Kansas Senators and Representatives push for Medal of Honor

WASHINGTON D.C. – Kansas Senators and Representatives are encouraging the United States Department of Defense to award a Kansan with a Medal of Honor. Father Emil Kapaun of Pilsen, KS served as a chaplan of the 8th Cavalry Regiment of the First Army Division in the Korean War. His time was spent doing selfless acts, such as caring for wounded soldiers, and escaping a prison camp to bring back food for starving prisoners, until his death in 1951. U.S. Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran and U.S. Representatives Tim Huelskamp,  Lynn Jenkins,  Kevin Yoder and Mike Pompeo sent a joint letter yesterday to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to encourage the posthumous honoring of Father Emil Kapaun.

Friday, January 27, 12:36 P.M.

KDOT ahead of schedule on road repairs

TOPEKA- Kansas is jumping the gun on road repairs and has no reason to slow down. The Kansas Department of Transportation will accelerate T-Works projects that were slated for 2013. A total of 32 projects will be advanced ahead of schedule, which Governor Brownback says will “create hundreds of construction jobs sooner than planned and provide an economic benefit to thousands of other Kansans and businesses.” Savings attained in recent projects are part of the reason KDOT can move forward. All of the projects are covered under the 10-year, $8 billion T-Works Transportation Program passed by the 2010 Legislature. You may view the list of projects to be advanced online at www.ksdot.org/tworks/.

Friday, January 27, 12:11 p.m.

Accident on east K-68 stops traffic, injures two

MIAMI COUNTY- A two-car wreck on east 68 highway temporarily halted traffic this morning. The accident occurred around 9:30a.m., and resulted in two injuries, one from each vehicle. Both people were transported to a KC area hospital, one by ground, and one by air. The road is now reopened to travelers.

Friday, January 27th, 10:44 A.M.

Haskell Indians University joins hands with the EPA

LAWRENCE- The Environmental Protection Agency is working together with Haskell Indian Nations University in an effort to promote careers in environmental and scientific fields. The EPA and the university will make a formal announcement on Wednesday at school’s campus from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00p.m.This comes an EPA effort to increase awareness of the federal opportunities available in environmental work, and to encourage student-led initiatives to create an environmentally conscious campus.

Friday, January 27, 9:01 A.M.

Garnett couple and business honored at banquet

GARNETT – An Anderson County couple, and a family business are sitting high after being honored at the Garnett Chamber of Commerce Banquet last night. Brummel Farm Service was named  “Business of the Year” after serving the community for nearly 80 years.  Dalton and Janice Hodgson were given the George Clasen Memorial Community Service Award. Executive Director of the Bowl Championship Series Bill Hancock spoke at the event.

Friday, January 27, 8:10 A.M.

Anderson County teachers receive high honors

ANDERSON COUNTY- In report card terms, two teachers in Anderson County have received an A+ from the Kansas Department of Education. The KSDE has rewarded Garnett Elementary School Center Third Grade Teacher Kaitlin Sullins, and Central Heights Family and Consumer Sciences Instructor Robyn Studebaker, with the Kansas Horizon Award for First-Year Teachers. The Anderson County Review reports that the awards distingushes outstanding first-year teachers who are nominated by fellow teachers or administrators. Sullins and Studebaker are two of just 32 teachers statewide to receive this award. Award winners will be honored in late February at the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network.

Friday, January 27, 8:09 A.M.

Pomona couple, Lane livestock feeder honored for conservation efforts

OTTAWA — The Franklin County Conservation District is honoring a Pomona farm couple and a feedlot operation in southern Franklin County during the district’s annual meeting today. Lloyd and Jackie Robbins are being honored for the soil and water conservation practiced they’ve done ever since they started farming nearly 30 years ago. They own and lease about 1,100 acres. Lloyd Robbins saids it’s important to use a variety of methods, including terraces, water ways, and filter strips; to preserve the soil and protect the water. The Burkdoll Brothers Livestock Company, of rural Lane, is one of the few livestock feeding operations left in eastern Kansas and is being honored for the company’s efforts to handle waste water from the company’s cattle feedlots. That includes a new lagoon with a underground waste distribution system, said Bruce Burkdoll, one of four brothers operating the cattle and swine backgrounding operation. The company has been owned and run by four generations, he said.
Thursday, Jan. 26, 7 a.m.

Ousted mayor files for Pomona City Council

POMONA — A controversial mayor who was recalled by Pomona voters is asking for another chance. Joann Hancock, who as mayor was involved in a lawsuit against the city council, is among the last-minute flurry of people filing for three city council seats up for election this spring. Another former mayor, Kirk Lauritsen, is among the candidates who also filed. Two city council members – Richard Adler and Rick Smith – also filed for re-election. Other people filing include Carole Hopkins, Bill Lloyd, Lindsay Meyer, Jerry Slavens and Scott Snethen. The city is assured of at least one new council member. Don Lockaby didn’t file for re-election.
Thursday, Jan. 26, 7 a.m.

Ottawa guardian convicted of defrauding elderly woman

OTTAWA — An Ottawa man has been found guilty of financial abuse of a 95-year-old woman he was the guardian for. Guadalupe Mora, 65, pleaded no contest in Franklin County District Court to one count of mistreatment of a dependent adult and one count of theft on Monday, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. The plea deal resolves charges filed by Schmidt’s office last April. Sentencing will be Feb. 27. Schmidt said as part of the plea agreement, Mora will pay $90,431 in restitution to the victim. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Stefani Hepford.
Monday, Jan. 26, 7 a.m.

Colony city council member resigns because of felony conviction

COLONY — A Colony City Council member with a felony drug conviction has resigned.
Steve Wallace, who is serving probation agreed to a deal in which he was convicted on a felony charge of marijuana distribution last year, has resigned because of his felony conviction and loss of voting privileges. The Anderson County Review reported there was some question as to whether Wallace could continue serving on the council but he resigned before the city answered the question. Under the city charter, Colony Mayor Neal Wallace has the authority to name a new council member. Steve Wallace was elected to the council last year even though he had been charged with several drug-related crimes.
Thursday, Jan. 26, 7 a.m.