Volume 125, Number 40
Thursday, October 4, 2012
18 Pages, 70 Cents Plus Tax Per Copy
Prepare a home fire escape plan As the weather in Kansas starts turning cold, the risk of fire increases significantly. Yet, only 23 percent of households have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. National Fire Prevention Week is October 7 to 13 and this year’s theme, “Have 2 Ways Out”, focuses on the importance of fire escape planning and practice. A home fire escape plan prepares your family to get out quickly when the smoke alarm sounds. Having two ways out is an important part of your plan in case your first escape route is blocked by smoke or flames. Safe Kids is joining the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to urge families to develop and practice a fire escape plan, as well as to take active measures to help prevent fires in their homes. Approximately 80 percent of all fire-related deaths and injuries occur in the home, and young children are at a particularly high risk because they don’t perceive danger as readily and can lack the ability to escape a lifethreatening fire situation. “Having a working smoke alarm reduces a person’s chances of dying in a fire by nearly half,” said Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas. “It is important to have a working smoke alarm on each level
of the home and outside of each sleeping area, but being alerted to a fire is only the first step. Your family must know how to escape a fire to a safe location outside the home. Making and practicing a fire escape plan helps ensure your family members know just what to do.” Important tips for escape planning • Make a home escape plan. Draw a map of your home showing all doors and windows. Talk about the plan with everyone in your home. • Practice your fire escape plan with at least two ways out of each room. • Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from the home where everyone should meet. • Practice your home fire drill at night and during the day, twice a year. • Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them. • Once there is a fire, get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people or pets. • Teach kids how to get low and go if they hear the smoke alarm, smell smoke or see flames. • Call the fire department only when you are safely outside your home. The best way to stay safe from fire is to prevent it. Here are a few fire prevention tips: • Keep matches, gasoline and lighters locked away,
out of children’s reach and sight. • Never leave the kitchen while you are cooking. Use back burners and turn pot handles to the back of the stove when cooking. • Never leave a burning candle unattended. Place candles in a safe location away from combustible materials and where children or pets cannot tip them over. • Place space heaters at least three feet from curtains, papers, furniture and other flammable materials. Always turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. • Test all smoke alarms every month and change the batteries once a year, even if they are hardwired. Smoke alarms are also available with tenyear lithium batteries. • Consider a home sprinkler system. The combination of smoke alarms and sprinklers can reduce your chances of dying in a fire by 82 percent. NFPA has organized National Fire Prevention Week annually since 1922, for more details visit www.firepreventionweek. org. For more information about fire safety for children and families, as well as helpful tips and videos, visit www.safekids.org. Visit us at www.safekid skansas.org and on Facebook.
Fall is beginning to paint its colors on this tree in the front yard of Richard and Linda Barnes. The leaves are changing gradually from green
Act now to protect against the flu The 2012-2013 influenza season is here and supplies of flu vaccine are now available in the state of Kansas. Some healthcare providers have alstarted flu ready immunization clinics and will continue to offer the vaccine throughout the influenza season. The timing and severity of the flu season are difficult to predict and vary from year to year. Stevens County The Health Department will be having a seasonal flu shot clinic Thursday, October 11 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. “By getting your flu vaccine before you see or hear about the first case of flu in your community, you
Commissioners hear about phone lines and waste water The Stevens County Commissioners met in regular session Monday morning, October 1, 2012 with all members, David Bozone, Gary Baker and James Bell present. Also present were County Counselor Bob Johnson, County Clerk Pam Bensel and RoGlenda Coulter from The Hugoton Hermes. The following is just an agenda for the day with a few of the unofficial highlights. Official minutes will be published at a later date. When this reporter arrived the commissioners had already heard from Roger Lynch from Zoning and Rodney Kelling from Stevens County Emergency Services. JC Cantrell from Road and Bridge came in with his report from his department. He talked in detail about the phone lines and where they will be installed in the lots east of Hugoton. Commissioners are concerned for future building that the right-of-ways not be in the way. It was decided to wait and talk more to Pete Earles when he arrived at 11:00. Bob checked out some details in the matter also. JC also talked about the recent rains making it possible to
see where culverts are needed in the newly constructed streets east of town. When Dave asked, JC said he will probably need approximately four. The commissioners moved into executive session. When they returned Ashley Fiss and Tony McBride came in to talk about the Physical Therapy, Community Health and EMS Bathroom project they are working on for the old manor. They had some quotes to present to the commissioners for moving the mechanical, electrical and miscellaneous items at the old manor in preparation for the asbestos removal. The commissioners made the motion and passed it to accept the three low bids they were presented. Tony said there may be some value to the concrete they will be taking out. He said it may be a better deal made for the commissioners if the concrete is given away than if just hauled to the landfill. Steel will have to be removed from this and sold for a small amount. He suggested that whoever does the demolition be responsible for the removal of the material. They agreed to allow this. Engineer assessment: four options
were given for the commissioners to check out. Trevor at the old manor, as well as Tony, suggested Option Four as the best one. Ashley also agreed. One of the options would put mechanical items on the roof. They all agreed this would not be a good idea. The electrical engineer recommends not using the old wiring and plumbing in the old manor, being that most of it is from 1963. Commissioners asked Pam to check how much is left in the building fund. She brought back the numbers for the commissioners to look over. After much discussion motion was made and passed to accept Option Four. Tony updated the commissioners about the landscaping at the new manor. Chuck will be bringing in some more dirt for the ponding situation. He moved back the time of delivery of the replacement trees for when temperatures get a little cooler yet. Ashley then brought up the survey for the parking lot elevations. Motion was made and passed to allow the survey. Commissioners talked to Tony about some additional charges at the new manor for water heater
to gold and yellow. The moisture that has been received and the cool temperatures will continue to bring out the beautiful colors.
boosters. Motion was made and passed to pay this bill. Much discussion followed about other matters at the manor. Tony was asked if there are any other late bills. He doesn’t know of anything else. Ted Heaton from the Sheriff’s Department said everything is good at his department. Numbers are down on prisoners at this time. Also the flu has been running its course with his dispatchers. Janet Smith came in to talk about the complaint against them for driving their truck down an alley to park it. They think they have everything worked out at this time and a new plan for a way to park the truck that will not tear up the road or property. The commissioners said that was their main part of the situation and jurisdictions. They just want to try to work with everyone concerned. Gary reported about a meeting he attended recently. Pete Earles came in about easements for the subdivision. They all discussed the phone lines. He feels they will be fine next to the gas lines. Neal Gillespie came in and joined the Continued to page 3
give yourself and your family the best opportunity to stay flu-free throughout the season,” said Ryan Burns, KDHE Director of Immunization. “Although influenza can occur at any time, October is often thought of as the start of flu season, so acting now is a great way to get that protection.” This fall, most everyone six months and older should get vaccinated against flu, even if they were vaccinated last season. By getting the flu vaccine, you can protect yourself from influenza and may also avoid spreading influenza to others. It takes about two weeks after the vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. There are two types of influenza vaccines recommended by the CDC: • The first is an attenuated influenza vaccine that contains live but weakened influenza virus and is sprayed into the nostrils. If you’re between two and 49 years of age and not pregnant, ask your health provider about the nasal spray vaccine. It’s
just as safe and just as effective as the injection, and it may be the right vaccine for you. • The second is the inactivated (killed) influenza vaccine, or “flu shot,” which is given by injection with a needle. There are three types of “flu shots” available: *a regular flu shot approved for people ages six months and older *a high-dose flu shot approved for people 65 and older, and *an intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 to 64 years of age For the 2012-2013 season, manufacturers have projected they will produce between 146 million and 149 million doses of flu vaccine. During 20112012, 132.8 million doses of flu vaccine were distributed in the U.S. Contact the Stevens County Health Department at 1042 S. Jackson or visit the HealthMap Vaccine Finder at http://flushot.healthmap. org/ to find a flu vaccination provider in your area. If you would like more information on seasonal influenza, go to http:// www.kdheks.gov/flu/inde x.html.
The clouds seem to also be celebrating the recent rain in Stevens County. This is a sight west of Hugoton that has not been seen in a very long time. It is a ditch five miles west of Hugoton where in a couple of days a little more than two inches of rain were measured last week!! Hallelujah!!!