By Jessie Wagoner jessie @ emporia . com

Temperatures remain high throughout the area — and those high temps can lead to big problems for people , especially small children and the elderly .

Emporia remains in an excessive heat warning until 7 p . m . Sunday . The warning means that afternoon heat indices will remain in the 100 - 110 degree range through Saturday . The high temperatures and high humidity over an extended period of time will combine to create a dangerous situation that could quickly lead to heat-related illnesses .

“ I have been tired and irritable all week ,” Joyce Landis , of Emporia , said while enjoying an iced tea at Commercial Street Diner . “ I used to be able to handle the heat better , but the older I get the more it wears me out . I have COPD and the humidity and heat make breathing a challenge . I prefer staying indoors as much as possible .”

Professionals recommend checking on elderly neighbors during times of high heat to ensure they are faring well . Even indoors , if air conditioning isn ’ t working properly , individuals can experience a health emergency . Encouraging the use of fans and the regular consumption of water should help lessen the risk .

Remaining in an air conditioned environment is encouraged during excessive heat warnings . For individuals that work outdoors , frequent rest breaks in a shaded or air conditioned environment are recommended . Drinking plenty of water and wearing loose-fitting clothing will help prevent heat related-illness .

“ My husband works outside doing construction ,” Melody Pearson of rural Lyon County said . “ He works so hard for our family and it is so hot out . I think he may get a little embarrassed , but I do drop by his work sites when it is hot like this with water and popsicles

P H O T O S B Y Z A C H H A C K E R

every other hour or so . I just want him to stay as cool as possible .”

Area children are beating the heat by spending time in swimming pools and enjoying the sprinklers in their yards . Even when playing in the water , children should still be encouraged to take frequent breaks , drink water and re-apply sunscreen . Additionally , children should never be left in a vehicle . According to KidsandCars . org , on average 37 children die each year from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside vehicles .

“ Even a few minutes in a hot car is too long for a little one ,” Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said . “ Children should never be left alone in a vehicle , especially when we ’ re seeing triple-digit temperatures .”

If an individual begins to experience the symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke , it is crucial that they receive medical attention quickly . Do not hesitate to seek care from a physician as needed .

By Mary Ann Redeker maryann @ emporia . com

Tom Varga and Brandon Kelly have a vision for Emporia and the hotel sector .

They saw the potential for the GuestHouse Inn Hotel located at 2700 W . 18th Ave . and purchased it in hopes of bringing a conference and convention center to Emporia .

The hotel is now known as Knights Inn and Conference Center and is under new ownership and management with Varga and Kelly at the helm .

“ Tom and I both have backgrounds which are perfectly suited to take over this property ,” Kelly said . “ Not only from an ownership standpoint , but we want to remodel it and revision it . We want to take our backgrounds and truly position them to where it helps Emporia grow over the next few years and have a great economic impact for this town .”

Varga and Kelly are working with Wyndham and have secured the rights to Ramada Worldwide . The plan is to take the current property , remodel it and turn it into a fourstar , full-service hotel .

“ We are in the early stages of our remodeling process ,” Varga said . “ We ’ ve got architects we have to work with and the city to work with for permits . We ’ re looking at shortterm and long-term for the vision of our project in what we can accomplish for remodeling . Our vision is to turn this property into something different than just operating it as a hotel like previous owners have done . There really is a grand master plan to it all .”

Varga said the current rating for the property , according to TripAdvisor , is between a one- and two-star rating , due to the fact that it hasn ’ t been maintained for the past several years .

VOL . 125 , NO . 18

“ With our relationship with one of the major hotel brands , we ’ ll be taking it to a four-star level hotel — which means we will be a fullservice hotel ,” he said . “ We will be bringing the restaurant back and will have the pool and all the amenities . The main focus of this hotel though , with the meeting space is to bring outside businesses , banquets and other events to bring outside dollars into Emporia and drive the economy . That ’ s the main function this hotel was designed for , but the previous owners missed that .”

Kelly said the plan would begin with remodeling the rooms in the next six to 12 months to bring them up to standards .

“ Then the two-year plan will call for a complete renovation from top to bottom ,” Kelly said . “ That will include all new rooms , conference centers , a pool and fine dining . There is a huge potential here for meeting space and events . Emporia is centralized between Topeka , Wichita and Kansas City . There really isn ’ t a four-star , full-service , class property anywhere in the vicinity , so

MARY ANN REDEKER / GAZETTE

Tom Varga , left and Brandon Kelly stand in front of their new venture , Knights Inn , formerly GuestHouse Inn at 2700 West 18th Ave . Varga and Kelly have plans to remodel the hotel into a Ramada Worldwide and Conference Center . we see a vision to integrate that into the community . In a five- to 10-year time frame , we project the impact could be 40 - 100 million dollars for the community based on how the community gets behind us .”

Varga , with 20 years experience in construction and finance , along with Kelly , who has worked in the hotel and commercial property industry , feel their partnership and vision will be good for Emporia .

“ Last year in June , we started

By John Robinson john @ emporia . com

Lyon County Commissioners received the final missing piece of information for the 2017 budget as they heard appropriation requests from Emporia State University during a Thursday action session .

ESU President Allison Garrett asked the commission to renew the support for the University Community in Motion plan . Originally approved by both the county and city commissions in 2015 , the two commissions made a combined $ 375,000 investment in scholarships .

” It ’ s a little too early to speak to impact ,” Garrett said of the 2015 funds . “ We ’ ll actually be awarding this first year of funding to this incoming class . What we ’ re requesting today is funding which will help us for the next year .”

According to Garrett , the ability to maintain the scholarship program is important to ESU and she would be thrilled with level or increased funding to the program .

” Not just to attracting students , but also retaining those students ,” she said . “ That ’ s the end objective , that they actually graduate with a degree .”

Jim Williams , vice president of student affairs , said the 2015 funds from the county will go toward students from Lyon County .

” We are looking at funding all the returning students to the university who are scholarshipeligible from Lyon County ,” Williams said . “ That will take care

Please see Knights , Page 8 Please see County , Page 3