BLADE-EMPIRE

BLADE-EMPIRE
CONCORDIA
VOL. CX NO. 32 (USPS 127-880)
CONCORDIA, KANSAS 66901
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
State board rules on licensure requirements
Good Evening
Concordia Forecast
Tonight, showers and thunderstorms
likely in the evening, then chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight.
Lows in the mid 70s. South winds 5 to 15
mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.
Thursday, mostly sunny. Slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the mid 90s. Southwest winds
5 to 10 mph.
Thursday night, partly cloudy with slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Lows in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10
mph.
Friday, sunny. Highs in the upper 90s.
South winds 5 to 15 mph.
Friday night, partly cloudy with slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Lows in the mid 70s.
Saturday, mostly sunny. Highs in the
upper 90s.
Saturday night, partly cloudy. Lows in
the mid 70s.
Sunday, mostly sunny with a 30 percent
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Highs in the lower 90s.
Sunday night, mostly cloudy with a 50
percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s.
Monday, mostly sunny with slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Highs in the upper 80s.
Monday night, partly cloudy. Lows in the
upper 60s.
Tuesday, mostly sunny with slight
chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Highs in the upper 80s.
Water balloon fight scheduled
The Concordia Area Chamber of Commerce will be host a water balloon fight at
6 p.m. Thursday at the Broadway Plaza.
The event is sponsored in part by Town &
Country and the Concordia Fire Department. Bring your own water gun and
come have some fun beating the heat!
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Unlicensed teachers can work in six
Kansas school districts, the Kansas State Board of Education decided Tuesday by a narrow vote.
Supporters contend the move will help address teacher
shortages, especially in hard-to-fill subject areas. Opponents
say it will hurt students and is a slippery slope for education
in Kansas.
The proposal was poised to fail, but gained a swing vote for
6-4 passage when its supporters amended it to give the state
board greater control over hires in those districts, the Topeka Capital Journal reported. Board member Kathy Busch of
Wichita was the one to drop her opposition.
The measure waives the state’s licensure regulations for
school districts in the Innovative Districts Coalition, a program the Legislature created in 2013 that encompasses Blue
Valley, Concordia, Hugoton, Kansas City, Marysville and
McPherson school districts.
The districts suggested a “specialized teaching certificate”
for prospective hires who don’t have a teaching license.
Those people would have to pass a background check and
receive approval from local and state school boards and the
coalition.
Before the vote, more than a dozen educators and parents
tried to dissuade the board from exempting the districts from
the state’s licensure regulations. The state’s main teachers
union, the Kansas National Education Association, opposed
the concept, saying it was designed to free up schools from
state laws and regulations.
But the Kansas Association of School Boards contends
doing so gives schools greater flexibility to hire candidates
with specialized expertise who might lack formal teacher
training. They argue school boards and school administrators should be trusted to hire the most qualified, competent
teaching staff available, even in absence of state-mandated
licensure requirements.
Critics, including Kansas Parent Teacher Association
president Denise Sultz, warned the board of difficulties that
untrained teachers can face managing large class sizes and
understanding the learning process. They cited the difficulties of serving students with different skill levels, including
those with learning disabilities or behavior problems.
Education Commissioner Randy Watson said he understands the concerns from parents and teachers.
“I think their concerns are valid,” Watson said. “I think
we’re all wanting a good quality educator in the classroom.”
But Williams, who has spearheaded both the Innovative
Districts program and the proposed license waiver, said the
program was designed to test new ideas.
USD 333 superintendent
addresses misconceptions
In a 6-4 decision on Tuesday,
July 14, the Kansas State Board
of Education approved the implementation of the Innovative District program in several school
districts including Concordia Unified School District 333.
On Wednesday morning, in a
response to the decision, USD 333
superintendent of schools Bev
Mortimer wanted to clear up a few
misconceptions.
“There is so much misinformation about this decision,” she said,
“A lot of generalizing and reading
into it. It’s not the free-for-all that
everyone is making it out to be.”
The Innovative District Program allows districts to hire
teachers who have not been
licensed by the state, a program
Mortimer sees as a way to provide
extra opportunities to students.
“We will always try to fill positions with licensed teachers first,”
Mortimer said, “but in these rural
areas, teaching positions are
harder to fill and we want to give
the kids all the opportunities we
can.”
Candidates will still be required
to have a college degree or a professional degree and must go
various
levels
of
through
approval, first by district boards
and then by the State Board of
Education, at which the district
must provide rationale for their
decision and a plan for training
the candidate as a teacher.
“Teaching is an art. They may
know their material, but there is a
Yellen: First
fed rate hike
likely this year
Across Kansas
Sirens failed to
sound in Nickerson
NICKERSON, Kan. (AP) — Tornado
sirens failed to go off in Nickerson as a tornado hit the area.
Evan Seiwert with Reno County Emergency Management tells The Hutchinson
New that none of the town’s tornado sirens
activated during severe weather Monday
evening.
Seiwert said the sirens had passed a
weekly test. He said it is unclear what the
problem was, but that city equipment vendors have been out to make needed
repairs.
When the system failed, the Nickerson
Fire Department implemented a backup
plan, which includes firetrucks going
through the streets and sounding the
sirens to alert residents about the imminent tornado.
Seiwert said the tornado was on the
ground for 22 minutes and moved northwest at about 10 mph. At least two homes
were damaged. No injuries were reported.
Observatory run
by WSU to close
GODDARD, Kan. (AP) — Lake Afton
Public Observatory is set to close after giving Kansas a glimpse of the stars for 35
years.
The Wichita Eagle reports the observatory will be show its final public program
on Aug. 22. Officials at Wichita State University, which runs the Goddard telescope, say they can no longer afford to run
the facility.
University official Ron Matson says
observatory attendance has been about
4,000 people a year, roughly half of the
amount when it opened in 1981. He said
the facility, which used to bring in revenue
for the school, now costs the university
about $50,000 to $70,000 a year.
Observatory director Greg Novacek said
part of the facility’s demise is due to the
high quality of images of space that are
available on the Internet.
Visit us online at www.bladeempire.com
lot that goes into teaching,” Mortimer said, “And there are many
safeguards in place to ensure that
we’re putting the best people in
front of the kids.”
While last fall the district had
plans to implement the program
when approved, the State Department of Education addressed
licensure issues that affected
welding instructors, which is the
only teaching position that
remains unfilled.
But, Mortimer hopes it will still
aid in the continued search for a
welding instructor, a position for
which they have yet to receive a
single application.
“For Blue Valley District in the
Kansas City area, their hardship
has been finding a Latin teacher,
because there aren’t a lot of people coming out of college who want
to teach Latin, so the needs are
different in each district,” Mortimer said.
The primary benefit of the decision for USD 333 regards teachers
on staff teaching courses in which
they might have experience, but
are not licensed to teach it, a
problem faced by many rural districts, Mortimer said.
The Innovative District Program has only been approved for
one year, in which the approved
districts will attempt to develop it
for future use throughout the
state.
“Because it’s just a pilot, it
might not work,” Mortimer said,
“and we must proceed carefully.”
Drying it out
An employee of APAC pumps rainwater out of a sewer line trench along Sixth Street Wednesday morning. (Blade photo by Jay Lowell)
Report: Obesity epidemic
causing problems for military
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The nation’s obesity epidemic is causing significant recruiting
problems for the military, with one in three
young adults nationwide too fat to enlist,
according to report issued Wednesday by a
group of retired military leaders.
The nonprofit, non-partisan group called
Mission: Readiness (Military Leaders for Kids)
is promoting healthy school lunches in
Kansas and across the nation as a way to
combat the problem. In Kansas, 29 percent of
teenagers are overweight, according to figures
it cites from the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. About a third of American
children and teens are considered obese or
overweight.
“We think a more healthy lifestyle over the
long term will have significant impacts on
both the military posture — those available to
get into the military — and across our society
as a whole from a medical perspective,”
retired Brigadier Gen. John Schmader said in
a phone interview ahead of the report’s
release.
Obesity is among the leading causes of military ineligibility among people ages 17 to 24,
the report notes. Others are a lack of adequate education, a criminal history or drug
use.
All those put together mean that 71 percent of Kansans are ineligible for military
service, according to the group.
The military has also seen a 61 percent rise
in obesity since 2002 among its active duty
forces, driving up obesity-related health care
spending and costs to replace unfit military
personnel, the report said.
Schmader, who retired from the military
after 32 years and now lives near Leavenworth, is among a group of retired military
leaders who has been going to schools around
the state promoting healthier lifestyles.
About 99 percent of the schools in Kansas
have adopted healthier meals under the
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010,
which requires more fruit, vegetables and
whole grains in school meals, along with less
sodium, sugar and fat. It was a major
achievement, the first update to school lunch
rules in decades designed to make school
meals more nutritious.
First Lady Michelle Obama lobbied largely
behind the scenes for the Healthy HungerFree Kids Act of 2010.
Schmader lauded her efforts, but said his
non-partisan group of military leaders had
been pushing for healthier school meals long
before the first lady got involved.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve
Chair Janet Yellen sees a number of
encouraging signs that the economy is
reviving after a brutal winter and says if
the improvements stay on track, the Fed
will likely start raising interest rates later
this year.
Delivering the Fed’s mid-year economic outlook to Congress, Yellen said
Wednesday the importance of the first
rate hike should not be over-emphasized
because interest rates are likely to remain
at very low levels “for quite some time
after the first increase.” The Fed’s benchmark rate has been at a record low near
zero since December 2008, meaning that
borrowing rates for consumers and businesses have been at historic lows.
Many economists believe the Fed’s first
rate hike will occur in September, but
they see at most only two quarter-point
moves this year.
“If the economy evolves as we expect,
economic conditions likely would make it
appropriate at some point this year to
raise the federal funds target,” Yellen said
in prepared remarks. The funds rate, the
Fed’s key policy lever, has not been lifted
in nearly a decade.
Yellen stressed that her outlook is
based on the expectation that the labor
market will continue to improve and
inflation will begin to move closer to the
Fed’s 2 percent target for annual price
gains. Inflation is currently running lower
than the pace the Fed believes is optimal
for a healthy economy,
A decision to raise rates, Yellen said,
“will signal how much progress the economy has made in healing from the trauma of the financial crisis.”
Yellen noted a number of areas that
had improved.
The unemployment rate dropped in
June to a seven-year low of 5.3 percent.
She also cited “noticeable declines” over
the past year in the number of long-term
unemployed — people who have been out
of work six months or longer — and in the
number of people working part-time
because they can’t find full-time jobs. But
she said problems with the labor market
remained, including anemic wage growth.
Many of the problems that sent the
economy into reverse in the JanuaryMarch quarter appeared to be waning,
she said.
2 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, July 15, 2015
OPINION
Trivial History of Concordia and Environs
By Clarence Paulsen
bits, birds, ground squirrels, anything. Finally, all of
their cartridges were spent,
except one last 22-long rifle
cartridge. The boys decided
to fire east across the Meridian Road toward a strawstack on the hillside. A puff
of dust would show them
how far the rifle would carry.
The boys were standing
in a draw or depression in
the pasture, over a quarter
of a mile from the road and
fully thirty to fifty feet below
it. They looked and listened
and nothing appeared to be
approaching on the highway from either the north
or the south. Then, just as
Orville fired, the Duff car
came up out of a low place
in the road. The bullet and
Byron’s head reached the
same place at exactly the
same time. In dismay the
boys saw the car stop. They
started to run toward it,
but it started up again and
raced toward town. When
they reached the highway
the boys flagged down a
car driven south by Henry
Schultz, and learned from
him that a man had been
shot. They told Schultz what
had happened, and were
advised to go to Concordia
and tell Sheriff Carl Moore
all about it. They had trouble finding the sheriff, but
they finally found him and
Deputy Francis Swafford,
and turned themselves in.
The sheriff went back with
them to the pasture, and
they told him their story.
Coroner Asa J. Weaver
called an inquest in the office
of County Attorney M.V.B.
Van De Mark. The coroner’s
jury found the death to have
been purely accidental, and
it absolved the boys of culpable negligence. Thus the
curtain came down on a
Cloud County tragedy seventy years ago.
Two and a half years
later, on the afternoon of
Sunday, May 12, 1918,
ugly history repeated itself. Ralph Burnett was a
DOONESBURY® by G.B. Trudeau
Today in History
50 years ago
July 15, 1965—Thundercloud Park was making plans
for its Grand Opening with
eight races daily, both quarter horses and thoroughbreds. Season tickets were
$8. . . . Dotson’s Diner in
Jamestown advertised it was
air conditioned and open every Sunday. Its specialty was
southern fried chicken.
poster, “The Battle of Prairie Dog Creek” to Concordia
Mayor Joe Jindra during
the stop of the 150th Guard
Whistle Stop Caravan made
at the Concordia National
Guard Armory. . . . Ashley Nicole Coons and Russell Douglas Herman announced their
June 18 wedding, which took
place at The Baptist Church
in Concordia.
25 years ago
July 15, 1990—Dustin
Deneault won a gold cup for
arts and crafts at the summer playground program.
. . . A dozen area residents
aired their grievances to city
commissioners,
complaining abut the number of dog
attacks in Concordia and
demanding the animals be
destroyed. City attorney David Retter said “Basically, a
dog or any animal is property
and under the law you can’t
deprive a person of his property without being heard or at
least a chance to protect it.”
5 years ago
July 15, 2010—Cloud
County Community College
filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Entertech, Inc.,
alleging the company had
failed to satisfactorily recondition the Nordtank NTK 130
wind turbine it purchased
from the Newton firm.
10 years ago
July 15, 2005—Lt. Col.
Melvin Jacobs presented the
32-year-old farmer living
in Summit Township seven
and a half miles north of
Glasco. Ralph was a son
of Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Burnett. Ralph and his family were spending the day
at the Dave Teasley home.
After the noon meal four
of the men, Ralph Burnett,
Dave Teasley, Elmer Teasley, and Bert Joyce, went
to a nearby pasture, to dig
out a coyote’s den and get
the pups. The Teasley men
took along their 22-caliber
rifles. The men took turns
digging, two at a time. According to the newspaper
accounts, while Ralph and
Bert were digging, most of
the time stooped over, Dave
and Elmer decided to hunt
rabbits. The hunters circled
away from the coyote’s den
and down a hillside. When
they were below the coyote’s
den and a considerable distance away, a jack rabbit
galloped along a ridge of
ground between them and
the diggers. The hunters
could not see the stoopedover diggers. Dave and Elmer both fired at the rabbit.
It was about 3:45 o’clock.
Whether or not the bullet struck the rabbit is not
recorded. But one bullet
went over the ridge beyond
the rabbit and struck Ralph
in the back of his head just
as he straightened up from
digging. He dropped to the
ground, unconscious. He
was rushed to Concordia, to
St. Joseph’s Hospital. An XRay revealed that the main
part of the shattered bullet
was lodged in the right side
of his brain about an inch
back of the eyeball. Nothing
could be done. Ralph never
regained consciousness. He
died on Wednesday afternoon, May 15, 1918, at two
o’clock, leaving a widow and
six small children.
Those two accidental homicides happened in Cloud
County within a period of
less than thirty months.
Their similarities are remarkable.
Concordia Blade-Empire
Published daily except Saturday
and Sunday by
THE BLADE-EMPIRE
PUBLISHING COMPANY
510 Washington, Box 309
Concordia, Kansas 66901
Periodical Class Postage paid at
Concordia, Kansas 66901
Subscription Rates: By mail, in trade
area, Cloud, Republic, Ottawa, Mitchell,
Washington, Jewell and Clay Counties,
$98.24 one year. Out of trade area, $118.45.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Concordia Blade-Empire, Box 309,
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Thank You for Reading the Blade-Empire
SUDOKU
Sudoku is a number-placing
puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with
several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9
in the empty squares so that each
row, each column and each 3x3
box contain the same number
only once. The difficulty level of
the Conceptis Sudoku increases
from Monday to Friday.
4
8 6
1
1 year ago
July 15, 2014—Amber
and Chuck Lambertz, Concordia, announced the birth
of their daughter, Rowan
Elaine Lambertz, born July
2. . . . Baylen Arnold and Jori
Letourneau were decorating
purses in the Princess class
at Cloud County Community
College’s Kids College.
Difficulty Level
7
8
2
4
7
3
9 5 2 1
7
9
4
3
6
2
5
8
1
5
2
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1
8
9
4
6
7
Difficulty Level
8
1
6
4
5
7
3
9
2
2
3
9
5
7
1
8
4
6
7
3
1
2
5 9
4
6
5
9
2
8
7
1
3
1
8
7
6
4
3
2
5
9
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1
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9
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6
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8
9
5
2
8
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6
1
7
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4
9
3
5
2015 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
inch in front of the left ear.
Victor ran to a nearby telephone. The telephone must
have been in what was then
the county poor house,
which, renovated, is now
the Blosser home. He called
Dr. G.W. Coffey, the family
physician. Meanwhile Sid
Knapp drove by. They put
Byron in Knapp’s car and
started to town. On the way
they met Dr. Coffey, who
was hurrying to the scene.
They rushed Byron to Dr.
Coffey’s office. The doctor
examined him and realized
that he couldn’t help Byron.
The injured man was taken
to the home of his father-inlaw, William Maddox at 127
West Eleventh Street, where
the wound was dressed. In
the excitement someone decided that they should find
out where the bullet was
located in Byron’s brain.
They moved him again, to
the office of Dr. H.R. St.
John, a surgeon who had
X-Ray equipment. Dr. St.
John X-Rayed Byron’s head
and found the bullet to be
embedded two inches deep.
The doctor had Byron taken
to the St. Joseph Hospital,
which was then located on
East Fifth Street. There a
futile attempt was made to
stanch the wound so that
the surgeon could probe for
the bullet. Byron died, without regaining consciousness, shortly after one
o’clock the next morning.
He was survived by his wife,
Lola, and four children,
Clayborne, John, Inez and
Fay, and by his widowed
mother, Mrs. John A. Duff.
The oldest child was eleven.
Lola was recovering from a
recent appendectomy.
Glorying in that fine fall
day, two teenagers were
hunting and target-shooting in the McCowen pasture. They were both fifteen
years old. They were Arnold Flemming and Orville
Brenner. Arnold carried a
shotgun. Orville carried a
Marlin 22-caliber rifle. They
had been hunting for rab-
7/14
By Dave Green
1
9
7
2 4
3
8
6
4
7/15
2015 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
***
Any fool can have a trophy wife.
It takes a real man to have a trophy marriage.
-Diane Sollee
***
July 19, 1985
STRAY BULLETS
Adjoining Concordia,
Kansas, on the south is
what is known as Blossers’
pasture. Before 1941, when
Chas. H. and Isabell Blosser
bought the pasture, it had
been known for many years
as the McC o w e n
pasture.
Nineteen
years ago,
in 1966,
the commons or
campus of
the Cloud
County
Community ColClarence
lege was
Paulsen, 1987
carved
out of Blossers’ pasture. In
1915 the road which runs
along the east side of the
pasture, and which is now
known as U.S. Highway No.
81, was called the Meridian
Road. It was then identified
here and there on telephone
poles by 24-inch white
bands, some of which bore
the letters M.R.
Byron William Duff and
Victor Duff were brothers.
Byron was a 34-year-old
farmer living south of Concordia. Victor was sometimes known as Vic, and
sometimes as Frank. On
the pleasant autumn day of
Friday, November 26, 1915,
Byron and Victor were riding north on the Meridian
Road toward Concordia.
They were about a quarter of a mile south of town.
Victor was driving the open
touring car. Byron, beside
the driver, was chatting
amiably. Victor said something which amused Byron,
who threw his head back to
laugh. Victor heard a “spat.”
Tyson jerked, stiffened, and
then, unconscious, slumped
in the car seat. There was a
rifle bullet in his brain.
Victor stopped the car,
saw blood running from a
hole in Byron’s left temple
about three quarters of an
PEOPLE
Annie’s
Mailbox
by Kathy Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
Dear Annie: The real estate agent who sold me my
home nine years ago periodically phones my house, asking whether I plan on selling,
and offering his assistance.
We have a courteous, professional relationship. I never
had a problem with him or
his company.
Recently, I was a guest at
a large customer appreciation event sponsored by this
real estate company. I sat
quietly by myself. One of the
company's main employees
ridiculed me loudly, making
a spectacle of me, pointing
me out to others, making
fun of my looks and my hair.
I am a neat, clean, conservative senior citizen. She even
walked past me and laughed
loudly in my face. I had never met this woman before. I
was so horrified that I said
nothing and left.
I do plan on selling my
home. However, after my
horrific treatment at the
"customer
appreciation"
event, I will not be using
that real estate company. If
my former real estate agent
asks me why I have listed my
home with another company, what should I tell him?
No number of promotional
events will ever bring back
a customer who has been
so terribly mistreated by an
employee. — Ridiculed in
Rapid City
Dear Ridiculed: We cannot imagine any company
allowing an employee to
behave like this in front of
potential clients. Was she
drunk? Are you certain she
worked there? Did others
notice?
Please don't wait until the
real estate agent contacts
you. Call him or his company and report this incident.
Explain exactly what happened and give as many details as possible. They need
to know that this woman is
out of control and is costing
them business.
Dear Annie: A few months
ago, my niece announced
her wedding date for next
summer.
She selected the wedding
dress and the venue and put
down deposits.
The couple recently decided they cannot live apart and
had a small civil ceremony
with only their parents present. They have announced
that they will still have the
full wedding next year for
the rest of their family and
friends.
While we have not seen
any invitations yet (it's early), we are not sure how to
handle a gift for a wedding
that is a year after the actual ceremony. I would prefer to send the couple a gift
now to help them start their
married life together, but I
wouldn't then send a second
gift in a year.
I'm also not sure I will attend the second wedding,
since it's so long after the
fact. It seems inappropriate.
Senior Citizens Menu
Thursday, July 16—Fish,
scalloped potatoes, Brussels
sprouts, Jell-O® with fruit;
alt.: hamburger patty.
Friday, July 17—Beef tips
and gravy, noodles, cauliflower, brownies; 10 a.m.—
Exercise; AARP.
Call Teddy at 243-1872
for questions or to make reservations.
Fresh coffee and cinnamon rolls daily, 9-11 a.m.
Tell me, Annie, is this how
weddings are done these
days? — Confused Family
Member
Dear Confused: No. Most
weddings are still done in
a more traditional fashion,
although, we admit, there
seem to be many more variations these days. Nonetheless, if invited, you are obligated only for one wedding
gift, whether you send it now
or later. (Either is fine.) And
please don't judge the couple
so harshly by not attending
the second wedding. Think
of it instead as a big party to
celebrate their marital bliss
and enjoy yourself.
Annie's Mailbox is written
by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy
Sugar, longtime editors of the
Ann Landers column. Please
email your questions to [email protected],
or write to: Annie's Mailbox,
c/o Creators Syndicate, 737
3rd Street, Hermosa Beach,
CA 90254. You can also find
Annie on Facebook at Facebook.com/AskAnnies.
To
find out more about Annie's
Mailbox and read features
by other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists, visit
the Creators Syndicate Web
page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2015 CREATORS.COM
Jacqueline Bigar’s Stars
Blade-Empire, Wednesday, July 15, 2015 3
By Jacqueline Bigar
September wedding planned
WALSH-EPSTEIN
Lindsay Walsh, Concordia, and Blake Epstein,
Overland Park, announce
their engagement. Lindsay is
the daughter of Robert Walsh
and Tina Stillwell, both of
Concordia. Blake is the son
of Mitchell Epstein, Overland
Park, and Debbie Heaton,
Parkville, Mo.
The future bride is a Registered Nurse, employed in
Critical Care, Pediatric ICU,
Children’s
Mercy
Hospital. The future groom is the
founder of Bright Forest Media, advertising services, in
Epstein-Walsh
Kansas City, Mo., where he
married Sept. 26 in Kansas
is also employed.
The couple plan to be City, Mo.
First UMC invites children
to Bible Blast to the Past
First United Methodist
Church in Concordia will be
host for Bible Blast to the
Past, July 19-21.
At the Church located
at 740 West 11th (across
from the hospital), children
will begin each day singing,
shouting, praising, praying
and traveling back in time.
They will then explore
the Timeless Truth Tent
where they will experience
the Bible story in a variety
of interactive ways including
Backtrack Bazaar where all
move around, have fun and
fill up on snacks; Discovery
Ruins where children discover ancient arts and facts
though science and crafts;
and Mission Quest Cave
where children are encouraged to serve others.
All these activities connect to the Bible story, Bible
memory and the timeless
truth of God’s everlasting
love.
First UMC is waiting for
some brave time travelers
to join them going back in
time to fully experience the
Bible July 19, 20 and 21.
Dinner for all is at 5:30 p.m.
and Vacation Bible School is
from 6-8:30 p.m.
For more information,
contact Amanda Waterman or Pastor Tessa Zehring at the First UMC office,
785.243.4560.
Compete in Nationals
Concordia gymnasts who competed in AAU Age Group Nationals in Las Vegas in June were,
back row (l-r): Kynlee Hamel, Chloe Odle (Beloit), Sierra Gropp, Darby Odle (Beloit), Alison
Snyder, Samantha Sjogren, Karody Kadel (Beloit); front row: Marley File (Beloit), Peyton Remus (Beloit), Kennedy Adams (Beloit), Derica Reed (Clyde), Hattie Blackwood (Clyde), Mylie
Brown (Beloit), Brecken Boudreaux (Beloit)
Concordia gymnasts
compete in Nationals
Concordia Gymnastics took a team of 14
gymnasts to AAU Age Group Nationals in Las
Vegas, Nev., at the beginning of June.
Competition was June 11-14. Each gymnast competes in all four events in her age
group.
CGC came home with one national champion, Peyton Remus of Beloit, and four event
champions. Remus also is the national bar
champion, level 3. Marley File, Beloit, is national vault champion, level 3, Mylie Brown,
Beloit, is national beam champion, level 3
and Alison Snyder, Concordia, is national
beam champion, level Gold.
Individual placings
Level 1:
Kynlee Hamel—Second in Vault, Bars,
Floor and All Around
Level 3:
Hattie Blackwood—second in Vault and
Bars, fourth in Floor and third in All Around
Peyton Remus—first in Bars and All
Around, third in Beam and second in Floor
Marley File—first in Vault, sixth in All
Around
Mylie Brown—fourth in Vault, second in
Bars, first in Beam, third in Floor, and second in All Around
Karody Kadel—second in Vault, third in
Bars, sixth in Beam, and fifth in All Around
Kennedy Adams—second in Vault, fifth in
Beam, fourth in Floor and All Around
Level Gold:
Alison Snyder—second in Vault, first in
Beam, fourth in Floor and third in All Around
Derica Reed—third in vault, fourth in
Bars, sixth in Beam, seventh in Floor, and
fifth in All Around
Samantha Sjogren—fifth in Vault, seventh
in Bars, fifth in Beam, fourth in Floor and
sixth in All Around
Level Platinum:
Darby Odle—second in Vault and Floor,
sixth in Bars and seventh in All Around
Chloe Odle—third in Vault, fourth in Bars
second in Beam, third in Floor and All Around
Level 7:
Sierra Gropp—sixth in Vault, third in Bars
and All Around, fifth in Beam and second in
Floor
Thank You for Reading the Blade-Empire • Monday - Friday • 8 to 5 p.m.
A baby born today has a
Sun and Moon in Cancer.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for
Wednesday, July 15, 2015:
This year you experience
life more intensely. You also
have an opportunity for a
new beginning in your life.
You are unusually creative
and dynamic. Others count
on you for solutions. If you
are single, romance will
knock on your door anytime
from September on. This person might be very important
to your life’s history. If you
are attached, as a couple you
might decide to do a special
seminar together or take a
long-desired trip. This event
will add a great deal of depth
to your relationship. You
might see a lot of limitations
in a fellow CANCER. Could
they also be in you?
The Stars Show the Kind
of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
* * * You might be overwhelmed by everything you
see as you encounter power
play after power play. Whether to get involved in one of
these control games will be
your decision. What you do
could surprise others. Tonight: A new beginning is
possible once you rid yourself
of frustration.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
* * * You will try to explain
where you are coming from,
but someone else might decide to throw his or her issues
into the mix as well. This person seems to want the spotlight on him or her right now.
Try not to get involved in a
power play. Tonight: Catch
up on a pal’s wild day.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
* * * * You have a lot to
say, and you want others to
hear what you’re saying on
an authentic level. A loved
one could become very controlling over a financial issue.
Step back and let this situation play out. You might opt
for a new beginning. Tonight:
Curb a tendency to be rebellious.
CANCER (June 21-July
22)
* * * * * Others listen to
what you have to say. You
are open-minded and full of
ideas. A partner could be very
demanding, angry and sometimes even controlling. You
are likely to get into a tiff with
this person. Tonight: Avoid
a difficult situation, and you
will be much happier.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
* * * You might want to
get away from the wild interactions happening around
you. Your temper could flare
up suddenly and catch you
and others off guard. Sort
through any angry feelings
that keep bubbling up, and
process them before sharing.
Tonight: Get some distance
from others.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
* * * * Emphasize what
is going on with a group of
friends. Maintain a caring position, especially with a dear
friend. A power play is likely
to occur around a loved one.
Know that you cannot interfere or protect this person,
despite your desire to help.
Tonight: Join your friends.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
* * * * Understand what
is happening with a family member. You might experience some pressure from
someone who is in charge.
Your responsibilities demand
attention, and there is no way
around it. Expect a tantrum
from a loved one. Tonight:
Home is where the heart is.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov.
21)
* * * * * Your beliefs could
trigger quite a response.
You might need to use other
words to communicate what
you are feeling. Express your
thoughts in a meaningful
way. A friend could shock
you with his or her actions.
Tonight: The fun begins when
you decide it does.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21)
* * * * One-on-one relating will help make your path
easier throughout the day.
You might have difficulty believing that, though, as you
feel someone has his or her
eye on a situation that’s near
and dear to you. You would
be well-advised to back off.
Tonight: Use self-discipline.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
* * * * You might feel unusually ornery, and could
unintentionally take it out
on others. A little restraint
would make your life substantially easier during the
next few days. A loved one
will want to have a new beginning or say goodbye to a
problem. Tonight: Be cool.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18)
* * * * You might want to
stay home or dive right into
work. The objective remains
the same: Avoid the myriad
personalities in your life who
could be reacting to the New
Moon. High energy and uproar will surround you on
some level. Tonight: Get away
from the raving crowds.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20)
* * * * * You might enjoy
some of the ups and downs
of your day. Tap into your ingenuity when something falls
apart or when a friend seems
to change his or her attitude
toward you. Keep an open
mind, and don’t take comments so seriously. Tonight:
Be with your favorite person.
BORN TODAY
Author Arianna Huffington (1950), former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura
(1951), painter Rembrandt
(1606)
***
Jacqueline Bigar is on the
Internet at www.jacquelinebigar.com.
(c) 2015 by King Features
Syndicate Inc.
***
The first bond of society is marriage.
-Cicero
***
4 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, July 15, 2015
ONE PLACE HAS IT ALL
THE CLASSIFIEDS
For Rent
FOR RENT- Nice 2 bedroom home in
quiet neighborhood with appliances,
$560/mo. 785-275-2062.
FOR RENT- 3 bedroom, 1
bath, garage, all appliances
included, $500/mo.
785-243-5365.
FOR RENT- 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch
home on farmland in Jamestown,
$800/mo. 785-275-2062.
FOR RENT- 2 bedroom house, 785243-1381.
FOR RENT-Storage spaces, various
sizes, reasonable, locally owned.
785-243-4105.
FOR RENT- 2 bedroom furnished
apartment in quiet building, keyed access only, close to downtown. $650/
mo., most utilities. 785-275-2062.
$IZZLIN $UMMER
$AVINGS
Relax and Enjoy our newly
remodeled 2 bedroom
E n e r g y E ff i c i e n t A p t s .
Starting at $450 per month,
some pet friendly.
Acorn Village Apartments
You’re Gonna Like It Here.
We Guarantee It.
Call 785-818-5028
or 785-614-1078
FOR RENT- Newly renovated 1 bedroom apartments in quiet building,
most utilities, $600/mo. 785-275-2062.
FOR RENT
Large spacious 1 & 2
bedroom apartments, onsite laundry facilities, water
and trash paid. 303 W. 9th.
Available now.
MD Properties
785-534-2070
Help Wanted
THE CONCORDIA
SENIOR CENTER
Is taking applications for
“On Call”
Public Transportation
Drivers
No set schedule or hours
with this position. Must have
a clean driving record, and be
able to pass a DOT physical.
Please apply in person
Monday through Friday
between 8am and 4pm.
Concordia Senior Center
is an E.O.E. that does drug
testing.
CBM
is seeking a
PT Cook Supervisor
for local Correctional
Food Service Operation.
Position requires volume
cooking for up to 80 people.
Supervising trustees is a
requirement. Must be able
to work 3 (10 hour days),
Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays. Approximately 30
hours per week consistently.
Must be able to pass a
background check. Excellent
wages starting at $10.00.
Please forward Resumes
to Frank @ frank.dorion@
cbmmanagedservices.
com. EOE or call 316-2098470 and speak with Frank.
BELLEVILLE
HEALTH CARE CENTER
Has Full-time Position Open
for
Day/Evening,
Cook-Food Prep
Benefit package available.
Apply in person at:
2626 Wesleyan Drive,
Monday - Friday,
8am-4:30pm.
Day Shift LPN or RN
Every 3rd weekend. Excellent
benefits. Apply in person,
Monday-Friday, 8-5.
Mount Joseph Senior Village,
1110 W. 11th St. ,Concordia
HELP WANTED- Attn: CDL drivers:
Openings now available with Salinabased company... step deck, van or
grain.. Benefits, competitive wages,
per diem. Call 785-476-5076. Home
most weekends.
LABOR POSITION
Full time position available.
Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
repetitively and have a valid
driver’s license. Attendance
bonus and vacation benefits.
Drug testing required. Apply
at 301 Cedar Street. EOE.
Employment Opportunity
USD #333
Has openings for the
2015-16 School Year:
Middle School Para
and
Food Service Positions
For more information and
application, call the Board
Office at 785-243-3518 or
application may be picked up
at 217 W. 7th.
USD 333 is an Equal Opportunity
Employer and shall not
discriminate in its employment
practices and policies with
respect to hiring, compensation,
terms, conditions, or privileges
of employment because of an
individual’s race. color, religion,
sex, age, disability or national
origin.
Application deadline: Until Filled.
SUNSET HOME, INC.
Has the following positions
open:
Full-time CNAs for all
shifts. Positions would
include working every other
weekend.
Full-time Day and Evening
shift CMAs. Positions would
include working every other
weekend.
Full or Part Time Dietary
Aides. Responsibilities
include meal setup, service
and clean-up. Positions
include flexible scheduling,
starting wage above
minimum, and every other
weekend off.
Full-time Day Shift
Housekeeping. Position
is Monday-Friday with
weekends off.
For the opportunity to work
in the growing health care
industry submit an application
to:
Sunset Home, Inc.
620 Second Ave.
Concordia, KS 66901
Or apply in person or online
at www.sunsethomeinc.
com. An Equal Opportunity
Employer. We do preemployment drug screening.
Part-time Help Wanted
Must be reliable.
Apply in person,
SCHENDEL PEST
CONTROL
109 W. 5th, Concordia
HELP WANTED
Full time
Key Carrier Position
Available. Must be willing to
learn tires. Apply in person,
ORSCHELNS
1620 Lincoln St.
HELP WANTED
CDL Drivers Needed, Class
A or B (prefer Class A), home
nights and weekends.
Apply by calling
800-427-5328
Sales Calendar
•Saturday,
July
18,
2015– Tire Store Auction
at 9:00 a.m. located at the
store on M street just off
Highway 81 and Marble road
in Belleville, Kansas. Equipment and Supplies, Lufkin
48’ Box Semi Van Trailer.
Crouse Tire & Wheel, Seller. Thummel Auction.
•Saturday, July 18 &
Sunday, July 19, 2015– 2
Day Auction at the Kearn
Auction House, 220 West
5th Street, Concordia, Kansas. Saturday Auction at
9:00 a.m. Vehicle, Misc.
and Collectibles. Sunday
Auction at 1:00 p.m. Tools.
Dannie Kearn Auction.
•Saturday,
July
25,
2015– Public Auction at
9:00 a.m. located at Community
Center,
Jewell,
Kansas. Coins, Household
Items, Tools and Collectibles. Darlene Thompson,
Seller. Shelton Auction Service.
For the
Record
Legals
Brownback raising
cash to cover debt
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) –
Gov. Sam Brownback and
his campaign finance team
are trying to drum up donations to pay off legal fees
and debt still outstanding
from his 2014 re-election
campaign, according to a
newspaper report.
The campaign’s most recent finance report, which
was filed in January, shows
the campaign had about
$45,000 cash on hand,
but still carried $300,000
in residual loan debt, The
Topeka Capital-Journal reported Saturday.
The report also shows
the campaign organization
owed $200,000 to Brownback and $100,000 to Lt.
Gov. Jeff Colyer.
It’s unclear how much
of the debt detailed in the
January report still stands.
Brownback’s campaign
finance director, Josh Bell,
referred questions about
the debt to Brownback
spokeswoman Eileen Hawley, who would not say how
much campaign debt remains.
Police Dept. Report
Accidents—Officers investigated an accident at
3 p.m., July 14, which had
occurred in the 1500 block
of Lincoln involving vehicles
driven by Jing Yong Xue
and Joann Newman, both of
Concordia.
Officers investigated an
accident at 1:05 p.m., July
14, which had occurred in
the 1900 block of Lincoln
involving property owned by
Leiszler Oil Co. and a vehicle with an unknown driver,
which fled the scene. Investigation continues.
Theft—Devon Freeman,
Mankato, reported at 9:30
a.m, July 14, Theft By Deception which had occurred
in the 100 block of East College Drive. Under investigation.
Fire Dept./EMS Report
On July 14, at 8:38 p.m.,
Medic-5 and Truck-2 responded to the 2000 block of
N 120th Road for an 84-yearold male patient and transported him to Cloud County
Health Center.
On July 15, at 4:51 a.m.,
Medic-5 responded to the
600 block of East 15th for
a 65-year-old male patient.
There was no transport.
Published in the Blade-Empire on Wednesday, July 15, 2014
Kansas
Classifieds
For Sale
150 PIANOS! Grands, verticals &
digitals by Steinway, Yamaha, Baldwin and more. Smoking hot in-store
specials! Statewide delivery. MidAmerica Piano, Manhattan, 800-9503774, www.piano4u.com
For Sale
20’ 40’ 45’ 48’ 53’ Storage containers
centralcontainer.net or 785 655 9430
Help Wanted
Can You Dig It? Heavy Equipment
Operator Career! We Offer Training
and Certifications Running Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement. VA Benefits Eligible! 1-866-362-6497
MUTTS® by Patrick McDonnell
Help Wanted/Truck Driver
Butler Transport Your Partner In Excellence. CDL Class A Drivers Needed. Sign on Bonus. All miles paid.
1-800-528-7825 or www.butlertransport.com
Help Wanted/Truck Driver
Drivers - No experience? Some or
LOTS of experience? Let’s Talk! We
support every driver, every day, every
mile! Call Central Refrigerated Home.
(888) 670-0392 www.CentralTruckDrivingJobs.com
ZITS® by Scott and Borgman
Help Wanted/Truck Driver
Drivers: CDL A or B, to transfer vehicles from local customers and body
plants to various locations throughout
U.S.--No forced dispatch - Safety Incentives -No Freight to handle. We
specialize in reducing your deadhead. Apply online at www.mamotransportation.com under Careers or
call 1-800-501-3783.
Misc.
CLAYTON HOMES - NATIONAL
OPEN HOUSE Your 1st year Utilities are on us up to $3,000. Down
Payments reduced for limited time.
Lenders offering $0 Down for Land
Owners. Special Gov’t Programs for
Modular Homes.
866-858-6862
BABY BLUE® by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott
Sporting Goods
GUN SHOW JULY 18-19 SAT. 9-5
& SUN. 9-3 WICHITA CENTURY II
EXPO HALL (225 W DOUGLAS)
BUY-SELL-TRADE INFO: (563) 9278176
Upcoming
events
Friday, July 17, 11:45
a.m.–Quarterly
Community Needs Forum at the
Nazareth Motherhouse auditorium. The Sisters of St.
Joseph provide the lunch
without charge. Make reservations at 243-2149.
Saturday, July 18, 7:00
p.m.–Teens for Christ Rally
at Brown Grand Theatre,
featuring
David
Meece,
Christian Music Hall of
Fame, and special opening
guest Kalona.
Blade-Empire 243- 2424
[email protected]
“The campaign is raising
funds from supporters that
will be used to repay existing loans and legal fees associated with operating our
successful re-election campaign,” Hawley said in an
emailed statement. “Campaign-related finance reports are publicly available
and updated in compliance
with applicable laws and
regulations.”
The campaign’s next finance report is due Jan.
10, 2017.
Brownback beat Democratic nominee Paul Davis
in November. The Davis
campaign’s last finance report in January showed the
campaign had about $6,000
cash on hand at the end of
2014 and didn’t record any
loans.
Bob Beatty, a political
science professor at Washburn University in Topeka,
said high-level campaigns
can usually meet expenses
with loans during a race,
but that postelection fundraising is necessary to repay that debt.
BARNEY GOOGLE AND SNUFFY SMITH® by John Rose
HAGER THE HORRIBLE® by Chris Browne
Blade-Empire Wednesday, July 15, 2015 5
Sports
Trout hits leadoff homer as AL wins All-Star Game, 6-3
CINCINNATI (AP) — Mike
Trout flashed the skill that
puts him at the front of
baseball’s new generation,
just moments after four of
the all-time greats walked
off the field.
Trout became the first
player in 38 years to homer
leading off an All-Star
Game, then became the first
player to take home the Midsummer Classic’s MVP
award two years in row.
A new-look All-Star Game
finished with the same old
result. The AL beat the NL 63 Tuesday night and will
open the World Series at
home for the 10th time in 13
years.
“It’s obviously a humbling
honor with the MVPs,” Trout
said in his usual understated, aw-shucks manner.
After Trout completed a
career All-Star cycle in just
his fifth big league season,
Prince Fielder delivered. He
drove in two runs, sending
Trout blazing home ahead of
Joc Pederson’s throw with
the run off Clayton Kershaw
that put the AL ahead for
good.
In an age of dominant
pitching, Felix Hernandez,
winner David Price, Zach
Britton, Dellin Betances and
Wade Davis took scoreless
turns in the AL’s third win a
row.
Playing on the AL Westleading Los Angeles Angels,
Trout could add an even bigger honor this fall — his
first World Series ring.
“He can do anything that
anybody can do on a baseball field,” AL manager Ned
Yost said. “He can hit with
power. He can run. He can
drive the gap. He’s a great
defender. He’s just special.
When you look at Mike, you
don’t look at a 23-year-old.
You look at a guy that is one
of the best baseball players
on this planet.”
A season after the retirement of Derek Jeter dropped
the curtain on the turn-ofcentury greats, Trout was
among six starting position
players under 25 — the
most since 1965. At last
year’s game in Minneapolis,
he hit a tiebreaking triple
and later a go-ahead double.
This time Trout sent Zack
Greinke’s fourth pitch, a 94
mph fastball on the outer
half of the plate, over the
wall in right next to the visiting bullpen for an opposite-field homer.
Winner of his first season
AL MVP award in 2014, the
center fielder joined Willie
Mays, Steve Garvey, Gary
Carter and Cal Ripken, Jr.
as the only two-time All-Star
MVPs.
Stars old and young gathered in one of baseball’s
most traditional towns. The
Reds became baseball’s first
professional team in 1869,
and players wore caps with
horizontal stripes in an
attempt at a 19th century
feel.
Pete Rose, Cincinnati’s
hometown hero and baseball’s banned career hits
leader, was given an 80-second ovation when he walked
onto the field before the
game to join Johnny Bench,
Joe Morgan and Barry
Larkin, elected by fans as
the Reds’ greatest players.
Wearing a red jacket and tie
and walking stiffly, the now
74-year-old Charlie Hustle
was applauded as soon as
his image appeared on the
video boards, even before he
emerged from the AL
dugout.
And in the first All-Star
Game at Great American
Ballpark, which opened in
2003, fans got to see some
great ballplayers.
Bench, changed into a
blue jacket, returned with
Hank Aaron, Mays and
Sandy Koufax, voted baseball’s great living players by
fans as part of the promotion. In a sentimental yet
stunning reminder of generational change, Aaron, 81,
and Morgan, 71, needed
canes to reach the infield,
and Mays, 84, was aided on
and off the field by an assistant.
“Growing up, I didn’t get
to see them play that
much,” Trout said. “But
looking up, seeing highlights of all the Hall of
Famers, it’s something I
really look forward to looking at and I’m learning more
about them, just how great
they played in every respect
of the game.”
Above the field, new Commissioner Rob Manfred
watched from a luxury
suite, the first All-Star
Game not presided over by
Bud Selig since 1992.
Many players of the new
generation love bling in a
manner that puzzles the old
guard: Posey wore a goldcolored helmet behind the
plate, looking a bit like the
Great Gazoo or a Praetorian
Guard, accessorizing with a
chest protector, shin guards
and cleats all with gold-colored trim. Baltimore’s Adam
Jones was shod in bright
orange cleats, and Kansas
City’s Lorenzo Cain and
Washington’s Bryce Harper
donned golden spikes.
Trout, a Generation Y
star with a baby boomer
work ethic, completed a
unique cycle on a clear
evening that followed a
heavy afternoon downpour.
He singled in his All-Star
debut in 2012, doubled to
open 2013 game and tripled
in the first inning last year.
He was just the ninth player
to hit for an All-Star cycle in
his entire career, joining an
illustrious list that includes
Hall of Famers Ted Williams,
Roberto Clemente, Ernie
Banks, George Brett, Mike
Schmidt and Mays. Fielder
later became the 10th.
No one had homered
leading off an All-Star Game
since 1977 at old Yankee
Stadium, when Morgan connected off Jim Palmer.
Greinke, coming off five
scoreless outings, had not
allowed a run since June 13.
“It’s not easy,” Greinke
said of pitching to Trout.
“You’ve got like a 2-inch
window up in the zone. If
you throw it higher than
that, he takes it. If you
throw it lower, he does what
he did.”
Fielder and Lorenzo Cain
had run-scoring hits in the
fifth against Kershaw, the
reigning NL MVP, that put
the AL ahead 3-1.
Manny Machado, at 23
another of the sport’s fresh
faces, hit a double off the
right-field wall against Francisco Rodriguez in the seventh and scored on Fielder’s
sacrifice fly. And Brian Dozier, the last player added to
the game as an injury
replacement, hit a solo
home run off Mark Melancon in the eighth.
NL runs came home on
Jhonny Peralta’s RBI single
in the second, Andrew
McCutchen’s homer off
Chris Archer in the sixth
and Brandon Crawford’s
sacrifice fly in the ninth.
NL manager Bruce Bochy
thought ahead to some
future ceremony involving
Trout, perhaps at an AllStar Game or World Series,
perhaps at the Hall of Fame
in Cooperstown.
Silver: Changes to CNB rolls past Lincoln, 13-1
NBA playoffs likely
LAS VEGAS (AP) —
Changes to the NBA playoffs
are almost certainly coming.
Changes to the league’s
much-discussed moratorium and Hack-a-Shaq aren’t,
at least not now.
After meeting with the
league’s Board of Governors
on those and other topics
Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that —
as expected — the league is
leaning toward eliminating
any protection for division
winners in playoff seeding
going forward and instead
placing the eight teams on
the Eastern and Western
Conference brackets based
solely by record.
There was no vote Tuesday, though one is expected
soon.
“It’s my expectation that
that change will be adopted
before the beginning of this
coming season,” Silver said.
In the past, division winners have been assured of a
top-four seed. For example,
this past season, Memphis
and San Antonio would have
been up one spot to No. 4
and No. 5 in the West bracket, while Portland — the
Northwest Division winner
which had four fewer wins
than the Grizzlies and Spurs
— would have fallen from
No. 4 to No. 6.
“We wanted all the owners to have an opportunity
to go back and discuss that
recommendation with their
general managers and their
coaches,” Silver said.
It seems like an easy fix.
The moratorium issue,
that one is stumping everyone.
The league has an annual
window starting July 1
where deals can be agreed
to, but not finalized while
the salary numbers and
other financial matters for
the coming year are being
crunched. And it got tons of
attention this year when
DeAndre Jordan committed
to the Dallas Mavericks,
then changed his mind and
stayed with the Los Angeles
Clippers.
Jordan broke no rules;
his commitment was nonbinding.
“I’m not sure it was his
proudest moment either,”
Silver said.
Changing the moratorium was discussed, and Silver said no one had a good
solution.
Some
ideas
bandied about in recent
days include having a memo
of understanding that could
be executed to essentially
lock in the commitment
while the budgets for the
new league year are still
being worked out, or simply
shortening the moratorium.
“It was not a great look,”
Silver said. “It’s not what we
want to see happen in the
moratorium period. It wasn’t
created so players could
enter into in essence oral
agreements only to have
those agreements superseded by binding agreements.
Of course, under our collective bargaining agreement,
there’s no dispute that only
a signed agreement is binding. But there was a breakdown in the system to a
certain extent.”
In other news Tuesday:
ESCAPE ROUTES
The league is looking into
not only widening the
escape routes — the path
next to the basket supports
where players can decelerate in while hopefully not
crashing into photographers
and fans — but also adding
a second one of those on
each side of a basket for
next season.
Players have long complained about the collisions
into photographers, and the
issue became a huge story
in the NBA Finals when
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers crashed into
a cameraman and got a sizable cut on the size of his
head.
HACK-A-SHAQ
While it seems nobody
likes Hack-A-Shaq — the
mechanism where teams
foul a player intentionally to
send him to the line knowing the odds aren’t high that
he’ll make both free throws
— it might still be part of the
NBA world.
Ratings for NBA games
don’t show that people
aren’t watching because of
Hack-a-Anyone. And it
might serve as a signal to
young players about the
importance of making foul
shots.
“There is a sense, especially from the basketball
people, that it would be
sending the wrong message
to the larger basketball community — particularly youth
basketball — to de-emphasize the need for guys to hit
free throws,” Silver said.
Finishing off Lincoln in
four innings, Citizens
National Bank advanced to
the semifinals of the K-18
Baseball East Regional
Tournament, and punched
its ticket to state.
Citizens National Bank
downed Lincoln 13-1 in the
opening round of the
regional tournament Tuesday night at the Concordia
Sports Complex in a game
that ended in the bottom of
the fourth inning because
of the 12-run rule.
The top four teams in
the regional tournament
move on to state, to be
played July 24-28 in
Lucas.
Citizens National Bank
will play Beloit Blue in the
semifinals at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday.
Beloit Blue was a 4-2
winner
over
Republic
County.
The other Concordia
team in the tournament,
F&A Food Sales suffered a
7-3 loss to Smith Center.
Beloit Red slipped past
Clay Center, 11-10.
Smith Center plays
Beloit Red in the other
semifinal game at 8:30
p.m. Thursday.
The third-place game is
scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Friday with the championship game to follow.
Taking advantage of
three walks, Lincoln scored
its only run against Citizens National Bank in the
top of the first inning.
Citizens National Bank
answered with six runs in
the bottom of the first.
The first six batters in
the inning would reach
base, and five of them
came around to score.
Blake Leiszler got things
started with a double, and
would score the first run in
the inning.
Tyler Stupka walked
and scored.
Brent Beaumont singled
and scored.
Jordan Mehl reached
base and scored the fourth
run in the inning.
L yle Bliss singled and
scored, and Rope Dorman
reached base on an error
and came around to score.
Citizens National Bank
made it a 7-1 game when
Stupka singled and scored
a run in the second inning.
Dorman walked and
scored in the third inning,
and Citizens National
Bank led 8-1.
Citizens National Bank
then put up five runs in the
bottom of the fourth inning
to end the game.
Beaumont led off with a
single and came around to
score.
Mehl
walked
and
scored.
Bliss and Austin Higbee
each doubled and scored.
Dorman
singled
and
scored the final run in the
inning.
Beaumont pitched two
hitless innings for Citizens
National Bank. He gave up
one run, struck out five
and walked four.
Leiszler worked the final
two innings. He gave up
four hits, struck out three
and walked one.
Beaumont had three
hits and scored two runs.
Stupka and Bliss had
two hits and scored two
runs each.
Leiszler had two hits.
Dorman scored three runs
and Mehl scored two.
Spieth doesn’t intimidate; he just wins
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland
(AP) — Jordan Spieth was
practicing a shot he hopes
he won’t need this week,
banging a few wedges off
the wall on the famous
Road Hole in the fading sun
at this, the birthplace of
golf.
Dead tired after winning
yet again in Illinois before
flying all night to get here
for what could be a defining
moment in golf, Spieth was
still intent on having a bit of
fun.
“Who wants this?” he
yelled out, signing a ball
and then tossing it lefthanded toward the 50 or so
fans still around Monday
night.
It caused a bit of a frenzy, but just for a moment.
There weren’t many fans
around, and those who
were seemed as if they were
still trying to figure out this
young Texan who has the
golf world buzzing.
They’re not alone. Those
in a sport that has been fixated for the better part of
two decades on Tiger Woods
are still trying to decipher
Spieth themselves.
What they do know is
that he’s 21, and in the
midst of greatest the stretch
of golf anyone has seen
since Woods burst on the
scene and transformed the
sleepy game into must-see
TV.
Forget the fact that part
of the Woods mystique was
that he was a rare player of
color in a mostly lily-white
game. Woods caused more
of a stir by doing other
things no one had ever seen
before, thrilling fans with
his booming drives and
winning with clutch putts
punctuated by his signature fist pump.
Spieth is no Tiger Woods.
Doesn’t try to be, though
they do share the same
habit of talking angrily to
themselves during a round.
He doesn’t overwhelm a
crowd with his presence,
doesn’t intimidate other
players while wearing a red
shirt on Sunday. In a game
dominated by Woods and
the power hitters who followed, he’s not even in the
same neighborhood as the
big boys with a driver in his
hand.
What Spieth does do is
win. This year he’s done it
on the biggest stages in golf,
grabbing a green jacket at
the Masters and following it
with a win a few weeks back
at the U.S. Open. Add in a
British Open and PGA
Championship title, and he
would be the first player to
win the Grand Slam in a
calendar year.
He largely does it on his
own terms, taking the title
at the John Deere Classic
on Sunday when others
suggested he might be better served by leaving early
for Scotland to discover the
many vagaries of the oldest
course in golf.
But Spieth has a confidence that borders on
swagger and, much like
Woods in his prime, a belief
that his best is better than
yours no matter where you
tee it up.
“He beats you properly,”
former U.S. Open champion
Geoff Ogilvy said. “He beats
you with better golf. He
doesn’t beat you because he
hits it further. Tiger’s intimidation was that he always
did something amazing.
Jordan — don’t get me
wrong, his body of work is
amazing — but he doesn’t
beat you with a crazy par,
or a crazy chip-in from the
back of the 14th at Muirfield (Village). He just beats
you because he’s better.”
Just how much better
Spieth really is, only time
will tell. His career is in its
infancy still, and it’s way
too early to crown him as
the next great player, way
too soon to begin talking
about whether he — and
not Woods — will be the one
who finally takes down the
record of 18 major titles
held by Jack Nicklaus.
Besides, despite the
struggles of Woods in recent
times, there’s a reasonable
chance he’s still got enough
golf in him at age 39 to
finally get past the 14th
major he won at the U.S.
Open way back in 2008.
“I’m still young,” Woods
said Tuesday. “I know some
of you guys think I’m buried
and done, but I’m still right
here in front of you.”
The tables, though, have
turned. While others over
the years tried unsuccessfully to stake their claim as
Woods’ major rival, it is now
Woods who tries to get back
in the conversation with
Spieth, Rory McIlroy and
other young players who
have now firmly established
themselves as the future of
golf.
Almost
shockingly,
Woods has been reduced to
almost an afterthought in
the biggest tournaments.
Playing by himself Monday
night behind Spieth on a
nearly deserted course, he
was largely ignored by the
handful of fans who were
still hanging around.
Up ahead, Spieth was
finished and ready to find
the nearest bed. He signed
a few autographs and was
heading for the exit when
asked whether he was too
tired to win his third
straight major.
“No, I feel just fine,” Spieth said. “It’s a beautiful
spot here.”
It was, indeed, especially
with the sun setting over
the 18th green and the
town of St. Andrews
behind. But even more
beautiful for many in golf
would be the sight of Spieth
holding the claret jug that
goes to the winner on Sunday.
6 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Business Interest
Holly Lenz
Brad Robért
New vets join Tallgrass
By Kathleen McAlister
Blade-Empire Intern
Growing up on a farm
around Garner, Iowa, Holly
Lenz can’t remember ever
wanting to be anything other
than a vet.
“I’ve known I wanted to
be a vet for a while and I did
everything I could to prepare
for that,” Lenz, an Iowa State
University graduate, said.
When Lenz was offered a
position at Tallgrass Veterinary Clinic last July, she was
excited to work in mixed animal practice in Kansas, as
she had specialized in large
animal and equine medicine
in college.
“There is always something new. It’s great, but it’s
also challenging,” Lenz said.
Brad Robért was also
drawn to Tallgrass Veterinary Clinic by the opportunity to work with both large
and small animals.
“The variety is fun. We’re
not stuck inside, we go out
on farm calls, and we get to
help farmers and ranchers
with their livelihood,” Robért
said, “You learn in school,
but the learning really starts
in practice.”
Robért grew up in Hiawatha, Kan. and then attended Kansas State University. Robért joined Lenz and
Randall D. Hobrock in the
practice in May of this year.
“I liked the area. It will be
a good place for our family.
Concordia has that smalltown feel, but still has access
to things to do,” Robért said.
Most of the veterinarians’
daily duties are comprised of
preventative medicine, like
vaccines and elective surgeries like spaying and neutering.
The vets also spend a lot
of time with patient care, like
administering medication to
animals that have recently undergone surgery, and
following-up with animals
and their owners after going
home.
Tallgrass always has a
veterinarian on call for emergencies, but otherwise their
hours are 8:00 a.m. - 5:00
p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. - 12:00
p.m. on Saturdays. For more
information or to make an
appointment, call 785-2437400 or visit their website at
tallgrassvet.com.
Solar plane suspends
journey in Hawaii
HONOLULU (AP) – A team
trying to fly a solar-powered
plane around the world said
Wednesday it is suspending
the journey in Hawaii after
the plane suffered battery
damage during its recordbreaking flight to the islands.
The Solar Impulse team
said in a news release that
it will continue the attempt
to circumnavigate the globe,
but
irreversible
damage
caused by overheating batteries has grounded the
flight until at least April.
The batteries aboard Solar Impulse 2 overheated on
the first day of its trip from
Japan to Hawaii, and there
was no way to cool down the
system, the team said. The
company says there was no
weakness with the technology, but the team didn’t anticipate temperature fluctuations associated with rapid
altitude changes in a tropical climate.
Pilot Andre Borschberg
and his single-seat aircraft
landed at Kalaeloa, a small
airport outside Honolulu, on
July 3. His voyage of nearly
118 hours from Nagoya, Japan, broke the record for the
world’s longest nonstop solo
flight, his team said.
“Solar Impulse is attempting a historic first of flying
around the world only on solar energy,” the pilots said in
a statement. “And while Solar Impulse has completed
Have a Great Day !
eight legs, covering nearly
half of the journey, setbacks
are part of the challenges of
a project which is pushing
technological boundaries to
the limits.”
The wings of Solar Impulse 2, which stretch wider
than those of a Boeing 747,
are equipped with 17,000
solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries.
The plane ran on stored energy at night.
The aircraft took off in
March from Abu Dhabi, the
capital of the United Arab
Emirates, then made stops
in Oman, Myanmar and
China. It then made an unplanned stop for nearly a
month in Japan after high
winds damaged a wing.
The
trans-Pacific
leg
was the riskiest part of the
plane’s global travels, as
there was nowhere for it to
land in an emergency.
The plane’s ideal flight
speed is about 28 mph,
though that can double during the day when the sun’s
rays are strongest. The carbon-fiber aircraft weighs
more than 5,000 pounds, or
about as much as a minivan
or midsize truck.
The airplane will be
housed in a University of
Hawaii hangar at the Kalaeloa airport on Oahu while
repairs are made. The team
says it will also research and
test other cooling methods
to prevent more overheating.
If you toss a penny in the
air, it is more likely to land
on “tails,” since the “head”
image is heavier, and tends
to end up on the bottom.
Man convicted in Weather
deadly house blast
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP)
– A jury convicted an Indianapolis man of murder,
arson and insurance fraud
Tuesday for his role in a
house explosion that devastated a subdivision nearly
three years ago, killing a
couple living next door.
Mark
Leonard,
46,
showed no emotion as the
judge read the jury’s verdict
— guilty of all 53 counts.
Prosecutors alleged Leonard
was the mastermind behind
the explosion that damaged
or destroyed more than 80
homes in Indianapolis, plotting with his then-live-in
girlfriend Monserrate Shirley and his half brother Bob
Leonard to blow up the home
for $300,000 in insurance.
John Longworth, whose
son Dion and daughter-inlaw Jennifer were killed in
the explosion, said he’s glad
Leonard won’t be able to
hurt anyone outside of prison but took no satisfaction
in the verdict.
“When the thing you want
most is to have your child
back, nothing makes it better,” he said. “To me it’s sad
to see anyone throw away
their life. So this is a person
who basically threw away
their life, and that’s sad.”
Jennifer’s father, Don
Buxton, said he didn’t know
what word to describe how
he was feeling other than relief.
“We can think about
something else now for a few
months,” he said. “I guess
we’ll relax a few months and
get ready for the next trial.”
The jury deliberated less
than four hours over two
days before returning with
the verdict.
Prosecutors called 169
witnesses to testify against
Leonard, and some became
emotional on the stand.
Firefighters described seeing Dion Longworth alive
in the basement through
a hole. Although they were
able to grab one of his arms,
Longworth was overcome by
flames before he could be
rescued.
“He was saying, ‘It’s so
hot, so hot. Get me out!
Please, get me out!” Indianapolis firefighter Richard
Shirven said.
St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge John
Marnocha will hear arguments Wednesday on
whether Leonard should face
life without parole on two
counts of murder. Defense
attorneys said they filed a
motion to have a sentence of
life without parole dismissed
because they don’t believe
prosecutors have proven the
necessary aggravating factors.
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said he believes Leonard will spend the
rest of his life in prison no
matter how Marnocha rules.
But
defense
attorney
John Shircliff said he would
argue there’s no “legal basis”
for the judge to impose the
harshest penalty prosecutors were seeking. Shircliff
said the defense, which
called only one witness during the trial, would appeal
the verdict by referencing
motions for mistrial that the
judge denied.
Bob Leonard is scheduled to go on trial on Jan.
19 on the same charges his
brother faced. His trial is
being moved to Fort Wayne
because of extensive media
coverage, the same reason
Mark Leonard’s trial was
moved to South Bend. Trials
for two others haven’t been
scheduled.
Shircliff said he wasn’t
surprised by how quickly the
jury reached a verdict.
“If the jury believed there
was intent to commit insurance fraud and believed that
part of that was to burn the
house, all the other counts
fell into place,” he said.
Shircliff said he believes
the most damaging evidence
was the photo showing the
damage the neighborhood
sustained.
“When you see a picture of
a neighborhood that’s been
blown up, that’s a pretty
damning piece of evidence,”
Shircliff said.
The defense had questioned the credibility of Shirley, with Shircliff describing
her as a “master liar.” Shirley, who accepted a plea deal
and agreed to testify against
her former boyfriend, said
Leonard told her he was only
planning a small fire.
Prosecutors said Leonard
wanted more than a small
fire after two previous unsuccessful attempts to burn
down the house the previous
two weekends. They said he
filled the house with natural
gas and then poured gasoline in two rooms to make
sure the third try didn’t fail,
using a canister in a microwave to ignite the blast.
Prosecutors told jurors
they don’t believe Leonard
intended to kill the Longworths but that by using a
combination of natural gas
and gasoline he should have
known the possibility of
someone dying.
John Longworth, who attended every day of the hearing, said he doesn’t plan to
attend Wednesday’s hearing.
He said for him this trial is
over. He was looking forward
to returning to his Indianapolis home.
“John and I used to walk
through his flowers. I transplanted most of his flowers
to my house. So I’ll probably
go home and talk to him,”
Longworth said. “I’ll go back
and stand in the flowers and
talk to my son.”
Markets
NEW YORK (AP) – U.S.
stocks edged higher Wednesday as investors assessed
deal news and comments
from Federal Reserve Chair
Janet Yellen. Health care
stocks gained after cancer
drug maker Celgene surged
on word that it was acquiring biopharmaceutical company Receptos.
KEEPING SCORE: The
Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose one point, or less
than 0.1 percent, to 2,110,
as of 12:27 p.m. Eastern.
The Dow Jones industrial
average rose seven points, or
0.2 percent, to 18,062. The
Nasdaq composite climbed
seven points, or 0.1 percent,
to 5,111.
YELLEN SPEAKS: Yellen told Congress she sees
encouraging signs that the
economy is reviving after a
harsh winter. If the improvements continue, she said,
policymakers will likely start
raising interest rates later
this year. The Fed’s benchmark rate has been at a re-
cord low near zero since December 2008, pushing up
both bond and stock prices.
HEALTHCARE
DEAL:
Cancer drug maker Celgene
jumped after it said it will
buy biopharmaceutical company Receptos for $7.32 billion in cash, gaining a drug
Receptos is studying as a
treatment for multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis.
Celgene agreed to pay $232
per share for Receptos.
LOCAL MARKETS -EAST
Wheat ...........................$5.24
Milo ......(per bushel) ....$4.30
Corn .............................$3.89
Soybeans .....................$9.44
AGMARK
LOADING FACILITY
LOCAL MARKETS - WEST
Wheat ..........................$5.24
Milo .....(per bushel) .....$4.30
JAMESTOWN MARKETS
Wheat ...........................$5.14
Milo ...(per bushel) ........$4.15
Soybeans .....................$9.44
Nusun .........................$16.75
Today’s weather artwork by
Desyn Renee Thornton,
a 4th grader in
Mrs. Gross’s class
Record number certified
under Conservation Compliance
The
U.S.
Department
of Agriculture (USDA) announced that more than 98.2
percent of producers have
met the 2014 Farm Bill requirement to certify conservation compliance to qualify
for crop insurance premium
support payments.
Implementing the 2014
Farm Bill provisions for
conservation compliance is
expected to extend conservation provisions for an additional 1.5 million acres of
highly erodible lands and
1.1 million acres of wetlands,
which will reduce soil erosion, enhance water quality
and create wildlife habitat.
“This overwhelming response is a product of USDA’s extensive outreach and
the commitment of America’s
farmers to be stewards of the
land,” said Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack. “By investing in both American farmers
and the health of our productive lands, we are ensuring future generations have
access to fertile soil, healthy
food supplies and a strong
rural economy.”
USDA has gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure
that every impacted producer
knew of the June 1, 2015,
deadline to certify their conservation compliance. For
example, all 2015 crop insurance contracts included
conservation compliance notifications.
USDA has sent out more
than 50,000 reminder letters
and postcards to individual
producers, made more than
25,000 phone calls, conducted informational meetings and training sessions
for nearly 6,000 stakeholders
across the country, including in major specialty crop
producing states with affected commodity groups, and
more. Since December 2014,
USDA collaborated with crop
insurers to ensure they had
updated lists for agents to
continue contacting producers to also remind them of
the filing deadline.
Of the small number
of producers who have not
certified their conservation
compliance, USDA records
suggest the majority are no
longer farming or may have
filed forms with discrepancies
that can still be reconciled.
The Farm Service Agency is
proactively reaching back
out to all of these producers
before their sales closing date
and working with individuals
facing extenuating circumstances who have not filed
the form in order to assist
them with certifying compliance.
“I’ve asked the agencies to
contact the producers again
before their sales closing
date,” said Vilsack. “I want to
ensure that every producer
who turned in an AD-1026
by June 1, 2015, knows they
can still make corrections
and remain eligible for premium support.”
USDA is providing additional flexibility to help the
newly insured producers to
certify their conservation
compliance. For example,
producers, who began farming or ranching after June 1
or producers who have not
participated in USDA programs prior to June 1, can
file an exemption to the conservation compliance certification for reinsurance year
2016 and still be eligible for
crop insurance premium
support.
The Highly Erodible Land
Conservation and Wetland
Conservation
Certification
from (AD-1026) is available
at local USDA Service Centers.