TEG
THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016
V V V
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895
V V V
EVENT ENCOURAGES FAMILIES
TO KEEP IT A SAFE SUMMER
Good Evening
VVV
Stay safe,
Emporia!
WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM
NORTH LYON
COUNTY
BOARD OF
EDUCATION
LOOKS TO
THE FUTURE
By John Robinson
[email protected]
Emporia may have been in the
midst of a tornado watch, but at
the Lyon County Fairgrounds children were fishing, riding jet skis
and helping put out fires, all in the
name of learning how to “Keep It a
Safe Summer.”
“KISS is geared at safe and
educational activities that your
child can do in the summer,” Lyon
County Extension Agent Rhonda
Gordon said. “We have 49 vendors
from A to Z — Camp Alexander
to the Emporia Zoo — and everything in between.”
Children were encouraged
By John Robinson
[email protected]
Please see KISS, Page 8
JOHN ROBINSON/GAZETTE
JOHN ROBINSON/GAZETTE
Aaron Scheve gives a demonstration on water safety Wednesday.
The North Lyon County
Board of Education held a work
session to discuss a plan of action going forward after failing
to garner community approval
for a consolidated K-12 facility.
As it was a work session, the
board did not take any action,
instead discussing different options for the future of the district.
“Today there will be no stone
left unturned,” Superintendent
Aron Dody said. “We gotta look
at everything, but not every option is feasible.”
Board President Matt Horton asked members to consider
plans which would last into the
long-term rather than the immediate future as well as the importance of getting community
feedback.
“We really need to discuss long-term goals,” Horton
said. “Just trying to ram (bonds)
down people’s throats is not the
answer.”
The board proposed conduct-
JOHN ROBINSON/GAZETTE
Please see USD 251, Page 3
Boy Scouts lead the “Cub Carts” at Keep It a Safe Summer.
CITY COMMISSION DISCUSSES 5-YEAR PLAN
6 0 T H
D I S T R I C T
S E A T
By Mary Ann Redeker
[email protected]
Members of the Emporia City
Commission held a study session
Wednesday morning in the Civic
Building.
The main topic of discussion
was the 5-year plan for the city and
what adjustments and improvements could be made to run the
city more efficiently.
“The 5-year plan is a guideline
or framework for future plans,”
city manager Mark McAnarney
said. “This was the second discussion of the 5-year plan, as we listened to some recommendations
from our meetings a few weeks
ago and put them into our plans.”
McAnarney said the need for
a new wastewater plant was driving the discussions of the 5-year
plan. The new plant will need to
be constructed to comply with
federal and state regulations.
“We will have more discussion
during our June 8 meeting and
hope to have the final adoption of
the plan on June 15.”
Bruce Boettcher, professional
engineer for BG Consultants, presented a report to the commission
for the flood plain contract for the
Cottonwood and Neosho River basins.
McAnarney said this contract
was mainly for considerations for
the new wastewater plant.
“It’s mainly for the Cottonwood
VOL. 124, NO. 281
MARY ANN REDEKER/GAZETTE
Members of the Emporia City Commission listen to a report from
Judy Dieker, executive director of the Humane Society of the Flint
Hills. Commissioners also discussed their 5-year plan, a flood plain
contract and use of firearms in city facilities.
River,” he said. “As we build our
new wastewater plant, we have to
certify we’re out of the 500-year
flood plain. We will hire a group to
survey and certify that. We hope
to be certified by the end of the
year to move forward with plans.”
Judy Dieker, executive director
of the Humane Society of the Flint
Hills, provided an annual update
for the Emporia Animal Shelter.
Dieker said things were going well
at the shelter but there were some
expenses that had caught them
off-guard.
Dieker asked the commission
to consider an increase to their allotment, as insurance issues and
other costs had been of concern
lately.
“Our biggest expense has been
medications for the animals,” she
said. “We’re not euthanizing now
so we are having to take care of
those animals and get them ready
for adoption. We are not asking
you to pick up the full tab, just for
a little help.”
The commission will next meet
on June 1 for an action session.
Items on the tentative agenda include proclamations recognizing
June as Zoo Month and a National
Teacher’s Hall of Fame Day. Action will also be taken on several
zoning requests.
The session will also include
reports from McAnarney on city
activities, commission reports and
comments.
MARK
SCHREIBER FILES
FOR KANSAS
HOUSE
PEARSON
ENTERS RACE
FOR 60TH
DISTRICT
Special to The Gazette
The Emporia Gazette
Longtime Emporia resident
Mark Schreiber, Republican, has
filed for the 60th District seat in
the Kansas House. The district,
which includes Emporia, Americus and west central Lyon County, is currently represented by
Don Hill, who announced Monday he will not seek re-election.
“Today, our state faces some
of its greatest challenges,” Schreiber said. “But, they are challenges we can overcome if we
Longtime Emporia resident
Steve Pearson has filed as a
Republican candidate for the
60th District seat in the Kansas
House.
“I think what we need is fresh
blood in many positions that are
not part of the establishment. I
am not a politician or a lobbyist but an everyday citizen who
wants to fight for what we need
to make Lyon County and Kansas thrive,” Pearson said. “Ev-
Please see Schreiber, Page 3
Please see Pearson, Page 3