The Concordia Blade

BLADE-EMPIRE
CONCORDIA
VOL. CX NO. 145 (USPS 127-880)
CONCORDIA, KANSAS 66901
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Court
strikes down
law limiting
its power
Good Evening
Concordia Forecast
Tonight, increasing clouds with a 30
percent chance of snow, mainly between
10 p.m. and 4 a.m. A low around 28. West
wind around 5 mph, becoming south in
evening.
Thursday, mostly sunny with a high
near 43. West wind 5-10 mph becoming
south in the afternoon.
Thursday night, parly cloudy with a low
around 28. Southeast win around 5 mph.
Christmas Day, mostly cloudy with a 20
percent chance for showers. A high near
47. Southeast win at 5-15 mph with gusts
as high as 25 mph.
Friday night, mostly cloudy with a 20
percent chance for showers. A low around
36.
Saturday, cloudy and breezy with a 40
percent chance of showers. High near 40.
Saturday night, cloudy and blustery
with a chance of snow and freezing rain.
Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Sunday, cloudy and blusery with a 30
percent chanc eof snow and freezing rain.
A high near 28.
Sunday night, coudy and blustery with
snow likely. A low around 22. Chance of
precipitation is 60 percent.
Monday, cloudy wit ha 50 percent chanc
eof snow. High near 29.
Monday night, mostly cloudy with a 20
percent chance of snow. Low around 18.
Tuesday, partly sunny with a high near
31.
Across Kansas
Formertrooperguilty
of threatening family
GREAT BEND, Kan. (AP) — A former
Kansas Highway Patrol trooper has been
convicted of threatening his wife and children.
The Great Bend Tribune reports that
Darrin Hirsh was convicted Tuesday in
Barton County District Court of aggravated assault, criminal threat and domestic
battery. He was found not guilty of witness
intimidation and violating a protective
order.
Hirsh was accused of threatening his
wife with a handgun and verbally threatening the life of her and their children on
March 12, 2013, and with violating a protective order on March 11 and 12, 2014.
Teenager charged
in shooting death
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 17-yearold has been charged in a Kansas City,
Kansas, shooting death.
The Wyandotte County district attorney’s office announced Tuesday that the
teen is charged with one count of firstdegree murder in the Nov. 4 death of 37year-old Andrew Harman. The Kansas
City, Kansas, teen also is charged with two
counts of aggravated assault with a
firearm, and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
The teen is in custody, and a hearing on
the district attorney’s motion to prosecute
him as an adult is not yet scheduled.
Police are investigating.
Accountant pleads
guilty to charges
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A suburban
Kansas City accountant accused of stealing more than $4 million from clients has
pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Federal prosecutors in Kansas City said
in a release that 42-year-old Thomas
Hauk of Overland Park, Kansas, pleaded
guilty Tuesday to several charges, including bank fraud, wire fraud and money
laundering.
The prosecutor’s office says Hauk was
an accountant from 2005 to 2015 when he
engaged in several schemes to defraud the
company he worked for by embezzling
more than $4 million from clients’
accounts. He then used the money to pay
for living expenses, vehicles and jewelry.
Sentencing hasn’t been scheduled.
Visit us online at www.bladeempire.com
Santa goes old school
Santa Claus rides into town on an antique tractor decorated with Christmas lights. (Blade
photo by Jay Lowell)
Judge: County commission
applications are open records
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Candidates’ applications for two county commission openings filled last year by Gov. Sam
Brownback are not exempt from the
Kansas open records law, a judge has
ruled.
Shawnee County District Judge Rebecca Crotty sided with The Salina Journal
and The Associated Press in ordering the
disclosure of information on more than two
dozen applicants for newly created Saline
County Commission seats.
Saline County residents voted in
November 2014 to expand the commission
from three to five members. The AP and the
newspaper argued that applicants’ names
and other details are public information,
but Brownback’s office said they were personnel records. The AP and the newspaper
filed a lawsuit seeking the information in
January.
The judge denied the media request for
attorney’s fees after finding that the state’s
refusal to disclose the records was done in
good faith and with a reasonable basis.
Crotty also noted that while the applications did not qualify for the exemption
under the open records law, some of the
personal information, such as Social Security numbers, would need to be redacted.
The governor’s office said it does not
comment on matters under litigation.
Media attorney Nathaniel Berg said the
governor’s attorneys had indicated they
planned to appeal an earlier ruling in September in which Crotty denied the state’s
motions to dismiss the lawsuit and enter a
judgment in their favor.
“I certainly think it is a victory for the
Kansas Open Records Act and the intent of
the Legislature had when they drafted it,”
Berg said of the ruling.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas chemical manufacturing company was fined $1
million Tuesday after admitting it illegally
dumped hazardous wastes down a saltwater disposal well.
JACAM Manufacturing, LLC of Sterling,
Kansas, pleaded guilty in U.S. District
Court in Wichita to one count of violating
the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and
one count of violating the Resource Conservation Recovery Act, and was immediately sentenced following the plea.
Its president, Jason West, entered the
plea on his company’s behalf after striking
a deal with prosecutors that spared its
shareholders, officers, employees, contractors and others from additional charges.
The binding plea agreement, which was
accepted by U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren, imposed the maximum fines for
those charges.
West declined to comment after the
hearing, saying the company would issue a
news release later.
JACAM’s website touts its environmental policy: “Zero spills, zero releases, zero
incidents and zero excuses. Leave the
Earth better than we found it.”
The company makes and sells specialty
chemicals used in the oil and gas production and industrial markets. The waste it
generates, due to their volatility and corrosiveness, is characterized by the Environmental Protection Agency as hazardous
wastes.
It was charged last month with injecting
hazardous chemicals down a saltwater
disposal well in Rice County without a permit.
In its plea agreement, the company
acknowledged it did not have a permit or
other lawful authorization to inject fluid
into that well. JACAM admitted it transported 300-gallon totes and 55-gallon
drums to the well that contained hazardous chemicals such as acetone and
benzene, among others.
The company fully cooperated with the
investigation after learning of the EPA’s
investigation, according to the plea agreement.
The Associated Press first reported on
the investigation into the company last
year after search warrants were unsealed
following a May raid. Agents seized environmental samples from the well and manufacturing site along with manuals,
electronic records and other materials. The
raid came after a surveillance operation
that began in late 2012 and continued
until May 2014.
Court documents filed in support of that
warrant recounted a federal investigation
initially sparked by information provided
by former employees who alleged that the
company years earlier had disposed of fluids from its manufacturing operations into
an injection well.
Chemical firm fined $1 million
for hazardous waste dumps
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas
Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously struck down a law meant to reduce its
administrative influence over lower courts,
setting up a showdown with lawmakers who
threatened to defund the state’s entire judiciary system if the law was overturned.
The high court ruled that the 2014 law
changing how chief judges are selected is
unconstitutional and was an “unconstitutional encroachment” by the Legislature on
the Supreme Court’s authority to administer a “unified” court system. The justices
said that by enacting the law, the Legislature asserted significant control of a constitutionally established essential power of the
Supreme Court.
The law enacted last year by the Republican-dominated Legislature stripped the
Supreme Court of its power to appoint the
chief judges for the trial courts in each of
the state’s 31 judicial districts, giving it to
the local judges.
Lawmakers followed up this year by
passing another law this year saying that if
the administrative change was overturned,
the court system’s entire budget through
June 2017 would be defunded, although it’s
not due to take effect until March 15. That
would give the Legislature an opportunity to
rethink during the next session whether
they want to actually defund the judiciary.
The justices wrote that the potential loss
of funding did not factor into their ruling.
“We note only that our holding appears to
have practical adverse consequences to the
judiciary budget, which the legislature may
wish to address, even though those concerns played no part in our analysis,” the
justices wrote.
Critics of the 2014 law view it as an
attack on the court system’s independence
and accuse the Republican-dominated Legislature and GOP Gov. Sam Brownback of
trying to intimidate the judiciary into
accepting it through the budgeting process.
Brownback and other supporters of the
change argue that it would allow an important decision to be made locally.
The state’s high court has been under
increasing attacks by conservatives who say
it is too liberal, particularly with major
cases on school funding and abortion
restrictions now pending in the courts. In
judicial races last year, the governor openly
campaigned against the retention of two
state Supreme Court justices.
District Judge Larry Solomon, of Kingman County, challenged the 2014 law stripping the court of its power to select chief
judges. His attorney, Pedro Irigonegaray,
said Wednesday that the separation of powers doctrine is an essential component of
this country’s democratic way of life.
“The power grab attempted by the legislature and the government in trying to control our judges has failed and as a result the
people of Kansas have won,” Irigonegaray
said.
Neither the attorney general’s office nor
the governor’s office immediately responded
to emails seeking comment.
In September, a Shawnee County district
judge ruled that the law improperly interfered with Supreme Court’s power granted
in the state constitution, and the state
appealed directly to the Supreme Court.
The decision handed down Tuesday by the
high court upholds that lower court’s ruling.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt, a
Republican and former state senator, had
earlier asked the entire Supreme Court to
remove itself from the case. Instead, Chief
Justice Lawton Nuss removed only himself
from it, saying he was more involved than
the others in public statements criticizing
the law at the heart of the dispute.
Woman forcibly removed from hospital dies
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) —
A woman who refused to leave a
hospital when doctors discharged her died after she was
forcibly removed by police,
authorities said Tuesday.
Barbara Dawson, 57, collapsed Monday while being
escorted in handcuffs from the
Liberty Calhoun Hospital,
where she went to seek treatment for breathing difficulties,
said
Blountstown
Police
Department chief Mark Mallory.
Mallory said an officer had
arrested Dawson for disorderly
conduct and trespassing.
An autopsy on Dawson has
been performed and the results
should be released Wednesday,
Mallory said. Florida Department of Law Enforcement officials have been called in to
investigate,
department
spokesman Steve Arthur said.
He declined to comment further.
Mallory said that the officer
who arrested Dawson removed
the handcuffs after she collapsed and escorted her back
into the hospital.
“We were told by a doctor
once she got back in the hospital that her vital signs were good
and it was their decision to
readmit her,” he said. He said
dashcam footage from the officer’s car does not show the incident but does pick up the audio.
Hospital officials did not
return telephone calls Tuesday
night. Ruth Attaway, administrator and CEO of the hospital,
was quoted by The Tallahassee
Democrat as saying that staff
did everything they could to
save Dawson.
OPINION
Trivial History of Concordia and Environs
By Clarence Paulsen
February 14, 1986
SALES TAX TOKENS
In 1937 the legislature
enacted the Kansas Retailers' Sales Tax, to become
effective June first of that
year. Like every new tax, it
was touted as a relief from
other taxes; and, like every
new tax, it
was just
another
way
of
separating
the
taxpayer
from his
money for
the
bureaucrats
to
play
with. No
Clarence
existing
Paulsen, 1987
tax
was
reduced.
Under the 1937 law the
state levied a two percent
tax on most retail sales
and the seller was forbidden to assume the tax. The
seller had to collect the tax
from the buyer, and report
and pay it to the state. Of
course, many of the sales
involved one dollar or less,
the tax on which was a fraction of a penny. The legislature in its wisdom provided
for tax tokens, which soon
came to be known as “molecule money,” or “Huxies.”
Walter A. Huxman was the
state's governor at the time.
Sales tax tokens were
used in Kansas from June
1, 1937, when the law went
into effect, to June 6, 1939,
when Kansas switched to
the penny-bracket system.
In those early days eleven
of the twenty-two sales tax
states used tokens. This
writer recalls that in Missouri there were bright colored tokens made of plastic.
The Kansas tokens were
about the size of a dime.
The first to be minted were
two-mill ones (one fifth of a
penny) made of zinc. Those
zinc tokens were a nemesis
to hands, clothing and everything else they touched,
because they left a black
residue.
A problem arose in getting the tokens into circulation in Concordia, Kansas.
The local Chamber of Commerce ordered a supply, to
be sold to the merchants.
The tokens failed to arrive
on time. When June first
came along, and the sales
tax law went into effect,
the game was “Token, token, who's got the token?”
On June 8, 1937, one week
late, Beldon Bowen, the
Secretary of the Chamber of
Commerce, announced that
at last he had some tokens
for sale. Bowen's office was
on the second floor of the
brick building which still
stands on the southeast
corner of the intersection
of sixth and Washington
Streets. Two months later,
on Aug. 13, 1937, the Concordia Blade-Empire said,
“Tokens taken in on the
sales tax are becoming a
burden to some merchants,
and they have an accumulation they don't want . . . .”
The tokens were the twomill zinc ones. The state
opened a “clearing house”
Oct. 1, 1937, for the purchase and resale of tax tokens. Then, at about this
same time, Kansas minted
a bunch of new one-mill
(one tenth of a penny) to-
DOONESBURY® by G.B. Trudeau
kens made of aluminum.
They were the same size as
the two-mill zinc ones already in use. However, the
one-mill aluminum tokens
had holes in their centers.
These new one-mill tokens
came into general use Dec.
1, 1937. In twenty-four
hours, Concordia was out
of the new tokens and a
rush call had to be made for
some more.
In those days the legislature met every other year,
and the next biannual legislature abolished the tokens,
effective June 6, 1939. A
new penny-bracket system
was begun in place of tokens during the administration of Governor Payne
Ratner. The penny-bracket
system, revised from time to
time, is still in use in 1986.
The old tokens could be
redeemed through the state
until July 1941. It is estimated that about forty tons
of the tokens were never
accounted for, and are still
lying around in coin collections, dusty drawers and
other unlikely places, hoping perhaps to be forgotten.
Concordia Blade-Empire
Published daily except Saturday
and Sunday by
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PUBLISHING COMPANY
510 Washington, Box 309
Concordia, Kansas 66901
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Concordia, Kansas 66901
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Concordia Blade-Empire, Box 309,
Concordia, Kansas 66901.
Judge upholds gun violence tax
SEATTLE (AP) – A judge
upheld Seattle’s so-called
gun violence tax Tuesday, rejecting a challenge from the
National Rifle Association
and other gun rights groups.
King County Superior
Court Judge Palmer Robinson dismissed arguments
that Seattle’s tax, adopted
last summer, exceeded the
city’s authority under state
law.
The measure – one of only
a couple of its kind in the nation – adds $25 to the price of
each firearm sold in the city,
plus 2 or 5 cents per round
of ammunition, depending
on the type. Officials expect
it to raise up to $500,000 a
year to help offset the costs
of gun violence. The measure is set to take effect next
month.
“The NRA and its allies always oppose these commonsense steps to shine light on
the gun violence epidemic,”
said City Council President
Tim Burgess, who sponsored
the law. “Judge Robinson
saw through the NRA’s distorted efforts to put gun industry profits ahead of public safety.”
The NRA did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment, but another
plaintiff, the Bellevue-based
Second Amendment Foundation, promised an immediate appeal. The groups
have argued state law puts
Today in History
50 years ago
Dec. 23, 1965—Mario
Brichalli and Mike Hepperly were the offense leaders
when the Concordia eighth
grade baseball team defeated Lincoln 31-27. . . . A one
pound box of Russell Stover assorted chocolates was
$1.60.
25 years ago
Dec.
23,
1990—Airman Paul R. McGinnis had
graduated from the U.S. Air
Force pavement maintenance course at Sheppard
Air Force Base, Texas. . . .
Cynthia Durham and Bernard Newell invited all who
wished to share in their
happiness to their wedding
dance, Dec. 28 at the Concordia Moose Lodge.
10 years ago
Dec. 23, 2005—Third
graders Nick Thomas and
Braden Johnson were working together on a lap blanket at the Concordia Elementary School. Blankets
were being donated to Cheyenne Lodge in Jamestown. .
. . State Sen. Mark Taddiken
and State Rep. Joann Freeborn presented a check for
$45,000 from the Kansas
Department of Health and
Environment to the Cloud
County Health Department
to be used for tobacco use
prevention efforts in Cloud
County.
5 years ago
Dec. 23, 2010—Jerod
Fisher and Chelsea Ellis,
Concordia, announced the
birth of their daughter, Kallea Reeanne Fisher, born
Dec. 21 in Salina . . . . Concordia Middle School Junior
Panthers for a Better Cause
who raised money for the
O’Connor Animal Shelter
with their “Pennies for Pets”
project were Zaide Thoman, Jaden Champlin, Addy
Johnson, Rebecca Thornton, Gwen Stiles, Kiara Huff,
Cydney Bergmann, Jessica
Williams, Scott Blochlinger,
Matthew Davenport and
Isaac Mehl.
1 year ago
Dec. 23, 2014—Dr. Dorothy Breault was the new
chief of staff at Cloud County Health Center. . . . Emiline Awalt, Belleville, was
the winner of a Barbie doll
and horse in the Elk State
Bank’s Christmas open
house drawing.
responsibility for regulating
firearms solely in the hands
of the Legislature, not local
governments.
“It is unconscionable for
Mayor Ed Murray and the
City Council to codify what
amounts to social bigotry
against firearms retailers
and their customers,” Second Amendment Foundation
founder Alan Gottlieb said in
a written statement.
But the judge found the
measure falls within the
city’s taxing authority and is
not an impermissible regulation.
The City Council modeled
the tax after a similar one in
Cook County, Illinois, which
includes Chicago; the NRA
has said Chicago is the only
other city with such a measure. The revenue would be
used for gun safety research
and gun violence prevention
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.
programs.
Between 2006 and 2010,
there were on average 131
firearms deaths a year in
King County, according to
Public Health-Seattle and
King County. An additional
536 people required hospitalization for shooting injuries during that time.
Officials say the direct
medical costs of treating 253
gunshot victims at Harborview Medical Center in 2014
totaled more than $17 million. Taxpayers paid more
than $12 million of that. City
officials estimate the new tax
would bring in $300,000 to
$500,000 a year, but gun
shop owners told council
members those numbers
were inflated. They said the
law would cost them customers and sales and could
force them to move out of the
city.
8
3
1
7
4
6
2
5
9
2
9
7
5
3
1
4
6
8
Difficulty Level
5
6
4
8
9
2
1
3
7
4
5
3
2
1
7
9
8
6
7
1
6
9
5
8
3
4
2
9
2
8
3
6
4
7
1
5
6
7
2
1
8
3
5
9
4
3
4
9
6
7
5
8
2
1
1
8
5
4
2
9
6
7
3
12/22
2015 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
2 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, December 23, 2015
PEOPLE
Annie’s
Mailbox
by Kathy Mitchell and
Marcy Sugar
Dear Annie: After my dad
died, my mom went to live
out of state with my brother and his wife. My brother
took control of everything.
He convinced her that she
was incapable of making her
own decisions and had her
open joint bank accounts
that he has full access to.
Recently, Mom confided
that she has no idea why
she can never get over a certain amount of savings in
her account. She knows she
should have more money
put away, but fully trusts
my brother and will not
confront him about it. My
brother has also pushed me
out of my mom's life. He will
not let me visit her or allow
her to come to my home. I
am lucky if I get to speak
with her once a day on the
phone.
My children miss their
grandmother and can't understand why there is such
a drastic change in her behavior. Family is just not
family anymore and the holidays seem sad. I don't know
what to do. My brother and
his wife want nothing to do
with their niece and nephew. Please help. — Missing
Mom
Dear Missing: While it's
possible that your mother
simply doesn't remember
what money is being put into
her account, it is more likely
that your brother is taking
advantage of her — especially if he will not permit you to
visit. This is very worrisome.
If you believe your brother is
being abusive toward Mom,
either by stealing her money
or preventing others from
checking on her, please contact Adult Protective Services in the city where she lives
or get information on local
state resources through the
National Center on Elder
Abuse at www.ncea.aoa.gov.
Dear Annie: I read the
letter from "Lonely Not Lusting," the 80-year-old woman
who went on a date with a
man who seemed nice, but
who grabbed her breast
when saying goodnight.
It reminded me of the
comments that my doctors
always make after my exams.
I am in my 80s and single. Both doctors always ask
if I'm sexually active. Then
they warn me to make sure
that my partner has been to
his doctor and been tested
for STDs. This is the age of
Viagra and a large percentage of their practice is devoted to men with STDs, especially those living in assisted
living and senior residences
where the women greatly
outnumber the men. The
men I have been with lately
think we women are all just
waiting for them to ravish
us. How stupid can they be?
Please consider educating
people on this subject. — N.
Dear N.: According to
the CDC, the incidence of
syphilis among seniors is
up by 52 percent, and the
number of chlamydia cases
has risen 32 percent since
2007, many of these cases
in retirement communities.
The increase is attributed to
living longer, healthier lives,
along with the accessibility of erectile dysfunction
drugs. Many seniors seem to
believe that if pregnancy is
not an issue, condom use is
unimportant. But as we get
older, our immune systems
weaken, making seniors
much more susceptible to
being infected.
We commend your doctors for discussing STDs
with you. Medicare offers
free STD screenings for seniors, and low-cost treatment for those who need it.
Annie's Mailbox is written
by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors
of the Ann Landers column.
Please email your questions
to anniesmailbox@creators.
com, 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
By Jacqueline Bigar
Twin Valley donates
to sharing, giving tree
In lieu of their annual
“Spirit of the Season” initiative, Twin Valley has instead
elected to support other local
initiatives in their footprint
to benefit more families.
Twin Valley donated $500
toward the “Christmas Sharing” program, which operates under the umbrella of
the Lighthouse for Christ.
Christmas Sharing is sponsored by churches in the
community, and provides
gift certificates to families in
need. The certificates may
be redeemed at one participating Clay County business
or government office. More
than 450 applicants qualified for the initiative in 2014.
The program also provides
for the children of qualified
applicants to select Christmas gifts for their parents or
grandparents.
Twin Valley also sponsored children from “Giv-
ing Trees” located in both
Miltonvale and Clay Center.
Local families in need submit their wish lists, and the
public has the opportunity to
sponsor them by purchasing
the items. Twin Valley staff
members were inspired to
donate an additional $600
toward the cause, enabling
the company and staff to
purchase gifts for a total of
24 families.
“We are very proud of the
communities and people our
company serves. This is a
great initiative and yet another way we can give back
to our communities,” said
Ben Foster, president of
Twin Valley. “I am equally as
proud of our employees who
took it upon themselves using their own funds to help
additional families. It speaks
volumes of the family mindset that exists here,” said
Foster.
Girl calls 911 after
touching Elf on Shelf
OLD BRIDGE, N.J. (AP) –
A New Jersey girl called 911
after she touched her Elf on
the Shelf.
Police say 7-year-old Isabelle LaPeruta of Old Bridge
was worried because, according to the popular children’s
book, the magic of Christmas
goes away if the elf is touched.
WNBC-TV reports the girl
told the 911 operator not to
come to her house because
she had meant to call her dad.
However, police are required to check 911 calls and
an officer found the child in
tears.
Her mother, Lynanne, says
she awoke from a nap to find
her daughter trying to shoo
an officer out of the house.
She says the girl panicked
after the elf fell on the floor
when she threw a ball.
The officer radioed headquarters: “Isabella apologized. She touched the Elf on
a Shelf. She won’t call 911
again.”
Christmas chamber music
Haven Knapp on violin and Jonathan Knapp on cello, grandchildren of Joann Freeborn, played
Christmas chamber music at the December meeting of the Atheneum Club meeting at Freeborn’s home. For select numbers they were accompanied by Mari Detrixhe.
Club notes
Grandchildren of hostess
Joann Freeborn presented
a program of Christmas
Chamber music when the
Atheneum Club members
met at her home. A Christmas potluck luncheon preceded the program.
The children of Freeborn’s daughter, Catherine
Knapp, who performed were
Jonathan Knapp and Nathan Knapp, cello; Anna
Knapp, Haven Knapp and
Cara Knapp, violin. Catherine joined them on flute for
a few selections.
Playing for Atheneum
Jacqueline Bigar’s Stars
Blade-Empire, Wednesday, December 23, 2015 3
Playing Christmas chamber music for the December meeting of the Atheneum Club were
grandchildren of Joann Freeborn (l-r): Anna Knapp, violin; Nathan Knapp, cello; Cara Knapp,
violin. Joining them on flute was their mother, Catherine Knapp.
A baby born today has
a Sun in Capricorn and a
Moon in Gemini.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for
Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015:
This year you demonstrate
a preference for relating to
others on an individual basis
rather than in a group. You
prefer getting to know those
around you better, and you’ll
maintain fewer but tighter relationships. No matter what
your status might be, excitement surrounds you. If you
are single, you could meet a
very dynamic individual who
introduces you to a very different culture. Learn and accept different ways. If you are
attached, the two of you get
involved in a new interest together. This common thread
adds to the dynamic of your
bond. GEMINI inspires you
to be more versatile.
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)
* * * * Confusion is likely
to surround communication.
Confirm meetings, places
and times. If you hit a snafu,
don’t stand on ceremony, as
you will succeed only in distancing the other party further away from you. Be as
explicit as you possibly can
be. Tonight: The life of the
party.
TAURUS (April 20-May
20)
* * * * You could be a bit
uncomfortable with someone
at a distance or news that
heads your way. You might
be in an even more difficult
situation than you realize.
Say little, and just go with
the flow. Be as flexible as you
can be right now. Tonight:
Meet a friend to share some
holiday cheer.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
* * * * * You could be
overly tired and trying to deal
with a situation that seems
to be common in your experience yet one that you are
not comfortable with. People
seem to want more from you
than you are able to give. A
power play is a likely result.
Tonight: Enjoy the person
you are with.
CANCER (June 21-July
22)
* * * Defer to others, as you
have much more to gain by
listening than by acting. As
a result, you will understand
someone better. This person
can be difficult and controlling. You might want to take
a stand with this person. Be
careful! Tonight: Accept an
offer that might be too good
to be true.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
* * * * Your sense of those
around you could be far more
accurate than you might realize. Solutions can be easily found if you just relax. Be
willing to revise your schedule if need be. Do not hang
on to issues rigidly. Tonight:
Stop by at a friend’s who is
having a get-together.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
* * * You could feel pres-
sured by a family member who has clout, an older
friend or perhaps a boss.
You probably will opt not to
take this person on. A family
member might not go along
with your plans, as he or she
has something else up his or
her sleeve. Tonight: Let spontaneity rule.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
* * * * * Be whimsical as
well as adventurous. You
can expect quite a reaction
from others, as you pioneer
a path that surprises them.
A partner finds your actions
to be exciting, but he or she
also could become somewhat
intimidated. Tonight: Read
between the lines, and you
can’t go wrong.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov.
21)
* * * * One-on-one relating
evokes a strong response, no
matter who the other party
might be. You have an unusual intensity about you
right now. Others are likely
to experience very strong reactions to this side of you.
Tonight: Have an awkward
conversation. Get it over
with.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21)
* * * * You could be taken
aback by a loved one’s sudden versatility. Don’t feel
threatened; instead, enjoy
this odd moment. Don’t try
to control this person, either.
Just go along with the moment, and the results will be
a lot better. Tonight: Agree to
a friendor loved one’s plans.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)
* * * * Pace yourself, and
get past a problem. Make an
important call and be willing share your feelings. You
could be a little insecure, but
so is the other party. A natural gawkiness surrounds this
interaction. A family member
is full of surprises. Tonight:
Join friends or family.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18)
* * * * * Your playfulness
emerges when dealing with
others. Recognize that they
are not in the same headspace as you are. You might
be surprised by how others
respond to your mood. It is
nothing personal, but you
might not be able to let it go.
Tonight: Enjoy some eggnog.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March
20)
* * *
Pressure builds
around the homefront. Someone you live with will let you
know what his or her expectations are from you. Clearly,
you did not have a clue. How
you want to handle this situation could radically change
because a conversation. Tonight: Happiest at home.
BORN TODAY
Musician Eddie Vedder
(1964), actress Susan Lucci
(1946), model Carla BruniSarkozy (1967)
***
Jacqueline Bigar is on
the Internet at www.jacquelinebigar.com.
(c) 2015 by King Features
Syndicate Inc.
***
You can never get enough of what you don’t need to make you
happy.
—Eric Hoffer
***
4 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, December 23, 2015
ONE PLACE HAS IT ALL
THE CLASSIFIEDS
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Call 785-243-3325 Ext. 2
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FOR RENT-Storage spaces, various
sizes, reasonable, locally owned.
785-243-4105.
For Sale
FOR SALE
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785-262-4218
Help Wanted
EARN EXTRA INCOME
WORKING EVENINGS
Needing self-motivated
individuals who can work
independently cleaning office
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Above minimum wage.
NO WEEKENDS
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PERFORMED
Call 785-243-1965, Mon.Fri., 8am-5pm to make
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ServiceMaster of N.C.K
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Detail oriented individual
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SUNSET HOME, INC.
is accepting applications for
Dietary Aide Morning &
Evening Shift, Part Time:
Responsibilities include
meal setup, service and
clean-up. Position would
include working every other
weekend.
All applicants should be
reliable and ready to work.
Motivation and willingness to
work as a team are a must.
Starting wages are based
on experience, with benefits
including:
*401(k) Retirement Plan
* Paid Days Off, Sick leave,
and Six Annual Holidays.
* Supplemental Insurance
Plans
* Sign on Bonus of $500
($250 after 3 months and
$250 after 6 months)
For an opportunity to work
in the growing healthcare
industry, please apply online
at www.sunsethomeinc.com
or in person at 620 Second
Avenue, Concordia.
Sunset Home, Inc. is an
Equal Opportunity Employer.
Sunset Home, Inc. does drug
testing.
SUNSET HOME, INC.
Is accepting applications for
various positions
CNA Day and Evening
Shifts, Full and Part
time: Positions would
include working every other
weekend.
CMA Day Shift, Full
Time: Position would
include working every other
weekend.
LPN or RN Day and Night
Shift, Full Time: Position
would include working every
3rd weekend.
All applicants should be
reliable and ready to work.
Motivation and willingness to
work as a team are a must.
Starting wages are based
on experience, with benefits
including:
* 401(k) Retirement Plan
* Paid Days Off, Sick Leave,
and Six Annual Holidays.
* Supplemental Insurance
Plans
* Sign on Bonus of $500
($250 after 3 months and
$250 after 6 months).
Laundry/Housekeeping
For an opportunity to work
in the growing healthcare
industry, please apply online
at www.sunsethomeinc.com
or in person at 620 Second
Avenue, Concordia, KS.
Full or Part-time
CNA or CMA
Sunset Home, Inc. is an
Equal Opportunity Employer.
Sunset Home, Inc. does drug
testing.
HELP WANTED
FT/PT
Every other weekend.
All Shifts. Every other
weekend.
RN/LPN
Varied Shifts Available
Apply in person at
PARK VILLA
114 S. High, Clyde
CNA 2p-10p & 10p-6a
Apply in person, M-F, 8:30-4:30.
2p-10p Nurse/Full Time
Mount Joseph Senior Village
1110 W. 11th St.
Concordia, KS. EOE
DRIVERS WANTED
$500 SIGN-ON BONUS
WE ALSO OFFER THE
FOLLOWING:
* Health Insurance
* 401-K Retirement Plan
* Flex Benefit Plan
* Paid Vacations
* Paid Personal Leave
* Paid Holidays
* Paid Life Insurance
* Food purchases at reduced rate
* Paid Uniforms
* Top quality, late model
equipment
* Permanent, year around work
* Weekly paychecks
* Overnight or single day routes
* 4 or 5 day work weeks
* Safety Bonus
* Part-time positions also
available.
* CDL required
Hiring is now in progress, please
call Michelle Gallagher Ext 226
Monday-Friday, 243-2301 or
apply at our office.
2221 Lincoln
P.O. Box 651
Concordia, KS 66901
E.O.E.
Man held decades in Colorado freed
DENVER (AP) – A Denver
man who spent more than
a quarter-century in prison
for an attack he denies committing walked arm-and-arm
with his wife from the doors
of the jail Tuesday to applause from his children and
hugs from grandkids he had
never met.
Clarence Moses-EL, 60,
had just posted a $50,000
bond that a judge required
for his freedom after she
overturned his 1988 conviction on rape and assault
charges and found that he
would likely be acquitted if
his case went to trial again.
Moses-EL was convicted after the victim identified him,
saying his face came to her in
a dream.
When police initially asked
her who assaulted her, she
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2016 – Optimist Club Annual Consignment Auction.
named another man, who
later confessed to having sex
with her at the same time
that night.
Outside the jail Tuesday,
Moses-EL wore a black suit
and tie as he stood beside his
wife, Stephanie Burke, moments after hugging three of
his 12 grandchildren for the
first time.
Surrounded by his tearful children, he took a deep
breath of the crisp late afternoon air.
“This is the moment of my
life, right here,” Moses-EL
told reporters. “I’m at a loss
for words. I just want to get
home to my family.”
Moses-EL has long maintained his innocence, and his
case inspired legislation requiring preservation of DNA
evidence in major felony cases for a defendant’s lifetime
after police threw out body
swabs and the victim’s clothing. Supporters posted bond
for his release after MosesEL was transferred from the
prison where he was housed
for decades.
“I waited a long time for
this,” said Moses-EL, who
eagerly anticipated arriving
home to a special pizza “with
chopped shrimp and steak,
smothered in cheese,” and a
comfortable chair.
His spirituality kept him
from losing hope during 28
years of his 48-year sentence,
he said.
“And my innocence,” he
said. “That’s what really kept
me going.”
But still looming was the
prospect of a new trial. Prosecutors have not decided
whether to try Moses-EL
again, saying they are considering the age of the case and
the availability of witnesses.
A tentative trial date was set
for May, if prosecutors decide
to pursue new charges.
The case involved a woman
who was attacked after she
returned home from a night
of drinking. When police initially asked who assaulted
her, she named the man who
later confessed to having sex
with her.
More than a day after the
assault, while in the hospital,
the woman identified MosesEL as her attacker, saying
his face appeared to her in a
dream.
Moses-EL’s efforts to appeal his conviction were unsuccessful and the legal and
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political system repeatedly
failed him in his decades-long
attempt to win his freedom.
He won a legal bid for DNA
testing on the evidence to
clear his name, but Denver
police threw it away, saying
they didn’t see any notice
from prosecutors to hold on
to it.
In 2008, the governor, a
former Denver prosecutor,
objected to legislation that
would have given him a new
trial and that received widespread support from lawmakers.
Moses-EL’s break came
when L.C. Jackson, whom
the victim had initially identified as her rapist, wrote to
Moses-EL in 2013 saying
he had sex with the woman
that night. Jackson has not
been charged in this case but
is imprisoned for two other
rapes in 1992.
His attorney, Eric Klein,
said it would be foolish for
prosecutors not to dismiss
the case against an innocent
man. But, at least in his first
moments of freedom, MosesEL’s mind was elsewhere.
“I’m just glad to be home,”
he said. “That surpasses a
whole lot of things right now.”
Blade-Empire Wednesday, December 23, 2015 5
Sports
Second-ranked Jayhawks down Aztecs, 70-57
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Perry
Ellis and the No. 2 Kansas
Jayhawks were too much
for San Diego State.
For stretches Tuesday
night, they were way too
much.
Ellis scored 14 of his 20
points in the first half and
the Jayhawks won 70-57,
faltering just a bit in the
second half.
A few days ago, coach
Bill Self said he thinks Ellis
can be an All-American.
“This was the best he’s
been,” Self said. “I’ll be real
candid with you. We’ve said
all along he’s been OK. But
he hasn’t been great by any
stretch. But I thought
tonight was the most
aggressive he’d been all
year long. Hopefully that’s a
big step in the right direction because we’re going to
have play through him.
He’s going to have to be a
low-post scorer for us.”
Kansas
(10-1),
outmatched the Aztecs (7-6)
from the start and took a
16-point lead with 4 minutes before halftime.
SDSU closed within four
points twice in the second
half. Each time, though,
Kansas used its talent and
size advantages to pull
away.
Ellis had scored all 14 of
his first-half points just
more than 11 minutes in.
His 3-pointer with 8:52
before halftime gave the
Jayhawks a 26-13 lead. He
had another 3-pointer earlier, as well as an assortment
of other jumpers.
Ellis said Self is “always
challenging me and that’s
making me a better player.
Wildcats defeat
North Dakota
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP)
— When Barry Brown
scored a season-high 18
points in the third game of
the season, he quickly had
the expectations of a true
scoring threat for Kanas
State. But then the freshman went cold, shooting 8
of 39 from the field in a
span of seven games.
Yet Brown snapped the
slump on Tuesday night,
scoring 15 points with
three 3-pointers to lead
Kansas State to a 63-49
victory over North Dakota.
Wesley Iwundu added
11
points
with
five
rebounds
and
three
assists for Kansas State
(9-2). Justin Edwards
scored all eight of his
points in the second half
as five players scored eight
points or more for the
Wildcats.
“Coaches
just
keep
telling me to keep shooting,” Brown said. I’ve been
in the gym trying to get my
shot back and things paid
off.”
Brown was 6 of 10 from
the
field
with
two
rebounds, two assists and
three steals to help the
Wildcats remain unbeaten
(6-0) at home.
“We’ve said as a staff,
one of the keys to our team
would
be
Barry’s
progress,” Kansas State
coach Bruce Weber said.
“He’s shown signs in practice he can make shots.”
Drick Bernstine had 13
points and 13 rebounds to
lead North Dakota (5-6),
which was without leading
scorer Quinton Hooker
due to a foot injury.
Poor shooting plagued
both Kansas State and
North Dakota in the first
half as the two teams combined to shoot 18 of 50
from the field to go along
with 19 turnovers. The
start
echoed
Kansas
State’s cold shooting in its
last win over Colorado
State. The Wildcats trailed
8-4 before striking an 11-0
run.
North Dakota had five
consecutive scores to take
a 19-15 lead with 5:13 left
in the first half. Kansas
State closed the first half
on a 9-2 run to take a 2421 halftime lead.
A trio of 3-pointers early
in the second half from
Kamau
Stokes
and
Edwards sparked an 11-0
run to stretch the Wildcats’ lead to 38-27 with
15:12 left. North Dakota
pulled to 51-46 with less
than five minutes to play.
An Iwundu offensive
rebound, one of 20 for
Kansas State, led to a putback to give the Wildcats a
10-point lead with 1:18
left.
TIP-INS
Kansas State: The first
meeting between the two
teams came in Bruce
Weber’s first game as
coach of the Wildcats, an
85-52 win at home on Nov.
9, 2012. . D.J. Johnson
scored six points and
grabbed seven rebounds
after missing the second
half
against
Colorado
State on Dec. 19 due to
aggravating a foot injury
that caused him to miss all
of last season.
North Dakota: Returns
two starters from a team
that posted an 8-22 record
last season. . Quinton
Hooker was averaging 17
points per game before
injuring his foot, and had
scored in double figures in
16 straight games dating
back to last season.
UP NEXT
Kansas State hosts
Saint Louis on Dec. 29.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) —
Ron Baker scored 17 points
and Wichita State set a
school record with 44 made
free throws in a 98-69 victory over Nevada on Tuesday
night.
The Shockers were 44 of
62 from the stripe (71 percent),
including
John
Robert Simon’s record-setting make with 44 seconds
left.
Wichita State’s previous
record was 40 — set in 1967
and 1986.
Fred VanVleet and Zach
Brown added 13 points
apiece for Wichita State (65). The duo each made double-digit free throws —
combining for 21-of-24
shooting. Baker made all
seven of his free throw
attempts and Shaquille
Morris added 12 points.
Wichita State led 44-29
at halftime and extended to
59-35 after Baker scored
eight points during a 13-2
run.
Eric Cooper Jr. led Nevada (8-4) with 16 points and
Marqueze Coleman added
10. The Wolf Pack converted
21 of 31 free throws.
Shockers roll past
Nevada, 98-69
So I try to come out and
attack and good things will
happen knocking down
some shots.”
The Jayhawks took San
Diego State’s loud crowd
out of the game by dominating early.
KU’s biggest lead was 3519 after a fallaway jumper
by Frank Mason III. It was
39-27 at halftime.
Mason scored 12 points
and Wayne Selden Jr. and
Devonte’ Graham had 10
apiece for the Jayhawks,
whose only loss was to No.
1 Michigan State on Nov.
17.
Zylan Cheatham scored
12 and Jeremy Hemsley 10
for SDSU, which was coming off a stunning home
loss to Grand Canyon,
which is in just its third
year in Division I.
“We played a team
tonight that there’s nobody,
in my opinion, in the country better than,” SDSU
coach Steve Fisher said.
“They’re good in so many
ways. They’re well-coached
and they can run body after
body after body on you, and
not lose, and usually gain,
a step when they go to the
bench.”
San Diego State came
out with more energy in the
second half, getting back
into the game with dunks
by Skylar Spencer and
Cheatham, and a jumper by
Winston
Shepard
that
made it 41-33.
The Aztecs then closed to
43-39 after Shepard and
Cheatham each made two
free throws.
SDSU could have pulled
within a basket but Hems-
ley missed a layup after
stealing the ball, and Shepard missed a dunk attempt
off the rebound.
Jamari Traylor made two
free throws for Kansas
before Spencer had a slam
dunk to once again get the
Aztecs within four.
That was as close as
they’d get. Selden hit a 3pointer and then made a
layup, and Brannen Greene
hit a 3-pointer for a 53-41
lead with 10:06 to go.
“They cut it to four and
we really hunkered down
and defended and got some
stops and pushed the lead
back,” Ellis said.
KU held SDSU to 37-percent shooting while making
42.6 percent of its shots.
“Effort and energy and
playing hard were no
issue,” Fisher said. “Making
baskets and getting enough
baskets were the issue. We
made a nice run to start the
second half, cut it to four,
and like really good teams
do — really good teams —
they took a hard hit, took a
left hand to the head, but
came back themselves with
a 1-2-3 on us.”
TIP-INS
Kansas: This was the
Jayhawks’ first true road
game. They are 4-1 in neutral-site games.
San Diego State: The
Aztecs couldn’t duplicate
their 61-57 upset victory at
Kansas on Jan. 5, 2014.
UP NEXT
Kansas hosts UC Irvine
next Tuesday night.
San Diego State hosts
Wyoming next Wednesday
night in a Mountain West
Conference opener.
Panthers have 10 selected to Pro Bowl
NEW YORK (AP) — Cam
Newton and the Carolina
Panthers are two wins
away from a perfect regular
season. They are also a perfect 10 when it comes to the
Pro Bowl.
The Panthers led the
NFL with 10 players selected for the All-Star game on
Tuesday.
Newton was picked for
the third time, and five of
the quarterback’s teammates were first-time selections, including cornerback
Josh Norman and linebacker Thomas Davis.
“It’s truly an honor to be
selected to the Pro Bowl,”
Davis said. “All the hard
work and dedication I’ve
put into the game has paid
off. I’m extremely excited
and I couldn’t be more
thankful to the fans who
took their time to vote me
in, as well as my fellow
players and coaches.
“To have 10 guys selected says a lot about our
team. It says a lot about
our fans and how highly
they thought of us this season, and I think it says a lot
about the way our season
has gone. I’m excited and
thankful to be part of the
10.”
Joining them will be center Ryan Kalil, who was
picked for the fifth time,
and
linebacker
Luke
Kuechly, who earned his
third selection.
Seattle, Arizona and New
England each had seven
players selected. Cincinnati
and Kansas City each had
five players.
Leading the way for the
Seahawks was quarterback
Russell Wilson, who was
the only member of the
offense picked. The rest of
the selections were defensive end Michael Bennett,
safety Kam Chancellor,
special teamer Tyler Lockett, cornerback Richard
Sherman,
safety
Earl
Thomas and linebacker
Bobby Wagner.
Patriots star Tom Brady
was selected for the 11th
time, most of any player
this year. Among the other
Patriots honored were tight
end Rob Gronkowski and
cornerback Malcolm Butler, whose last-minute
interception clinched New
England’s Super Bowl win
over Seattle.
NFC West champion Arizona was paced by quarterback
Carson
Palmer,
receiver Larry Fitzgerald
and cornerback Patrick
Peterson. In addition, safety Tyrann Mathieu was
selected, but will miss the
game after tearing his ACL
in Sunday’s win over
Philadelphia.
A.J.
receiver
Wide
Green, defensive tackle
Geno Atkins, tight end
Tyler Eifert, safety Reggie
Nelson and offensive tackle
Andrew Whitworth were
selected from Cincinnati.
It’s the most Bengals
selected since the 2005
season.
“I’m excited for our players who have been voted
in,” Bengals coach Marvin
Lewis said. “They are both
thrilled and honored to be
recognized. It’s a tribute to
their teammates and the
organization to have the
number selected today and
the high alternates.”
Raiders safety Charles
Woodson, who announced
on Monday that he will
retire after the season, was
selected for the ninth time.
Also selected was Giants
receiver Odell Beckham Jr.,
who has 91 catches for
1,396 yards and 13 touchdowns, tied for the league
lead. Beckham was given a
one-game suspension on
Monday for his conduct on
Sunday against Carolina,
when he drew three personal foul penalties.
players
Twenty-five
selected were first-timers,
including three rookies: the
Rams’ Todd Gurley, Lockett
and the Chiefs’ Marcus
Peters. Peters was one of
five Chiefs honored, including linebackers Tamba Hali
and Justin Houston and
safety Eric Berry, who was
diagnosed with lymphoma
and had to step away from
the game late in the 2014
season.
Hall of Famers Jerry
Rice and Michael Irvin will
serve as alumni team captains for their Pro Bowl
teams. The draft will be on
Jan. 27.
The Pro Bowl will be held
on Jan. 31 in Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.
McCaffrey is AP player of the year
Stanford running back
Christian McCaffrey is The
Associated Press college
football player of the year,
becoming the first nonHeisman Trophy winner to
earn the honor in six years.
McCaffrey was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy to Derrick Henry, but
received 29 of 60 votes from
the AP Top 25 media panel
to edge the Alabama running back.
Henry received 16 votes
and Clemson quarterback
Deshaun Watson was third
with 11. Navy quarterback
Keenan Reynolds and Oklahoma quarterback Baker
Mayfield each received two
votes.
The last time the AP player of the year was not the
Heisman winner was 2009.
That
season
Nebraska
defensive
tackle
Ndamukong Suh was the AP
voter’s choice while the
Heisman went to Alabama
running back Mark Ingram.
It is the fifth time overall
that the Heisman winner
and AP player of the year
went to different players.
McCaffrey is the first
Stanford player to win the
award since it was first
handed out in 1998 and
first running back to win it
since one of his football
heroes, Southern California’s Reggie Bush, did it in
2005.
“This award is a testament to all the efforts and
support of my teammates,
coaches, staff and the entire
Stanford football program,”
McCaffrey said in a statement to the AP on Tuesday.
The 200-pound sophomore was a revelation this
season and, like Bush, displayed an ability to dominate games in various ways.
He ran for 1,847 yards
(second-most in the nation
behind Henry) and eight
touchdowns,
caught
a
team-best 41 passes for 540
yards and four scores and
averaged 28.9 yards per
kickoff return with another
score. He also threw two
touchdown passes.
“What
is
Christian
McCaffrey? The answer is
football player,” Stanford
coach David Shaw said in a
recent interview. “It’s not
running back. It’s not
receiver. It’s not returner.
It’s football player. What do
you need for him to do?”
Add it all up and McCaffrey set the NCAA record for
all-purpose yards with
3,496 this season, breaking
the mark of 3,250 set by
Oklahoma State’s Barry
Sanders in 1988. McCaffrey
played two more games
than Sanders though he
had fewer total touches
when he passed the record.
“You can say he had the
best year in the history of
college football,” Shaw said.
McCaffrey, who is the son
of former Stanford and NFL
receiver Ed McCaffrey, can
also kick and punt though
he admits without much
consistency.
“(In high school) I had one
60 yard punt and I had one
negative-3-yard punt,” he
said.
Shaw said he is confident
McCaffrey could hold his
own on defense if necessary.
“One day we needed some
guys to flip over and be on
the scout team,” Shaw said.
“And he flipped over and
jumped over at corner. And
the back pedal was natural.
The plant and dive was natural. The flipping the hips to
run deep was natural. He
could be phenomenal at
that position, too.”
McCaffrey led the Cardinal (11-2) to a Pac-12 championship and their third
Rose Bowl appearance in
the last four year. Stanford
will play Iowa on Jan. 1 in
Pasadena, California.
His record-breaking season will make him one of the
favorites to win the Heisman
heading into the 2016 season. It will be a high stanto
match,
but
dard
McCaffrey said he has plenty left to prove.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich.
(AP)
—
Bryn
Forbes
responded just the way
Denzel Valentine expected.
If they couldn’t win a big
game together, as they had
so often, Forbes would have
to do enough for the two.
Behind Forbes’ career high 32 points, No. 1 Michigan
State
outlasted
Oakland 99-93 in overtime
on Tuesday night, the Spartans’ first game since
Valentine had minor knee
surgery on Monday morning.
“A lot of guys stepped
up,” Forbes said. “A lot of
guys did things they had to
do.”
No. 1 on that list was
Forbes, who hit seven 3s in
nine attempts, including
one in overtime that he celebrated by slapping hands
with former Michigan State
star Mateen Cleaves.
Eron Harris added 27
points for the Spartans (130), who locked up the best
start in school history after
trailing by as many as 15
points in the first half.
“I’m not really worried
about the points I scored,”
Harris said. “That’s what
I’m supposed to do. I’m just
glad I got to be part of the
win and making history.”
Kay Felder, the nation’s
No. 2 scorer, had 37 points
and nine assists for the
Golden Grizzlies (7-4). With
his 38 points in a win at
Washington, Felder had 75
points in less than 72
hours.
Michigan State turns back Oakland in OT
Central Valley Ag joins
Chipotle tweaking its in ownership of Agmark Financial Focus
What to Look For From a Financial Advisor
cooking methods
and Concordia Terminal
6 Blade-Empire, Wednesday, December 23, 2015
www.edwardjones.com
NEW YORK (AP) – After
an E. coli outbreak that
sickened more than 50 people, Chipotle is tweaking its
cooking methods.
Onions will be dipped in
boiling water to kill germs
before they’re chopped. Raw
chicken will be marinated
in re-sealable plastic bags,
rather than in bowls. Cilantro will be added to freshly
cooked rice so the heat gets
rid of microbes in the garnish.
“When you’re given a
project like this, you look
at the universe of hazards,”
said Mansour Samadpour,
CEO of IEH Laboratories,
which was hired by Chipotle
to tighten its procedures.
The changes mark a dramatic turn in fortunes for
Chipotle, which has surged
in popularity by touting its
“Food With Integrity” slogan. As it expanded to more
than 1,900 locations, the
company also sought to
draw a distinction between
itself and other fast-food
chains that executives said
use “chemical additives”
and “cheap artificial ingredients.”
Now, Chipotle Mexican
Grill Inc. may be suffering
from traits that helped define it. In its annual report
in February, the Denver
company noted it may be at
a higher risk for foodborne
illnesses because of its use
of “fresh produce and meats
rather than frozen,” and its
traditional cooking methods,” rather than “automation.”
The warning began coming to life this summer when
the chain was tied to foodborne illnesses in California
and Minnesota, although
those cases didn’t get as
much attention.
Then, at the end of Oc-
tober, E. coli cases were
reported in Oregon and
Washington, prompting the
company to shut down 43
restaurants in those states.
YouGov Brand Index said
customer perceptions about
Chipotle sank to their lowest
level since it began tracking
the company in 2007. That
was before additional cases
popped up in seven more
states.
In
November,
sales
crashed 16 percent. Then,
an unrelated norovirus outbreak sickened dozens of
students at Boston College.
And this week, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention reported five more
cases of E. coli in later November linked to Chipotle,
which it said might be part
of a different outbreak.
The CDC hasn’t identified
what triggered the E. coli
cases, and Chipotle executives say they may never be
able to identify what made
people sick.
In the meantime, the
company can’t risk waiting to figure out what went
wrong.
Chipotle
spokesman
Chris Arnold said many of
changes will be implemented in coming weeks, but
that the company doesn’t
expect the taste of its food
to suffer. Among the tweaks
the company is making:
–Cheese will now arrive in
restaurants shredded.
–Ingredients like onions
will be macerated with lemon or lime juice to kill germs.
–60 samples of every
2,000 pounds of steak will
be tested before it’s sent to
stores. A similar testing program will be implemented
for chicken in coming weeks.
Pork and barbacoa beef are
already delivered cooked in
sealed bags.
Thank You for Reading the Blade-Empire
AgMark LLC announced that Central Valley Ag will become a new owner and grain marketing member of AgMark LLC, which is currently owned by Farmway Co-op
Inc., Cloud County Co-op Elevator Association, Concordia
Terminal LLC, Randall Farmers Co-op Union and Pro-Ag
Marketing. The strategic arrangement between AgMark and
Central Valley Ag locations will increase grain movement
and marketing efficiencies for both organizations.
In addition, Concordia Terminal LLC announced that
Central Valley Ag has purchased a percentage of the Concordia grain terminal in Concordia KS which is currently
owned by Cloud County Co-op Elevator Association, Farmway Co- op Inc and Randall Farmers Co-op Union.
“Central Valley Ag has 11 Kansas locations which will
complement and expand our grain origination, marketing
and handling network,” said Mark Hafliger, president of AgMark. “The opportunity of additional cooperatives becoming part of AgMark will bring greater value to all owners and
ultimately the local producers.”
“Concordia Terminal LLC is pleased to have Central Valley Ag as an additional partner in the Concordia Train loading facility and look forward to working with the partners to
provide global market access for our producer members,”
said Mark Paul, president of Concordia Terminal LLC. “This
will help the members have access to global markets and
the logistics to better handle future harvest needs.”
“We believe this opportunity further demonstrates how
local cooperatives can work together to add value for their
members,” said Carl Dickinson, CEO of CVA. “We feel that
joining other cooperatives is a much better answer than
building duplicate assets.”
The effective dates of these transactions will occur in
early 2016. For additional information contact:
• Mark Hafliger, President AgMark LLC at 785-738-964
• Mark Paul, President Concordia Terminal LLC at 785243-2080
•Reed Nelsen, SVP Marketing Central Valley Ag at 402972-7924
•AgMark LLC 118 W Main Beloit, KS 67420 T 785-7389641 www.agmarkllc.com
AgMark LLC is a north central Kansas-based grain company headquartered in Beloit, Kansas that was created in
1999 to bring long-term grain marketing solutions to its
producer members. AgMark LLC is owned by Concordia
Terminal LLC and four farmer cooperatives: Farmway Coop, Inc. of Beloit; Cloud County Co-op Elevator Association of Concordia; Randall Farmers Co-op Union of Randall
and Pro-Ag Marketing of Kensington. For more information
about AgMark please visit our website at www.agmarkllc.
com.
About Concordia Terminal LLC
In 2015, the three owner cooperatives of AgMark Terminal LLC agreed to restructure the shuttle loading facility to
Concordia Terminal LLC. In 1999 when the Terminal was
constructed, it was the most automated and fastest train
loading facility in the Central United States being serviced
by the BNSF Railroad.
About Central Valley Ag
Central Valley Ag is a farmer-owned cooperative headquartered in York, NE. CVA is a forward-thinking leader in
grain, agronomy, feed and energy. CVA serves patrons from
its locations in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa.
You can find more information about Central Valley Ag
by visiting www.cvacoop.com
SEEKING GRAIN
TENDER DRIVERS
CONCORDIA
If you enjoy working outdoors and being part of a constantly evolving
agriculture industry, Farmway is seeking applicants for a full-time Tender
Driver based at Concordia. Operator duties include: Nurse truck operation/maintenance, filling NH3 and liquid trailers, loading fertilizer &
chemicals, service of product and location duties, assist at grain elevator
& back up rig operator and provide excellent customer service.
Preference is given to applicants with current CDL. Hazmat endorsement required or ability to obtain. Farmway offers competitive wages and
excellent benefits. Farmway is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Application deadline is December 21st. To apply, please contact Julie at 785-7380763 or send resume to:
Farmway Co-op, Inc.
Human Resource Dept
PO Box 568
Beloit KS 67420-0568
www.farmwaycoop.com
There’s a lot to know about investing, so it’s a good idea
to get some professional help. But with so many financial
advisors out there, how can you choose one that’s right for
you?
You may have to interview several prospective financial
advisors before deciding on one. When you talk to them,
see if you can get a sense of how they might work with you.
Specifically, try to answer the following questions:
Does this financial advisor …
… Understand you? Perhaps above all else, you want a
financial advisor who will take the time to get to know you
and your family, your goals and what’s important to you.
… Clearly explain investing? Once you enter the investment world, you will likely be curious about it. Why is diversification important? What’s a market correction? How
do interest rate movements affect different investments?
You will want to work with someone who will make the effort to educate you on investment topics and answer all
your questions.
… Know your investment style? Obviously, you’ll want
someone who will recommend only those investments that
are in your best interest and that can help you make progress toward your goals. Therefore, the person you choose
needs to understand your investment personality – that is,
whether you are an aggressive, moderate or conservative
investor.
… Have a certain investment philosophy? You may have
your own investment style and preferences – and so do
many financial advisors. In fact, some financial advisors
have an overriding investment philosophy that governs
many of their recommendations. You need to find this out
before you start working with someone.
… Communicate frequently? The most knowledgeable financial advisor in the world won’t be of much help to you if
he or she is not a good communicator. You need someone
who will regularly let you know if you’re on track or make
suggestions if you’re not – even if you aren’t scheduled to
meet for a while. And, speaking of conferring with your financial advisor, you’ll want someone who will meet with
you when it’s convenient for you, whether it’s in person or
over the phone.
… Avoid making big promises? You want a financial advisor with the expertise and experience necessary to help
you make the right moves. And you’ll want someone committed to your success. But there’s a big difference between
someone who promises to do the best possible job for you
and someone who promises big results. Be wary of financial
advisors who claim they can consistently achieve high returns for you – there are very few guarantees in the investment world.
… Explain how he or she will be compensated? Financial
advisors get paid in various ways, often in some combination of fees and commissions. Ask all potential financial
advisors how they get compensated; any reputable professional will be upfront about his or her charges.
By finding the answers to these key questions, you
should be able to find a financial advisor who is well-suited to work with you. So take the time you need to gather
enough information to feel confident in your choice. After
all, you’re enlisting the help of someone who can have a big
impact on your financial future.
Markets
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S.
stocks were solidly higher for a third straight day
on Wednesday, once again
helped by higher oil prices,
which lifted shares in oil and
gas companies.
KEEPING SCORE: The
Dow Jones industrial average was up 143 points, or
0.8 percent, to 17,560 as
of 12:10 p.m. Eastern. The
Standard & Poor’s 500 index
rose 19 points, or 1 percent,
to 2,059 and the Nasdaq
composite rose 29 points, or
0.7 percent, to 5,037.
With the gains in the last
three days, U.S. markets
have recovered roughly twothirds of the losses they in-
curred late last week. The
S&P 500 is back to breakeven for the year.
ENERGY: Oil prices rose
for a third day, bouncing
back from 11-year lows hit
earlier in the week, which
helped lift the battered energy sector.
U.S. crude futures jumped
$1.49, or 4.2 percent, to
$37.63 a barrel on the New
York Mercantile Exchange.
Brent crude, which is used
to price international oils,
added $1.09, or 3 percent, to
$37.20 a barrel in London.
LOCAL MARKETS -EAST
Wheat ...........................$4.18
Milo ......(per bushel) ....$3.10
Corn .............................$3.15
Soybeans .....................$8.22
CONCORDIA TERMINAL
LOADING FACILITY
LOCAL MARKETS - WEST
Wheat ..........................$4.18
Milo .....(per bushel) .....$3.10
JAMESTOWN MARKETS
Wheat ...........................$4.08
Milo ...(per bushel) ........$3.00
Soybeans .....................$8.12
Nusun .........................$14.15
For the
Record
Police Dept. Report
Theft—Lori West, Concordia, reported at 3:55
p.m., Dec. 22, a theft which
had occurred in the 200
block of East 5th. Investigation continues.