the process from start to finish.

Visit ksoutdoors.com

KDWP Report and click “Hunting/Big Game Information” to view the video.

After a shot has been placed and the deer recovered, a hunter should tag the carcass and begin cooling the meat. This can be done by immediately field dressing, or gutting, the carcass.

The first step in dressing the deer should be to remove the deer’s entrails.

Next, prop open the ribcage and let cool air circulate throughout the body cavity. After a few minutes have passed the

carcass can then be moved to the final location of processing, taking care to keep the meat clean.

If you plan to use a commercial butcher/processer, it’s a good idea to call ahead and make sure they are open and can get your deer into the cooler.

If you plan to process the meat yourself, you’ll need a cool, clean place to hang the carcass, which should be skinned as quickly as possible unless temperatures are very cool.

Prompt skinning is another important step in cooling the meat when temperatures are mild.

Once meat has been processed, it’s time to hit the grill.

Since venison is very lean, adding a strip of bacon to steaks or mixing beef tallow or sausage to the burger can add great flavor to the meat.

The only “trick” to cooking tasty venison, is not overcooking it. There is a fine line between just right and overcooked.

Venison, as with all wild game, should be carefully cooked to medium or medium rare. Let the meat rest a few minutes after cooking while you prepare your sides.

The Scott County Record • Page 24 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

December * 2013

MONDAY

TUESDAY

2

I love Christmas traditions! It is wonderful getting together with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Christ. The smell of snow and evergreens and apple cider makes me happy because it reminds me how much I have for which to be thankful.

Sarah Belcher

9

Christmas with family is my favorite part. Good food and rowdy pitch games are always on the agenda. This year Christmas means that I have six days to retirement! I will miss my friends at the bank, but am looking forward to the next chapter in my life.

Kate Macy

16

Christmas to me means love, family and faith. There is nothing more special than the miracle of Christmas and all the love that is in the air during that time.

Andrea Tucker

Christmas 23 tradition for our family is to attend church on Christmas eve and open gifts and have Christmas eve dinner at the grandparents. On Christmas its tradition to get up early as possible to see what Santa has brought everyone (both stocking stuffers and wrapped packages).

30

WEDNESDAY

3

Christmas and the holiday season means spending time with family and building new traditions from a mixture of old for my children to pass on and make their own.

Anne Gossman

10

One of my favorite traditions is to bake and decorate sugar cookies on Christmas eve and then attend Candle Light Service as a family.

Jacque Blair

THURSDAY

4

My children always rush upstairs with great big smiles on their faces to wake us up. Together we make Christmas tree pancakes before opening our gifts. Then we spend the rest of the day enjoying quality family time.

Andrea Rodriguez

11

My family has always started Christmas morning by reading the story of when Jesus was born found in Luke chapter two. Next we sing happy birthday to Him. After opening gifts we have a big Christmas breakfast.

FRIDAY

5

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. There is always a special feeling in the air, no matter where I go. I love the Christmas shows, music, decorations and lights. It is a time for family and above all, a time for celebrating Jesus’ birth.

Sharon Powers

12

What Christmas means to me; getting together with my parents, brothers and sister.

Lots of cooking and laughing and passing our holiday traditions down to our children.

Heather Davis

6

On Christmas eve, we love to gather, play games, eat yummy food and laugh. We also watch a “Christmas Story” before we go to bed. It is our family’s favorite and most cherished time of the year!

Jenny Huddy

13

Christmas is all about spending time with my family.

Giving and not recieving.

Celebrating our Savior’s birth.

Merry Christmas all!

Crystal Heim

Krystal Wolkensdorfer

17

Christmas, the warm feeling of family and friends in an atmosphere of tradition and love. Taking the time to focus on and appreciate the personal blessings that God has showered us with.

Norma Fox

24

After Santa’s gifts are opened the rest of the day is spent relaxing, having a Christmas lunch, enjoying relatives and taking part in an occasional pheasant hunt.

Landon Frank

18

19

We all love Christmas day. We get to celebrate the birth of our Savior by opening gifts from our family and friends. But how wonderful a Savior we have that He can allow me to recognize that every day is Christmas and my present is life.

Jerry Buxton

Christmas wish: Take pride in who you are, be content with what you have.

Fair winds and following seas.

Skip Numrich

25

26

SUNDAY 1

SATURDAY

20

Christmas is reflecting on my religious beliefs, spending time with family, and friends, enjoying the music and decorations, appreciating all of my blessings.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year.

Tammy Wackerla

27

Christmas, when we can gather all the family around to eat, watch football, and watch grandkids playing fast and furious... we always have to watch “Christmas Vacation” and sometimes Uncle Eddie will visit us too. Sleigh rides too if we have snow.

Sue Riner

7

Christmas is a time to reflect on gifts.

The gift of the Son to remove our sins.

The gift of a sunrise beginning each day, to be followed by the sunset. The birth of a baby calf, the rebirth of the grasses and trees each spring.

Clint Pearson

14

The best Christmas ever is for our family to be together, laughing, sharing and making new memories.

Celebrating God’s gift of His Son and the gift of family are the greatest gifts of all. Merry Christmas to all!

Pat Percival

21

8

Christmas to me means “family”.

It is not what my family can do for me, but what I can do for them.

I love to decorate for the holidays, and change color schemes every few years, make candy, shop and then wrap the gifts. We open gifts, play games and just enjoy each other’s company.

Ann Beaton

15

To me Christmas is about realizing the reason for the season and spending quality time with family; slowing down enough to enjoy the sounds and glow of a crackling fire; the anticipation of seeing loved ones open gifts you picked for them.

Jordan Duff

22

Christmas is my favorite time of year! Celebrating the birth of our Savior and the wonder of His life, giving thanks for our blessings and spending time with friends.

Making memories and continuing traditions with our family and spreading the Love!

Merry Christmas and have a blessed year.

Christine Cupp

Christmas is a time for our family to get together and make new memories and remember the old ones.

Yanet Contreras

28

29

31

501 Main, PO Box 290, Scott City, Ks 67871 • 620-872-2143 • www.fnbscott.com

MEMBER FDIC

The Scott County Record • Page 25 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Santa comes to town

Bennett Gossman, 4-years-old

Nevah Royal, 2-years-old

rlee One-year-old Klaire Hebe

rs-old

rich, 6-yea

ein Freedom H

Kylee Logan with Mr . and Mrs. Santa Clau

s

Dash Campos, 4-1/2-months-old

Megan Trout, 6-years-old

The Scott County Record

Farm

Page 26 - Thursday, December 5, 2013

CBO’s crop insurance costs may be too high New data by agricultural economist Art Barnaby indicates that the Congressional Budget Office may have overstated the cost of federal crop insurance.

Barnaby concludes that price volatility, the amount of uncertainty or risk in the size of the changes of a security’s value, drives premium cost more than market price. If implied volatility (estimated vola-

ag briefs

McClaskey is new ag secretary Jackie McClaskey has been appointed as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, succeeding Dale Rodman, who will step down from the position on Dec. 10.

McClaskey, Manhattan, grew up on a small family farm in Girard. She has been with the Department of Agriculture since 2011.

She served as an assistant secretary starting in January 2011 before being named Deputy Secretary in July.

Before joining the Department of Agriculture she served as assistant dean of the Kansas State University, College of Agriculture.

In July, Rodman was elected chair of the Kansas Bioscience Authority board of directors and will continue to serve in that capacity.

USDA hikes forecast of exports $2B In

an updated report, USDA increased its projections for fiscal year 2014 agricultural exports to $137 billion, up $2 billion from its last forecast in August but $3.9 billion below last year’s record export figures.

While grain, feed and cotton exports are forecast down compared to the August report, projections for oilseed and livestock exports pushed total forecasts higher.

USDA also increased its projections for agricultural imports, to a record $109.5 billion. This represents a $3.7 billion decrease from USDA’s August forecast but $5.7 billion higher than in fiscal 2013.

The U.S. agricultural trade surplus is expected to fall to the lowest level since 2009 at $27.5 billion.

Wheat Scoop Bill Spiegel

communications director

Kansas Wheat

tility) decreases then the resulting decrease in premiums will create lower premium support costs equaling lower taxpayer costs.

Higher volatility does not always correspond with higher loss years. In 2012, corn had an implied

volatility of 22 percent for the crop that had the largest historical underwriting loss and largest loss ratio since 1993.

In the last four years of winter wheat production the implied volatility has decreased from 33 percent volatility in 2011 to 19 percent volatility for the 2014 crop. If the volatility for both corn and wheat remains about 20 percent, this will keep the premium

prices lower indicating a lower federal cost for crop insurance.

If CBO estimated crop insurance for an average 30 percent volatility rate then the budget could be vastly overstated. Barnaby’s numbers are dependent on a reduction of implied volatility, and if true then the CBO estimated crop insurance costs will likely exceed the actual cost.

“My estimates are based on an assumption that we are going to 20 percent volatility if that assumption is wrong than the CBO is probably right,” said Barnaby.

This numerical error could cause major issues in the Farm Bill debate.

The conference committee works within a budget cap and if one of the programs costs less than budgeted, the money could be

used for other programs.

“The committee has to fit the farm bill under that magic budget number. If the CBO over estimates the cost and the committee doesn’t spend that full amount then what they spent becomes the new baseline. It only impacts the current farm bill debate whether you can make current improvements through the (See CBO on page 27)

Little help to prop up corn market The price discovery period for crop insurance on corn and soybeans is complete, and the harvest price option is known and in the history books.

Will you benefit from that?

Yes, if your crop insurance coverage level is 80 percent or more, but not if it is less than 80 percent, and you are harvesting an equivalent to your APH yield.

But the critical factor is that the harvest price period is just about concluded and once the price has been set, unpriced grain is at the will of the market, which may not be friendly.

Throughout the Corn Belt, piles of corn are stacking up

Ag Commentary by

Stu Ellis, FarmGate

beside grain elevators as an indication that yields were good and supplies are large.

The market is satisfied that sufficient supplies exist.

That could easily push cash corn below the $4 mark. And the prospects for lower income from corn are getting higher.

Once the crop insurance guarantee is set, you are not protected from any further drop in corn prices. It is lonely out there.

University of Illinois marketing specialist Darrel Good

says, “Anecdotal reports suggest that a relatively small portion of the 2013 crop was forward priced and that producers are choosing to store a large portion of the newly harvested crop. If that characterization is correct, there is a lot riding on the direction of corn prices over the next several months.

To avoid lower revenues, prices will have to increase more than the cost of owning and storing corn.”

Good says that corn prices will be dependent upon consumption. Yes, China is buying corn, but don’t depend on the Chinese being the key to success.

Yes, ethanol is proving a stable demand, but don’t depend on ethanol to consume the surplus. And when Corn Belt planters are in the field next spring, Good says it will take high prices for soybeans to keep corn from going even lower.

That is then. This is now, and your harvest is in the final stretch with your yields and your father’s prices. If you have a revenue crop insurance policy, Illinois ag economist Gary Schnitkey says the way harvest prices have been shaping up for corn, you may get an indemnity check from the crop insurance company.

(See CORN on page 27)

Sustainable ag expert speaks at Kansas State Sustainable: able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed; involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources; able to last or continue for a long time.

That’s how the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines sustainable, and I am willing to place a bet that many of you have your own ways to

Wheat prices tumble

Preliminary prices received by farmers for winter wheat for November 2013 averaged $6.84 per bushel, a decrease of 47 cents from the October price according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The November corn price, at $4.32 per bushel, is down 42 cents from last month.

Sorghum prices averaged $7.34/cwt., a decrease of six cents from October.

The soybean price, at $12.50 per bushel, is up 10 cents from last month.

Alfalfa hay, at $199 per ton, is up $1 from the last month.

The November sunflower price averaged $24.20 per cwt., a decrease of $1.60 from October

define a term that is being widely discussed throughout the entire agricultural industry, including the cattle sector, and was the subject of a recent Upson Lecture Series event on the campus of Kansas State University.

Livestock sustainability consultant Jude Capper was at K-State to discuss her research on beef sustainability and the importance of the beef industry

engaging in a conversation with consumers about modern beef production practices.

Capper’s research compared the environmental profile of the U.S. beef industry in 2007 to production practices in 1977.

Her research revealed that improvements in nutrition, management and use of technologies have improved the industry’s sustainability.

Market Report

White Wheat .......

Milo ....................

Corn ...................

Soybeans ...........

$ 6.89

$ 7.19 $ 4.14 $ 4.42 $ 12.55

Scott City Cooperative Wheat..................

$ 6.89

Milo (bu.).............

$ 4.14

White Wheat .......

Corn....................

Soybeans ...........

Sunflowers..........

ADM Grain

$ 4.14

Corn....................

$

N/A

$ 4.44

Weather H

L

P

43

19

Nov. 27

52

14

$ 4.42

Nov. 28

45

26

Nov. 29

54

18

Nov. 30

66 28

Dec. 1

62

25

Dec. 2

67

28

$ 12.55

$ 16.65

Corn....................

$ 4.49

Sunflowers..........

Milo (bu.).............

Nov. 26

$ 6.89

Soybeans............

$ 6.89

$ 7.19

Wheat..................

Milo (bu.).............

Wheat..................

White Wheat .......

$ 4.19

$ 12.51

$ 17.20

less land per pound of beef, and the carbon footprint per pound has come down by 16 percent. It’s a huge achievement on behalf of the industry.”

In addition, her research found that with modern production practices, the beef industry uses 10 percent less energy, 20 percent less feedstuffs and nine percent less fossil fuel.

(See SUSTAIN on page 27)

Have questions about the Scott Community Foundation?

Closing prices on December 4, 2013 Winona Feed and Grain Bartlett Grain Wheat..................

“The conventional industry has been sustainable and will continue to be sustainable, because we know now far better how to treat our cattle, how to feed them, how to breed them, how to calve them, than our parents and grandparents did,” Capper said.

“Over the last 30 years, we’ve used 12 percent less water per pound of beef. We use 33 percent

Moisture Totals November

0.44

2013 Total

20.41

call 872-3790 or e-mail: scottcf@wbsnet.org

The Scott County Record • Page 27 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Wiens is new SCCD rangeland, wildlife ecologist Eric Wiens has joined the Scott County Conservation District as its new rangeland fire and wildlife ecologist, replacing Michele Witecha.

Wiens, 24, is a native of Meade and a spring graduate of Kan- Eric Wiens sas State University with dual bachelor’s degrees in

wildlife biology and wildlife and outdoor enterprise management.

Prior to joining the SCCD on Nov. 12, Wiens had served briefly as a research technician for a Western Prairie Chicken study near Belvidere in south-central Kansas.

“I grew up hunting and fishing and I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors,” says Wiens. “I knew this was a field I wanted to get into.”

Drones are finding a place in ag

Watch wheat progress heading into winter

Unmanned aerial systems, also known as drones, are predicted to be a multi-billion dollar market within the next 20 years, and much of the industry’s growth lies in agriculture.

Oklahoma Farm Bureau Vice President for Public Policy and Media Affairs John Collison says farmers and ranchers in the state are using the technology that could become a necessary tool for the field.

“The technology is pretty new to our members but as we go and technology gets stronger I see a huge market for it in the future,” he said.

The technology not only allows producers to check on their cattle, which is extremely important in a time when cattle theft in the state is at an all-time high, but drones can also be used to ensure producers are farming as efficiently as possible.

Further south, drones are being used to efficiently use water.

Dr. Charlie Rush, Texas A&M plant pathologist, is using the unmanned helicopter to track disease progression across wheat fields.

The results of his study could assist producers in making better irrigation decisions.

The drones replace satellite images, providing higher resolution images and unlimited access leading to better analysis.

Corn (continued from page 26)

The spring guarantee was $5.65, which were the average closing prices of December corn futures during February.

The fall harvest price is nearly complete, and will be approximately $4.40 per bushel, which is 78 percent of the spring guarantee.

A farm which produces a yield that equates to its actual production history will be getting a crop insurance check if your coverage level is 80 percent or more.

At a 180 bu. APH, a 180-bushel average yield would get $22 per acre; and 85 percent coverage would gain a $72 payment. Lower yields would draw higher checks.

Higher yields would see the check quickly diminish to zero.

Wheat is in various stages of growth and conditions across the region. Producers should be scouting their fields to see how well the crop is developing and whether there are any pests, weeds or nutrient problems that could be solved later this fall or winter.

Overall things are looking better than a year ago.

Some producers are even starting to think about what fields have the best chance at grazing.

But there are a few concerns they should keep in mind. The first problem is poor growth of secondary roots, or crown roots. A wheat plant should ideally have a well-developed

CBO commodity or crop insurance,” Barnaby said.

Ken Wood, a wheat farmer from Chapman, said he believes his premium will decrease this year but is unsure if the data will impact the farm bill debate.

Crop insurance is an important risk management tool for farmers. As the cost and risk of production agriculture is increasing, many farmers use crop insurance to protect their assets.

“I hope that the public understands that crop insurance is used in a risk management program.

Rarely does anyone get enough from a crop insurance claim to equal what they would get from the crop. It’s not a get rich

Sustain Further, according to Capper’s research there were 13 percent fewer animals in 2007 compared to 1977, but those animals produced 13 percent more beef.

Capper said regardless of production methods used, any production system can be sustainable if economic viability, environmental responsibility and social acceptability are in place.

“It doesn’t matter if you have 20 cows, 200 cows or 2,000 cows, whether you have Angus, Hereford, Limousin or Belted Galloway, any system can be sustainable providing these three things are in place,” Capper said.

Wiens will be working with farmers and ranchers throughout the region with land management, shelterbelt development and enhancement, and getting them enrolled in programs such as the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). He will also assist with prescribed burns.

“We’re working on getting prescribed burning associations started in the area,” says Wiens.

Down on the Farm Chris Long Walnut Creek Extension Agent

crown root system by now to survive the winter. If your plants do not have this yet, you might hold off grazing until good root growth has been established.

In thin stands a producer should dig around and pull up some smaller plants or those that have not emerged. The amount of top-growth on wheat doesn’t necessarily correspond to the amount of root growth.

If you look closely,

The Kansas Forest Service, through which Wiens is associated, also emphasizes the need to improve habitat for the Lesser Prairie Chicken.

“We work with landowners to improve wildlife habitat as a whole, but there’s a special emphasis on the Lesser Prairie Chickens,” he says.

While there is a lot of controversy surrounding the species, particularly with the prospect of hav-

there should be some primary roots coming out from the seed. These roots are used to take up water and nutrients throughout the whole growing season. If there aren’t very many of these roots, it won’t be able to support a plant with one or two tillers for very long.

The crown root system is, or should be, much more extensive than the primary root system. You might even see a small whitish protrusion angling out of the crown area about an inch above the seed. This is a crown root starting to grow.

Crown roots take up most of the water and nutrients from the soil, so

(continued from page 26)

quick thing but it will keep you in business,” said Wood.

Implied volatility is just one of the factors that affect premium costs for farmers. While it is the most influential factor, premium cost is also based on market price, the rate set by the Risk Management Agency and the individual farmer’s actual production history.

“It comes down to what you assume for implied volatility. The last two years we’ve been in the 20 percent range, and in the estimations that I did, we are going to return to the 20 percent volatility,” said Barnaby.

Does the CBO have a history of overstating farm programs costs?

Barnaby said he believes so but has not done the research to back it up. As for crop insurance costing a significant amount for taxpayers, the current loss ratio is under one dollar, meaning that the government has paid out less than it has taken in from premium payments.

However, this does not account for the premium support that the government provides to assist the farmer.

Time will only tell if Barnaby’s predictions prove to be true. The next announcement about crop insurance prices and premium costs for Kansas farmers will come with the corn and soybean price discovery periods in Feb. 2014.

(continued from page 26)

While the use of technologies, including growth-promoting technologies, have enabled beef farmers and ranchers to be more efficient, Capper said they can be “frightening” to consumers who may not understand how and why the technologies are used.

She said it is important to explain beef production practices in a way that allows consumers to relate to raising cattle.

“By the year 2050, we’re going to have about 9.5 billion people on the planet,” she said.

“At the moment, one in seven kids don’t have enough food. So, if we can express the benefits of improved efficiency and

improved productivity in terms of feeding more hungry kids every single day, that should resonate with the consumer.”

The Beef Checkoff Program has worked on its industry sustainability assessment, which was certified by the National Standards Foundation earlier in 2013.

The assessment reveals that between 2005 and 2011 the beef industry has reduced solid waste emissions by seven percent; reduced emissions to water by 10 percent; reduced occupational illnesses and accidents by 32 percent; and reduced its total environmental fingerprint by seven percent.

ing the LPC listed as an endangered species.

“Our goal is to work with landowners to improve wildlife habitat as a whole and to do what we can to keep the Lesser Prairie Chicken from being listed as an endangered species,” says Wiens. “If we can accomplish that it will be a better situation for the prairie chickens and landowners won’t have to worry about

they are very important for the plant to survive the winter. By this point in the season, there should be an extensive crown root system.

With the proper roots the plant will be anchored so that if cows were grazing the wheat they couldn’t pull the plants out of the ground.

All is not lost if you do happen to find plants with underdeveloped roots at this point. With some moisture, the roots will continue to grow and develop properly. Most areas in the area should have had enough moisture by now, so with some time, we should get fairly decent root development.

regulations that can impact their operations.”

It would also prevent obstacles to wind farm development and oil exploration, he adds.

Wiens is based out of the Scott County NRCS office, but covers a much larger area.

“Because of budget cuts and staff that hasn’t been replaced, I’m available to provide assistance for quite a few counties in Western Kansas,” he says.

Although we probably will not have enough time before a major freeze, with the right conditions, wheat has been known to grow crown roots 9-10 inches long. This is what you’d like to see, with a little luck.

Another thing I’ve seen is wheat with yellow banding on leaves due to cold temperatures.

When temperatures are quite cold at the time tillers emerge this can be the result.

If this is the cause of the yellowing, symptoms should eventually fade away. Keep an eye on this condition and if it does not improve, there is definitely another cause of the problem.

$

7

The Scott County Record • Page 28 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Call 872-2090 today!

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The Scott County Record • Page 29 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Call 872-2090 today!

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508 Madison • Scott City • 872-3686

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.

PC Cleaning Services, Inc. We'll clean your home, business or do remodeling clean-up Available seven days a week!

Paul Cramer, Owner

NEED CLASS A CDL training? Start a career in trucking today. Swift Academies offer PTDI certified courses and offer best-in-class training. New Academy classes weekly.

No money down or credit check. Certified mentors ready and available. Paid (while training with mentor). Regional and dedicated opportunities. Great career path. Excellent benefits package. Please call: (602) 714-9455.

EXPERIENCED FLATBED drivers. Regional opportunities now open with plenty of freight and great pay. 800-277-0212 or primeinc.com.

––––––––––––––––––––– PARTNERS IN EXCELLENCE. OTR drivers. APU equipped PrePass EZ-pass passenger policy. 2012 and newer equipment. 100% notouch. Butler Transport, 1-800-528-7825. www. butlertransport.com ––––––––––––––––––––– TRAINING. Class ACDL. Train and work for us. Professional and focused CDL training available. Choose between company driver, owner/ operator, lease operator or lease trainer. (877) 3697885. www.centraltruckdrivingjobs.com.

––––––––––––––––––––– TRANSFER DRIVERS. Need CDL A or B contract drivers, to relocate vehicles from local body plants to various locations throughout U.S. No forced dispatch. 1-800-501-3783 or www.mamotransportation.com under Careers.

1-800-528-7825.

––––––––––––––––––––– TRANSPORT AMERICA has dedicated and regional openings. Variety of home-time options.

Good miles and earnings.

Enjoy Transport America’s great driver experience. TAdrivers.com or 866-204-0648.

620-290-2410

Mon. - Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

402 S. Main, Scott City • 872-1300

Services

Fur-Fection Dining

District 11 AA Meetings

Scott City • Unity and Hope

Berning Auction “Don’t Trust Your Auction to Just Anyone”

C-Mor-Butz BBQ

Barbecue, the only sport where a fat bald man is a GOD...

& Catering

Monday, Wednesday and Friday • 8:00 p.m.

807 Kingsley Last Saturday, Birthday Night, 6:30 p.m.

All open meetings, 874-8207 • 874-8118 ________________ A.A. • Al-Anon • Tuesday • 8:30 p.m.

United Methodist Church, 412 College 872-3137 • 872-3343

Kyle Lausch For all your auction needs call:

(620) 375-4130

Russell Berning Box Q • Leoti

620-872-4209

Bryan Mulligan & Chris Price 620-874-8301 & 620-874-1285

www.cmorbutzbbq.com • cmorbutzbbq@gmail.com

Dighton • Thursday • 8:30 p.m.

535 Wichita St. • All open meetings 397-5679 • 397-2647

Classifieds

The Scott County Record • Page 30 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

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: $5.50 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.

AFFORDABLE Brick home in a great area! 3+2 bedrooms, 2 baths, full basement with family room, low maintenance, newer FA-CA, nice yard, several other updates. ONLY $129,500.

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

Real Estate

INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SUITES from one to four rooms available for lease. Leases starting at $250/month including utilities. Common areas available for use including reception and break rooms. Perfect for quiet small business or climate controlled storage.

Former location of Scott City Chiropractic, 1101 S. Main. Call 214-3040 for information.

27tfc

RENOVATED 4 BEDROOM HOUSE for sale.

Brand new kitchen, new wood and tile floors, beautiful lighting throughout, french doors leading to a spacious backyard and patio, DA garage, main floor laundry, partial downstairs with half bath.

Serious inquires call Dale Holterman, 620-8741100.

15tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– PRIME PRODUCTIVE cultivatied land for sale in Scott County. NW/4 of 33-20-33 and NW/4 of 3420-33. Call 620-376-4789 or 620-376-8625.

16t4c ––––––––––––––––––––– STUCCO HOME 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, livingroom, den, laundry and dine-in kitchen. Covered patio off den area. Nice yard and garden area. Detached 2-car garage and extended shop. Nice corner lot. Retirement home or starter home with room to expand! Reasonably priced. Call to see 620214-1434 or 318-2303824.

16tfc

Agriculture WANTED TO BUY. Stored corn. Call for basis and contract information.

1-800-579-3645.

Lane County Feeders, Inc. 32tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– WANTED TO BUY. Wheat straw delivered.

Call for contracting information. Lane County Feeders. 397-5341. 44tfc

JUST MOVE IN

This home is ready and waiting for your family. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, full basement with family room, several rooms have new flooring, FA-CA, nice yard, steel siding, newer roof, sprinkler, SD garage and shed.

NOW $89,900.

Business

CLASSIFIED ADS

DEADLINE

FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK

Friday, Dec. 20 at 5:00 p.m.

S

AD

For Sale FIREWOOD for sale.

Call Van Buckner, 8745987.

16t2c ––––––––––––––––––––– KNITTED RUFFLED SCARVES for sale. Three to four different styles.

Makes great Christmas gifts. Call Jeanne Poore, 620-872-5514.

16t2p

www.scottcountyrecord.com

Rentals

HIDE AND SEEK STORAGE SYSTEMS. Various sizes available.

Virgil and LeAnn Kuntz, (620)874-2120.

41tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– 1, 2 AND 3 BEDROOM houses available and storage units. Come fill out an application at PlainJans or 10tfc call 620-872-5777.

––––––––––––––––––––– ROOMS TO RENT by the NIGHT at The Plains Inn. We are NOT just Extended Stay! Singles, doubles and full kitchen suites with king beds. New 32” LED televisions. We are a MOTEL...so you can pull right up and park in front of your room. Microwaves, small refrigerators, coffee pots in every room.

Quiet, comfortable and quite a bit cheaper than most. A NICE place at a NICE price! Call today, 11tfc 620-872-5353.

––––––––––––––––––––– NEWLY REFURBISHED HOME. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, carport, kitchen appliances included, nice yard space, quiet area. No pets or smokers.

Lost Available for rent in early Dec. Call Fred or Jana 4 MORE TO FIND. 2 Brittan 620-872-2957. red, 1 yellow, 1 black 15tfc Brahma cross heifer ––––––––––––––––––––– calves. Brand A on right 1 AND 2 BEDROOM hip, left ear notch. 620apartments for rent. Please 397-2788.

17t2c call 620-874-8353. 16t2c ––––––––––––––––––––– NICE 2 BEDROOM with central heat and air conditioning. Available now. Call 872-5844 or 214-0803.

17t4p The Scott County Record, for all your advertising needs!

House for sale in Scott City

Well-built home on double corner lot, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, lots of built-in storage, over 2,400 sq. ft., plus 3 season, screened porch, DA garage. Established yard with sprinkler system. Call 620-353-9933.

41eow

COUNTRY LIVING

3 miles from Scott City. 2+3 bedrooms, 3 3/4 baths, ranch home located on 6 acres. Custom built home with lots of extras!

Call: 620-874-1580 or visit www.zillow.com and search homes for sale: 901 E. Rd. 180 Scott City, Ks.

17tfc

Help Wanted HOUSEKEEPER parttime at Lazy R Motel. Apply in person, 710 E. 5th, Scott City, 872-3043. 10tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– DRIVERS: Home daily!

Eagle Express Lines, fulltime postal route openings from Oakley to Denver, Colo., and Topeka, Ks. $20.27 plus $4.93 health and welfare. Apply: www. eagleexpresslines.com 16t2pd

Services WANTED: Yards to mow and clean up, etc. Trim smaller trees and bushes too. Call Dean Riedl, (620) 872-5112 or 87434tfc 4135.

––––––––––––––––––––– FURNITURE REPAIR and refinishing. Lawn mower tune-up and blade sharpening. Call Vern Soodsma, 872-2277 or 36tfc 874-1412.

––––––––––––––––––––– MOWER REPAIR, tuneup and blade sharpening.

Call Rob Vsetecka at 62036tfc 214-1730.

––––––––––––––––––––– METAL ROOFING, SIDING and TRIMS at direct-to-the-public prices. Call Metal King Mfg., 620-872-5464. Our prices 37tfc will not be beat!

The Scott County Record • Page 31 • Thursday, December 5, 2013

Employment Opportunities Park Lane Nursing Home Has openings for the following positions: Part-time CNA Part-time LPN/RN Part-time Dietary Aide Shift differential pay offered for evening and night shifts!

Please apply in person at:

Park Lane Nursing Home

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

16tfc

SCOTT COUNTY HARDWARE Are you a self-motivated, hard working ambitious person with a positive attitude?

If so, then Ace is the place for you!

Must be able to stand on concrete for 8 hour shifts, work evenings and weekends.

Drug testing mandatory.

Apply in person at: Scott County Hardware 1405 S. Main Scott City 14tfc

RNs NEEDED $5000 SIGN ON BONUS Scott County Hospital is looking for full-time Registered Nurses to join our team of dedicated nursing professionals.

We offer diverse nursing opportunites, experienced nursing administrative staff, excellent ratios, competitve wages, shift and weekend differentials, flexible paid time off, call pay and excellent benefits.

Pre-employment physical, drug/alcohol screen, physical assessment and TB skin test required.

Join us today!

Applications are available through Human Resources Scott County Hospital 201 Albert Ave. Scott City, KS. 67871 620-872-7772 and on our website: www.scotthospital.net www.scotthospital.net

14t1

County Plat Maps

www.scottcountyrecord.com

By

Western State Bank

Western Cartographers Available: •Scott •Ness •Gove •Lane •Finney

•Logan •Wichita •Wallace •Greeley •Kearny

Pick them up today at:

406 Main • Scott City • 620 872-2090

Sudoku

Rearrange the letters in each word to spell the title of a book that has been made into a movie.

DEIRF NREEG TMTESOOA TA HET LHWISTE PTOS FACE

Is seeking a motivated, self-starter as a Teller/Bookkeeper in our Scott City Banking Center.

Employees in the position possess computer skills in word and excel, and demonstrate the ability to learn and adapt to changing technology.

Teller/Bookkeeper must also display a strong ability to work with the public and Western State Bank customers.

Applicants must have a high school diploma and the ability to pass a criminal background investigation.

Applications can be picked up at: Western State Bank, 1425 S. Main Street, Scott City between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Western State Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

16t2c

The Scott County Record

Christmas

Page 32 - Thursday, December 5, 2013

3 sites for angel trees

Christmas light parade

Area residents who would like to make this a brighter Christmas for children and senior citizens in the area can stop by the Angel trees at Alco or Shopko in Scott City and the Scott County Hospital.

The program is coordinated by the Area Mental Health Center.

Traditional Angel Trees are available for youth who are 18-years and under. In addition, there is a Golden Angel Tree for senior citizens 55-years and older.

Deadline for gifts is Fri., Dec. 13. Anyone needing more information can contact Rebecca Murphy (872-5338).

Record will print letters

(Top) Kris Lundgren was runnerup in the Christmas light parade on Saturday evening in downtown Scott City.

(Left) Wheatland Electric was one of the parade participants.

Taking first place in the contest was the Edwards family.

(Record Photos)

Moderation will help poinsettias last through the holiday season If poinsettias were politicians, they’d be moderates - middle of the road.

“At worst, modern poinsettia varieties are a bit finicky about soil moisture.

They don’t like ‘wet feet,’ so you have to avoid overwatering,” says Ward Upham, horticulturist with Kansas State University Extension.

“As part of that, if their container has a decorative paper, plastic or aluminum foil pot wrapper, you should remove it or poke drainage holes in it.

“But, at the same time, you can´t let poinsettias dry to wilting before watering. If you do, they’ll drop leaves.”

He recommends checking the plants daily by sticking a finger about one-inch deep in the soil. Poinsettias need water only when the soil is dry to that depth.

“The plants respond best to lukewarm water,” Upham said. “Gently pour it on until some runs out of the drainage hole, and then discard

that drainage water. Or, water from a tap and let the pot drain into the sink - which is more likely to have the added benefit of keeping the plants’ leaves dry.”

For poinsettias, room temperature is another factor that requires moderation, he said.

The plants don’t like the variations in temperature caused by drafts - hot, warm or cold.

Plus, being kept above 75 degrees will shorten poinsettias’ bloom life. Being below 60 degrees can lead to root rot.

“Poinsettias like about the same temperatures we humans do: 65 to 75 degrees during the day and 60 to 65 degrees at night,” Upham said.

“So, even though poinsettias prefer living in the brightest light available, you still should make sure they never come into contact with cold window glass. Plus, you should consider using sheer curtains to filter winter’s intense and color-fading

A poinsettia checklist Poinsettias remain the top-selling potted plant in the United States, even though their sales season lasts just 5-6 weeks.

The only real surprise in that is that many Americans still have no idea about how to choose a poinsettia that can brighten their decor from Thanksgiving into January.

The horticulturists with Kansas State University suggest this checklist: 1) Remember that poinsettias are priced according to the number of blooms. The more expensive the plant, the more blooms it should have.

2) Avoid poinsettias displayed in paper, plastic or aluminum foil sleeves. If these plants are held in sleeves for very long, they will deteriorate quickly.

3) Don’t buy plants from overstuffed displays. Crowding can cause premature aging, as well as flatten and/or discolor one or more plant sides.

4) Look for well-balanced poinsettias that can easily handle their weight without support. The plants should be about 2.5 times taller than the diameter of their container.

5) The poinsettia has healthy, full-looking foliage all the way to the base of the plant - no disfigured or yellowing leaves or stems. direct sunlight.

“Depending on the insulation value that your windows have, you may also need to move the plants elsewhere every night or draw drapes

between windows and poinsettias.”

With this “moderate” care, poinsettias can retain their colorful display for a month to six weeks, he said.

The Scott County Record has made special arrangements again this year to print letters to Santa from area youngsters. They will appear in the issue of Thurs., Dec. 19.

Letters should be sent no later than Fri., Dec. 13, to: The Scott County Record Box 377 Scott City, Ks. 67871

Christmas light show in Scott City

The Christmas light display by Chad and Danea Wasinger can be viewed at their residence, 1204 Hillside Drive, Scott City, through Dec. 25. Hours are: Sunday thru Thursday: 7:0010:00 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 7:0011:00 p.m.

Persons viewing the display can tune into the music at 88.1 FM. Wasinger also advises everyone to visit their website (wasingerlights.com) for daily updates, scheduling changes and how to deal with traffic issues should that become a problem.

Christmas at Lake Scott

The Friends of Lake Scott State Park will be sponsoring a “Pioneer Christmas” at the Steele homestead on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

The homestead will be decorated with lanterns and other oldfashioned decorations.

There is no cost for touring the Steele home, however donations will be accepted for the Friends group.