The Concordia Blade
Transcription
The Concordia Blade
BLADE-EMPIRE CONCORDIA VOL. CVIII NO. 253 (USPS 127-880) CONCORDIA, KANSAS 66901 Wednesday, May 28, 2014 CCCC proposal draws criticism College proposes changing early retirement policy Good Evening Concordia Forecast Tonight, mostly clear. Lows around 63. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Thursday, mostly sunny. Highs around 87. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 60s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Friday, mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 15 mph. Friday night, mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 60s. Saturday, partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Saturday night, partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Sunday, partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Sunday night, mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Monday, partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. Monday night, mostly cloudy in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. By Jessica LeDuc Blade Staff Writer A proposed change to Cloud County Community College’s early retirement policy had a number of employees up in arms at Tuesday night’s board of trustees meeting. At issue is a proposed change to do away with the benefit of an employee continuing to receive health care coverage upon early retirement. Currently, employees can take early retirement after 15 years of service to the college, if they are eligible for the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS). Instead of the minimum early retirement age of 55, the age would be increased to 62, and an employee must also be eligible and have applied for KPERS retirement. At Tuesday night’s meeting, Karen Leiszler, support staff president, said the administrative and support staff had sent a letter to college President Danette Toone and board members regarding the change in early retirement. The letter, obtained by the Blade Wednesday morning, said the administrative and support staff had recently learned of the negotiation process to consider the change. “All employees of the college were originally hired with this as a component of the benefit package,” the letter said, “Therefore, it is distressing to think this benefit can be suddenly changed without prior discussion with all parties or considering the grandfathering option.” The letter went on to say that the staff members understood the potential for early retirements could be costly to the college, but that there would also be potential savings. Should a person at the higher end of the pay scale retire, that person would likely be replaced by someone at a much lower salary, or the position might not be filled at all. The staff at the college “goes above and beyond what is written in their job descriptions to provide the best experience possible for our students,” the letter said. “As employees we embrace the college vision, but we are genuinely concerned about the lack of communication and the potential loss of benefits, and the resulting impact on morale and the ability to move this college forward in the future.” Some of the staff already feel that there are some morale issues and cutting benefits on short notice will only contribute to low morale,” the letter said. “Morale issues will cascade beyond the college out into the community, which could affect the image of the college, recruitment and retention.” The letter concluded by offering three options that would be acceptable to the administra- State to invest $9.5 million in mental health Across Kansas Charges added in shooting rampage OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A southwest Missouri man accused of killing three people in a shooting rampage outside Jewish facilities in northeast Kansas is facing additional charges. The Kansas City Star reports Johnson County prosecutors on Tuesday filed three counts of attempted murder against 73-yearold Frazier Glenn Cross, of Aurora, Missouri. The charges allege Cross tried to kill additional people during the April 13 rampage in Overland Park, Kansas. Cross remains held on $10 million bond. He’s charged with capital murder in the deaths of 69-year-old physician William Corporon and his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Griffin Underwood, outside the Jewish Community Center. He’s also accused of firstdegree murder in the shooting of 53-year-old Terri LaManno, of Kansas City, Missouri, outside a Jewish retirement facility where her mother lived. Two killed in Wichita disturbance WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police say two people died and two others were injured in a disturbance at a south Wichita neighborhood. Wichita police Capt. Jose Salcido said three of the victims in the Tuesday night incident were shot and one was stabbed. But Salcido released few other details, including the genders or ages of the victims. He also would not provide any information on a possible suspect. Salcido says the disturbance occurred outside and the crime scene was nearly a block long in a residential area. He says the motive for the altercation was not known. Highway shooting under investigation LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office say a man is recovering in a hospital after being shot while driving on a highway south of Lawrence. The shooting occurred late Monday on Highway 59. The sheriff’s office says the 24-year-old man was taken to a Topeka hospital after being shot late Monday. Officers closed a three-mile section of the highway for several hours Tuesday to search for clues. Sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Steve Lewis said authorities have no information on a suspect or a vehicle. Visit us online at www.bladeempire.com tive support and support staff: Leave benefits as is; grandfather in all current employees; or table it and negotiate a compromise. Mark Whisler, chair of the math department at the college, asked the board if there had ever been a situation where everyone eligible for early retirement took it, or if employees took it as soon as they could.“I strongly suspect the answer is no,” he said. “If no one takes early retirement, then with the proposed changes we will not have saved a penny. It’s often said what a great place the college is to work. It does not have to stay that way. That is not meant as a threat, but what will we have lost?” Trustee Tom Tuggle said he supports the college, and always has, but asked staff to look at what benefits they receive compared to a small business owner in the county. (see Proposal on page 8) Hitting the forehand Aubrey Stahlman hits forehand during Concordia Recreation Tennis Wednesday morning at the City Park. (Blade photo by Jay Lowell) County board approves hire Cloud County Commission dealt with a number of routine matters when it met Tuesday. These included approving the hire of Kurtis Bogart as a seasonal employee for the maintenance department effective May 27 at a rate of $7.25 per hour. Commissioners also approved a resolution to appoint Scott D. Wright as acting county attorney in Case 14-TR-323 because of a potential conflict of interest by County Attorney Robert Walsh. After talking with Andy Asch, highway administrator about a utility use permit for Jerry Sorell for a buried waterline across 110th Road between Gold and Fawn roads, the board approved the permit. Jim Bell and Betty Losh, Cloud County Historical Society, presented the Museum’s 2015 budget appropriation request in the amount of $36,000, the same amount as requested in 2014. In other matters the board: •approved payrolls for all departments totaling $133,453.40. •reviewed monthly expense vouchers for all departments. •thanked the Extension office for planting the new flower bed east of the Courthouse and asked the maintenance department to clean the area around the flower bed. •requested maintenance manager Troy Shepard to check on the cost of repairing the benches around the Courthouse Square. •acknowledged the resignation of Ashley Forshee, Home Health RN, effective Friday, May 30th. •visited with Walsh about repairs at the Health Department. •reviewed the applications received for the position of Solid Waste/Recycling director. Commissioner Gary Caspers reported he attended the Essential Function Tabletop Exercise on May 21 at the Health Department. Adjournment was at 11:40 a.m. until 9 a.m., June 2. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins filed Wednesday for reelection in the 2nd Congressional District of eastern Kansas, and both she and her Democratic challenger said they’re eager to debate issues so voters can see the contrast. Jenkins, the senior member of the state’s all-GOP delegation in the House, is seeking her fourth, two-year term. She’s a frequent critic of President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats in Congress. She’s the House Republicans’ caucus vice chairwoman, the chamber’s fifth-highest GOP leader. The only other candidate so far is Democrat Margie Wakefield, a Lawrence attorney and former party chairwoman in Douglas County, one of only two Kansas counties won by Obama both in 2008 and 2012. Jenkins filed paperwork with the Kansas secretary of state’s office and paid a $1,760 fee to get on the ballot. Wakefield filed last week and had a rally in Topeka. Wakefield issued a statement saying she wants to debate Jenkins “early and often,” challenging the GOP incumbent to “name the time and place.” Jenkins responded that she’s sure there will be multiple debates and she’s eager for them because Wakefield is too liberal for the GOP-leaning district on issues such as health care, taxes and abortion. Jenkins files for re-election TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and his administration announced Tuesday an investment of $9.5 million in state and federal funds to expand mental health services and agency coordination. Brownback said the goal was to address the causes of mental health problems and provide treatment to people who use state services or are in the corrections system. He said he wanted to see Kansas increase services to provide access to mental health care to people who are in need. “This is about identifying people early before a large tragedy happens,” Brownback said. The governor, who has supported legislation to expand the state’s concealed-carry weapons laws, has said previously that increased identification and treatment for mental health issues should be a state and national focus. Recent mass shooting incidents in Santa Barbara, California, as well as Connecticut and Colorado have increased calls for stricter gun controls from several groups including the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Jennifer Fuson of the center said one piece of legislation sought would allow family members to petition the courts to impose a restraining order on someone who posed an elevated risk to themselves or others. On the books in Connecticut and being considered in California, Fuson said the law requires a person facing the restraining order to relinquish their firearms for the duration of the order. Kansas lawmakers haven’t considered such legislation. Brownback said the coordination of various agencies at the state and local level would result in better use of resources and outcomes. He cited an example of uniting K12 schools with technical colleges in recent years to increase the number of graduates with advanced training by better aligning education. The program has seen a 60 percent growth in the number of students enrolled in technical education classes in two years. “To this point we have concentrating on building our infrastructure. Now we are beginning to invest in specific programs,” he said. Phyllis Gilmore, secretary of the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said $7 million in federal funds from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program toward helping families with members who have behavioral health problems. Gilmore said specifics were still being worked out for how the money would be spent, but the goal was to help keep families together and to find employment and treatment for individuals with mental illness. Law enforcement will also use state funds to improve training for officers to identify people in crisis. That will include training to better identify individuals in need of mental health services who are either incarcerated or whom law enforcement encounter when responding to calls. OPINION Trivial History of Concordia and Environs By Clarence Paulsen art of war, and it would one day be a dangerous rival. Japan had just then taken Formosa (now Taiwan) from its giant neighbor, China. Forty-six years after Hagaman made his prediction, on December 7, 1941, Japan sneak-bombed Pearl Harbor. It took almost four years of terrible warfare, and the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to bring Japan to peace in August 1945. And now we are overrun by its little automobiles. ****************** Eighty-six years ago the following appeared in the March 12, 1897, Concordia Blade: The old gentleman of French descent, named Ostigli, living near Aurora, who killed himself recently, was prevailed upon by an evil spirit to commit the act under the promise that if he didn’t like the place he could come back. Up to date he is marked absent. ****************** The Concordia Blade of May 31, 1900, told of a bad wreck at midnight of the previous Saturday when a Santa Fe special freight train carrying cattle ran into the rear of another freight train about where the track crosses Seventh Street at the east edge of Concordia. Another squib in the same paper said: In the Santa Fe wreck two cars were stood on end forming an inverted “A” and when help reached the scene a calf was perched safely on the apex, bellowing lustily. ****************** Elisha G. Minard was a farmer in Summit township. He had twin children, a boy and a girl. Mrs. Minard, on August 15, 1907, decided that the family menu should include fried chicken. She told the twins to catch a good fryer, kill it and bring it to her. The boy caught a bird, brought it to the chopping block, and handed it to his sister. She carefully arranged the chicken in her small hands so that she could hold its feet and the tips of its wings to keep it from flapping. The boy raised the axe. The girl put the chicken’s neck on the block. The sharp blade descended - missed the bird’s neck and lopped off two of the girl’s fingers. ****************** In 1906 the William O’Reilly Barber Shop flourished at 514-6 Washington Street. It was a large, elegant shop with five chairs. Its white tile entrance floor proclaimed in black tile letters the word “O’Reilly,” as it does today in 1983 at the entrances to the PfeutzeBergman Studio and the Nickel Agency. Within the past month a new sidewalk has been laid past that entrance. But in 1906 there was a coal room under the old sidewalk, and above the coal room was a coal chute covered with a wooden grating at sidewalk level. On the Sunday evening of August 19, 1906, Arthur Conner and Henry Williams were standing on that grating exchanging pleasantries. Suddenly they found themselves, shaken but unhurt, in the coal room, still standing on the decaying grating. ****************** Dr. Stephen Brownell was a Bob Cratchit type of fellow. He came to Concordia in 1870, and was a parttime practicing physician. The rest of the time he did DOONESBURY® by G.B. Trudeau N.D. twister prompts safety discussions WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) – No sirens or local alert system warned an RV park housing workers in North Dakota’s oil patch about a Memorial Day tornado that injured nine people and damaged or destroyed 15 trailers. Even with warning, there are scant places to take cover in the wide-open plain. Though such weather is rare in the area, officials say the twister already has prompted discussion among companies and others about how to better protect the thousands of workers who have taken to temporary homes as they cash in on the region’s booming industry. McKenzie County Emergency Manager Jerry Samuelson said some oil companies have contacted him inquiring about shelters. He said the county might also discuss adding conditions to the zoning laws, though it might be cost prohibitive. “We never had zoning laws in McKenzie County before the oil boom and now we do,” he said. “And maybe that’s something that needs to be incorporated into our zoning – if you’re going to put up a big man camp up there, where is the shelter?” The twister touched down about 7:50 p.m. Monday just south of Watford City, about 50 miles southeast of Williston. One of the nine people hurt was a 15-year-old girl who suffered critical injuries and was flown to a Minot hospital. The girl, who was visiting an aunt and uncle, was in an intensive-care unit but expected to survive, Samuelson said. He did not release the girl’s name or the community in which she lives. Eight other people were treated at a Watford City hospital for less serious injuries. Tornadoes are rarely reported in McKenzie County, with only 14 since 1950, with no fatalities, according to weather service data. Monday’s tornado was an EF-2 in strength on the 0-to5 enhanced Fujita or EF scale, the weather service said, adding that preliminary information suggests the twister’s winds peaked at 120 mph. Many who have come to the area looking for work in wake of the oil boom live in hastily assembled trailer parks, known as man camps, which house prefabricated structures that resemble military barracks. Some companies rent blocks of hotel rooms for employees, and some workers sleep in their cars or in tents. clerical work. He patiently did such work while his more aggressive fellowmen grabbed the glory and the better salaries. Brownell was the draftsman who drew Concordia’s recorded plat. From its beginning until 1885 he was the recording clerk in Concordia’s U.S. Land Office. He acted as clerk of the district court at its first session in Concordia, in the old Land Office. He ran unsuccessfully for Cloud County treasurer in 1895. He died of dropsy on January 28, 1908, at the age of 72 years. Such is a thumbnail biography of the man who wrote the following letter to the editor of the Concordia Empire who published it on December 12, 1907: About a year ago a young man excavating a cellar near the normal college (facing Seventh Street on the east side of Valley Street - west of where the Concordia Rest Home is today in 1983), digging through fine river sand to a depth of six feet, where he discovered a black loam and on that loam a copper cent dated 1820. I think that indicates that within the last 87 years, and prior to the settlement of the oldest inhabitant of this region, this vicinity was overflowed by the Republican River to such a depth that six feet of river sand was deposited on the lower portion of this townsite, and that the coin was probably dropped by a party of hunters, trappers, or explorers before the overflow. The overflow was probably the great flood of 1844, the greatest in the history of the Kansas valley, which includes the Republican valley. (Signed) S. Brownell, December 8, ‘07. 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, Concordia, Kansas 66901. Upon occasion a horse’s shoes were put on backwardsthe toe in front and the heel in back-to mislead a pursuing enemy. It was used in the 11th century by King Alfonso in his escape from Toledo, Spain. 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. 3 5 8 9 4 7 5 1 9 6 4 3 8 2 Difficulty Level 3 4 2 8 1 7 5 9 6 6 2 7 5 4 1 8 3 9 5 8 3 7 9 6 2 1 4 1 9 4 2 8 3 6 5 7 9 1 8 6 5 2 7 4 3 4 7 6 1 3 8 9 2 5 2 3 5 4 7 9 1 6 8 5/27 By Dave Green 8 1 5 2 5 6 3 7 4 Difficulty Level 8 6 9 3 2 5 4 7 1 2014 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc. November 4, 1983 MORE INCIDENTAL INTELLIGENCE Recently we rolled back the calendar to learn what folks in Concordia, Kansas, were gossiping about in the days of auld lang syne. Let’s do it again. ****************** More than a century ago, on April 27, 1882, this item appeared in the Concordia Empire: L a s t w e e k , a family by the name of Belanger, living in Shirley township, butchered a hog that had been Clarence sick, but Paulsen, 1987 to all appearances had recovered but could not be fattened, so it was killed and a portion of it made into sausage, some of which was eaten without cooking and the consequence was, a genuine case of trichinosis. One boy 11 years old died, and two others are reported to be in a precarious condition. Jas. Bell, who lives in the same township, says that he examined a piece of the meat, not more than a quarter of an inch square under a microscope and that it was impossible to count the animals, there were so many. We advise all to be exceedingly careful what they eat. ****************** With uncanny foresight, J.M. Hagaman, editor of the Concordia Blade, wrote in his newspaper on August 16, 1895, that Japan was destined to become the most skilled nation on earth in the 6 9 4 7 8 1 5 9 4 2 9 1 5 2 5/28 2014 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc. 2 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 People Blade-Empire, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 3 Small Business Workshop Series Set for June 2014 Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Annie: My 95-yearold father, "Fred," lives on his own, far away from his three children. Until now, Dad has been in good health, even still driving. My siblings and I have been trying to convince Dad to move near one of us so we can care for him, but he refuses. Dad has a girlfriend, "Gina," whom he met right after Mom died seven years ago. Gina is 20 years younger than Dad. At first, it was companionship that kept them together, but recently, Gina is more of a caregiver. Dad is increasingly dependent on this woman and seems unable to make a decision without consulting her first. (They do not live together.) We see Dad's health deteriorating, both mentally and physically, and don't think he is getting the basic care he needs. How do we get him to give up Gina and come live with one of us? Are we doing the right thing to even ask it of him? We just worry we aren't doing our best for our father. What do you think? — Confused Daughter Dear Confused: We think you are caring children who want what's best for your father, but it can be traumatizing and frightening to move to a new city, especially at the age of 95. Dad has been with Gina for seven years and is undoubtedly quite attached to her. She is trying to care for him, but this is a big job. Making these decisions and knowing when Dad is no longer capable of doing so on his own may require professional assistance. We suggest you pay an inperson visit to Dad as soon as possible and assess the situation. Does he need a housekeeper? A full-time caregiver? If he cannot afford in-home services, could you move him to a continuing care facility near Gina? Are there day-care facilities nearby? Would Dad visit you for an extended stay, perhaps becoming familiar with your neighborhood and less resistant to relocating? Contact the Eldercare Locator (eldercare.gov) at 1-800-6771116 or a private geriatric care manager (caremanager. org) to help you figure out the best plan for Dad. Dear Annie: My twin girls were born 10 weeks premature. They are now 7 months old, so we are getting out more. I understand that people want to coo at babies, and my girls always respond with beautiful smiles. However, touching a baby's hands can transmit illnesses, as babies frequently put their hands in their mouths. This has happened in church, groceries and doctors' offices. I don't want to be rude and ask well-meaning strangers not to touch my daughters, but I also do not want them to get sick. A minor illness to an adult could be life-threatening to a preemie. Please tell your readers that we are happy to stop and chat, but touching any baby should be avoided. — Proud Mom in Lincoln, Ill. Dear Mom: It is not rude to protect your children, and it can be done politely. Simply say with a smile, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't touch the twins. They are prone to illness. Thanks so much for understanding." You also can keep a hand sanitizer nearby. Dear Annie: My former husband and I did not have sex. I was trim, fit and attractive. He lost interest despite my efforts to involve him, including counseling. I finally decided life was too short, and we divorced. My second husband and I had a wonderful sex life until he died. I am now on the "post" side of menopause, and I still want sex. To the women who avoid sex with their husbands, do them a favor and let them go. You want a roommate, and he wants a life partner. — Still Like Sex Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast. net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. 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 2014 CREATORS.COM “My Favorite Older Person” (Note: The winning essays in Concordia Elementary School fourth graders’ “My Favorite Older Person” writing activity selected by Sunset Home residents are being published in the Blade as space permits. The following essay was written by Taley Murdock.) “My Favorite Older Person” SUE and JOHN “JACK” McCONNELL McConnells to celebrate 60th wedding anniversary John “Jack” and Sue McConnell, Rogers, Ark., will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at a 1-3 reception, Saturday, June 7, at their daughter’s home, 1402 Countrywood Place, Rogers, Ark. Hosts will be their sons, John of Levelland, Texas, Paul and Mark of McPherson and daughter, Jo Ellen Dare, Rogers, Ark., and their families. All friends and relatives are welcome. The McConnells were married June 6, 1954, at the First United Methodist Church, Poteau, Okla. She is the former Sue Ellen McIlroy. They lived most of their married life in Concordia, Kan. where they taught for USD 333 for a combined total of 62 years. They retired in 1994 and moved to Rogers, Ark. The couple have 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Cards may be sent to 8812 S. Park Road, Rogers AR 72756. CMS announces Fourth Nine Weeks Honor Roll Concordia Middle School has announced the names of those listed on the fourth nine weeks Honor roll. GOLD 4.0 5TH GRADE Teresa Barnes, Chloe Conway, Sajen Kemling, Astoria Kindel, Haley Lewis, Kendall Reynolds, Terin Rundus, Hunter Schroeder, Dylan Thoman, Shea Trecek, Wyatt Trost, Nick Vignery, Mikyna Voss. 6TH GRADE Rachelle Anderson, Taylor Avicola, Chloe Beims, Madelaine Blochlinger, Arista Bombardier, Hailey Budke, Maddie Johnson, Austin Kaufmann, Ciara Kearn, Hannah Kindel, Taegen Larsen, Terryl Loeffler, Courtney Mansfield, Bethanie McCall, Macy McMillan, Jiselle Moore, Ashlyn Norris, Ivon Owen, Taylynn Peltier, Kaitlen Riley, Kerrigan Rudolph, Levi Sieben, Genna Strait, Faith Thurner, Katelyn Trecek, Nicole Turner, Jacob Williams, Shaina Wright. Resources for starting a business, developing a business plan and projecting cash flow will be the topics discussed at small business workshops scheduled during June 2014. These workshops are presented by Linda Sutton of the NCK Small Business Development Center. To register for a workshop, check out our website at www.ncksbdc.com or call 785.243.9913. All workshops require advance registration and only those preregistered will be notified of cancellation. The workshop schedule for June is: Meeting the 3Ms: Tuesday June 3; 10:00 a.m. – Noon NCK SBDC, 606 Washington Street, Concordia Wednesday, June 11; 10:00 a.m.–Noon Salina Area Chamber, 120 W. Ash, Salina, Kansas The information in this workshop is critical for anyone considering starting a business. Information about money, marketing and management will help assess the feasibility of starting a new business. Information about many resources available in Kansas to help start-up businesses will be provided. FREE with advance registration. The Right Start Using a Business Plan: Wednesday, June 11; 1:00–3:00 p.m. Salina Area Chamber, 120 W. Ash, Salina, Kansas Learn how to develop a business plan and its importance to a successful business. Individual questions are addressed in this fast-paced workshop. Fee to attend. Cash Flow Made Easy: Tuesday, June 3; 1:00–3:00 p.m. NCK SBDC, 606 Washington Street, Concordia This workshop will assist current and potential business owners in calculating sales and costs by line item to build a budget and understanding the future needs of a business. Fee to attend. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the NCK SBDC by calling 785.243.9913. Freshen Up Your House With Color (NAPSA)—A fast, fun and inexpensive way to give your home and your mood a lift is to freshen up your space in clever colors. “Today’s decorating trends point to softer, lighter colors that reflect an optimistic and free-spirited approach to decorating,” says color expert Jackie Jordan. “Updated pastels and romantic colors bring a spirited vibe to a variety of home design themes, from coastal to contemporary to vintage or cottage chic.” Here are some decorating tips for sprucing up your home with color: •Rethink room colors. Blues and violets are often used in bedrooms but they can also bring an unexpected twist to a kitchen, dining room or sunroom. Even one wall painted in a new color can create an accent that redefines the space. •Create colorful contrast. A living room painted in a floral color such as pastel yellow works beautifully in contrast with furnishings in deep neutral colors such as dark peppercorn gray. •Think beyond walls. Paint can be added almost anywhere, even on unexpected surfaces. A vintage bedroom dresser painted a pale pastel blue or pink can bring a cottage-themed room to life. A bookcase in fresh green or pale aqua can bring outdoor colors into a porch or den. •Ensure color harmony. To help, you can turn to the Softer SILVER 3.0-3.99 5TH GRADE You can have a new home at the Easton Atwood, Cade Anold address when you brighten derson, Wyatt Barleen, Zoe things up with a new coat of Bechard, Isaac Bombardier, paint in soft, pretty colors. Dylan Bray, Chas Carlgren, Side color collection by HGTV Kaley Cleveland, Abby DonHome by Sherwin-Williams. It ovan, Abby Fredrickson, features 20 designer-inspired paint colors that are carefully Emanuel Funk, Keegan Grocoordinated to take the guesswork gan, Sierra Gropp, Kinley out of color selection in any one Hanson, Vanessa Henrickroom, room to room or exterior. •Have fun with patterns. son, Liah Huff, Adrian LewMany paint colors are also speis, Daniel Moreland, Fatima cially designed to coordinate Nava, Chloe Nelson, Chase with wallpapers. Patterns with Parker, Ismael Perez, Tyson yellow leaves, green polka dots or large floral prints can add Roush, Mikayla Schartz, energy or a touch of whimsy to a Trenton Senters, Samantha room. Sjogren, Taylor Smith, Cole •Think colorfully indoors and out. A carefully selected Stahlman, Keidra Strait, splash of color can also uplift the Emily Strommen, Yancey exterior of your home. Painting Tantuica, Gavin Thomas, your home’s front door or shutters Conner Thrash, Riley Vanin a fresh new hue can create a cheerful and inviting look. Horn. •Get more color inspira6TH GRADE tion. You can do that when you Shelby Bisnette, Hali visit a Sherwin-Williams store or www.sherwin-williams.com/color. Buckley, Alexis Christensen, Bradley Cleveland, Zoey Demanette, Elizabeth Duvall, Kassidy Leiszler, Senior Citizens Menu Tristan Mikesell, Tristen Thursday, May 29—Goulash, garlic bread, vegetable Milligan, Victoria Sugrue, blend, pears. Robert Trost, Karlee WahlFriday, May 30—Fish, rice pilaf, corn, cookie; 10 a.m.— meier. Exercise. Full Color Banners!!! Wedding receptions, birthdays, graduations, baby showers… you name it! By Taley Murdock My favorite older person has a knack for playing musical instruments. She is my Aunt Kelli Burrus. She has short spiked brown hair. My aunt is fun, nice, smart, creative and pretty. Her hobbies are judging dog shows and playing musical instruments. She is interested in caring for animals and helping students develop a love of music. She currently lives n Osborne, Kan. She is my mom’s older sister. I enjoy spending the night with my aunt. I even got to stay with her on Fourth of July weekend. When I stayed with her, she took me to a band concert and to the races to watch my dad. When I am with her, I feel special. She makes me feel special because I know she loves me. She is a very determined person who never stops. She also is an adventurous person who enjoys going on vacation. These qualities make me want to be just like her. I love you Aunt Kelli. You are amazing and you are my favorite aunt. Shop Concordia Thursday Nights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 123 West 6th Street Concordia, Kansas (785) 243-1520 Bring us your ideas and let us design and print them for you. GOOD LUCK AT STATE, CHS PANTHERS! State Baseball Tournament May 29-30 Pratt Community College First round game Thurs., May 29 • 1:30 p.m. #4 Baxter Springs (18-4) vs. #5 Concordia (15-5) State Track Meet Friday & Saturday May 30-31 Cessna Stadium Wichita State University CHS state track qualifiers, back row, from left: Ryan Vignery, Matthew Whitley, Blaze Payeur, Zach Kyle, Logan Higbee, Kayla Dvorak, Jera Metro, and Molly Adams. Front row, from left: Megan James, Jordynn Gumm, Mariah Blazek, Hunter Mendenhall, Maggie Lambert, Shania Anguish, and Danielle Timme. Not pictured: Rebecca Robins. This page made possible by the following businesses: American Family Insurance / Neil Losh, Agent Baumann’s Repair Blade-Empire Brown Enviro-Control, Inc. Brown’s Disposal & Recycling Dr. Steven Bryant Campbell & Johnson Engineers Central Kansas Electric Central National Bank Century 21 Chado’s Auto Body & Glass Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home Citizens National Bank Coldwell Banker Concordia Auto Mart Concordia Chevrolet/Buick Concordia Gymnastics Center Concordia Homestore Concordia Tractor, Inc. Scott R. Condray, Chartered, Condray & Thompson, LLC Coppoc Sports Dairy Queen Duis Meat Processing EcoWater of N.C.K. Elk State Bank F&A Food Sales, Inc. Family Health Mart Pharmacy Feldkamp’s Furniture Fleming Construction The Flower Gallery Funk Pharmacy Gambino’s Pizza Gottschalk & Co. Chartered Greenwood Sales & Service Dr. Greg Hattan Henry Enterprises Hood Htg., Air, Plg., & Elec. Jackson’s Glass Shop Kastl-Powell Agency/ Connie Walenta Krier Mower & Electric Miller’s Automotive Dr. Richard J. Kueker, O.D., P.A / Dr. Michael Miller, O.D., P.A. Mike’s TV & Appliance NCK Commercial Laundry/ 16th Street Carwash Newton’s Electric Peoples Exchange Bank Peoples Insurance Picture This Pizza Hut Print 5 Rod’s Food Store Schendel Services Short Stop Sunset Home Taco John’s The Tax Corner Tom’s Music House Walmart SuperCenter Wiesner Construction Blade-Empire Wednesday, May 28, 2014 5 Sports Astros shut out Royals KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Watching from the bullpen as journeyman Collin McHugh carved up the Kansas City lineup, Astros reliever Tony Sipp only wished he had a bucket of popcorn and a soda. “It’s like watching a good movie,” Sipp said, “and you don’t want to mess up the ending.” After McHugh held the light-hitting Royals at bay over seven innings, Sipp and Chad Qualls provided an appropriate ending. They worked the final two innings without allowing a hit in a 30 victory Tuesday night that gave Houston its first fourgame winning streak since September. The Astros own the worst record in the AL, but have won four in a row on the road for the first time since taking six straight away from Minute Maid Park last May 29-June 3. “I mean, I think we’re playing hard,” said McHugh, who is already on his third big league team in three seasons. “We’re coming to play every day, and we’re putting together a few games here.” Houston rookie George Springer’s homer streak ended at four games. He hit two flyballs to the warning track and finished 1 for 4. Matt Dominguez hit an RBI single in the fourth, and the Astros tacked on two more runs against Tim Collins in the eighth. “That’s what you call an extremely well-played baseball game,” Houston manager Bo Porter said. McHugh (3-3) scattered five hits while striking out nine without issuing a walk to earn his first win in five starts. He stranded a runner at third base in the second inning and runners at second and third in the fifth, but otherwise cruised through the Kansas City lineup. The only run Jeremy Guthrie (2-4) allowed came when Dominguez followed up a pair of one-out walks to Dexter Fowler and Jason Castro with a single in the fourth inning. Guthrie left after allowing seven hits and three walks in six innings. The righthander dodged plenty of trouble, inducing doubleplay grounders in the third and fifth, but still got stuck with his fourth straight loss. His last win came April 9 against Tampa Bay. During a nine-start winless streak, Guthrie has allowed just one run on three occasions. The Royals lost for the sixth time in their last eight games, and their pop-gun offense has had a lot to do with the futility. Kansas City has been held to three or fewer runs in four of its last five games, including the 92 pounding that Houston dished out on Monday night. Westbrook fires Thunder past Spurs Throwing to first Concordia infielder Drake Hake makes a throw to first base during a regular season game. Hake is hitting .410 for the Panthers heading into the state tournament. (Blade photo by Jay Lowell) CHS to face Baxter Springs in first round of state tourney PRATT — It is a different division, but the same approach for the Concordia Panthers heading into the state baseball tournament. Concordia, after playing in the Class 4A tournament two years in a row, will be making a first appearance in the newly formed Class 4A-Division II tournament. The Panthers (15-5) are the number five seed, and will play fourth-seeded Baxter Springs (18-4) in the first round at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Pratt Community College. “Whenever you get to state you can throw out the seeds,” Concordia coach Brandt Hutchinson said, “There are still eight quality teams. You just have to have the approach of win one game at a time and try to live to play another one.” The winner of the Concordia-Baxter Springs game will take on the winner of the game between top-seeded Perry-Lecompton (19-3) and eighth-seeded Goodland (7-13) in the semifinals at 11 a.m. Friday. Second-seeded Burlington (18-4) plays seventhseeded Bishop Ward (12-10) in the first round. Third- seeded Trinity Academy (18-4) faces sixth-seeded Russell/Victoria (14-8). The second semifinal is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday. The third-place game will be played at 4 p.m., with the championship game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Concordia advanced to state by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Nemaha Central in the championship game of the regional tournament it hosted back on May 19. “Everybody has to deal with it,” Hutchinson said of the long layoff, “The good thing about these guys is they have been through the ordeal of the layoff before. We can’t use anything as an excuse. We just have to go in and play our best baseball.” The Panthers will face a Baxter Springs team that Hutchinson said is peaking late in the season. “They are a quality team. Like us, it looks like they have improved throughout the season, and they are playing their best baseball at the right time, just like us,” Hutchinson said, “We just have to remain disciplined on defense, and at the plate. If we do that, we should be okay.” Senior Skyler Hittle will get the start on the mound for Concordia.Hittle is 7-1 with a 1.62 earned run average. He has allowed 32 runs, 12 earned, in 52 innings, struck out 51 and walked 24. Should the Panthers move on to the semifinals, senior Jordan Mehl will be the starter. He is 4-4 with a 3.19 earned run average. Junior Braden Johnson is 4-0 with a 0.60 earned run average for Concordia. Mehl leads the Panthers with a .582 batting average. He leads the team in hits (39), runs batted in (41), doubles (9) and home runs (3). Junior Drake Hake is batting .410 with 27 runs batted in and a team high 36 runs scored. He has stolen 13 bases. Hittle carries a .355 average into the state tournament. He has driven in 21 runs. Tanner Sophomore Gilbert is batting .344 with 17 runs batted in and 25 runs scored. Funk Pharmacy and Cloud County Co-op picked up wins on opening night of Concordia Recreation Girls Softball play Tuesday at the Concordia Sports Complex. Allison Poore tossed a nohitter to lead Funk Pharmacy to a 4-0 victory over Subway. Cloud County Co-op rolled to a 19-3 win over the American Legion. Poore struck out nine and walked three in blanking Subway. Funk Pharmacy grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Scoring three runs on three hits and three walks, Funk Pharmacy made it a 4-0 game. Poore and Jenna Bloom had two hits each for Funk Pharmacy. Cloud County Co-op jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the American Legion in the first inning. The American Legion scored one run in the second inning. Four runs in the second inning gave Cloud County Co-op an 11-1 advantage. Cloud County Co-op added eight runs in the third inning, to two runs for the American Legion. Wildcats in scoring as a freshman, had been seeking to transfer after coach Deb Patterson was fired. The school denied her request amid concerns that members of the previous staff were trying to persuade her to follow them to another school. An appeals committee upheld the decision, and pundits ranging from Dick Vitale to fellow college basketball analyst Jay Bilas took to Twitter in Romero’s support. Making the situation even more embarrassing was the fact that Kansas State president Kirk Schulz is a member of the NCAA executive committee, which has come under fire in recent years for a range of issues that include the policies governing when and where athletes may transfer. In a letter to Schulz, Kansas State athletic direc- tor John Currie recommended on Monday the change to the school’s transfer policy. The resulting provision gives the athletic director power to retract a denial of a release if new information becomes available. The policy change came less than a week after a separate, confidential letter from Currie to university administrator Pat Bosco surfaced. Funk Pharmacy, Co-op win openers KSU amends policy, grants release to Romero Kansas State granted a release to women’s basketball player Leticia Romero on Tuesday after amending its transfer policy, ending an embarrassing spat that had generated national attention. Romero will be allowed to transfer to any school outside the Big 12 after the KState Athletics Board of Directors approved the policy change. Romero, who led the OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)— Russell Westbrook is picking up where Kevin Durant left off. Durant hasn’t shown the same consistent excellence in the postseason that earned the Thunder star the MVP award after the NBA regular season. Westbrook has picked up the slack, making a case for being Oklahoma City’s best player in the postseason. Westbrook had 40 points, 10 assists and five steals in Oklahoma City’s 105-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night that tied the series at two games apiece. The guard has been doing similar damage throughout the playoffs, averaging 26.6 points, 8.1 assists and 7.5 rebounds in 17 postseason games. In one stretch, he had three triple-doubles in five games. “Just his focus on every possession on the defensive end and his poise on the offensive end — I think that’s what’s fun to watch,” Durant said. “People outside of our team don’t really look at that type of stuff, but that’s something we can definitely build on as a group, is watching him wreak havoc on the defensive end and offensively, playing with such patience.” Tuesday’s performance matched the second-highest playoff point total of Westbrook’s career, falling short of the 43 he scored in the 2012 NBA Finals. “Coach told us he needed maximum effort from us tonight, and it starts with me at point guard,” Westbrook said. “My job is to play both sides of the ball. If you want to win a championship, those are things you have to do.” At times, Westbrook has been a maddening player for Thunder fans to watch. He’s a dynamic player whose supreme confidence sometimes leads to ill-advised shots and a tendency to hold the ball at the expense of offensive flow. In Tuesday’s game, he did almost everything right. He shot 50 percent from the field and took just five 3pointers. He made 14 of 14 free throws. “Sometimes he’s going to go off,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. “He’s capable of doing that. If he makes a lot of jumpers, it gets really tough.” In the midst of posting a monster game, Westbrook still managed to help Durant score 31 points. It was Durant’s highest-scoring game of the series after the NBA’s leading scorer was held to a 22.7-point average in the first three games. Serge Ibaka added nine points and eight rebounds for the Thunder, who have turned around the series since he returned from an injury that was expected to keep him out for the rest of the postseason. “We just play well with Serge,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “We can do things with Serge in the lineup that we can’t do with other guys.” Boris Diaw had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Tony Parker added 14 points for the Spurs, who also blew a 2-0 lead against the Thunder in this round two years ago. San Antonio will host Game 5 on Thursday and won’t be worried about the past. “I think we shouldn’t think like that,” Parker said. “Each game is different. Each series. Each year. We worked hard all year to have home-court advantage, and now, it’s our job to protect home court.” Oklahoma City dominated for the second consecutive game after getting blown out in the first two. The Thunder committed just seven turnovers and shot 49 percent from the field. The Spurs scored the first eight points of the game, but things went downhill from there. A steal and dunk by Westbrook gave the Thunder a 42-32 lead with just under five minutes left in the first half. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Durant pushed Oklahoma City’s lead to 50-36. The Thunder led 58-43 at halftime. Durant scored 22 points and Westbrook added 17 points, eight assists and four steals before the break. Parker shot 6 of 9 in the first half, but the rest of the Spurs made just 11 of 32 before the break. A lob from Reggie Jackson to Durant for a twohanded slam bumped Oklahoma City’s lead to 6043. A steal and jam by Ibaka made it 66-49, and a dunk by Westbrook made it 7649. The Spurs closed the quarter on an 18-7 run and cut their deficit to 83-67. San Antonio’s Matt Bonner made a 3-pointer with 3:31 remaining in the game to trim Oklahoma City’s edge to 12, but the Thunder maintained control. “We were just not focused coming out,” Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard said. “We’re not playing consistently throughout the whole game. We’re playing in spurts or increments. We’ve just got to play the whole game.” MAYETTA — Concordia High School senior Grant Holmes finished in a tie for 46th place in the Class 4A state golf tournament Monday at Firekeeper Golf Course. Holmes shot an 87 for the Panthers. Concordia had senior Christian Wetter shoot 91 in the tournament. Freshman Brennen Acree carded a 99. Marc McClain, Bonner Springs, fired a 3-under-par 69 to earn medalist honors. He finished three strokes ahead of Drew Sandburg, Tonganoxie (72). Topeka Hayden easily won the team title with a 314. Buhler was second with 329 and Ottawa was third with 333. Holmes ties for 46th in state tournament Class 4A State at Firekeeper Team Scores Topeka Hayden 314, Buhler 329, Ottawa 333, Iola 334, Larned 340, Andale 341, Bonner Springs 348, Kansas City-Piper 349, El Dorado 352, Independence 354, Goodland 355. Individual Medalists 1. McClain, Bonner Springs, 69; 2. Sandburg, Tonganoxie 72; 3. Gage Ihrig, Goodland, 74; 4. Elder, Wamego, 74; 5. Ernst, Bishop Miege, 74; 6. Carro, Wichita Trinity, 75; 7. Wuellner, Kansas City-Piper, 75; 8. Falley, Topeka Hayden, 76; 9. Waters, Wamego, 76; 10. Walden, Iola, 76; 11. Shanks, Wichita Trinity, 76; 12. Becker, August, 76; 13. Schmitt, Buhler, 76; 14. (tie) Holoday, Holton, 77; Alleen, Fort Scott, 77; Olmsted, Ottawa, 77; Amrein, Topeka Hayden, 77; 18. (tie) Krewson, Labette County, 78; Gannon Ihrig, Goodland, 78; Walter, Anderson County, 78. 6 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 ONE PLACE HAS IT ALL THE CLASSIFIEDS For Rent FOR RENT- 1 bedroom apartment, utilities included. Contact 785-2433325, Ext. 2. 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Paid vacations, holiday pay, retirement and health insurance available. $7.50. hr starting pay. Apply in person at 217 W. 3rd All recent applicants please reapply. Help Wanted Sunset Home in Concordia FOR RENT- 3 bedroom, 605 W. 9th. 785-262-1185. For Sale or Rent FOR RENT OR FOR SALE 330 E. 14th, Concordia. Remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bath, all appliances, CH/ CA, $500 deposit, $600 rent. Available June 1st. SUNSET HOME, INC. is in need of caring and energetic CNAs for Day Shift and Night shift. Excellent shift differential. We do drug testing. Submit application to: Sunset Home, Inc. 620 2nd Ave. Concordia, KS 66901 Sunset Home, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SUNSET HOME, Inc. is looking for a responsible and dependable team player to fill an Evening Cook’s Position. Pay will be reflective of experience. Every other weekend off. For the opportunity to work in the growing health care industry apply in person, 620 2nd Ave., Concordia, KS. EOE. We test for drugs. 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As a Diamond Driver, you earn additional pay on top of all the competitive incentives we offer. The very best, choose Swift. • Great Miles = Great Pay • Late-Model Equipment Available • Regional Opportunities • Great Career Path • Paid Vacation • Excellent Benefits Please Call: (602) 714-9455 Misc. CANADA DRUG CENTER. Safe and affordable medications. Save up to 90% on your medication needs. Call 1-800-908-4082 ($25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping). Misc. For Sale Use Your Land or Trade-in as Down Payment New, Used and Repos available. Singles, Doubles, and Modulars. Less than perfect credit OK! 866-858-6862 Google to build car Financial Focus without steeringwheel Free Yourself from Cycle of Emotional Investing LOS ANGELES (AP) – Google will build a car without a steering wheel. It doesn’t need one because it drives itself. The two-seater won’t be sold publicly, but Google said Tuesday it hopes by this time next year, 100 prototypes will be on public roads. Though not driving very quickly – the top speed would be 25 mph. The cars are a natural next step for Google, which already has driven hundreds of thousands of miles in California with Lexus SUVs and Toyota Priuses outfitted with a combination of sensors and computers. Those cars have Googleemployed “safety drivers” behind the wheel in case of emergency. The new cars would eliminate the driver from the task of driving. No steering wheel, no brake and gas pedals. Instead, buttons for go and stop. “It reminded me of catching a chairlift by yourself, a bit of solitude I found really enjoyable,” Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, told a Southern California tech conference Tuesday evening of his first ride, according to a transcript. The electric-powered car is compact and bubbleshaped – something that might move people around a corporate campus or congested downtown. Google is unlikely to go deeply into auto manufacturing. In unveiling the prototype, the company emphasized partnering with other firms. The biggest obstacle could be the law. Test versions will have a wheel and pedals, because they must under California regulations. Google hopes to build the 100 prototypes late this year or early next and use them in a to-be-determined “pilot program,” spokeswoman Courtney Hohne said. Meanwhile, by the end of this year, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles must write regulations for the “operational” use of truly driverless cars. The DMV had thought that reality was several years away, so it would have time to perfect the rules. That clock just sped up, said the head of the DMV’s driverless car program, Bernard Soriano. “Because of what is potentially out there soon, we need to make sure that the regulations are in place that would keep the public safe Saturday, May 31—Na- but would not impede progtional Orphan Train Com- ress,” Soriano said. plex host to the exhibit, “Museum Collections Make Connections,” through May 31. Saturday, June 7, 5:30 p.m.—Annual Chamber right in your Gala, Cocktail Hour, Crawfish Boil, live jazz music, celbackyard, attic, ebrate the Best of Concorbasement or garage. dia winners, Valley Rental Just call 243-2424 Center, contact 243.4290 to purchase tickets. to place your Upcoming events Hunt Buried Treasure Legals (First published in The Concordia Blade-Empire, Wednesday, May 21, 2014.) IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF DAVID WAYNE FOWLER, Deceased. Case No. 14PR18 NOTICE OF HEARING THE STATE OF KANSAS TO ALL PERSONS CONCERNED: You are hereby notified that a petition was filed in this Court by Phillip R. Fowler, interested party in the estate of David Wayne Fowler, deceased, praying descent be determined of the following described real estate situated in Cloud County, Kansas: Lots Five (5), Six (6), Seven (7), Eight (8) and Nine (9), Block Sixty-0ne (61), College Addition to the City of Miltonvale, Cloud County, Kansas, commonly described as 615 Williams St., Miltonvale, KS 67466. and that such real estate owned by the decedent at the time of death be assigned pursuant to the laws of intestate succession. You are required to file your written defenses thereto on or before June 16, 2014, at 11:00 o’clock a.m. in the District Court, Cloud County, Kansas, at which time and place the cause will be heard. Should you fail therein, judgment and decree will be entered in due course upon the petition. Phillip R. Fowler, Petitioner Submitted by: Robert A. Thompson, S.C. #11594 316 N. Santa Fe, P.O. Box 2237 Salina, Kansas 67402-2237 Attorney for Petitioner 3we Garage Sale Ad ! In many areas of your life, you’re probably aware that it’s useful to keep emotions out of your decision-making — and that’s certainly the case with investing. However, it can be difficult to keep your feelings from influencing your investment decisions. But you may find it easier to invest with your head, rather than your heart, if you know a little something about two different cycles: the market cycle and your emotional cycle. Let’s start with the market cycle. If you’ve been investing for a while, you’re aware (probably highly aware) that the financial markets are rarely static — they are always moving up and down, at least in the short term. (Over the very long term, a period of many decades, the markets have trended up.) But these short-term movements, while perhaps appearing as “zigs” and “zags” on a daily basis, actually form a pattern, or a cycle, that can last for months or years. These cycles are known as bull (up) or bear (down) markets. Going back to the Great Depression, the average bear market has lasted 21 months, while the average bull market has extended for 57 months, according to research from Standard and Poor’s Index Services. These market cycles greatly influence investors’ attitudes and behavior. In fact, they lead to the formation of investors’ emotional cycles. During bull markets, investors tend to feel optimism, excitement and even euphoria. But once a bull market ends and a bear market begins, investors start getting nervous. And the longer and deeper the bear market, the greater the depth of emotion felt by investors. These emotions can begin as anxiety and then progress to denial, fear, desperation and panic. Furthermore, market cycles and emotional cycles don’t really align. For example, investors may well experience euphoria when the market has reached its high point and a bear market has just begun. For a while, then, these investors, fueled by their euphoric feelings over the big gains they’ve achieved, may continue pouring money into the market, even as it’s declining. This type of behavior, though, is probably better suited for when the market is already at a low, when investors’ dollars will buy more shares. Conversely, investors may reach the peak of their fearfulness at the end of a bear market, just when things are about to turn around. At this point, their fear may hold them back from investing — even though, with prices low, it can be a good time to invest. Clearly, basing investment decisions on emotions can lead to poor choices. So don’t get caught up in this pattern. Instead, strive to follow a disciplined approach to investing. Build an investment portfolio that reflects your objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon, and seek to hold appropriate investments for the long term. Of course, you may well need to make adjustments along the way, but do it for the right reasons — such as a change in your goals or in the investments themselves — rather than as a reaction to the current market cycle. Our emotions are powerful, and their power can increase when applied to such a meaningful aspect of our life as our finances. But if you can detach yourself, as much as possible, from the emotional cycle of investing, you can avoid considerable angst — while helping clear the path to pursue your goals. MUTTS® by Patrick McDonnell ZITS® by Scott and Borgman NANCY® by Guy & Brad Gilchrist Sales Calendar •Saturday, May 31, 2014– Public Auction at 9:00 a.m. located at the Kearn Auction House, 220 West 5th Street, Concordia, Kansas. Vehicles, Misc. and Collectibles. Dannie Kearn Auction. •Monday, June 2, 2014– Public Auction at 4:00 p.m. located at the National Guard Armory on the South edge of Concordia, Kansas on Highway 81. Car, Scooter Chair, Art, Collectibles and Household. Darlyne Lampert Estate, Seller. Thummel Auction. •Saturday, June 21, 2014– Public Auction at 10:00 a.m. located at the Cloud County Fairgrounds Commercial Bldg., East edge of Concordia, Kansas on Industrial Road. Antiques and Collectibles. Alvena Swenson, Seller. Larry Lagasse Auction. BARNEY GOOGLE AND SNUFFY SMITH® by John Rose HAGER THE HORRIBLE® by Chris Browne Blade-Empire, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 7 Today in History Plant becomes model for cleaner operation 50 years ago May 28, 1963—Mrs. Ellen Hammer wrote in the Norway News that eighth grade graduates from Norway were Gerald Bray, Dennis Burt, Lee Hedstrom and Charles Casper. From Stony Point were Ina May Lirmer, Samuel Awalt, Melvin Jeardoe and Randy Jeardoe. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Ralph R. Barr, Manhattan, announced the engagement of their daughter, Linda Sue, to Jarold Mervin Hayden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mervin A. Hayden, Concordia. 25 years ago May 28, 1989—A Concordia Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting marked the opening of Budreau Muffler and Custom Exhaust at 1908 Lincoln, owned by Ben and Julie Budreau. . . . Concordia VFW Auxiliary donated two flags (Kansas and American) to be flown at the Concordia Municipal Swimming Pool. Presenting the flags were Diane Hinson and Dorothy Lawyer. 10 years ago May 28, 2004—Brandi Gallagher received the Outstanding Senior Softball Player Award at a banquet honoring the team. Coach David Gieber made the presentation. . . . Campbell & Johnson Engineers P.A. was celebrating 35 years of service. Employees included Eric Johnson, Paul Johnson, Ralph Campbell, Don Dean, Darrin Saenger, Ken Johnson, Lisa Gropp, Bill Lahodny, Dennis Burdick and Jennifer Jones. 5 years ago May 28, 2009—Concordia High School girls’ track and field team won a fifth consecutive Class 4A state championship in Wichita. Members of the team were Melissa Hartsel, Jordan Mastin, Leah Haden, Paige Champlin, Richelle Luongo, Skyler Muff, Page Reed, Heather Bergmann, Alex Muff, Kaitlin Woellhof, Hannah Haist, Taryn Johnson, Karly Buer and Briana Anderson. . . . The Sisters of St. Joseph were capping off their 125th anniversary celebration. 1 year ago May 28, 2013—At the Cloud County Commission meeting Lois Lervold suggested to Solid Waste director Justin Murdock and the board that hours the station is open be extended to all day on Saturdays and until 8 p.m. one day a week. She was asked by commissioners to gather signatures from patrons who would like to see the hours changed and present them to the board before any change was made. . . . Allissa Kearn received the Outstanding Senior Softball Player Award during the Concordia High School softball banquet. Panther coach Larry Metro made the presentation. Panthers receiving varsity letters were Kearn, Nikki Blankenbeckley, Chelsey Martin, Autumn Zimmerman, Olivia Leif, MaKayla Nelson, Amanda Lawrence, Tristen Leiszler, Madeline Hoard, Autumn Sicard and Robin Daniels. Your Birthday By Stella Wilder Born today, you always seem to harbor a great secret. It is anyone’s guess whether you are actually keeping something concealed from the world, or whether this is just a notion projected by your complicated personality. There is much about you that is unknown -- that much is given -- but you do not intentionally keep most things hidden. What is true is that you do not always do your best to reveal yourself, and so the outward effect is that you are quite private and secretive. When it comes to your friends and loved ones, however, you are an open book -- but even so, that book can sometimes be misinterpreted. You have an adventurous spirit, and you seem drawn to endeavors that are hard to learn and difficult to execute well. You never seem daunted by a challenge, but there are times when you may actually stand in your own way. This usually happens when you are conflicted about the choices you have to make. Also born on this date are: Kylie Minogue, singer; Gladys Knight, singer; Michael Oher, football player; Colbie Caillat, singer; John Fogerty, singer; Ian Fleming, author; Jim Thorpe, football player; Carey Mulligan, actress; Justin Kirk, actor; Phil Vassar, singer; Ekaterina Gordeeva, Olympic figure skater; Rudy Giuliani, politician. To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide. THURSDAY, MAY 29 GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You’ll derive a great deal of pleasure from doing something quite old-fashioned. You may find other “throwback” activities rewarding, too. CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Your contact with a friend or loved one will take on a strange tone, probably because you don’t quite know what’s happening on his or her end. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -There’s a secret that may be told before the day is out. Be sure that you’re on the right side of the fence when the news breaks. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- You may be compelled to engage in activities that you would normally avoid. Is this someone else’s doing, or your own choice? LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- You feel as though you’ve been waiting long enough for someone else to come through; today, you’ll want to make your true feelings known. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You can combine business with pleasure in a most unusual way. Don’t give someone else’s warning more weight than it warrants. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21) -- Much needs to be completed by day’s end, yet you are likely to move at a slower pace than expected. What’s your secret? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) -- Questions are asked and answered all day long, but you may still find yourself in need of some pertinent -- and elusive -information. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- You may require the protection of one who knows the territory better than you do. Make clear your intentions -- and your motivations. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You will proceed steadily if you simply put one foot in front of the other. There is no need to complicate matters! ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- If you are acting on the advice of one who claims to have been in your shoes, you’ll want to check and double-check his or her story. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Appearances can be deceiving, but you’ll be struck by how one thing appears to be so similar to another, and why it matters. HOMER CITY, Pa. (AP) –A massive coal-fired power plant in western Pennsylvania is turning from one of the worst polluters in the country to a model for how such a facility can clean up its act. Homer City Generating Station is expected to make the transformation in a few years. When it does, it will end four decades of nearly limitless pollution from two of its units that had long escaped regulation. Three years ago the plant was the first to sue the Obama administration over a rule to force it to reduce its sulfur dioxide pollution, arguing it would spike electricity prices and cause “immediate and devastating” consequences. None of those dire predictions came to pass, and the Supreme Court has upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule in the case initiated by the plant. The story of the Homer City plant reflects the precarious position of older coal-fired plants these days, squeezed between cheap and plentiful natural gas and a string of environmental rules the Obama administration has targeted at coal, which supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s electricity. The latest regulation, the first proposal to curb earthwarming carbon dioxide from power plants, is due next week and will pose yet another challenge to coal-fired power plants. Dozens of coalfueled units have already announced they would close in the face of new rules. Homer City also shows how political and economic rhetoric sometimes doesn’t match reality. Despite claims by Republicans and industry critics that the Obama administration’s regulations will shut down coal-fired power plants, Homer City survived – partly because it bought itself time by tying up the regulation in courts. Even environmental groups that applaud each coal plant closing and protested Homer City’s pollution now say the facility is setting a benchmark for air pollution control that other coal plants should follow, even if it takes decades. “If there is a war on coal, that plant won,” said Eric Schaeffer, the executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project and a former enforcement official at EPA. The owners of the western Pennsylvania power plant – it releases more sulfur dioxide than any other power plant in the U.S. – have committed to installing $750 million worth of pollution control equipment by 2016 that will make deeper cuts in sulfur than the rule it once opposed. GE Energy Financial Services, the plant’s majority owner, now says it can do it – and without electricity bills increasing for the 2 million households it provides with power. “We believe in the plant’s long-term value, and that installing equipment will enable it to comply with environmental regulations,” said Andy Katell, a spokesman for GE, which has been the plant’s primary owner since 2001 and did not participate in the litigation. The operator of the facility, Edison Mission Energy, couldn’t raise the money to pay for the pollution controls and filed for bankruptcy before the case made it to the Supreme Court. Numerous states, environmental groups and other companies operating power plants joined the litigation keeping it alive. Not all have fared so well. The parent company of Luminant, another challenger to the EPA rule and Texas’ largest power generator, filed for bankruptcy in April after it was faced with more stringent environmental regulations and cheap natural gas prices that made it difficult to pay down its debt. For more than 40 years, Homer City has spewed sulfur dioxide from two of its three units completely unchecked, and still does because it is largely exempt from federal air pollution laws passed years after it was built in 1969. Last year, the facility released 114,245 tons of sul- fur dioxide, more than all of the power plants in neighboring New York combined. “It is an emblem, a poster child of the challenge of interstate air pollution,” said Lem Srolovic, the head of the Environmental Protection Bureau for the New York Attorney General’s Office, in an interview with The Associated Press. New York, along with New Jersey and Pennsylvania and the EPA, sued Homer City in 2011, arguing it was operating in violation of the Clean Air Act because it failed to install pollution control technology in the 1990s, when it made upgrades that increased emissions. A federal judge dismissed the case, arguing it fell outside the statute of limitations. But U.S. District Judge Terrence McVerry said in his opinion that he appreciated the frustration “that society at large continues to bear the brunt of significant sulfur dioxide emissions from that grandfathered facility.” 8 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, May 28, 2014 Proposal (continued from page 1) "Does he have paid vacation? Does he or she have paid sick leave? Overtime?" he asked. "Is someone paying half his Social Security as we are here at the college? That guy downtown doesn't have anyone paying into KPERS on his or her behalf." Tuggle said it was the "man on the street" who is paying taxes to support the college. "Our local employers, by and large, support the college," he said. "But they are small employers, small businesses, and they cannot afford to pay what we're paying in benefits." Most people support the college, he said, but could not afford to give raises or pay for the types of benefits the college offers its employees. "There are many benefits you have as employees here you wouldn't have in other positions," Tuggle said. "I believe I can speak for everyone here in saying that if you can better yourselves by moving on to something else, in way of compensation or a job you prefer, we would hate to lose you, but we would wish you the best in your striving to do better for your life." The policy changes will come before the board in June for approval. In other business, on a 4-2 vote, the board approved a $30,882 two-part change order from Budreau Construction for the roof resurfacing project. The first part was to spend an additional $12,000 to repair low spots on the roof. Vice President for Administrative Services Amy Lange said the power washing of the roof revealed several areas where water was ponding, causing leaks. The second part of the change order was for $18,882 to replace the guttering on the west side of the gymnasium. Lange said the guttering has rusted through and water runs down the side of the building. Water then sits along the foundation, which could cause structural issues in the future. Replacing the guttering, also to be done by Budreau Construction, will not be done until the fall. Dave Clemons and Greg Askren both cast nay votes against the change order because replacing the guttering was not being put out to bid. "I feel like maybe we owe it to our local contractors to give them a chance to bid (on the guttering)," Clemons said. Askren said the college is continually trying to reduce costs, and perhaps having the project bid could save the college money. The board rejected bids for the construction of an auxiliary parking lot at Thunder Heights. Lange said bids came in much higher than the engineer's estimate of $11,000, and she recommended postponing the project. A $24,000 professional services contract with Jenzabar for remote server services was also approved. Lange said the server management services provide ongoing support to ensure the server housing the Jenzabar software is maintained. The original $247,800 contract approved in 2013 also included 1,600 hours of onsite training and support. Lange said the pool of hours provided staff necessary training and support to implement the Jenzabar software. She said she anticipates having 653 hours remaining in the 2013-2014 contract, which expires July 6, 2014. Jenzabar has agreed to allow the college to continue to use the hours at the discounted rate of $120 per hour through the end of the year. The board authorized the amendment to the 20132014 contract to provide the time extension to use the remaining hours. In personnel matters, the board approved the contract renewals for administrative personnel, and hired Kimberly Wagner as an admissions counselor/military liaison at the Geary County campus. Regina Mize was also hired as the new director of assessment and accreditation. Chris Wilson, director of Human Resources, presented the resignation of Brady Jasper, assistant women's basketball coach. She said he has accepted a head coaching position in the Hiawatha school district. The board also accepted the resignation of math instructor Tim Warkentin, who Wilson said will be taking a position in Kansas City. The board also approved the non-renewal of Darrin Jones as coordinator of online services, effective June 30. Jones was hired in December 2013, and began work at the college on Jan. 2, 2014. Thousands mourn shooting victims GOLETA, Calif. (AP) – Thousands mourned the deaths of their classmates at a California university, lawmakers proposed ways to prevent the next round of deaths, and the rampant presence of guns were at the forefront of both discussions as a rampage that left seven dead reverberated across the state. Richard Martinez, whose son, Christopher MichaelsMartinez, 20, died in the attacks, spoke at Tuesday’s memorial on the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara, emphasizing that he did not speak for all the victims’ relatives or even his former wife, Michaels-Martinez’s mother. But he urged students to fight for tougher gun laws, and placed the blame on what he called the inaction of politicians. “They have done nothing, and that’s why Chris died,” Martinez said. “It’s almost become a normal thing for us to accept this.” He got much of the crowd to repeatedly chant “Not one more,” in reference to such massacres, a phrase he shouted before reporters and television cameras the day after Friday’s massacre. The school canceled classes and declared a day of mourning and reflection, four days after the shootings and stabbings in the Isla Vista community by 22-year-old community college student Elliot Rodger, who had posted an Internet video outlining his plan to slaughter as many people as possible. Rodger had legally obtained three semi-automatic handguns and still had 400 unspent rounds of ammunition when he shot himself to death, authorities said. On the same day, two California Assembly members proposed legislation that would create a gun violence restraining order that could be sought from a judge by law enforcement at the request of family members and friends. California couple’s Weather gold coins go on sale SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A treasure trove of rare gold coins discovered by a California couple out walking their dog has gone on sale, with one coin selling for $15,000 on Tuesday. The coins date from 1847 to 1894 and have been valued at $11 million. Several coins were auctioned at the Old San Francisco Mint at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, and one of them – an 1874 $20 double eagle that is usually worth $4,250 – sold for $15,000. Don Kagin, whose firm is handling the sale, says most of the remaining 1,400 coins had gone on sale on Amazon. com and Kagins.com after the auction. The couple, whom Kagin declined to identify, found them last year buried under the shadow of a tree on their rural Northern California property. Here are five things to know about the coins and their origin: WHY ARE THEY SO VALUABLE? Experts say paper money was illegal in California until the 1870s, so it’s extremely rare to find any coins from before that period. Additionally, most of the coins are in mint condition, having been stashed away seemingly immediately after they were minted. They were valued by Don Kagin, a numismatist who is handling the sale and marketing of the coins. WHO FOUND THEM? Kagin says the couple – a middle-aged husband and wife – does not want to be identified in part to avoid a gold rush on their rural Northern California property by modern-day prospectors. They discovered the coins in eight cans buried in the shadow of an old tree on the property. They plan to keep a few of the coins themselves and use the money from the rest to pay off bills and donate to local charities. Money from Tuesday’s auction will benefit the effort to turn the Old Mint into a museum. WHERE DID THE COINS COME FROM? Most of the coins were minted at the San Francisco Mint, according to Kagin. It’s not clear, however, who put them in the ground or how they were obtained, though theories have abounded. Kagin says people have linked the coins to stagecoach bandit Black Bart, outlaw Jesse James and a theft at the San Francisco Mint, but none of the theories has panned out. WHAT IS IN THE COLLECTION? The treasure consists of four $5 gold pieces, fifty $10 gold pieces, and 1,373 $20 double eagles. Among the coins that will be on display Tuesday is the crown jewel of the collection – an 1866-S No Motto $20 gold piece valued at more than $1 million. HOW DOES THIS DISCOVERY COMPARE TO OTHER COIN FINDS? Kagin calls this coin find the largest such discovery in U.S. history. One of the largest previous finds of gold coins was uncovered by construction workers in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1985 and valued at $1 million. More than 400,000 silver dollars were found in the home of a Reno, Nevada, man who died in 1974 and were later sold intact for $7.3 million. Gold coins and ingots said to be worth as much as $130 million were recovered in the 1980s from the wreck of the SS Central America. But historians knew roughly where that gold was because the ship went down off the coast of North Carolina during a hurricane in 1857. Norway News By Marilyn Sorenson Tuesday, May 27, 2014 Elaine Plowman visited Mr. & Mrs. Terry Cheek in Newkirk, Okla., Thursday through Sunday and attended Chelsea Hurtig’s college graduation at Norman, Okla. on Saturday. Aileen Carlgren stayed all night Monday the 19th with Elaine Sedlacek. Jerry and Marilyn Sorenson attended a graduation cookout to celebrate Grant Thayer’s High School graduation at the home of Jason & Tammy Thayer in Salina on the 17th. Sunday, they attended Grant’s graduation from Salina South at the BiCenter. Marilyn Sorenson enjoyed lunch in Salina with Bill & Lucille Sanderson, Wednesday. Bill headed home for a nap while Marilyn & Lucille enjoyed an afternoon of visiting & shopping. A nice crowd enjoyed the Norway Community Alumni, Friday evening. Saturday, Jerry & Marilyn Sorenson decorated family graves in Minneapolis, Salina & Gypsum. That evening they attended Jerry’s alumni in Gypsum. I have never encountered as much traffic as we did on the way home Saturday night. I began to wonder if they were evacuating Nebraska and it was well after 10:00 p.m. I even had to wait for a break in the traffic to get onto 148 Hwy. Sunday morning it was up bright & early for Jerry & Marilyn Sorenson to head to Salina to meet Marilyn’s sister Sharon & her husband Glen Damon from Wichita. Then it was off on an allday adventure. We traveled to Portis, where I was born; then on to Cedar where my Mother’s family is from. We decorated the graves of my mother, father, sister & grandparents at the Cedar cemetery. Then it was on to Lebanon to decorate the grave of my brother. Smith Center was the last cemetery we paid a visit to where Glen decorated the graves of his family. We all enjoyed lunch in Smith Center before continuing on our journey. There were many drive-bys to see where different family members had lived through the years with many stories told. I discovered Sharon & I have one more little trait alike. We both have “monkeys” that come out when our husbands aren’t driving or behaving properly. Monkeys are pinches–the severity of which is determined by how serious the infraction is. Some of the stories Glen shared required quite serious monkey intervention. We stopped by our house for a quick visit so they could see where we live. Last Thursday all our grass was dead & brown, but the very light rain (about .4”) we got Friday sent it towards the sky. I was quite embarrassed by how our yard looked, especially since Glen’s yard is mowed at least twice a week & is perfect. I guess we were an inspiration to him though. Sharon has been trying to get him to buy a new mower for quite some time & he has been resisting. She emailed me Monday to say Glen’s new riding mower & shed to put it in would be delivered Tuesday! Nothing like a bad example to get you motivated. After a short visit we headed back to Salina to pick up our vehicle & Colby who had been visiting his friends at the kennel all weekend then home again. It was a wonderful day of sharing & learning made possible by finding my sister just a year ago. Jerry & I spent Monday mowing. Today’s weather artwork by Cierra Roberts, a 2nd grader in Mrs. Lambert’s class Today’s weather artwork by Hayliegh Jack, a 1st grader in Mrs. Peltier’s class Unstable conditions end search for three in Colorado DENVER (AP) – Authorities braced for the possibility of another landslide in a remote part of western Colorado as they surveyed a massive debris field Tuesday amid dangerously unstable conditions that led them to call off the search for three ranchers missing there. Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey said the search eventually could resume for Clancy Nichols, 51, who also worked as a county road and bridge employee; his son Danny Nichols, 24; and Wes Hawkins, 46. But it might not be safe enough to do so until summer. “We don’t want to create any more tragedy than we already have,” Hilkey said. The three men were checking on irrigation problems caused by an initial slide Sunday when a large chunk of a ridge broke off, sending soggy earth spilling like wet cement. The slide happened in a sparsely populated area. It is 3 miles long, about threequarters of a mile across at its widest and several hundred feet deep at the center. Even at its edges, the pile is 30 feet deep, Hilkey said. The slide most likely was triggered by runoff from Grand Mesa – one of the world’s largest flat-topped mountains –following two days of strong rain, Hilkey has said. Jonathan White, a Colo- rado Geological Survey geologist at the site, told reporters Tuesday another slide seemed inevitable because of a buildup of water in a depression created by the first big slide. “We’re having a significant amount of runoff that’s flowing into that depression right now,” White said. “That’s a big concern.” White said it was impossible to predict when the next slide would occur. It could be years from now, when people have forgotten the danger and no longer are taking precautions, he said. Mudslides are common in the region, which sits on soft sandstone and layers of weak rock, said state geologist Karen Berry. The area saw a spate of them in the 1980s. It was the size of Sunday’s event that made it unusual. The sheriff said the slide at one point roared up a hill and then down again. “The power of the slide itself is enormous,” Hilkey said. For now, little can be done to minimize the risk of another slide. The terrain is too unstable for the work necessary to try to drain the water, geologists said. Jonathan Godt, a Colorado-based landslide group leader for the U.S. Geological Survey, said the “practical engineering measures for things of this size are pretty limited.” Markets NEW YORK (AP) – The Standard & Poor’s 500 index held at a record level on Wednesday as a rally in the bond market increased demand for stocks that pay dividends. Investors were unimpressed with a second bid by Valeant Pharmaceuticals for Botox maker Allergan. KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 was unchanged at 1,912 as of 12:07 p.m. Eastern time. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 17 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,658. The Nasdaq composite dropped three points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,233. RECORD RUN: The stock market has edged up to record levels against a backdrop of reports that have shown the U.S. economy is gradually strengthening after a winter slump. The S&P 500 closed above 1,900 for the first time on Friday. On Wednesday, telecom and utilities stocks, traditionally companies that pay big dividends, rose as the bond market rally continued. DRUG DEAL: Valeant Pharmaceuticals added more cash to its offer to buy Botox maker Allergan in a bid that could now be worth more than $50 billion. The Canadian drugmaker is now offering $58.30, $10 more than its previous offer, and a portion of its own stock for each Allergan share. Allergan fell $7.89, or 4.5 percent, to $157.10. Analysts and investors had been expecting a bigger bid. LOCAL MARKETS -EAST Wheat ...........................$7.17 Milo ......(per bushel) ....$4.27 Corn .............................$4.37 Soybeans ...................$14.48 Oats ..............................$4.50 AGMARK LOADING FACILITY LOCAL MARKETS - WEST Wheat ..........................$7.17 Milo .....(per bushel) .....$4.27 JAMESTOWN MARKETS Wheat ...........................$7.12 Milo ...(per bushel) ........$4.27 Soybeans ...................$14.43 Nusun .........................$16.40