Wedded Bliss
Engagements, Weddings
and Anniversaries
Grapes & Grains
Page 5
Dirty Drinks for Dirty Kanza
Page 8
EGW
THIS LAND IS OUR LAND?
MAY 28 AND 29, 2016
V V V
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895
LANGLEY PROPERTY
RD F
ADJACENT HOME
V V V WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM
HWY 50
PROPERTIES AFFECTED
By Cathryne Scharton
[email protected]
Manford and Jeanell Langley purchased 27 acres of land
in the 1700 block of Road F in
the early 1980s.
Roughly 10 years later,
the Kansas Department of
Transportation took about a
quarter of an acre. In a letter
sent to the Langleys, KDOT
stated: “The selected highway location places special
emphasis on a highway facility which will adequately
meet the present and future
needs of you, your neighbor,
and each citizen of Kansas,
as well as those who visit our
state, with minimum adverse
effects on private property.”
The letter led the Langleys
to believe they would never
again lose land through the
eminent domain process,
however in August of 2012,
the Langleys received a letter that KDOT would survey
their property. It wasn’t until February of this year the
Langleys received another
letter from KDOT indicating
a four-lane expressway will
be constructed, which will require acquisition of additional
land owned by the Langleys.
The proposed land acquisition is 136 feet by 30 feet. Not
a great impact, but the cut
in the property will destroy
the Langley’s fruit trees and
one end of their horseshoeshaped driveway.
EMINENT DOMAIN ACQUISITION
While some may say the
Langleys could just replant
their fruit trees, it’s not that
simple. The Langleys are
both in their 80s and, according to starkbros.com, apple
and peach trees take two to
four years to produce fruit;
pear trees take four to six
years.
The time it takes to grow
the trees aside, planting trees
is not easy work for elderly
individuals. The Langleys
produce all of their own fruit.
They share the fruit with
their family. Taking the fruit
trees away wouldn’t just be a
loss of landscaping, it would
cut into their food supply.
CATHRINE SCHARTON/GAZETTE
A surveyor’s stake stands in
the Langley’s property along
west U.S. Highway 50.
Please see Land, Page 3
Mural showcases ‘Endurance’ OFFICERS CARRY TORCH
FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS
John Robinson
[email protected]
“Veterans Day.”
“Flowers.”
“Buffalo.”
“Family.”
“Home.”
When asked to come up with
ways to describe Emporia, these
are some the words students
at Village Elementary School
chose.
The Emporia Mural Project
provided an answer, displayed
on the back of Mulready’s Pub
in the form of the mural “Endurance.”
“‘Endurance’ was a theme
that we sort of started with,”
Stephanie Lanter, an assistant
professor in the art department
at Emporia State University said.
“How Emporia — its past, present and future — how it’s survived and it’s thriving.”
According to Lanter, the project is a year in the making and
was lead by muralist Dave Loewenstein, filmmaker Nicholas Ward
and ESU student Itzel LopezVargas. Loewenstein held community meeting where community members, and those involved
with the project, had a chance to
share their ideas for the mural.
“When Dave got here we
started the project team meetings,” Lanter said. “... For the
Please see Mural, Page 3
GAZETTE/FILE PHOTO
Local law enforcement officers and Special Olympians walk and
ride down Commerical Street last year during the annual Torch
Run. Members of the Emporia Police Department and Lyon County
Sheriff’s Department will assist with carrying the “Flame of Hope”
torch on its way to Wichita for the games June 3 - 5.
By Mary Ann Redeker
[email protected]
JOHN ROBINSON/GAZETTE
Itzel Lopez-Vargas, Rick Becker and Stephanie Lanter pose in front
of the mural ‘Endurance.’
Good Evening
Local law enforcement officers will be carrying the “Flame
of Hope” for Special Olympics
once again on Wednesday, June
1, as part of the Law Enforcement
Torch Run.
Officers from Emporia Police approximately 4:30 to 5 p.m. next
Department and the Lyon County Wednesday.
Lyon County Undersheriff John
Sheriff’s office will receive the
torch around 2 p.m. at BETO Junc- Koelsch said the local agencies
tion and will run it via Old Highway 50, ending in front of EPD at
Please see Torch, Page 3
VOL. 124, NO. 283
Plums and peaches or pavement?