2A
|
Sunday, October 9, 2011
LAWRENCE
.
DEATHS LEO E. “BILL” ISTAS Mass of Christian Burial for Leo E. “Bill” Istas, 85, Perry, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Perry. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Istas died Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, at Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living Center, Lawrence. He was born Dec. 18, 1925, in Aurora, the son of Octave Spoolen and Etta Agnes Chaput Istas. Mr. Istas served in the U.S. Army Cavalry. He was the superintendent for List & Clark Construction Co., Overland Park. He was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and VFW, all in Perry. He married Madelyn May Chartier on Aug. 20, 1946, in Aurora. She preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by five brothers and
four sisters. Survivors include three sons, Jim and David, both of Topeka, and Kevin, Basehor; one daughter, Istas Cheryl Pierson, Tonganoxie; one brother, Verle, De Soto; four sisters, Gladys Peterson, Marie Dochow and Theresa Peltier, all of Concordia, and Ella Mae Kimmal, Wamego; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the church and sent in care of Barnett Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 602, Oskaloosa, KS 66066. Online condolences may be made at barnettfamilyfh.com.
MICHAEL E. SMITH Funeral services for Michael E. Smith, 64, Eudora, are pending and will be announced by Warren-McEl-
wain Mortuary in Lawrence. Mr. Smith died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at his home in Eudora.
TED DUNCANSON Graveside service for Ted Duncanson, 92, Tonganoxie, will be 2 p.m. Monday at Hubbel Hill Cemetery, Tonganoxie. He died Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, at Hickory Point
Nursing Center, Oskaloosa. The family will meet friends one hour before the service at Quisenberry Funeral Home, Tonganoxie.
Tax
public safety, now is not the time to cut taxes. “I hope when Gov. Brownback looks at Kansas he sees our people, not just dollar signs,” said Kansas Democratic Party Chairwoman Joan Wagnon. “I have serious questions about what this tentative tax reduction plan will mean for everyday Kansans,” she said. “Will parents continue to see increased class sizes in their kids’ schools? Will abused and neglected children still be left without immediate access to help? Will seniors have to go without Meals on Wheels?”
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
from Shawnee, has played his hand close to the vest on which taxes will be reduced. But Brownback is eager to cut taxes, subscribing to Laffer’s theory that reduced taxes produce more business growth, which eventually will result in more revenue to take care of government needs. He has stated several times he wants to decrease the state income tax. But others say that after years of budget cuts to schools, social services and
City CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
from backhoes to lawn mowers to pickup trucks. “There are a lot of things that management and the commission have to pay attention to, and this is one issue that likely should be on the list,” Eglinski said. But Eglinski’s analysis also found the city is doing better when it comes to keeping up with its aging infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and city buildings. If the city had to pick between infrastructure and equipment, Eglinski said, there are good reasons why the city would want to focus on infrastructure. “You would rather have old pickup trucks than old bridges,” Eglinski said. “They’re still easier to replace.” City Manager David Corliss said he would like to see the city improve in both areas. In his written response that is filed with the report, he said it is “clearly important to highlight the increasing gap in attending to our equipment needs.” He said a new infrastructure sales tax approved by voters in 2008 will help the city replace aging fire and medical equip-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
was going to get the children back,” she said. “I felt like I had no one, like I had nothing. I was in so much pain that I didn’t want to feel the pain anymore.” On the afternoon of Sept. 24, she left her mobile home in North Lawrence and meant to walk across the bridge that connects North Lawrence to downtown, but instead went down to the river. She said it was like an out-of-body experience. “I wasn’t planning on jumping in the river, but once I got there I thought that was the thing to do,” she said. “I was seeing what I was doing but I wasn’t rationalizing. The feeling is hard to explain.” She jumped into the water and was swept away by the current. She remembers fighting for air and thinking, “Oh my God, Susan, you are going to die.” When she landed, she stood on a ledge behind the waterfall, then she began to walk across the ledge but saw a snake and headed back. She believes God sent that snake there for a reason: to save her life. “I was out of my mind crazy,” she said. Shivering and cold, she started to pray. That’s when she remembers a kind, gentle voice and a hand reaching out to help her. “He had to coax me out and he said some very kinds words,” she said. “I don’t know who he was and I wish there was some way that I could thank him.” !"!"!
— Statehouse reporter Scott Rothschild can be reached at 785-423-0668.
She was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital, where she was treated for water in her lungs and placed on suicide watch. “By the grace of God, the only injury I had was a little, tiny cut on my wrist,” she said. She said she was transferred to Osawatomie State Hospital, where she was put in the suicide ward for 10 days. “It was terrifying,” she said. But it was there where she came to realize what had happened and got the help that she needed. Hamlet said she was widowed in 2000 when her first husband was murdered in Kansas City. “So, lots of trauma in my life,” she said. “I just selfmedicated.” When she left the state hospital, she said she found help from people she least expected, including an old
ment and outdated public safety radios. Much of that sales tax is for road improvements. Corliss said he thinks the city can do more in that area, too. Eglinski’s report noted that the city’s debt per capita reached its lowest levels of the last seven years — although the numbers don’t yet include $18 million in new debt the city will issue to expand the Lawrence Public Library. Corliss, though, said he doesn’t think the falling debt levels are necessarily a good sign. “We are investing less in our community infrastructure through debt issuances than we did in the 1990s and 2000s,” Corliss wrote. “I do not believe this is a good trend, even if it helps with our financial indicators.” Other findings from the report include: ! Governmental revenues soared in 2010, up about 18 percent, but much of that increase was attributed to the city receiving $8.5 million in trust fund money to clean up the former Farmland Industries site in east Lawrence. Eglinski, though, noted tax collections also increased from $48.9 million in 2009 to $51.8 million in 2010 — an increase of 5.9 percent. Part of that increase is related to the 2008 infrastructure sales tax because 2010 was the first full year’s worth of collection
for that tax. Governmental revenue per capita is at about $800 per person. ! Governmental expenses were up about 11 percent in 2010. Per capita expenditures are now at about $900 per person, up from a low of a little less than $800 per person in 2008. The city is able to have expenditures per person higher than revenues per person largely because the city has been spending down a large fund balance — or a savings account — that it has in its bond and interest fund. The city in 2010 used about half of the $16 million fund to pay off city debt rather than raise property taxes to pay for the debt. ! The city’s enterprise operations — city services that charge fees and are designed to function like a business — had mixed results in 2010. Eglinski looks at each fund and determines whether it is operating at a “profit” or a loss and — unlike the city’s budget — factors in any appreciation or depreciation in assets the department has experienced. For example, if a city department saw its revenues exceed its expenses by $100,000 but saw the value of its equipment depreciate by $200,000, it would be listed as losing $100,000 — with the idea that the city eventually will have to replace the value of that equipment.
Check our RILING, website out for BURKHEAD a special treat! & NITCHER RilingLaw.com Chartered, Est. 1900 Protecting the people of Kansas since 1900
Suicide
841-4700
L AWRENCE J OURNAL -W ORLD L A W R E N C E
JOURNAL-WORLD
SUICIDE PREVENTION Marcia Epstein, director of Headquarters Counseling Center in Lawrence, says you can make a difference when someone shows signs of feeling suicidal. Here’s how: • Listen and show you care. • Ask the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” • For teens, find a trusted adult to help you both. • For adults, find someone to be with the person and someone trained in suicide prevention to help. • Eliminate access to firearms, large amounts of medications and other dangers. • Never keep a secret about suicide. • Know that suicide is never someone else’s fault.
Where to get help: • Bert Nash’s 24-hour service — 785-843-9192. • National Suicide Prevention Life-Line — 800-273-8255. • Headquarters Counseling Center’s 24-hour service — 785841-2345. • Lawrence Memorial Hospital emergency room — 785-505-6100. • KU Child and Family Services Clinic — 785-864-4416. • DCCCA (outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center) — 785-830-8238. neighbor who gave her a place to live. For the past year, she has been receiving help from Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and was assigned a case manager who is helping her get back on her feet with a job and home. She talks to her daughters every night and sees them as often as she can. She and her husband are working on a joint custody settlement. “I’m starting this new life and realizing that life is worth living,” she said. “I just want people to know that there are people out there that you least expect that do care and you just have to share how you are feeling.” !"!"!
Dr. Juliet Ne lson, a psychologist at Bert Nash, said Hamlet is not alone. She sees between eight and 12 people daily in the intensive outpatient program, and most are suicidal to some extent. She said depression affects all ages, races and incomes. She sees everyone from the homeless to the Kansas University professor. Nelson said people can become disconnected from their emotions and that’s when they feel like they are Here’s how the city’s enterprise funds fared under that analysis: 1. Water and sewer fund: $4 million profit, which was up from $3.2 million in 2009 but is down from $6.6 million in 2006. 2. Solid waste and trash collection: $799,881 profit, which is up from a $30,000 loss in 2009 and far better than a $746,000 loss in 2008. Eglinski said there had been a slight increase in revenue for trash service, but that most of the improvement had come from cost-cutting in the department. 3. Parking fund: $167,204 loss, which is an improvement from a $286,000 loss in 2009. Eglinski noted that most of the other cities that he reviewed, if they had a parking fund at all, had a profitable parking fund. Eglinski said the issue would need further study to determine why Lawrence’s parking fund is performing differently. 4. Stormwater fund: $1.2 million profit, which is an improvement from $1 million profit in 2010. 5. Golf fund: $217,717 loss, which is worse than a $96,595 loss in 2009.
®
Did you know? • About 35,000 Americans die by suicide each year, or one person every 15 minutes. • Males take their own lives at nearly four times the rate of females, but women attempt suicide about two to three times as often as men. • Among males, adults age 85 and older have the highest rate of suicide. • Among females, those in their 40s and 50s have the highest rate of suicide. • About 87 percent of people who complete suicide have a mental health disorder.
ljworld.com 609 N.H. (offices) • 645 N.H. (News Center) Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 843-1000 • (800) 578-8748
EDITORS Dennis Anderson, managing editor 832-7194, danderson@ljworld.com Caroline Trowbridge, community editor 832-7154, ctrowbridge@ljworld.com Ann Gardner, editorial page editor 832-7153, agardner@ljworld.com Tom Keegan, sports editor 832-7147, tkeegan@ljworld.com Trevan McGee, Lawrence.com editor 832-7178, tmcgee@ljworld.com
OTHER CONTACTS Chris Bell, circulation manager 832-7137, cbell@ljworld.com
In Kansas: • 376 people died by suicide in 2009: 309 men and 67 women. • 46 — average age.
Classified advertising: 832-2222 or www.ljworld.com/classifieds Print and online advertising: Susan Cantrell, vice president of sales and marketing, 832-6307, scantrell@ljworld.com
In Douglas County: • 23 people died in 2010 by suicide according to the Douglas County Coroner. • It is estimated that 3.7 percent of the adult population, or 336 people, had considered committing suicide in the past year. • 1 percent, or 910 people, had made a suicide plan in the past year. • 0.5 percent, or 455 people, had attempted suicide in the past year.
NEWS PARTNERS Mediaphormedia: Dan Cox, president 832-7275, dcox@ljworld.com
CALL US
watching themselves from above. She said it’s a scary state. For example, she said you can watch yourself cutting yourself but not feel it. “It’s dangerous for us to not be able to feel and so it’s very frightening to people when they get to the point,” she said. Nelson said people “absolutely” can recover from a mental illness, just like a physical one. She said a lot of different treatments work for different people, so if a treatment or therapist doesn’t work, try another. “Don’t give up,” she said. Nelson said people used to avoid the S-word, but now treatment focuses on talking about suicide instead of avoiding it. The same advice holds true for family and friends. “If someone goes into the hospital and has their gall bladder removed, we bring them a casserole. But when someone gets out because of a suicide attempt, nobody knows what to do,” Nelson said. “Well, you bring them a casserole. You don’t have to act as if it’s a terrible thing that you don’t have to talk about.” — Health reporter Karrey Britt can be reached at 832-7190. Britt’s health blog can be found at WellCommons.com, and follow her at Twitter.com/WellCommons.
10-year-old girl dies after I-70 crash A 10-year-old Kansas City, Kan., girl was pronounced dead shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday after being involved in a one-vehicle accident on eastbound Interstate 70. Tamya Jones was riding in a 2001 Dodge SUV when its driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a guard rail. The SUV rolled and came to rest on all four wheels, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol report. The accident occurred at mile marker 225.6, east of 110th Street in Kansas City. The vehicle’s driver, Novella Jones, 39, was believed to have suffered minor injuries.
Man pleads not guilty in teen’s death
DODGE CITY (AP) — A Dodge City man pleaded not guilty to unintentionally killing a high school student earlier this year. Fabian Colorado entered the plea Friday to involuntary manslaughter and battery in the May 14 death of Diego EnriquezEnriquez. The teenager died after suffering a head injury during a party. The Dodge City Daily Globe reports that several witnesses at Colorado’s preliminary hearing said they either saw — City reporter Chad Lawhorn can be him punch Enriquez-Enriquez or reached at 832-6362. Follow him at Twitter. heard the victim hit his head on com/clawhorn_ljw. a concrete floor.
Let us know if you’ve got a story idea. Email news@ljworld.com or contact one of the following: Local news: .................................................832-7154 City government:......................................832-6362 County government:............................... 832-6352 Courts and crime.......................................832-7144 Kansas University: ..................................832-6388 Lawrence schools: ....................................832-7188 Consumer affairs: .....................................832-7154 Sports:...........................................................832-7147 Arts and entertainment:..........................832-7178 Letters to the editor: ...............................832-7153 Obituaries: .................................832-7154; 832-7151 Health:...........................................................832-7190 Transportation: .........................................832-6352 Photo reprints: ............................................832-7141 SUBSCRIPTIONS To subscribe, or for billing, vacation or delivery: 832-7199 • Weekdays: 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m. • Weekends: 6 a.m.-11 a.m. Didn’t receive your paper? Call 8327199 before 11 a.m. We guarantee in-town redelivery on the same day. Published daily by The World Company at Sixth and New Hampshire streets, Lawrence, KS 66044-0122. Telephone: 843-1000; or toll-free (800) 578-8748.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Lawrence Journal-World, P.O. Box 888, Lawrence, KS 66044-0888 (USPS 306-520) Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, Kan.
Member of Audit Bureau of Circulations Member of The Associated Press
FOLLOW US Facebook.com/LJWorld Twitter.com/LJWorld
LOTTERY PICKS SATURDAY’S POWERBALL 3 27 35 37 45 (31) FRIDAY’S MEGA MILLIONS 5 15 19 23 38 (19) SATURDAY’S HOT LOTTO SIZZLER 2 5 13 16 22 (17) SATURDAY’S SUPER KANSAS CASH 4 5 11 26 31 (9) SATURDAY’S KANSAS 2BY2 Red: 2 21; White: 19 24 SATURDAY’S KANSAS PICK 3 2 1 6
www.ljworld.com
Should plagiarism be a criminal offense? #"Yes #"No #"Not sure Go to LJWorld.com to see more responses and cast your vote.
Teeth Sensitivity or Pain? Call before it’s too late.
Dr. Patrick Jankowski, D.D.S.
826 Iowa St. • 843-9122