Home of El Cuartelejo
30 Pages • Four Sections
Volume 24 • Number 24
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Published in Scott City, Ks.
$1 single copy
Extended tax break for senior housing If the senior housing project being proposed for the Eastridge Subdivision becomes a reality, developers will get an extended timeline for property tax relief. All three major taxing entities impacted by the development project have agreed to extend the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) tax rebate to 10 years. In most instances, it is a five year rebate program in which any new construction or improvements to existing property that meet certain criteria are eligible
for what amounts to a 50 percent reduction in property taxes. Mesner Development, which is proposing the senior housing project, will get a 50 percent tax break for 10 years if, or when, the construction is completed. Preliminary plans call for a 20-unit complex to be known as Eastridge Villas, but that may be scaled back to 16 units. If that occurs, corner lots will be available on two blocks in the south end of the subdivision. Scott County Development Director Katie Eisenhour says her
board is considering acquiring those lots for future development. Mesner Development has a $40,000 option on the site until Oct. 30. If Mesner scales back the size of its project, SCDC will purchase undeveloped lots for $8,000, Eisenhour informed the city council on Monday. There will also be the added costs of curb/gutter and street work along the two block development project. Mesner wants responsibility only for the improvements adjoining their property, which would mean that the curb/gutter
and street would not extend the entire length of the block where the housing is to be built. SCDC would like to see the improvements for the entire block, but it’s estimated that extending that work for the entire block would cost $18,000. “It’s possible that we can form a partnership between Mesner and SCDC,” said Eisenhour. The project is estimated at $3 million, but during a meeting with Scott County Commissioners on Tuesday afternoon Eisenhour (See HOUSING on page 11)
Carpenter bids reflect ag economy
It’s more than a chili cookoff The annual Lions Club Chili Cookoff is seen by most as a fun time to showcase recipes and introduce chili lovers to the many varieties of a common dish. It means much more to youngsters in Scott City and other communities across the area. The cookoff has improved their lives through better vision. The Scott City Lions Club was a major contributor to a Pedia-Vision screener purchased in 2014 that is being used in the Scott County school district and other communities in the area to help identify early vision problems. “We received a lot of support from the cookoff that year so we used the extra money to help buy the screener,” says Lions Club President Landon Frank, who noted that the Ulysses club was also a big contribu(See COOKOFF on page eight)
State Legislators pushing back against short term budget fixes Page 2
Community New event center in Scott County is ready for opening Page 23
Index
Opinions...................4-7 Calendar...................... 7 Public notices.......10-11 Deaths....................... 13 Church services......... 13 Health care...........14-15 Sports...................17-22
Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson tells students and community members about the changing “vision” for education while in Dighton last Friday. (Record Photo)
Business.................... 23 Farm.....................26-27
State board of ed offers new ‘vision’ of a successful student It’s time to change how success in education is measured, challenges Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education. The state board of education is in the midst of those changes with new outcomes for public education and by reducing the amount of testing required by Kansas students. Another component is changing the way communities view the success of their students. “A community will give accolades to the honor student whose going into pre-pharmacy. We’ll have them come onto the stage and be recognized during an awards program,” noted Watson during a presentation at Dighton High School on Friday. “Every community does it. But what of the student whose going to John Deere school, or Northwest Kansas Technical College?” he asked. “We may not have said it directly, but it’s been implied that they are second class citizens.” He says this has contributed to the population drain from rural communities. “When you put an emphasis on attending four years of college, in far too many instances these students don’t return to their home towns,” Watson points out. “How many people living in Johnson County were actually born there and how many have come from rural towns across our state?” Watson and fellow board members are urging communities to rethink what makes a “success-
Education Outcomes
The Kansas State Board of Education has adopted five outcomes to help measure progress of the Kansans Can vision: •Kindergarten readiness. •Individual plan of study focused on career interest. •High school graduation rates. •Post-secondary completion/ attendance. •Social/emotional growth measured locally.
ful student” and to begin making changes in their curriculum. To set those We aspire you changes in to graduate motion, the your students State Board and provide of Education the means by has adopted which they five outcomes can be sucto measure cessful. We’ll the progress hold you of students. accountable While the ini- for that. But, tial response that doesn’t has been posi- mean every tive, there student will have also been take the same a lot of ques- freshman English class tions. “When you like they do try to redesign today. a system that’s over a hundred years old and has been successful for many, many people there’s a lot of question about how that will look,” Watson says. While the state board is in the process of establishing what that framework for change will look like, Watson emphasizes the final
decision will rest with each community. “We aspire you to graduate your students and provide the means by which they can be successful. We’ll hold you accountable for that,” says Watson. “But, that doesn’t mean every student will take the same freshman English class like they do today.” When visiting with parents and faculty members from the Dighton community, Watson noted that the responses he had heard from students earlier in the day was pretty typical. “Some told me they don’t like school. Some kids told me they hated English, they hated science and they hated math. And some kids told me they loved it,” said the education commissioner. “And yet we’re making those kids take the same courses over and over with a few exceptions.” The state board is encouraging faculty and community members to discuss whether it’s possible to teach reading in different ways so that every student doesn’t go through the same English class. “Some students will enjoy reading Shakespeare while others would rather read technical manuals on how to rebuild a Ford,” explains Watson. “We can do both. We can still maintain high standards, but we need to look at doing things a little differently.” He also suggests that schools put more emphasis on community service.
Classified ads.......27-29
Deaths
Thelma Lehman David Sheley
Health KanCare extension denied after scathing review Page 14
406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com
(See BIDS on page two)
Sports Late basket denies SC boys upset of Eagles on home floor Page 17
(See VISION on page two)
Community Beauty, little damage results when ice storm blankets area Page 30 Agriculture Kansas AG wants repeal of regs on climate, water quality Page 26 If you wish to subscribe to The Record visit
406 Main, St. Scott City • 620-872-2090 www.scottcountyrecord.com
Low commodity prices aren’t only dealing a blow to the pocketbooks of farmers, but it had a big impact on bids submitted to Scott County commissioners to lease Zella Carpenter farm ground. Only three bids were opened by the commission on Tuesday afternoon. The high bid was 20 percent lower than what the county has received on the same ground for the last three years. The two current farm operators leasing the ground rebid the lease at about 40 percent of what they bid previously. Bids received for the two quarters of farm ground were: 12-17-34: Buehler Grain and Forage, $62; Dwight Koehn, $33. The tract contains 156.1 acres. 27-18-14: Buehler Grain and Forage, $68; Berning Brothers, $33. The tract contains 156.45 acres.
Look Inside
scottcountyrecord.com or call (620) 872-2090
The Scott County Record • Page 2 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
With a new legislature, is a budget fix in? Legislators push back against short term fixes The Kansas legislative session is not yet two weeks old, but there are already signs of the change that many voters called for in the recent elections. New legislative leadership and an aggressive group of newcomers are pushing back against many of Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget proposals, which they say won’t fix structural problems with the state budget. From the earliest days of the campaign season it was evident that many voters were frustrated about the “budget mess” in Topeka. Way back in May, Sen. Forrest
the November general election. The message was loud and clear to lawmakers who survived, said Rep. Don Hineman, a moderate Republican from Dighton who after years as a back-bencher was elected majority leader in December. “The majority of the returning legislators and certainly the newcomers are coming in having heard the message from the voters that ‘we’re tired of these smoke-and-mirrors games of trying to patch together a state budget. You need to fix this mess,’” Hineman said. No Quick Fix Lawmakers face an immediate gap of $350 million and a bigger one in the coming budget year. They must find nearly $1 billion in cuts or revenue for this year and next or the state could be awash in red ink.
House Majority Leader Don Hineman (R-Dighton) says Kansas voters sent a message last year that legislators should fix the state budget mess.
Confronted with similar That is no longer the stratchallenges the last couple of egy, Hineman said. years, Brownback and lawmak“We can’t keep doing this. ers applied a series of Band- We need a long-term structural (See BUDGET on page eight) Aids.
City well sees sharp drop in pumping
Vision
(continued from page one)
“One of the attributes that leading companies put the highest value on when hiring is whether the candidate was an Eagle Scout. It represents a long-term commitment toward completing a major goal,” says Watson. “But, how much credit do (schools) give for that? Or for mission work?” Outcomes for Success The five outcomes providing a new foundation for public education were the result of input from meetings in communities across the state. In those meetings, citizens were asked for input on: •What are the skills, attributes and abilities of a successful 24-year-old? •What is K-12’s role in developing this successful Kansan and how would you measure success? •What is higher edu-
Bids
Knox, an Altoona Republican, got an unexpected earful from constituents during a listeningtour stop in Gridley, a small town in southeast Kansas just off U.S. Highway 75. “The people of Kansas are dissatisfied with our government and they’re not happy with what’s going on,” said Jim Ochs, a rancher and retired school principal, interrupting Knox only minutes into the meeting. “Well, I read that in the papers,” Knox said, attempting to get back on script. “But, you’re not doing anything about it,” Ochs and others in the room shouted back. Three months later, voters ousted Knox in the primary. He was one of dozens of conservative incumbents defeated by more moderate Republicans in the primary and Democrats in
cation’s role in developing this successful student and how would you measure success? The responses from individuals and businesses weren’t too surprising. When the new Kansans Can vision was launched in 2015, survey participants identified the following as measures of a successful person: 70%: showing up on time. Working hard. Setting goals. Having character. “These can’t be measured on a standardized test,” acknowledges Watson. 23%: possessing academic skills. 2%: being in good health. 2%: being employed. When that same question was presented to business and industry leaders, the desire to have employees who showed
(continued from page one)
Koehn and Berning Brothers are currently leasing the land on which they submitted bids. Three years ago, Berning Brothers bid $77.85 and Koehn bid $85. Both will have an opportunity to match Buehler’s bid. Over the past three years, the county has received a total of $25,448.13 per year from the two tenants. Buehler’s bid will generate $20,316.80 in annual revenue - a loss of $5,131.33. After the bids were accepted, Jeff Buehler asked the commission if the current tenant would have the option of planting another crop should the current wheat crop fail. He said that the bid specifications were vague on that point and the commission agreed. County Attorney Becky Faurot didn’t feel
the existing tenant should have the option of planting another crop. “To do otherwise wouldn’t be fair to the next guy,” noted Faurot. John Berning agreed, saying that the current tenant shouldn’t be allowed to plant a follow-up crop. “I wouldn’t do that to someone else and I wouldn’t want someone doing that to me,” he said. Buehler and Berning each recommended that the county consider putting all of the Carpenter land tracts on the same rotation so they can be bid at the same time. Commissioners agreed that needs to be done and will consider changing the length of the next lease agreements when they come up for bid. Current leases are for three years. It was suggested that the county consider five year leases.
up on time, etc., jumped to 81 percent. “They said educators aren’t turning out the people we need,” Watson says. “That struck home.” Watson says communities will take a lead role in determining what will happen within their schools to provide the skills for students to meet these qualities and be a success after graduation. “You design what you want in your school and what makes sense for you. It’s up to the people of Dighton and Scott City and Hugoton and Wichita to decide what they want to do based on their values.” Reduced State Testing A crowning achievement of the state board has been a 60 percent reduction in student testing.
While crediting the much criticized No Child Left Behind with an ambitious goal of 100 percent student success, he said it also had unintended consequences. At the top of that list was the emphasis on testing at the expense of other life skills. “In our effort to teach math and reading, we left out everything else. No arts. No music. No PE. We were going to spend every spare minute drilling kids for a test,” Watson said. He feels the state board has reduced the level of testing to the minimum and still maintain accountability. “We’re trying to give teachers the opportunity to be more creative, which is why most of them entered the profession. They have to feel free to create and innovate.”
Scott City Public Works Director Mike Todd reported to the city council on Monday that well No. 10 (near the Scott Co-op) had seen a sharp decline in production. It typically pumps 340 gallons per minute, but this past week had dropped to about 80 gallons. He was given permission to pull the well to identify the problem. Given the reduced water demand this time of year, Todd says the lower pumping capacity won’t be an issue.
Community Living
The Scott County Record
Page 3 - Thursday, January 19, 2017
Radon is a risk in many Scott County homes January is National Radon Month, which makes this a good opportunity to answer some commonly asked questions. Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or Carol Ann taste. Crouch It occurs Family and naturally. Consumer It can be Sciences found in every Agent for Scott County county in
Kansas, including Scott County. You probably have radon in your home. The bigger question is whether it exists at a level which can cause a health concern for you and your family. Because radon can cause lung cancer, it is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. When you breathe air, you breathe air that more than likely contains radon. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon
is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, second only to smoking. If you’re a smoker, your risk increases if your home has a high radon level. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. It can get into any type of building, but your greatest exposure will likely be at home where you spend most of your time. Radon typically moves into
your home through cracks in the foundation, construction joints and around service pipes and cavities inside walls. Your home traps radon where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem - with or without basements.
Testing for Radon Testing is inexpensive and easy, taking only about five minutes. You can get a $5 home test kit from the Extension office. If you have a radon problem
Quick, easy household cleaning tips
All-purpose cleaner: for an all-purpose cleaner that will make nearly every surface gleam (especially kitchen counters, appliances, and inside the refrigerator). Combine four tablespoons baking soda and one quart warm water, and use it with a sponge to wipe messes away. Smelly sneakers: freshen up after your Zumba class by sprinkling some baking soda inside your shoes (and your gym bag while you’re at it). Just tap it out before you wear them again. Coloring marks: toothpaste will erase marker stains from wood - a handy trick to have in your back pocket if you’ve got creative kids. Garbage disposal: De-stink the garbage disposal by running a few lemon rinds through the disposal and follow with cold water to dispel any sour odors. Wall doodles: when your child’s artistic efforts end up all over your new paint job, scrub lightly with a damp sponge sprinkled in baking soda. De-funk hair brushes: combat build-up from hair products with a sudsy solution of a few drops of dish soap mixed with warm water. Pet stink: deodorize the soft, cushy places around your house including the dog bed - by sprinkling surfaces with baking soda, letting it sit for 15 minutes, and then vacuuming. Support Your Schools
it can be fixed. Most radon reduction systems for your home do work and, depending upon your home and its construction, the cost isn’t prohibitive. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. Radon-resistant construction techniques can be effective in preventing radon entry. Installing them at the time of construction makes it easier (See RADON on page 12)
Monday-Friday January 23-27
in Scott City Majestic Theatre 420 Main • 872-3840
Nolan Hickok and Jamie Tilton
Couple plans Aug. 26 wedding
Mr. and Mrs. Russell Tilton, Scott City, announce the engagement of their daughter, Jamie Tilton, to Nolan Hickok, Ulysses, son of Bill and Bobbi Jo Hickok, Ulysses, and Julie and Larry Schauvliege, El Paso, Tex. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Scott Community High School and Sterling College. She is currently attending Wichita State University and working
at Syndeo Business Management as a payroll specialist. The prospective groom graduated from Hanau American High School, Hanau, Germany. He attended Garden City Community College. He works as a Sara Lee route sales specialist for Bimbo Bakeries. The couple is planning a March 18 wedding at the First Baptist Church, Scott City.
Lunch Tuesday-Friday • 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Evenings Thursday-Saturday • 5:30-10:00 p.m. Tuesday Open-faced prime rib sandwich with french fries $11.95 Wednesday Chicken and noodle with mashed potatoes and corn $6.95 Thursday French dip sandwich with chips Friday Tijuana tostada
$7.95
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• Chili Cheese Dog • Deluxe Cheeseburger • 3 Piece Chicken Strips
Includes Fries, 21 oz. Drink and Small Sundae
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Monday • Beef spaghetti pie, Corn, Tossed salad, Garlic bread, Apricot halves Tuesday • Pit ham, Whipped sweet potatoes, Green peas, WW roll, Citrus banana cup Wednesday • Chicken monterey sandwich, Zucchini tomato bake, Mixed vegetables, Tropical fruit Thursday • Roast beef, Company potatoes, Green beans with bacon and onions, WW roll, Forest pears Friday • Fish nuggets, Broccoli and rice casserole, WW roll, Bread pudding
The Broiler 102 Main Street • 872-5055
Monday - Steak and Velveeta on a hoagie bun $6.00 Tuesday - Tacos Funny Tacos
99¢ $1.50
Wednesday - 2 pc. chicken dinner, includes potato and vegetables $6.25
1502 S. Main • 872-7288
Thursday - 4 oz. chicken fry dinner, includes potato and vegetables $6.25 Friday - Fish and chips
$6.25
Saturday - Ham and two eggs
$7.95
Sunday Buffet 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
CHOOSE -TWOENTREES
Classic Chicken Sandwich Footlong Quarter Pound Coney SONIC Cheeseburger
+TWO Medium Soft Drinks* +TWO Medium Tots, Medium Fries or one of each
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1720 S. Main Scott City 872-5767
The Scott County Record
Editorial/Opinion
Page 4 - Thursday, January 19, 2017
editorially speaking
Weather mod:
Evidence had no bearing in program’s lack of support
Those who live and farm in Western Kansas have long understood how precious our water resources are. We have also witnessed how tapping the Ogallala Aquifer has transformed the “Great American Desert” into one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world. The formation of Groundwater Management District No. 1 - the first of its kind in the state - was a recognition by agricultural producers and leaders in the area that water resources are limited and that efforts must be taken to monitor and manage withdrawal from the Ogallala to the long-term benefit of the region. GMD No. 1 also took the bold step more than 40 years ago to initiate the Muddy Roads Program, which later became the Western Kansas Weather Modification Program. It was a cutting edge approach to enhancing rainfall with a dual purpose of reducing irrigation costs for ag producers while easing pumping pressure on the Ogallala. After more than four decades the weather modification program has been suspended. It’s return is unlikely. From a peak of more than 20 counties and six aircraft, in 2016 the program had diminished to just Scott and Lane counties. This year, only Scott County had committed to funding the program. Several counties cited declining property values and tight budgets as their reason for no longer participating. The bigger reason for the program’s decline has been a perception by a vocal minority that the program caused more harm than good. Some ag producers argued they were getting less rainfall - not more - as a result of weather modification. There was no evidence to support these claims, but as we all know, perception can become reality. If rainfall isn’t occurring than something must be to blame and weather modification became an easy scapegoat. As for the facts? An independent analysis by the Kansas Water Office (KWO) determined that rainfall increases ranged from “marginal” to about 11 percent, depending on the test area. While rainfall enhancement may not have been as significant as hoped, the success of hail suppression was very significant, as confirmed by several studies. In 1994, the KWO identified a 27 percent reduction in hail and said that for every dollar spent on the program it returned $37 in benefits. The KWO determined that from 1979-93 the value of crop production saved from hail in the 11-county target area was $60 million. Any businessman would love to see that kind of return on investment. A follow-up study by the KWO in 2006 not only confirmed the earlier numbers, but said hail reduction could be as high as 35 percent. Yet another study in 2008 by the Risk Management Agency said hail reduction was 10 percent “at minimum.” Given the millions of dollars in crop production that were saved as a result of hail suppression, in addition to the reduction in property losses, one has to wonder why insurance companies weren’t more supportive of the weather modification program. While insurance company representatives did sit at the table to discuss funding in the spring of 2008, no one stepped forward to make a financial commitment. Some blame the onset of the Great Recession. Some feel that insurance companies were unwilling to pay for something that was costing them nothing, even though they would appear to have the most to gain. For whatever reason, everyone walked away from the negotiation table never to return and, for all intents, that may have been the beginning of the end for weather modification. State support, which had peaked at $240,000 in 2008, had been cut to about $100,000 in 2012 - the final year for any state funding. Unfortunately, ag producers and landowners who have benefitted greatly from weather mod have not stepped forward to encourage support at the state and local level. Perhaps there’s a belief that we can’t fool with Mother Nature. Or, perhaps scientific analysis and facts simply don’t matter. There are individuals who will pound the podium and declare that weather modification has prevented rainfall on their crops, because that’s what they want to believe. That personal conviction seems to carry more weight than actual evidence which has proven the program is responsible for a significant reduction in crop and property losses from hail. Weather modification has been like an insurance policy. It feels like wasted money . . . until you need it. It would appear the critics and the skeptics have won. But, it can be argued that we all lose. When the next hail storm wipes out a wheat or corn crop we should be asking, “Could this have been prevented or could the loss have been reduced significantly?” Four decades of history have shown what is possible. The evidence is clear. We have chosen otherwise in order to save a few dollars and because perceptions and misinformation are apparently more reliable than facts.
We need leaders who will inspire
We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. John F. Kennedy, Sept. 12, 1962 * * * While watching a video on Kansas education the other day, we again heard those famous words as JFK was challenging America to take the lead in the space race. If you have an understanding of that moment in history then, like us, you could still feel the emotion and appreciate the ability of one individual to inspire a nation. And like so many others, we can’t help but wonder what might have been if a life, and a presidency, that offered so much promise hadn’t been cut short. In the five decades since, the only presidents with a similar gift to inspire others with their oratory have been Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Donald Trump won’t join that short list. That’s unfortunate. We
Rod Haxton, editor
want to be inspired from time to time. As a nation, we need to feel good about ourselves and aspire to be better than what we are - challenged to think or do the impossible. When an emotional Obama talked about the tragedy of Sandy Hook School, we all felt the loss. When he delivered what was known as “The Race Speech” in response to the Rev. Wright controversy, he brought us together when others were looking for an opportunity to divide. This is what leaders do. This is the power of oratory. Barack Obama gave us hope that we were better as a people by just being who he is - the first African American who had achieved the highest office in the nation. He gave us reason to think
that we could achieve great things because he was proof of something that many had imagined would never happen in their lifetime. Instead of showing us how far we’ve come, the Obama presidency revealed an ugliness that we had hoped was buried in the past. The language was often times shrouded, but the meaning was perfectly clear. When Republican leaders vowed, on the eve of Obama’s first term to block anything and everything proposed by the new Administration, they might as well have declared that “we don’t need no uppity President telling us what to do.” When South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson shouted “You lie” during Obama’s health care speech to Congress, he might just as well have shouted “Hey, boy.” Wilson’s insult is dripping with irony given Trump’s campaign of fake news and outright lies. These are the Republicans and their supporters who shouted
they wanted to take their country back . . . back to a time of Jim Crow, poll taxes and when blacks knew their place in society. The dream of a better America instead ran into a Republican Congress whose only goal was to delegitimatize the Obama presidency. While many have reluctantly conceded that he really was born in America, we have an incoming President whose rise to political power began with his own denial that Obama is an American citizen. At a time when lesser men would have taken the low road with their detractors - and some of us wished he would have been more aggressive Obama remained the adult in the room. While many made it their mission in life to obstruct this President and, along the way, revealed their racial intolerance, he maintained the dignity of the office - an accomplishment that (See INSPIRE on page six)
Stealth tax break for millionaires
Great magicians are masters of diversion. They attract our attention with one hand while using the other to trick us into thinking a supernatural act is taking place. But, even the best street performers could learn a lesson from the folks in Congress who are trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. When we talk about repealing Obamacare, we almost never talk about the windfall payday it would bring to multimillionaires and billionaires. In fact, this massive tax cut is the proverbial card hiding in the sleeve of lawmakers pushing repeal. A new study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows the 400 richest Americans, a group whose average annual income tops $300
Where to Write
another view by Josh Hoxie
million each, would get a combined annual tax cut of $2.8 billion if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. In other words, people who already have more money than they could spend in a dozen lifetimes would get a massive pile of cash. Meanwhile, those who make less than $200,000 per year - also known as “the rest of us” - would see no benefit. That’s because the two taxes that funded the expansion in health care coverage included as part of Obamacare don’t extend to these moderateincome households. And many of us would do worse. In fact, about seven million low-income people
Gov. Sam Brownback 2nd Floor - State Capitol Topeka, Ks. 66612-1501 (785) 296-3232
would actually see their taxes go up if the law’s repealed, since they’d lose insurance premium tax credits that were enacted as part of the bill. So, to be perfectly clear on this point, repealing Obamacare equals payday for the wealthiest households and higher taxes for the poorest households millions of whom would also lose their health coverage. Remember the story of Robin Hood? It’s just like that, but backwards. Poll after poll shows Americans have no idea how concentrated wealth inequality is today - it’s far worse than most suspect. A report I co-authored last year looked at the 400 wealthiest individuals in the country. This group together owns more wealth than the entire GDP of India, a country
Sen. Pat Roberts 109 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-4774 roberts.senate.gov/email.htm
with over a billion people. The report also showed this great concentration of wealth splits largely, although not exclusively, along racial lines. The 100 wealthiest Americans, none of whom are black, today own more wealth than the entire AfricanAmerican population combined. Unsurprisingly, most of us would like to live in a much more egalitarian society. If we can’t swing it, economist and author Thomas Piketty warns, we’re heading towards a hereditary aristocracy of wealth and power, where the children of today’s billionaires will dominate our economy and our government. As we look back at the Obama legacy, we see a number of efforts aimed at beginning to bridge that massive wealth divide. (See STEALTH on page six)
Sen. Jerry Moran 141 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-6521 www.moran.senate.gov/public/
the repeal con
Calling Paul Ryan’s bluff on plans to repeal Obamacare
You do not have to think Obamacare is perfect or even the best health-care system we can devise to think its repeal would be problematic, to say the least. It is one thing to vote to repeal it when the president was sure to veto it. It’s another to repeal it, knowing the president will sign it, and then have to accept the consequences. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) predicted, “I don’t think they’re going to repeal the Affordable Care Act.” She pointed out that just keeping the parts Republicans favor, such as protection for Americans with preexisting conditions, would be prohibitively expensive.
behind the headlines
by Jennifer Rubin
“The one thing that I think the Republicans are more interested in . . . are costs. What is the cost going to be to their constituents in the changes they want to make?” she asked. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) insists that Republicans have to “stop the damage” being done now. But, by cutting revenue to support the exchange subsidies, Republicans risk eliminating coverage for tens of millions. Ryan has yet to convince all Republicans that it is politically smart to yank the plug on Obamacare with no alternative ready to go. “We took your health care away, but trust us” isn’t a persuasive campaign message in 2018. Moreover, news reports have brought to the fore a series of practical prob-
The Scott County Record • Page 5 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
lems, as John C. Goodman points out. Republicans, he reminds us, “have had seven years to propose an alternative; and if they don’t have one by now, why would anyone expect they would have one in three years? No one does expect that, least of all the insurance companies.” Insurance industry consultant Robert Laszewski predicts that a ‘repeal and delay’ bill would create enormous uncertainly and could by itself throw the exchanges into a death spiral.” Republicans may have to bail out insurance companies to keep them in the exchanges - something they swore they’d never do - until they can agree on something new. A “repeal, chaos, something new” approach will, as I suspect, lose support as the moment of truth arrives. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was already sounding cautious (See REPEAL on page six)
Fossil fuel bullies control GOP debate on climate change by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Russian money. Trump says he never invested in Russia or got loans from Russia. But, he did get investment from Russia. In 2008, his son said that Russian investment was “pouring in” to Trump properties. Even before that, Trump had a whole series of partners and investors linked to post-Soviet oligarchs and even Russian organized crime. Has Trump concealed his tax returns for this reason? ●Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, spent many years working on behalf of the thuggish Russian-backed Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, who eventually fled his own country. Manafort maintains links to pro-Russian groups in Ukraine. His name appeared on a list of people who took large chunks of cash from Yanukovych. He hasn’t gone away - in fact, he has lived in Trump Tower. There is no secret about his Russian connections. On the contrary, they define him.
Talking to my Senate Republican colleagues about climate change is like talking to prisoners about escaping. The conversations are often private, even furtive. One told me, “Let’s keep talking, but you can’t let my staff know.” The dirty secret is that climate change is not really a partisan issue in Congress. Its history has not been partisan, with Republican senators such as John McCain, Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins, Lindsey Graham and Jeff Flake (as a House member) having introduced climate bills in the past. Those with Climate change became partisan in coasts see levels ris2010, shortly after sea ing and fishthe five Republican- eries going appointed justices of awry; those the Supreme Court with forests upended a century see pine beetles spreading of law and precedent and wildfires to issue the Citizens raging; those United decision, with farms which rejected limits see unprecon corporate spend- edented drought and ing on political cam- unprecedentpaigns. The timing is ed cloudbursts. not a coincidence. Big-business interests, particularly the fossil-fuel industry, led the charge. That industry’s annual U.S. subsidy is $700 billion, according to the International Monetary Fund. With stakes that high, the incentive to protect the subsidy and the amount that the fossil-fuel industry can afford to spend on political influence are enormous, so the restraints of campaign finance and disclosure rules were particularly galling. The justices allowed the fossil-fuel industry to roll heavy artillery out onto the political field, not just its previous musketry. Industry operatives brag about putting hundreds of millions of dollars into each federal election cycle, though undisclosed “dark money” and identity-laundering pass-throughs make this increasingly hard to track. Most recklessly, the five justices missed the point - or didn’t care that anyone who is allowed to spend unlimited political money necessarily can threaten to spend unlimited political money. This atmosphere has quashed any Republican effort on climate change, silenced serious climate debate in Congress and ended progress, as desired and directed by the fossil-fuel industry. On the Senate Armed Services Committee, Republicans hear the military warn of climate change as a catalyst of conflict and a threat to low-lying military bases such as Norfolk and Diego Garcia. At their home-state universities, they see climate science in action. Those with coasts see sea levels rising and fisheries going awry; those with forests see pine beetles spreading and wildfires raging; those with farms see unprecedented drought and unprecedented cloudbursts. Republicans hear about climate science from national laboratories and
(See RUSSIAN on page six)
(See CLIMATE on page six)
Tax ‘holiday’ is another swindle by Jim Hightower
Good news, folks! Our new president says he’s planning a “tax holiday” for you. Well, not directly for you. Trump’s trillion-dollar whopper of a tax break will only go to such multinational corporations such as Apple, GE, Johnson & Johnson, and Microsoft. However, Trump says he’ll push for these cuts in your name, insisting that the trickle-down effect will create thousands of new jobs for America’s hardhit working stiffs. Here’s the deal: To dodge paying the taxes they owe to our country, many U.S.-based global giants have stashed about $2 trillion worth of profits in off-
shore bank accounts. Now they want to bring this pile of loot home - yet they want to be rewarded for doing so by having the taxes they owe slashed. Enter The Donald, who’s delighted these scofflaws by offering to tax that offshore income at the low rate of only 10 percent - versus the 30 percent you and I pay for America’s upkeep. “Trust me,” exclaims the Donald. They’ll expand their businesses here and generate jobs for you! I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night. We’ve been suckered with this tax holiday scam before. In 2004, George W. Bush pulled it on us. And instead of creating jobs, the corporate tax-dodgers actually eliminated thousands more.
Why’d that happen? Because they put their “repatriated” profits not into expanding their business, but into buying back their corporations’ stock, which jacks up the payout to top executives and the richest shareholders. They also used the extra loot to buy up competitors and fire “duplicate” workers. The way to know whether or not Trump’s tax holiday will benefit workers is to see if it requires that corporations actually create the thousands of good jobs promised - before they get any tax break. Anything less is just another swindle. Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker and author
Russian ‘kompromat’
Trump, Russian connection provides a trail of evidence
We now have not one but two “secret” dossiers on the Russian campaign to support Donald Trump. One of them is an unverified and probably unverifiable 35-page collection of rumors and gossip put together by a former British spy. Dumped on the Internet by BuzzFeed, the report is filled with small mistakes and some puzzles (for instance: how could salacious Russian “kompromat,” or compromising material, be used to blackmail someone as shameless as Trump?) and mixes the plausible with the implausible without giving real answers. The other is the declassified version of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence report on Russia’s role in the U.S. election campaign. Carefully hedged and printed on official stationery, it sticks almost entirely to
other voices
by Anne Applebaum
information that was already in public domain, including straight-faced analysis of programs broadcast on RT, the Russian state propaganda channel, which are available to anybody who owns a television. Both of these reports are in the news because they contain “secrets.” But, they add very little to what we already know about Trump’s strange relationship with Russia. The MI6 dossier is tantalizing but cannot be proven; the DNI report is banal. Instead of wasting more time on these documents, maybe we ought instead to abandon our obsession with “secrets” and “spies” and look at what is sitting in front of us. Here, for the record, once again, are things we already know about Trump and Russia, and they aren’t remotely secret: ●Trump’s real estate empire relies, though we don’t know how much, on
The Scott County Record • Page 6 • January 19, 2017
When Trump goes low, media can go away by Froma Harrop
Dog trainers have long advised owners against reacting to their pets’ attention-seeking antics the barking, jumping and pushiness. “Dog owners often inadvertently reinforce (reward) these behaviors
by interacting with the dog,” writes veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta. “Any attention can be regarded as a reward, even yelling.” Similar advice is doled to parents of whining, tantrum-throwing toddlers. Many in the media could use it, as well. All that
Climate national science and health organizations. They see overwhelming polling numbers showing young voters - even young Republican voters in favor of climate action. Republicans are trapped. The merciless might of the fossil-fuel industry’s new postCitizens United political armaments is directed at them. The fossil-fuel industry knew that if it could bring a political party to heel, it could use that party to block progress. A climate solution will require safe passage for Republicans through the political kill zone. Democrats can’t help with that. Environmental groups can’t help with that. Scientists can’t help either. It will take the corporate “good guys” to make that happen. Companies such as Walmart, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Google and General Mills signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge and do great work inside their fences and sometimes out through their supply chains. But, U.S. companies don’t lobby Congress for climate action and have never gathered to tell a Republican senator, “Look, we get what the fossil-fuel guys are threatening you with, but if you vote with us on climate, we will promise to have your back.”
(continued from page five)
Today, the stakes are higher, and we need reinforcements more than ever. President-elect Donald Trump is filling his administration with the likes of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, an ardent acolyte of the fossil-fuel industry, and ExxonMobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson. (Take no comfort in Tillerson’s statements that climate change is real and that Exxon supports a carbon tax; that message was never delivered to the fossil-fuel industry’s political gun decks and is a perhaps a deliberate false flag.) Trump may have won the presidency, but the Koch brothers and their fossil-fuel polluter allies are swiftly moving in to run the show. Corporate America can no longer ignore the enforced stagnation on Capitol Hill. Many Republicans will take the side of climate principle in a fair fight. But, it is asking a lot of them to take a principled stand on climate when they don’t see one corporate friend ready to help them. That’s the climate battle’s other dirty secret: In Congress, on climate, corporate America is not even trying. That’s why the fossil-fuel bullies own the place. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is a Democratic Congressman representing Rhode Island
Stealth From expanding opportunities for low-income children and families to asking the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share, progress has been made on this front in the past eight years. The Affordable Care Act was one of these efforts, and it touched directly on issues of life and death.
(continued from page four)
Don’t be fooled by the smoke and mirrors of today’s illusionists: Repealing it will directly counteract this progress. It will further concentrate wealth into fewer hands and strip low-income families of what little resources they have. Josh Hoxie is the director of the Project on Opportunity and Taxation at the Institute for Policy Studies
Have questions about the Scott Community Foundation? call 872-3790 or e-mail: julie@scottcf.org
Russian ●Last summer, Trump operatives at the convention changed the Republican Party platform to soften the language on Ukraine. There was no explanation for this change, one of the few substantive changes made to the entire party platform. Was this a signal, from Manafort or Trump, that the candidate was on Vladi mir Putin’s side? ●Throughout the campaign, Trump repeated
If Trump won’t take questions from serious journalists at a news conference, it’s not a news conference. Reporters are merely playing “straight man” on a reality TV show - complete with paid hecklers and promotions for Trump properties. They don’t have to be there.
sputtering over Donald Trump’s personal taunts and stupid tweets is exactly what the president-elect seeks. Turn away. Turn
away. If Trump won’t take questions from serious journalists at a news conference, it’s not a news
conference. Reporters are merely playing “straight man” on a reality TV show - complete with paid hecklers and promotions for Trump properties. They don’t have to be there. Their job is to cover what Trump does, which includes his appointments
and ties to foreign adversaries. If Trump publicly insults U.S. or foreign leaders, that’s still news. If he insults newspeople, so what? But, voices of highminded journalism continue to pump up Trump as some all-powerful con(See MEDIA on page seven)
Former President Bush counting down the days by Andy Borowitz
DALLAS (The Borowitz Report) - Former President George W. Bush is eagerly counting down the days until he is no longer the worst President in U.S. history, Bush confirmed on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at his home, Bush said that he “could hardly wait” until Friday, when he will be officially bounced from the worst-President slot. “I have to admit, I never thought I’d see this day in my
Inspire already seems beyond the comprehension of Donald Trump. While the world celebrated our President, half of America was angry. Where the world saw a hopeful future, many Americans wanted to return to the past. And elected officials in red states have been working feverishly since to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again - at least not during their lifetimes. Voter ID laws, voter suppression and the fraud that is voter fraud - led by none other than Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach have become the route
Repeal at last week’s news conference when responding to complaints from medical groups about a repealand-delay strategy: “Well, none of those people that you mentioned are happy with the status quo. They want changes, too. And we’re going to work with them to come up with a better system than this monstrosity that was left behind by the Obama administration.” Pestered for an answer, he said, “Yeah, I don’t know how many times I have to say the same thing, but we’re - we’re going to be working on the phase-in period and
lifetime,” the former President said. “When you leave office with the nation in smoldering ruins, you sort of come to accept that you’re gonna be worst for a long, long time.” “I guess you could say I set the bar kind of high, worst-wise,” he chuckled. As the returns came in on Election Night, however, the former President suddenly realized that his days as the worst President in U.S. history might be coming to an abrupt end.
“Holy cow,” Bush remembered saying to himself. “Just holy cow.” While Bush recognizes that many Americans are dreading Friday’s Inauguration, he said he hoped that they could “sort of understand” why he might see things differently. “To be honest, Friday can’t come fast enough for me,” he said. “I’m like a kid waiting for Christmas.” Andy Borowitz is a comedian and author
(continued from page four)
by which Republicancontrolled states have attempted to retain power. They have limited polling sites, reduced the opportunities to vote in advance and enacted other steps which make it difficult for minorities, college students and the poor to vote. Our democratic process has been threatened because of their obsession with Barack Obama and what he represents. Exploiting this national divide was a presidential candidate whose plan to “Make America Great Again” has been built on a foundation of hatred, bigotry and misogyny. Where one President
challenged our nation’s scientists to do the unimaginable, we have elected a President who disavows science. Where one President demanded that a wall be torn down, we have a President who wants to build one to keep people out. Where one President gave hope that we had taken a major step beyond racism, we have a President who used white supremacy as a path into the White House. Inspiration and belief in a better nation doesn’t happen 140 characters at a time. It doesn’t happen
by boasting of your superiority or by attacking the self-worth of others. Obama provided leadership and humility against unimaginable odds and resistance from those who wanted nothing more than to see him fail at whatever cost it meant to the nation. Millions of people dream to be better because of this President and what he represented. That’s something we feel confident we won’t be saying for the next four years. That’s unfortunate. We need inspiration from time to time. Rod Haxton can be reached at editor@screcord.com
(continued from page five)
what it looks like once we get to step two. Step one is the Obamacare replacement resolution which we’ll turn to after the first of the year.” But, once they take step one (depending if that includes a funding cutoff), the chaos, uncertainty and insurance stampede begins. We confess to being surprised that Ryan doesn’t introduce the replacement plan first, using the ideas outlined in his “A Better Way” health-care plan. Does he not have the votes to pass it? Does it require taxes his members will not sup-
port? Does it not cover all the current Obamacare recipients? If there are serious problems like this, then a promise of repealing and replacing Obamacare is a phony one. In sum, if there is a viable replacement plan, introduce and pass it soon; if there isn’t one that can garner a GOP majority and get past a Democratic filibuster, they need to admit it. Then go about the business of trying to fix flaws in the existing system. This is what “owning” the consequences of your actions means. This is not a white paper or an
op-ed on a conservative ideal. This is about real people who have coverage already and have the expectation of continued coverage. The time to put the alternative out - one that Republicans promise would work better and save money - is now. Pelosi is betting there is no such plan that can get “buy-in” from all Republicans and sufficient Democrats to pass both houses. If she is right, repealing Obamacare in January is the ultimate con and a recipe for political disappointment.
and I are saying today” and will “be seeing it in some form.” In 2014, he bragged that Putin had sent him a “beautiful present” and claimed - apparently untruthfully - to have spoken to him as well. Nothing that Putin has done since - invade Ukraine, murder journalists, jail opponents - has induced Trump to change his mind. To that list, we can now
add the fact that Russia hacked material from the Clinton campaign, fed it to WikiLeaks and passed it on through their bot and troll network, which transformed it into hysterical slogans. Eventually, our intelligence agencies may learn more about that process, but at this point it doesn’t matter. Information doesn’t have to be secret to be shocking. Trump doesn’t have to be a Manchurian
candidate who has been hypnotized or recruited by foreign intelligence. It’s enough that he has direct and indirect links to a profoundly corrupt and violent foreign dictator, whose policies he admires, whose advisers he shares and whose slogans he uses. That’s kompromat enough for me.
Jennifer Rubin is a conservative columnist for The Washington Post
(continued from page five)
slogans and conspiracy theories - “Obama invented ISIS,” “Hillary will start World War III” - lifted from Sputnik, the Russian propaganda website. Was this just Trump campaign chief Stephen K. Bannon borrowing ideas, or Manafort using tactics he perfected in Ukraine? Or was there deliberate linkage? ●Finally, and most important: Trump is
willing to risk serious conflict with China, to destroy U.S. relations with Mexico, to dismiss America’s closest allies in Europe and to downgrade NATO, our most important military alliance. But, he has repeated many times his admiration for Russia and its president. In 2013, he told MSNBC, “I do have a relationship” with Putin, who is “probably very interested in what you
Anne Applebaum is a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist on the Washington Post editorial board
The Scott County Record • Page 7 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Media
(continued from page six)
troller of American freedom of expression. For example, Leonard Downie Jr., former executive editor of The Washington Post, writes that Trump’s attacks pose “a deep danger for legitimate, aggressive journalism.” They do no such thing. Trump has no control over what the professional media or anyone else says about him. Perhaps the media should alter their own traditions in accordance with the changing times. They don’t have to obsess over every dumb thing the president-elect says, especially because his saying
dumb things is no longer news. Better to start puncturing Trump’s self-inflated titan-of-business balloon. The conservative Wall Street Journal made a fine start in reporting that Trump owed financial institutions $1.5 billion more than he listed on his disclosure forms. And it has thrown cold water on Trump’s claim to economic genius, with such headlines as “The Market Has Already Started to Dump Trump.” Big media can stop playing defense against a man whose approval ratings are probing the
earth’s core. It was a nice gesture for Fox News to defend CNN after the recent “news conference” - as CNN had done for Fox in the past. But, there’s no need for a journalistic mutual defense pact. When BuzzFeed posted the unverified stories of salacious conduct by Trump, Trump tried to blame CNN for their release. CNN explained that it did not air the nasty material, which was appended to an intelligence report on Russian interference in the recent election. CNN didn’t even link to it. It just noted its existence.
Well done, but CNN and other members of the respectable media went overboard in scolding BuzzFeed for going public with the scandalous two pages. In the digital era, the only gates a news outlet can keep are its own. The report had been floating around Washington. If BuzzFeed hadn’t posted it, someone else would have. And if the dirty innuendo had centered on Hillary Clinton, Breitbart would have put it up in half a heartbeat. The threat to throw reporters out of the White
House press office is a recent effort to move the spotlight from Trump’s sinking currency to a thin-skinned press corps. “I want ’em out of the building,” a tough (but not tough enough to be identified) Trump official told Esquire. “We are taking back the press room.” Well, they can have it. The reporters should be out uncovering the seediness rather than responding to Trump’s latest provocation. They are entering a golden age for American journalism and should know it. Froma Harrop is a nationally syndicated columnist
Legislative hotline is available
Kansas residents can access information on state government, legislation, public policy issues and more by calling 1-800-432-3924. Calls are answered by experienced reference/ research librarians at the State Library of Kansas and kept confidential. Lines are open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Callers can also leave brief messages to be delivered to legislators as well as request copies of bills, calendars, journals, committee agendas, voting records, and other legislative documents. In addition to calling the hotline, residents can also text questions to 785-256-0733. Friendship ‘Meals to Go’ available from the VIP Center Individual frozen/sealed trays • Good for special diets only $3.50/meal • Call 872-3501
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1930 - In New York, excavation began for the Empire State Building.
19 29
1907 - Charles Curtis, of Kansas, 1965 - Winston Churchill died at began serving in the United the age of 90. States Senate. He was the first American Indian to become a U.S. Senator. He resigned in March of 1929 to become U.S. President Herbert Hoover’s Vice President.
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VIP Soup Supper, SC VIP Center, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. 1951 - In the U.S., atomic testing in the Nevada desert began as an Air Force plane dropped a one-kiloton bomb on Frenchman Flats.
1875 - George F. Green patented the electric dental drill for sawing, filing, dressing and polishing teeth.
1961 - John F. Kennedy presented the first live presidential news conference from Washington, DC. The event was carried on radio and television.
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1986 - The U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded just after takeoff. All seven of its crewmembers were killed.
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The Scott County Record • Page 8 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Cookoff
Emerson Norman Steffens with his proud parents, Katelyn and Erik. (Record Photo)
Emerson Steffens is first baby of 2017 Emerson Norman Steffens had the distinction of being the first baby of the new year born at Scott County Hospital. The son of Erik and Katelyn Steffens, Dighton, Emerson made his arrival on Jan. 9 at 12:30 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs., 8 oz., and was 21-1/4 inches long. Paternal grandparents are Earl and Kathy Steffens, Dighton. Maternal grandparents are Danny Keller and Kelley Keller, both of Ellis. Prizes being awarded to the first baby and his
Budget fix to this imbalance we have between revenue and expenditures,” he said. The desire for a “structural fix” already has put lawmakers at odds with the governor. The budget Brownback offered again relies on one-time money. It includes proposals to sell off future payments from the state’s tobacco settlement for a lump-sum payout, delay contributions to the state employee retirement plan, siphon more money from the highway program and borrow from a state investment fund. “The damage that would be done with that budget is incredible,” said Rep. Kathy Wolfe-Moore, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kan. “So, I think he just actually helped us. He made the case for overhauling the tax plan.” “We can’t keep doing this. We need a long-term structural fix to this imbalance we have between revenue and expenditures.” Wolfe-Moore is part of a growing group of lawmakers seeking to roll back parts of Brownback’s signature income tax cuts. As a starting point, they want to repeal a tax exemption given to more than 300,000 business owners and farmers even
parents by Scott City businesses and organizations include: First National Bank: collector’s coin. Braun’s Butcher Block: $20 gift card. $100 in gift cards: Sager’s Pump Service. Scott City Quilt Guild: a quilt for the baby. H&R Block: a baby bib. Russell Child Development: children’s books. 3 Phase Laser: engraved baby tile. American Implement: John Deere toy. Dairy Queen: 8-inch ice cream cake.
Wendy’s: two $10 gift cards and two koozies. Heartland Foods: one package of diapers. Great Western Tire: $25 in fuel. Sonic Drive-in: 20 $5 gift cards. State Farm Insurance: a State Farm teddy bear. Giftologists: children’s outfit by MudPie. Z-Bottling: one case of gallon-sized water jugs. Suzy B’s: floral arrangement. Scott County Hospital: embroidered blanket. Scott County Record: one year subscription.
tor, along with a few other clubs in the area. In the immediate area, the screener has also been used to check the vision of pre-kindergarten youngsters once a year at the Scott County Library and has been used by the Ness County Health Department. The annual library screening will typically include about 30-40 kids “and we’ll usually have three or four who show the need for glasses,” Frank says. “When you’re a really young kid, you don’t know any better. You don’t know if you have a vision problem,” notes Frank. “Without something like this, by the time it’s caught a kid may be in third or fourth grade and they’ve fallen way behind in school because they’ve had such a hard time seeing things.” But, the vision screener has seen the greatest use by school nurse Annie Emberton. She typically has the device for about 4-6 weeks and during that time will test every student at Scott City Elementary School, fifth and seventh graders at Scott City Middle School and sopho-
(continued from page one)
mores and seniors at Scott Community High School. “Some years I can examine every kid in the district, but I wasn’t able to do that this year,” Emberton says. This year alone she identified 50 youngsters who had vision impairment serious enough that they will need eyeware. “I’ve even checked kids at Golden Rule PreSchool and the earlychildhood kids. That’s why you see so many of these young kids with glasses who probably wouldn’t have them otherwise,” she says. Rather than youngsters reading an eye chart, the device checks the eye and can determine if an individual is far-sighted, near-sighted or has astigmatism. One of the great features of the PediaScreener is that an exam only takes about a minute. “We have a number of kids who have never had their glasses updated. They can leave their glasses on and we can determine if their prescription is okay or needs to be changed,” Emberton says. As an added bonus,
the Lions Club provides Emberton with $150 vouchers which can be used at either of the two eye doctors in Scott City. Emberton provides the vouchers to students who meet income guidelines. “It’s amazing how many kids we have in school whose parents don’t have insurance or don’t qualify for Medicaid. These vouchers are a big help,” she says. Frank says the Lions Club will also provide vouchers to assist adults who can show a need. “Between the cookoff and raffle sales, we will raise about $4,000, which allows us to do projects like this,” adds Frank. The annual cookoff will be Sun., Jan. 29, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Wm. Carpenter 4-H Building. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for youngsters 12-years and under. Raffle tickets can also be purchased from any Lions Club members for $10 each in advance or at the door. Individuals need to be present for the door prizes given away throughout the night, but they do not need to be present for the $1,000 grand prize.
Buy of the Week
Wednesday, Jan. 25 - Tuesday, Jan. 31
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though Brownback continues to defend it. “The purpose of our small-business tax cut has been to increase the number of small businesses and increase private-sector growth. That policy has worked,” Brownback said in his State of the State speech. It appears the governor is fighting a losing battle. Even Koch Industries - a politically influential conglomerate that’s benefitting from the exemption - now favors its repeal. Spending Cuts, Tax Hikes Taking the exemption off the books will help, but it won’t come close to closing the budget gap. That, Hineman said, will require some tough decisions on spending cuts and tax increases. “If we can’t do it with budget cuts, then I think the public is ready for us to look at new sources of revenue,” he said. A number of potential tax increases are in the discussion, according to Hineman and other legislative leaders. They include everything from hikes in the tobacco and gas taxes to an income tax surcharge to reductions in the property tax break farmers get on cropland. Reaching agreement on
how much to cut, which taxes to increase and by how much won’t be easy. But, unlike recent sessions, when debate was stymied and lawmakers were pushed to the point of tears, it appears there will be an open discussion about how to achieve that balance. Rep. Susan Concannon, a Beloit Republican, said the massive influx of new lawmakers and resulting shake-up in the legislative leadership have created a more collegial atmosphere in the Statehouse. “Oh yeah, this is a new world,” Concannon said. “The leadership now is willing to talk about things. They’re willing to have debates. Listen to all sides. They’re respectful of each other. It’s great.” Great so far. But, the hard work is just beginning.
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Happy 100th Birthday
Christine Evans
Send a Card Former Shallow Water students, remember your 1st Grade Teacher on her 100th Birthday! Tuesday, January 24 Send cards to: Christine Evans 210 E. Park Lane Scott City, Ks 67871
Join in the Celebration! You are invited to celebrate Christine Evans’ 100th Birthday! Tuesday, January 24 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Park Lane Nursing Home 210 E. Park Lane • Scott City
Christine and her husband, Rev. Orson Evans, moved to Scott City in 1966. He was the minister at the United Methodist Church from 1966 to 1981. Christine taught first grade at Shallow Water from 1966 to 1982.
Youth/Education
Section B Page 9 Thursday, January 19, 2017
Regents set quotas for hiking graduations The number of degrees and certificates being awarded by state colleges and universities is up, as are on-time graduations. Overall the Kansas Board of Regents seemed pleased this week with its latest annual progress report. In news that will also be welcomed by the Legislature, the report says wages are rising for those earning either a twoyear or four-year degree. In his message in
the report, CEO Blake Flanders noted the accomplishments were made despite dwindling support from the state. Funding for the higher education system has essentially remained flat “with just over $744 million appropriated for FY 2010 and approximately $749 million appropriated for FY 2017,” he wrote. The state has cut $75 million from the Regents in just the past three years
In 2015, the average wage in Kansas was $42,020. For someone with a bachelor’s degree just one year out of school, the average wage was just below that at $41,625.
to help balance an ailing budget. Without making an explicit plea for more money, Flanders made it clear the system needs more resources. “Unfortunately, Kansas will experience decreases in personal income per capita, lost income and sales tax revenues to the
state, declining federal revenues, and lost savings in both Medicaid and Corrections budgets, if postsecondary education attainment isn’t increased,” he said in the report. The Regents have said that by 2020 Kansas will need to graduate 53,000
students a year with either a four-year degree or a two-year certificate. Currently, the annual quota is 40,000. Schools have been informed as to how many more students they are going to have to graduate to meet the goal. The University of Kansas will have to graduate 311 more students every year and Kansas State the same number. To hit the target, the Regents says campuses
will have to get more high school graduates to seek a post-secondary education, keep more students in school until they graduate, or lure back to school some of the 185,000 Kansans with some college credit, but no degree. “There is no way to meet the attainment goal on high school graduates alone. We can’t do it,” Flanders said. That may not be too heavy a lift. In 2016, (See REGENTS on page 16)
Advocacy Day provides students with framework for civic engagement Success in education isn’t just about what happens in the classroom. “If we haven’t produced students who are good citizens outside the classroom and who are engaged in their community can we say we’ve done our job as educators?” asks the superintendent of the Dighton school district. As an answer to that question, Dr. Arnberger initiated the first Advocacy Day at Dighton High School last Friday. Guest presenters, including Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson and State Board of Education Commissioner Sally Cauble were among eight individuals who gave a series of 25 minute presentations as students rotated between classrooms. The goal was to give students an idea of how to prepare and visit with state legislators when they travel to Topeka later this spring.
“I really enjoy this event,” noted Cauble, who had participated in a previous Advocacy Day with Arnberger. “Before the state board added civic engagement to the success of a student, Dr. Arnberger was already conducting these Advocacy Days. I think it’s an eye-opener for the students and I hope they go home and talk about it with their parents.” This was the third Advocacy Day conducted by Arnberger. His first was at Palco several years ago and more recently at Bucklin where he was school superintendent before coming to Dighton. “In both instances our kids were well prepared and the state representatives and senators were very amenable to meeting with them,” notes Arnberger. He emphasizes the students aren’t being prepared to talk just about education issues. “It has to be something they’re passionate about,” he says. “I don’t tell them
what to talk about because I don’t want them to simply be conveying what’s important to me. “I do expect them to represent themselves and their community very well. I want legislators or anyone else they meet with to know that my kids from Dighton are outstanding and that they represent every other kid in every other rural school and that, as a core group, we’re all outstanding. “Therefore, whatever decisions (legislators) are going to make regarding education, they had better darn well pay attention to these kids from rural America.” Arnberger feels that an event such as Advocacy Day can help give students a better idea of civic responsibility and what it takes to be more involved in their community and state. “One of the things we lost with No Child Left Behind, especially in regard to social studies, is political discourse and being part of a larger po-
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt visits with Dighton High School students during their Advocacy Day. (Record Photo)
litical community, even at a local level,” he emphasizes. “In the larger scheme of things, we want students to be productive and active citizens. “By engaging with people who they normally wouldn’t have a chance to, it allows these students
to see other opportunities. Maybe one of them will think that maybe they can someday be the commissioner of education or become an attorney general. And why not?” Students in grades 9-12 are in the process of researching their topics and
preparing the presentations. Arnberger says they have to wait for the legislative calendar to be set before scheduling a trip to Topeka. Tentative plans are to spend a full day at the statehouse in late March.
Unproven savings provides basis for Governor’s K-12 funding Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget would reduce funding for K-12 education based on unproven savings from school district health insurance consolidation and joint purchasing. Brownback released his state budget proposal on Wednesday for the rest of this fiscal year
and next two years. Facing a severe revenue shortfall, the governor called for tax increases, sale of the tobacco settlement, liquidation of a long-term investment fund, highway fund sweeps, payment delays and other measures. For K-12 education,
Brownback said two recommendations from last year’s Alvarez and Marsal state government efficiency report should be part of any new school finance formula adopted by the Legislature. Those two proposals include putting all 286 school district
health plans in the state employee health plan and requiring districts to procure certain purchasing categories through the state. Those categories include food, fuel, information technology and maintenance. Brownback’s Budget Director Shawn Sullivan said
consolidating health insurance plans would reduce administrative costs and expenditures. If implemented Jan. 1, 2018, Sullivan forecast the consolidation would save $40 million for the remainder of that fiscal year and then $80 million for the (See UNPROVEN on page 16)
Grand Opening
Saturday, January 21 5:00 p.m. - until the last person leaves Hors D’oevures and cash bar
10311 Hwy 95, North of Scott City • For reservations or more information call 620-874-1363
For the Record House bill would roll back campus firearms law The Scott County Record
by Stephen Koranda
The debate over allowing concealed guns on college campuses is starting to heat up in the Kansas Statehouse. A law passed in 2013 will require public universities to allow concealed guns on campus starting this summer. A group of
The Scott County Record Page 10 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Kansas lawmakers now is pushing a bill that would exempt state universities and colleges from the requirement. Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an Overland Park Republican, introduced the legislation in the House. She says voters in her Johnson County district don’t want guns
on college campuses. “They worry about the combination of alcohol and guns. They worry about the higher incidence of suicide. They worry about college students possibly making mistakes with guns,” Clayton says. “It does tend to be a more exploratory and reckless time period in early adult-
hood.” The 2013 law allows guns in most public buildings, unless the buildings have adequate security such as guards and metal detectors. Rep. John Whitmer, a Wichita Republican, places long odds on Clayton’s bill passing. “It’s dead on arrival,”
he says. “The original bill passed with veto-proof majorities in both chambers. I’ve talked to my folks, and it’s a Second Amendment issue. It’s a right to bear arms issue.” Whitmer says constitutional rights don’t end when a person steps onto a college campus, and he doesn’t agree with con-
cerns about safety. “The folks who legally carry, they’re not the ones you need to be afraid of. Heck, they’re the ones who are going to come to your defense in the case of a campus shooter,” he says. Gov. Sam Brownback also says he’s not in favor (See FIREARMS on page 11)
‘Bifurcated’ elections would disqualify many voters Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach asked for a bill to be introduced Tuesday that would give him authority to hold “bifurcated” elections so that potentially tens of thousands of registered voters could not vote in state or local elections. It would apply to people who register to vote using a federal process that does not require people to show proof of citizenship, ensuring that they could only vote in federal elections, not state or local elections. “It’s sort of an interim bill during litigation to keep the integrity of the (proof of citizenship) law while it’s being litigated,” Kobach told the Senate Committee on Ethics, Elections and Local Government. The bill comes in response to a string of state and federal court rulings leading up to the 2016 elections that all but nullified the proof of citizenship law that he championed in 2011. First, a federal judge in Kansas City, Kan., granted a temporary injunction partially blocking the state from enforcing the law. The court said Kansas could not use its citizenship requirement to
block people from voting in federal elections, and that ruling was eventually upheld by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. Those federal forms currently only require applicants to attest, under penalty of perjury, that they are U.S. citizens, but they do not require people to show documentary proof of citizenship. In response, Kobach attempted to enact a new regulation that would have required those people to cast provisional ballots so that only their votes in federal races would be counted. But, the American Civil Liberties Union challenged that in state court, and in September a Shawnee County District Court judge said Kobach had no statutory authority to hold such a “bifurcated” election in which there would essentially have to be two separate voter registration lists: one for people who can vote in all elections and another for people who could only vote in federal races. Kobach has appealed the Shawnee County decision to the Kansas Court of Appeals. In addition, the federal court in
Scott Co. LEC Report Scott City Police Department Dec. 20: American Implement reported a theft. Dec. 27: A warrant for criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon was served on Noah Farr who is in custody. Dec. 28: Brenda Kough reported a burglary and attempted theft. Dec. 28: Chad Ramsey was arrested and transported to the LEC. Jan. 2: Marco Zamora-Rodriguez was arrested for driving while a habitual violator. Jan. 3: Meagan Euliss was arrested and transported to the LEC.
Kobach downplays ‘lost’voter registrations; blames computer glitch Secretary of State Kris Kobach downplayed the significance of news reports over the weekend that “thousands” of ballots were thrown out during the 2016 elections, including many from people who said they had successfully registered using the state’s online registration system. It noted that a potentially large number of people registered using the state’s online system and received confirmation that their registrations were successful, only to find out at the polls that the registrations had not gone through. The problem was attributed to a “glitch” in a web-based system that communicates between the secretary of state’s
office and the Division of Vehicles in the Department of Revenue. Kobach told reporters that only a small percentage of the provisional ballots that were thrown out during the November elections were related to that computer glitch. “The thousands of ballots thrown out had to do with provisional ballots, and every year thousands of provisional ballots are cast, and about 30 percent of those thousands are thrown out because the person does not legally qualify to cast a vote,” Kobach said. “The tiny, smaller issue within the article was, of course, what you’re now referring to, and that is the computer glitch, if you
will, that the (Division of Vehicles) had.” Kobach said the problem was that if the Division of Vehicles’ server went down while someone was in the process of using it, the user would get a message saying the registration was complete, but the computer system would not record it and relay the information back to the secretary of state’s office. Bryan Caskey, who heads the Elections Division in the secretary of state’s office, said he didn’t know exactly how many voters had been affected, but he described it as, “more than a handful and less than several hundred.” Officials at the Department of Revenue declined to comment on
the situation “because of pending litigation.” Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew, however, said he wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “It has been stated that if one person votes illegally, it hurts the election,” Shew said, referring to Kobach’s own justification for strict photo ID and proof of citizenship laws that he says are intended to prevent noncitizens from voting. “This is a frustration we’ve been dealing with for quite some time.” Shew said his office began tracking cases of voters who claimed to have registered online because there have been a growing number of them over the last few election cycles.
Kansas City, Kan., has not yet issued a final ruling in a set of cases that say the citizenship law conflicts with federal law and the U.S. Constitution. So, while those cases are still being litigated,
Kobach has asked for legislation to grant him specific authority to hold bifurcated elections. “This bill clarifies that for state elections, you have to prove your citizenship under Kansas
law in this interim period where the case is in court,” Kobach said. Kobach’s bill may be just one of several opportunities lawmakers have this year to discuss the proof of citizenship
law. Democrats in the Legislature have said they plan to offer measures, either as a separate bill or an amendment onto another election bill, to repeal the citizenship requirement altogether.
The Scott County Record • Page 11 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Housing
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pointed out the county is not losing property taxes based on a $3 million building by granting the NRP tax credits. She said the value of a federally subsidized housing project is determined by the income generated, not the cost of construction. “That will be the case for the first 15 years,” she said. “After that time it becomes part of the private sector.” She was uncertain what that would mean for property taxes after 15 years. County Commissioner Jim Minnix said that without the NRP, property taxes would be about half of what would normally be assessed because it’s a subsidized housing development.
board of education, that wasn’t the case with the city or county. The council approved the tax rebate on a 6-1 vote (Gary Eitel opposed). The county approved it on a 2-1 vote (Jerry Buxton opposed). “My issue is with the 10 years. What of the next guy who comes along and wants a 10 year rebate?” asked Buxton. Eisenhour said there have only been three applications for a 10-year rebate and the only one approved was the Kansas Livestock Association building which is located in the Eastridge Addition. She said that NuLife had been approved for the extended rebate, but didn’t complete the application. NRP is Not Unanimous “It needs to be a subWhile NRP was unani- stantial project - in the mously approved by the millions (of dollars) - for
Distribute funds to 326 crime victims The Kansas Crime Victims Compensation Board awarded financial assistance to 326 victims of crime at its May meeting. Awards were made in 173 new cases. Additional expenses were paid in 153 previously submitted cases. The awards totaled $ $351,751.98. The Division of Crime Victims Compensation in the Kansas Attorney General’s office administers the Crime Victims Compensation program, which was established in 1978 to help victims of violent crime pay for their unexpected expenses such as medical treatment, mental health counseling, lost wages, dependent support and funeral costs. The state’s threemember Crime Victims Compensation Board determines claims that are eligible for payment and decides how much money will be awarded to each claimant. Awards are limited to a maximum total amount of $25,000.
us to bring it to you for consideration,” Eisenhour told commissioners. “You wouldn’t want to do this for everyone and neither do we. It has to be a project that will make a difference.” She emphasized the senior housing project will fall into that category. “I’m convinced we will fill 16 units in no time,” she said. However, there’s less certainty about whether the project will actually take place. The financial viability of it depends on federal tax credits and there’s question about whether tax credits will be attractive if tax cuts being considered by the Trump Administration and Republican-controlled Congress are approved. Mesner will know if tax credits will be awarded in late June or early July.
Firearms of changing the state’s concealed carry law. “I believe it’s a right that the individual has and the Constitution upholds that,” Brownback says. Rep. Stephanie Clayton, an Overland Park Republican, says that expansion of concealed carry means the issue of guns on campus needs another look. But at this point, Brownback is not closing the door to some kind of compromise that could delay allowing guns on campus or otherwise amend the bill. “We’ll look at whatever people bring forward in the process. You know I like to let the process play out, but my view of the Second Amendment hasn’t changed,” he says. There’s an added wrinkle in the debate. When lawmakers originally passed the law that will allow guns on campus, the state had a requirement that people carrying a concealed gun go through training and get a permit. Since then, Kansas lawmakers have put in place so-called constitutional carry, which means almost anyone 21 and older can carry a concealed gun without training or a license. Clayton says that expansion of concealed carry means the issue of
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guns on campus needs another look. “When this was first put into effect, the legislators voted for it with that original concealed carry law in mind, thinking, ‘Well, what kind of harm could this do? Only licensed individuals can carry a concealed weapon anyway,’” she says. “Now, with the implementation of constitutional carry, this needs to have another hearing. The debate needs to be opened on this again.” The Kansas Board of Regents and universities have taken steps to prepare for concealed carry and comply with the law. Board of Regents President and CEO Blake Flanders notes that surveys of university employees and students have shown opposition to the policy, but he says it’s too early to know if the regents will advocate for amending the law. “The board hasn’t decided that, as of yet. The board’s decision was to implement the current law. We need to meet as a board and determine which path is best forward,” Flanders says. Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio, a partner in the Kansas News Service
LIEAP assistance is now available In order to ensure Kansans keep warm this winter, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has begun accepting applications for its Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). LIEAP provides an annual benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating bills. Persons with disabilities, older adults and families with children are the primary groups assisted. In 2016, nearly 44,000 households received an average benefit of a little under $500. To qualify, applicants must be responsible for direct payment of their heating bills. Income eligibility requirements are set at 130 percent of the federal poverty level. The level of benefit varies according to household income, number of
people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel, and utility rates. Applicants must demonstrate that they have made payments on their heating bill two out of the last three months. Those payments must be equal to or exceed $80 or the total balance due on their energy bills, whichever is less. Applications for the program have been mailed to households that received energy assistance last year. LIEAP applications are also available at local DCF offices and through partnering agencies. They can be requested by calling 1-800-432-0043. For more information or to apply online, visit www. lieap.dcf.ks.gov. Applications will be accepted through March 31.
Public Notice (First published in The Scott County Record Thurs., Jan. 19, 2017; last published Thurs., Jan. 26, 2017)2t NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SCOTT COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT To all qualified electors residing within the boundaries of the Scott County Conservation District, notice is hereby given that pursuant to K.S.A. 2-1907, as amended, on the 2nd day of February, 2017, at 12:00 noon, an annual meeting of the Scott County Conservation District will be held at the 4-H Exhibit Building, Scott City, Ks. The meeting agenda will include the following business items: One: The supervisors of the Scott County Conservation District shall make full and due report of their activities and financial affairs since the last annual meeting. Two: The supervisors shall conduct an election by secret ballot of qualified electors, there present, of one supervisor to serve for a term of three years from date of said meeting. The terms of Clint Dearden and Trevor Cox are expiring. All in the County of Scott in the State of Kansas. Clint Dearden, chairperson Scott County Conservation District Attest Morgan Barnhart, district manager
Pastime at Park Lane We offer our sympathy to the family of Reece Roemer who passed away on January 11. Gospel Fellowship Church led Sunday afternoon services. Residents played pitch and dominoes on Monday afternoon. Game helpers were Dorothy King, Bert Lucas, Wanda Kirk, Madeline Murphy, Joy Barnett and Mandy Barnett. Residents played Wii bowling on Monday. Pastor Bob Artz led Bible study on Tuesday morning. Doris Riner and Elsie Nagel led the hymns. Russel and Mary Webster led Bible study class on Tuesday evening.
Radon and less expensive to reduce radon levels further. Radon from soil gas is the main cause of radon problems but radon can enter the home through well water. Nearly one out of every 15 homes in the U.S. is estimated to have elevated radon levels. Of the homes that have been tested in Scott County, two-thirds have been over the recommended 4.0 pCi/L, with an average of 5.6 pCi/L. The highest tested in Scott County was 15.7 pCi/L. Radon can be so tricky. If your neighbor has an
Decorate notebooks on craft day
The Immanuel Southern Baptist Church led crafts on Tuesday afternoon. Residents decorated notebooks. Helpers were Joy Barnett, Sue Barber, Jennifer Murphy, Mandy Barnett and Bev Nuckolls. Cookies were furnished by Sue Barber.
Honor 4 with January birthdays
The American Baptist Women from the First Baptist Church hosted the January birthday party. Guests of honor were Lowell Rudolph, Evelyn Waller, Loretta Gorman and Christine Evans. For the program, Naomi Teubner played the piano and Trudy Eikenberry led everyone in a group sing-a-long. Everyone was served a slice of pie. Pie bakers were Deva Cupp, Meredith Cupp, Cindy Geist, Nina Hapt, Elaine Megert, Liz Miller, Elsie Nagel, Sara Ramsey, Betty Scheuerman and Tava See. Other hostesses were Neta Wheeler, Leona Logan, Deb Scheuerman and Mary Lou Oeser.
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elevated radon problem that does not mean that your home will have a high reading. The only way to know is to test your home. If you would like a radon test kit stop by the Extension office. If you find that you have a radon problem, I can help you with more information on what to do for your home and who to contact about a reduction system. You can find more information on the Kansas Radon program at www. kansasradonprogram. org or call the Extension office (872-2930).
SSI reviews are normal procedure Q) I just got a notice from Social Security that said my Supplemental Security Income (SSI) case is being reviewed. What does this mean? A) Social Security reviews every SSI case from time to time to make sure the individuals who are receiving payments should continue to get them. The review also determines whether individuals are receiving the correct amounts. You can learn more about SSI by visiting our website on the subject at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssi. * * * Q) What is the difference between the disability application and the disability report? Do I have to complete both?
Social Security Q and A A) A disability application is a claim for Social Security disability benefits. A disability report provides information about your current physical or mental condition that we need to process your disability application. To establish a claim for disability benefits, you need to file a disability application, submit a disability report, and provide an authorization to release medical records. The best place to start is at www. socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.
The Scott County Record • Page 12 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Rev. Warren Prochnow led Lutheran Bible study on Wednesday morning. Residents played cards on Wednesday evening. Denton and Karen Berry helped with the pitch games. Ladies manicures were given on Thursday morning. The Over 50 Chorus led everyone in a sing-a-long on Thursday afternoon. Singers were Madeline Murphy, Irma McDaniel and Melva Knight. Residents played trivia games on Thursday evening. Fr. Bernard Felix led Catholic Mass on Friday morning.
Sr. Citizen Lunch Menu Week of January 23-27 Monday: Beef spaghetti pie, whole kernel corn, tossed salad, garlic bread, apricot halves. Tuesday: Pit ham, whipped sweet potatoes, green peas, whole wheat roll, citrus banana cup. Wednesday: Chicken Monterrey sandwich, zucchini tomato bake, mixed vegetables, tropical fruit. Thursday: Roast beef, potatoes, green beans with bacon and onions, whole wheat roll, forest pears. Friday: Fish nuggets, broccoli and rice casserole, whole wheat roll, bread pudding, milk. meals are $3.50 • call 872-3501
by Jason Storm
The video “Songs from the Heartland” was shown on Friday afternoon. Residents played Wii bowling on Friday evening. Corrine Dean was visited by Dianna Howard, Aaron and Mandy Kropp, and Poodle Ortiz. Boots Haxton was visited by Rod and Kathy Haxton. LaVera King was visited by Gloria Gough and Carol Latham. Arlene Beaton was visited by John Beaton. Louise Crist was visited by Jim and Ilene Minnix, Patsi Graham, Don and Tara Williams, Jean Burgess and Sue Rose.
Doris Riner was visited by Bill and Sue Riner and Trudy Eikenberry. Lowell Rudolph was visited by Tom and Kathleen Moore and LuAnn Buehler. Lorena Turley was visited by LaCinda Griffin, Neta Wheeler and Rex Turley. Vivian Kreiser was visited by Sharon Lock. Clifford Dearden was visited by Kirk and Janet Ottaway from Hays. Loretta Gorman was visited by Chuck and Barb Brobst, Tava See and Charlene Becht. Dona Dee Carpenter was visited by Gloria O’Bleness and Larry LaPlant.
The Scott County Record • Page 13 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Deaths David W. ‘Gus’ Sheley David W. “Gus” Sheley, 58, died Jan. 15, 2017, at his home in Buhler. H e was born Jan. 11, 1959, the son of Blaine and Nancy (Edm u n d - David Sheley son) Sheley. A resident of Scott City until 2011, when he moved to Buhler, he worked for Moridge Manufacturing in Moundridge. On Sept. 24, 2010, he married Patricia Elliott in Georgetown, Colo. She survives. Other survivors include: five daughters, Stephanie Stewart, Dodge City, Wendy Neill, and husband, John, Buhler, Carrie Head, and husband, Angelo, Lakewood, Colo., Amanda Hansen, and
husband, Elijah, Killeen, Tex., and Amber Martin, Wichita; two brothers, Howard Sheley, Hastings, Nebr., and Dan Sheley, Dighton; two sisters, Debby Flory, Russellville, Ark., and Delaine Barnett, Jonesboro, Ark.; four grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother-in-law and one grandson. Funeral service will be Sat., Jan. 21, 10:30 a.m., at Price and Sons Funeral Home, Scott City, with Rev. Robert Nuckolls officiating. Interment will be at the Scott County Cemetery. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, are suggested to the David Sheley Memorial Fund in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, 401 S. Washington Street, Scott City, Ks. 67871.
Thelma Grace Lehman Thelma Grace Lehman, 87, died Jan. 1, 2017, at Cedars House 807, McPherson. She was born Aug. 12, 1929, in rural Osage County, the daughter of Etta Elizabeth (Morgan) and John George Jacob Dague. She attended grade school in rural Franklin County, rural Osage County and Shallow Water, graduating from Scott Community High School in 1947. She began her college work at Fort Hays College and received her bachelor’s degree in education from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Mo. She later earned her Master’s Degree in education from Southeastern State College, Durant, Okla. After receiving an emergency teaching certificate, she started teaching in the fall of 1947. During her 36-year career, she taught elementary school in Kansas, Texas and Louisiana. The final 10 years of her career were spent in Jefferson Davis Parish, La. Thelma was a member of the Church of the Brethren, Delta Kappa Gamma, NEA and the Jefferson Davis Association of Educators. On May 28, 1960, she married Lawrence Edward Lehman at Prairie View Church of the Brethren, Friend. Survivors include:
one daughter, Lois Larson, and husband, Willis, McPherson; one son, David Lehman, and wife, Shelley, Plainfield, Ia.; one step-daughter, Margaret Winter, and husband, Bill, Newton; two brothers, Roy Dague, and wife, Louetta, Garden City, and Robert (Bob), Dague, Scott City; two sisters, Dorothy Stiles, and husband, Vern, Scott City, and Emma (Betty) Dague, Garden City; four grandchildren, six stepgrandchildren, one greatgranddaughter, eight stepgreat-grandchildren and several step-great-greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; step-son, Lanny Lehman; step-daughter, Martha Coulson; and stepgrandson, Mike Lehman. Memorial service will be held Fri., Jan. 20, 2:00 p.m., at the Church of the Brethren, McPherson, with Rev. Chris Whitacre officiating. Visitation will follow the service. Graveside service will be Sat., Jan. 21, 1:00 p.m., at Prairie View Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Friend. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, are suggested to the McPherson Church of the Brethren, Heifer International or Brethren Disaster Relief in care of Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home, 222 West Euclid Street, McPherson, Ks. 67460.
Attend the Church of Your Choice
Smelly I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. Psalm 142:1–2 (NIV) Let’s be honest for a moment; life can sometimes stink. I’m not talking about just having a rough day, I’m talking about garbage pit, scraping stuff off of the bottom of your shoe, hold your nose kind of stink. What’s a person to do? King David was no stranger to this idea; seasons of his life that were just awful. The interesting truth about stink is that to an extent it’s relative. I knew a guy that liked the smell of a skunk as it passed at a distance from his camp sight. Not so appealing to most people but to this guy, he liked it. Circumstances in life can appear the same way. What’s bad for me may not be quite as terrible for you, but my reality is mine and yours is yours. What may seem like a “boulder” dropped on your foot may seem like a “pebble” to me. When David wrote Psalm 142 he was hiding from King Saul in a cave. When you read the psalm you get a definite sense that he’s feeling the heat; “my spirit is
overwhelmed . . . people have hidden a snare for me . . . no one is at my right hand . . . I have no refuge . . . no one cares for my life.” Who of us has not felt like the world was against us? The psalms have a wonderful way of relating to our pain, to our insecurity and to our loneliness. David pours out his heart, but then reminds himself (and us) that even when he feels alone he’s not really alone. Speaking about God he says, “You are my refuge, my portion . . . (You) deliver me . . . (You) rescue me from those who purse me . . . (You) set me free from my prison.” And why, why would God do such a thing? “That I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” When confronted with trouble what is our normal response? Anger? Frustration? Anxiety? Mental shutdown? Let’s embark on a new course of action, let’s “cry out” to the Lord. He is called a “Mighty Fortress” and it is for a good reason. He is called “Our Deliverer” and that is what He does. And let us never forget that when all is said and done we have the opportunity to praise God’s name.
Pastor Scott Wagner First Christian Church, Scott City • fccscottcity.org
Scott City Assembly of God
Prairie View Church of the Brethren
1615 South Main - Scott City - 872-2200 Ed Sanderson, Senior Pastor 9:00 a.m. - Pre-Service Prayer 10:00 a.m. - Sunday Worship Service and Children’s Church Wednesday: 7:00 p.m. - Bible Study and Prayer
4855 Finney-Scott Rd. - Scott City - 276-6481 Pastor Jon Tuttle Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship: 11:00 a.m. Men’s Fellowship • Tuesday breakfast at 6:30 a.m. will be held at the church Wednesday Bible Study, 7:00 p.m., at the church
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
A Catholic Christian Community 1002 S. Main Street - Scott City Fr. Bernard Felix, pastor • 872-7388 Secretary • 872-3644 Masses: 1st Sunday of month - 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Other weekends: Sat., 6:00 p.m.; Sun., 11:00 a.m. Spanish Mass - 2nd and 4th Sundays, 1:30 p.m.
Pence Community 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 Brian Thompson, pastor Sunday School, 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship, 10:45 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday: God’s High School Cru, 7:30 p.m.
First Baptist Church
Immanuel Southern Baptist Church
803 College - Scott City - 872-2339
1398 S. US83 - Scott City - 872-2264
Kyle Evans, Senior Pastor Bob Artz, Associate Pastor
Robert Nuckolls, pastor - 872-5041
Sunday School, 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. • Worship: 11:00 a.m.
Sunday morning worship: 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.
Wednesday Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.
Gospel Fellowship Church
1st United Methodist Church
Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.
5th Street and College - Scott City - 872-2401 John Lewis, pastor 1st Sunday: Communion and Fellowship Sunday Services, 9:00 a.m. • Fellowship, 10:15 a.m. • Sun. School, 11:00 a.m. All Other Sundays • Worship: 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday School: 9:30 a.m. • MYF (youth groups) on Wednesdays Jr. High: 6:30 p.m. • Sr. High: 7:00 p.m.
First Christian Church
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
120 S. Lovers Lane - Shallow Water Bill Geurin, pastor • 874-8395 Sunday School: 9:30 a.m.
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
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.
Holy Eucharist - 11:45 a.m. St. Luke’s - 872-3666 (recorded message) Senior Warden Cody Brittan • (913) 232-6127 or Father Don Martin • (785) 462-3041
9th and Crescent - Scott City - 872-2334 James Yager • 620-214-3040 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 14 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
KanCare extension denied after scathing review Kansas hasn’t determined corrective action
Kansas’ Medicaid program is “substantively out of compliance” with U.S. law, federal officials say - a situation they argue poses risks to recipients and prompted them to deny a request to extend KanCare by a year.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found serious concerns during an onsite review of the privatized program conducted in October. Limited coordination between state agencies poses a risk to the health and safety of some participants, and Kansas didn’t provide sufficient oversight of the managed care organizations, the review found.
The problems found by CMS, as well as its denial of a request to extend the program by a year, are described in documents obtained by The Topeka Capital-Journal on Wednesday night. A spokeswoman for KanCare said the agency is preparing a corrective action plan. Gov. Sam Brownback praised the program as recently as last week, when he deliv-
ered his State of the State address. Eliot Fishman, director of the state demonstrations group at CMS, told Mike Randol, the Kansas Medicaid director, that CMS is denying the state’s request to extend its authorization of KanCare for a year, from Dec. 31, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2018. The denial means the state will have to accelerate work on its
State increases advance payments as Medicaid backlog continues Andy Marso Kansas News Service
The Brownback administration has increased advance payments to nursing homes while a backlog of Kansas Medicaid applications persists. The administration instituted advance payments of 50 percent for nursing homes residents with pending applications last spring, when almost 11,000 applications backed up past the 45-day federal processing limit. The backlog of applications for the state’s privatized Medicaid program known as KanCare was whittled to about 1,500 in September, but is on the rise again.
Mike Randol, director of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Division of Health Care Finance, told legislators this week that the administration would increase the advance payments from 50 percent to 90 percent. “That’s going into effect immediately,” Randol said. The backlog started about a year ago after the rocky rollout of a new computer system, an executive order that funneled all applications through a single KanCare Clearinghouse and the Affordable Care Act’s 2016 open enrollment period. Nursing homes have
been hit particularly hard by coverage delays because about half of Kansans in nursing homes rely on KanCare to pay for long-term care. The long-term care applications are the most complex within Medicaid, and Randol told legislators they make up most of the backlogged applications at this point. “We’re successful with the other populations,” he said during a legislative hearing. “What we have to focus on is that different business model relative to the long-term care, and that’s our responsibility.” Randol said the state is making a number of
changes to smooth communication with longterm care applicants, including bringing in help from Kansas Department for Children and Families employees who processed those applications before the clearinghouse was established. Nursing home representatives told legislators they’ve been due hundreds of thousands of dollars for care of residents awaiting Medicaid coverage for more than a year. They said they’ve had to take out lines of credit, absorb penalties for late payments to vendors who provide food and other essentials, and find temporary sources of emergency cash.
Hospital injury rates plateau after three years of declines The national rate of avoidable complications affecting patients in hospitals leveled off in 2014 after three years of declines, according to a recent federal report. Hospitals have averted many types of injuries where clear preventive steps have been identified, but they still struggle to avert complications with broader causes and less clear-cut solutions, government and hospital officials said. There were at least four million infections and other potentially avoidable injuries in hospitals
last year, the study estimated. That translates to about 12 of every 100 hospital stays. Among the most common complications that were measured - each occurring a quarter million times or more - were bed sores, falls, bad reactions to drugs used to treat diabetes, and kidney damage that develops after contrast dyes are injected through catheters to help radiologists take images of blood vessels. The frequency of hospital complications last year was 17 percent lower than in 2010 but the same
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as in 2013, indicating that some patient safety improvements made by hospitals and the government are sticking. But, the lack of improvement raised concerns that it is becoming harder for hospitals to further reduce the chances that a patient may be harmed during a visit. “We are still trying to understand all the factors involved, but I think the improvements we saw from 2010 to 2013 were very likely the low-hanging fruit, the easy problems to solve,” said Dr. Richard Kronick, director
of the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ, which conducted the study. The federal government has been focusing on lowering the rates of medical infections and injuries as it tracks a slew of patient safety initiatives created by the 2010 federal health law. Those include Medicare penalties for poor-performing hospitals, wider use of electronic records to help track patient care and prevent mistakes, and grants to collaborations of medical providers formed (See INJURY on page 15)
application for reauthorization. Fishman cited “substantive concerns” about the implementation of the program in denying the extension of a waiver known as a section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver. Fishman noted that CMS received a significant number of complaints and concerns from beneficiaries, providers
and advocates. The complaints and concerns were substantiated during the on-site review, Fishman wrote. Angela de Rocha, a spokeswoman for KanCare, indicated Kansas is still considering how to respond. “We have not had time yet to determine what is the best way forward,” de Rocha said. (See REVIEW on page 15)
Start the new year by improving your relationships by the American Counseling Association
Relationships come in many flavors. They range from very casual to quite close, such as those individuals we consider real friends, often people we have known for a long time. And closest of all, as you might expect, is usually with someone with whom we are romantically and emotionally involved, a spouse or a significant other. What many of us fail to appreciate is that all good relationships require work and that’s especially true as a relationship ages. While it may often feel that our associations with others simply “happen,” these connections require thought and effort if we want them to endure and grow. One important step in strengthening a relationship is simply being accepting. No two people are exactly alike and what often helps establish a relationship is that each party brings something a little different to the association. Over time, we may forget that some of those differences were what helped establish the initial relationship. We, instead, may unconsciously be trying to make the other person more like ourselves. It helps to step back, evaluate what makes that relationship special, and refocus on the positive things rather than the differences you may have. Good relationships also have to be able to survive disagreements. There are going to be times when friends or spouses are going to have differing opinions about a particular subject, with each going in quite an opposite direction. While it might seem nice (if boring), if everyone agreed all the time, for a relationship to thrive it’s necessary sometimes to accept the other person’s thoughts and to simply agree to disagree. Another basic element for a good relationship is being able to communicate with the other person. That sounds simple, but in our busy, often stressful world, it can be easy to ignore someone you care about without really meaning to do it. The key is to take time to focus on how well you are communicating with those you care about. And that doesn’t just mean sharing all of your ideas and problems. It means making time for the other person, asking questions and really listening, especially when there are problem areas. Improving your relationships is a wonderful way to start the new year. It just requires paying more attention and making time to listen to and enjoy that other person.
96,000 Review Kansans sign-up for ACA More than 8.8 million Americans were signed up for 2017 coverage through HealthCare.gov as of January 14, including 96,304 in Kansas. This compares to about 8.7 million sign-ups nationally as of January 14 last year. “With almost nine million people signed up for 2017 coverage just in HealthCare. gov states, it’s clear that Marketplace coverage is a product Americans want and need,” said Secretary Sylvia Burwell. “Strong demand is especially striking in light of the unique headwinds created by ACA opponents. More than 40,000 people have contacted our call center expressing concerns about whether they should sign up for coverage, with a sharp uptick in these questions last weekend. “My answer is a resounding yes.” If Kansans still need coverage for 2017, visit HealthCare.gov before January 31. Because this year’s Open Enrollment began mid-week, today’s snapshot covers two fewer days than last year’s week 11 snapshot. Nonetheless, plan selections in Kansas are higher than last year at this time. Consumers who enroll by January 31 will have coverage effective March 1. Kansans should visit HealthCare. gov or CuidadodeSalud. gov to review their coverage options, learn about what financial assistance is available, or to sign up or re-enroll in a plan that best meets their needs.
A January 13 letter from CMS detailed the agency’s concerns. In the letter, James Scott, the CMS associate regional administrator for Medicaid and Children’s Health Operation, wrote that CMS received complaints throughout 2016 and conducted the on-site review from Oct. 24-27. Federal officials interviewed managed care organizations, state agency officials and held stakeholder listening sessions. CMS also requested documentation. “The results of our on-site review confirm that Kansas is substantively out of compliance
Injury to improve the quality of patient care and identify the best ways of addressing each type of problem. The AHRQ report calculated national rates for 27 specific complications by extrapolating from 30,000 medical cases that officials examined. Decreases in infections, medicine reactions and other complications since 2010 have resulted in 2.1 million fewer incidents of harm, 87,000 fewer deaths and $20 billion in health care savings, the report concluded. “Those are real people that are not dying, getting infections or other adverse events in the hospital,” said Dr. Patrick Conway, chief medical officer for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Some of the most significant progress was made in lowering the number of infections from central lines inserted into veins - down 72 percent from 2010. Medical researchers have proven that these infections can
The Scott County Record • Page 15 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
(continued from page 14)
with federal statutes and regulations, as well as its Medicaid state plan,” the letter says. Scott noted he wants to “underscore the serious nature of these concerns and the risks it poses to beneficiaries. These concerns affect beneficiaries’ receipt of services necessary to stay in the community, beneficiaries’ ability to access needed care, and the state’s ability to ensure the health and welfare of beneficiaries.” Among the concerns outlined: •Kansas failed to establish clear roles and responsibilities for employees who administer and oper-
(continued from page 14)
be virtually eliminated if doctors and nurses follow a clear set of procedures. Infections from urinary catheters decreased by 38 percent and surgical site infections dropped by 18 percent. In all three cases, the reductions exceeded the goals set by the administration. Conway noted that hospitals had a financial motivation to cut these infections as they are used to determine whether hospitals get Medicare bonuses and penalties each year. However, hospitals have not made headway in trimming the numbers of falls or pneumonia cases in patients breathing through mechanical ventilators, the report found. Conway said that complications are difficult to address because they involve tradeoffs that can cause other problems. For instance, he said, hospitals have to balance efforts to reduce falls with the need to help unstable patients improve their ability to walk.
ate KanCare •Limited coordination between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services poses a risk to the health and safety of Managed Long-term Services and Supports participants, who may experience difficulty managing their benefits •Kansas didn’t engage in sufficient oversight of the managed care organizations, and while the state receives many reports from the MCOs, no evidence was found of significant analysis or subsequent program
changes based on the reports •Kansas’ oversight of the MCOs diminished over the past four years, as evidenced by on-site reviews of the MCOs and subsequent reports; the 2013 annual report was a comprehensive document but the 2014 and 2015 reports were only two pages long, with little content of substance •Kansas’ approach to tracking, monitoring and overseeing provider network adequacy and access to care for KanCare consumers is limited, and CMS expects a more robust oversight process including proactive moni-
toring •Kansas doesn’t have a comprehensive system for reporting, tracking and trending critical incidents The letter contains numerous other areas of concern. The letter also requires the state to take action. “Due to the severe and pervasive nature of the on-site review findings and the resulting impacts this has on the beneficiaries and providers, CMS is requiring Kansas to develop a Corrective Action Plan describing the actions it will take to correct the identified non-compliance,” the letter says.
The Scott County Record • Page 16 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Bathroom bill infringes on local control A proposal to require students to use the restrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations connected with their gender at birth violates the spirit of local school district control, lawmakers with ties to education warn. Not so, argues Rep. John Whitmer (R-Wichita) who plans to put forward the legislation. A bill last year, prompted by federal guidance to districts on transgender students, provoked outrage. It ultimately died without passing either the House or Senate. A new bill, if introduced as Whitmer describes, will represent a scaled-back version stripped of some controversial provisions. The language of the bill isn’t yet available. At its core, the bill would still require students to use
Lottery pushes for self-serve ticket dispensers The Kansas Lottery intends to sponsor a bill during this legislative session to allow the state to operate self-service electronic dispensers of lottery tickets to generate an estimated $30 million in sales, officials said Wednesday. Installation of the machines in retail locations would translate into an additional $8 million to $10 million yearly in transfers to the state general fund, said Sherriene Jones-Sontag, deputy executive director of the Kansas Lottery. Legislators in the past have been lukewarm to the idea, but an election of more moderate Republican and Democratic lawmakers and the immense pressure to erase a state budget deficit of nearly $350 million could change the political debate. Net sales for the Kansas Lottery during the previous fiscal year reached a record $273 million. “This is the third year in a row the lottery has set a new sales record,” she told the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. The state general fund received $78 million from the state lottery in the year ending in June 2016, while $150 million in prize money was distributed during that 12-month cycle. The state also snagged $1.7 million in unpaid state income taxes by withholding prize awards.
facilities of their gender at birth. But, Whitmer said, the proposal would allow for accommodations for transgender students, such as uni-sex, single-person restrooms. Under last year’s bill, if a transgender person were to use facilities in violation of Kansas law, those present during infractions could file lawsuits against schools and colleges seeking $2,500 for each incident. Critics of the bill had called that a “bounty.” Whitmer said the provision wouldn’t be in the new legislation. Whitmer also said the bill would pertain only to K-12 public schools and not public colleges and universities. He said it wouldn’t contain an enforcement mechanism. The knee-jerk reaction has been that the bill is about hate
Regents 27 percent of those students without degrees had between 60 and 119 credit hours and 12 percent had 120 credit hours, according to the report. While there was a considerable decrease in ontime graduations from the state’s technical colleges (from 69 percent in 2010 to 56 percent in 2015), on-time graduation rates for other degrees showed a slight increase. The report strongly
“I’m not expecting anything too much different,” Witt said. “It will be something that will demean and target transgender kids for no reason.” The federal government issued a directive to school districts nationwide in 2016 over the use of restrooms by transgender students. The federal guidance urged schools to allow transgender students to use the restrooms and locker rooms of the gender with which they identify. A federal judge later halted the directive temporarily after several states, including Kansas, sued. Rep. Fred Patton, a Topeka Republican who sits on the board of Seaman Unified School District 345, argued that districts should be able to make decisions locally.
(continued from page nine)
suggests that more education means more income. In 2015, the average wage in Kansas was $42,020. For someone with a bachelor’s degree just one year out of school, the average wage was just below that at $41,625. Someone with an associates degree would start their career earning $36,078. Separate from the discussion of graduating more students, the board
Unproven next full fiscal year. But, the health insurance proposal raised numerous questions from legislators last year and they directed the Kansas Division of Legislative Post Audit to conduct a report, evaluating the financial impact of establishing a consolidated K-12 health insurance plan. That report is scheduled to be completed in March. A school district purchasing proposal was defeated last year in the House after opponents said local schools were in a better position to determine the most efficient way to make purchases.
and bigotry, Whitmer said. He contends it’s an attempt to accommodate everyone while protecting children. He called the upcoming proposal a compromise and suggested it represents a middle position between the left and the far right. “Nothing with the public sector, nothing with colleges, nothing with bounties,” Whitmer said. “We’re just talking K-12 and all we’re doing is we’re saying, ‘Boys to boys, girls to girls and a reasonable accommodation for anybody who needs it.’ That’s it.” Tom Witt, director of LGBTrights group Equality Kansas, said students are singled out and bullied under these types of bills. He declined to comment on Whitmer’s specific proposal because it hasn’t been released.
(continued from page nine)
They also questioned whether the proposal would force districts to have to go through Topeka for routine maintenance. Sullivan said the procurement plan would save $7 million the first year and $9 million the next. In other areas, Brownback’s education proposal would also delay $75 million in school payments at the end of this fiscal year. It’s expected that the payment would be released in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. The governor also proposes freezing the state’s KPERS payments to the current level for the remainder of this fiscal year and the next two.
did make mention of Gov. Sam Brownback’s challenge to create a bachelor’s degree with a total tuition and fee cost of $15,000. Regent Shane Bangerter, Dodge City, says a degree at that price point might already exist. He suggests two years at Dodge City Community College combined with two years at Fort Hays State University would meet it.
“Just like we don’t like the federal government telling us what to do, as a local school board member, I don’t like the Legislature telling me what to do,” Patton said. Patton said situations involving students are unique and every child is different. If a situation arises, it is addressed locally. Rep. Brenda Dietrich, a Topeka Republican and a former superintendent of AuburnWashburn USD 437, indicated state law can become difficult when it takes away discretion. “Our locally elected officials, our school board members and our high school principals are the ones who understand, when you talk about ramifications, they understand the ramifications of state policy that is so broad that it doesn’t allow any gray areas,” Dietrich said.
Sports The Scott County Record
NWKL tourney Dighton boys stunned by Quinter in opening round of tourney • Page 20
www.scottcountyrecord.com
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Section C • Page 17
Beavers stunned in O&B tourney opener Winning has come to be almost routine for the Scott City boys in the Orange and Black Classic. They had compiled a 14 game wining streak on their way to claiming three consecu-
tive tournament titles. Both streaks came to a crashing halt on Thursday afternoon when Scott City (5-5) fell to Fountain/Fort Carson, 65-57. A disastrous first half - particularly the second quarter
when they were outscored 18-6, was more than the Beavers could overcome. “We’ve talked about the importance of coming out with energy from the start, especially when you’re playing an
afternoon game. You have to create your own energy and we didn’t,” said assistant coach Alex Hutchins. “We didn’t set the tone from the start. We came out passive and soft.”
FFC jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never trailed, though the Beavers did cut the deficit to 11-9 late in the opening period on a basket by senior Bo Hess. The second quarter, however, (See OPENER on page 21)
O&B Tourney
Lady Beavers nearly upset Pueblo East The Scott Community High School girls are showing they have the ability to play with some of the best teams. The next step is finishing what they start. The Lady Beavers (5-5) had Pueblo East on the ropes for three quarters in the opening round of the Orange and Black Classic on Thursday afternoon before fading down the stretch in a 60-50 loss. In a game that saw 10 lead changes and seven ties, the Lady Beavers put a scare into Pueblo East (10-1) which entered the game as the No. 3 ranked team in Colorado’s Class 4A. Scott City’s biggest lead of the day was five points, 25-20, following a putback by Emily Smith late in the first half. They still held a 28-24 lead early in the second half following a three-point basket from Kaitlyn Roberts. During the next seven minutes the game was tied four times, the last coming at the end of the period, 39-39. Pueblo East finally gained control of the game with a 7-0 scoring run to open the final quarter. (See SC GIRLS on page 18)
Scott City senior Bo Hess and Hugoton’s Zach Leininger get tied up with each other as they try to gain control of a rebound during Friday’s GWAC contest on the home floor. (Record Photo)
SC boys put scare into Eagles; still can’t avoid third league loss Even with their huge height advantage in the paint, Hugoton 41 Scott City 39 the Hugoton boys have struggled with Scott City the last two seasons. That continued to be true again when the two teams met in Scott City on Friday with the Eagles needing a
basket in the final seconds to escape with a 41-39 win in Great West Activities Conference action. The Beavers (5-4) had erased a 32-25 deficit midway in the third period and grabbed a 39-37 lead in the final minute, but a couple of costly mistakes down the stretch allowed Hugoton to avoid the upset loss. “We made some big mis-
takes early in the second half which put us in a hole and we made some mistakes down the stretch that hurt us,” says head coach Brian Gentry. The bigger concern for Gentry continues to be the lack of consistency on offense. Senior guard/forward Bo Hess led the team with 16 points (7-of-12 FG) and junior guard Jordan Horn added
that Emily feels most comfortable playing,” notes McCormick. “She’s still young, so she doesn’t like to bang around and get physical in the paint. She likes to get out and run and when that happens she does very well.” The scored was tied four times over the next three minutes, including 16-16 on a bucket by junior guard Macie Price. Junior guard Bailey Latta closed out the first
Rallying from 10 points down late in the third quarter, the Dighton High School boys upset previously undefeated St. Francis (9-1) on their home floor Friday night, 56-53. It was the first time that the Hornets (5-3) have had an injury-free lineup for a St. Francis 53 game and DHS Dighton 56 showed why in pre-season they were one of the top-ranked teams in Class 1A-Division I. “Our focus coming into the game was defensive strategies and how to guard in certain situations,” says head coach Ben Wilkens. “We made some adjustments against St. Francis and we did a good job with those adjustments in the second half.” St. Francis looked like one of the top teams in Class 1A when they pounced on the Hornets for a 19-10 first quarter lead. Aided by 11-of-14 free throw shooting through the first three quarters, the Indians built a 47-37 cushion before DHS senior Tyler Lingg launched a 30-foot shot at the end of the third period
(See QUICK on page 22)
(See SHOCK on page 19)
13. No other Beavers scored more than four points. “The boys have to realize that if they’re in rhythm they have to pull the trigger. It doesn’t matter if they’ve missed their last three shots,” noted Gentry. “If it’s in the flow of the game and they’re open, they have to have the confidence to knock down the shot.” (See SC BOYS on page 18)
Quick start not enough for SC girls For more than 12 minutes the Scott Community High School Hugoton 69 Scott City 37 girls proved they can go toe-to-toe with one of the best basketball teams in the state. And while Hugoton was eventually able to pull away for a 69-37 win, head coach Sarah McCormick didn’t feel that took away from what had been a very good effort by
her ball club. “We came out with a lot of intensity . . . probably more than I’ve seen from these girls. The way we played in the first half should have proven to these girls just how good they can be when they are prepared mentally.” In the end, it was Hugoton’s depth and defensive pressure which allowed the Lady Eagles to outscore SCHS 51-14 over the final 22 minutes.
For the first 10 minutes, however, SCHS fans were treated to fast-paced, excited and, at times, physical play. After falling behind 5-0, the Lady Beavers (5-4) showed they are a much-improved team from a year ago as they responded with a 10-2 scoring blitz that featured six points from freshman center Emily Weathers who scored a team high 15 points (5-of-9 FG). “This is the type of game
DHS boys shock unbeaten St. Francis
The Scott County Record • Page 18 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
The many attributes of the lowly hedge apple I was out checking traps and a bright greenish-yellow pile of debris under a hedge tree caught my eye. As is normal in the winter, squirrels have been chewing apart hedge apples to get to the many succulent seeds inside. In the 1880s, before the invention of barbed wire, ranchers began planting Osage Orange trees as living livestock fences. The trees get their name from the Osage Indian tribe that lived near the trees’ native range in the Red
Outdoors in Kansas by Steve Gilliland
River valley of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, and from the citrus aroma emitted by the fruit. Osage Orange seedlings planted thickly together in rows and aggressively pruned soon grew into fences that were “horse high, bull strong and hog tight” - tall
enough a horse couldn’t jump it, stout enough a bull couldn’t push through it and so dense a hog couldn’t penetrate it. Osage Orange trees have been planted in greater numbers than any other single tree species in North America. The largest known living Osage Orange tree grows on River Farms in Alexandria, Va. The beast stands 54 feet tall and its branches span 90 feet. As firewood, dried hedge wood produces
more BTUs than any other wood. As fence posts, hedge wood provides more rot resistance without chemicals than any other wood. Osage Orange wood is also prized for making archery bows. One of the names given hedge wood by early explorers was bow wood, probably because they observed Osage Indians making bows from it. Although I could not confirm it, I found several references online to a guy
in Americus (Ks.) who makes harps from Osage Orange wood because “he believes it to be the most dimensionally stable of all woods when aged and placed under strain.” However, after all the praises are sung about the fine qualities of its wood, Osage Orange trees are best known for the annoying and seemingly useless fruit produced by the female trees. About the size of softballs and clothed in a thick, bright green, knob-
JV boys soar past Eagles with late rally Trailing by five points with 2-1/2 minutes remaining, the Scott City junior varsity boys scored the game’s final eight points to defeat Hugoton, 47-44, on the home floor last Friday. Hugoton had just scored eight unanswered points to open up a 44-39 advantage when the Beavers began their comeback. The big basket was a three-pointer by freshman Jackson Lewis at the 1:34 mark that tied the game, 44-44. Junior forward Reid Brunswig hit the second of two free throws with 21.5 seconds to play and Lewis added two more free throws with only 3.4 seconds on the clock. “I felt that defensively, we were more active tonight. We did a better job on the defensive glass than we probably have
all year,” says coach Alex Hutchins. “I felt that what we played with more energy offensively and defensively.” SCHS owned its biggest lead of the night late in the first quarter, 15-8, following a basket by sophomore Marshall Faurot who finished with 10 points. Sophomore forward Joe Evans scored four of his team high 11 points in the quarter. “I felt that in the first quarter we did a good job of attacking, getting the ball inside and getting them into early foul trouble. I told the boys to keep attacking them so we could get to the free throw line,” says Hutchins. “The boys took that advice to heart, even though we may have been a little out of control at times,” he added.
SC Boys As a team, SCHS was just 15-of-41 from the field, including a frigid 4-of-19 from beyond the three-point line. Even with their offensive struggles, the Beavers nearly had enough to defeat the No. 6 ranked team in Class 3A. After trailing by as many as seven points, the Beavers climbed back into the game on consecutive baskets by Horn and Hess. An eight-foot jumper by Hess knotted the score at 36-36 with 3:34 remaining in the game. Horn added a jumper to give the Beavers a 38-
by husk (when first ripe) hedge apples are known by several other names: horse apples, hedge balls, monkey balls, green brains and mock oranges, to name a few. As I noted above, squirrels love them for the seed, which, by the way, are NOT noxious to humans like I’ve always heard. However, they are said to be barely palatable, plus chemicals in the flesh can cause severe stomach irritation. (See APPLE on page 19)
8th grade boys sweep Ulysses
Easton Lorg and Blaine Culp each scored 10 points to lead the Scott City Middle School eighth graders to a 31-23 win over Ulysses last Thursday. They held only 14-12 halftime lead before pulling away in the second half. Robert Apodaca scored nine points in the “B” team’s 30-27 win.
SC Girls (continued from page 17)
SCHS sophomore Marshall Faurot drives the baseline during Friday’s home court win against Hugoton. (Record Photo)
Freshman center Emily Weather, who finished with a team high 14 points, cut the deficit to 46-43 with an assist from junior guard Macie Price. Price, who added 12 points, drilled a threepointer that sliced the lead to 48-46 at the 4:31 mark. The Lady Beavers added just four more points over the final 4-1/2 minutes. SCHS will face Pine Creek (Colo.) in the consolation bracket semifinals on Friday.
(continued from page 17)
37 lead with 2:12 on the clock - their first lead since 22-21 to open the second half. Following a defensive stop, SCHS extended its lead to 39-37 on a free throw by Justin Faurot with 46.7 seconds to play, but Hugoton answered with a three-point play by 6-foot-9 senior Anthony Kinser just 16 seconds later. Giving up the threepoint play rather than putting Kinser on the line was a huge turning point down the stretch. “During the timeout we told the boys that we can’t
give up an and-one,” said Gentry. “At that point, if the ball ends up in Kinser’s hands you foul the heck out of a 55 percent free throw shooter and force him to make two free throws.” Horn shot a quick three-pointer on Scott City’s next trip down the floor. Following the missed shot, Hugoton was quickly fouled and this time Kinser missed the front end of a one-andone. However, the long rebound glanced off a Scott City player and rolled out of bounds, giving the ball
back to Hugoton. Again, Hugoton was fouled and they made the first of two free throws for a 41-39 lead. Quickly advancing the ball up the floor, Horn set up for a good look at a game-winning basket and the shot looked to be enough until it hit the top of the rim and caromed away as the buzzer sounded. Defensive Breakdown While the end of the game didn’t play out the way that Gentry would have liked, he felt the
outcome was determined much earlier. Scott City held a 22-21 halftime lead, but gave up three three-point baskets on Hugoton’s first four shots in the third period. Horn interrupted that streak with a trey, but the brief scoring burst gave the Eagles a 30-25 edge. “We were in man defense the first four minutes of the second half and we lost our man which we can’t allow to happen,” Gentry said. “It wasn’t because we were sinking deep to provide help defense and we got beat on a skip pass. We just got
lost and that’s inexcusable when you have four seniors and a junior on the floor.” Outside of that defensive lapse, the SCHS defense was effective in limiting Kinser to eight points and allowing 6-foot-5 Zach Leininger only seven points. “Kyle (Cure) played his butt off defensively. He got some big rebounds which is never easy when you’re going against that kind of size,” noted Gentry. Cure and Hess each grabbed a team high five rebounds.
The Scott County Record • Page 19 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Orange and Black Classic
Orange and Black Classic
Boy’s Division • January 19-21 • at Colby
Girl’s Division • January 19-21 • at Colby
Hays
Pueblo East (Co.)
Hays Friday 4:45 p.m. High School Scott City
Thursday, 3:00 p.m. High School
Falcon (Co.) Scott City Thursday, 4:45 p.m. Community Bldg.
Falcon
Scott City
63-60 OT Friday 4:45 p.m. Comm. Bldg.
Friday 3:00 p.m. High School
Fountain/FC
Pine Creek
65-57
Fountain/FC (Co.) 4th Place
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. High School
Saturday, noon Community Bldg.
Takedown Wrestling Club Ellis Open Tournament January 14, 2017 6-Years and Under 45-47A: Noah Wheeler maj. dec. over Luke Clydesdale (Norton) 13-0; dec. over Kaden Riedel (Quinter) 4-3. First Place 53B: Jaxon Fisher dec. over Beau Koster (Oakley) 6-2; dec. over Jeriah Crowley (Quinter) 103; pinned Kallyn Martin (Plainville) 2:00. First Place 8-Years and Under 58B: Rylan Wilkinson maj. dec. over Wyatt Shaffer (Smith County) 14-5; pinned Joel Schiel (Ellis) 2:25; pinned by Nathan Cates (Colby) 0:44. Second Place 64A: Matthew Wheeler pinned Slade Rohr (Hill City) 0:39; dec. over Trenton Raile (Oberlin) 6-2; tech. fall over Luke Krehbiel (Jr. Indians) 17-0; sudden victory over Deegan Knox (Goodland) 6-4. First Place 70: Blaze Gossman dec. by Aaron Samson (WaKeeney) 115; pinned Gage Eberle (Oakley) 0:56; pinned Mason Knipp (Russell) 1:14; dec. by Ty Schmeidler (Hays) 5-0. Third Place 73B: Brodey Rohrbough dec. over Ryker Schmidtberger (Colby) 4-0; pinned by Mathew Bretz (Hoxie) 0:32; pinned Bodie Millan (Jr. Indian) 1:40. Second Place 10-Years and Under 67: Tyler Roberts dec. over Brody McGreer (Colby) 7-5; pinned Laythan Vice (Bluestem Jr.) 1:30; dec. by Kaeden McCarty (Colby) 8-4. Second Place 70: Kade John dec. over Alek Miller (Colby) 11-4; maj. dec. by Kaden Sisson (Phillipsburg) 13-0; pinned by Alek Miller (Colby) 1:58. Fourth Place 70: Waylong Ricker dec. by Patrick Driggs (Phillipsburg) 7-5; dec. by Alek Miller (Colby) 8-5. 76: Alexander Rodriguez dec. by Cadin Spore (Great Bend) 5-4; pinned Aj Demel (Great Bend) 0:44; dec. by Talan Sauvage (Oberlin) 2-0. Fourth Place 95: Houston Frank pinned Trent Neuman (Ellsworth County) 0:44; pinned Tucker Rohr (Plainville) 1:18; pinned Cole Keeten (Phillipsburg) 1:39. First Place 110: Jacob Franco dec. by Teagan Pfeifer (Russell) 8-6; pinned by Caden Galvan (Norton) 2:30. 12-Years and Under 92: Treven Jones pinned by Ian Mayberry (Russell) 0:35; pinned by Brayden Strobel (Russell) 1:52.
SCHS Wrestling January 13, 2017 Scott City 43 - Oakley 24 106: Brandon Roberts dec. by Wes Phillips, 8-1. 113: Open 120: Theron Tucker received a forfeit. 126: Kaden Wren pinned Aiden Stephenson, 1:46. 132: Alex Depperschmidt dec. over Ellis Slack, 9-2. 138: Justin Hundertmark tech. fall by Tyler Park, 22-4. 145: Alan Yeager dec. by Dalton Stoll, 16-5. 152: Jarrett Jurgens pinned Wyatt Murphy, 3:23. 152JV: Caleb Vandegrift dec. by Brian Joseph, 5-6. 160: Wyatt Hayes pinned Auston Holzmeister, 2:33. 170: Cale Goodman maj. dec. over Lane Shirley, 10-0. 182: Izack Miller pinned by Preston Nollette, 1:30. 195: Kyle Sherwood received a forfeit. 220: Forfeit to Chris Cox. 285: Luke Wright received a forfeit.
Far Northeast (Co.) Colby
Pueblo East 60-50
Scott City
Friday 3:00 p.m. Comm. Bldg.
Pine Creek (Co.) Thursday, 4:45 p.m. High School
Falcon 41-34
Falcon (Co.) Saturday, 8:15 p.m. Comm. Bldg.
Champion
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. High School Friday 8:15 p.m. High School
7th Place
Pine Creek (Co.)
Thursday, 3:00 p.m. Community Bldg.
4th Place
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Community Bldg.
Lotus SE (Co.) Kearney Catholic (Ne.)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. Community Bldg.
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. High School
Lotus SE (Co.)
Fountain/FC (Co.) Saturday, 4:00 p.m. Community Bldg.
Apple Livestock can also eat them, but their sticky flesh is very dangerous for ruminants as it does not move well through their complicated digestive systems and easily becomes lodged, causing bloating and possible death. I confirmed that with our veterinarian. Even Insect Control Many people swear by hedge apples for insect control, and say placing the ripe fruit under sinks, in closets etc. repels spiders, crickets and other pesky bugs. Naysayers believe the only way a hedge apple will kill or repel a spider is to drop it directly on one. One lady claims stuffing pieces of hedge apples down mole holes rids her yard of the pests and says it has worked for her neighbors, too.
Shock which cut the deficit to seven points. That provided the Hornets with some momentum which they carried into the final period. “We didn’t put together any big scoring runs, but we’d get defensive stops and we kept grinding,” says Wilkens. The Hornets took their first lead of the night with three minutes remaining and the game was tied, 53-53, with just under a minute to play. Following missed shots by each team and a turnover by St.
3rd Place
7th Place
Champion
Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Community Bldg. Friday 6:30 p.m. High School
Friday 8:15 p.m. Comm. Bldg.
Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Comm. Bldg.
Colby
Saturday, noon High School
Friday 6:30 p.m. Comm. Bldg.
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. High School
3rd Place
(continued from page 18)
The most talked about and controversial use for hedge apples involves their alleged medicinal value. Studies have shown that hedge apple flesh does contain minor antiinflammatory and anti-fungal properties, but those properties are in very minute quantities. Other than that, no official studies have confirmed any positive medicinal value. However, many people continue to believe otherwise. The internet contains much information and many testimonials of hedge apples curing cancer. Many people dry them and process their flesh to make pills and tinctures to fight colds and to boost the immune system. Some people freeze the whole fruits, then grate off a tablespoon of the outer husk to take with honey when they feel a cold coming on.
Even though the sticky inner flesh of the hedge balls is said to irritate human skin, Iowa chemist and entrepreneur Todd Johnson’s company Osage Healthcare pays $180 a ton for hedge apples and extracts their oil for use in the cosmetics industry. Johnson, who calls himself the “Hedge Ball Kingpin of the US,” estimates his company’s worth at $2.7 million, and a partnering company will soon be selling hedge apple oil for $85 per half ounce. Another Iowa company called Moses Hedge Balls sells hedge balls, Osage Orange wood and product made from hedge apples called Hales Bug Repel. By the way, his hedge apples are a bit pricey at four for $26 or a dozen for $54. (Talk about a markup!) My mom used to slice hedge apples into 1/4 inch slices then
dry them slowly in the oven to make decorations strongly resembling sunflower blooms. We used to throw them at each other when we were kids and I learned to be quick on my feet because those things hurt. Between mom’s green willow switch to my bare legs and a hedge apple to the head, I might just opt for the green willow switch! For some reason Iowa seems to be a hotbed for hedge apple related research, companies and products. Maybe Iowans know something we don’t. One thing I do know, I’ll make you a better deal on a dozen hedge balls than Moses will. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!
three-point attempt missed its mark. “We’ve lost a couple of overtime games this season so it was good to come out on the winning end of a close game,” Wilkens says. “It’s even better that we were able to do it against a quality team like St. Francis.” Wilkens says the team played primarily zone defense in the first half and switched to man defense in the second half. “We got into some early foul trouble and we had to
keep switching guys around, so I was real pleased with the way the boys adjusted,” says Wilkens. T. Lingg scored a game high 25 points (9-of-15 FG) and pulled down 13 rebounds. Senior guard Lake Lewis, who was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, added nine points. Junior forward Logan Lingg, playing in his first game of the season, added eight points and two boards. Senior guard Dylan Foos also scored eight points.
Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com
(continued from page 17)
Francis, the Hornets regained possession with 20 seconds remaining in the game. During a timeout, Wilkens set up a play for T. Lingg to come off a double pick in the high post. Lingg was able to drive to the basket around the screens and hit the go-ahead basket. Sainty’s three-point attempt that followed was rebounded by Lingg who was immediately fouled. He was quickly fouled and made the second of two free throws that put the Hornets on top, 53-50. The Indians’ game-ending
The Scott County Record • Page 20 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Quinter stuns Dighton boys in tourney opener Too many turnovers and too many empty possessions combined for a 36-35 loss by the Dighton boys to Quinter in the opening round of the Northwest Kansas League Tournament on Tuesday. The Hornets (5-4) had d ef ea te d Quinter in two previous matchups Quinter 36 this season, Dighton 35 but struggled offensively for most of the night including a dry spell during the final 3:41 of the game. Dighton’s biggest lead of the night was only two points which came in the second period (1614 and 19-17). They never led by more than one point in the second half. One of the few offensive bursts by the Hornets came after they fell behind 30-26 late in the third period. A basket by Tyler Lingg to close the period and a turnaround jumper by junior forward Logan Lingg early in the final quarter tied the game at 30-30. Quinter regained the lead before senior guard Dylan Foos answered with a go-ahead three-pointer to make it a 33-32 score with 5:42 remaining. Both teams again exchanged baskets
with T. Lingg knocking down a short hook shot at the 3:41 mark to give the Hornets the lead a final time, 35-34. It appeared that Foos may have turned in the defensive play of the night when a turnover led to a layup opportunity for Quinter, only to see the senior overtake the Bulldog player and block the shot from behind with 1:08 to play. Dighton was able to force a turnover and Logan Lingg was then put on the line where he missed the front end of a oneand-one with 27.2 seconds on the clock. A loose ball and a scramble under the Quinter basket with less than seven seconds remaining led to a foul against the Hornets. The Bulldogs didn’t have a one-and-one opportunity, but they did have the ball along their baseline. On the inbounds play, the Quinter player took a quick dribble and then hit a 12-footer with just over three seconds to play. T. Lingg took the inbounds pass and his three-quarter court shot bounced off the top of the rim, straight into the air and for a moment appeared it would drop through the hoop before it again hit the back of the rim and caromed away. T. Lingg finished with a team
DHS senior Tyler Lingg (right) and junior teammate Isaac Torson combine to gain control of a defensive rebound during Tuesday’s league tournament action. (Record Photo)
high 12 points. Lake Lewis added 11 points, including three treys. It was a disheartening loss for the Hornets who were coming off their huge win over St. Francis and were anticipating a rematch with the Indians in the
tournament semi-finals. However, they never could hit their stride offensively. They fell behind 9-2 in the first quarter and briefly seemed to find their offensive rhythm when they outscored Quinter 8-3 to start the second period. T. Lingg
scored the final five points during that stretch and tied the game 12-12. Lewis gave the Hornets their first lead, 15-14, with a threepoint basket. Another threepointer by Lewis gave DHS a 19-17 halftime advantage.
Northwest Kansas League Tournament
Northwest Kansas League Tournament
Boy’s Division • January 17, 20-21 • at Oberlin
Girl’s Division • January 17, 20-21 • at Oberlin
Tribune Friday 7:30 p.m. JV Gym Dighton
St. Francis (9-0)
Dighton (7-0)
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Varsity Gym
Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. Varsity Gym
Tribune (0-7) Dighton (4-3) Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. JV Gym
Quinter (3-5) 5th Place
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. JV Gym
Oberlin Friday 3:00 p.m. JV Gym Atwood
Hoxie (7-0) Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. Varsity Gym
Oberlin (1-7) Sharon Sp. (5-2) Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. JV Gym
Atwood (2-7)
7th Place
Saturday, 12:30 p.m. JV Gym
St. Francis
Oberlin
74-29 Friday 7:30 p.m. Varsity Gym
Friday 6:00 p.m. JV Gym
Quinter
Sharon Sp.
36-35 Saturday, 6:00 p.m. Varsity Gym
Sharon Sp. (4-3) Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. JV Gym
St. Francis (5-4) Champion
Saturday, 2:00 p.m. JV Gym
5th Place
Hoxie
Tribune
59-31 Friday 3:00 p.m. Varsity Gym
Friday 4:30 p.m. JV Gym
Sharon Sp.
Atwood
68-62
Saturday, 3:00 p.m. Varsity Gym
Oberlin (1-7)
Hoxie (6-1) Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. Varsity Gym
Tribune (1-6) Quinter (5-3) Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. JV Gym
Atwood (3-6)
3rd Place
7th Place
Saturday, 11:00 a.m. JV Gym
Dighton 57-19 Friday 6:00 p.m. Varsity Gym St. Francis 44-36 Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Varsity Gym
Champion
Hoxie 56-25 Friday 4:30 p.m. Varsity Gym Quinter 52-47
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Varsity Gym
3rd Place
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The Scott County Record • Page 21 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Size, rebounding Opener strength could be Achilles’ heel for KU
(continued from page 20)
Kansas coach Bill Self has the right idea of how important it is to be rated as the best team in the nation. by Before the Iowa State game at Mac Ames, Self said, “I don’t know Stevenson what’ll happen . . . if we’ll be one, if Villanova’ll jump us or whatever. It’s really not a big deal. I’d much rather be 5-0 in the league than be number one. At least we have that.” KU has problems that haven’t become prominent so far. The Jayhawks lack adequate depth and they are too small. Center Landen Lucas is the only reliable pivot player and he didn’t play very well in the hard-fought win against O-State. Small forward Josh Jackson has been playing great and he’s KU’s only consistent rebounder to go with Lucas. Svi Mykhailiuk and Carlton Bragg could take up some of the slack, but they aren’t getting it done in the rebounding department. Mykhailiuk’s rebounding has improved somewhat, but he isn’t aggressive enough. He should study how Jackson plays. Bragg is a mystery that has to be solved if KU is going to be a special team. Bragg has the physical tools, but he hasn’t improved at all. He’s been the major disappointment on KU’s team. KU fans shouldn’t be misled by the Jayhawks’ high national ranking because they haven’t played an overly rugged schedule. Aside from Indiana and Duke, Kansas hasn’t played any nationally renowned teams. That’s not to say that Coach Self doesn’t have another excellent ball club because he does. Nevertheless, Kansas is a far cry from being the best team in the nation. It’s amazing how many highly talented teams there are throughout the country. In the Atlantic Coast Conference, for example, at least four of the 15 member teams that have a chance to win the NCAA Tournament: Louisville, North Carolina, Florida State and Duke. Those four teams have a formidable blend of size, talent, and quality depth. And that’s just one league. Kentucky, UCLA, Villanova, Oregon, Gonzaga and Arizona are teams that match ACC talent. KU followers should relax and enjoy the season as the Jayhawks try for their 13th consecutive Big 12 title. It isn’t going to be easy because of the aforementioned shortcomings, but Kansas is certainly well-coached and they have a formidable offense when the three-point shots are falling. And maybe the light will go on for Carlton Bragg in time for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. ESPN Scheduling Mystery The Extra Stupid Planning Network is at it again. Last Saturday, Kansas basketball fans expecting to watch the Jayhawks play O-State on TV missed the first 11 minutes and 10 seconds of the first half. ESPN’s many stations refuse to allow any down time between games. Consequently, teams like KU playing the second scheduled game of the day normally don’t have the beginning of their games televised. ESPN allows just two hours per game with no break between games. Like I said . . . very stupid. Adding salt to the wound, ESPN’s stations show teams - after their game is over - shaking hands while the next-scheduled game is in progress. It’s maddening. A 16-Team Football Playoff Now that the 2016 college football season is over, it’s a good time to evaluate the relationship of the bowl games and the national championship playoffs. Problems abound. The people in charge have made a mess of it. There should be 16 teams in the playoffs instead of four and the most traditional and prestigious bowl games should be sites for the playoff games to instill interest and excitement. Pre-conference, regular-season games would have to be reduced from three to one or two and the season should start the first Saturday in September. The bowls used for the playoffs would include the Orange, Sugar, Rose, Cotton, and Fiesta. Three more bowl sites could be chosen to complete the first round of eight games. All of these games should be spread out and begin in the first part of December and finish with the championship game on New Year’s Day. The second- and third-round games could be rotated from year to year among the major bowls of that year’s playoffs. Details could be easily organized. The main change that needs to be made is to combine the bowls and the playoffs. That could be accomplished with 16 teams. Bowl games not included in the playoffs should continue as they have in the past. The lesser-important bowl games have declined in interest, but they would survive this change.
Have questions about the Scott Community Foundation? call 872-3790 or e-mail: julie@scottcf.org
was a nightmare for the Beavers. Following a three-point play by Hess that made it a 16-12 game, the Beavers added just three more points over the final 5-1/2 minutes and dug themselves into a 3015 hole by halftime. The cold shooting Beavers were just 5-of-23 from the field in the first half. “Scoring just 15 first half points is frustrating, but our defense is a bigger issue,” says Hutchins. “Defense is effort and we didn’t see the effort. When you look at the shots we were giving up, a team is going to shoot a pretty high percentage.” Second Half Rally SCHS did make a game of it in the second half after the Trojans built their largest lead of the game, 33-17. Behind a 7-0 scoring burst they cut the deficit to 35-28 following a basket by Hess, who finished the night with a team high 20 points. But, every time the Beavers would chip away at the deficit FCC had an answer. They rebuilt the advantage to 13 points, 49-36, with 5:32 remaining in the game before Scott City made one final rally. The Beavers put together a 10-1 scoring run midway through the period that was capped by a Hess steal which led to an easy basket by junior guard Jordan Horn that pulled the Beavers to within four, 50-46, with 4:25 still to play. Over the next 2-1/2 minutes, the Trojans scored six unanswered points and their 56-46 lead with just over two minutes left on the clock put the game away. Horn finished with 16 points and Marshall Faurot added a season high 10 points. Face Hays on Friday It doesn’t get any easier for the Beavers who will now face top-seeded Hays in the consolation bracket on Friday. The Indians were upset by Falcon (Colo.) in overtime, 6360. “We expect an angry Hays team to show up with intensity. I’m sure they aren’t happy about being on the back side of the bracket and neither are we,” added Hutchins. “We had better show up ready to play from the start or it could be a long day.”
SCHS freshman Madison Shapland breaks the full-court pressure during Friday’s junior varsity win over Hugoton. (Record Photo)
JV girls fall to Holcomb Scoring just a pair of field goals in the third quarter, the Scott City junior varsity girls dug themselves into a 12 point hole and couldn’t recover in a 42-34 loss at Holcomb. The two teams played
to a 14-14 halftime tie, before the SCHS defense came to a near standstill while Holcomb pulled away to a 30-18 lead entering the final period. Shelby Patton provided an offensive spark in the final period with six of
her eight points. Holcomb was able to protect their lead by hitting 8-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter. Freshman Lyndi Rumford led the team with 10 points and Kylee Logan added six.
The Scott County Record • Page 22 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Quick quarter with a three-pointer and added another score to open the second quarter which extended the SCHS lead to five, 21-16. Both teams exchanged baskets, including another field goal by Weathers, that put the Lady Beavers on top, 23-18, with just over six minutes remaining in the half. It was at that time the Lady Eagles switched to a half-court trapping defense and that turned the momentum. Hugoton closed out the half with a 16-2 scoring blitz. “They had different full-court presses they were trying against us and that didn’t hurt us at all. In fact, we scored against it a couple of times,” McCormick says. “It was when they made the switch to the half-court trap that we didn’t handle the pressure well. “Macie got double-teamed a lot and there wasn’t anything she could do. The only person open was usually clear across the court and that was a difficult pass.” On several instances, Price or another Lady Beaver was trapped near half-court and the
(continued from page 17)
ball was stripped away for an easy Hugoton layup. “They will bait you to make it look like someone is open. They like to capitalize on your mistakes,” says McCormick. Trailing 34-25 at halftime, Scott City was unable to close the gap in the third period as Hugoton pulled away with the help of three three-point baskets. Latta and Price each finished with seven points. Senior forward Kiana Yager added four points and a team high eight rebounds. After slipping by a couple of earlier opponents for wins, McCormick felt the girls entered the Hugoton game more focused than they had been for any previous game this season. “It needs to be like that for every game,” she emphasizes. “Hopefully, the girls came away from the game realizing what they are capable of doing, but they also need to remember what it took in order to play at that level. “I want them to think what’s possible if we play every team with that same level of focus,” she adds.
SCHS freshman Emily Weathers (left) and senior Paige Winderlin grab a rebound over Hugoton’s Brooklynn Harper during Friday’s contest on the home court. (Record Photo)
Lady Hornets easily advance in league tournament When you’re undefeated and the top seed, first round tournament games aren’t supposed to be too challenging. The Dighton High School girls made sure nothing out of the ordinary occured during Oberlin 19 their lopsided Dighton 57 57-19 win over Oberlin in the opening round of the Northwest Kansas League Tournament played on Oberlin’s home floor Tuesday night. “These are the kind of games where our young girls need to continue gaining confidence and work on things,” says head coach Amy Felker. “After the St. Francis game (on Friday) we talked about the need to get more of the team involved. If you’re wide open be ready to knock the shot down.” And while that remains a work in progress, the dynamic duo of seniors Jordan Speer and Sara Cramer continue to be the offensive leaders for the No. 4 ranked team in Class 1A-Division I. Speer dominated the low post for the game’s first six points and finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Cramer added the next seven points and would finish the night with 22 points and five assists. The Lady Hornets owned a 17-0 lead before Oberlin ended its scoreless drought with a basket at the 7:27 mark of the sec-
ond period. Putting an exclamation point on a dominating first half, Dighton scored 14 unanswered points to close out the second period and take a 37-7 lead. Freshman Ella Roberts was also in double figures with 12 points in the paint. “We’re starting to see girls who are willing to be more aggressive on offense and look for a shot,” says Felker about the younger players on her roster. “Kennedy (O’Brien) made a nice basket along the baseline and Ella was doing a better job with her turnaround jump shot instead of fading away.” At the same time, Felker knows that the key to Dighton’s continued success during the tournament and the remainder of the season is anchored in their defense. “We work tremendously hard on the defensive end and that’s what carries this team. Offensively, we’re getting good looks and we have two tremendous athletes who are capable of putting a lot of points on the board. “Defensively, we are working so well as a team and that’s going to determine the success of our season. Tonight, we didn’t give up too many second shot opportunities which is what we want to see,” she adds.
Dighton sophomore Ella Roberts scores two of her 12 points during Tuesday’s league tournament win over Oberlin. (Record Photo)
floor. Roll Over Sainty The Lady Hornets raced to a Heading into the league tour- 23-9 first quarter lead and with nament, Dighton dismantled a 16-4 scoring run in the third St. Francis, 53-35, on the home period expanded their lead to
48-18. Speer, who was a solid 8-ofCramer poured in a game 11 from the field, finished with high 22 points (10-of-17 FG) 18 points and eight rebounds. that included five steals, five asRoberts contributed nine sists and four rebounds. points and three steals.
Business
The Scott County Record Page 23 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Bellwether Barn
Suzanne Griffith on the main floor of Bellwether Barn which will have its grand opening on Saturday.
(Record Photo)
New event center opens in Scott County Suzanne Griffith can recall a conversation with her daughters when they were wondering where they will hold a reception and dance when they get married. “It kind of started out as a joke,” recalls Griffith. But, the more she thought about it the more serious Griffith became pursuing not only a place for future family weddings, but an all-purpose facility for the community. That led to Bellwether Barn, located on K95 Highway south of Lake Scott State Park. The 60x60 foot barn which has seating for about 425 people will be the site of a soft opening Saturday as the Griffith family prepares for what promises to be a busy year. On August 18, while ground was being broken for the building, Griffith booked the first three weddings. Nineteen events are already on the books, including a wedding in 2018. A party is being held in the barn this week and it will host a meeting next week. The first wedding reception will be held on Jan. 28. “I’m not too surprised at how quickly we’ve been getting reservations,” says Griffith. “There’s a need for this.”
Over the years, the facilities capable of hosting large gatherings have dwindled. The American Legion and VFW buildings closed years ago, which left only the Wm. Carpenter Building at the county fairgrounds. However, because of damage to the site that occurred during events where alcohol was available, the county fair board was forced to set restrictions for the building. While it will still be rented to anyone in the community, only 4-H alumni are allowed to have events where alcohol is served. Suzanne’s youngest daughter, Maris, reminded her “there’s only so much you can do with the Carpenter Building,” as she began making plans for her July wedding. Being familiar with problems at the Wm. Carpenter Building, and on the advice of an acquaintance who operates a similar barn near Leavenworth, the Griffiths have decided that Bellwether Barn will feature a bar with BYOB prohibited. “I didn’t want to get into the liquor business, but we were advised this was the best way to maintain control of what’s happening. Our friend said that when he began providing a bar and eliminated people bringing
Bellwether Barn Grand Opening • Sat., Jan. 21 5:00 p.m. to ???? Free Admission * * * Rental Rates Wedding Package • $2,500 + tax Friday 8:00 a.m. thru Sunday noon Monday thru Thursday • $400-$600 + tax 8:00 a.m. to midnight $100/hour with a four hour minimum Friday or Saturday • $720-$1,200 + tax 8:00 a.m. to midnight $120/hour with a six hour minimum Sunday • $400-$800 + tax 8:00 a.m. to midnight hourly $100/hour, four hour minimum Family Reunions, Class Reunions, Corporate Meetings, Business Parties, Weddings, Wedding Receptions, Bridal Showers For reservations or more information call (620) 874-1363 or visit bellwetherbarn.com
their own liquor then the damage (to his building) stopped.” She says it’s also a means of preventing underage drinking and allows them to cut off people who have had too much. “We will also have a family member on site at all times during these events,” Griffith says. “We want this to be a fun place where people will enjoy coming.” Searching for a Barn Of course, not just any barn would do. Griffith happened to learn of a barn north of Marienthal that might fit her plan. However, moving the barn would cost
about $25,000 “and we’d still have an old barn.” By this time, Suzanne had to let her husband, Chad, know about her plans in order to get his okay. “He thought I was nuts,” she says with a laugh. While Chad was initially reluctant to go along with the project, he soon jumped on board. And Suzanne was further encouraged by the support of many others as they learned of her plans. Griffith began searching the internet for barn kits and discovered a businessman in Washington state who could provide a custom-designed barn that fit within her budget.
The gambrel style barn features three angles in the roof line which added another element of difficulty when the materials arrived. “My builder was reluctant to take on the project,” Griffith said. “We contacted Shane (Faurot) and he agreed to do it. We couldn’t have done this without his expertise.” That turned out to be the easy part. One of the biggest projects was acquiring the huge amount of tin that lines the interior and exterior of the roof and also adds character to the building within the restrooms and kitchen areas. The tin was pulled off hog barns on the Parkinson farm west of Scott City. “There were probably 4,000 nails in each side of the hog sheds. We had to pop the nails out because we didn’t want to damage the tin,” notes Griffith. Early this week, the finishing touches were still being added. And a loft that overlooks the main floor is still waiting for
large doors with oversized windows that provide a view to the east. “That’s the reason why we chose this location,” said Griffith as she looked through one of the available windows. “This is such a beautiful area and this can be another reason for people to come to the state park. “With the lake nearby, I can see us doing some really neat things.” There are also plans to construct an old grain bin immediately to the south that will provide an added area for summer activities. An area will be planted to grass so it can be used for outdoor weddings and will allow for a large tent. Griffith even envisions building a bridal house where the bride can prepare before a wedding. While Bellwether Barn promises to fill a big need in the community, Griffith won’t predict how long the “barn fad” will last. “If it only lasts 10 years and is no longer the thing that people want, then we still have a barn after it’s done,” she adds.
The Scott County Record
Farm
Page 24 - Thursday, January 19, 2017
Transition to new administration poses questions for producers Tom Parker Kansas Farmers Union
As a new presidential administration prepares to take office following the most divisive election campaign in recent history and with a Congress whose members are increasingly distanced from the realities of common Americans, the National Farmers Union is strengthening its efforts to find solutions for climate change, farm support, trade agreements and corporate agricultural consolidations that promise fewer choices for farmers, less innovation in products and higher prices across the board,
Zach Clark, NFU government relations representative, said. “I don’t have to tell you how difficult the farm economy is,” Clark told members of the Kansas Farmers Union at their annual statewide convention. “My job is to tell Congress how difficult the farm economy is when fewer and fewer members of Congress come from rural America. Getting that message across hasn’t exactly been easy.” Difficulty, uncertainty and not a little frustration were repetitive notes in topics addressed during the convention. Keynote speakers and roundtable discus-
sions centered on gritty subjects such as managing change in turbulent times, which offered tips on maintaining family relationships, good management practices and mental and emotional well-being during financial downturns, determining whether the future of sustainable agriculture will come through advanced technologies or a return to holistic systems, and concerns of an impending farm crisis from those who were the front line of family farm defense in the 1980s. Clark was joined by Rob Larew, NFU Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Communications, who
spoke on the election and speculations on trade agreements, the farm bill and other topics. Farm economies keep slipping from a combination of low commodity prices and high production costs, Clark said. In 2015, total farm expenditures were four percent higher than they were from 2011 to 2013. Net farm income for 2016 saw an 11 percent drop from the previous year and a 42 percent drop from 2013. A recent report from the Kansas City Federal Reserve said that 90 percent of bankers have seen operating credit deterioration in
NAWG CEO to speak at Ks. commodity classic National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) CEO Chandler Goule will address farmers during the annual Kansas Commodity Classic on February 8. The Commodity Classic is the annual convention of the Kansas Corn, Wheat and Grain Sorghum associations, and will take place at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Manhattan. It is free to attend, however preregistration is requested. While at the Kansas Commodity Classic, Goule, along with leaders from other national grain commodity organizations, will address hot topic issues in agriculture, such as the struggling farm economy and what to expect from imminent Farm Bill discussions.
(See TRANSITION on page 25)
(See CLASSIC on page 25)
Ag groups want to maintain course on Cuba Marsha Boswell Kansas Wheat
Dozens of U.S. farm and agri-business groups on Thursday urged President-elect Donald Trump to build upon progress made by the Obama administration in relations with Cuba, calling trade with the former Cold War foe particularly important at a time of a severe downturn in farm
incomes. The agricultural trade groups stated their views in a letter sent to Trump. “As a broad cross-section of rural America, we urge you not to take steps to reverse progress made in normalizing relations with Cuba, but also solicit your support for the agricultural business sector to expand trade with Cuba,” the letter said.
“It’s time to put the 17 million American jobs associated with agriculture ahead of a few hardline politicians in Washington,” the letter concluded. Signatories included a wide range of agricultural trade groups, from the American Farm Bureau and American Feed Industry Association to the soybean, corn, rice, wheat, peas, beans, cattle,
poultry lobbies and other associations. Agricultural organizations in states that Trump won, such as Idaho, Alabama and Georgia, were also signatories. Trump, a Republican, has said he will dismantle the still fragile detente begun by President Barack Obama two years ago unless Cuba gives the United States a better deal, while providing no
Wheat stocks reaching highest level since ‘80s U.S. wheat stocks in all positions have been increased and are projected to reach their highest level since the late 1980s. Feed and residual use is lowered 35 million bushels reflecting disappearance for JuneNovember as implied by the December 1 stocks estimate. Seed use is lowered eight million bushels . Total supplies for 2016-17 are lowered fractionally on lower begin-
ning stocks while 2016 production is unchanged. Projected ending stocks for 2016-17 are raised 43 million bushels. The season-average farm price is raised 10 cents at the midpoint to $3.80 on higher-thanexpected cash prices to date. However, this season-average price would still be the lowest since 2005. Global wheat supplies for 2016-17 are raised 1.3 million tons on a produc-
Cattle sales volume second largest in 5 years Prices for cattle and calves was called “unevenly steady” throughout all regions this first full marketing week of the year, but sale volume was reported as the second largest in the last five years. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service reported a total of 499,700 stocker and feeder cattle sold through either auctions, video/internet or direct sales, second only to the 554,900 sold the week of July 17, 2015, over the past five years. AMS reported calves under 600 pounds sold from “steady to $4 per cwt. higher to $4 per cwt. lower, with some auctions reporting $6 to $10 higher. Yearlings traded steady to $3 per cwt. lower, with some at $6 lower.
JONES CLUB LAMBS Raising excellent quality show lambs. Winning genetics!
Jeremy • 620-397-1638 Stefanie • 620-397-8075 113 W. Hwy 4, Healy, Ks bustn2kick@st-tel.net
reduced feed and residual use, increased corn used to produce ethanol, and smaller stocks. Corn production is estimated at 15.148 billion bushels, down 78 million from last month on lower harvested area and a reduction in yield to 174.6 bushels per acre. Imports are raised based on the pace of Corn Production Down corn imports through This latest 2016- November. Feed and 17 U.S. corn outlook is residual use is lowered 50 for lower production, (See STOCKS on page 25) tion increase that is only partially offset by lower beginning stocks. The largest increases are for Argentina, Russia, and the European Union. With total global supplies increasing faster than use, ending stocks are increased 1.2 million tons to a new record of 253.3 million.
specifics. Trump is expected to review the Cuba engagement upon taking office and has named Jason Greenblatt, a Trump Organization executive and chief legal counsel, as negotiator for sensitive international issues, including Cuba. Under an exception to the U.S. trade embargo from the year 2000, Cuba may import agricultural
products for cash. The letter calls on Trump to allow normal trade financing and credit so the sector can better compete for the Cuban market. While the sector has sold billions of dollars in products to Cuba over the years, the letter said sales have steadily declined as the embargo makes it difficult to compete with other suppliers.
Market Report
Weather
Closing prices on January 17, 2017 Bartlett Grain Red Wheat............ $ 3.27 White Wheat ....... $ 3.27 Milo .................... $ 2.60 Corn ................... $ 3.12 Soybeans (new crop) $ 9.64 Scott City Cooperative Wheat.................. $ 3.27 White Wheat ....... $ 3.27 Milo (bu.)............. $ 2.61 Corn.................... $ 3.13 Soybeans ........... $ 9.44 Sunflowers.......... $ ADM Grain Wheat.................. Milo (bu.)............. Corn.................... Soybeans............ Sunflowers..........
$ 3.24 $ 2.57 $ 3.06 $ 9.31 $ 12.70
(See CUBA on page 25)
H
L
P
Jan. 10
57 33
Jan. 11
50 15
Jan. 12
27
Jan. 13
24 15
Jan. 14
37 22 .36
Jan. 15
31 29 .32
Jan. 16
34 29 .08
9
Moisture Totals
Snowfall (Jan. 16)
1 inch
2017 Total
0.87
January 0.87
Food Facts It takes 24 to 26 hours for a hen to produce an egg. There is 30 minutes between each egg-producing cycle.
Transition their lending areas. “We look at that as a very alarming issue,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of organizations sit back and say, this is just the way farm ag economics works, there’s no need to panic. We’re not panicking, but we still need to be telling Congress our stories. NFU has been out front on this issue.” Thinking that there would be an omnibus appropriations to fund the government for another year, NFU worked to get assistance for producers, to make sure the USDA had the money it needed to fund its loan programs, and other items, only to see Congress pass a continuing resolution to straight fund the government into next April. “The election sort of turned that upside down,” he said. NFU has been asking the new Congress to start the farm bill process early in an effort to keep it on schedule. “A lot of our members have approached us saying that parts of the Title 1 program aren’t working for them,” Clark said. “In order to fix those problems, we need a longer lead time. We figure that if we start early, we’ll at least finish on time, as opposed to starting on time and finishing late.” Larew agreed. “The
Classic Originally from Texas, Goule served as a subcommittee staff director for the House Agriculture Committee before moving to the National Farmers Union in 2009 as vice president of Government Relations. Goule started his tenure as NAWG CEO in July of 2016. In addition, he also serves as the executive director of the National Wheat Foundation. In addition to the National Grain Commodity panel, the
Stocks million bushels to 5,600 million based on the smaller crop, increased corn used to produce ethanol and greater sorghum feeding. Corn used to produce ethanol is raised 25 million bushels to 5,325 million. The amount of corn used to produce ethanol during SeptemberNovember was a record high. With supply falling faster than use, corn ending stocks are lowered
The Scott County Record • Page 25 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
(continued from page 24)
last farm bill started early and finished late,” he said. “We never know what’s going to happen.” That uncertainty is even more apparent with the incoming administration, he said. He’s been fielding numerous requests asking what he knows, what he doesn’t know and, as a last resort, for predictions as a Beltway insider, but he chooses to focus on general certainties that remain fairly stable across administrations. “We’re not seeing a lot of change in the ag committees themselves,” he said. “Those are the committees that do the actual drafting of the bills. I think that’s a positive. The other thing to keep in mind is that it is extremely rare to see wholesale changes in a farm bill. My experience is that farm bills are truly evolutionary, not revolutionary.” In the lull before negotiations begin on a new farm bill, Larew said, numerous groups are receiving huge sums of money to discuss new ideas. While some of those ideas are worth exploring, much of the discussion will ultimately end up being just that. On the left are the reformers, aligned with environmental working groups who believe that
(continued from page 24)
Kansas Commodity Classic will also have a market update from Matt Hines of Lowen and Associates. Hines is a graduate of Kansas State University with a dual degree in Agricultural Economics and Milling Science and Management with years of experience in the grain merchandising world. Also included on the agenda is an interactive session discussing the 2018 Farm Bill.
(continued from page 24)
48 million bushels from last month. The projected range for the season- average corn price received by producers is raised five cents on both ends to $3.10 to $3.70 per bushel. Sorghum production for 2016/17 is estimated 18 million bushels higher on increases in both harvested area and yield. Grain sorghum prices are projected to average $2.65 to $3.15 per bushel, down 15 cents.
everything needs to be tied back to conservation compliance, that farmers should be mandated to abide by the regulations, and that funding could be supplemented by lowering the subsidies for crop insurance. On the right is the Heritage Foundation, who would love to see government get out of agriculture altogether. “On the surface, it sounds pretty good-who wouldn’t like to get government off their back so they can do what they do best-but what that means is dismantling crop insurance and getting rid of the safety nets that support farmers every day,” Larew said. “So you have different groups looking for wholesale changes in how we do farm bills, I would suggest that it’s more important for an organization to focus on the things it is currently focused on. The biggest asset of the National Farmers Union when they are pushing for changes in a farm bill is the grassroots effort to bring up policy. It is that experience that gives us a lot of credibility to go up to the Hill and affect change.” Climate change is another hot topic, Clark said. Changes in agricultural practices such as
reduced tillage, the use of cover crops, optimized nutrient applications and investment in renewable energy and energy efficient equipment could reduce annual ag emissions by up 25 percent. “Ag could bring a lot to the table on greenhouse gas emissions,” Clark said. “We want farmers to get credit and assistance for the good work they do.” National Farmers Union has always been supportive of the Renewable Fuel Standard as a way to ensure energy independence and to assist in climate goals by reducing reliance on petroleum products. President-elect Donald Trump has suggested that he is supportive of it as well. “We’ll see how this plays out,” Clark said. Opposition to ag consolidation remains a major thrust of the organization, Clark said. The big six corporations-Bayer, BASF, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto and Syngentacontrol 63 percent of the global seed market, 76 percent of the global agricultural chemical market, and 95 percent of corn, soybeans and cotton traits in the United States. A $66 billion merger between Bayer and Monsanto would create
Vulgamore, Berning place in Kansas sorghum yield contest Galen Berning, Marienthal, won second place in the Irrigated Conventional-Till division of the 2016 National Sorghum Producers (NSP) Yield Contest in Kansas. Berning won with Pioneer hybrid 84P72, which yielded 175.74 bushels per acre. Berning earned one of the 66 Kansas titles won by growers planting Pioneer hybrids. The NSP awarded 102 Kansas titles
the world’s largest biotech and seed firm. A proposed merger between Dow and DuPont, currently under review at the U.S. Department of Justice, would create the largest biotech and seed firm in the U.S. NFU has appealed to the Dept. of Justice to block both mergers. “Some of the major blockbuster products on seeds and chemicals would now be owned by a single company,” Clark said. “This would devastate the choice for producers who use this technology.” Proposed mergers also raise concerns over food security and competition, such as one between ChemChina, owned by the Chinese government, and Syngenta, Clark said. The $43 billion acquisition was approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), but NFU has appealed. Other mergers include Potash Corp. and Agrium, two of three global fertilizer producers that manufacture potash, nitrogen and phosphate, and a contested merger between John Deere and Precision Planting. The former merger would create the largest fertilizer company in the world, while the
Cuba
latter would dominate the global market for highspeed precision planting systems. Concentration among beef, pork and poultry companies also remains a problem, he said. “We’ve been active on this for a long, long time, and it’s been so surprising to see that we’re alone in this,” Clark said. As for the election, Larew said, change in Washington is inevitable, especially during the transition into a new administration. The National Farmers Union is already in communication with cabinet members seeking to find common ground and to express the interests of its members, and on some issues they align fairly closely. Ultimately, though, it’s a mixed bag, he said. Uncertainty exists over who the next secretary of agriculture might be, but, like with other things, at this point it’s just a guessing game. The Trump administration could announce its nominee at any time, or, as seems to be the case with the president-elect, maybe he’ll fire off an early-morning Tweet. “Which,” Larew said, “is kind of the new thing.” Either way, he’ll be watching it very closely.
(continued from page 24)
Cuba imports some $2 billion in food annually. The signatories cited a deep dip in farm income to bolster their argument that U.S. farmers needed more in this year’s contest. trade. Vulgamore Family “Net farm income is down 46 percent from just Farms, Scott City, won three years ago, constituting the largest three-year drop first place in the Dryland since the start of the Great Depression,” the letter said. No-Till division. First, second and third place national honors were awarded in each of the eight divisions: irrigated no-till, irrigated reduced till, irrigated conventional till, irrigated double crop, dryland no-till, dryland reduced till, dryland conventional till and dryland double crop.
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The Scott County Record • Page 26 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Call 872-2090 today!
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The Scott County Record Professional Directory
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Preconditioning and Growing
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Professional Extermination Commercial & Residential
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Construction/Home Repair
Sager’s Pump Service
Walker Plumbing, Inc. Backhoe & Trenching services • Irrigation & gas leak repairs • Full-line irrigation parts T-L center pivot dealer Floor heat systems Pump & install septic systems Boring equipment
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423 S. Mesquite Rd. • Scott City • 872-2130
RT Plumbing
Cell: 874-4486 • Office 872-2101
CHAMBLESS ROOFING Residential
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Attention to Detail and Quality Guaranteed 620-872-2679 • 1-800-401-2683
ELLIS AG SERVICES
Rex Turley, Master Plumber
Residental and Commercial Plumbing Water Systems, water lines, sewer cleaning faucets and fixtures, garbage diposals and more
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620-909-5014 (H) • 620-874-4128 (C)
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Termite Baiting Systems • Rodents Weed Control • Structural Insects Termite Control Box 258, Scott City • (620) 872-2870
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The Scott County Record • Page 27 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
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Medical
Horizon Health For your home medical supply and equipment needs! We service and repair all that we sell.
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Office (620) 276-3131 Toll Free 1-800-794-9052 Cell (620) 874-0014 Fax (620) 276-8876 1007 N. 8th, Garden City, KS 67846 www.officesolutionsinc.biz
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Pro Health Chiropractic Wellness Center
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2203 E. Fulton Plaza • Garden City (620) 275-5121 • (800) 481-5121 • www.scheopners.com • Bottled Water • Water Softeners and Salt • Reverse Osmosis • Rent, Lease or Purchase Discount Pricing Available on Larger Quantities.
Services
Kansas Classifieds Ad Network
The classified ads below are appearing in 147 Kansas newspapers with a total circulation of 500,000 the classified display ads appear in 142 Kansas newspapers with a total circulation of 457,000. KCAN line ad is $300 for up to 25 words and $12 each additional word. A 2x2 display ad is $800 per insertion and a 2x4 display ad is $1,650 per insertion. To find out more, contact The Scott County Record at 872-2090.
For Sale
Sports/Outdoors
40-FOOT GRADE A steel cargo containers. $1,500 in KC. $2,200 in Solomon, Ks. 20s, 45s, 48s and 53s also available. Call (785) 655-9430 or go on-line to Chuckhenry. com for pricing, availability and freight estimates. ––––––––––––––––––––– SAWMILLS from only $4,397. Make and save money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills. com 1-800-578-1363 Ext.300N
GUN SHOW. Jan. 21-22. Saturday, 9:00-5:00; Sunday 9:00-3:00. Kansas ExpoCentre (19th and Topeka Blvd.), Topeka. For info: (563) 927-8176. www.rkshows.com ––––––––––––––––––––– OUR HUNTERS will pay top $$$ to hunt your land. Call for a free base camp leasing info packet and quote. 1-866-309-1507. www.BaseCampLeasing. com.
Homes LENDERS OFFERING special government programs for mobile homes and $0 down for landowners. Promo homes with reduced down payments. Use tax refund for additional incentives. Singles from $39,900. Doubles from $59,900. 866-8586862.
Sports/Outdoors
(Scott City Chiropractic) “TLC”... Technology Lead Chiropractic
Dr. James Yager 110 W. 4th St. • Scott City • 872-2310 Toll Free: 800-203-9606
Berning Auction “Don’t Trust Your Auction to Just Anyone”
WESTERN KANSAS hunters and trappers. Petska Fur is running weekly routes. Currently seeking: cats, coyotes, fox, deer hides and antlers. Coyote market exceptionally strong. 308-750-0700. www.petskafur.net.
Truck Driving CDL A DRIVERS. Mid Central-South Regional. Run between Nebraska and Texas. Stay off both coasts. Home weekends. 2,800 miles/week. Be home Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fremont Contract Carriers, 866641-6914 or visit www. fcc-inc.com. ––––––––––––––––––––– CONVOY SYSTEMS is hiring Class A drivers to run from Kansas City to the west coast. Home weekly. Great benefits. www.convoysystems.com. Call Tina, ext. 301, or Lori, ext. 303, at 1-800926-6869.
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Retail
Gene’s Appliance Over 200 appliances in stock! COMPARE OUR PRICES!
We have Reverse Osmosis units in stock. Remember us for parts in stock for all brands of all appliances. Sales and Service Days • Mon. - Sat. Deliveries • Mon.-Sat.
Largest Frigidaire appliance dealer in Western Ks. 508 Madison • Scott City • 872-3686
Networktronic, Inc.
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Dining
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Classifieds
The Scott County Record • Page 28 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Buy, sell, trade, one call does it all 872-2090 ot fax 872-0009
Classified Ad Deadline: Monday at 5:00 p.m.
Classified Ad Rate: 20¢ per word. Minimum charge, $5. Blind ad: $2.50 per week extra. Card of thanks: 10¢ per word. Minimum charge, $3. Classified Display Ad rate: $6.00 per column inch. Classified advertising must be paid in advance unless business account is established. If not paid in advance, there will be a $1 billing charge. Tear sheet for classified ad will be $1 extra.
Help Wanted
Services
COMPUTER SERVICES for PC and Mac computers. Computer repair and virus removal. Call or email Josh at OsComp to schedule an appointment. 24-hour help line 620-376-8660 or email josh_4974@hotmail.com. ––––––––––––––––––– WANTED: Yards to mow and clean up, etc. Trim smaller trees and bushes too. Call Dean Riedl, (620) 872-5112 or 8744135. 34tfc –––––––––––––––––––– FURNITURE REPAIR and refinishing. Lawn mower tune-up and blade sharpening. Call Vern Soodsma, 872-2277 or 874-1412. 4015tfc –––––––––––––––––––– MOWER REPAIR, For Sale tune-up and blade sharpFRIGIDAIRE STAIN- ening. Call Rob Vsetecka LESS STEEL REFRIG- at 620-214-1730. 4515tfc ERATOR for sale. Tradition top freezer, bottom Agriculture fridge. Purchansed Fall of 2013. Has been in stor- WANT TO BUY. Stored age for two years. Works corn. Call for basis and information. perfectly. $500. Call 316- contract Lane 259-4150. 1716tfc 1-800-579-3645. ––––––––––––––––––––– County Feeders, Inc. 32tfc LG TROMM BLANK ––––––––––––––––––––– FRONT LOAD WASH- WANT TO BUY. Wheat ER AND ELECTRIC straw delivered. Call for DRYER for sale. Comes contracting informati with pedestals and stack- on. Lane County Feeders, 44tfc ing kit. Purchased in 397-5341. 2006. Main water pump in washer replaced this year. Sold as set for $600. Call 316-259-4150. 1716tfc FA R M W O R K E R , 2/20/17-12/15/17, Meinke Custom Combining, Princeton, MO. Nine temp jobs. Operate harvesting machines to harvest crops in MO/OK/KS/ NE. Drive truck to transport produce and haul harvesting machines between work sites. Service machinery/make in-field repairs. Three month experience, employment ref, clean MVR required. $11/ hr-$1,800/mo, depending on location, ¾ work guarantee, tools/equip/housing provided at no cost, trans and subsistence exp reimbursed. Apply at Kansas Works, 620.227.2149. Job #12095528. 2417t1
Rentals HIDE AND SEEK STORAGE SYSTEMS. Various sizes available. Virgil and LeAnn Kuntz, 620-874-2120. 41tfc ––––––––––––––––––––– PLAINJAN’S RENTAL houses and duplexes. Stop by the office or call 620872-5777. 05tfc
District 11 AA Meetings
Scott City
Unity and Hope Mon., Wed. and Fri. 8:00 p.m. 807 Kingsley Last Saturday of the month Birthday Night • 6:30 p.m. All open meetings 214-4188 • 214-2877
Dighton Thursday • 8:30 p.m. 535 Wichita St. All open meetings 620-397-2647
We have room for you!
Berry Realty • 872-5700 1102 S. Main, Scott City, Ks 67871 www.berryrealtyonline.com
Charles Berry, Broker • 874-0738 Brett Berry, Sales Assoc. • 316-258-3387 Tracy Chambless, Sales Assoc. • 874-2124
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, that’s ours. Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church basement (use west door). 412 College, Scott City. Al-Anon at same time and location. Contact: 874-0472 or 872-3137. 25tfc
The Scott County Record • Page 29 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
Employment Opportunities
Record Xtra
The Scott County Record Page 30 • Thursday, January 19, 2017
nature’s icy touch