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Connecting our Community through Local News
Vol: 2, Issue: 32 County Commission
County Approves 2017 Budget By William Snesrud McPherson News As with nearly all government bodies this time of year, the McPherson County Commission discussed and approved the budget for 2017 at Monday’s meeting. No McPherson County residents came forward with any questions or comment during the public hearing. According to the budget that was submitted by County Administrator Rick Witte, McPherson County will work with $25,320,910 for 2017 with 50 percent funded from sales tax, state and federal grants and fees for services rendered. The budget also showed a slight decrease in the mill levy rate from 30.286 in 2016 to 30.122. Witte noted that the six major areas where money is budgeted are the general budget items, public works, health, employee benefits, noxious weeds and community development services. It was pointed out that such areas as Community Corrections are funded with state funds, while the technology fund is covered by transaction fees from the offices of County Clerk, County Treasurer and Register of Deeds. According to the numbers presented, the largest functions covered in the budget will be roads and bridges at 29%
August 10, 2016 All Students in Grades 1-12 Begin School Next Wednesday, Aug. 17
Prepping the Tech
Safe Routes to Schools Subject of Study Session
Courtesy Photo
Teachers Bev Nye and Katherine Hughes and several other middle school teachers help set up Chromebooks at McPherson Middle School this week in advance of students returning on Aug. 17. This will be the first year every student at the middle school will have Chromebooks that are checked out for the entire year. The teachers, under the guidance of Russell Kahle, District Director of Education Technology and Information Systems, are prepping 550 Chomebooks.
CVB, Museum to hold Olympic Celebration this weekend
Fortenberry Recalls Father's Claim to Fame
PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID MCPHERSON, KS PERMIT NO. 11
See BUDGET, Page 16
Photo Courtesy of McPherson Museum
McPherson News, PO Box 549 McPherson, KS 67460
City Commission
The 1936 McPherson Globe Refiners from front left: Coach Gene Johnson, John W. Franks, Tex Gibbons, Jack Ragland, & Francis Johnson. Back row: Vernon Vaughn, Joe Fortenberry, Willard Schmidt, Harry Dowd & Bill Wheatley. McPherson – Oliver Fortenberry remembers shooting hoops in his home driveway but, despite his 6-2 height, he wasn’t able to dunk the basketball due to the slanted driveway. “One day pop came home,” recalled Fortenberry. “He took off his overcoat, took off his hat and placed his pipe in
his pocket.” His 55-year-old father dunked the basketball while remaining flat-footed. This is just one of the many memories Oliver has about his father, Joe Fortenberry, a man who played on the first-ever USA Olympic basketball team. In 1936, in the midst of the Great
Depression, Joe’s team rose to the top of the Amateur Athletic Union ranks to capture the national title and then moved on to the Olympics in Berlin. Thanks to Joe 6-8 and teammate Willard Schmidt 6- 9, the Globe Refiners of McPherson, Kansas, were billed the “Tallest Team in the World.” On August 13, Oliver will visit McPherson to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Olympic championship and his father’s legacy. And in his hands he will carry Joe’s 1936 Olympic gold medal. “Pop was a humble man,” said Oliver noting his father kept the gold medal in a shoebox in the closet. Joe seldom discussed the Olympic win with his family, and his son attributes this to the fact that basketball “didn’t really exist during the pre-war years.” Additionally, the Olympics were suspended during World War II, resulting in a 12-year span from the first Olympic basketball ap-
See OLYMPICS, Page 2
By Anne Hassler Heidel McPherson News McPherson City Commissioners heard from Michael Heigert, PE, Benesch Architect and Engineering about the process of applying for a Safe Routes to Schools grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Heigert is working on the city's behalf and will submit the Phase I report to KDOT in the next month. Phase II is an 80/20 matching grant from the state which also uses federal grant monies. The city is requesting a $250,000 grant and Heigert presented a plan with 11 prioritized projects to city officials. The projects in order of priority are: • Priority 1: Gildersleeve from Ave. A to Lincoln St., add sidewalks, $48,234 • Priority 2: sidewalk along Chestnut St. from Ave C. to end of street, $51,565 • Priority 3: sidewalk along Chestnut St. between Ave. C and D; crosswalk, striping/parking stops. Possible loss of parking spots at church $8,149 • Priority 4: Sidewalk along Ave. B from Walnut St. to Elm St. $42,957 • Priority 5: Sidewalk along Lincoln St. from Gildersleeve to Augustus St., $37,904 • Priority 6: Sidewalk along Elm St. from Ave A to Ave F, estimate $39,950 • Priority 7: Sidewalk along Sycamore Pl from Ave A to Connection, $30,834 • Priority 8: Sidewalk along Oak St. from Ave. A to Skancke St., $38,072 • Priority 9: Sidewalk along Ave B from Sycamore St. to existing, $13,113 • Priority 10: Restripe Main St. From Ave. A to D (four
See SAFE ROUTES, page 2