TOURNEY RESULTS
BROWNBACK IN LEAVENWORTH
Chieftain basketball teams wrap up Tonganoxie Invitational PAGE 12
Governor outlines tax proposal/Page 3
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MIRROR
JANUARY 25, 2012 | TONGANOXIEMIRROR.COM | TONGANOXIE, KANSAS
75 CENTS
UP FOR DEBATE
Search moves forward BY SHAWN LINENBERGER SLINENBERGER@THEWORLDCO.INFO
Finding a new home for the Tonganoxie Police Department — or renovating the current site at Fourth and Delaware streets — has been an ongoing process for more than a year. Monday, the council made a step forward, though it did so with a split vote and a lengthy discussion that became contentious at one point. By a 3-2 vote, with council members Dennis Bixby and Bill Peak voting against, the council voted to move forward with research of possible sites at 725 Laming Rd. and 302 Shoemaker Way, two selections from a field of nine. Discussion centered around whether the city was in a position to borrow money or increase mills in an effort to finance a new station. The building at 725 Laming had an estimated cost of $965,000 to $1.035 million and was being offered turnkey, meaning the current owners of the business, Everlasting Specialites, would take care of renovations needed at the building. The other finalist, 302 Shoemaker Way, had a proposed cost to purchase and renovate of $833,050. Installing aphalt to the gravel parking area was not included in the estimate. At one point in the meeting, Mayor Jason Ward and Bixby had an exchange of words about the issue, but Bixby later apologized for his actions. — For much more on the police station and other meeting items, go to tonganoxiemirror.com and see the Feb. 1 print edition.
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INSIDE CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . SECTION B DEATHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 REMEMBER WHEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 VOICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 VOL. 126, NO. 26
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The Tonganoxie High debate team advanced to state for the 19th consecutive year with its trip earlier this month to Class 4A state in Silver Lake. The squad had third- and fourth-place finishes this year. Pictured, from left, seniors Brady Field, Dane Erickson, Ben Williams, Maggie Gripka, Natasha Sudac, Parker Osborne and Lindsey Truesdell. Not pictured is Patrick Rachford.
THS seniors part of another state run BY SHAWN LINENBERGER SLINENBERGER@THEWORLDCO.INFO
The term “heated debate” has credence when referring to a certain Tonganoxie High School team. The THS debate program has established quite a reputation as being a traditional powerhouse in the state. As senior debate member Parker Osborne noted, competing against other teams is all smiles, handshakes and friendly talk at tournaments. That is until the teams enter into their actual debates. “You make nice with the other team,” senior Parker Osborne explained. “It seems like you’re going to be nice to each other.” And then comes the debate itself, and it can get a bit intense, Osborne said. “You know you will never talk to that person again because they hate you,” Osborne said. Fellow senior Ben Williams concurred. “Some rounds are fine,” Williams said. “Some have gotten heated.” Osborne, Williams and many of their teammates paint debate as an activity that takes hours of preparation that pays off with fun during meets, but it’s a conFAMILIES
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THS STATE DEBATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Four-speaker: 2010, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 Two-speaker: 2009, 2008, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1998 siderably competitive event. And one that comes with some pressure. THS has won 13 Class 4A state championships — eight in four-speaker and six in two-speaker — and has placed additionally several times in state meets. At this year's state meet, Jan. 13 and 14 in Silver Lake, THS teams earned thirdand fourth-place finishes in the twospeaker event. Seniors Natasha Sudac and Maggie Gripka combined for the third-place effort, tying St. James Academy’s Cole Fieldman and Eric Zheng. There seems to be a pressure to continue the winning ways in Tonganoxie, and team members admit that it’s selfimposed. Gripka said she and Sudac finished LEAVENWORTH
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fifth a year ago and were “freaking out” about having a better showing in their final season. High-school debaters around the country this year argued on the topic of U.S. space exploration. Gripka and Sudac argued on the affirmative side, supporting space exploration. They made the case that increased space activity would allow for medical research that could produce breakthrough findings. “It was out of this world — literally,” Sudac said jokingly. Preparing for the debate meets takes hours of work, and it was accelerated in the week leading up to state. Some team members met after school to practice, while most were putting in at least two hours each night. And that means practicing debates against classmates. “I like debating people I don’t know,” Gripka said. “If we debate in class, I know these people. If it’s other people, I want to get my point across, and I don’t care what it takes for you to hear me.” A debate season doesn’t go by without a bit of chaos. The debate room on the THS west campus isn’t the tidiest when
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C O R R I D O R
CONFERENCE CHAMPS The Tonganoxie wrestling team won its first conference title since 1991 SPORTS
THE
SHERIFF WON’T SEEK NEW TERM Captain files to run for office. Page 3
MIRROR
FEBRUARY 15, 2012 | TONGANOXIEMIRROR.COM | TONGANOXIE, KANSAS
75 CENTS
FINAL BOWS
POLICE STATION
Site could be decided in 2 weeks BY SHAWN LINENBERGER SLINENBERGER@THEWORLDCO.INFO
A site for a new police station could be selected at the next city council meeting. The council heard proposals Monday night from the owners of the two finalists: Everlasting Specialties, owned by Steve LaForge and Jim Bennett, and the former Famous Stars video, owned by John and Jan Shoemaker. Everlasting Specialties, at 725 Laming Rd., is about 5,500 square feet with potential to add on and expand to 10,000 square feet. The former Famous Stars, 302 Shoemaker Way, is about 4,000 square feet with some room for expansion as well, though specific measurements were not mentioned at the meeting. LaForge said the turn-key price at Everlasting Specialties would be $875,000, while John Shoemaker’s turn-key price was about $597,000. LaForge said his group would be willing to sell the business to the city if a decision isn’t made by the end of the month, but the price
SHAWN LINENBERGER/PHOTO
Tonganoxie HIgh School seniors Brady Field, Michael Christensen and Wes Williams will take part in their final performances in major productions at THS starting Thursday with a four-day showing of “Lost in Yonkers.”
‘Yonkers’ marks last performance for 3 seniors BY SHAWN LINENBERGER
SEE CITY COUNCIL, PAGE 14
SLINENBERGER@THEWORLDCO.INFO
COMINGS AND
GOINGS
The Tonganoxie school board approved a number of personnel moves Monday night.
PAGE 3
INSIDE CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . SECTION B DEATHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 REMEMBER WHEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13 VOICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 VOL. 126, NO. 29
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Audition for “Beauty and the Beast” or lose your car keys. Michael Christensen chose the former his sophomore year and has been enjoying theater ever since. The Tonganoxie High School senior, who is preparing for his final THS production this week, recalls his mother giving him an ultimatum more than two years ago: try out for the school play or try walking for his main mode of transportation. “My mom threatened to take away my car keys if I didn’t go out,” Christensen said. “So I did and still had my car keys. And I found out I loved theater.” Michael’s mother, Lisa Christensen, said it took some coaxing, but Michael
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finally agreed. “I knew with all my heart that he would love it if he would just give it a chance,” Lisa said. “It was a pretty rough few weeks around here before he finally agreed to try out. “But, in my defense, he will now tell you that it is the best thing I ever did for him.” Christensen is one of three seniors participating in his final production. Fellow senior Wes Williams has been involved in plays and musicals the past two years, including the pit band for musicals. Brady Field is the most seasoned of the seniors. He has participated in musicals and plays all four years of high school, following a family tradition of acting in THS plays. He’s acted alongside older siblings Ben and Haley and younger sister
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Halston in the four years. During his high school career, Brady has taken pride in providing a product for the public. “I like entertaining an audience,” Field said. “Then they go out and tell you how you did. It’s a really awesome feeling.” The many school plays and musicals have afforded the opportunity to grow close to classmates, according to Williams. “It’s like this is your family,” Williams said. “You spend time with them at least two times a day and get to know them really well.” As for the senior who has kept his driving privileges intact since his sophomore year, Christensen has enjoyed returning to the stage for more. “I come back because it’s fun and I love
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City Council to discuss police station further at next meeting FROM PAGE 1
would be good until the end of the month. The council could make a decision at its next meeting, Feb. 27, but also requested that Springsted, its financial advising company, be available at the meeting to answer questions. There have been indications that a new police station would require a levy of 6 mills, but Tonganoxie police Chief Jeff Brandau said at Monday’s meeting that those projected figures from Springsted included debt projects that include the Fourth Street Phase III project, the fire station addition and Pleasant Street bridge matching funds. The mill increase required to cover $1 million actually would be 1.92 mills. Brandau said the average appraised home value in Tonganoxie was $152,746, which would be an assessed
value of $17,565.79, for which a 1.92mill increase would result in an additional $33.72 in annual property taxes. For businesses, Brandau said a business with property value of $100,000 would pay $48 more in taxes, while a business valued at $250,000 would pay $120 more per year. A business valued at $1 million would pay $480 more annually with a 1.92-mill increase. In other business, the council: • Approved payment to BG Consultants for Chieftain Trail Phase II for $8,840. • Approved payment to First State Bank and Trust for payoff of two 2009 Ford Crown Victoria police cars in the amount of $10,633.79. • Approved payment to Mike Yanez for city administrator services for the first half of February, phone allowances and mileage reimbursements for $3,346.32.
| SPRINGDALE NEWS | BY ANABEL KNAPP Evelyn Schwinn enjoyed lunch Feb. 5 with the Ray Cole family at Pullman Family Restaurant in Leavenworth. Plans are in place for the sausage and pancake supper at Springdale Friends Church to be March 2. Gertrude Chrisman’s birthday was Feb. 4, with her daughters Joyce (and husband) and Valery and grandson Brett eating at Cheddar's restaurant near Oak Park Mall.
Sunday her grandson Brett of Kansas City, Kan., had a Super Bowl party at his home for the family. The Tonganoxie United Methodist Church and McLouth United Methodist Church had a Souper Bowl contest. Soup was brought in during the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl on Feb. 5. It’s being distributed to various area pantries. There will be lots of soup given to different places.
THS play ‘Lost in Yonkers’ conveys ‘serious message’ FROM PAGE 1
hanging out with everyone and doing (plays),” he said. “I think Mr. (Steve) Harrell and Mr. (Ken) Church are wonderful. We’re lucky to have them.” Tonganoxie High’s theater instructors, Harrell and Church have spent many hours working on plays and musicals with the seniors, from “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Li’l Abner” to “Beauty and the Beast” and “Leaving for Iowa.” But this week’s performances will be different. Though it has its humor, “Lost in Yonkers” is a more serious play with some adult language and is not intended for younger audiences. “I feel they have been safe because they haven’t been as deep as this one,” Field said about recent THS productions. “When you have a serious message, it’s harder to get that through to the audience.” For the cast of nine THS students, the Neil Simon play requires a challenge: speaking with a New York accent. Christensen said the group has leaned on THS teacher Christine Biel, who is from New York, for help in pronouncing certain words. The cast has been preparing for the play since it returned from winter break. The seniors admitted the in-the-round format offers less room for error because the audience is right there with you. And there’s really no backstage with the arrangement. “There is really no small character,” Williams said. “Every character is vital to the storyline.”
“Lost in Yonkers” is Simon’s autobiographical account of his family's life in Yonkers, N.Y., during the early 1940s. The story centers on two young brothers who must live with their grandmother, uncle and aunt while their dad is traveling throughout the South buying scrap metal in order to earn enough money to pay a large debt incurred from his wife’s long illness and subsequent death. Field plays the part of the oldest boy, 15-year-old Jay Kurnitz. His 13-year-old brother, Arty, is played by sophomore Thomas Fox. Williams plays the part of their father, Eddie Kurnitz. The part of the boys’ Aunt Bella Kurnitz, is doublecast, with junior Kelsi Briggs playing the part during two performances and sophomore Katie Schenk playing Bella in the other two. The part of the boys’ Aunt Gertrude Kurnitz is also double-cast, with sophomore Bonnie Monihan and freshman Lauren Harrell playing the part. Rounding out the cast are Christensen as Uncle Louie Kurnitz and junior Mallory Harrell as Grandma Kurnitz. The director’s assistant for “Lost in Yonkers” is junior Amy Wilkins. Helping with the production aspects of the show are THS students Lauren Hughes, Taylor Clark, Samantha Jones, Quin Smith, Samantha White, Allie Irick, Danielle Irwin, Nathan Tuter, Paige Laurie and Megan Behm. Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. All performances will be at the Tonganoxie Performing Arts Center at THS. Tickets are $4 and seating capacity is about 90 for each performance.
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MIRROR
FEBRUARY 29, 2012 | TONGANOXIEMIRROR.COM | TONGANOXIE, KANSAS
75 CENTS
LEAPING BIRTHDAY
Council selects police site BY SHAWN LINENBERGER SLINENBERGER@THEWORLDCO.INFO
A long-term site has been selected for the Tonganoxie Police Department. The council narrowly approved selection of the building at 725 LamNEW HOME ing Rd., curWater issues at rently home the current to Everlasting police station Specialties. have forced The counmoving their cil voted, 3-2, operations with Bill Peak across the street and Dennis temporarily. Bixby casting Page 3 the dissenting votes, to move forward with selecting the site. Owners of the business, Steve LaForge and Jim Bennett, say they plan to move their business to the downtown area. They formerly were in SEE RENOVATIONS, PAGE 7
CHURCH
SHAWN LINENBERGER/STAFF
CHAT
Twin brothers Gad and Zeb Huseman are celebrating their “third” birthday today. They were born Feb. 29, 2000, so today marks only the third time they have been able to celebrate the birthday on the actual day.
Stathouse discussing creation of all-faiths chapel at Capitol.
PAGE 5
Brothers, born on leap day, celebrate their “3rd” birthdays today BY SHAWN LINENBERGER SLINENBERGER@THEWORLDCO.INFO
INSIDE CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . SECTION B DEATHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 REMEMBER WHEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13 VOICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 VOL. 126, NO. 30
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wins in the Huseman family are nothing new. Gad and Zeb Huseman, sixth-graders at Tonganoxie Middle School, actually make up the third set of twins in their family — their grandmother, Janice Huseman, had a twin sister. Janice and her sister’s grandmoth-
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er had a twin brother as well. Huseman duos might not be rare, but the shared birthday for the youngest Husemans is. Today, Zeb and Gad are celebrating their “3rd” birthdays: they were born Feb. 29, 2000. “It’s cool. It’s like we’re the smartest 2year-olds,” Gad joked. Their father, Brian Huseman, cracked a joke about the downside.
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“You’ll get your driver’s licenses when you’re 64,” he said. In reality, Gad and Zeb will be celebrating turning 12 come Wednesday. Their mother, Terri Huseman, said not having their birthday on the calendar each year allows for some leeway. “When the birthday is not there, it’s a SEE BIRTH DATE, PAGE 7
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COMMUNITY | 7
Renovations on new police Family planning party for twins’ rare birth date site will take three months FROM PAGE 1
good excuse for celebrating whenever,” Terri said. “We’ll have to celebrate here or there.” She added that generally the family would celebrate one brother’s birthday on Feb. 28 and the other on March 1. Later today, Zeb and Gad’s youth minister plans to throw a party during the youth group’s meeting. The family tends to have bigger celebrations in the years the calendar truly provides Gad and Zeb’s birthday. For their “first” birthday in 2004, two of their older siblings Levi and Kezia invited their friends to the party. As Kezia jokingly put it, their friends were invited because Zeb and Gad “didn’t have any friends” at the time. With this year being one of those special years again, Kezia was sure to be in town for the celebration. Now living in Peru, she made a rare trip home to celebrate the twins’ big day. “I couldn’t miss it,” Kezia said. Zeb and Gad, who on occasion have a knack for finishing each other’s thoughts, said they don’t mind sharing a birthday, though they stressed that they
never dress alike. If they coincidentally wear the same clothes the same day, one of them has to change clothes. Conversely, their grandmother said she and her sister wore the same clothes until their married lives. “Sometimes we would buy the same dresses or make the same dresses so we were alike,” Janice said. “We took pride in the fact that we were twins.” Terri has a system for separating the two brothers’ clothes. Zeb’s clothes are put on blue hangers because there is a “B” in his name; Gad’s clothes are placed on green hangers because his name starts with “G.” Gad and Zeb will look to go all out for their birthday celebrations this year, possibly with riding go-carts or heading to a laser tag course. When you generally have a “birthday” every four years, you have to go big. And there is an advantage to it, Zeb points out. “You get more presents because it’s all blended together,” Zeb said.
County waiting for cities to agree on airport spot BY MATT ERICKSON MERICKSON@THEWORLDCO.INFO
LEAVENWORTH — Officials emerged from a study session Wednesday without reaching a decision on how to move forward with studies looking into a possible new public Leavenworth County airport. One county commissioner said he would be hesitant to support more studies if the county’s cities, especially Lansing and Leavenworth, are unable to agree on a location for the possible airport. “If the two biggest dogs in the fight can’t decide where they want it, I sure don’t want to be in the middle of that,” Commissioner John Flower said. Officials from the county and four of its cities, including Basehor and Tonganoxie, attended the session at the Leavenworth County Courthouse on Wednesday. Patrick Taylor of Coffman Associates, a consulting firm that has conducted two previous studies into a possible airport for the county, told officials at the session that the county and its cities had until May 1 to apply for the next round of Federal Aviation Administration grants to fund two further required studies. But before that can happen, the county, one of its cities or some other public entity must step forward as a sponsor of the project, and that sponsor must pick one of two proposed sites to study further. Taylor said the county was likely between five and eight years away from opening an airport if it decided to construct one. The consulting firm last summer recommended a site near 127th Street and Gilman Road just east of Lansing after completing a site selection study. But city of Leavenworth officials said Wednesday they may prefer the firm’s second-ranked site, which is off Coffin Road west of Fort Leavenworth and north of Leavenworth. Leavenworth Mayor Mark Preisinger said the northern location would lend itself more easily to use by people traveling to Fort Leavenworth and Leaven-
worth. “We think if it’s anyplace other than Coffin Road, then it’s going to choke off Leavenworth,” Preisinger said. Flower noted, though, that the county has discussed combining an airport with an industrial park if plans move forward, and he said the location near Lansing, closer to the Kansas City area, would provide more potential for that. “You have to ask yourself, what industry would want to be north of Leavenworth?” Flower said. He said he hoped that the county’s cities could come to a consensus on a location to study further, realizing that more economic development would help the entire county. But he said that if the cities could not agree, he would not want the county to support the project going forward, and it could be up to one of the cities to sponsor and fund further studies. Tonganoxie city administrator Mike Yanez noted that the location near Lansing would be located closer to development in Kansas City, Kan. “It’d be nice to bring Wyandotte County dollars into our airport as well,” Yanez said. Taylor said one reason his firm recommended the location near Lansing was because it would likely be more convenient for shipping trucks to access from Interstate 70 to the south. Lansing city administrator Mike Smith said the city’s council had not yet come to a decision on how and whether to support further airport studies. At the end of the meeting, Flower suggested that the cities meet again to discuss their preferences near the end of March. County commissioners have said they would not spend any county funds to acquire property or begin construction on an airport without putting the issue up for a county-wide vote. They repeated that pledge Wednesday.
FROM PAGE 1
the historic depot in downtown Tonganoxie before moving to the Urban Hess Business Center. The 6,000-foot building, which is being offered as turn-key, would cost $875,000. There is space available to double the size of the building if needed. It’s estimated to take three months to renovate the building to meet police specifications. Not included in the price were an emergency generator, estimated to cost $15,000, and frontage stonework, estimated to cost $4,800. The council selected the site over another finalist, 302 Shoemaker Way, owned by John and Jan Shoemaker. Their asking price for the former Famous Stars video store, fully renovated, was nearly
$597,500. Bixby and Peak voted against the selection, saying they were committed to keeping the police station in the downtown district and wanted to delay purchase until the city was in a better situation to incur debt. The council next will look at financing options for the station, which likely will be a topic at the next regular meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, March 12. In the meantime, the police will have an office in the former Kansas Specialty Firearms store across the street from the station in downtown Tonganoxie. The council approved the police department’s temporary home at a special meeting last week. For more on that story, see page 3.
Brownback wants Leavenworth County in its own Kansas Senate district, spokesman says THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOPEKA — Gov. Sam Brownback's chief of staff says the governor is in favor of making Leavenworth County a distinct Kansas Senate district. David Kensinger, the governor's chief of staff, testified Wednesday before a Senate committee considering redistricting proposals. He says it is the only one of the state's 10 most populous counties whose representative does not live in the county.
Leavenworth County currently is part of a district represented by Tom Holland of Baldwin City and Kelly Kultala of Kansas City. They were the Democratic nominees for governor and lieutenant governor against Brownback and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer in 2010. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley said it's unusual for a governor's chief of staff to testify on redistricting.
THE MIRROR | MARCH 21, 2012
FUNDING FOR NEW POLICE STATION
| PUZZLE ANSWERS |
Adviser suggests PBC bonds, warns of Tonganoxie reaching debt limit In other business, the council: • Approved appropriation to BG Consultants for Building inspector services Tonganoxie’s new police station for January and February for $3,564. • Approved payment to City of Baseshould be funded through Public Building Commission revenue bonds, the hor for building inspector services for city’s financial adviser suggested at the $4,321.95. • Approved loan payment to First State March 12 city council meeting. Tom Kaleko with Sprinsted told the Bank and Trust for loan payment No. 7 for fire department council the route would bunker gear for $4,871.43. be better than using gen• Approved First State eral obligation bonds NEXT MEETING Bank and Trust loan for because the PBC bonds 2011 Ford first responder • The Tonganoxie City would not count against Council next will meet in for fire department in the the city’s general obligaregular session at 7 p.m. amount of $2,903.77. tion bond capacity. The Monday in council cham• Approved payment of city has $4 million in genbers, 321 Delaware. $2,227 to OMB Guns, eral obligation bonds Inc., for three bulletproof before reaching its legal vests. limit. But as Kaleko noted, • Approved payment for first half of a street project could easily take up $1 million of that. The new station, which March to Mike Yanez for March city would be a turn-key acquisition, would administrator services for $3,270. • Approved a special-use permit to be the current Everlasting Specialties building on Laming Road. The council Marilee Drennan for greenhouse plant selected the site with an offering price of sales at Myers Hotel. • Approved a contract with Water $875,000. Furniture, fixtures and other equipment costs would likely push that Products, Inc., for the purchase and installation of water valves for $13,250. price tag to $900,000. • Approved contract to Bingham’s Council member Bill Peak noted — Kaleko concurred —that the PBC option Landscaping for replacement of five still would be debt for the city to pay, crosswalks in downtown Tonganoxie for even if it doesn’t count toward the city’s $18,847.50. The crosswalks to be replaced are along Fourth Street at Pleasdebt. Kaleko also encouraged the council to ant, Main and Delaware streets. • Approved a contract with Proseal Inc. not seek the financing until it can be put into the budget for the next fiscal year for street sealing not to exceed $50,000. budget, which wouldn’t be completed until July or August. SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 7
GOVERNMENT | 3
BY SHAWN LINENBERGER
SLINENBERGER@THEWORLDCO.INFO
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THE MIRROR | MARCH 21, 2012
COMMUNITY | 7
TMS class in 1st of 3-year pilot study with Lego FROM PAGE 1
Rockers is the brother of Rachel Padfield, TMS seventh-grade special education teacher. Padfield and Rockers had been talking about educational opportunities when the Build to Express program came up. “I wanted free Legos from my brother and he told me ‘no,’” Padfield joked. But sixth-grade students were furnished with a Build to Express kit. The students will be given new kits as seventh-graders and then eighth-graders, so the school eventually will have kits for
three class levels when the three-year study concludes. Elementary schools in Wichita, and suburban Dallas and Atlanta also are participating in the study. Shelly Hunter, TMS sixth-grade language arts teacher, has been using the kits in her classroom. She has her 75 students break out the kits once every two or three weeks as part of writing exercises. Hunter said the kits have been valuable. “It allows students to express themselves at their levels and it doesn’t appear different from any other student,”
Hunter said. “It’s unique no matter their ability and they can participate no matter their ability.” Though the students must leave their kits at school, some have continued their work at home. Sixth-grader Nick Skinner said he was expanding a writing assignment at home using alien-themed Legos. “The Legos help get your mind going on what stories I can come up with,” Nick said. Hunter has received calls from a middle school in Lee’s Summit, Mo., about doing the study, so Tonganoxie could
have company. But she said many are reluctant because of concerns that it will take away from traditional assessment preparations. “I think this builds confidence in kids and pride in their work and takes away from the stress of the state assessment,” she said. She said she’s eager to see the results when the data is completed after her sixth-graders finish the eighth grade, “but to see already what it’s done in my class, I’ll continue to use to it as long as I have the kids.”
Council approves police officer hire FROM PAGE 3
Subdivisions receiving the treatment would be Eagle Valley, Timber Hills, Willow Point, Stone Creek and Jackson Heights. • Approved hiring of Jason Colobong as full-time police officer, contingent upon passing a physical and psycholog-
ical testing. Colobong currently is employed at Lansing State Penitentiary. Colobong is not a certified officer and will need to attend the academy for training, according to Chief Jeff Brandau. • Approved ordinances 1333 through 1338 adopting 2003 international building codes.
Celebrate the arrival of spring with a crisp and clean scented WoodWick candle.
Court of Appeals to hear arguments on local campuses The Kansas Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments of legal cases from across the state on Tuesday, April 17, at Johnson County Community College. Three judges will hear arguments from appellants' and appellees' attorneys, limited to 15 minutes each, from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. at Hudson Auditorium in Nerman Museum for Contemporary Art
on the JCCC campus. The Court of Appeals welcomes observers at the formal legal proceedings. An observer may stay for as little as 30 minutes or as long as the full session. Panels will also sit on April 17 at the Kansas University School of Law, the Court of Appeals Courtroom in Topeka and other locations.
760 Northstar Ct. • 913-369-2100 Tonganoxie, KS 66086 9-6 M-F 9-1 Sat.
Guess Who is 80?
Ron Bollet Love You, Crystal, Sher, Sheila, Cindy, Ken
FINAL LAP
Delaware Valley League to dissolve after 2012-13 academic year SPORTS
THE
COMMISSIONER PROPOSES PROJECTS
Flower asks BOCC to look down road. Page 14
MIRROR
JUNE 13, 2012 | TONGANOXIEMIRROR.COM | TONGANOXIE, KANSAS
Police to remain downtown By Shawn Linenberger slinenberger@theworldco.info
The Tonganoxie Police Department is back to square one for its search for a new home. The Tonganoxie City Council voted at Monday’s meeting to end discussions with Everlasting Specialties for purchase of its building at 725 Laming Rd. Police Chief Jeff Brandau said he viewed negotiations for the building to be at an impasse. After discussion, the council voted to end discussions with the business regarding relocation of the department to the site. The council voted in February to enter into talks with Everlasting Specialties, owned by Steve LaForge and Jim Bennett, for a turn-key building at $875,000.
75 CENTS
Tonganoxie Days 2012
Please see COUNCIL, page 3
BACK IN
TIME Bille Aye’s Remember When column turns back the clock.
PAGE 16
INSIDE CALENDAR ............................................ 4 CLASSIFIEDS .......................... SECTION B DEATHS ................................................. 5 ENGAGEMENTS .....................................5 REMEMBER WHEN ...............................16 SPORTS ........................................ 11, 13 VOICES...................................................6 VOL. 126, NO. 43
Shawn Linenberger/Staff
MILTON ULREICH, who will be a Tonganoxie High School sophomore in the fall, throws a whipped cream-soaked sponge at THS cheerleader Jessa Thorne, who will be a juinor in the fall, Saturday during Tonganoxie Days. ABOVE RIGHT: Youths feed 9-day-old Kiko-Boer market goats Saturday, June 9, 2012, at Leavenworth County 4-H Goat Project group booth at Tonganoxie Days. Pictured, clockwise, from bottom left, Ariel Jacobs, 11, Tonganoxie, David Vogan, 9, Lathrop, Mo., and Michelle Jones, 6, Easton. For a story about the festival, see page 7.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012 ! 3
Lightning strike Monday storm hits chimney By Shawn Linenberger slinenberger@theworldco.info
Wayne Yorkovich pulled his truck out of the garage early Monday morning anticipating a summer shower that would wash off his vehicle. Minutes later, more than rain fell at his home on Smiley Road just north of the U.S. Highway 24-40 curve in Tonganoxie. Lightning struck his chimney, sending brick pieces throughout his yard.
“It was like a bomb went off,” Yorkovich said. “It was a direct hit.” The lightning struck just before 1:30 a.m. The strike did not cause a fire, but it ruined Yorkovich’s televisions, telephones, automatic garage door mechanism and doorbell. “I’m alive and the house didn’t catch on fire,” he said. The Tonganoxie City Fire Department responded to the strike, which was its lone call related to the weather, according to the department.
USD 464 hirings, resignations approved The board accepted resignations cal music teacher; Lauren Broxterman, and approved contracts for 2012-13 at fifth-grade teacher, Spencer Dale, Monday’s meeting THS assistant volleyball coach; Tara Resigning were Barb Gurss, TMS George, THS family and consumer physical education teacher; Jessica science teacher; David Hall, THS asJohnston, THS art teacher; Susan sistant girls’ basketball coach; DaKuzmic, THS assistant softball coach; vid Hillmon, eighth grade boys’ head Pam Lamb, THS basketball coach, family and conTHS assistant sumer science football coach; teacher and Courtney NicholFamily, Career son, TES teacher; Discussions continued Monday about and Community Rachelle Pauly, planning for another bond issue, with Leaders of Amereighth grade girls’ a focus on the elementary school. For ica sponsor; Lee assistant basketMatzeder, THS ball coach; Jared more, go to tonganoxiemirror.com. head softball Schultz, TMS coach; Rachel physical educaPadfield, seventh tion teacher; Kim grade assistant volleyball coach, An- Swearngin, FCCLA sponsor; Preston drea Putthoff, bus driver; Kyle Stadal- Troyer, THS half-time business techman, fifth-grade teacher and seventh- nology/half-time physical education grade boys assistant basketball coach; teacher; and David Walker, THS girls’ and Kim Woodall, TMS assistant track assistant basketball coach. coach. Termination of work agreement for The board also approved contracts Stacy Baker, TES kitchen manager, for Kimberlyn Angelo, TMS band/vo- also was approved.
NEW SCHOOL?
Council FROM PAGE 1
The department moved in February from its longtime home on the northeast corner of Fourth and Delaware to a space across the street to the west after concerns of mold and water in the basement, an ongoing issue in the building. The department moved into the former Kansas Firearms Specialties space at 328 Delaware on a month-to-month basis, utilities included. The 2,000-square-foot
space is part of a building with five other tenants. At Monday’s meeting, the council directed City Attorney Mike Kelly to discuss the department’s occupancy in the space on a more permanent basis with owner Calvin Quisenberry, with the idea of looking closer at a permanent site in 2013 or 2014. For more from the meeting, go to tonganoxiemirror.com.
Shawn Linenberger/Staff
WAYNE YORKOVICH WAS BUSY cleaning up his property from brick debris Monday after lightning struck his chimney early Monday. The strike damaged televisions, phones and other devices, but did no structural damage to the home.
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