thekansan.com

Growing season Learning Center for Health in Halstead breaks ground for new building

By James JordanNewton Kansan — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

The Kansas Learning Center for Health broke ground on the Bailey Learning Center Annex Tuesday. Work is expected to start soon and they hope to be done by October or some time in the fall.

Dr. Colin Bailey, who the building is named after, said it was a huge milestone for the group. He has been board president for most of the fund-raising campaign.

"It is a great day," he said after the ceremony. "It is [...]

Commissioners discuss Halstead tax abatement

By Ashley Bergner?Newton Kansan — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Harvey County Commissioners discussed a tax abatement for Martin Machine and Welding in Halstead at their meeting Monday.

Earlier this month, the city of Halstead passed a resolution declaring their intent to grant a five-year tax abatement to the company, which offers machining, welding, cutting, fabrication, sandblasting and powder coating services.

The property receiving the tax abatement is at 201 Industrial Road, [...]

'Don't take their voice' Local CDDO urges state to carve intellectually/developmentally disabled out of KanCare

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:00 +0000

"Help us."

"Stop this."

"Don't take their voice from them."

Those were just a few of the notes written on a banner during a rally earlier this month in Topeka. Advocates for the intellectually/developmentally disabled hope the notes will send a strong message to state lawmakers, demonstrating why they think long-term care services for the disabled should be carved out of KanCare.

"I think families have good reasons to be afraid, [...]

Budget breakdown

By Ashley Bergner/Newton Kansan — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:23:00 +0000

$545,409

WHAT IT IS: The city of Newton's 2013 budget for the Meridian Center. The budget is up from the 2012 adopted budget of $508,231 and the 2011 budget of $344,387.

DEPARTMENT STATS: The Meridian Center is a 15,000 square foot facility available to rent for weddings, conferences, meetings and other events. The Meridian Center had its first full year of operation in 2012. The building has 8,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 450 people. The facility [...]

Officials discuss water issues

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Officials from across the state gathered Thursday at the Harvey County Courthouse to discuss water issues � conversations dominated, unsurprisingly, by the state's continuing drought.

According to Newton resident Byron Warta, who serves on a water-related committee and attended the meeting, western portions of the state have been hit particularly hard by a lack of moisture, and problems are likely to continue into the coming year.

"Yes, we've gotten some rain, but the rains [...]

Community Partnership to dissolve, but mission continues

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Although the Harvey County Community Partnership is going away, many of the organization's services will live on through other agencies.

The board of directors for the Harvey County Community Partnership announced the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization�s dissolution will be effective June 30. Paperwork for the intent to dissolve was mailed to the Kansas Secretary of State�s office at the end of March. The partnership no longer has regular office hours and has closed its public phone [...]

Commission passes group residence ordinance

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:51:52

Newton City Commissioners voted in approval of a group residence ordinance � guidelines that will ultimately have an impact on the community�s homeless shelter debate.

After hearing comments from representatives on both sides of the issue at the Tuesday night commission meeting, commissioners unanimously passed the ordinance. The ordinance formally establishes what a "group residence," such as a homeless shelter, is, and how such residences will be authorized to operate in [...]

Burning passion

By Chad Frey — Thu, 16 May 2013 1:01:00 +0000

Newton Kansan

Barbara Burns thinks about the list of former Newton High School students honored with induction into the Lifetime Achievement Hall of Fame, and wonders if she fits in. Those names on the wall, at least many of them, are familiar. She wrote nomination forms for many of them.

"This is intriguing," Burns said. "It was my world to write those things. It is affirming to be on the other side."

Burns will be honored at a brunch on Saturday and [...]

Fed inmates bring in thousands in revenue

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Without the revenue brought in by federal inmates, monthly operating expenses for the Harvey County Detention Center could be more than $70,000 higher � placing a greater strain on the department's budget.

"That's a huge difference," Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton reported during Monday's Harvey County Commission meeting. "The federal inmate program brings in a lot of money and reduces costs."

Walton shared statistics with the commissioners about the [...]

Officials form courthouse security committee

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:23:00 +0000

Courthouse shootings have become an all-too-common headline in recent history. And while Harvey County officials hope an event like that never happens locally, they have put together a committee to start discussing courthouse security concerns and what steps the county should take to minimize risks.

"Our attitude for so long has been, 'This is Harvey County � that won't happen here,'" Sheriff T. Walton said. "But in every county that has happened, it still happened there. [...]

Budget breakdown

By Ashley Bergner/Newton Kansan — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:23:00 +0000

$707,819

WHAT IT IS: The city of Newton's 2013 adopted budget for the Newton Public Library. The figure above reflects only the city's direct contribution to the library and may not include all resources received by the library. The city funding is up from the 2012 adopted budget of $703,880 and the 2011 budget of $695,653.

HISTORY: In 1886, community members voted in a special election to establish the "Newton Free Library." The library's name was changed to the [...]

Rail service takes big step forward

By James Jordan Newton Kansan — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

WICHITA - The dream of passenger rail service from Oklahoma City to Wichita and Newton, took a big�step forward Friday with announcements at the Union Station in Wichita. The Kansas Dept. of Transportation has committed $3 million of a needed $5 million for studies needed to get the project going.

Also KDOT has given Wichita the go-ahead to pursue $90 million in federal funding, which would make the long held dream a reality.

State Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick,�was part of [...]

Church owned thrift store donates to charities

Special to the Kansan — Sat, 11 May 2013 1:01:00 +0000

Jan Jones, director of the Harvey County Safe House, has seen lots of families in crisis?and the numbers are growing. That�s why a recent $5,000 grant from Newton Et Cetera Shop, a local thrift store, couldn�t have come at a better time.

�During this last year, our shelter services for families have increased 37 percent,� says Jones. �We�re using air mattresses in the Safe House�s living room to provide a safe place for families. From January to March of this year, the Safe House [...]

Around town

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:01:00 +0000

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Book signing this weekend

Local authors Dena Bisnette and Joe Gilliam recenlty released the book "Newton" as part of the Images of America series from Arcadia Publishing.

The pictorial history boasts more than 200 vintage images and provides readers with an opportunity to reconnect with the history that shaped their community

The authors will host a book signing from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Anderson Book and Supply, 627 North Main.

Alumni [...]

Commissioners hear community corrections update

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Wed, 8 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The goal of Harvey County's community corrections program is to give offenders a second chance at life, to break a cycle of bad habits that led to their conviction in the first place.

However, Janet Cagle, director of Harvey/McPherson Counties Community Corrections, said that cycle is a tough one to break, and these problems � especially drug addictions � present the program with some of its biggest challenges.

"We battle every year with trying to get our high-risk [...]

County oral health coalition to meet

Mon, 6 May 2013 17:43:00 +0000

The Harvey County Oral Health Coalition will meet on Wednesday, May 8, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. to plan projects for improving local oral health. Meet at Cooper Early Education Center, Room 208, 816 Oak, Newton. Open to the public. More information: 772-2513 or 323-7236.

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Budget breakdown

By Ashley Bergner/Newton Kansan — Mon, 6 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

$534,297

WHAT IT IS: The city of Newton's 2013 budget for the law department. The budget is up from the 2012 adopted budget of $517,839 and the 2011 budget of $476,730.

DEPARTMENT STATS: The city attorney is the chief legal representative of the city and provides legal advice and assistance to the City Commission and the city manager. Issues addressed include: federal and state laws and agencies that regulate or impact local government; drafting ordinances and resolutions; and [...]

Commissioners talk zoning ordinances

By Ashley Bergner Newton Kansan — Thu, 2 May 2013 13:22:00 +0000

At a special work session Tuesday evening, Newton City Commissioners talked about two zoning ordinances � including one dealing with homeless shelters, a topic that has generated considerable discussion and debate in the community throughout the past year.

Commissioners looked at draft versions of the zoning ordinances: one about regulations for the siting of telecommunications towers and antennas, and one about regulations for the siting of group residence facilities (which would [...]

Fire contained in second story of home

By Chad Frey Newton Kansan — Thu, 2 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

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Newton Fire/EMS responded to a house fire at about 7 p.m. Monday in the 300 block of North Elm.�A two-story home was ablaze when they arrived.

All six family members who were home at the time of the fire escaped without injury.

"There were six people at home inside when it started � two adults and four children. They were able to all get out prior to our arrival," said Scott Metzler of Newton Fire/EMS. "We were able to stop the fire in the rooms of origin � [...]

Grant to help expand export markets

By Chad Frey Newton Kansan — Thu, 2 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

About a dozen community and business leaders attended a meeting at the Meridian Center Tuesday to learn more about global trade � and why exports are part of a healthy economy.

"Your future, as a company, is outside of the U.S.," said Karyn Paige, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Global Trade Services. She was armed with statistics to make that case.

For example, 95 percent of the world population lives outside of the United States. World trade has grown [...]