Lyons team third at State Debate
Lyons High’s tandem of Dawn Thompson and Will Brayton display a third-place trophy from Two-Speaker Debate at Goddard High.
By Jim Misunas
GODDARD -- Lyons High’s entry of Dawn Thompson and Will Brayton pushed the eventual state champions from Sterling.
Thompson and Brayton lost a 2-1 decision to Sterling’s top team in the semifinals. and placed third at Two-Speaker State Debate at Goddard High School.
“It was fun. Sterling’s top team was the best team we faced,” Thompson said. “We were very pleased we were rewarded for the hard work. We owe our coach (Chris Hinshaw) a lot.”
Brayton said, “If this tells us anything it’s that hard work pays off.”
By the time the tournament was over, Thompson and Brayton faced all four Sterling entries, including the semifinals.
“While Thompson and Brayton did not advance they were the only team that won a ballot from the Sterling pair, who eventually won the tournament,” said Chris Hinshaw, Lyons debate coach.
Debate teams argued the affirmative and negative sides of the question of whether the United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States.
Thompson and Brayton argued the affirmative side all four times against Sterling.
“We had a choice one time and we choose affirmative,” Thompson said. “We were more comfortable arguing affirmative and we had answers to everything. But Sterling definitely knew our arguments by the end of the day.”
Brayton said one of his goals was to match his sister’s success at state and he achieved that with a third-place finish.
LOG-IN to read rest of the story
Rice County Relay to kick off
Each year since 1984, people who care have gotten involved in their communities to raise funds for the American Cancer Society through Relay For Life.
The funds raised are used to help find cures through research, provide cancer patients with financial help fur needed medical treatment and educate the public with awareness programs.
The local Relay For Life planning committee invites Rice County businesses, residents, relay teams and cancer survivors to their Kickoff Party.
Each year, Relay For Life begins fund-raising activities with a Kickoff Party.
The 2010 Kickoff Party is scheduled at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31 at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 221 S. Pioneer.
LOG-IN to read rest of the story
Sterling is Two-Speaker debate state champion
By Jim Misunas
GODDARD – Sterling High’s tradition of state debate champions is alive and well.
Anna Brashear and Taylor Fair completed a remarkable 9-0 run to a Two-Speaker State Debate championships.
Brashear, a junior, and Fair, a sophomore, dropped only two speaker points and won eight of nine in elimination rounds. Brashear placed third last year.
They won against: Hoisington, Chaparral, Rock Creek (twice), Wichita Collegiate, Ellinwood in prelims. They beat Moundridge 3-0 in the quarterfinals, 2-1 over Lyons in the semifinals and 3-0 over Ellinwood in the finals.
LOG-IN to read rest of the story
Updated 1/19/10
Lyons team a state debate qualifier
Lyons High’s Will Brayton and Dawn Thompson compete Jan. 22-23 at Goddard High School in 2-Speaker Debate.
By Jim Misunas
Lyons High debate coach Chris Hinshaw believes the tandem of Will Brayton and Dawn Thompson is a well balanced State entry.
They qualified for Two-Speaker State Debate Jan. 22-23 at Goddard High School.
Debate teams argue the affirmative and negative sides of the question of whether the United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty in the United States.
Brayton joined Paige Beveridge, Katy Dellinger and Kelly Johnson in Four-Speaker State Debate in 2009. Brayton prefers the negative side of the question. Thompson, a first-year debater, likes the affirmative side.
“Affirmative is more of a comfort zone for younger debaters because they can predict what will be argued,” Hinshaw said. “Negative is more of an educated guess of what will work. Negative strategies are things that develop from experience and that is one thing this year’s squad is light on.”
LOG-IN to read rest of the story
■ Medicaid Services
By Dave Ranney
TOPEKA — More than 5,700 Kansans with physical or developmental disabilities are waiting for Medicaid-funded services designed to help keep them out of a nursing home or state hospital.
About 2,000 people on the waiting list are developmentally disabled children or adults who are receiving some government-funded services but are waiting for others for which they are eligible.
But almost 3,800 of the disabled are receiving none of the assistance for which they are eligible and it is not uncommon for a person to wait years before the services become available.
“No one would stand for 4,000 kids on a waiting list to get into kindergarten but somehow a 4,000-plus waiting list for people with disabilities is seen as acceptable,” said Tom Laing, executive director for Interhab, an association representing most of the state’s community based programs for people with developmental disabilities. “I see this as a sheer act of discrimination on the state’s part.”
LOG-IN to read rest of the story
Local woman on state
waiting list for help
Doris Baker of Lyons finds comfort from her cat J.B.
By Dave Ranney
KHI News Service
Doris Baker, 60, said she needs help if she is to continue rearing her granddaughter.
The Lyons woman takes care of her granddaughter, Saedra Walters, 17. Walters’ parents, because of a number of personal problems, are not involved in her life anymore, Baker said.
The girl’s father, Baker’s son, is serving time in prison in Arkansas for murder. Baker said her son’s deadly actions were attributed to post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I have complete custody of her,” Baker said. “She’s amazing. She’s an honor student, she’s in band, she has people offering her scholarships to go to college.”
Baker said she has been divorced for about 30 years. She’s been raising her granddaughter alone for the last eight years.
Baker is a former nurse who has diabetes, arthritis and a bad heart. She has trouble breathing and is losing her eyesight.
“I was a nurse for 28 years, but I had to give it up because I got to the point where I couldn’t read the labels anymore,” she said. “I didn’t want to give somebody the wrong prescription. After that, I did convenience store work for as long as I could.”
She and Saedra now live on Baker’s disability check and food stamps.
LOG-IN to read rest of the story
Board Goal Achieved
Site councils convene
By Jim Misunas
The Lyons USD 405 site councils recently talked about drug and alcohol issues.
The joint site councils of Park and Central Elementary, Lyons Middle School and Lyons High School discussed drugs and alcohol issues to achieve a goal established by the school board.
The site councils meet once a month during the school year. Members include parents, teachers and business people.
“It was decided that an ad-hoc committee be formed and it was great to see that accomplished,” said Gary Sechrist, USD 405 superintendent. “The next step when the site councils meet on their own would be to come up a plan and continue that dialogue.”
Chamber seeks nominations
Nominations are being sought for the Annual Lyons Chamber of Commerce “Distinguished Service Awards.”
The award will be made at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, Feb. 8. Persons wishing to submit a nomination are asked to do so in the next week, according to Shannon Young, Chamber manager.
The award stresses volunteer service to the community. It is not designed to recognize one particular activity, but emphasizes on service to the community in many fields over a number of years. As such, it differs from a “Citizen of the Year” recognition.
The award began in 1968, and the first recipient was Mike Hoss. Others, in chronological order were Art Poland, H.H. Snyder, Arthur Hodgson, Robert Briscoe, Joe Evans, Walter Pile, Henry Froning, Bill Fry, Clyde Ernst, John Buller, Dale Evans, Ralph Jones, Dr. L. Thane Frazier, Jack Janssen, Dr. C. W. Downing, Joe Fink, Jim Miller, Ansel Tobias, Dewey Breese, Bette Kennedy, Paul Jones, Don Turner, Charles Milburn, Arnold Cline, Dan Hannah, John Sayler, Dwayne Edwards, Bill Griffis, Scott Sherman, George Purdy, Charlotte Chew, Dr. Roger Tobias, Dale Snyder, Larry & Carol Frisbie, Kenny Hass, Les Alderman, Arleen Branson, Mike Hunt, Jack Wempe and Craig Zwick.
The nominations may be left at the Chamber office or mailed to P.O. Box 127. They may also be given to any Chamber Ambassador.
Rice County’s H1N1
vaccine distributedEmployees at the Rice County Health Department were busy passing out vaccine for the H1NI virus Friday and Saturday.
Marci Leake, Rice County health care administrator, said the health department was busy Friday with more than 40 doses distributed in an hour.
An additional 35 doses were distributed during Saturday’s county-wide vaccination clinic is scheduled at the health department, 1486 U.S. 56.
“You never know how busy you will be -- but Friday’s cold weather didn’t keep anyone away,” Leake said. “With Saturday’s milder weather, we were not nearly as busy.”
There is no charge for the H1N1 vaccinations. The H1N1 vaccine is available from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Children can also receive the vaccine from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday and Friday and 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays.
People who are covered by Medicare should present their cards at the time of their immunization. Medicare will reimburse for the cost of administering the vaccine.
“We will have the injectable and nasal (inhaled) vaccine available,” said Leake.
Persons receiving the nasal vaccine must be between the ages of 2 and 49 and in good health. Anyone who is pregnant or has chronic medical conditions must receive the injected vaccine.
The vaccine can be administered to those with a mild-moderate illness without fever.
call 257-2171.
Applications Accepted
Housing money availableBy Jim Misunas
Applications are available for $375,000 in funding for Rice County through the state’s housing rehabilitation program.
Rice County was approved for $275,000 in funding and the city of Lyons was approved for $100,000 in funding by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.
Jill Nichols, Rice County economic developer director, and representatives of the 10 successful appicants will attend state-wide training Feb. 11 in Topeka.
Applications are available at Nichols office at the Rice County Courthouse, or by calling Nichols at (620) 257-8441.
The application is available on-line at sckedd.org/HOME.html.
The application process involves qualifying through income guidelines and work must be approved by an inspecor contracted through South Central Kansas Economic Development District of Wichita. Jodi Suhler of Lyons is one of the insspectors.
"The money is passed out on a first-come, first-serve basis," Nichols said. "Anyone who meets income guidelines who would like to do improvements, can apply."
2009 Home Grant income guidelines are: 1 person, $29,300; 2 people, $33,500; 3 people,$37,650; 4 people, $41,850; 5 people, $45,200; 6 people, $48,550; 7 people, $51,900; and 8 people, $55,250.
Gloria McDowell of SCKEDD will be the grant administrator.
Projects can range from $1,000 to $25,000 and must be completed within three years. Rice County has provided $40,000 in matching funds. Nichols said that money can be also be enhanced by weatherization money.
Trish McAllister, program manager for homeowner rehabilitation said Lyons and Rice County were two of 10 applicants approved for $2.13 million in funding over a three-year period.
The funding will
facilitate the renovation, accessibility and weatherization of unsafe housing. The funds, made possible by the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program, help low-income residents make home improvements, bring homes up to code and eliminate other health and safety hazards.
“A win-win for the homeowner and community, this is a great program for families and individuals who need assistance making their homes safer,” said McAllister.
Local municipalities distribute the rehab grants in the form of deferred loans. Homeowners are allowed to make emergency and exterior repairs.
However, cosmetic improvements are not permitted. The loans are non-interest bearing, requiring repayment only if the property is sold within three-years.
McAllister said projects approved by the city of Lyons and Rice County must have the entire property updated to minimum housing quality standards when the project is completed.
The city of Lyons has been ablle to rehabilitate 51 homes, we’re working on three homes and can do about 13 more homes with the funds we have in hand. The city of Lyons has received $1.6 million on housing programs since 2004.
SEE GRANT, Page 2
The city of Lyons completed 15 homes for rehabilitation for two homes for demolition for $290,825 in 2005 through the Kansas Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant housing Rehabilitation.
The Kansas Housing Resource Commission Urban Development Home Investment Partnerships Program has generated $300,000 for 15 homes in 2004; $316,627 for 14 homes in 2005; $150,000 for seven homes in 2006; $250,000 for three current projects for 2008. In addition, weatherization grants for homeowner or renters over 50 generated $100,000 and the FHLB bank grant for low to moderate income housing rehabilitation generated $135,000.
Grandson critically
injured in MarylandKeegan Laessig, 17, grandson of Paul and Judy Jones and great-grandson of Dorothy Matlack, all of Lyons, was critically injured in a single-car accident Saturday morning in St. Mary's County, Md.
He sustained a head injury and broken left arm and is in a coma. He is in critical, but stable condition at the University of Maryland Medical Center Shock Trauma Unit in Baltimore.
Keegan is the son of former Lyons residents, Cynthia Laessig of California, Md. and Todd Laessig of Memphis, Tenn.
A page has been set up to provide updates on Keegan at: www.caringbridge.org, keeganlaessig. Cards, letters and pictures may be sent to: University of Maryland Medical Center, Shock Trama Unit, 22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, Md., 21201, Attention: Keegan Laessig, 4 South - Room 21.Melba Gleason won the Brainteasers and More basket the Lyons Public Library food basket fund-raiser. Other winners were The Magic of Movies—Gladys Ritterhouse; Pamper Me Softly—Wanda Reid; Western Roundup—Cheryl Bernhardt; Dog Lovers Delight—Rosie Davis; Teen Mania—Ryan Birzer. The event raised $308.
