Mercury test 2 by Ned Seaton

SEASON ISN’T OVER

MERCURY T H E

The Wildcats draw a four seed in the NIT. B1

16 pages 2 sections

M A N H A T T A N

Sloan: Move on HB2169 Patrice Holderbach

■ PAKISTAN

pholderbach@themercury.com

Judge to be reinstated

State action on a bill that could be interpreted to restrict development around military bases “can be and should be” taken by the end of this legislative session, Rep. Tom Sloan said Monday. The bill will likely be considered this week or next, he added. If so, the action would likely derail local efforts of an ad-hoc committee that formed last month in part to protect area-development interests, county counselor Clancy Holeman said.

Astronauts race to space station Seven astronauts raced to the international space station aboard space shuttle Discovery on Monday, while NASA debated whether the orbiting outpost will need to move aside to dodge a piece of space junk. Space station astronauts had a close call last week with a small piece of orbiting junk that passed nearby, and NASA said Monday that a piece of a Russian satellite could come within about half a mile of the station early Tuesday. NASA will decide later Monday whether to fire the space station’s engines to nudge the complex out of the path of the debris. The shuttle launch Sunday followed five delays that caused Discovery’s mission to be shortened by a day and canceled a planned spacewalk. Page A5

■ ECONOMY

Recession may end this year America’s recession ‘‘probably’’ will end this year if the government succeeds in bolstering the banking system, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a rare television interview. In carefully hedged remarks in a taped interview with CBS’ ‘‘60 Minutes,’’ Bernanke seemed to express a bit more optimism that this could be done. Still, Bernanke stressed — as he did to Congress last month — that the prospects for the recession ending this year and a recovery taking root next year hinge on a difficult task: getting banks to lend more freely again and getting the financial markets to work more normally. Paage A5

State Rep Tom Sloan, a Lawrence Republican who has been pushing the measure, said the community and military “must jointly develop plans that protect the mission-capability of the post. And that means to limit inappropriate types of development in areas that will be incompatible” with long-term mission viability. Examples of this development could be the construction of cell phone or water towers that restrict helicopter maneuvering, Sloan said, or the location of a shopping center that conflicts with night-vision capabilities at a base.

Though the bill, labeled HB 2169, became the focus of regional debate last month, the discussion has been ongoing. Two years ago, the Department of Defense issued a directive to “educate and advise” states on encroachment and compatibility of development near military training sites, said David Snodgrass, a spokesperson for the Army. The national directive has three goals: for states to recognize and protect investments around military sites, and for both consistency and continuity to be part of joint-planSEE

NO. 1, BACK PAGE

Fixer-upper

Staff photo by Michael Schweitzer

Ashley Wagner, a student at Kansas State University, competed in this weekend’s Ms. Wheelchair Kansas pageant in Topeka.

Wheelchair becomes less of a handicap Disabled student overcomes obstacles to pursue education Will Klusener wklusener@themercury.com Ashley Wagner needs an extra hand getting dressed in the morning, applying her makeup and making the four-block trek to class. But for Wagner, a 21-year-old student at K-State who will remain wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life, it wasn’t always that way. Wagner was paralyzed after she lost control of her car on a country road two weeks after graduating high school in Leoti, in west central Kansas. Since then, she has been on an up-anddown journey, balancing recovery, her studies and getting used to life without the use of her legs and only partial use of her hands. It all culminated last weekend when Wagner competed for the crown of the Ms. Wheelchair Kansas pageant in Topeka. The pageant isn’t a beauty contest, though Wagner could certainly hold her own in one. The title of Ms. Wheelchair Kansas goes to someone who has met serious physical challenges head on and triumphed. “It’s about finding the most articulate, accomplished delegate who will serve as a role model and spokesperson for people with disabilities inKansas,”saidstatecoordinatorCarrieGreenwood. For Wagner, the road to this point has been a long and difficult one. It was only this year, she said, that she has been able to function with a sense of normalcy and realize her potential. “(The hardest part) was adjusting to learn how to write and things like that,” Wagner said from the living room of the Kappa Kappa Our

■ SPACE

March 16, 2009

MANHATTAN, KANSAS

Briefing Pakistan’s government relented in a major confrontation with the opposition Monday, agreeing to reinstate a fired Supreme Court chief justice whose fate had sparked street fights and raised fears of political instability. A dawn announcement by the prime minister that Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry would be sworn back in on March 21 capped a weekend of high drama and led activist lawyers and opposition politicians to drop plans to march on the capital and stage a sit-in at Parliament later in the day. The U.S Embassy praised the decision as ‘‘statesmanlike,’’ but it also was a significant concession that showed the weakness of U.S.-allied President Asif Ali Zardari, who had long refused to restore the independent-minded Chaudhry despite demands by lawyers and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. Already, attempts to quell the protest movement — through arrests and bans on rallies — have exposed cracks in the ruling party. Page A5

50 cents MONDAY

SEE

NO. 2, BACK PAGE

Staff photo by Michael Schweitzer

Employees of Danker Roofing and Siding are silhouetted by the morning sun as they strip shingles from one of the outer classroom buildings at Lee Elementary School Monday morning. The roof is being replaced due to damage from last summer’s storms.

Obama unveils small-business boost Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday offered a fresh package of aid to small businesses — ‘‘the heart of the American economy’’ — in an aggressive push to get big banks that got federal bailout money to do more lending to these struggling entrepreneurs. ‘‘You deserve a chance. America needs you to have that chance,’’ Obama told small business owners gathered in the White House East Room. ‘‘And as president I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that you have the opportunity to contribute to your community, to our economy and to the future of the Unit-

ed States of America,’’ the president said. The White House announced a series of moves to get credit flowing to small businesses. The measures include boosting bank liquidity with up to $15 billion aimed at unfreezing the secondary credit market, reducing lending fees and increasing loan guarantees, and easing the tax burden. The Obama administration also announced that the 21 largest banks receiving government money must report monthly on how much lending they do to small businesses. The goal is to help those businesses make payroll, buy equipment and maintain or even expand employment as the nation’s economy is bleeding

jobs. Obama said roughly 70 percent of new jobs were created by small businesses in the last decade. Meanwhile, Obama expressed fresh outrage about Wall Street behavior. He said he would try to stop insurance giant American International Group, which has benefited from more than $170 billion in federal bailout funds, from paying $165 million in executive bonuses. ‘‘How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat?’’ the president asked. At the White House, Obama appeared with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who made a direct appeal to community banks to start lending again.

Fire official: Number of prairie fires way up Bill Felber bfelber@themercury.com

■ INDEX Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . B7 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . A6-7 Television . . . . . . . . . .B8 Weather . . . . . . . . . . .A2 Mercury file photo

The number of prairie fires in the region has risen sevenfold this season, officials said Monday.

County firefighters have fought seventimesmoreprairiefiresthis winterthantheydidlastyear. The most recent one, a 165-acre fire Saturday, brought assistant fire chief Doug Messer before Monday’s county commission meeting to stress the precariousnessofthecurrentsituation. ‘‘There is no tolerance for mistakesthisyear,’’saidMesser.‘‘Once afiregetsaway,itgoesquicklyand it’sdifficultforevenustocontain.’’ Saturday’s fire, which was not the season’s largest, occurred at 9200 Longhorn Lane when a prop-

ertyownernamedJohnPopetried to clear his newly obtained land. MessersaidPopewasnotawareof county regulations requiring a burnpermit. It took 22 firefighters from four stations using six county trucks to putSaturday’sfireout. The problem, Messer said, is an unusually large accumulation of thick, dry cover. It resulted from very heavy rains last summer, followedbyanextendeddrywinter. The largest fire to date consumed 300 acres, and there have been several in the 60-acre range. Messersaidthemostdangerous— caused by lightning, not human error — threatened five houses at

2:30a.m. There have been 35 out-of-controlfiressofarthisyear;thetotalfor thesameperiodlastyearwasfive. Thecountyissuesfreeburnpermits that require holders to get permission to burn. Messer said ‘‘there have been numerous times (in 2009) when we have limited burning... we’re being pretty cautious.’’ Thefineforviolatingthepermit requirementcanrunintothreefigures. Even so, it can be difficult to getandholdthepublic’sattention. Messersaidthecountyheldaburn permit class a month ago, but it only drew five attendees. Three livedoutsidethecounty.

COMING TUESDAY IN FOOD & DRINK | Irish fare: Celebrate St. Patty’s with a visit to a local pub. Beer, recipes and more. Page A4

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

LOCAL NEWS

Police

Obituaries sister. Among his many honors, he was a distinguished alum of Ozark Christian College in Joplin, Mo., and an honorary alum of Manhattan Christian College. He has preached in every Christian church in Kansas and spoken throughout the U.S.; but despite his many accomplishments, his main goal and achievement was to serve his Lord and love people. In addition to the many friends he leaves behind, Hiram is survived by his wife; and three children, Chris and wife Sha-Ron (Rhodes) Cassel of Atlanta, Ceaven and husband Ed Evans of Manhattan, and Curtis Cassel of Saint Louis; eight grandchildren, Andy and wife Renee Cassel of Manhattan, Carla Cassel of Manhattan, Chelsea and husband Dustin Hutchinson of Joplin, Mo., Casey Cassel of Manhattan, Brohgan Evans and soon-to-be husband Adam Dieker of Manhattan, Willy Evans of Manhattan, Anna Grace Evans of Manhattan, and Kimberly Cassel of Salina; and three great-granddaughters, Ashlyn and Hannah Cassel of Manhattan, and Cassandra Hutchinson of Joplin, Mo. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 at University Christian Church’s Family Life Center,

Hiram Cassel Hiram Cassel, 74, died March 15, 2009 at Mercy Regional Hospital. The family provided some of the following information. He was born Nov. 26, 1934 in El Reno, Okla., the son of Millard Clark and Bessie (Bratton) Cassel. He married Marcy (Dubois) Cassel on Aug. 5, 1956, in Oklahoma City. Mr. Cassel Hiram spent his childhood in Yukon, Okla. He is a graduate of Midwest Christian College in Oklahoma City and of Fort Hays State University in Hays. He served as a minister in Ripley, Okla., Burlington, Okla., Wellington, Texas, Driftwood, Okla., and Oakley. He then went on staff at Manhattan Christian College as the vice president of student affairs and professor of ministries. Upon retirement, he became the associate minister of evangelism at University Christian Church in Manhattan, and he continued as partner in Cassel Rentals. He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Frederick and Simon Cassel; and an infant

2800 Claflin. A time of fellowship will be held immediately following. Memorial contributions should be made to Manhattan Christian College — Joliffe Hall Renovation or University Christian Church. Internment will occur at a later date at the Ashland Community Cemetery.

Keith A. Trowbridge Keith A. Trowbridge, 88, of Manhattan, died Sunday, March 15, 2009, in the Mercy Regional Health Center, Manhattan. He was born Dec. 31, 1920, at Clyde, and had been a longtime Manhattan resident. Additional obituary and service information will be announced by the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, Manhattan.

Robert Michael “Mike” Stepp Robert Michael “Mike” Stepp, 52, of Manhattan, died Sunday, March 15, 2009, in his home after an extended illness. He was born Feb. 3, 1957, in Anchorage, Alaska, and had been a Manhattan resident since 1975. Additional obituary and service information will be announced by the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, Manhattan.

State to hold $3M from stimulus for railroads Associated Press TOPEKA — Kansas is setting aside $3 million in federal stimulus funds for shortline railroad projects. The Department of Transportation said Monday that it is giving railroads and local port authorities until 5 p.m. March 23 to apply

for the money. Theagencysaysitwillannounce which projects have been selected a week later. The money is part of the $378 millionintransportationfundsthe state expects to receive from the recently enacted federal stimulus package. Transportation Secretary Deb

Miller noted that shortlines account for about 1,900 rail miles, or 41 percent of the total, in Kansas. And she said they carry more than 14 million tons of freight a year. Miller said priority will be given to projects that will help with an area’s economic development and create jobs this summer.

Town Center every Tuesday at 9 a.m. for a brief discussion and warm up before walking inside the mall. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and shoes. The program will run from April 7-June 9. Registration is $10 and includes a pedometer. Register at the MPRD Office, 1101 Fremont, or call (785) 587-2757. For additional information, contact Ashley Penner, recreation coordinator at penner@ci.manhattan.ks.us.

Anaplasmosis, a vector-borne infectious disease that affects cattle herds, will be he focus of Hollis’ presentation. Hollis is the beef veterinarian for K-State Research and Extension. The meeting will be held at the Fairview Church Fellowship Hall, located across from Riley County High School. Supper will be served at 6:30 p.m., with the program immediately following. The cost is $5 per person for RCLA members. Non-members are invited to join the association for $10 and then enjoy a complimentary meal. Reservations can be made by contacting the Riley County Extension Office at (785) 537-6350 or by e-mail at gmcclure@ksu.edu by noon March 27.

Notices Correction A story in Sunday’s Mercury listed the incorrect results from Saturday’s Aggieville 10k road race. The correct results are listed on today’s Page A8. The Mercury regrets the error.

Parks and Rec to offer walking club for seniors The city of Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department is offering a 10-week walking class designed for beginners, with the goal of participants walking comfortably for 30 minutes to an hour. The club, designed for participants ages 50 and above, will meet at the food court at Manhattan

RCLA to hold spring meeting April 1 Larry Hollis will be the featured speaker at the Riley County Livestock Association’s spring meeting April 1 at 6:30 p.m.

Weather Tonight/Tuesday

City/Region Low | High temps

Forecast for Tuesday, March 17

MO.

NEB. Colby 36° | 76°

Kansas City 54° | 77° Salina 49° | 79°

Liberal 36° | 79°

Topeka 49° | 77° Pittsburg 52° | 79°

Wichita 49° | 79°

OKLA.

Partly Cloudy

Thunderstorms

Cloudy

Ice

Flurries Rain

Showers

Snow Weather Underground • AP

National forecast Forecast highs for Tuesday, March 17

40s

Sunny

Cloudy

Pt. Cloudy

40s 50s

60s 70s

60s

60s 80s

70s

-10s

80s

-0s 0s

Fronts

70s

Cold

Warm Stationary

Pressure Low

High

60s

Rain

T-storms

Flurries

Snow

LOCAL — Tonight, clear. Lows around 47. South winds 5 to 15 mph. Tuesday, sunny. Record highs around 82. South winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Tuesday night, partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the northeast 5 to 15 mph after midnight. Wednesday, cooler. Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. North winds around 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph. Wednesday night through Thursday night, partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Highs in the mid 50s. Friday, partly sunny. Highs around 60. Friday night and Saturday, mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 30s. Highs in the lower 60s. FOR THE RECORD (From 8 a.m. to 8 a.m.): Maximum temperature................................65 Minimum temperature ................................28 Precipitation ..............................................0.00 March to date ............................................0.50 Deficit for March........................................0.47 Year to date ..............................................1.19 Deficit for 2009 ..........................................1.60 TUTTLE CREEK DATA: Elevation ............................................1,072.45 Outflow ......................................................600 Water temperature ......................................40 SUNDOWN- SUNUP: Tonight ......................................................7:34 Tuesday ......................................................7:35 Tuesday night ............................................7:35

50s

Showers

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Ice

KANSAS TEMPERATURES Chanute Concordia Dodge City Emporia Garden City Goodland Hays Hutchinson Lawrence Liberal Olathe Russell Salina Topeka Wichita

62 64 68 63 69 67 66 65 63 68 60 67 64 63 65

33 35 29 33 30 22 25 29 29 28 43 31 36 31 32

Arrests Morgan Marie Sutton, 26, Ogden, two counts of theft. Released on $2,000 bond. Roberta Irene Ellis, 45, 401 Maple Place, theft. Released on $1,500 bond. Collin Patrick Hogan, 19, 937 Haymaker Hall, sexual battery. Confined on $500 bond. Rueda Fidel Salas, 29, 514 Yuma St., driving under the influence. Released on $750 bond. Shawn Edward Boyd, 19, Ogden, driving with a canceled or suspended license. Released on $500 bond. Charles Richard Patch, 20, 821 Osage St., driving under the influence. Released on $500 bond. Mark Allen Didde, 1114 Kearney St., driving under the influence. Released on $750 bond. Drew Bowers Pearce, 18, 227 Goodnow Hall, possession of a simulated controlled substance, unlawful possession of depressants. Released on $750 bond. Michelle Suzann Palmer, 22, 1836 Todd Road, driving under the influence. Released on $500 bond. Daniel Benjamin Shultejans, 18, Corning, driving under the influence. Released on $500 bond. Charles Richard Patch, 20, 821 Osage St., probation violation. Released on $1,898.08 bond. Darryl McLaurin, 45, Ogden, battery (domestic violence within family or household), criminal restraint. Released on $1,000. Cedrick Maximillian Johnson, 27, 1623 W. Laramie St., driving with a canceled or suspended license, habitual violation. Released on $2,000 bond. Michael Ray Crayton Jr., Fort Riley, assault of a law enforcement officer, battery, obstruction of the legal process. Released on $5,000 bond. Andrew Villagomez, 23, Fort Riley, disorderly conduct. Released on $750 bond. Randy Ross Price, 44, battery (domestic violence within family or household). Released on $500 bond. Tia Janell Lockhart, 23, Marysville, driving under the influence. Released on $750

bond. Gregory Alan Pelton, 23, Fort Riley, driving under the influence. Released on $500 bond. Julius Erving Lamoin Russell, 31, Junction City, two counts of probation violation. Released on $7,500 total bond. Joseph Abraham Geske, 20, 1127 Yuma St., probation violation. Released on $2,500 bond. William Anthony Furnish, 25, 208 N. 11th St. Apt. 1/2, five counts of theft. Released on $1,500 bond.

Incidents • Brandon Turner, 19, 350 N. 14th St. No. 1, reported a burglary. He told police someone stole $1,930 worth of gaming and electronic equipment, including a PlayStation 3, controllers, PlayStation 3 stand, 30 miscellaneous games, a guitar amp, a Torpedo projector, headphones and a CD player. The burglary occurred between March 9 and 10, and the perpetrator forced entry into the residence. • Police reported an injury accident March 13 at 10:40 p.m. at 10th Street and Bluemont Avenue. A 2006 Mazda driven by 18-year-old Athena Jeandell Carnett of Ogden was traveling north on 10th Street at Bluemont. She entered the intersection and was struck by a 1999 Ford F150 pickup driven by 19-year-old Jesus Apodaca of 1420 Cambridge No. 33. Apodaca was transported to Mercy Regional Health Center for chest pain. Carnett was arrested and charged with purchase and consumption of alcohol by a minor and driving under the influence. She was released on $750 bond. • Police responded to at fight at the 1200 block of Moro Street at 12:48 a.m. March 15. Wesley Otto Cooper III, 22, Fort Riley, allegedly punched 27-year-old Joseph Plezia of Fort Riley in the face with a closed fist in front of Rusty’s Last Chance, breaking his jaw and knocking teeth out. Cooper was arrested and charged with aggravated battery. He was released on $5,000 bond. Plezia was not transported but likely sought medical treatment after the incident, police said.

• George Dillon, Ogden, reported that someone had stolen his 3-by-five-foot smoker and a sledgehammer that was sitting in the driveway at 225 14th St. in Ogden. Total loss was $6,000. • Police responded to a report of criminal damage to property. Someone damaged a greenhouse at the community garden in Ogden owned by Kansas State University. Miscellaneous gardening items also were damaged. Total loss was $8,020. The incident occurred between March 11 and 14 at 101 10th St. in Ogden. • Ronnie Booher, 30, 2690 W. 56th St., was arrested and charged with aggravated battery March 15. According to a police report, he became involved in an altercation with his girlfriend, Trisha Heikes, 29, of the same address. Booher reportedly struck her and choked her. He was released on $2,000 bond.

Notices to appear Michael Schlabach, 31, 606 Vattier Lane, open container. Tony Bryson, 18, Fort Riley, minor in possession. Dustin Moody, 20, 1000 Thurston St., minor in possession. Randi Horn, 20, 1125 Waters, minor in possession. Tyrel Billings, 21, 1125 Waters, transporting an open container, providing an intoxicant to a minor. David Miles, 22, 1601 Lear Apt. A, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Kamahl Bobian, 14, 917 Colorado St., detained on charges of minor in consumption, released to parent. Glenn Niess Jr., 15, 721 Diebler, detained on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, released to parent. Trenton Kent-Hardeman, 15, 1822 Laramie St., detained on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, released to parent. Nicholas Scheidt, 14, 430 Shelle Road, detained on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, released to parent.

High-speed chase ends in wreck Saturday Staff reports A high-speed police chase ended in a wreck Saturday, and the driver was arrested and then “unarrested” pending the results of a blood test for driving under the influence. The driver was 19-year-old Joseph Gordon of Fort Riley, according to a report by KMAN radio station following the incident. At least one passenger also was in the vehicle. Police made a report of

aggravated battery, DUI and reckless driving, but later retracted the arrest, and so did not release the name. An officer on routine patrol Saturday afternoon was driving westbound near the 1400 block of Fort Riley Boulevard when they observed a black Pontiac Grand Prix traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed by radar, according to a police report. The officer followed the car, but it fled from him, weaving in and out of traf-

fic as it sped along Kansas Hwy. 18. As the car approached the intersection of the highway and 52nd Street, the driver attempted to turn, but was going too fast and lost control, the report states. The vehicle ran into a stop sign, hit a ditch and went airborne, landing upright. No injuries were reported. Doddler was detained and then released, pending the results of a blood test to test the driver’s blood-alcohol level.

emergency medical call. Date: 3-14 Time: 11:47 a.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-14 Time: 12:40 p.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-14 Time: 1:24 p.m. Engine 4, Fire 10 and Rescue 1 responded to the 5000 block of Fort Riley Boulevard for a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival the crews assisted Riley County Emergency Medical Services. Date: 3-14 Time: 5:07 p.m. Engine 1 responded to 2301 Tuttle Creek Boulevard for a fire alarm sounding. Upon arrival the crew found that burnt food had set off the alarm. No fire loss. Date: 3-14 Time: 7:45 p.m. Engines 1, 2 and 3, Rescue 1 and Fire 4 responded to 2121 Meadowlark Road for report of smoke in the building. Upon arrival the crews found that a malfunctioning air conditioning unit had caused the smoke. No fire loss. Date: 3-14 Time: 2:06 a.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-15 Time: 1:14 p.m. Engine 1 responded to Kansas State University, Haymaker Hall, for an alarm sounding. Upon arrival the crew found that cooking smoke had caused the alarm to activate. No fire loss. Date: 3-15 Time: 2:00 p.m. Engine 1 responded to 700 Knox Lane for a small grass fire. Upon arrival the crew found and extinguished a small grass fire. The fire was caused by an unattended grill. No fire loss. Date: 3-15 Time: 4:58 p.m. Engine 1 responded to 1823 College Ave. for a helicopter stand-by. Date: 3-15 Time: 6:24 p.m. Engine 2 responded to 300 North 5th Street for an alarm sounding.Upon arrival the crew found that burnt food had caused the alarm to activate. No fire loss.

Date: 3-15 Time: 6:50 p.m. Engine 3 responded to the intersection of College Avenue and Claflin Road for an odor of natural gas. Upon arrival the crew found that that the odor had been caused by a pop off valve on the line. No fire loss. Date: 3-15 Time: 7:15 p.m. Engine 1 responded to 1823 College Ave. for a helicopter stand-by. Date: 3-16 Time: 3:19 a.m. Engine 1 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-16 Time: 4:30 a.m. Engine 1 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-16 Time: 5:23 a.m. Engines 1, 2, and 3, Rescue 1, and Fire 10 responded to 1010 Sunset Ave. for a report of smoke coming from a vent. Upon arrival the crews found light smoke in the building. After investigation the crews found that the smoke was caused by an overheated furnace. No fire loss.

Fire report Date: 3-12 Time: 8:38 a.m. Engine 1 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-12 Time: 2:08 p.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-12 Time: 4:29 p.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-12 Time: 11:03 p.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-12 Time: 11:30 p.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-13 Time: 1:06 a.m. Engine 1 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-13 Time: 1:35 a.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-13 Time: 6:33 a.m. Engine 1 responded to 1405 Hartman Place for a fire alarm sounding. Upon arrival the crew did not find any reason for the alarm to have activated. No fire loss. Date: 3-13 Time: 8:34 a.m. Engine 1 responded to Kansas State University, Fairchild Hall, for an elevator assist. Date: 3-13 Time: 8:51 a.m. Engine 1 responded to Kansas State University, Ackert Hall, for an elevator assist. Date: 3-13 Time: 9:12 a.m. Engine 1 responded to Kansas State University, Willard Hall, for an elevator assist. Date: 3-13 Time: 9:27 a.m. Engine 1 responded to Kansas State University, Umberger Hall, for an elevator assist. Date: 3-13 Time: 3:12 p.m. Engine 4 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-13 Time: 3:59 p.m. Engine 1 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-13 Time: 9:04 p.m. Engine 1 responded to 1700 North Manhattan Ave. for an investigation of an odor. Upon arrival, the crew found that the odor was sewer gas. No loss. Date: 3-13 Time: 10:13 p.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-13 Time: 10:22 p.m. Engine 1 responded to Kansas State University, Nichols Hall for a fire alarm sounding. Upon arrival, the crew found that a hot water pipe in the ceiling had ruptured. No fire loss. Date: 3-13 Time: 11:02 p.m. Engine 2 responded to an emergency medical call. Date: 3-14 Time: 9:35 a.m. Engine 1 responded to an

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THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

REGIONAL

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Lawyer in Clutter killings supports death penalty Associated Press GARDEN CITY — Rather than abolish the death penalty, Kansas lawmakers ought to make more crimes eligible for capital punishment, according to the prosecutor in one of the state’s most infamous murder cases. Duane West was Finney County attorney when Richard Hickock and Perry Smith were sentenced to death for the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb,acrimethatbecameinfamous in the novel ‘‘In Cold Blood.’’ The Kansas Senate was scheduled to debate a bill Monday that would end the death penalty as a cost-cutting move. But West said they ought to be making the law stricter.

‘‘They need to get busy and make it stronger,’’ West said. ‘‘I think a lot more casesoughttoqualifyforcapitalmurder than do.’’ Sen. Carolyn McGinn, R-Sedgwick, sponsored a bill that would eliminate executions for offenders sentenced after July 1. Supporters say it would save the state money in a year when Kansas faces a potential $650 million deficit. In a 2003 report, the Death Penalty Information Center, an anti-capital punishment group, said the median cost of a death penalty case in Kansas was $1.26 million, compared with $740,000 for noncapital offenses. The report also argued that investigation, trial and appeal costs run significantly higher in

capital cases. Smith and Hickock shot Holcomb farmer Herb Clutter, his wife, Bonnie, and two children, Nancy and Kenyon, because they thought Clutter had a large amount of cash in a safe concealed in the residence. West said he believes imposing the death penalty on Smith and Hickock for the Clutter murders was the right thing to do. ‘‘It’s not an easy thing to sit in a quiet corner of your mind and have to contemplate doing that,’’ West said. ‘‘But when I took my oath of office as the county attorney of Finney County, it was my sworn duty to uphold the law and protect the public. Ultimately, I felt like asking the jury for the death penalty was

the proper thing to do. ‘‘I felt we could do without these two people walking around on the face of the Earth anymore. I did not feel the decision was wrong and they have not killed anyone else since then — that’s the main thing.’’ West said preventing criminals from killing again is especially important in cases such as the current death penalty case pending in Reno County against three former Hutchinson Correctional Facility inmates accused of murdering a fellow inmate. ‘‘What punishment is there in (prison)?’’ West asked. ‘‘I think it’s very important that people realize they could face the death penalty if they decide to do that thing, and I think it’s a

matter of protecting society.’’ West said the argument that death penalty cases cost more than housing inmates is a smokescreen because virtually all murder cases are appealed. ‘‘From a dollars and cents standpoint it’s not the death penalty that’s the biggest factor, they’re going to have that expense one way or another on appeals,’’ West said. If it really is a matter of money, West said, he would be willing to help. ‘‘If it takes a little extra money to make sure they don’t breathe the same air and enjoy the same sunshine that I do, then it’s OK with me — pass the hat and I’ll put in some money,’’ West said. ‘‘I’m sure a lot of other people would, too.’’

Judge rules state will keep money from lawsuit Associated Press TOPEKA — The state will keep a $25 million fee paid by a company that later dropped plans to build a casino in Cherokee County, a judge has ruled. Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis also chastised Penn National Gaming for pulling out of its contract to build the casino, saying the company should have known the risks involved before it applied to build the state-owned casino. Penn National Gaming

announced on Sept. 11, 2008, that it was withdrawing from a contract to build a casino in Cherokee County. The county sued the same day, alleging breach of contract, and is seeking about $53 million. TheonlybidderontheCherokee County contract, Penn said it couldn’tcompetewiththenewQuapaw tribal casino in Oklahoma, whichislocatedsoclosetothestate linethatitsparkinglotisinKansas. Penn National also didn’t get a contract it wanted from the state

to build a casino in Sumner County. As part of its application, Penn National was required to pay the state a $25 million privilege fee. After withdrawing, the company wanted that money returned. But in a ruling issued Thursday in Shawnee County District Court, Theis said the state can keep the $25 million in case Cherokee County wins its lawsuit. ‘‘Since Kansas Penn Gaming LLC’s ephemeral existence and assets, other than the fund

attached, would cause great risk to plaintiff’s full recovery, the present attachment cannot be considered improper or excessive to the claim,’’ he wrote in the ruling. Theis also wrote that the risks to Penn National were ‘‘present and foreseeable’’ when the company presented its plans for the casino to Cherokee County and the Kansas Lottery. ‘‘Many of the risks cited by the defendants were omnipresent from the beginning,’’ Theis

wrote. ‘‘The only new risk is the present national economy, which developed negatively and meaningfully only after the breach of its agreement with Cherokee County.’’ He wrote that history suggests the economy will eventually improve. Before it got the Cherokee County contract, Penn promoted a ‘‘southern strategy,’’ linking Cherokee County to its proposal for a casino near Wellington in Sumner County. But Harrah’s

Entertainment Inc. was chosen to build a casino in Sumner County, near Mulvane. Penn then said it would have to reassess it options in Cherokee County. ‘‘It appears the defendants made a business decision far in advance of any of the circumstances now affecting today’s economy to not perform, citing only nearby casino competition’’ and its inability to secure the contract for the south central gaming zone, Theis wrote.

Sedgwick County Zoo gives gorillas heart exams Associated Press WICHITA — Two 10-year-old gorillas at the Sedgwick County Zoo passed their heart exams with flying colors. That was the good news Saturday after Jabir and Samson underwent an elaborate medical screening performed by physician Ravi Bajan of Heartland Cardiology and several other medical professionals. Sedgwick County asked Bajan to perform the heart exam as part of a national effort to determine why gorillas in

captivity are dying of heart disease and other complications. Bajaj said it’s unclear why captive gorillas have a high instance of heart failure. Males in their 20s and 30s have been particularly susceptible to heartrelated illnesses, staff members said. Several zoos in the country are scheduling their gorillas for an electrocardiogram, or EKG, to detect the heart’s rhythm and weaknesses in different parts of its muscles. ‘‘We hope to find out what’s causing the heart muscle weaknesses and how to

treat it,’’ Bajaj said. During the exams Saturday, a team of medical professionals, zookeepers and Douglas Winter of the Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital of Wichita surrounded the operating table. TheyexaminedasedatedJabirfirst,listening to his heart with a stethoscope. An ultrasound captured on a television mounted above Jabir’s head showed his heartpumping.ThenitwasSamson’sturn. ‘‘They both have healthy hearts. That’s what our hopes were,’’ Bajaj said. ‘‘There is an awe’’ being in the same

room with a massive animal, said Winter, who performed dental exams. He found a fractured tooth causing some pain in Jabir’s upper lip, but everything else looked good. Sandy Wilson, an associate veterinarian, said the zoo plans to examine all eight of its gorillas. The same exam was performed on the zoo’s youngest gorilla, Virgil, several months ago and he had a perfectly normal heart, Wilson said. Danielle Decker, a senior zookeeper with the Downing Gorilla Forest, said

staff trained for the exams for three to six months. They taught the gorillas to hold their arms out for an injection, moved them to different rooms and practiced giving injections with different widths of needles. ‘‘Training helps us do preventative care,’’ Decker said. As an example, she said, the gorillas open their mouths to let staff brush their teeth. Doctors plan to perform similar exams on the zoo’s older silverback gorillas, which can weigh as much as 500 pounds.

Kansas Hispanic bakeries report strong business Associated Press DODGE CITY — Despite the economic downturn, local Hispanic bakeries and tortillerDias here are booming while gaining more Anglo customers. Norma Orona, owner of TortillerDia y PanaderDia Madero, started her business four years ago. She said the cost of flour, yeast, sugar, butter, cinnamon and other ingredients has increased since then, although sometimes prices have come down. For example, the cost of 50 pounds of flour rose from $17 to $32, and 50 pounds of sugar went from $35 to $54. Twenty pounds of yeast rose from $45 to $52.66, and 50poundsofcornflourwentfrom $13 to $17.67.

Orona said she buys the supplies from an Amarillo, Texas, company three times a week, and her average bread and tortilla production is 1,200 pounds a week. Her bakery also supplies products to three eateries located at the local packing plants. ‘‘Since the sales are expanding, we bake seven days a week without stop,’’ Orona said. The sales increase has prompted Orona to hire more staffers: three bakers and six sellers. Bakers’ wages range from $450 to $700 weekly. ‘‘The important thing is that we also create more jobs in the community, and therefore, we are helping to keep the local economy moving up,’’ she said. Orona’s bakery produces more

Lottery results Associated Press

Daily Pick 3 4-2-1

ORLANDO, Fla. — None of the tickets sold for the Powerball game Saturday night matched all six numbers drawn, which were: 7-30-33-44-51 Powerball: 10 Power Play: 2 Players matching all five numbers and the Powerball would have won or shared the $45.1 million jackpot. The prize goes to an estimated $55 million for Wednesday. Tickets that match the first five numbers, but miss the Powerball, win $200,000 each, and there was one of those. It was sold in: Kentucky. There were no Power Play Match 5 winners.

Super Kansas Cash 5-15-16-17-29 Super Cashball - 3 •There was no Jackpot winner. •One player matched five of the first set, with each ticket worth $2,000 •Four players matched four plus the Super Cashball, with each ticket worth $250 •159 players matched four of the first set, with each ticket worth $25 •164 players matched three plus Super Cashball, with each ticket worth $25 •The next drawing will be worth an estimated $390,000.

TOPEKA — Here are the winning numbers selected Saturday in the Kansas Lottery:

Kansas 2by2 Red Numbers: 3-21; White Numbers: 8-18. •Worth: $20,000.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY Attention John Deere, IHC and AGCO Techs with 5 to 10 yrs experience. Would you like to earn 45 to 50 thousand dollars per year guaranteed? 3OXV D IXOO EHQH¿W SDFNDJH If interested, send resume to Service Tech, PO Box 31, Lindsborg, KS 67456

than 35 kinds of bread, which she said she believes is attracting more and more Anglo customers. ‘‘What distinguishes our bread is that we put a different flavor in each type, while the traditional American goodies almost taste the same, no matter the variety,’’ she said. ‘‘Also, we try to make some kind of breads with low sugar and salt content to satisfy customers who take care of their health.’’ She said that demand remains strong, despite the rising cost of her baked goods. ‘‘A cake standard size is 10 pounds,’’ Orona said. ‘‘Before, the cost was $82, now it is $95. But the demand keeps up since Hispanic people also use cakes to celebrate baptisms, communions and quinceaInera parties.’’ Cecilia Trenzado established her tortillerDia and bakery, Mi Tierra, in Dodge City about two years ago, when she moved from California. She now produces about 5,000 pounds of bread and tortillas weekly. Trenzado s bakery makes 35 kinds of bread, and many of her supplies come from Mexico, including almost all the butter. She said that the cost of bakery supplies has increased about 50 percent in the last year; however, she tries to buy her supplies in bulk to obtain them more cheaply and to avoid any future price

increases. Because the demand for bread and tortillas has risen, Trenzado now keeps a full-time staff of five people: two bakers and three sellers. ‘‘Traditionally a majority of Hispanics have been my customers, but now I notice that many Anglo customers are showing up,’’ she said. ‘‘I have a lot of clients from the Sublette Menonnite community and from other small towns. We even supply to customers from a Canadian town called Monotova through a Canadian trucker, who comes every month to pick up more than $1,200 in flour tortillas and bread.’’ Another bakery business reporting good sales is PanaderDia Real. Owner Armando Serrano opened his business about a year ago, and now he says he’s producing an average of 2,500 pounds of different breads each week. Since he is a baker himself, he does not pay anyone else, except two helpers. ‘‘Bakers must be well paid because they are scarce,’’ Serrano said. Because of the sales increase, he now has a staff of nine people, two of whom are full time. According to Serrano, bakery supply prices have fluctuated since a year ago. Since he buys 50 pounds of flour for $12.85 and 50 pounds of sugar for $24.99, he can

sell a single piece of bread for 33 cents. Serrano said cake sales have increased for him, but people used to buy the more expensive ones. ‘‘Bakery is for now a stable business, and sales tend to increase more in winter, perhaps because the people are drinking more coffee. But the

sales go down a bit when the summer arrives,’’ Serrano said. Micaela Pichardo, director of membership for the Dodge City Area Chamber of Commerce, said that Hispanic bakery owners are promoting their businesses by delivering different kinds of bread among more than 30 local businesses for free every Friday.

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THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

FOCUS

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

FASHION

At what reading level are most stories in the Mercury written? Daniel Kelley dkelley@themercury.com Q: Is the Manhattan Mercury written at an eighth-grade level of reading? Do the writers attempt to use small words (simplified language) or ascertain the use of a thesaurus to contrive synonyms that are potentially more creative and educational? A: I see what you did there. You used some of that fancy book learnin’ to prove a point, didn’t ya? Your question refers to the grade level at which newspapers are written. You can find all sorts of information online referring to this idea. The recommended grade level varies — personally, I’ve heard anything from third grade to 10th — but the point is the same: write at too high a level and readers won’t always get it; write at too low a level and they’ll tune you out. There are in fact a few formulas to determine a paper’s grade level. The two that are generally accepted and used were both devised by Rudolf Flesch — an author and “readability expert” who long advocated the use of plain English. The first formula, the Flesch Reading Ease test, offers a score between 1 and 100 — the lower the score, the more difficult the passage is to read. The second, called the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level test, gives a score of an actual grade level. The tests are based on syllables per word and words per sentence — spelling, grammar and the like aren’t taken into account, so the formulas aren’t perfect. The two tests don’t coincide perfectly, but each is considered to be reasonably reliable. According to a study done by the Plain Language at Work newsletter www.impactinformation.com, major periodicals vary in grade level from ninth (Reader’s Digest, TV Guide, Time, Harpers) to 12th (London Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, National Enquirer). The Times of

India, with a circulation of more than 2 million, leaves them all in the dust, lodging a 15th-grade level. Applying the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level test, the Mercury falls below the Times of India, but is written at a higher grade level than most other publications. The Flesch Reading Ease test yields similar results. I calculated the reading level based on three locally written stories in Sunday’s edition — “South ins and outs” by Patrice Holderbach; “St. Pat’s with pipes” by Kathryn Waller; and “A needle is slipped into the south side project” by Bill Felber. According to the FleschKincaid Grade Level test, Holderbach’s story was written on a 14.6-grade level. Waller’s hit 12.6, and Felber’s hit 11.9. Combined, the three stories were written at a 13.1-grade level. The lowest possible score on this test is -3.4, which would be a whole passage composed entirely of twoword sentences and one-syllable words. In other words, an unlikely score. Probably the lowest score ever actually achieved was notched by Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” which scores a -1.3. The book has 812 words, and only “anywhere,” which appears eight times, has more than one syllable. The tests can also be applied to other written works — books, for example. Books written by such writers as John Grisham, Michael Crichton and Stephen King are all written at about a seventh-grade level. Romance novels, a booming literary genre if ever there was one, are typically written closer to a fifthgrade level. And what about “I Wonder”? Well, today’s column clocks in at a 10.3-grade level. How’s that for some fanciful wordsmithing? You can submit a question to this column by e-mail to questions@themercury.com, or by regular mail to Questions, P.O. Box 787, Manhattan, KS 66505.

Spring break travels pose extra safety risks for kids and teens The Washington Post For students in kindergarten through college, nothing is like the excitement of spring break (except for maybe the wonder that is summer break). With the school holiday coming up for many kids, it is a perfect time to remind them how to stay safe. Here are just a few tips from the American College of Emergency Physicians:

■ Spending a lot of time outside? Wear sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, and wear a hat and a good pair of sunglasses. ■ If your break includes water activities, remind your kids to swim with a buddy or wear a life vest when boating. ■ When venturing far from home, familiarize your spring breakers with their surroundings, and let them know who to call in the event of an emergency. Pack medications and proof of insurance, and carry a cell phone. ■ Get proper training for skilled activities such as surfing, water skiing and scuba diving. And don't overload the activities but make sure you get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation puts you at risk for accidents.

Los Angeles Times

Matvey Lykov has a fitting done by designer Phillip Lim the day before the designer's show. Lykov originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, is one of the models who worked frequently during the recent New York Fashion Week.

SUBWAY TO RUNWAY | A day in the life of a male model Los Angeles Times NEW YORK — It's a familiar sight at New York Fashion Week: The women who rule the runways arrive in chauffeured cars with darkened windows. They stop on 40th Street beside the Bryant Park tents and emerge like the clone girls in a Robert Palmer music video, Aphrodites floating in on scallop shells, Starbucks skinny half-caf in one hand, Balenciaga bag in the other. Light bends around them. People know them by name. You never see their male counterparts -- or more accurately you never think you see them. They arrive almost unnoticed on foot from the Bryant Park Metro station, Eastpak backpacks slung over their shoulders. It's only when they're underground, congregated in twos and threes and riding the trains in New York or Paris or Milan that they stand out: 6-foot-2 packs of cheekbones and confidence, giraffes among the wildebeests. Matvey Lykov is one of the men who makes his living as a human clothes hanger. The 21year-old Russian-born model has dark brown eyes, a whippetthin body and his tribe's distinctive chiseled face. He speaks three languages, has a college degree in education and is quick to tell you he's living his dream -- anybody's dream -- right now. Traveling the world, appearing in magazines, making some money. He first caught my eye on the Paris Metro nearly a year ago, as he and another model ran onto my train car, dashing from a Raf Simons show to a Lanvin fitting. Then, on the subways of Milan the next season, there he was again, amid the boys with the alabaster skin and radiant smiles, all of them perfectly tall and slender like genetically modified sunflowers. Last month, the day after New York Fashion Week wrapped, Lykov plopped down at a SoHo delicatessen, shook off a hangover and shared his story -- one that took him from scrubbing the toilets of Manhattan on a student visa a year and a half ago to ranking in the top 25 male models on the international circuit. Even after a night of drinking and dancing, he looks runway-

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ready. His brown hair is gelled into a casual tuft at the forehead, almost as an afterthought, and he's wearing a gray cashmere sweater over a turtleneck. He speaks nearly perfect English with a Russian accent that turns the word "models" into "muddles" and a cadence that makes many sentences sound like rhetorical questions. He constantly checks his ringing, buzzing and beeping BlackBerry. That male model/mass transit connection I'd observed over the last four seasons was no fluke, he confirmed. "Yeah, it's ridiculous how many guys you see on the subway. You can run into each other every five minutes. But not the girl muddles, 'cause they usually have drivers." It's a matter of simple finances, he explained. Because the cost of a car service -- like airfare to Europe and the price of accommodations -- is advanced by the modeling agency and ultimately offset by future modeling work stateside, such a splurge cuts into a model's take-home pay. Especially when a male model at Lykov's level pulls down a tenth of what a female of comparable caliber can expect. His average fee of $1,000 a show in Europe sounds like pretty decent dollars, but for a variety of reasons, it doesn't add up to anything close to a glamorous lifestyle. According to Lykov, the lodging arranged by a modeling agency means dormitory-style digs, with four to six guys in tiny apartments. Multiply this by the several hundred barely twentysomething men who descend on Paris and Milan twice a year on the same flights, and the runway season ends up being part fraternity, part spring break and all Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. "Before my first show in Milan, we were staying in this apartment that belonged to a male model," Lykov recalls. "I was staying with these Canadians; they were like animals. They destroyed all the furniture, they were throwing chairs and beer bottles out of the window from the fourth floor onto cars -- one guy (relieved himself) in the oven." He said he took his suitcase and checked into a hotel that night. "Since then I try not to stay with other

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models like that. Maybe two in a hotel room, but that's it." As Lykov's modeling career has progressed, demand for him has increased, bringing an occasional lifestyle change. During the recent Paris shows, he found himself booked in 15 shows, which meant he needed to hire a driver. "I would get up at 6, get in the car and be at castings, fittings and shows until 3 in the morning sometimes." That's more akin to the routine of the female models -especially a core group -- who tend to be more sought after during the runway season, says Anita Bitton, casting director for the Establishment. "The same women end up doing the same shows. Since it's not as important to have the same guys in the same shows, that's why you'll have the girls driven in cars and even on scooters through the streets of Milan and Paris between castings, fittings and shows." This season, Lykov walked 34 shows in the three major markets of Milan, Paris and New York. That's not counting the one-off in Stockholm and pair of shows during Berlin Fashion Week. He can't exactly say how much he makes a year -- "I haven't been doing it for a whole year yet," he points out. "I was also studying." But using the figure of $1,000 per show, he grossed somewhere close to $18,400 in the most recent round of shows (that's subtracting the 20 percent agency fee). Deduct another two grand for airfare, hotel, food and transportation costs and the season would net him roughly $16,400. Double that for a second season, throw in a couple of one-off shows and an exclusive gig and it turns out that being No. 24 on the list of top-ranked male models means making somewhere in the ballpark of $40,000 a year on the runways before taxes. It's not chicken feed, but in an industry where the favored faces can change with the season, it hardly screams "hired car and driver," either. That total does not include the 11 New York shows he worked this season -- because most of them end up paying the models not in cash but in cloth-

ing. "Most of the men's designers paid in trade this season," he said (something that's not allowed in Europe). So it helps his bottom line that he's based in New York City -- he can easily catch the train from Brooklyn, where he lives with four roommates. "None of them are models, thank God," he says with a laugh. "Male models are messy - it's not sexy at all." The clothing labels that have retail stores give the models gift cards, and the smaller brands simply pull clothes from the showroom racks. Lykov points two thumbs at the ensemble he's wearing. "This is like two seasons of Patrik Ervell. If it's a designer I really believe in, I'll do it to support them, 'cause it advances my career too." Between fashion weeks, Lykov said, the goal is to do editorial shoots to beef up the model portfolio for the next season. They don't pay much, he said, "but you need them for the show castings, and it's good to have nice tear sheets in your book. You also do catalogs, like Barneys (New York) and stuff, which pay well and let you pay the bills." The men can have careers into their early 30s, but Lykov waves off the notion that he might spend the better part of the next decade on the catwalk. "I want to earn some cash and go to school in America for the film industry. I want to try everything -- acting, editing, producing -- everything in the film industry." (His father, Aleksandr Lykov, is an actor back in Russia.) But for now, the model who was plucked from obscurity to be the face of the Jil Sander fall 2007 and spring 2008 ad campaigns says he's already looking ahead to "campaign season," when the luxury brands start the search for the models that will represent their labels in the season-long print ad campaigns. "Campaign season comes a month or two after the shows," Lykov explained. "This is where the money is hidden. You wanna do that -- that's your goal." Then he smiles a big smile, shoulders his backpack and heads down the street. Toward the subway station.

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

NEWS

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

AIG says billions of its bailout money went to other banks Associated Press

conflict.

NEW YORK — American International Group Inc. used more than $90 billion in federal aid to pay out foreign and domestic banks, some of whom had received their own multibilliondollar U.S. government bailouts. The embattled insurer’s disclosure on Sunday came amid outrage on Capitol Hill over its payment of tens of millions in executive bonuses, and followed demands from lawmakers that the names of trading partners who indirectly benefited from federal aid to AIG be made public. The company, now about 80 percent owned by U.S. taxpayers, has received roughly $170 billion from the government, which feared that its collapse could cause widespread damage to banks and consumers around the globe. ‘‘The ability of AIG to meet its obligations is important to the stability of the U.S. financial system and to getting credit flowing to households and businesses,’’ Federal Reserve spokeswoman Michelle Smith said. Some of the biggest recipients of the AIG money were Goldman Sachs at $12.9 billion, and three European banks — France’s Societe Generale at $11.9 billion, Germany’s Deutsche Bank at $11.8 billion, and Britain’s Barclays PLC at $8.5 billion. Merrill Lynch, which also is undergoing federal scrutiny of its bonus plans, received $6.8 billion as of Dec. 31.

Netanyahu’s Likud signs coalition agreement

Bernanke: Recession may end soon WASHINGTON — America’s recession ‘‘probably’’ will end this year if the government succeeds in bolstering the banking system, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Sunday in a rare television interview. In carefully hedged remarks in a taped interview with CBS’ ‘‘60 Minutes,’’ Bernanke seemed to express a bit more optimism that this could be done. Still, Bernanke stressed — as he did to Congress last month — that the prospects for the recession ending this year and a recovery taking root next year hinge on a difficult task: getting banks to lend more freely again and getting the financial markets to work more normally. ‘‘We’ve seen some progress in the financial markets, absolutely,’’ Bernanke said. ‘‘But until we get that stabilized and working normally, we’re not going to see recovery. ‘‘But we do have a plan. We’re

Associated Press

“60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, left, interviews Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke in Dillon, S.C. working on it. And, I do think that we will get it stabilized, and we’ll see the recession coming to an end probably this year.’’

Pakistan says it will restore chief judge ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s government relented in a major confrontation with the opposition Monday, agreeing to reinstate a fired Supreme Court chief justice whose fate had sparked street fights and raised fears of political instability. A dawn announcement by the prime minister that Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry would be sworn back in on March 21 capped a night of high drama and led activist lawyers to drop plans to march on the capital and stage a sit-in at Parliament later in the day. The U.S. called the decision ‘‘statesmanlike,’’ but it also was a significant concession that could weaken U.S.-allied President Asif Ali Zardari, who had long refused to restore the independent-minded Chaudhry despite demands by lawyers and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif. Already, attempts to quell the protest movement — through arrests and bans on rallies — have triggered cracks in the ruling party. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s announcement also promised the restoration of a handful of other judges who had

remained off the bench since former President Pervez Musharraf sacked them in 2007. He further ordered the release of activists arrested over the past week and appealed for political reconciliation in Pakistan, a nucleararmed nation that also faces an economic crisis. Jubilant supporters waved flags and cheered outside Chaudhry’s Islamabad home, and the grinning jurist briefly made an appearance on the balcony. Activists said the decision was a triumph for democracy, andthenation’sstockmarketrallied in the morning.

Astronauts race to space station

Former leftist rebels gain presidency SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — A leftist television journalist has won El Salvador’s presidential election, bringing a party of former guerrillas to power for the first time since a bloody civil war and ending two decades of conservative rule. Mauricio Funes, a moderate plucked from outside the ranks of the rebel-group-turned-political-party Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, became the latest leftist to rise to power in Latin America at a time of uncertainty over how President Barack Obama will approach the region. With 90 percent of the vote counted late Sunday, Funes had 51 percent compared to 49 per-

Associated Press

Mauricio Funes, wife Vanda Pignato by his side, waves to supporters after winning El Salvador’s presidential election. cent for Rodrigo Avila of the ruling conservative Arena party, said Walter Araujo, president of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Avila, accompanied by current President Tony Saca, conceded defeat and wished Funes luck. Funes reported on the 12-year war that ended 17 years ago with 75,000 people dead, and he later hosted a popular interview show. He promised to unite the country after one of the most polarizing campaigns since the

Look in

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Seven astronauts raced to the internationalspacestationaboard the space shuttle Monday after a successful launch that was delayed five times and caused the mission to be shortened by a day. The delays forced a spacewalk to be axed, but mission managers said they would still be able to complete 80 to 90 percent of the tasks they had planned. The canceled spacewalk chores will be tackled by the space station crew after Discovery leaves. ‘‘It’s not a major setback to us,’’ said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, after Sunday evening’s launch. ‘‘We’re able to

✄

Sunday’s paper for

JERUSALEM — Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party has initialed a coalition agreement with an ultranationalist faction that brings its leader significantly closer to becoming foreign minister, a Likud party spokeswoman said Monday. Avigdor Lieberman, who heads the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party, has drawn accusations of racism for proposing that Israel’s Arab citizens sign loyalty oaths or lose their citizenship. Although that plan is not likely to be implemented,hisdesignationasforeign ministercouldharmIsrael’sinternational ties. The appointment is not yet finalized, however. Likud spokeswoman Dina Libster said the coalition agreement included a provision that both sides were prepared to form a government that would include moderate partners, such as the Kadima Party of the current foreign minister, Tzipi Livni. That wording leaves open the possibility that Livni might retain her current job if she were to join such an alliance. Local media reported over the weekendthatNetanyahuhasresumed overtures to recruit Livni. The agreement with Yisrael Beitenu is the first Netanyahu has initialed on his way toward setting up a coalition of hawkish and Orthodox Jewish parties.

Associated Press

Space shuttle Discovery lifts off Sunday. accomplish everything we want.’’ That includes dropping off the space station’s newest crew member: Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is replacing U.S. astronaut Sandra Magnus. From Tokyo, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said he was relieved by the successful launch after the delays. Other tasks during the 13-day mission include installing the station’s last pair of solar wings so the orbiting outpost can operate at full power. The solar wings will join six already in place. The crew will also deliver supplies and hardware, most notably replacing a broken machine that turns urine into drinking water and a flusher and iodine solution to get rid of bacteria that is lurking in the water dispenser.

Actor Silver succumbs to cancer fight Actor Ron Silver, who won a TonyAwardasatake-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s‘‘Speed-the-Plow’’anddid a political about-face from loyal Democrat to Republican activist after the Sept. 11 attacks, died Sunday at the age of 62. ‘‘Ron Silver died peacefully in his sleep with his family around him early Sunday morning’’ in New York City, said Robin Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which Silver helped found. ‘‘He had been fighting esophageal cancer for two years.’’ Silver, an Emmy nominee for a recurring role as a slick strategist for liberal President Jed Bartlet on ‘‘The West Wing,’’ had a long history of balancing acting withleft-leaningsocialandpolitical causes.

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M E R C U R Y

Reassessing Afghanistan policy U

No. 32

.S. President Obama has already begun a reassessment of Afghanistan policy reassessment. He declared that the U.S. was not winning the war and suggested there were opportunities to reach out to moderates in the Taliban. Obama appeared to be confirming what a growing number of U.S. and British commanders have been saying for months: that a straight military victory is beyond reach. Washington is looking to see whether the tactics he used in Iraq to such effect can be replicated in Afghanistan. Adding 17,000 U.S. soldiers to bolster the 38,000 already there is the prelude to splitting moderate Taliban sympathizers from the hard-core leadership that is aligned with al-Qaeda. The aim is to offer military protection against intimidation to villages weary of the fighting while encouraging a political settlement with the Karzai Government. This would break the Taliban’s hold over the south, isolate the Islamist extremists and allow the NATO force to concentrate on its original mission, protecting the rebuilding of Afghanistan’s infrastructure. The Times, London

Negative waves from Russia I

Another view

Letters to the Editor Pepperd has the experience to guide us through troubled times To the editor: Loren Pepperd is a fantastic choice for City Commission. He is a long-term resident of Manhattan and a U.S. Army veteran. He has served Manhattan in many capacities. He has served on the Manhattan Area Planning Board, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Manhattan Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors and many other community groups. Loren understands Manhattan and the critical issues related to the downtown redevelopment project which are confronting the city. We need someone with Loren’s judgment, experience and devotion to help guide us through these economically troubling times. Gilbert Bristow 1208 Stoneridge Court

Sherow ‘s common-sense approach will contribute to greater prosperity To the Editor: At each of the candidate forums that I have attended, Jim Sherow has demonstrated a complete understanding of our downtown redevelopment issues and publicly commits himself to wisely investing our resources. Jim is regularly credited by his fellow city commissioners and candidates for his vast knowledge of our historic resources. Speaking as a property owner, longtime resi-

Scripps Howard News Service

n a fit of pique, the prickly leader Charles de Gaulle pulled France out of NATO and ejected NATO and U.S. forces from France. It was the kind of grand gesture the imperious general loved, and he got to thumb his nose at the Anglo-Saxons — that’s us and the Brits — in the bargain, and it cost him nothing. The Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations were poised on West Germany’s border, not his. There was no threat to France proper on the horizon, and if one had materialized, he was confident that NATO would come to his aid. Since then, “strategic independence” has been an article of faith in French politics, even as France increasingly participated in NATO planning and contributed troops to NATO missions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Indeed, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is planning to up the French presence in Afghanistan. Now Sarkozy has announced that France will rejoin NATO as a full partner. He will face opposition from the left and the right who object to rejoining for a variety of reasons — most of them, Sarkozy said, linked to “sterile anti-Americanism.” Polls show that 58 percent of the French public supports him on the issue. Sarkozy argues that, as an outsider, France is at a disadvantage in planning the military operations it will participate in and that it has no posts of responsibility. That will change. The New York Times reports that hundreds of French officers will take up NATO jobs and France will be given two major NATO commands based in the United States and Portugal. Even though the menace of the Soviet Union has passed, the return of France will bring new vitality to a venerable military alliance — celebrating its 60th anniversary April 4 — that brought a record period of security to Europe.

From the Mercury, March 16, 1909 Jack Richards and two other men were arrested on gambling charges when police entered Richards’ house and arrested the three. Jack was cleared because he was said to not be playing, only selling chips, which may prompt police to bring different charges against him. Compiled by Aaron Pauls

dent and Manhattan area business owner, I greatly appreciate Jim’s vision to make Manhattan a better place to live and work. I am convinced that Jim’s longstanding history in the community, coupled with his common-sense business approach, will help create a prosperous future for Manhattan. We need to retain his strong voice on our City Commission. He has my vote, and I hope he has your vote again for City Commission. Please help re-elect Jim Sherow beginning with advance voting on March 18 or on Election Day, April 7. T.J. Hittle P0 Box 83

Despite media hype, embryonic stem cells haven’t cured anything To the Editor: Congratulations to the Washington Post and the Manhattan Mercury. You have joined the long line of news media folks who have taken a truth and combined it with a lie in an attempt to make a new truth. All the mainline news media are praising President Obama for funding embryonic stem-cell research, saying that this will open up new horizons in medical cures. Now for the truth. There is not one instance of an embryonic stem cell promoting the cure of a disease in humans. However, there are at least 24 actual types of conditions that have been cured in humans facilitated with adult stem cells. In at least one instance, the cell was extracted from the sick person’s own body, which affected the cure.

We don’t need to kill embryos in order to receive the benefits of stem-cell research. Never mind the ethical question of producing these embryos in a excess quantity to begin with. Once again, our tax dollars are wasted on a deception that will not work. Frank Clark 4490 Tuttle Creek Blvd.

Nuss uses her skills to discover creative ways to resolve issues To The Editor: I have known Debbie Nuss for many years and have had the opportunity to work with her on a variety of community issues and projects. My experiences with her have taught me a great deal about her extraordinary collection of talents. It is clear that Deb possesses an intuitive and rational mind. She has always demonstrated the ability to use her vast intelligence and experience to discover creative ways to resolve complicated issues. She’s a hard working, dependable and faithful servant who cares greatly about the Manhattan community and all the citizens who make their home here. Deb has always served as a voice of logic and fairness and has the ability to look at difficult issues from a broad perspective. Please join me April 7 by voting for Debbie Nuss for Manhattan City Commission. Mel Pooler 130 Longview Drive

Such financial secrecy is unacceptable 2009 N.Y. Times

France’s return to NATO T will revitalize the alliance Dale McFeatters

MONDAY, March 16, 2009

Short take

101st year as a daily

gor Panarin isn’t a household name in the United States, but he’s becoming one in Russia. He’s the academic and former KGB analyst who as long ago as 1998 predicted the collapse of the United States in 2010. Not surprisingly, he’s gotten plenty of attention in Mother Russia, including time on state television and on Russia’s propaganda channel, the English-language Russia Today. He’s also dean of Russia’s Foreign Ministry school for diplomats. Mr. Panarin, whose own country these days is showing economic and cultural cracks that are wider and deeper than those in our country, is sticking to his timetable. He gives almost even odds that economic woes, out-of-control immigration and moral decay will spark a civil war in the United states as soon as this fall. That will cause the dollar to collapse, and by June or July 2010 — the United Sates will disintegrate into six pieces. It also would ruin the football season. Naturally, he says, Alaska would go back to Russia. As for the rest of what we like to think of as the United States of America, the “California Republic” would come under Chinese influence, and Mexico would influence or rule the “Texas Republic,” which would extend from Florida to New Mexico. The Eastern Seaboard from South Carolina to Maine would form the “Atlantic Republic,” and just might become part of the European Union. The “Central North American Republic,” which includes Kansas, would be snapped up by Canada, and Hawaii would go to either Japan or China. As for which countries would fill the void left by the dissolution of the United States... Russia, of course, and China. Moscow would become the capital of Eurasia, and the ruble, despite its present lack of value, would replace the dollar as the reserve currency for the world. Mr. Panarin’s gloomy forecast isn’t universally accepted, even in Russia. Said one Russian television journalist: “Crazy ideas are not usually discussed by serious people.” We agree, but we still think Mr. Panarin’s theory is worth sharing. Predicting the downfall of the United States might take Russians’ minds off of their own troubles for a while, and that might help reduce violence in his own country. As for our country, those of us who don’t already know will find out soon enough.

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he bailouts of American International Group are also rescues of its trading partners — banks and other financial firms — that would have lost out if the insurer had been allowed to fail. But even after four bailouts between last September and this March, no one knows with certainty who those partners are or how much of the bailout money, now totaling $160 billion, has gone to make them whole. AIG has not said who they are, and neither have government officials in charge of the AIG bailouts — mainly Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke — despite repeated inquiries from Congress. (The Wall Street Journal, citing confidential documents, reported recently that about $50 billion in 2008 bailout money from AIG went to at least two dozen firms, including Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America and European banks.) Late last week there was talk that more official information was forthcoming, but no one has seen it yet. The secrecy is unacceptable. Taxpayers have a right to know how their tax dollars are being

spent. Equally important, understanding how the financial crisis happened is crucial to ensuring that it does not happen again. To that end, Congress and the public alike need to know which firms are on the receiving end of the bailouts, how they came to require a government lifeline, and what responsibility they bear for the financial mess. From what is known, it certainly does not appear that AIG’s trading partners were entirely innocent victims of extraordinary circumstances. AIG was a key player in a type of unregulated derivative called a credit default swap. Such swaps are often defined as a form of insurance because the seller guarantees payment to investors in case their investments go bust. They are not safe insurance in any familiar sense, however, because AIG was not required to set aside reserves in the event of a claim. That is why, when the bubble burst and defaults rose, AIG was unable to make good, provoking the bailouts. Still, the trading partners knew, or should have known, how dangerous the swaps were. And that is not necessarily the whole story. In the manic years of this decade, credit default swaps took off as a way to bet on the likelihood of default by a

firm or an investment portfolio, without having to own any financial interest in the firm or portfolio. That is definitely not insurance, it is gambling. The reason it is not illegal gambling is that, in 2000, Congress specifically exempted credit default swaps from state gaming laws. The result? Eric Dinallo, the insurance superintendent for New York state, has said that some 80 percent of the estimated $62 trillion in credit default swaps outstanding in 2008 were speculative. It is unknown how much of the credit default swaps between AIG and its partners were for speculation. That is a question that demands an answer. Also unknown is how much had been wagered on the demise of AIG By intervening to prevent the insurer’s failure, the government prevented those bets from having to be paid. Who was let off the hook? It is not enough to simply know more about AIG, its trading partners and their activities. What is needed is transparency going forward. Banks resisttheideaofrequiringthatalltradingincredit default swaps be conducted on exchanges, in the open and subject to full regulatory scrutiny. It is an idea, however, that is long overdue.

Stem cell debate still far from concluded 2009 Washington Post

resident Obama’s pronouncement on stem cell research last week, as we noted at the time, was only a partial decision. He decreed that federalfundingofsuchresearchcouldgoforward on a much broader scale than President George W. Bush had permitted. But he didn’t say whether it could proceed on stem cells derived from embryos created specifically for the purpose of research. This is in large part an ethical question. Mr. Obama is right to turn to scientists for advice on the matter, but he should not hide behind them in making the ultimate decision. Embryonicstemcellresearchisthoughttohold great promise for the treatment of Parkinson’s and other debilitating diseases and conditions. But many Americans are troubled by the destruction of human embryos that such research requires. As a result, Mr. Bush limited federal fundingtoresearchonstemcelllinesinexistence at the time of his 2001 decision; there would be no incentive for further creation or destruction of embryos for experimentation. A breakthrough came in 2007: Scientists learned to develop stem cells from adult skin cells. Some argued that this would end the need to

use embryos. Others, though, said that the field was too young to close off any avenue, and that the embryonic lines available under Mr. Bush’s order had proved too limiting. Mr. Obama accepted the latter argument, and we supported him. In so doing, though, he shunned a possible compromise: to allow research on stem cell lines grown from embryos that were created in fertility laboratories but never implanted. Thousands are frozen and awaiting destruction;withpermissionoftheegg and sperm donors, they might satisfy researchers’ needs. Mr. Obama did not embrace this opportunity to reach out to opponents — not all of whom, of course, would have been satisfied by such a compromise. ThepresidenthasaskedtheNationalInstitutes of Health to develop guidelines for research. Scientists can develop rules to make sure donors are dealt with ethically. If the scientists so believe, they can present reasons why existing frozen

embryos aren’t enough — why research would benefit from having embryos created. But it’s not the job of the scientist to decide whether those reasons outweigh concerns about such a practice. That’s the president’s job. He should listen to the scientists’ arguments, make his decision and — as Mr. Bush did in 2001 — explain it to the American people.

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

OP-ED

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Too many key advisers are avoiding Senate scrutiny Bruce Ackerman Special to the Washington Post

or the first 150 years of our nation’s history, the Senate confirmed all leading members of the executive branch. But modern presidents have increasingly gained the power to make key appointments unilaterally — with President Obama taking this process to new heights. His White House czars such as Lawrence Summers and Carol Browner are likely to overshadow the Cabinet secretaries in their respective domains. Yet, as presidential assistants, they escape the need for Senate scrutiny. After the abuses of the Bush White House and the failed nominations in Obama’s own transition, this practice should be reconsidered. Until 1939, the Cabinet was the only game in town. There was no such thing as a White House staff. The president had a few personal secretaries, but he governed through his Cabinet officers. Then, Franklin Roosevelt campaigned for the statutory authority to appoint six administrative assistants.

His proposal arose from a study group istrations was the subject of much Kathleen Sebelius’ qualifications to be headed by public administration con- debate. Yet Craig, who will also be secretary of heath and human services, sultant Louis Brownlow. In an attempt involved in important and public legal Nancy-Ann DeParle, Obama’s choice to pacify critics, Brownlow noted: matters, largely escaped scrutiny. Why? for director of the White House Office of ‘‘These aides would have no power to Craig, a distinguished lawyer and Health Reform, will escape serious make decisions or issue instructions in public servant, is an outstanding choice scrutiny. Yet DeParle will also play a their own right. ... They would not be for his key position. But it is not enough commandingroleinhealth-carereform, assistant presidents in any sense.’’ to trust the president to make good and her record is less well known than Brownlow explained that the pro- appointments. The challenge is to make that of Sebelius. posed White House staffers Recall that Obama would act behind the marked Tom Daschle for scenes to provide the presispecial prominence by There will never be a better time to consider dent with the information nominating him to be both whether the ideas of James Madison or those necessary to make deciCabinet secretary and sions. Their principal qualWhite House health reform of Louis Brownlow should govern the relationship director. If Daschle had ification would be a ‘‘passion for anonymity.’’ And taken only the latter posiof the Senate to theWhite House. because they would exertion, his tax problems might cise no decision-making never have come to light, authority, it would be pointless to it difficult for future presidents to and he could already have been serving require their confirmation by the Sen- appoint less-qualified officials — such as a major policy-maker. ate. as Alberto Gonzales or Harriet Miers — Louis Brownlow’s committee did It hasn’t worked out that way. Consid- without serious outside review of their much good in staffing the executive er, for example, the treatment accorded credentials. That, after all, is the aim of branch, but we should rethink the false Eric Holder as attorney general and our system of checks and balances. promises he made at the outset. To start, Gregory Craig as counsel to the presiThis curious constitutional scenario we need to seriously consider requiring dent. Holder was carefully vetted by the is playing out again this week. At the Senate approval of senior White House Senate, and his work in previous admin- same time that the Senate pores over staff positions. To allow for thoughtful

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bipartisan deliberation on this proposal, the present administration should be exempted. The reassertion of senatorial prerogative should begin with the presidency inaugurated in January 2017 — a moment when the Obama administration will be history and it is anybody’s guess who will control the White House. By deferring the date the reform would take effect, lawmakers would place themselves behind a ‘‘veil of ignorance’’ that prevents partisan advantage and encourages them to take the long view of whether senatorial confirmation is appropriate in terms of constitutional design. There will never be a better time to consider whether the ideas of James Madison or those of Louis Brownlow should govern the relationship of the Senate to the White House. If we don’t seize this moment, the spirit of the imperial presidency will continue to erode the system of checks and balances. The writer is a professor of law and political science at Yale University.

Memo to American businesses: let’s start meeting J.W. Marriott Jr. Special to the Washington Post

hen the Democrats held their national convention last August, 50,000 delegates, politicians, journalists and others descended on the Mile High City for several days. Forty thousand hotel rooms were booked. Restaurants and entertainment venues were packed. In the end, Denver benefited from more than $260 million in revenue, creating significant tax income for the city and state. Now that’s what I call a great meeting. What would have happened if no one attended the convention? In real terms, a lot of Denver businesses would have suffered — but their employees would have suffered more. Waitresses would have had no customers. Housekeepers would have had no rooms to clean. Taxi drivers wouldn’t have had passengers to ferry. And instead of addressing 84,000 people when he accepted his party’s nomination for president, Barack Obama would have been looking out into an empty stadium. The hotel industry confronts such a

scenariotoday.Asmanyasamillionjobs people have lost their jobs. Courtyard, Spring Hill Suites and Fairareatriskbecauseofattacksonbusiness This story is being played out at hotels field Inn hotel brands for our annual travel and meetings by members of Con- across the country in rural and urban meeting. They shared best practices on gress, the administration and the media. areas. The Labor Department has how to create sales opportunities in a Companies — even those not receiving reported a loss of nearly 200,000 travel- recession, learned about innovations in government assistance — are so afraid of related jobs in 2008, and Commerce the design of our services and products, being criticized, they’d rather cancel Department data project a loss of 247,000 and improved their communication their meetings and pay the penalty fees. travel-related jobs in 2009. That number skills. This is how we promote our culIt’s time to focus on the unintended con- may well grow if the vilification of busi- ture, leadership and teamwork. It is also sequences of this toxic how we drive revenue. We rhetoric, which threatens held this meeting even not only our industry but Continuing to scapegoat business travel will only though the business envialso our employees and the ronment is challenging communities where we do hinder recovery. Meetings mean business. Meetings because it’s an investment business. the future. We believe it create jobs. If critics want America to lose another in My company has a hotel gives our general managers and golf resort in Half Moon and Marriott an advantage million jobs, they should keep talking. Bay, Calif., that employs 500 over the competition. associates. Many of the Marriott, like many busiemployees at this hotel used to be sea- ness events and travel doesn’t stop. nesses, is making tough choices. Indeed, sonal farmworkers. That’s right — workSure, there have been some flagrant we have scaled back on some of our ing in the fields. We have provided them abuses; we make no excuses for the bad meetings and travel. Making those cuts with training, health insurance and actors. But the vast majority of events was the right thing to do. But canceling other benefits and the prospect of life- serve a legitimate business purpose, meetings and events to dodge unwarlong careers. In the past few weeks, more including professional development ranted criticism is shortsighted and will than 32 groups have canceled meetings and recognition to motivate high-per- have a detrimental effect on the U.S. at this hotel. That means we’ve lost mil- forming employees. economy. lions of dollars of expected business, the Last week, I went to New Orleans to We understand that members of Concity has lost tax revenue and, sadly, some join 1,500 general managers from the gress are accountable to their con-

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stituents and want to ensure that tax money is spent responsibly. The Treasury Department has already required companies receiving government assistance to adopt policies related to business events. Our industry has responded by aggregating best practices and developing model standards they can use. Championing the use of these guidelines, which can be found at www.ustravel.org, is a productive way for Congress and Treasury to ensure accountability. One in every eight jobs in the United States is linked to travel and tourism, the U.S. Travel Association has found. Meetings support 1 million jobs and provide $16 billion in annual tax revenue at the federal, state and local levels. A healthy travel industry is a powerful stimulus and is pivotal to economic activity and growth. Continuing to scapegoat business travel will only hinder recovery. Meetings mean business. Meetings create jobs. If critics want America to lose another million jobs, they should keep talking. The writer is chairman and chief executive of Marriott International.

New mom reluctantly uses bathroom as pumping station 2009 Universal Press Syndicate DEAR ABBY: I am a new mom who works in a high-tech start-up company that does not provide a mother’s room. I’m the first employee here to have a baby. The corporate plaza in which my office is located also doesn’t provide one. Therefore, I must resort to using the restroom to pump my breast milk, which must be done every few hours. Some of the women using the restroom have wondered aloud about the ‘‘weird noise’’ they hear, while others walk back and forth searching for the source of the ‘‘sound.’’ How should I respond to them?

Using the restroom is not my choice, but it is the only option I have because I plan to breastfeed my baby for as long as I can. — PRIVACY PLEASE IN SANTA CLARA, CALIF. DEAR PRIVACY PLEASE: You’re reacting as if pumping breast milk is something to be ashamed of. It isn’t. While you may be the first woman at the company to have given birth, I guarantee you won’t be the last. So start communicating with the other female co-workers. It might be in all of your best interests to bring this to the attention of your supervisor or your boss. And as to the ‘‘pacers’’ and ‘‘wonderers’’ in the restroom —

DEAR ABBY ADVICE try to understand that they are merely curious. Consider printing a sign you can tape to the door of the stall you occupy that reads: ‘‘Breast Pumping Station.’’ It will stop the questions and save you from yelling out, ‘‘It’s my breast pump!’’ DEAR ABBY: I was a stay-athome mom for many years and

enrolled in college when my youngest entered kindergarten. I held various part-time (and later full-time) dead-end jobs to supplement my husband’s income. It took 15 years, but I finally graduated with a B.A. in history, although I have since discovered there isn’t much I can do with my degree. After almost 30 years of marriage, my husband decided he wanted a divorce. I am now on my own and struggling to survive. I have no marketable skills, can’t afford to attend school full-time because I must work in order to have benefits, and don’t have the money to pay for more training without going into further debt. I

don’t know how I’ll ever be selfsupporting. My current job pays $10 an hour, the benefits are good, but I don’t really like my job or see myself ever earning a higher hourly wage. If it wasn’t for alimony, I’d be even worse off, but that won’t last forever. (I have three years left.) I’m thankful that my kids are on their own and don’t need my support, but they can’t help me either. What options are there for someone in my situation? — FRUSTRATED IN NORTH CAROLINA DEAR FRUSTRATED: You are an educated, literate, mature college graduate. You could

make some executive an excellent, competent personal assistant. Depending upon what the requirements are in your state, you might also be able to be a teacher’s assistant in one of the schools. Contact an employment agency and ask if it can give you a skill assessment. I am sure you could find a job where your attributes would be appreciated if you start looking. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Kansas Republicans see strong tide on stimulus John Hanna AP Political Writer TOPEKA — Republican leaders continue to warn that Kansas must curb spendthrift tendencies in its state government instead of using federal stimulus dollars to avoid tough budget decisions. But as the House and Senate budget committees work, a tide appears to be pulling the GOPcontrolled Legislature toward Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and fellow Democrats. The governor’s proposals would use stimulus money to patch up the state’s finances into 2011. Many Republicans complain that it’s irresponsible to avoid hard decisions, and they suspect Kansas might be tripped up by yet-to-be-written federal rules for the stimulus. But GOP leaders also understand how it’s more appealing to avoid the ugliest decisions. ‘‘It’s extremely exasperating,’’ said Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jay Emler, a Lindsborg Republican. ‘‘It’s smarter to stop spending now thantwoyearsfromnow,butpeople just can’t seem to accept that.’’ For many Democrats, this year’s debate has familiar overtones. In six previous legislative sessions, they’ve heard GOP leaders strongly criticize Sebelius’ proposals — then watched as Republican majorities stuck fairly close to what she proposed for individual government agencies. A few Democrats suggested

legislators should avoid making any major cuts until after Congress finished the federal stimulus debate. Some of them argue now that Sebelius simply has outfoxed Republicans again with recommendations that are both good policy and savvy politics. ‘‘They’re having a hard time dealing with it,’’ said Rep. Tom

Analysis Sawyer, of Wichita, a former Kansas Democratic Party chairman. ‘‘I think they’re figuring out that it’s a lot easier to use the money as the governor is proposing. They obviously don’t like it, but surely it’s made their jobs a lot easier.’’ Emler’s committee and the House Appropriations Committee expect to vote this week on proposed budgets for the state’s 2010 fiscal year, which begins July 1. That would allow both chambers to consider them next week, and legislative leaders hope the bulk of the budget will be approved by April 4. Legislative researchers project that if the state attempts to duplicate its current budget, it will end fiscal year 2010 with a $682 million budget deficit. Of course, that analysis does not include the infusion of stimulus dollars that Sebelius proposes. The state expects to receive $1.7 billion from the stimulus. Sebelius wants to use $585 million of it to help avoid a deficit in fiscal 2010, and she’d use an additional $375 million to keep the fiscal 2011 budget balanced.

One of Sebelius’ biggest goals is protecting public schools. When she and legislators revised the current budget to eliminate a projected deficit, schools lost only $7 million of the $3.78 billion they’d been promised, about 0.2 percent. The governor’s proposals would head off an additional cut in overall aid in fiscal 2010. State universities would still see their operating budgets cut by 7 percent, but Sebelius wants to use $40 million in stimulus funds in fiscal 2010 for other items, such as building maintenance projects. Republicans on the House committee balked last week, saying they need more information about how the stimulus dollars can be used. But they found themselves on the defensive — and promised another look at the issue — as Sebelius and fellow Democrats quickly suggested that the GOP had turned its back on higher education. The state Board of Regents, which oversees higher education, then applied more pressure. It said it would freeze tuition for the 2009-10 school year — if legislators ponied up the stimulus dollars and avoided deeper cuts. ‘‘It did come across as, ’Let’s make a deal,’’’ said Rep. Jason Watkins, a Wichita Republican, the House committee’s vice chairman. Of course, the debate over the stimulus money is far from over. The budget won’t be finished until early May, when legislators approve one last spending bill to

wrap up loose ends, correct mistakes and reconcile spending to their latest projections for revenues. Watkins and other Republicans remain anxious about the rules the federal government has or will impose. Skeptics still have time to raise questions about whether Sebelius’ proposals really will be kosher with federal officials. For example, social service

advocates contend money that is supposed to help the disabled would be improperly diverted to the state’s cash reserves under her proposals. House Speaker Mike O’Neal, a Hutchinson Republican, said there’s no question that the state should take all of the dollars but, ‘‘I don’t want a situation where we get two to three years down the road and the feds audit our use of the stimulus money.’’

And, for Republicans, there’s an even more compelling question about the near future. So far, the federal government has no plans to send stimulus dollars after 2010, meaning they presumably won’t be available for the state’s fiscal 2012 budget. ‘‘This doesn’t make it better,’’ Emler said. ‘‘This actually, two years out, makes it worse if the economy doesn’t turn around.’’

Lenexa credit union causing problems Associated Press LENEXA — Financial problems at a Lenexa-based credit union are likely to cause problems for the country’s credit unions, which are already suffering from the recession. A drop in the value of mortgagebackedsecuritieshasleftU.S.Central Credit Union with a deficit of more than $5 billion, prompting a $4.7 billion assessment against the country’s 8,400 credit unions. Customers’ accounts, which remain insured up to $250,000, are not threatened by the problem. The added financial burden is more than the entire industry’s profit last year. For example, only one in six Kansas City-area credit unions, which serve nearly 500,000 members,earnedenoughlastyear to cover its bill from U.S. Central. Each credit union has to pay, even if it means using its own capital. ‘‘Creditunionsarecooperatives. Wetrytotakecareofourown,’’said Robert Givens, the president and CEO of Mazuma Credit Union in

Kansas City. In a letter last month, U.S. Central’s CEO, Francis Lee, apologized for the ‘‘significant sacrifice credit unions have been asked to make to support the corporate network.’’

Voter ID bill headed to Senate TOPEKA — A bill that would require voters to show identification before voting is headed to the full Senate for consideration. However, the law would not requiretheidentificationtohavea photo. Voters could use anything showing the voter’s name and address. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed a photoIDbilllastyear.Shesaidthe bill wasn’t necessary because voter fraud was not rampant in the state. Republicans dispute that and have fought for a photo ID bill. They say it would be easy to use someone else’s identification if a photo is not required.

Archbishop defends criticism of governor KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Roman Catholic archbishop of Kansas City, Kan., isn’t backing off ofhiscriticismofthenominationof Gov. Kathleen Sebelius for health and human services secretary. ‘‘I don’t think I have any influence on who’s going to be the next secretary of HHS,’’ Archbishop Joseph Naumann told The Kansas City Star for a story published Saturday, but ‘‘I felt I had to exercise my teaching authority for the good of the Catholic community.’’ Earlier this month, Naumann said he was ‘‘concerned personally’’ for Sebelius and that he found hernomination‘‘particularlytroubling.’’ Lastyear,NaumannurgedSebelius,whoisCatholic, to stop taking communion until she repudiated her abortion rights views. She never replied publicly about that or Naumann’s latest comments.

University abandons sign plan Staff reports Kansas State University officials announced Monday they are withdrawing a proposal to construct an electronic sign along Anderson Avenue. Beth Bohn, a spokesperson for the university, said officials cited ‘‘safety and community concerns’’ indecidingnottoconstructthesign. Construction plans surfaced last week. The sign was to be a double-sided video screen about four feet by 10 feet in size in front of the new student union parking garage near the corner of 17th and Anderson.

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

Oil prices tumbled to around $44 a barrel on Monday after OPEC decided not to cut production levels at its meeting over the weekend in Vienna. Benchmark crude for April delivery was down $1.59 to $44.66 a barrel by mid-afternoon in Europe on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil prices dropped 78 cents on Friday to settle at $46.25 a barrel. Earlier Monday, prices fell as low as $43.62 before a slight recovery. Prices gained some support from news that militants had sabotaged an oil pipeline in southern Nigeria operated by Chevron Corp., slashing production by 11,500 barrels a day. In London, Brent prices fell $1.92 to $43.01 on the ICE Futures exchange. Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said Sunday they would strive to adhere more closely to the group’s current output quotas. OPEC is overshooting its daily target level of just under 25 million barrels a day by about 800,000 barrels. Prices had risen from under

Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama declared Monday that insurance giant American International Group is in financial straits because of ‘‘recklessness and greed’’ and said he intends to stop it from paying out millions in executive bonuses. ‘‘It’s hard to understand how derivative traders at AIG warranted any bonuses, much less $165 million in extra pay,’’ Obama said at the outset of an appearance to announce help for small businesses hurt by the deep recession. ‘‘How do they justify this outrage to the taxpayers who are keeping the company afloat,’’ the president said.

$35 a barrel last month as investors anticipated OPEC would cut production by up to 1 million barrels a day on top of 4.2 million barrels of reductions announced since September. ‘‘OPEC’s decision is widely interpreted as a measure to provide support to the global economy,’’ said JBC Energy in Vienna, as a new cut likely would have resulted in prices spiking considerably higher. While some of the oil producers had voiced support for a further cut at Sunday’s meeting, others like OPEC’s de-facto leader Saudi Arabia argued instead for stricter compliance with the already-announced output reductions. Still, with the global economy continuing to show falling demand, some analysts concluded that a new cut could still be in the books, maybe at OPEC’s special session on May 28 reviewing prices and supply. ‘‘The existing ... cuts deal with yesterday’s problem and further action is needed to deal with today’s even worse environment,’’ said KBC Market Services in Britain. ‘‘The odds must favor another production cut.’’

Paper goes Web-only Associated Press SEATTLE — The Seattle PostIntelligencer, which has chronicled the news of the city since logs slid down its steep streets to the harbor and miners caroused in its bars before heading north to Alaska’s gold fields, will print its final edition Tuesday. Hearst Corp., which owns the 146-year-old P-I, said Monday that it failed to find a buyer for the newspaper, which it put up for a 60-day sale in January after years of losing money. ‘‘Tonight will be the final run, so let’s do it right,’’ publisher Roger Oglesby told the newsroom. Hearst’s decision to abandon the print product in favor of a Web-only version is the first for a large American newspaper, raising questions about whether the company can make money in a

medium where others have come up short. David Lonay, 80, a subscriber since 1950, said he’ll miss a morning ritual that can’t be replaced by a Web-only version. ‘‘The first thing I do every day is get the P-I and read it,’’ Lonay said. ‘‘I really feel like an old friend is dying.’’ Seattle follows Denver in becoming the second major city this year to lose a daily newspaper. The Rocky Mountain News closed after its owner, E.W. Scripps Co., couldn’t find a buyer. In Arizona, Gannett Co.’s Tucson Citizen is set to close Saturday, leaving one newspaper in that city. And last month Hearst said it would close or sell the San Francisco Chronicle if the paper couldn’t slash expenses in coming weeks.

Obama spoke out in the wake of reports that surfaced over the weekend saying that financially strapped American International Group Inc. was paying substantial

Related story, Page A5 bonuses to executives. Noting that AIG has ‘‘received substantial sums’’ of federal aid from the federal government, Obama said he has asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner ‘‘to use that leverage and pursue every legal avenue to block these bonuses and make the American taxpayers whole.’’ Said Obama: ‘‘All across the country, there are people who

ning processes between military installations and municipalities. The Army is short 5 million acres of training-land across the continental United States due to a variety of ongoing initiatives, Snodgrass said, describing the need to protect existing areas as “critical.” Other states have already pursued related legislation. John Armbrust, executive director of the Governor’s Military Council, said similar bills have either been enacted or are being considered in other states. He said Florida and Oklahoma have both already enacted laws, although they are not necessarily identical to the one under consideration here. Measures — some more lenient, some more restrictive — are under consideration in Texas and Colorado, among other states. At the local level, one of the main sources of opposition to the current legislation is that Fort Riley and surrounding areas already have an ongoing dialog about development and how the actions of either party potentially affect the other,

Holeman said. Of the local communities that could be affected, “They’re engaged. They’re paying attention,” Holeman said. “That’s why this didn’t go by unnoticed.” Holeman and Snodgrass said they were unaware of any other efforts similar to the committee’s. The committee had planned to present its recommendation — which has not yet been finalized — to local governments for consensus-forming next week, Holeman said. Once approved by Geary and Riley counties, as well as the cities of Manhattan, Riley and Ogden, a revised version of HB 2169 would be presented to state legislators, he said. The committee’s draft “would make all (development) activities permissible,” Holeman said, adding that he had requested the Kansas Legislature not proceed until the committee formed a recommendation. The request did not receive a response, Holeman said. Prior to reaching the statelegislative level, however, the text could be circulated to other communities in the Leaven-

work hard and meet their responsibilities every day, without the benefit of government bailouts or multimillion-dollar bonuses. And all they ask is that everyone, from Main Street to Wall Street to Washington, play by the same rules.’’ ‘‘This isn’t just a matter of dollars and cents,’’ he added. ‘‘It’s about our fundamental values.’’ The $165 million was payable to executives by Sunday and was part of a larger total payout reportedly valued at $450 million. The company has benefited from more than $170 billion in a federal rescue. AIG reported this month that it had lost $61.7 billion for the fourth quarter of last year, the largest corporatelossinhistory.Thebulkofthe payments at issue cover AIG Finan-

cial Products, the unit of the companythatsoldcreditdefaultswaps,the risky contracts that caused massive losses for the insurer. Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, earlier Monday charged that the move to pay bonuses amounted to ‘‘rewarding incompetence.’’ ‘‘These people may have a right to their bonuses. They don’t have a right to their jobs forever,’’ said Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat. Frank noted that the Federal Reserve Board, using a Depression-era statute, was the institution that gave AIG its initial government bailout, before Congress passed legislation providing for additionalassistanceandsaidthat

not enough safeguards were built into the deal. It also was revealed over the weekend that American International Group Inc. used more than $90 billion in federal aid to pay out foreign and domestic banks, some of whom had received their own multibillion-dollar U.S. government bailouts. Some of the biggest recipients of the AIG money were Goldman Sachs at $12.9 billion, and three European banks — France’s Societe Generale at $11.9 billion, Germany’s Deutsche Bank at $11.8 billion, and Britain’s Barclays PLC at $8.5 billion. Merrill Lynch, which alsoisundergoingfederalscrutiny of its bonus plans, received $6.8 billion as of Dec. 31.

Candidate Jury selection begins for pulling out Kansas abortion provider of election Associated Press

Associated Press TEHRAN, Iran — A popular reformist politician has decided to pull out of the upcoming race against hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to avoid splitting the pro-reform vote, a senior adviser said Monday. Former Iranian President Mohammed Khatami declared his intention to run in the June election about a month ago, boosting the hopes of reformists who favor improving ties with the West and liberalizing Iran’s conservative Islamic culture. But two other prominent reformists have entered the race since then, one of them a former hard-liner who Khatami has said has a better chance of siphoning votes away from conservatives. ‘‘It is certain that he is pulling out of the race, but he has not made his decision public yet,’’ said one of Khatami’s senior advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Another close Khatami ally, former reformist Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi, said on his Web site that Khatami was expected to formally announce his decision later Monday. Khatami, a liberal cleric who was president in 1997-2005, is the best known internationally among Iran’s reformist politicians and is also popular at home, particularly among the young. But he is strongly disliked by hard-liners, who accuse him of aiming to change the nature of Iran’s Islamic state. On Sunday, Khatami told supporters that he believed another influential reformist candidate, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi, has a better chance of overcoming resistance from Iran’s ruling clerics. Khatami has said in the past that he and Mousavi would not compete against each other. Iran’s reformers see a strong opportunity to unseat Ahmadinejad, who is seeking his second term but has lost popularity over his handling of the country’s faltering economy.

Sloan: Move on HB2169 NO. 1, FROM PAGE A1

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Obama: AIG can’t justify ‘outrage’ of bonuses

Oil price falls as OPEC avoids cuts Associated Press

BACK PAGE

worth and Wichita areas that also have military installations, said Armbrust, executive director of the Governor’s Military Council. Armbrust and Holeman are also committee members.

WICHITA — One of the nation’s few late-term abortion providers was headed to trial Monday on charges he violated the state’s abortion law. Dr. George Tiller is charged with 19 misdemeanors alleging he failed to obtain a second, independent opinion for lateterm abortions from an independent physician, as required by Kansas law. If convicted, the Wichita doctor could face a year in the county jail or a fine of $2,500 for each misdemeanor charge. A prayer vigil in front of the courthouse before jury selection

started Monday attracted nine abortion opponents. Other vigils were planned in front of the courthouse and in churches both during and after the trial. The Wichita doctor and his clinic have been a target of abortion opponents for decades. His clinic was bombed in 1985, and Tiller was shot in both arms by a protester in 1993. This city also was the site of the 45-day ‘‘Summer of Mercy’’ event staged by Operation Rescue in 1991. Those mass demonstrations and clinic blockades led to more than 2,600 arrests. Among those arrested was one of fiery antiabortion leaders Rev. Pat

Mahoney, who was back in Wichita on Monday for Tiller’s trial. Mahoney said he expects hundreds of abortion opponents to show up during the trial. ‘‘This case not only impacts Wichita, but it impacts the nation,’’ Mahoney said. Troy Newman of Operation Rescue called it ‘‘a historic day for Wichita and the nation.’’ Abortion-rights supports also planned demonstrations. Sedgwick County District Judge Clark Owens has set aside three days this week for jury selection. State law limits juries in misdemeanor trials to six members.

Industrial output drops in February Associated Press WASHINGTON — The nation’s industrial output fell for the fourth straight month in February with the factory operating rate dropping to the lowest level in more than a half-century of record keeping. The Federal Reserve reported Monday that industrial output dropped by 1.4 percent last month, slightly worse than the 1.2 percent decline that economists had expected. The weakness included a 0.7 percent fall in manufacturing output, which pushed the operating rate at the nation’s factories

down to 67.4 percent of capacity last month, the lowest level on records that go back to 1948. The drop in manufacturing output occurred even though production at the nation’s auto plants actually rose sharply after extended shutdowns in the previous month. Output in the mining industry, a sector that includes oil and gas drilling, was off by 0.4 percent and utility plant production plunged by 7.7 percent, reflecting warmerthan-normal weather in February which cut into demand. Production at auto plants and auto parts manufacturers rose 10.2 percent in February after

four straight months of declines including a sharp 24.7 percent drop in January. Even with the rebound, the auto industry remains under tremendous pressures given the fact that consumers, facing with the longest recession in a quarter-century, are not in a mood to make big-ticket purchases of autos or many other goods. The overall operating rate for manufacturing, mining and utilities fell to 70.9 percent of capacity in February, matching a record low set in December 1982, a month when the country was just beginning to pull out of the severe 1981-82 recession.

Wheelchair becomes less of a handicap NO. 2, FROM PAGE A1 Gamma sorority house where she lives. “This year I’ve made the most improvement.” Wagner was modest when describing her road to recovery. But her mother, Leta Berning, said she overcame every challenge she faced. And there were many. “It was very hard in the beginning stages,” Berning said. “It was her goal to go to K-State since she was little. She wanted to be a cheerleader there, and when the doctors told her she probably wouldn’t be able to attend college she really hung her head.” For Wagner, the easy road would have been to simply give up and lower her expectations. But Berning said that her daughter quickly brushed that option aside and decided to go to college. Wagner’s years in Manhattan have not been easy. There were countless times she could have quit but didn’t, her mother said. “She was such a proactive child in high school,” Berning

said. “But she put things in perspective and decided do it.” Her wreck was in June of her graduating year. Wagner started school the following January, just six months later. Berning said when they brought Ashley to Manhattan to start school she was totally dependent and needed almost 24-hour care. “It was really hard being around people my age and not being able to do sports,” said Wagner, who was also a cheerleader in high school. “Seeing people doing things I can’t do, it was really hard.” But, with the help of her personal care providers, Wagner has made progress. “I get out all the time,” Wagner said. “I have sorority functions, we go to dinner and go shopping, get our nails done. I definitely don’t stay cooped up in the house.” Wagner initially wanted to be a lawyer, but the circumstances changed her mind. She will graduate with a degree in psychology next year and plans to get a Ph.D. in psychology, hopefully some-

where on the East Coast. “If I could go to North Carolina or South Carolina, that would be great,” Wagner said. He mother said she thinks the career is a perfect match. “She’s always been a people person,” Berning said. “When she began to accept the disability and understand the psychological affects of it, she thought she could really help people. She figured you have to live it to understand it.” In the weekend pageant, Wagner was judged on four different events: two personal interview sessions, a platform speech presentation, and on-stage questions. Perhaps the most important, she said, was the platform speech. “My platform speech was about getting (wheelchairbound) people out of the house and more involved,” Wagner said. “A lot of them stay at home because they think people are going to stare at them.” Marie Clement, of Mayetta, was the winner of the weekend pageant.

Results from St. Patrick’s 10k announced Staff reports Kory Cool of Manhattan was the overall winner of the Aggieville St. Patrick’s Day 10k road race Saturday. Cool, 21, finished the race (about 6.2 miles) in 33 minutes and six seconds, besting second-place Ric Rosenkranz, also of Manhattan, by almost a minute and a half (34:33.8). Brad Mason of Beloit finished third with a time of 36:53.5 On the women’s side, Julie Thornton of Manhattan finished first, clocking a time of 38:45.7. Second place went to Cate Holstan of Lenexa, 40:21.6, and third went to Kelly Carlton of Topeka, 41:38. In the two-mile fun run that preceded the 10k, Pat Melgares

won the men’s side, finishing in 10:18.2. Sheena Koehn won for the women, at 14:04.4. Age-group winners were:

Females 10k 10-13 — Tritteny Miller, 1:07:38.1; 14-18 — Molly Mawhinney, 48:12.3; 19-24 — Terri Baker, 45:39.0; 25-29 — Julie Thornton, 38:45.7; 30-34 — Lucky Pryor, 44:50.0; 35-39 — Erika Knopp, 42:38.4; 40-44 — Claudia Gordon, 43:59.5; 45-49 — Linda Larsen, 48:12.9; 50-54 — Sharron McGill, 53:20.7; 55-59 — Karen Winslow, 55:45.1; 60-64 — Holly Alexander, 49:43.4; 65-69 — Marlene Ayers, 1:08:25.4.

Males 10k 10-13 — Davis Matthews,

46:41.7; 14-18 — Alex Deaver, 40:11.7; 19-24 — Kory Cool, 33:06.0; 25-29 — Ken Keil, 39:16.1; 30-34 — Mario Serra, 38:44.4; 3539 — Ric Rosenkranz, 34:33.8; 4044 — Brad Mason, 36:53.5; 45-49 — Charles Goeckel, 41:05.7; 5054 — Keith Long, 37:06.8; 55-59 — Steve Riley, 37:55.0; 60-64 — Tom Snookm, 43:13.2; 65-69 — Dennis Wetterman, 57:14.4; 70 and over — Marvin Hachmeistern 56:40.8.

Females two-mile 9 and under — Hannah Kordyak, 15:57.8; 10-13 — Megan Ochoa, 14:31.4; 14-18 — Chelsea Ebert, 16:31.8; 19-24 — Chanel Ebert, 14:51.9; 25-29 — Sheena Koehn, 14:04.4; 30-34 — Kelly Priest, 16:39.8; 35-39 — David Kordyak, 15:57.6; 40-44 — Ellen

Jenson, 16:34.8; 45-40 — Jan Middendorf, 16:05.9; 50-54 — Carol Boorady, 15:39.5; 55-59 — Mary Wade, 19:44.2; 60-64 — Sumwansa Belast, 20:05.9; 65-69 — Sue Smith, 25:46.2.

Males two-mile 9 and under — Cooper Schroeder, 13:33.1; 10-13 — Jackson Schroeder, 13:14.0; 1418 — Colt Skidmore, 14:22.0; 1924 — Lee Speirs, 11:16.1; 25-29 — Shaun Winnie, 12:27.9; 30-34 — Ray Bowser, 14:10.0; 35-39 — Grant Bannister, 12:37.6; 40-44 — Pat Melgares, 10:18.2; 45-49 — Terry Criss, 12:20.6; 50-54 — John Liebe, 14:53.9; 55-59 — David Zlab, 13:35.9; 60-64 — Jerry Ryan, 17:36.7; 65-69 — Larry Weaver, 16:57.4; 70 and over — Jay Mellies, 20:03.2.

Sports T H E

M A N H A T T A N

Page B1

M E R C U R Y

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Big East gets three top seeds; KU a No. 3 Associated Press On the brink of extinction only a few, fretful years ago, the Big East is back in more familiar territory — on top of the college basketball world. Louisville, Pittsburgh and Connecticut helped the league that was created decades ago for hoops, then nearly obliterated because of football, become the first conference to earn three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament. North Carolina, the regular-season Atlantic Coast Conference champion, was the other top seed in the bracket released Sunday.

regular-season and con“It speaks volumes for what it means to win the NCAA BRACKET ference championships in the nation’s top-ranked Big East,” said Louisville Six Big 12 teams were conference, are one of the coach Rick Pitino, whose selected to th NCAA Chamnewest members of the Cardinals are the tourna- pionship — including Big East. They were ment’s overall top seed Kansas, Oklahoma, Misbrought into the fold after and will play in the Midsouri, Texas, Texas A&M, Boston College, Miami west Regional. and Virginia Tech bolted The coup of placing and Oklahoma State. B2 for a better situation on three teams on the top line comes 24 years after the Big East the football field in the ACC. But they don’t play football in became the first league to get three teams in the Final Four — George- March. Counting No. 3 seeds Syracuse and town, Villanova and St. John’s. Villanova, the Big East has five of the So much has changed since then. top 12 teams in the bracket. So much has stayed the same. “It just gives you an idea, if theoretiThe Cardinals (28-5), winners of the

cally half the top teams in America are coming out of one conference, how difficult it was for anybody,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. Louisville will open against the winner of an opening-round game Tuesday between Alabama State and Morehead State. The rest of the tournament starts Thursday and Friday. The Final Four is scheduled for Ford Field in Detroit on April 4 and 6. Last year, all four No. 1 teams made it to the Final Four. But Pitt (East), Carolina (South) and UConn (West) all SEE

NO. 1, PAGE B2

NATIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT

NIT-picking

Associated Press

Texas A&M guard Takia Starks drives to the basket against Kansas State's Shalee Lehning during the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Championship on Friday in Oklahoma City.

Cats know they’re in, but where?

K-State to host Redbirds

Joshua Kinder jkinder@themercury.com

Now that the Kansas State women have their dancing shoes on again, all the Wildcats need now is a partner and a floor. K-State will learn of its fate on Monday during the NCAA Selection Show on ESPN at 6 p.m., but that hasn’t stopped prognosticators from penciling in the “educated” guesses as to which teams make the field of 64 and where they’ll play. With a 24-7 overall record and a 10-6 mark in the Big 12, the Wildcats are a lock for their second straight NCAA tournament and sixth in the last seven seasons. The Wildcats rank No. 23 in the latest RPI and 61st in strength of schedule. As a conference, the Big 12 ranks first in RPI and strength of schedule for the second straight season. ESPN “bracketologist” Charlie Creme has six Big 12 teams making the tournament. Eight made it in last season — all winning their first-round contests. On Friday KSU head coach Deb Patterson said she believes every Big 12 team that earns a spot should be seeded no lower than a five. “I think every team in the Big 12 that is selected to the NCAA is a legitimate four or five seed, hands down,” she said following the Cats’ 65-63 loss to Texas A&M in the Big 12 quarterfinals. “This league is unbelievable, filled with power and talent, and everybody’s played tremendous schedules. So, I would think in the big picture, in the big scope of this league, that we would all fall somewhere between the first and fifth seeds, I would hope.” That’s exactly where Creme has K-State. Creme has the Cats as a No. 5 seed playing in Duluth, Ga., against No. 12-seed Bowling Green (27-3). The winner would face the winner of the No. 4 Pittsburgh (22-7) and No. 13seed Boston University (23-6), then advance to the Sweet 16 round in Berkeley, Calif. No matter who K-State meets in the NCAAs, point guard Shalee Lehning said the team’s Big 12 schedule — which consisted of six Top-25 teams — was enough to prepare KState for anything. “I think the Big 12 has just provided so many different matchups for us,” she said Friday. “Top to bottom, any given night, it was anybody’s game. So for us, to know we played a top-10 team like tonight, as well as we did... SEE

NO. 3, PAGE B2

Mark Janssen mjanssen@themercury.com

Associated Press

Kansas State's Jacob Pullen looks to shoot around Texas' Damion James in the first half of their quarterfinals matchup during the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City last Thursday.

In five words — in 12 letters, Kansas State basketball coach Frank Martin summarized, “It is what it is.” With that, the Wildcats accepted an invitation to play in the 2009 NIT with a first-round home game against Illinois State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will not be televised. “Ever since we lost (to Texas in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals) I was preparing for the NIT,” Martin said Sunday night in a somber press conference setting in the Legends Room of Bramlage Coliseum. “We didn’t win enough. It is what it is.” And that’s also what the Wildcat coach said about K-State receiving only a No. 4 seed in the NIT field: “It is what it is.” Calling the 32-team field the “NCAA No. 2” because of the classy names in the field — Kentucky, Florida, Notre Dame, Auburn and Creighton to name a few — Martin said, “If you don’t get excited about playing in this, you’re going to get embarrassed in a hurry. It’s not the NCAA, we understand that and we’re disappointed, but we’re excited about the opportunity to continue to compete, continue to go out and prove, and get better as a team.” Martin’s first concern about prepping for the Redbirds is how to treat their coach, Tim Jankovich, a former Manhattan High School all-stater and three-year starting guard for K-State (1980-81-82) in seasons when the Wildcats won 69 games and attended three NCAA Tournaments. Most recently, however, Jankovich has been a member of the University of Kansas coaching staff under Bill Self prior to taking the ISU position last year. “Do I embrace Jank, or treat him like a KU guy?” Martin said. “Is he a K-State guy or a KU guy? Am I supposed to be nice to him, or treat him like a Jayhawk?” While No. 4-seeded K-State finished SEE

NO. 1, PAGE B3

Wildcats hammer Butler 15-2, sweep four-game series Staff reports The Kansas State baseball team tallied its 10th double-digit hit game in its last 11 contests, while five K-State pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts as the Wildcats completed a four-game series sweep over Butler with a 15-2 victory Sunday afternoon at Tointon Family Stadium. With the win, K-State improved to 15-3 – its best start since going 171 in 2006 – as it recorded its secondstraight four-game weekend sweep. Butler fell to 1-13 with the loss. The Wildcats totaled 50 runs in the four games on 56 hits after scoring 13 runs on a series-high 16 hits on Sunday afternoon. The 16 hits are the second-most for the Wild-

cats this season, which they have had on four occasions. Carter Jurica paced the Wildcats with three singles, while Justin Bloxom, Drew Biery, Jordan Cruz and Rob Vaughn tallied two hits apiece. Bloxom, Cruz and Nick Martini each collected two RBI. Five Wildcat pitchers combined to tame the Bulldogs as they allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts. In fact, Butler was held scoreless and had just three hits until a two-run eighth inning. Junior pitcher A.J. Morris picked up the win in a predetermined pitch-count start. He threw three no-hit innings with two strikeouts. It was Morris’ fifth win of the season after winning four

games as both a redshirt freshman and a sophomore. Freshman reliever Evan Marshall followed Morris as he struck out five of the eight Butler batters he faced. Josh Crockett and James Allen combined to throw three scoreless innings. Just as they did in both games of the doubleheader on Saturday, the Wildcats scored in the first two innings. Martini forced a two-out walk in the first inning before Bloxom roped a double into deep left-center field to score one. K-State also grabbed another run in the second frame when Vaughn singled, moved to second on a walk and scored when Butler starting pitcher Jeff Sinkiewicz (0SEE

NO. 2, PAGE B2

Staff photo by Luke Townsend

Kansas State’s Jordan Cruz slides into second base safely against Butler on Sunday at Tointon Family Stadium.The Wildcats won 15-2 to sweep the four-game series.

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

First Round

Second Round

National Semifinals

Regionals

National Semifinals

SPORTS

Regionals

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Second Round

/GP¶U &KXKUKQP + $CUMGVDCNN %JCORKQPUJKR

1 Louisville (28-5) 16 Play-in-game winner Dayton, Ohio – March 20

First Round Pittsburgh (28-4)

E. Tenn. St. (23-10) 16 Dayton, Ohio – March 20

9 Siena (26-7)

Oklahoma St. (22-11) 8 Tennessee (21-12) 9

5 Utah (24-9)

Florida St. (25-9)

Wisconsin (19-12)

8 Ohio St. (22-10)

12 Arizona (19-13) Miami – March 20

Boise, Idaho – March 20

4 Wake Forest (24-6)

Indianapolis

13 Cleveland St. (25-10) 6 W. Virginia (23-11)

Boston

MIDWEST

Xavier (25-7)

Portland St. (23-9)

EAST

11 Dayton (26-7) Minneapolis – March 20 14 N.D. St. (26-6)

VCU (24-9)

Philadelphia – March 19

Championship Game

3 Kansas (25-7)

UCLA (25-8)

Villanova (26-7)

American (24-7)

Texas (22-11)

Minnesota (22-10)

Detroit

7 Boston C. (22-11)

April 6

10 USC (21-12) Minneapolis – March 20

Greensboro, N.C. – March 19 Duke (28-6)

2 Michigan St. (26-6)

Binghamton (23-8) 15

15 Robert Morris (24-10)

Detroit

April 4

1 Connecticut (27-4) 16 Chattanooga (18-16) Philadelphia – March 19

North Carolina (28-4) 1 Radford (21-11)

8 BYU (25-7)

LSU (26-7)

9 Texas A&M (23-9)

Butler (26-5)

5 Purdue (25-9)

Illinois (24-9)

Western Ky. (24-8) 12

Portland, Ore. – March 19

4 Washington (25-8) 13 Miss. St. (23-12)

WEST

Glendale Ariz.

Memphis, Tenn.

6 Marquette (24-9) 11 Utah St. (30-4)

All times EDT

Boise, Idaho – March 20 14 Cornell (21-9) 7 California (22-10)

Play-in-game

10 Maryland (20-13)

Dayton, Ohio

Kansas City, Mo. – March 19

Alabama St.

Gonzaga (26-5)

Akron (23-12)

SOUTH Arizona St. (24-9)

Temple (22-11)

Miami – March 20

3 Missouri (28-6)

Syracuse (26-9)

S. F. Austin (24-7)

Clemson (23-8)

Michigan (20-13)

Kansas City, Mo. – March 19

Morehead St.

Oklahoma (27-5)

2 Memphis (31-3) 16

15 Cal St. N’ridge (17-13)

Morgan St. (23-11) 15 AP

Six Big 12 programs earn NCAA spots NO. 1, FROM PAGE B1 know its called March Madness for a reason — things rarely go to form. So, time to break out the brackets, sharpen some pencils and pay into an office pool (or two). Maybe do some bellyaching here and there. Among the aggrieved: Duke and Memphis, both overlooked in the quest for top seeding, settling for No. 2 seeds despite winning their conference tournaments. Memphis is often downgraded for playing in the less-than-steller Conference USA, but John Calipari’s team proved people wrong last year, making it to the national title game. “I know people in the city are mad,” he said. “That’s OK. Good karma, good will.” At least they’re in the big show. Penn State, San Diego State and St. Mary’s were among those left out despite some impressive credentials. St. Mary’s went 26-6 but lost by 25 to Gonzaga in its conference tournament final. “I was hoping common sense prevailed,” coach Randy Bennett said. “Using common sense, we’re one of the top 34 (at-large) teams. This was the best team

we’ve ever had, so it’s just disappointing to be in this situation.” Arizona, meanwhile, was elated. The Wildcats extended their NCAA-leading streak of tournament appearances to 25. This one might be the most hotly debated. The Wildcats finished 19-13 and were all but written off after a first-round loss in the Pac-10 tournament. “I kiddingly said, ‘Hey, the streak’s somebody else’s problem now,’” interim coach Russ Pennell said of his conversation with former coach Lute Olson. “He said congratulations on that one. One of the things I told Coach O was, ‘You’ve built a program that’s even able to endure a couple of years after you’re gone.’” Thrilled as Arizona was, maybe nobody got a bigger kick out of hearing their names called than the North Dakota State Bison. New players on the Division I level, the ND State seniors all committed to a redshirt year when they arrived, knowing this would be the first year they’d be eligible for the tournament. “We all talked about it and said we have to have the opportunity to go to the biggest basketball tournament our senior year,” guard Ben Woodside said. Welcome to the party, fellas:

Your first game is against defending national champion Kansas, the No. 3 seed in the Midwest. Not surprisingly, the Big East also tied for the lead with seven teams in the tournament, along with the ACC and Big Ten — and that was without perennial powerhouse Indiana. It should be interesting to see if there’s any long-term effect from the six-overtime classic that Syracuse and UConn put on last week in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament — just another wonderful chapter in that conference’s storied history. Founded in 1979, the Big East enjoyed all kinds of success in the early years. Later, football came into the mix and in 2003, the league found itself on the verge of extinction when the teams left for the ACC. Desperate to defend his turf during those dark days, Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese famously said the defection would “be the most disastrous blow to intercollegiate athletics in my lifetime.” OK, well maybe not THAT bad. The Southeastern Conference wouldn’t mind being in the Big East’s shoes. A football conference once again, the SEC only got three teams in the tournament —

the third coming only when Mississippi State won the conference tournament and earned the automatic bid. Not among those three were Florida, a two-time champion this decade, and Kentucky, the standard-bearer for SEC hoops from the beginning. The Mississippi State win, plus Southern California’s championship in the Pac-10 tournament, cost a couple of bubble teams spots among the 65. Among the last teams to make it: Wisconsin, a 12th seed in the East; Maryland, a surprisingly high 10th seed in the Midwest; and Dayton, one of only four teams from small conferences to earn an at-large bid. The so-called mid-major conferences have gone from nine atlarge bids in 2005 to four this year. Besides St. Mary’s, Creighton got left out, as did New Mexico, UNLV and San Diego State, all from the Mountain West. “We look at teams, we don’t use a label,” said Mike Slive, chairman of the selection committee. “It’s not about mid-major teams and major teams. It’s about teams. In the final analysis, it’s about who you play, where you play and how you do. It’s about teams, not about conferences.”

KSU routs Butler 15-2; sweeps four-game series NO. 2, FROM PAGE B1 2) attempted to pick off Vaughn at second but threw the ball into center field. The Wildcats scored five in the third and another three in the fifth as they batted around in both innings to put the game away. In the third, four of the first five Wildcats singled to bring in two runs before an error and a Dane Yelovich doubled scored three more to put the Cats up 7-0. In the fifth, Cruz hit a oneout single, stole second base and scored on a Vaughn double. Following a walk, a hit-bypitch and a fielder’s choice, the bases were loaded with Martini at the plate and the freshman came through with a two-run single to give K-State

a 10-0 lead. Butler came back with two in the eighth inning when Alex Montagano singled off K-State freshman Matt Applegate, which followed a leadoff walk. Colin Ziegel was next and doubled into center field, which scored one and put Montagano on third. Following a hit-bypitch, Mike Hoscheit hit a sacrifice fly to score the second Bulldog run of the day. K-State tallied another three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Dan Rumsey led off with a walk, stole second base and advanced to third when the throw down to second went into center field. Following a groundout, Matt Giller recorded his first career hit and RBI with a single up the middle to make the score 11-2.

Biery was next and hit into a fielder’s choice before Cruz blasted his second home run of the series over the left-field wall to plate the final runs of the game. Ziegel led Butler with a 3for-4 afternoon, while Montagano, Hoscheit and Kyle

NO. 3, FROM PAGE B1 we are going in with a lot of confidence because we had to play any given night with Iowa State that shoots 3s, and a team like A&M that is really physical. “We’re very happy with the progress that we’ve made, and at this point we seem to be getting better towards the end of the season.”

Lehning a Wooden finalist Shalee Lehning has been named to the national ballot for the Wooden Award, which determines the 2009 Wooden Award All-American Team and Player of the Year in an announcement by Wooden Award chairman and founder, Richard Llewellyn. The Women’s Wooden Award

All-American Team will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round during the NCAA tournament Lehning is also a candidate for the Wade Trophy, Naismith Trophy, Lieberman Award and the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. This season, Lehning ranks second in the nation and leads the Big 12 in assists per game at 7.5, is first in the Big 12 in assist/turnover ratio at 2.1, 10th in the league and first on the team in rebounds at 7.3 and 25th in the Big 12 and third on the team in scoring at 10.9. Her assist total of 212 this season set the school record for assists by a senior and are the most assists in a singleseason, breaking her record set last season of 203.

Greensboro, N.C. – March 19

12 N. Iowa (23-10)

Cats know they’re in, what where, vs. who?

Schultz recorded the other three Butler hits. K-State continues its current 11-game homestand with a two-game series against UTSA on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch of the series is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Tointon Family Stadium.

Local Sports Briefs All-TVL selections

Table tennis tourney

Selected by Twin Valley League coaches, the following were named to the All-TVL boys first team: Adam Ronnebaum (Axtell), Kyle Haverkamp (B&B Baileyville), Blake Fronce (Blue Valley), Ryan Lund (Blue Valley), Ben Steinlage (Centrailia), Alex Potuzak (Clifton-Clyde), Wade Ahlvers (Frankfort), Alex Bruna (Hanover), Braden Hynek (Hanover) and John Bruna (Hanover). The boys second team includes Jason Ronnebaum (Axtell), Ryan Huerter (B&B Baileyville), Tanner Strathman (Bern), Patrick Bramhall (Centralia), Mark Wullschleger (Frankfort), Taylor Nicholson (Hanover), Levi Jenkins (Valley Heights), Chase Blackburn (Valley Heights), Ryan Fiser (Washington County), Matt Niehues (Wetmore). The All-TVL girls first-team selections include April Gee (Axtell), Valerie Hecht (Bern), Mollie Winkler (Centralia), Ella Rethman (Centralia), Natalie Greene (Centralia), Allie Bloomfield (Clifton-Clyde), Blair Bloomfield (Clifton-Clyde), Chelsea Keating (Frankfort), Macy Parker (Valley Heights) and Kayla Penning (Washington County). All-TVL girls second-team selections include Chelsey Rottinghaus (B&B Baileyville), McKenzie McClellan (Bern), Callie Friedrich (Blue Valley), Chelsie Sowers (Centralia), Erica Dwerlkotte (Frankfort), Emily Huninghake (Frankfort), Allison Bruna (Hanover), Miranda Wilgers (Linn), Jordan Krohn (Onaga), Caitlin Sherlock (Washington County) and Nichole Boden (Wetmore).

The Salina Recreation Department and Salina Table Tennis Club will be hosting a table tennis tournament on Saturday, March 21 at Sunset Elementary School. No advanced registration is required. Balls are provided and the tournament is for all ages. Ages 17 and below are free to register, while all other participants must pay $2. For more information, call Tom Will at (785) 823-8992 or Cliff Metzger at (785) 823-6844.

MCC men finish third The Manhattan Christian College men’s basketball team defeated Southeastern University 81-75 on Saturday night to capture third place in the NCCAA national tournament — the Crusaders’ highest finish and most wins in school MCC history at 298. The Crusaders jumped out to an early lead and even though they were struggling from the field, MCC shot 88 percent from the free throw line to go into the half with a slim 34-31 lead. In the second half MCC’s Mike Williams asserted himself in the post on his way to a game-high 31 points. Justin Glenn added some key shots as well while scoring 15 points and he handed out six assists. Williams and Glenn were both selected to the All-Tournament team.

Spani named state’s best basketball player Taber Spani, the younger sister of current Kansas State women’s basketball player Shalin Spani and the daughter of former Wildcat football standout Gary Spani, was named Gatorade Kansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year last week. The senior guard from Metro Academy averaged 32.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.8 blocks per game this season for the Mavericks (256). Spani was also selected as a McDonald’s All-American. Spani has signed to play basketball at Tennessee next season.

KSU tennis falls to ISU Kansas State captured the doubles point and held a 3-2 lead on Friday afternoon, but Iowa State won the final two matches to send K-State to its third straight loss. The Wildcats (3-5, 0-1 Big 12) won the doubles point for the fourth time this season with wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. The No. 1 tandem of senior Katerina Kudlackova and freshman Nina Sertic defeated Erin Karonis and Kara Hickey, 8-5. The combination of Kudlackova and Sertic is now 2-2 this spring. The No. 3 doubles team of sophomore Antea Huljev and freshman Petra Chuda improved their record together to 3-0 with a 9-8 (7-2) win over Tessa Lang and Liza Wischer. K-State returns to Manhattan for a pair of Big 12 matches, as the Wildcats welcome in Missouri this Saturday and Colorado on Sunday.

Correction St. Marys’ Laura Kinderknecht had eight points in the Saturday’s Class 2A state championship game at Bramlage Coliseum. Brittany Pearl had 15 points, making 6-of-13 from the field and the Bears’ only two 3pointers. The Mercury regrets the error.

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THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

2009 NATIONAL INVITATION TOURNAMENT First Round

Second Round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship

Semifinals

Quarterfinals

Second Round

First Round

March 17 & 18

March 19, 20, 21, & 23

March 24 & 25

March 31

April 2

March 31

March 24 & 25

March 19, 20, 21 & 23

March 17 & 18

SAN DIEGO ST. 23-9

March 17, 10 PM

CREIGHTON 26-7 March 18, 8 PM

Weber St. 21-9

Bowling Green 19-13

KANSAS ST. 21-11

KENTUCKY 20-13

Illinois St. 24-9

SOUTH CAROLINA 21-9

March 18, 8 PM

March 17, 9:30 PM - ESPN

March 17, 7 PM - ESPN2

ST. MARY'S (CA) 26-6

MSG

April 2

March 17, 11 PM - ESPN2

NOTRE DAME 18-14

March 31

UAB 22-11

Madison Square Garden

NIT CHAMPIONS

March 31

March 18, 8 PM

FLORIDA 23-10 March 18, 8 PM

Tenn.-Martin 22-9

TULSA 24-10

March 18, 9 PM - ESPNU

Jacksonville 18-13

Miami, FL 18-12 March 18, 7 PM - ESPN2

Northwestern 17-13

BAYLOR 20-14

March 18, 9 PM - ESPN2

** PROVIDENCE 19-13

NIAGARA 26-8 March 17, 7 PM

Georgetown 16-14

VIRGINIA TECH 18-14

March 18, 7 PM - ESPNU

Duquesne 21-12

Nebraska 18-12

March 17, 9 PM - ESPN2

Madison Square Garden AUBURN 22-11

NEW MEXICO 21-11 March 17, 10 PM - ESPNU

Davidson 26-7

Washington St. 17-15

UNLV 21-10

Rhode Island 22-10

PENN. ST. 22-11 March 17, 8 PM - ESPNU

George Mason 22-10

K-State men to host Redbirds on Tuesday NO. 1, FROM PAGE B1 21-11 and tied for fourth in the Big 12 Conference, No. 5 seed Illinois State went 24-9, which included an overtime loss to Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley Tournament title game. “In this day and age it is a great honor to be invited to the NIT and we certainly approach it that way,” said Jankovich, whose teams started the year with a 14-0 record. “We are going to be playing an outstanding program and look forward to the challenge.” That’s also how Martin is looking at this year’s postseason experience, which will be the third in the last three years for the Wildcats. “It’s huge,” he said. “There’s the opportunity to play for a trophy. When given that opportunity, you want to take advantage of it.” Later he added, “You want to win today, but are always preparing for tomorrow.” For senior Darren Kent, it will be his second NIT appearance, with this one having a different emotion than the past. Two years ago under coach Bob Huggins, K-State was 22-11 and fully expecting to get into the NCAA event, but the K-State name was never called. This year, Kent said, “It was tough to see those teams you beat get in, but this time we knew for a couple weeks we needed a couple more quality wins. We had the games in our hands, but let them slip. Ultimately, we knew we didn’t get enough done.” So, it will be the NIT. “Teams in the tournament

are all good competition,” said sophomore guard Jacob Pullen. “I have a lot of friends on other teams where their season is over with and they’re going home to watch TV. I’m texting them that we have practice at 3 tomorrow.” Martin knows that KSU’s RPI and strength of schedule — plus not winning enough — kept his club out of the NCAA event. As the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 Championship, however, he remains perplexed how the 12-3-5-6-7 seeds all got in the “Big Dance.” And he wonders how there could be that much separation between A&M, a No. 9 seed in the NCAA event, and K-State not getting in at all. At the same time, Jankovich is likely wondering why K-State is a No. 4 seed and Illinois State a No. 5. The Redbirds’ RPI was No. 47 and strength of schedule No. 101. ISU had two Top 50 wins, seven in the Top 100 and a 7-5 record in the last 12 games, which included reaching the MVC title game. The Wildcats’ RPI was No. 81 and strength of schedule 112. KSU had three Top 50 wins, five in the Top 100 and an 8-4 record in the last 12 games, which included a quarterfinal loss in the Big 12 tournament. On scheduling games, Martin said it’s not as easy as you would think. It’s not as simple as a phone call. “Not too many people want to come to Manhattan, Kansas, and play,” Martin said. “I’m not going to throw our guys to the wolves and sign contracts

with schools who have no interest in coming back to play us here.” He then repeated, “The bottom line is we didn’t win the games that we had to win. At the end of the day, that’s why we didn’t get in.” The most pivotal losses were to Kentucky, Iowa and Oregon in the first two weeks of the season, and to Missouri, Oklahoma State and Texas in the last two weeks. With that being the case, Martin repeated, “It is what it is.”

No. 1 seeds 23-9 San Diego State, 22-11 Auburn, 26-7 Creighton, 23-10 Florida.

Also from the Big 12 Joining KSU in the NIT from the Big 12 are Baylor, a No. 3 seed, and Nebraska, a No. 6 seed.

Homecoming Not only will Jankovich be coming home, but on his staff is former KSU guard Anthony Beane, and ISU’s athletic director is former Wildcat Sheahon Zenger. Zenger will likely be one of the top candidates for the vacant K-State AD position.

Regional With a win, K-State will play the winner of Tuesday’s game between San Diego State (23-9) and Weber State ( 21-9), the Nos. 1 and 8 seeds, respectively, in the West Regional. If K-State and San Diego State win, the second-round

Cutler, McDaniels finally meet Associated Press ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Jay Cutler finally met face-to-face with Josh McDaniels over the weekend, but nothing was resolved, leading to doubt the quarterback will show up for the new coach’s first team meeting Monday. The Denver Broncos’ coach and Pro Bowl quarterback, who are involved in a simmering feud over trade talks, met Saturday at the team’s training facility, and both sides agreed to regroup and continue conversations, team spokesman Patrick Smyth told The Associated Press. But ESPN reported early Monday morning that Cutler would not be at Monday’s team meeting. “I certainly went back there, expecting I’d be there (Monday), but not now,” Cutler told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. “It’s not mandatory. I’ll attend every mandatory mini-camp and training camp, but that’s it. Really, it’s best for me to move on. As coach said, he needs every eye in the meeting room to be on him and not me.” On Saturday, Cutler and his agent, Bus Cook, met with McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders in what the Broncos described as mild-mannered conversations at Dove Valley. Denver station KCNC-TV reported that the meeting didn’t go well, however, and The Denver Post reported that words

were exchanged between Cutler and McDaniels. Cook didn’t return phone messages left by The AP on Sunday. McDaniels isn’t scheduled to address the media until the annual owners meeting in Dana Point, Calif., March 22-25. But the Broncos insist they’re not going to trade Cutler, who just played in his first Pro Bowl. Cutler has deepened the drama by putting his 7,516square foot home in suburban Parker on the market for $2 million. And a smaller home owned by Cutler and his parents, Jack and Sandra Cutler, two miles away, is for sale for $835,000. Cutler, however, is keeping his downtown Denver penthouse — at least for now. On Saturday night, Cutler was a no-show at a fundraiser at Invesco Field where he was on the guest list. The Broncos said Cutler didn’t attend because he didn’t want to be a distraction but that he made a donation to the cause, Dani’s Foundation, which raises money for research and treatment for rare forms of cancer in children. Team owner Pat Bowlen was in attendance, but he wouldn’t answer any questions and waved off a reporter. Bowlen has yet to publicly address the rift between his new coach and his temperamental quarterback. Cutler’s name was brought up a lot at that event, a roast for longtime Broncos trainer Steve Antonopulos. Former Denver

offensive lineman Mark Cooper, who played in the 1980s, cracked: “Times have changed around here. Now players cry when they hear they’re going to be traded.” Cutler has been unhappy since learning that McDaniels, who was New England’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons, entertained the notion of trading him to Tampa Bay in a three-way swap that would have brought quarterback Matt Cassel from the Patriots to Denver. New England instead traded Cassel to Kansas City.

Sports Watch MONDAY

BASEBALL 7:00 p.m. ESPN (32) Baseball World Classic Round 2 (Live) Site: Dolphins Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida 10:00 p.m. ESPN2 (33) Baseball World Classic Round 2 (Live) Site: Petco Park — San Diego, Calif. TENNIS 9:30 p.m. FSN (34) Tennis ATP BNP Paribas Open Early Round Coverage (Live) Site: Indian Wells Tennis Garden — Indian Wells, Calif.

TUESDAY

BASKETBALL 6:00 p.m. ESPN2 (33) Basketball NCAA NIT Tournament First Round (Live) 6:30 p.m. ESPN (32) Basketball NCAA Division 1 Tournament Opening Round Game (Live) — Dayton, Ohio 8:00 p.m. ESPN2 (33) Basketball NCAA NIT Tournament First Round (Live) 8:30 p.m. ESPN (32) Basketball NCAA NIT Tournament First Round (Live) 10:00 p.m. ESPN2 (33) Basketball NCAA NIT Tournament First Round (Live) TENNIS 3:00 p.m. FSN (34) Tennis ATP BNP Paribas Open Early Round Coverage (Live) Site: Indian Wells Tennis Garden — Indian Wells, Calif. 9:30 p.m. FSN (34) Tennis ATP BNP Paribas Open Early Round Coverage (Live) Site: Indian Wells Tennis Garden — Indian Wells, Calif.

game would be in San Diego over the weekend. If K-State and Weber State win, the second game would be in Manhattan. Also in the bracket are St. Mary’s( 26-6) vs. Washington State (17-15), and South Carolina (21-9) vs. Davidson ( 26-7).

NIT tickets Tickets for the first-round game went on sale Monday morning. Reserved chairbacks (Sections 3-9), $20. Reserved bench (Sections 12, 10-18, 26-27), $15. Adult general admission (Sections 19-25), $12. KSU students and children 18 and under, $5. Fans are encouraged to order tickets online at www.kstatesports.com. Fans may use the print-at-home option to access their tickets immediately and avoid the possibility of waiting in lines to pick up their tickets prior to the game.

Mickelson holds off Watney for victory Associated Press DORAL, Fla. — There was the hospital trip for two bags of intravenous fluids before the final round. The hot showers and baths to alleviate nighttime chills. The right-handed swing with a left-handed club to extricate his ball from shrubbery. The upstart challenger who wouldn’t go away. Phil Mickelson overcame it all. And he’s closer than ever to overtaking Tiger Woods. Mickelson shot a 3-under 69 Sunday to beat Nick Watney by one shot at Doral, getting his first World Golf Championships victory and vaulting to No. 2 in the world behind Woods. Mickelson finished at 19-under 269 and earned $1.4 million, the biggest payday of his career. Not bad for a guy who could barely eat for three days, spent part of his Saturday night in an emergency room fighting dehydration and got tested all the way to the end by Watney, who came up with plenty of dazzling shots before falling just short. “I enjoy this process of competing, being in the final group, tied for the lead, against a player who is playing some terrific golf, feeling that pressure, feeling that intensity, and how important each shot is throughout the entire round,” Mickelson said. “All of that adds to helping me.” He meant helping him win. He may as well have said helping him take the No. 1 spot in the world. Mickelson has never been closer to passing Woods in the world rankings, a spot he’s long aspired to be in. But Mickelson would hardly revel in that Sunday, saying all the right things about how Woods — who was in a stroke-play event for the first time since last summer’s U.S. Open, after which he needed knee surgery and missed eight months — will certainly be good as ever soon enough. “He’s the greatest player of all time. I don’t want to go there with the world ranking,” Mickelson said. “What I’m excited about is I’m playing some of my best golf.” Watney finished with a 2under 70, and had plenty of moments. He holed a birdie chip

from behind the ninth green, giving a Tiger-esque fist pump after the ball fell and even drawing applause from Mickelson. Watney followed that with eagle at the par-5 10th to tie Mickelson at 20 under, but bogeyed the next two holes and never got back into the top spot. “I’ll get over this,” Watney said. “It’s a positive week. I played really well. Beat 78 of the best players in the world. Beat Tiger, which is always good. I’m very pleased with the way I’m playing.” Woods, in his first stroke-play event since winning the U.S. Open, shot 68 to finish eight shots behind in a tie for ninth. “I’m happy with the way I played,” Woods said. “I didn’t say the way I finished.” Jim Furyk shot 31 on the back nine for a 67 to finish alone in third. Jeev Milkha Singh had a 70 and was alone in fourth, his b est resu lt in a P GA T ou r event. “Those boys up front were superb,” Singh said. He and Furyk never seriously challenged Mickelson and Watney, though, and the stage was clear for what essentially amounted to match play on the back nine. Watney is no Woods, but he did his part in reprising a classic Doral duel. It was 2005 when Woods and Mickelson went head-to-head in the final round, where Mickelson’s 30-footer from just off the 18th green came tantalizingly close to falling into the cup. The miss gave Woods a one-shot victory. Mickelson could appreciate Sunday’s irony. It was Watney with a 30-footer from behind the green this time, down by a shot, and his putt stopped one rotation shy of the hole. “I’ve been there, man,” Mickelson said. “I know that feeling. It’s not a great one.” Nor was his feeling Saturday night, when he got under the covers and couldn’t stop shaking for more than 30 minutes. A hot shower didn’t help, nor did a hot bath. So tournament officials were summoned, a trip to an emergency room was arranged, and two IV bags got Mickelson through the night.

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AUTOMOTIVE

810 Fairlane, 10x 20, 10x 30, 12x 30. 5261 Tuttle Creek Blvd, 5x 5, through 11x 28. Open 7 days a week. Well secured. Call 539-8996

Knox Ln. Self Storage 210 Knox Lane, 5x 5- 10x 30, 587-8553, 539-2325.

Taylor Made Storage 2 miles N. of Manhattan, Hwy 24 W. Big Discounts for Long Term. (785)587-8777, (785)410-8969

Office Rooms

DOWNTOWN and westside locations, 500- 2,000 sq. ft. (785)537-2332 PROFESSIONAL office space, 2801 Claflin Road. (785)539-5896

Mobile Homes

Wanted: Automotive

AA now buying vehicles and farm machinery. Will pick up for free. Call 785-456-2439, evening 785456-3793. AA Wamego Truck and Auto. Buying rebuildable or salvaged cars and trucks. Evening and weekend pickup available. 785-456-5433, 785-4567306.

Harley- Davidson New and used Harley- Davidson, Suzuki and Kawasaki motorcycles. Harley- Davidson clothing and accessories. Kawasaki ATV’s and Jet skis. 1021 Goldenbelt Blvd., Junction City, KS. Along I-70 between exits 295, 296. Toll free 1-877-600-1983-

RV's, Campers

Stimulus Discount $14,000 2007 Fleetwood Discovery 39 L luxury motor coach, four slide outs, fully loaded. NADA average retail $163,650, asking $149,650. (785)776-2102

WANTED: vintage aluminum V- bottom boat with trailer or will consider pontoon boat 785-410-0075

RENTALS 18

Business Property

25X 40, 40X 60, 25X 50. 785-313-2200

*Furnished or unfurnished *1 bedroom from $550.00 *2 bedrooms from $630.00 *Pool, fireplaces, carports *Quiet complex next to Cico Park 785-539-2649 SHORT term lease offered with immediate movein. 1 bedroom $400, 2 bedroom $500. Call Park Place, (785)539-2951. UNIQUE remodeled 3 bedroom, 1 bath, 2nd floor apartment. All appliances, washer, dryer. Balcony off street parking, low shared utilities. No pets, non smoker. Available now, $810/ month 785-341-1530

3 BEDROOM, westside, Nice, close to KSU stadium. www.geocities.com. 785-313-2510 3 BR/ 1 BA, newly remodeled home with basement and 2 car garage, available April 1. Call (785)3411256 for details. 4 BEDROOM 2 bath, 5 years old, 2 car garage, patio, fenced yard, appliances included. No pets. Available April 1, $1350. 126 Kopp. 620-897-6290 4 BEDROOM 2 bath, central air, washer, dryer dishwasher, fenced backyard, $1,200. June 1. 785537-9425, 785-565-1498 4 BEDROOM 2 bath, washer/ dryer hookups, fenced yard. 341-4496 4 BEDROOM washer, dryer. Available June 1st 537-7138 4 BEDROOM, 2 bath, central air, stove, refrigerator, washer/ dryer. Available June 1. 1529 Pipher. (785)537-1804, (785)776-7547, (785)341-5820. 4 BEDROOM, immaculate, 4 blocks west of campus, fenced backyard, central air, washer/ dryer, dishwasher, March 1, $1,000. (785)537-9425, (785)565-1498.

WESTMORELAND- 1 Bedroom, lg eat- in kitchen, laundry, gym & grocery on same block. Pets welcome $300/ month. 785-457-3637

4 BR, 1 bath house, 900 Vattier. August, $1,150/ month. Washer/ Dryer/ Central Air. Fenced yard, pets allowed. Party- shack and garage included. (785)539-4949

WOODWAY Apartments now leasing for 2009. 3- 4 bedroom apartments available. Small pet welcome. Pool– Carports– Free DVD rentals. (785)537-7007. Close to campus– Ft. Riley.

5 BR/ 3 BA, great family home. Recently remodeled with hardwood floors/ ceramic tile & carpet. Available April 1. Call (785)341-1256 for details.

26 Duplex,Condo,Townhome

6 BEDROOM, 4 bath, no pets, close to Campus. Available June 1. 785-292-4908 AVAILABLE March 15. 2038 Shirley Lane. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, $900/ month. (785)564-0857

Painting, cleanups, and tree work. Can start immediately. A & W Services, (785)410-8252.

Manhattan City Ordinance 4814 assures every person equal opportunity in housing without distinction on account of race, sex, familial status, military status, disability, religion, color, national origin or ancestry. Violations should be reported to the Director of Human Resources at City Hall, 587-2440.

2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, personal washer/ dryer. Water, trash. cable TV paid. No pets. $660- $790. 785-776-3345. www.crestwood-apartments.com 1 & 2 BEDROOM and studio available now, water/ trash paid, central air, 1100 Gardenway. (785)5377810

1 And 2 Bedroom Next To Campus. Washer/ dryer, No Pets. 785537-7050 1 AND 2 bedroom, 1 bath on Stagg Hill. Laundry facilities. Starting $450 plus electricity. Call 785313-1957. 1 BEDROOM basement, June 1st, $350 plus utilities. No smoking, no pets. (785)776-8077 1 BEDROOM downtown, no pets. Heat, water, trash paid. 785-341-4267

1, 2, & 3 BEDROOM apartments. See www.apskansas.com. 785-587-8926, e-mail aps@apskansas.com 1, 2, 3, 4 BEDROOMS. June & August. Many close to campus. No pets. 785-341-1950, 785-580-7444 2 & 3 BEDROOM apartments. 785-317-5161 2 BDRM in quiet complex for mature tenant. No pets. 785-410-3020 2 BEDROOM 1 bath, dishwasher, washer, dryer, off street parking $590 plus utilities 532-8112, 7762170 2 BEDROOM Apartment across from City Park. Washer / Dryer in each unit. No pets. $650 785539-0222 2 BEDROOM, 1 bath available March. Washer, dryer hookup, no pets $660 or $680. 785-7762425, 785-565-3760, www.village-rentals.com 2 BEDROOM, 1 bath, personal full size washer/ dryer. Carpet less than a year old & freshly painted. Located at 2514 Stagg Hill Rd. Call Connie, (785)565-5232. $625/ mo. No pets.

1998 DODGE RAM

17 Boats, Motors, Trailers

NICE, quiet studio apartment, 6 miles west on Anderson. Hardwood floors, stained glass windows. $475/ month, includes utilities. King size bed optional. 785-537-3606

Nice duplex. 2 bath, all major appliances, washer/ dryer. Pets considered. August 1. (785)293-5197

STUDIO, quiet location. No pets. Lease and deposit. (785)537-1310

2 BEDROOM, small modern complex. Trash & water paid. 565-8999

NICE little truck: 1991 GMC Sonoma, extended cab, V-6, auto, good aluminum topper with 4- foot construction doors. Newly rebuilt transmission, $1,500. 785-457-3789

NICE two bedroom apt. washer/ dryer. All utilities paid. $650. Avail June 1st. 313-7488

3 BEDROOM, renovated farmhouse, tight and easy to heat. 20 acres, creek, horse pens, outbuildings, Riley schools. Wonderful place to raise children. $1,200. (308)672-8518

AVAILABLE:

2 BEDROOM, close to campus, private balcony. No pets. August 1st lease. (785)341-5070

85 TOYOTA 4x 4 pickup. Good contiion $2500 or best offer, 785-562-7634

NICE large 4 bed 2 bath duplex, washer/ dryer, all utilities paid. $1300. Available June 1st. 313-7488

3- 4 BR, 606 VATTIER

24 Furnished Apartments

1988 CHEVY pickup, $1,500. 785-494-2915, evenings only

4 W/ D 5 Speed Toyota 88, 4K on the motor 785477-5082 $2,000.

3 BEDROOM, 2 blocks to campus. $1,250. 765463-5014, 765-714-5710.

AVAILABLE now. 4 Bedroom 2 bath, 809 N. 11th. $1250. month 785-587-8926. email aps@apskansas.com

2 BEDROOM, available immediately, gas and electric paid. No pets. Short term lease available. 785341-1950, 785-580-7444.

2002 FORD F150 4x 4, 4 door, short bed, 4.6 V8 automatic. Great fuel economy $6,200. 785-3413286

1, 2, & 3 BR. Close to KSU. Washer/ dryer, pool, gym, theater. 1510 College, 1010 Bluemont. collegiatevilla.com. (785)537-2096

2 BR duplex, stove, ref., DW, washer/ dryer. No pets or smoking. Available now. 426 S. 6th. $625. (785)539-8480

15 Pickups, Trucks, Tractors

Quad cab, 4 wheel drive. $4,800. (785)410-6782

3 BEDROOM, 2 bath, 2 car garage $1175/ month 785-556-0080

MOBILE homes for rent. $450 and up. Located in Ogden.Accepting pets under 15 pounds fully grown. (785)537-3663

1 BEDROOM, great downtown location. Pets welcome, laundry on site, water and trash paid. Available immediately. 212 N. 5th. $500. 785-564-1567

1991 HONDA 750 Nighthawk, new tires, runs good, $1,800 or best offer. (785)456-5882

Luxury Apartments

AVAILABLE now, 2 bedroom homes, $550- $625. (785)539-0920

GET cash for your car! Currently buying foreign and domestic autos, trucks, vans, etc. Anything considered. 539-3376

Motorcycles, Bicycles

3 BEDROOM, 1 bath, living and family rooms, near KSU stadium, central air, appliances, washer/ dryer, carport. No pets. June. $975. (785)341-5346, (785)537-8420.

$875- $975. 785-341-4496

1 BEDROOM, close to campus. Call 785-5374947. Available now.

BRAND New Pavilion Apartments– 1121 Thurston St. (Close to KSU/ Aggieville), 2 bdrm, 2 ba, washer/ dryer, Discounted Single Occupancy Monthly Rates available through July. (913)707-0081

COUNTRY living, 2 bedroom, clean, new carpet, new furnace. No pets. $500. 3001 Tuttle Creek Blvd. (785)410-6019

ATTENTION! Superior Salvage wants your cars & trucks. 539-9511

MIKES WRECKER Service now buying junk cars and trucks, not selling parts. . Free pick up. Mon. Fri. 8 - 5, 785-776-4895, 785-539-4221

3 BEDROOM, 1 bath, central air, near city park. Pet allowed. (785)539-4948

2 BR apt. for rent. (816)734-9355 2 BR, 1 bath, basement apartment, 931 Vattier. Aug. lease, $500/ month. Washer/ Dryer, Window A/C. Fenced backyard, pets allowed. (785)5394949 3 & 4 BEDROOM apartments, close to campus washer/ dryer air, August lease 776-2100 or 5562233 3 BEDROOM 1 1/2 bath with basement. Available April. Washer dryer hookup, fireplace, no pets. Gaslight Village 785-776-2425 or 785-565-3760. village-rentals.com 3 BEDROOM apartment- August availability, 817 Laramie, central air, dishwasher, washer/ dryer provided, gas, water, trash paid, no pets, no smoking, 785-537-3310 or 785-313-3996 3 BEDROOM main floor, June 1st, $900 plus utilities. No smoking, no pets. (785)776-8077 3 BEDROOM upper floor. Great condition, spacious and sunny. Oak floors, laundry hookup. Pets welcome. Water and trash paid. Available immediately 730 Fremont. $825. 785-564-1567 DOWNTOWN loft, 3 bedroom, available April 1st. Call for details, (785)341-5070.

2 & 3 Bdrm Townhomes

4 BEDROOM, 2 bath, washer/ dryer, pets considered, 6 blocks from KSU campus, available June 1. Call Theresa, (785)457-2812. 5 BEDROOM Townhome 2520 CandleCrest Circle, W/ D, $1000/ month. Available now. No pets. Call 577-2323.

916 OSAGE Two 4 bedroom 2 bath, close to KSU & city park Available June 1st 785-556-0960 A COZY 2 bedroom duplex, 1 mile east of Manhattan. $625/ month. Water, trash, sewer paid. W/ D. Pets allowed. Available now. (785)458-9944 AVAILABLE immediately, new 3 bedroom townhome. Appliances, washer, dryer hookup, 1 car garage. 424 Brooklawn Court. $960/ month, no pets, 776-5034 weekdays, 537-3788 evenings and weekends. DUPLEX 2 and 3 bedroom, central air, garage, fireplace, washer/ dryer hookup, westside location, no pets. Available June 1st. 537-1746 or 539-1545 NEW Construction, 2,200 square foot, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 car garage with basement and safe room. $1,600/ mth. Available June 1st. (785)556-0080

Stone Pointe Townhomes Brand New– 1,803 sq. ft. 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths. Dbl. Car Garage w/ openers; Stainless Whirlpool Appliances; Whirlpool Washer/ Dryer; Ceramic Tile and Carpeting; Huge Master Bedroom; Covered Deck; 13 SEER Heat Pump. Landlord pays trash, lawncare, building insurance, real estate taxes. $1,500/ mo. Absolutely No Pets. Available April 1st. (785)539-9599

CAMPUS location, remodeled 5 bedroom 2 bath, all appliances, washer, dryer, off street parking. Available August. No pets, non smokers. $1575/ month 785-341-1530 COUNTRY living at its best. 3 BR, 2 BA, central air/ heat, attached 2 car garage. (785)456-3958 HOME in country, newly remodeled. 3 Bedroom, 1 bath, detached workshop/ garage. Available April 1, between Manhattan an and Wamego. 785-4589508 HORSE property, barn, pasture. New 3 br, 2 ba with garage. Non smoking. 785-565-2626 RENTALS range from $975- $1,300. Knight Rental, (785)539-5394. WESTSIDE location newly renovated 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Please call 537-7701

NEWLY remodeled room in Valleywood home, $355, bills paid 785-675-1163

1 BEDROOM in a 4 bedroom ranch style house 2 minutes from campus. Home is spacious, new, w/ underground pool. Non smoking only. Call Katie at 480-570-8588 2

bedroom

apartment.

*APM*

Roommates Needed

1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 BEDROOM houses. Great locations. Military approved. Pet friendly. Call Alliance Property Management today. 785-539-2300 www.rentfromapm.com

Nice 4 bedroom, 2 bath apartment, close to KSU. 785-776-2102

2 BEDROOM townhome, living room, dining, family room, fireplace, garage, yard, small pet considered (no vicious breeds), inquiries M- F 8- 5, Sat. 9- 12. Immediate occupancy. $875. (785)539-2309 2 BEDROOM, 2 story duplex, country living close to town, washer/ dryer hookup in basement. No smoking. Pets considered. $700. (785)539-4761 2 BEDROOM, spacious, basement, central air, washer/ dryer, large yard. $800. April 1st. 785-5379425, 785-565-1498. 3 AND 4 Bedroom houses. www.apskansas.com 785-587-8926. aps@apskansas.com

See e-mail

3 BED 1 1/2 bath, 1 car garage, all appliances including washer/ dryer, screened porch, fenced backyard. Available April 1, $925. 785-792-6212, 785-738-0168 3 BEDROOM house with basement, laundry room, 1 1/2 baths, June 1st, $1,050 plus utilities. No smoking, no pets. (785)776-8077 3 BEDROOM ranch home, with 1 3/4 baths, half finished basement, large double garage, $1,225. No pets. Blanton Realty, (785)776-8506.

Moore Property Management

for the 2009-2010 school year.

3/ 2 REMODELED Victorian in Abilene. Must see to appreciate. $212,500. 785-263-2154

WANTED: Veterinarian needing to relocate to Manhattan, Junction City area. Needs acreage with a house and possibly barn to rent or lease to own. Please call Dr. Deanna Post, 620-255-2211.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE 32

Business Property

2.6 ACRES zoned I-5 (Business Park) west side near Fort Riley Blvd. 785-564-2770

Apartments Available Now Through Fall • Pebblebrook Apts. • • Cambridge Square • • Sandstone Apts. • Call Today for Private Showing! ★★★

Manhattan City Ordinance 4814 assures every person equal opportunity in securing and holding employment in any field of work or labor for which he/ she is properly qualified regardless of race, sex, military status, disability, religion, age, color, national origin or ancestry. Violations should be reported to the Director of Human Resources at City Hall, 5872440. ADMINISTRATIVE Assistant. Part time position requires excellent organization & time management skills, ability to function in a fast paced and deadline driven environment, self- motivation and efficiently in a team setting with a positive attitude. Send resume to: assistant_needed@cox.net ASSISTANT Teachers; If you love to hold and cuddle babies. If you like to talk and sing to them; If you don’t mind changing diapers; We have the job for you! Hope Lutheran Early Learning Center is looking for loving, energetic, qualified, and reliable assistant teachers to work in an educational environment. 785-587-9400

Automotive Technician

Advertise For Free. ByOwnerManhattan.com

AVAILABLE NOW Very cute 4 BD, 1 BA brick ranch. Only $139,500. 1533 Hartford. (785)341-6142 DUPLEX for sale, $900/ month rental income, both apartments leased through July, great location in Northview, $93,000. (785)565-3292 DUPLEX for sale. New construction. Good cash flow. (785)313-2421, (785)776-5511. F S B O: 4 BR/ 3 BA. Nearly 3,000 sq. ft. Spacious floor plan. Walk to Bergman. Backs up to Hudson Trail. Custom deck/ playset. Many updates. No Specials! $274,900. 3649 Everett Rd. (785)5878103

Experienced Automotive Tech needed to perform light to heavy repairs. Tools and good driving record required. Hours are 8-5 Monday-Friday. We offer good benefits and working conditions. EOE. Apply in person at Jon Murdock, Inc. 600 McCall Road, Manhattan.

BARBERS NEEDED At Fort Riley. Barber or cosmetology license from any state accepted. 785-784-6203 CAREER opportunity, full time position with rapidly growing specialty retailer. Seeking individuals with “people” skills to join our customer service/ sales team in a friendly work environment. On the job training with competitive benefits and pay. Call 785-776-5118 to schedule your interview today.

CARPENTERS

F. S. B. O. 2,288 sq ft country home on 2 acres in Wamego. 4 BR/ 2 BA w/ 5th nonconforming BR, finished walkout bsmt., 2 lg decks, fruit trees, 2 garages, appliances. $178,500. Call 785-456-4275

Local construction firm is looking for carpenters. Competitive wage and bonus plan. Benefits include health insurance, retirement, cafeteria plan. Fax resume to: (785)537-1624. E. O. E.

FOR Sale By Owner: 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths, approx. 5,000 sq. feet, walk to Bergman Elem. on Hudson Trail. Large lot, cul-de-sac. 3601 Everett Cir., Manhattan. $519,000. (785)320-6955

Certified Medication Aide

FOR Sale By Owner: Nice, well maintained, owner occupied, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, basement, garage, fenced yard. Close to campus and Bluemont school. $125,000. (785)539-4477, (785)565-3988.

4 BDR 3 bath lakehouse located at 3208 Oakshores. Call Rich Claypool at 785-537-0650 or 913-707-5314- RichClaypool@yahoo.com for more details. $202,900. Pictures at http://tuttlecreeklakehouse.googlepages.com/pictures LAKESIDE, 7 bedroom, 3 bath, 6.2 acres, $425,000. (785)539-4374 THREE bedroom, three bath, new kitchen, double garage, large fenced yard, $189,900. Northwest area 785-537-0045

Homestead Assisted Living is looking for a full time CMA to work the 11p.m.- 7a.m. If you are interested in a friendly work environment with a team approach, apply at www.midwest-health.com/careers, or call (785)776-1772.

CLARION HOTEL

Lake Property Needs Owner

Lots

Positions Available: Maintenance, Reservationist, Housekeepers, Janitor, PM Laundry, Night Auditor, Security, Dishwasher, AM Wait staff. Apply in person: 530 Richards Drive, Manhattan.

CMA St. Joseph Village Assisted Living, P T, 10p- 6a, Sat.- Mon. Paid Vacation and Benefits. Please apply online at www.via-christi.org, or in person at 2800 Willow Grove Rd. (785)539-7671. E. O. E., Handicap, Veteran, Drug Free.

CMA Stoneybrook Assisted Living is accepting applications for a full time CMA. Benefits include Employee time- off package, 401 Retirement plan, Health and Dental. Please apply online at www.midwesthealth.com

COMMERCIAL lots available for storage and industrial use. Longhorn addition near Tuttle Creek Dam $25,000/ lot. 539-9599 or 556-5585

36 Mobile/Modular Homes

$5,000 DISCOUNT ON ANY NEW HOMES! Many floor plans available. If we don’t have it, we will get it! Payments as low as $250/ month. On site financing available with as little as $1,250 down, with approved credit. 2003 Schult 3 BR/ 2 BA, $22,000– 2006 Commander double wide, 3 BR/ 2 BA, $44,900– 2007 Commander, 3 BR/ 2 BA, $34,900. Call Terri or Tiffani @ (785)539-5791. $5,000 TO Help You Move. Live somewhere nice! Colonial Gardens, Riverchase, or Blue Valley. T & C Apply. (785)539-5841

On all homes W. A. C. Nicest community in town. (785)539-5841

2 BED, 16 wide in Countryside Estates. Large deck and shed. We trade and finance Countryside Brokerage, 539-2325. Also 16x 80 Colonial Gardens BELOW market, nice home, Colonial Gardens, 2002 Schult, $18,500/ offer 785-236-2010

CNA/ CMA Stoneybrook Retirement. Community is accepting applications for full and part time CNA/ CMA day shifts. Benefits include employee time off package, 401 retirement plan, health and dental. Apply online: www.midwest-health.com/careers 785-7760065 E. O. E. Drug- Free Workplace.

Construction Tradesman Unique custom construction company looking for a quality oriented individual. (785)236-3050 to schedule tryout. DELIVERY Technician– Motivated, friendly individual wanted for Full- Time Delivery position. Must be able to lift 40 pounds, have valid driver’s license. Benefits available. Apply in person at A Full House, 5th & Ft. Riley Blvd.

Early Childhood Educators Needed

537-9064★★★

www.hillinvestandrental.com

Manhattan Day Care and Learning Center has one Preschool Lead Teacher position open. Seeking individual with at minimum a Child Development Associate Credential, prefer Associates in Early Childhood Education, or related field. Paid ongoing professional development, including program to receive Associates in Early Childhood Education, discount on monthly child care fees. Closing date is Friday, March 27, 2009 or until position is filled. Please inquire by sending letter of interest, resume and contact information for three references to: Manhattan Day Care and Learning Inc., 121 N 6th St. Manhattan, KS 66502 E O E

READY TO MOVE IN

ELECTRICIAN

3 and 4 bedroom , 2 bath homes with all appliances, including washer/ dryer, in excellent communities. Only $389/ month W. A. C. (785)539-7600

Now hiring 1 licensed electrician or experienced helper for Manhattan area. (785)456-7730

Tax Refund= Down Payment

FAHNESTOCK Plumbing, HVAC & Electric is looking for technicians in all three trades for a long term housing project in Ft. Riley. Competitive wages and benefits. Call John Schmidt at (316)308-3260.

Wanted To Rent

Homes available now. Down payments as low as $1,250. Call Tiffani or Terri @ 785-539-5791 WE buy used mobile homes. Countryside Homes Call 539-2325

Freddy’s Frozen Custard

Condos/Townhomes

Now hiring cooks and cashiers. Day, nights and weekends. Come by our location at 229 McCall Rd and pick up an application.

DUPLEX for sale, lease, or lease to own. Good cash flow. (785)313-2421, (785)776-5511.

FULL time position, will train. Apply in person Bob’s Glass Shop, 205 Sarber Lane

NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2009 Chase Manhattan Apartments 1409 Chase Place Corner of Claflin & College (785)776-3663

Studios, 1, 2, 3, 4, Bedroom Units Campus East Apartments 1422 McCain Lane Corner of Claflin & McCain (785)539-5911

Pets Welcome

785-776-1936 SUMMER 2009 LIST IS AVAILABLE!!

www.moorepropertymanagement.com

Pick up list at 1201 Poyntz Avenue or check Web Site!

for Availability

www.mkpropertymgt.com

View our website:

3 BEDROOM 2 1/2 bath, 1669 sq ft,. 727 Fairman Drive, 6 years old, 785-539-3318

SHARE my large 4 bedroom home, all bills paid. (785)587-7983

1125 Laramie Suite C Manhattan, KS 66502

537-0205 Now Leasing

3 BEDROOM 1 1/2 bath in St George, 207 2nd Street. Great condition. New furnace and central air, oak floors. 2046 sq ft. large fenced yard, shop, 1 car garage. 11,000 sq ft lot. F S B O. $119,000. 785-564-1567

1981 3 BED, 2 bath. New carpet, paint, only $12,900. 539-7600

Roommates

NEEDED to share (785)564-1588

Houses

Help Wanted

The Mercury cannot verify the financial potential of advertisements in the Help Wanted or Business Opportunities classifications. Readers are advised to approach any such “opportunity” with reasonable caution.

0% Financing Available

Rooms

2508 BROOKVILLE Cir. 4 BD/ 2 BA, Big fenced- in backyard/ irrigation/ cul-de-sac. $174,500. (913)707-5544

4 BD, 1 BA brick ranch. Fenced yard. Pets possible. Only $275/ BD. 1533 Hartford. (785)341-6142

BEST HOUSE

Farms & Acreage

20 ACRES with creek, horse pens, outbuildings. Recently renovated 3 bedroom farmhouse, tight and easy to heat. Close- in, west of Manhattan. $250,000. Possible owner finance. (308)672-8518

AVAILABLE NOW

4 + bedrooms, 2 bath, campus location. Very cute with all the amenities! Available June or August 785-341-0686

EMPLOYMENT

20 ACRES with creek, horse pens, outbuildings. Recently renovated 3 bedroom farmhouse, tight and easy to heat. Close- in, west of Manhattan. $250,000. Possible owner finance. (308)672-8518

1 and 2 bedroom, $375/ month- $550/ month. Available now with special pricing. 341-0686

1400 SQUARE Foot 3 bedroom, 2 bath, single car garage, $1150/ month. 785-556-0080

*COMPARE* Crestwood Apartments

2006 MUSTANG, 20” rims, $15,400. (785)5658934

3 BEDROOM townhome, 1 1/2 baths, living room, dining, garage, yard, family room with fireplace, small pet considered (no vicious breeds), inquiries M- F 8- 5, Sat. 9- 12. Immediate occupancy. $935$950. (785)539-2309

3 BEDROOM, 2 bath, 5 miles north. No pets. $450. (785)539-7940 after 3:00.

‘05 MUSTANG GT convertible, metallic red with black interior, black top, new tires, chrome wheels, auto trans, low miles. (785)456-5882

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 2000 Chevy Impala. Great condition 785-307-0242

1, 2, 3 BEDROOM cottages, available now. Please call (785)537-7701.

Automobiles

1983 CAMARO with 350 engine. Runs good, but tranny is getting weak. 95K original miles. $1,200 O. B. O. (785)341-9461

AVAILABLE August 1- Three bedroom apartment with large bedrooms, washer/ dryer and energy efficient. $900. 785-341-4024

AVAILABLE NOW!

Houses

3 BDR/ 2 ba, $614/ mo. Call 785-539-5841 for more information. Terms and conditions apply

$600. CLEAN, roomy 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, in 9plex. No pets. 1 year lease. 3032 Kimball. 785-5560586

Plaza West Apartments

B & T STORAGES

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

25 Unfurnished Apartments

AZTEC STORAGE Open 7 days a week, all sizes, plus boat and RV storage, competitive prices, security, on site management by Manhattan Airport. 785-776-1111.

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

RENTALS

NOW leasing 1 & 2 bedrooms for June & August. Early bird specials available. Call for details, (785)539-2951.

25 Unfurnished Apartments As a courtesy of this newspaper, ads for found items will be published for three (3) days free of charge.

RENTALS

15x 25, 15x 50 SHOP/ Storage Units. 410-3904; leave message: 539-1436.

A - $1.00 per line per day

B - $1.50

CLASSIFIED ADS

Founders Hill Apartments 1401 College Avenue Corner of Claflin & College (785)539-4600

www.firstmanagementinc.com Woodway Apartments 2420 Greenbriar Drive Corner of Kimball & College (785)537-7007

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY EMPLOYMENT 41

Help Wanted

FULL time Medical Assistant/ CNA at Clay Center Family Physicians. Must have excellent people skills, ability to perform administrative and clinical tasks at a quick pace, and a desire to learn. Will train the right person. Contact Michelle Alquist, Nursing Supervisor at 785-632-2181 ext. 287. Send resume to Clay Center Family Physicians, P. 2O. Box 520, Clay Center KS 67432

EMPLOYMENT 41

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

Morris County– County Engineer

FULL Time Patient Educator/ Receptionist in a busy medical office. Responsibilities: communicate and educate patients regarding insurance, assist in patient financial planning, ICD-9 and CPT/ EM coding, and scheduling patient appointments. Requirements: 1 year medical office experience with strong customer service skills. Email resumes to: insurance@twhg.net; or fax to: (785)776-7392.

The Morris County Commissioners are accepting applications for the position of County Engineer. An associates or bachelor’s degree in construction or civil engineering is desired, however, experience will also be considered. This position requires management experience and communication skills. Planning, road and bridge construction, maintenance, and repair experience is required. Send resume, references, and salary history by April 10, 2009 to the Morris County Clerk, 501 W. Main, Council Grove, KS 66846. A detailed job description is available by calling (620)767-5518 or by email at morris@tctelco.net.

FULL TIME RECEPTIONIST

MORTGAGE LOAN PROCESSOR

With light Secretarial duties sought for progressive law firm. Must be a highly motivated, outgoing person with good communication, grammar, and computer skills. M- F, 8:30- 5:00 with paid Federal holidays. Salary commensurate with experience. Please send resume and reference to Drawer 01377, c/o The Manhattan Mercury, P.O. Box 787, Manhattan, KS 66505.

Position available immediately. Resumes cpadgett@newcenturybankna.com; or fax (785)539-2249.

Get in on the growing business for Internet-based advertising. TheMercury.com needs a motivated, energetic salesperson to help local businesses get their messages out most effectively through TheMercury.com. This will include traditional Internet advertising forms, plus video. Knowledge of the Internet and video is important. Sales experience preferred but not vital. Desire to succeed is key. This is a part-time position with a flexible schedule. Pay will depend on results. Contact Ned Seaton, nseaton@themercury.com, with your resume, for more information.

OFFICE Assistant- Part time flexible schedule. Computer, phone and some accounting skills. Permanent position. Send resume to Drawer 01378, c/o The Manhattan Mercury, P.O. Box 787, Manhattan , 66505.

GTM Sportswear Retail Store Manager The ideal candidate would have at least five years experience in a retail environment. This position is fully responsible for profit and loss, employee oversight, and merchandise management. Reviews financial reports and develops strategies for store sales and profit improvement. Recruits, trains, and coaches retail store management and retail associates. Evaluates retail store to assist in determining needs and develops growth strategies. Motivates and inspires co-workers to achieve their highest performance. Prefer five years experience in a retail environment with excellent communication skills. Bachelor's degree in Apparel & Textile Marketing or Business Administration preferred. Apply today! Be part of a great working environment with competitive wages and a full range of benefits. Please stop in or send cover letter and resume to GTM Sportswear, Attn. Human Resources, 520 McCall Rd, Manhattan KS, 66502 or email recruiting@igtm.com. EOE HEINEKEN Electric is taking applications for a full time Project Estimator/ Manager. Experience necessary. Relocation to within driving distance required. Competitive salary with full benefit package. Send resume to: P.O. Box 236, Beloit, KS 67420. HOPE Lutheran Early Learning Center needs an energetic cook that loves children. Positive work environment. 785-587-9400

HUHOT Mongolian Grill is now hiring full and part time cooks. Weekend availability required. Apply in person, Monday- Wednesday, between 2 and 4pm at 100 Manhattan Town Center. HVAC Technician. Must have 2 years experience. Excellent pay and benefits. Apply at Powell Brothers Plumbing, 515 South 8th.

to: to:

NEED Retail Clerk mornings, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday. Resumes accepted. 1218 1/2 Moro, Aggieville. (785)539-0360

OFFICE Manager: Local area construction co. seeks person to manage office. Accounting and QuickBooks knowledge required. Part time position with flexible hours. Send resume to Drawer 04493, c/o The Manhattan Mercury, P.O. Box 787, Manhattan, KS 66505. OPERATIONS Manager. Full- time position with nationally recognized nonprofit. Provide administrative, accounting, and organizational support to the executive director. Requirements: strong accounting skills; experience in word processing, spreadsheets, database applications, and file management; ability to work independently on multiple tasks; and excellent oral and written communication skills. Successful candidate will have a strong work ethic and high personal integrity, take initiative, and be able to handle numerous details with accuracy. HS diploma and a minimum of three years general office work required; BA in business or related field preferred. Please send cover letter, resume, and three business references (with contact info) by march 24 to United Way of Riley County, 114 S. Fourth St., Manhattan, KS 66502; or director@unitedwayrc.org. Full job description available at www.unitedwayrc.org. PAINTERS needed. Prep crew and Finish crew. 10.85 and up. 785-383-5217

Patient Care Coordinator Dr. Jon Brott and Dr. Michael Wangsgaard of Manhattan Dental are looking for a Patient Care Coordinator to join their growing team. This position could be up to and including full-time. We are looking for an outgoing and compassionate team player with excellent communication skills to assist with front office operations, including scheduling and coordinating patient care, financial arrangements, and filing insurance claims. Dental experience is preferred, but not required. If you are interested in working with a great team in a caring and compassionate environment, please send resume to: Manhattan Dental Reply to Drawer 05027, c/o The Manhattan Mercury, P.O. Box 787. Manhattan, KS 66505 Fax: 800-790-4073 hrsummit@smileleaders.com

RECEPTIONIST Manhattan accounting firm has need for a full time receptionist. Knowledge of and experience with payroll and accounting would be beneficial. This is a permanent position with a competitive compensation package. Send resume with three references to P. O. Box 519, Manhattan, KS 66505-0519

Records Storage Clerk A progressive information security company is looking for a customer focused individual for a records storage clerk/ route driver. This position requires a great attitude towards security and customer service, proficient typing skills, attention to detail, basic computer skills including Microsoft Excel, clean driving record, security background check and lifting abilities. Interested applicants should bring references es and resume to Terry at the Manhattan Workforce Center, 205 South 4th St. RESPONSIBLE self starting person needed to operate a wean to finish hog operation. Requires a person who is motivated and can work unsupervised after initial training. Some farm and equipment experience is required; also basic welding and maintenance skills would be helpful. Resume and references required. Call Ken Goodyear 785210-6298

Help Wanted

Manhattan Surgical Hospital has an immediate need for a part- time surgical circulator. Experience required. 24 hrs/ week. No call. No weekends. Competitive salary, benefits. Applicants, please apply to: Manhattan Surgical Hospital, 1829 College, Manhattan, KS 66502. Fax: (785)776-5101. jpatterson@ksmsh.nueterra.com

Taking applications for a full time charge nurse for 10p- 6a shift, Monday- Friday. Contact Jeanette Brake at Leonardville Nursing Home, 785-2935244. E O E ROTHWELL Landscape, Inc. is now accepting applications for Mowing, Maintenance, and Landscape Installation positions. Apply in person at 1607 Fair Lane or call (785)539-1799.

STYLISTS The busiest salon in Manhattan is seeking F T & P T Cosmetologists. $200 Hiring bonus for full time Clientele provided. Guaranteed hourly wage, student loan reimbursement. Call Ulavene at 785-2247615.

COCKER Spaniel pups, AKC, M & F, 8 wks & older. All shots. (785)456-7580

Situation Wanted

Surgery Technician

T-MOBILE Limited has immediate openings for part and full time Sales Representatives in Manhattan. Now you can be a pert of the growing T-Mobile team in the fast- paced wireless industry. Earn an hourly rate + commission. Must have outgoing personality, be self- motivated and committed. Sales experience a plus but not necessary. Send resume to manhattancareers@swphones.biz

PERMANENT PRN

FREE fish: 11 tropical passive fish need home. We must move. Darlene, (785)320-0601.

DULCE’S House Cleaning. Do you need help cleaning your house? We provide ssupplies, reasonable rates. Call me 341-1273

HI My name is Kitty Cat and I’m looking for the purrrrfect home. I am a 5- 6 year old female spade kitty. Vaccinated, microchipped, and I am a very good girl. To adopt me phone 537-1391 or 3132618

HOME repair, sheetrock, painting, guttering, plumbing, heating, air, Radon testing and mitigation. D & I Repair, 537-7138.

REGISTERED Border Collie puppies, farm raised, 2 months old, shots, $150. (785)736-2766

LICENSED Child Care has 4 F T/ P T openings. SRS welcome. 785-410-8923 SHAYS Little Angels has full time openings available now. (785)313-6291

Medical office seeking a part time Receptionist. Applicant must possess good interpersonal skills, be responsible and honest. Please send resume to Drawer 04491, c/o The Manhattan Mercury, P.O. Box 787, Manhattan, KS 66505.

Customer Service Representative Our paper is growing and we are looking for friendly people with great customer service skills to join our company. We are currently seeking people to fill parttime evening and weekend positions, experience preferred, but not required. Please send your resume to: braglin@themercury.com

Commercial Schools

AIB International offers career training in Maintenance Engineering and Bakery Production Management. Jobs in all states for graduates. Scholarships & G. I. Bill. Contact Ken Embers, kembers@aibonline.org, 1-800-633-5137. Manhattan, KS.

LEGAL NOTICES

FOR SALE GENERAL 45

Appliances

Wide assortment. Delivery available. 30 day warranty. (785)537-1986

Building Materials

USED interlocking cobble block pavers. Perfect for elegant patio or sidewalk. 0.30 ea on pallets. Will load. (785)537-2330

Clothing, Jewelry

LOVELY prom dresses, Size 12. Three to choose from. Each worn just once, then cleaned and carefully stored. $75 each. (785)456-2885

Fuel & Feed

Furniture

FURNITURE sold at a fraction of its original cost. Pre- owned and Scratch & Dent Sofa’s from $99, Loveseats $89, Dinettes, Bedroom sets, Chests, Nightstands, Book Shelves, Twin Mattress Sets $129., and much more. Homestead Rental next to Furniture Warehouse, 2332 Sky- Vue Lane, one block south of Fort Riley Blvd. behind Briggs Auto Lane.

Miscellaneous

Free Wood Pallets Pick up at The Manhattan Mercury, at south door, in alley.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS First published in The Manhattan Mercury on Friday, March 13, 2009; subsequently published on Sunday, March 15, 2009 and Monday, March 16, 2009. Sealed bids will be received by the City of Manhattan, Kansas, at the office of the City Clerk until 3:00 p.m. on March 25, 2009, at which time the bids will be opened and read aloud. Bids received after said time will be returned to the bidder unopened. These bids will be for the furnishing of all labor and materials, and performing all the work in accordance with the drawings and specifications for: 2009 STREET MAINTENANCE PROJECT PHASE III ASPHALT OVERLAY ~ NOVA CHIP PROJECT NO. ST0903 The project will include but not limited to the following major categories of work: Repair and resurfacing of concrete arterial and collector streets with ultra-thin asphalt overlay. TIME LIMIT: Arterial and Collector Streets on this project must be completed by August 5, 2009. Copies of the drawings, specifications, and other contract documents are on file and available for public inspection at the Public Works Department, Engineering Division, 11th and Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas, 66502. Interested bidders may secure a set of drawings, specifications and all other contract documents upon payment of $25.00 plus postage and handling for each set by contacting Inka Eck, Public Works, at 785.587.2415 or by email at eck@ci.manhattan.ks.us. The fee is nonrefundable All persons awarded and/or entering into contracts with the City of Manhattan shall be subject to and required to comply with all applicable city, state and federal provisions pertaining to non-discrimination, equal employment opportunity, and affirmative action on public contracts. T

The Manhattan Mercury is accepting applications for parttime short and miss delivery person. Reliable transportation a must. Hourly + mileage. 785-7768808 ext. 263 ask for Ronnie.

S e r v i n g

1994 CLUB car golf cart, 4 wheels, battery powered $900. 785-458-9508

y o u r

n e e d

t o

k n o w

LIVESTOCK

as si fie ds

Pets

Call

to day 776- 2200

72 TITLE Searcher needed. Experience a plus. Please send cover letter and resume to Drawer 04487, c/o The Manhattan Mercury, P.O. Box 787, Manhattan, KS 66505.

Sporting Goods

First published in The Manhattan Mercury on Friday, March 13, 2009; subsequently published on Sunday, March 15, 2009 and Monday, March 16, 2009. Sealed bids will be received by the City of Manhattan, Kansas, at the office of the City Clerk until 3:00 p.m. on March 25, 2009, at which time the bids will be opened and read aloud. Bids received after said time will be returned to the bidder unopened. These bids will be for the furnishing of all labor and materials, and performing all the work in accordance with the drawings and specifications for: 2009 STREET MAINTENANCE PROJECT PHASE II MILL AND OVERLAY ~ ASPHALT PROJECT NO. ST0902 The project will include but not limited to the following major categories of work: Removal of deteriorated asphalt pavement followed by placement of new asphalt pavement. TIME LIMIT: Arterial and Collector Streets on this project must be completed by August 5, 2009 with a final project completion date of September 15, 2009. Copies of the drawings, specifications, and other contract documents are on file and available for public inspection at the Public Works Department, Engineering Division, 11th and Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas, 66502. Interested bidders may secure a set of drawings, specifications and all other contract documents upon payment of $25.00 plus postage and handling for each set by contacting Inka Eck, Public Works, at 785.587.2415 or by email at eck@ci.manhattan.ks.us. The fee is nonrefundable All persons awarded and/or entering into contracts with the City of Manhattan shall be subject to and required to comply with all applicable city, state and federal provisions pertaining to non-discrimination, equal employment opportunity, and affirmative action on public contracts.

VALERIE (VAYDA) LASK ESTATE First published in The Manhattan Mercury March 2, 2009. Subsequently published March 9, 2009 and March 16, 2009. IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF RILEY COUNTY, KANSAS In the Matter of the Estate of VALERIE (VAYDA) LASK, Deceased. Case No. 08 PR 61 Division II NOTICE OF HEARING THE STATE OF KANSAS TO ALL PERSONS CONCERNED: You are hereby notified that a petition has been filed in this Court by Mary Elizabeth Vander Linden, duly appointed, qualified and acting executrix of the estate of Valerie (Vayda) Lask, deceased, praying Petitioner’s acts be approved; account be settled and allowed; the heirs be determined; the Will be construed and the estate be assigned to the persons entitled thereto; the court find the allowances requested for attorneys’ fees and expenses are reasonable and should be allowed; the costs be determined and ordered paid; the administration of the estate be closed; upon the filing of receipts the Petitioner be finally discharged as the executrix of the estate of Valerie (Vayda) Lask, deceased, and the Petitioner be released from further liability. You are required to file your written defenses thereto on or before March 27, 2009, at 1:15 o’clock p.m. in the District Court in Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, at which time and place the cause will be heard. Should you fail therein, judgment and decree will be entered in due course upon the petition. MARY ELIZABETH VANDER LINDEN Executrix ARTHUR-GREEN, L.L.P. 800 Poyntz Avenue Manhattan, Kansas 66502 (785) 537-1345 Attorneys for Petitioner

Need a pet? Check the classifieds T H E

AIREDALE Terrier pups, AKC, 2 gorgeous large males, ready now, $350. (785)568-2345

M A N H A T T A N

Serving yo ur nee d to know

Do you desire to be a team player on a winning team? Do you want a fulfilling career, including excellent benefits? Do you have a passion to learn and the capacity to learn quickly? ESB Financial is growing and has an opening for a full-time Teller. Desired skills/qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent, 1 year customer contact experience, self starter, cash handling experience, computer skills including Word and Excel, and excellent communication skills. Must be available to work between 7:45 am and 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and a Saturday morning rotation. Apply in person at ESB Financial, 224 E Poyntz, Manhattan, KS. EOE

Planet Sub Manager

LUBE TECHNICIAN

Medical Office Position

EDUCATIONAL

KIDN’ Around Daycare, 12+ mos. 5:30a.m.5:30p.m. Off Ft. Riley Blvd. (785)214-2794 (Summer).

Applicants must be outgoing, self motivated individuals who like a fast paced environment. Email resume to planetsubwichita@aol.com.

Experienced lube tech needed. Tools and good driving record required. Hours are 8- 5 MondayFriday and 8- 12 Saturday. We offer good benefits and working conditions. E. O. E. Apply in person at Jon Murdock, Inc., 600 McCall Road, Manhattan. MAINTENANCE Person needed. Must have own tools. Flexible hours. Pick up applications at 315 N. Park, Ogden. (785)776-6332

AKC Reg. Pug puppies, Champ. bloodline w/ ext. care pks/ shots, etc. $950. Ready for Easter! Sheryl, (785)528-3287.

AFFORDABLE Cleaning Rentals, offices, residents- weekly, bi-weekly rates. 785-477-4077 Susie

DRY split firewood for sale. $80/ load, delivered (785)458-9944

Manhattan Surgical Hospital has an immediate need for a full time surgical scrub technician to work Monday through Friday. No evenings, call or weekends. Competitive salary, benefits and sign on bonus. Experience required. Applicants please apply to: Manhattan Surgical Hospital, 1829 College, Manhattan, KS 66502, fax: 785-776-5101, jpatterson@ksmsh.nueterra.com

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Pets

AKC Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppies, tri’s and sables. (785)617-0307

USED APPLIANCES

RN/ LPN

LEGAL NOTICES

Z SLEEP Diag. is accepting resumes for sleep techs. for their growing business. This is a night position, 7P- 7A. RPSGT, RN or LPN preferred. Flexible work schedule. Please send to 8831 Quail Lane, Ste 301, Manhattan, KS 66502.

WESTSIDE Area Daycare. Monday- Friday, newborn and school age. (785)776-1768

LIVESTOCK

PERMANENT part time secretary for business office. Computer skills required. Send resume & handwritten cover letter to Drawer 01376, c/o The Manhattan Mercury, P.O. Box 787, Manhattan 66505.

Seeking permanent PRN nurse for busy medical office. Excellent opportunity for the right nurse. Competitive salary. Email resume to: rosannamitchell@sbcglobal.net. E. O. E.

Landscape Foreman

Perioperative Supervisor

Immediate F T Position

Full time Landscape Maintenance Foreman and Laborers.; benefits include BCBS Health insurance paid, flexible spending, profit sharing, vacation pay. Apply online: masterlandscapeinc.com or at 2040 Fort Riley Blvd. 785-539-2842

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Community HealthCare System is looking for a dedicated Perioperative Supervisor to join our team of excellence. It is critical that the candidate possess recent/ current Or experience in direct care. Background across the continuum of surgery (PAT, intraoperative, and PACU/ Recovery) and be able to scrub/ circulate is preferred. Applicants must be committed to providing excellent services to all of our patients and customers; team oriented, demonstrate a high level of professionalism; and have the ability to adapt to change in a dynamic environment. To learn more about this exciting opportunity, call Human Resources at (785)889-4657, ext. 1283. Visit our website: www.chcs-ks.org, click on Join Our Team. E. O. E.

Available in a local dealership automotive detailing shop. Full benefits, 401K, and potential $30K/ year first year. (785)564-4045, leave message. Will return call within the hour. LABORER wanted. Call 785-537-3663 or apply at 403 10th Street, Ogen.

CLASSIFIED ADS

Come join our team of professionals who provide excellence in guest services and amenities.

Director of Sales Responsibilities include, but not limited to; Developing and maintaining sales accounts, conducting weekly sales calls, developing and maintaining a revenue generating plan, participation in community events and organizations Applicants should possess strong organizational and time management skills, a positive and outgoing personality. Sales and/or hotel experience preferred but is not required. We Offer: -Paid Vacation -Time & a Half Pay on Holidays -Hotel Discounts Apply in person at: 100 S Hammons Dr Junction City, KS 66441

Independent Contractors

Do you want a fulfilling career helping people? Do you desire to be a team player on a winning team? Do you have the desire to learn and the capacity to learn quickly? ESB Financial is growing and has an opening for a part-time Teller. Desired skills/qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent, 1-year customer contact experience, cash handling experience, self starter, computer skills including Word and Excel, and excellent communication skills. Must be available to work from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday and every Saturday morning. Apply in person at ESB Financial, 224 E Poyntz, Manhattan, KS. EOE

We’re looking for responsible, dependable people with win-win sales and customer service attitudes to deliver The Manhattan Mercury. We have routes available in or around your neighborhood.

City Routes: (Manhattan) • Bertrand, Ratone • Colgate Terr, Cherry Hill, Drake, • Fremont, Laramie, Osage Fordham • Moro, Pomeroy • Amherst, EJ Frick, Harvard, • Dix, Lilac, Morning Glory Oakwood, Yale Circle • Gardenia, Harvey, Tulip • Houston, Pierre St • Northview Area • Humboldt, Leavenworth, Yuma • Birch Ct, Brianna Ct, Bradford • Retail Truck Terr, Oaktree, Peachtree Cr Looking for substitute carriers interested in temporary routes for both walking and motor routes. The Mercury is afternoon delivery Monday thru Friday and early Sunday morning with no Saturday deliveries

If you’re interested in earning some extra money, call the Manhattan Mercury Circulation Department today at (785) 776-8808 or e-mail us at circulation@themercury.com, please provide your name, address and telephone number. T H E

M A N H A T T A N

Serving yo ur nee d to know

Inside Sales Representative Responsibilities: Sell web development and associated design, implementation & consulting services to city, state and county government customers in the Central region; Support a broad and rapidly expanding client base through a full sales cycle from initial relationship building and value justification through client on-boarding and post-sale care; Lead generation and qualification; Up-selling/cross-selling and growing new and existing accounts; Developing consultative and trusted-advisor status; Aggressively closing new business through short to mid-length sales cycles, with excellent attention to detail and constant monitoring of the RFP systems and procurement process. Requirements: 2+ years of inside sales experience; Experience with consultative selling techniques; Experience selling to local and/or state governments a plus; Proven experience meeting and exceeding $400k quotas; Proven ability to close broad range of complex solutions contracts ($25k - $100K); Strong interpersonal, organizational and internal/external relationship building skills; Strong, articulate and engaging communicator; A consistent history of building sales pipelines and revenue attainment; Excellent presentation skills; Four year college degree strongly preferred. W e are a talented team of professionals and have experienced significant growth over the last several years. We are a privately held company with a high-touch, client-centric business model and company culture. We have a high-performance workforce and understand that we earn and keep our clients trust and respect every day. Resumes should be submitted to jobs@civicplus.com in either a Microsoft Word or PDF format with a ~100 word narrative describing what differentiates you from the crowd!

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF SUIT Published in The Manhattan Mercury on March 16, 2009; subsequently published on March 23 and March 30, 2009. IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF RILEY COUNTY, KANSAS CIVIL DEPARTMENT US Bank, NA Case No. 09CV50 Court No. 1 Plaintiff, Title to Real Estate Involved vs. Pursuant to K.S.A. §60 Marcia L. Berberick, John Doe, Jane Doe, et al., Defendants. NOTICE OF SUIT STATE OF KANSAS to the above named Defendants and The Unknown Heirs, executors, devisees, trustees, creditors, and assigns of any deceased defendants; the unknown spouses of any defendants; the unknown officers, successors, trustees, creditors and assigns of any defendants that are existing, dissolved or dormant corporations; the unknown executors, administrators, devisees, trustees, creditors, successors and assigns of any defendants that are or were partners or in partnership; and the unknown guardians, conservators and trustees of any defendants that are minors or are under any legal disability and all other person who are or may be concerned: YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a Petition for Mortgage Foreclosure has been filed in the District Court of Riley County, Kansas by US Bank, NA, praying for foreclosure of certain real property legally described as follows: LOT NINETEEN (19), IN NORTHVIEW ADDITION, IN THE CITY OF MANHATTAN, RILEY COUNTY, KANSAS. for a judgment against defendants and any other interested parties and you are hereby required to plead to the Petition for Foreclosure by April 27, 2009 in the District Court of Riley County, Kansas. If you fail to plead, judgment and decree will be entered in due course upon the request of plaintiff. MILLSAP & SINGER, LLC By: ______________________________ Matthew S. Layfield, #22449 Kip J. Bilderback, #21350 Aaron M. Schuckman, #22251 612 Spirit Drive St. Louis, MO 63005 (636) 537-0110 (636) 537-0067 (fax) ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF MILLSAP & SINGER, LLC AS ATTORNEYS FOR US BANK, NA IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS First published in The Manhattan Mercury on March 15, 2009; subsequently published on March 16 and March 17, 2009. March 10,2009 HAIL DAMAGE ROOF REPAIRS OGDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 383 OGDEN, KANSAS PROJECT SCOPE - The project consists of installing approximately 300 squares of additional granular surfaced APP cap sheet over an existing modified bitumen roof in order to re-establish a Johns Manville GoldShield Roofing Systems Guarantee. TIME AND PLACE OF BID OPENING - 2:00 pm, March 25, 2009, at the Robinson Education Center, 2031 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas. CONTRACT DOCUMENTS - Drawings and Specifications are on view and available from The Ebert Mayo Design Group, Architects & Planning Consultants, 1115 Westport Drive, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, 785-776-1800, fax 785-776-9906. BID SECURITY AND BONDS - Bid Security will be required in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Bonds will be required in accordance with the Supplementary Conditions. Beverly Orr Office Manager The Ebert Mayo Design Group Architects & Planning Consultants

Get Results. Place Your Classified Ad Today! 776-2200 T H E

Associated ___________Press ____________________ Last Chg. AMR Corp 3.30 — .29 AT&T Inc 24.76 + .49 Alcoa 6.17 + .44 Altria s 17.04 + .36 Ameren Cp 20.89 + .73 AmElPw 26.16 + .91 AmExpress 13.69 + .60 ArchDanM 28.43 + .62 AutoZone 160.92 + .41 BP PLC 38.87 + .58 Boeing 34.69 +1.29 BristMySq 20.97 + .02 Brunswick 3.05 — .01 BurlNoSFe 59.03 +3.62 CampbSoup 27.73 + .80 Chevron 63.43 + .52 Citigroup 2.40 + .62 CocaCola 41.81 + .59 Con-Way 18.26 +1.06 ConAgraFds 14.99 + .18 ConocoPhil 36.98 + .57 Corning 11.68 — .03 CurtisWright 26.34 + .97 DTE Energy 26.40 + .86 Daimler AG 28.59 + .53 DeereCo 30.75 +1.10 Dillards Inc 4.94 + .11 Disney 17.39 + .26 DowChem 8.32 + .76 DuPont 20.27 + .78 EstKodak 3.35 — .23 EmersonElec 27.62 + .80 Entergy 62.41 +1.88 Exelon 43.57 +1.55 ExxonMobil 67.63 + .43 FMC Corp 39.02 — .24 FirstEnergy 37.75 +1.96 FootLocker 9.65 — .03 FordMot 2.24 + .05 FortuneBrnds 22.27 + .68 GenDynam 39.82 +2.22 GenlElec 10.11 + .49 GenMills 53.70 +1.10 GenMotors 2.56 — .16 Goodrich 37.10 +2.60 Goodyear 5.48 + .24 GtPlainsEgy 11.95 + .20 Halliburton 16.65 + .54 Hershey 33.37 + .16 HewlettPk 29.52 + .07 HomeDepot 20.82 + .11 HoneywellIntl 27.67 + .74 IngersollRd 14.08 + .21 IBM 92.31 +1.95 IntlPaper 6.80 + .63 JohnsonJn 51.39 + .75 JohnsonCtrl 9.94 + .13 Kroger Co 21.29 + .02 LindsayCorp 24.16 + .47 LockheedM 65.22 +4.02 Lowes Cos 15.100 + .11 MarathonOil 25.05 +1.42 McDonalds 52.48 + .10 NCR Corp 8.50 + .32 NobleEngy 49.24 +1.45 Nucor 37.61 + .23 OGE Energy 23.20 + .57 OccidentPet 54.16 — .53 OfficeMax 2.96 + .40

M A N H A T T A N

Service Directory Bookkeeping

REDDING’S Accounting & Tax, 8940 E. Hwy 24, Manhattan, KS 66502. Monthly Bookkeeping, Payroll Reports, Tax Planning, Income Tax. Individual– Partnership. Corporations– Fiduciaries. Non-Profit. Call For Appointment. Ph# (785)587-8759. Fax# (785)776-0211.

Elmerene McArthur Sonny Redding 90

Attorney At Law

CHARLES W. (Chuck) Harper, 25 years experience, divorce and civil law. 400 Poyntz. 539-8100. chuckharper@msn.com

91 Carpentry & Remodeling CARPENTRY work offered including ceramic tiling, painting, handy work, and full remodeling. Call Full Circle 313-5776

115 Home Inspections/Radon D & I PLUMBING, Heating, and Air, Inc. Radon measurement and mitigation. (785)537-7138

124 Landscaping/Tree Service BRINKER Tree Care, Inc. Tree pruning & removal. 539-6143. DON’S Stump Removal and Tree Service. 7763620 EAGER Beavesr Landscaping. Spring cleanup specials, trees trimmed or removed, excavation, power washing, driveways graded, much more. Insured. 785-770-2066 PILLAR Lawn and Landscape offers: Clean- ups, pruning, mulching, gutter- cleaning, lawn maintenance, patios, retaining walls, fences, landscaping, design and much more. Please call 785-537-0898

130

Lawn Care

Economy Construction

Ivey & Sons Lawn Serv.

since 1992. Egress windows, Room additions, remodels, windows, fences, sheds, decks. (785)5870271

Mowing, trimming, leaf raking, yard cleanup. Free estimates. Family owned & operated. Insured. (785)477-0799

HOME repair, interior- exterior, sheetrock, painting, siding, room additions, bathrooms, & kitchens. D& I Repair, (785)537-7138.

LAWN PRO is now taking on new customers for the 2009 mowing season, please call 785-7765054

MANHATTAN Handyman. No job too small. (620)228-2398

Tradesman Construction

lLANDSCAPE and sprinkler systems free estimates Best prices guaranteed. 620-480-9646

MERRY MOWING

Offering a full range of decking and remodeling services. (785)537-9900

Spring cleanup mowing appts available. Free estimates merrymowing.googlepages.com 785-8441324

95 Concrete, Asphalt, Masonry

133

Miscellaneous

A- ONE CONCRETE

AVAILABLE:

Sidewalks, patios, driveways and parking lot repair. 15 years of experience/ licensed. Free estimates. 785-485-0141, Manhattan.

Painting, cleanups, and tree work. Can start immediately. A & W Services, (785)410-8252.

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MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

Today’s Markets

Serving yo ur nee d to know

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Notable Deaths 20.93 + .85 37.26 +1.04 16.63 + .19 49.50 + .88 14.69 + .15 64.34 + .29 48.13 +1.18 9.50 + .33 22.11 + .92 8.00 + .32 23.66 — .55 41.51 +2.21 22.90 +1.37 24.82 + .58 3.81 — .33 28.45 + .57 5.71 + .71 48.25 + .25 8.36 + .14 13.59 + .36 40.12 +2.94 19.13 + .95 41.73 +1.16 28.75 + .35 13.48 + .03 49.01 — .18 14.98 +1.04 16.35 + .48 11.51 + .54 5.06 + .11 43.35 + .15 26.90 — .08

Metal Prices NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal prices Monda Aluminum -$0.6175 per lb., N.Y. Merc spot Fri. Copper -$1.7035 Cathode full plate, U.S. destinations. Copper $1.6175 N.Y. Merc spot Thu. Lead - $1280.0 metric ton, London Metal Exch. Zinc - $0.5765 per lb., delivered. Gold - $928.00 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Gold - $929.80 troy oz., NY Merc spot Fri. Silver - $12.925 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Silver - $13.230 troy oz., N.-. Merc spot Fri. Mercury - $640.00 per 76 lb flask, N.Y. Platinum -$1055.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Platinum -$1073.80 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Fri.

Wallstreet NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rallied for a fifth straight day Monday after reassuring comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and encouraging news from another big bank. The Dow Jones industrials rose more than 100 points as stock markets overseas also advanced. Bernanke said Sunday the recession would probably end this year if the government’s program to boost the banking industry succeeds. But the Fed chairman also cautioned that the task of improving the banking system is a difficult one. During an interview with CBS’ ‘‘60 Minutes,’’ Bernanke said the government needs to get banks to lend more freely and get the financial markets to work more normally. David Hefty, chief executive of Cornerstone Wealth Management in Auburn, Indiana, said Bernanke’s comments gave the market a lift. ‘‘Absolutely it’s reassuring,’’ Hefty said. ‘‘The American people look to these people for that hope.’’ Hefty said Bernanke’s caveat that the end of the recession is predicated on the success of the government support for struggling banks is still a major question facing the economy and markets. Bernanke’s comments about a possible end to the recession and the need for a recovery in banking and lending were similar to but seemingly more optimistic than testimony he gave before Congress last month. Stocks bounced higher then, but in subsequent sessions plunged and took the Dow and S&P 500 to their lowest levels in more than a decade as investors succumbed to pessimism about the economy. The market’s tone has changed dramatically in the past week as better economic news — including word that Citigroup Inc. had operated at a profit in January and February — had investors betting that Wall Street had final-

ly hit a bottom. The Fed chairman’s comments Sunday helped reinforce the changing sentiment on the Street. Wall Street also had good news Monday from Britain’s Barclays PLC, which also disclosed that it has been performing well in 2009. ‘‘We’re starting to build a base here,’’ said Douglas Kreps, a managing director at Fort Pitt Capital Group. ‘‘We may not be getting better, but we’re getting worse at a slower rate.’’ Kreps said that each day that goes by without disappointing news can help further strengthen the market’s base. ‘‘Being able to go a week or more without bad news,’’ is a good sign, he said. In afternoon trading, the Dow rose 127.99, or 1.77 percent, to 7,351.97. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 15.50, or 2.05 percent, to 772.05, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index rose 6.20, or 0.43 percent, to 1,437.70. The Nasdaq, having held up relatively better than the S&P 500 recently, was running into technical resistance that limited its gains, said Chris Johnson, president of Johnson Research Group. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by about 4 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 707 million shares. Gains on overseas market also fed the advance in the U.S. Japanese financial stocks surged on reports that the government would bolster their capital, while British investors were reassured by the Barclay’s news. Japan’s Nikkei stock average rose 1.8 percent. Britain’s FTSE 100 gained 2.9 percent, Germany’s DAX index rose 2.1 percent, and France’s CAC-40 rose 2.6 percent. The KBW Bank Index, which tracks 24 of the nation’s largest banks, surged 6.5 percent to 27.24. Shares of Citigroup rose 62 cents, or 34.8 percent, to $2.40. Bank of America shares gained 82 cents, or 14.2 percent, to $6.58. Last week, both Citigroup and Bank of America Corp., reported improving trends for January and February. Johnson noted that some short covering was still helping to boost the market, though not to the extent as it did at the beginning of the rally last week. Short covering occurs when investors who sold borrowed stock on expectations the market would fall are forced to buy shares to repay their debts. Investors were able to shake off more weak economic data. The nation’s industrial output fell for the fourth straight month in February, falling 1.4 percent and hitting the lowest level in more than 50 years of record keeping. Momentum from last week’s rally is carrying over to support Monday’s trading. Hefty said gains are likely to continue into at least Tuesday. ‘‘Investors have a stampede mentality,’’ Hefty said. ‘‘They stampede in and they stampede out.’’ He added that the current rally is probably not sustainable, and mostly just helping bring the market back to a range near the previous lows seen in November. Bond prices fell Monday as investors gravitated toward stocks. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3 percent from 2.90 percent late Friday. The yield on the three-month Tbill, considered one of the safest investments, rose to 0.25 percent from 0.20 percent late Friday. The dollar mostly fell against other major currencies. Gold prices also fell. Oil prices rose 52 cents to $46.77 per barrel in on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 4.83, or 1.25 percent, to 398.02.

Associated Press Altovise Davis LOS ANGELES — Altovise Joanne Gore Davis, a dancer and actress and the widow of Sammy Davis Jr., has died. She was 65. Davis died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke, said Amy Malone, a publicist for her family. Davis worked her way to the Broadway stage where she met the legendary entertainer when they performed together in the musical ‘‘Golden Boy’’ in 1967. She became his third wife when they wed in 1970 (Davis was previously married to dancer Loray White and Swedish actress Mai Britt). They adopted a son and remained together until Davis died of throat cancer in 1990 at the age of 64. After his death, she was left to sort through his multimillion IRS tax debt and oversee his troubled estate. Last year, she sued two former business partners in federal court, claiming they tricked her into signing away the rights to the estate. The suit is pending. Dave Hart ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Dave Hart, a former Southern Conference commissioner, head football coach at Pittsburgh and athletic director at two other schools, has died. He was 83. Hart’s son, Dick, says his father died Saturday of complications from congestive heart failure. Hart coached at Pittsburgh from 1966 through 1968 and was 3-27. He was athletic director at the universities of Louisville and Missouri before going to the Southern Conference. He was head of the league from 1987 to 1991. Most recently, Hart was a consultant to UNC-Asheville ath-

letics. Hart was the father of Alabama executive athletic director Dave Hart Jr., and grandfather of Chattanooga athletic director Rick Hart and N.C. State assistant baseball coach Chris Hart. Ron Silver NEW YORK — Actor Ron Silver, who won a Tony Award as a take-no-prisoners Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s ‘‘Speed-the-Plow’’ and did a political about-face from loyal Democrat to Republican activist after the Sept. 11 attacks, has died. He was 62. Silver died Sunday after a two-year battle with esophageal cancer, said Robin Bronk, executive director of The Creative Coalition, which Silver cofounded as an advocacy group for entertainers. Silver, an Emmy nominee for a recurring role as a slick political strategist on ‘‘The West Wing,’’ had a long history of balancing acting with left-leaning social and political causes. He help establish the Creative Coalition. But after the 2001 terrorist attacks, longtime Democrat Silver turned heads in Hollywood with outspoken support of President George W. Bush over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His big-screen credits included ‘‘Ali,’’ ‘‘Reversal of Fortune,’’ ‘‘Enemies: A Love Story,’’ ‘‘Silkwood’’ and ‘‘Semi-Tough.’’ Besides ‘‘The West Wing,’’ Silver was a regular or had recurring roles on such TV shows as ‘‘Veronica’s Closet,’’ ‘‘Chicago Hope’’ and ‘‘Wiseguy.’’ He directed and co-starred in the 1993 TV movie ‘‘Lifepod,’’ a science-fiction update of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘‘Lifeboat.’’ Silver’s Tony for ‘‘Speed-thePlow’’ came in 1988, a year after he earned his first Emmy nomination, for the murder thriller ‘‘Billionaire Boys Club.’’

Today in History Associated Press Today is Monday, March 16, the 75th day of 2009. There are 290 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On March 16, 1968, during the Vietnam War, the My Lai Massacre of Vietnamese civilians was carried out by U.S. Army troops; estimates of the death toll vary between 347 and 504. The same day, in Washington, D.C., Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination. On this date: In A.D. 37, Roman emperor Tiberius died; he was succeeded by Caligula. In 1751, James Madison, fourth president of the United States, was born in Port Conway, Va. In 1802, President Thomas Jefferson signed a measure authorizing the establishment of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. In 1915, the Federal Trade Commission began operations. In 1926, rocket science pioneer Robert H. Goddard successfully tested the first liquidfueled rocket, in Auburn, Mass. In 1935, Adolf Hitler decided to break the military terms set by the Treaty of Versailles by ordering the rearming of Germany. In 1969, ‘‘1776,’’ a musical about the writing of the Declaration of Independence, opened on Broadway. In 1978, Italian politician Aldo Moro was kidnapped by left-wing urban guerrillas, who later murdered him. In 1984, William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, was kidnapped by gunmen; he died in captivity. In 1985, Terry Anderson, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, was abducted in Beirut; he was released in December 1991. Ten years ago: The Dow Jones industrial average briefly topped the 10,000 level, reaching a high of 10,001.78 before

retreating. The entire 20-member European Commission resigned following publication of a critical report on sloppy management and cronyism. The Nebraska Cornhuskers beat Chicago State 50-3 in an NCAA baseball game. Five years ago: China declared victory in its fight against bird flu, saying it had ‘‘stamped out’’ all its known cases. Mitch Seavey won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in nine days, 12 hours, 20 minutes and 22 seconds. One year ago: Protests spread from Tibet into three neighboring provinces; the Dalai Lama decried what he called the ‘‘cultural genocide’’ taking place in his homeland and called for an international investigation into China’s crackdown on demonstrators. Actor Ivan Dixon died in Charlotte, N.C., at age 76. Today’s Birthdays: Comediandirector Jerry Lewis is 83. Country singer Ray Walker (The Jordanaires) is 75. Movie director Bernardo Bertolucci is 68. Game show host Chuck Woolery is 68. Singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker is 67. Country singer Robin Williams is 62. Actor Erik Estrada is 60. Actor Victor Garber is 60. Actress Kate Nelligan is 58. Country singer Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel) is 58. Rock singermusician Nancy Wilson (Heart) is 55. Golfer Hollis Stacy is 55. Actress Isabelle Huppert is 54. Actor Clifton Powell is 53. Rapper-actor Flavor Flav (Public Enemy) is 50. Rock musician Jimmy DeGrasso is 46. Folk singer Patty Griffin is 45. Actress Lauren Graham is 42. Actor Judah Friedlander (’’30 Rock’’) is 40. Actor Alan Tudyk is 38. Actor Tim Kang (‘‘The Mentalist’’) is 36. R&B singer Blu Cantrell is 33. Actress Brooke Burns is 31. Rock musician Wolfgang Van Halen is 18. Thought for Today: ‘‘Until we lose ourselves there is no hope of finding ourselves.’’ — Henry Miller, American author (18911980).

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THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

COMICS

Be considerate when using cell phone

HELOISE HOUSEHOLD HINTS King Features Syndicate Dear Heloise: A reader wrote about using the waiting time in a doctor’s office to use her CELL PHONE to catch up with her sister. I hope she shows some concern for others and takes her conversation outside. There is nothing worse than being a captive audience in a waiting room and having to listen to someone going on and on about Aunt Mona’s latest surgery or what he or she is planning for dinner or who said what at Bobby’s birthday party. These are private conversations and are of no interest to the rest of us. Please keep them private! Many of us try to read quietly while waiting, and people blabbing on their cell phones are very inconsiderate. By the way, many doctors and dentists have signs posted about no cell-phone use in the waiting room. — Leslie, via e-mail Actually, the reader was in the exam room waiting for the doctor. But I do agree with you that it is annoying to have to listen to cell-phone conversations while in the waiting area. — Heloise PRESCRIPTION ORGANIZATION Dear Heloise: I code the top of medications in my medicine cabinet with a dot of nail polish.

Each family member has his or her own color, so medications don’t get mixed up. — Maggie, Kansas HAND TOWELS FOR GUESTS Dear Heloise: I believe someone wrote to you about not wanting to use the host’s nice hand towels hanging in the bathroom. A friend of mine fixed this problem by putting a small basket on top of the toilet with about seven washcloths in it. It also contains a wrapped bar of glycerin soap, so guests know what the cloths are for. Her nice, expensive towels never get touched, and guests have clean cloths for their hands. — Greg Schmidt, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

DISHWASHER DRAINER Dear Heloise: My dishwasher is really old and recently went out. I am unable to replace it right now. I’ve never minded hand-washing dishes — I just always disliked having a towel and dish rack on my kitchen counter. So, what I do now is open the dishwasher door, and as I wash dishes, I use the dishwasher racks for drying. It’s great when I really don’t have time to put the dishes away — I just close the door and put them up later when I have time. Now I am no longer always looking at dishes on the kitchen counter waiting to be put away! — Lisa in Louisiana

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

MALLARD FILLMORE

HAGAR THE HORRIBLE

THE FAMILY CIRCUS

B7 By Lynn Johnston

By Bruce Tinsley

By Dik Brown

By Bil Keane PEANUTS

By Charles M. Schulz

BLONDIE

By Dean Young & John Marshall

DOONESBURY By Garry Trudeau

GARFIELD

BEETLE BAILEY

THE WIZARD OF ID

ZITS

By Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman DILBERT

By Jim Davis

By Mort Walker

By Parker and Hart

By Scott Adams

(0) - FCC Channels

MONDAY EVENING 7 PM

7:30

The Big Bang Theory Sheldon How I Met Your Mother "The (5) KCTV Front Porch" Lily is responsible {4} interferes with Penny's home CBS Kansas City business. for Ted's break-up with Karen. Dancing With the Stars (N) 'TVG' ; (9) KMBC

ABC Kansas City (11) KTWU

PBS Topeka

(13) WIBW

CBS Topeka

(13.2)WIBW

MNT Topeka (15) KTMJ

FOX Topeka (27) KSNT

NBC Topeka (49) KTKA

ABC Topeka

LEISURE

THE MANHATTAN MERCURY

8 PM

8:30

Two and a Half Men Charlie fights to urge to flee when Chelsea gets sick.

{14} {11} {13} {99}

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009

{0} - Manhattan Cable

9 PM

MARCH 16, 2009 9:30

10 PM

10:30

Rules of Engagement "Jeff's CSI: Miami "Flight Risk" The CSIs uncover all the dirty secrets of KCTV5 News at 10 'TVG' ; New Friend" Jeff is surprised to air travel when a flight attendant is murdered. (N) 'TV14' ; learn that his new friend is gay. Castle "Nanny McDread" Castle and Beckett uncover dirty KMBC 9 News at 10:00 'TVG' Manhattan secrets when a young nanny is murdered. (N) 'TVPG' ; ;

Antiques Roadshow "Honolulu (Hour Three)" A first edition copy of 'Call of the Wild' and a 1915 Hawaiian flag quilt are appraised. Pt. 3 of 3 from March 9 'TVG' ; The Big Bang Theory Sheldon How I Met Your Mother "The interferes with Penny's home Front Porch" Lily is responsible business. for Ted's break-up with Karen. Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed Magicians expose the secrets behind some of the world’s most mystifying illusions. 'TVPG' ; House "Here Kitty" A nursing-home worker Morgan fakes sick to get House's attention. (N) 'TV14' ;

Vox Lumiere The Hunchback of Notre Dame 'TVPG' Two and a Half Men Charlie fights to urge to flee when Chelsea gets sick. 13 News 'TVG' ;

Thunder on the Farm An BBC World News The day's independent film about life on a international news. 'TVPG' ; Midwestern farm. Rules of Engagement "Jeff's CSI: Miami "Flight Risk" The CSIs uncover all the dirty secrets of 13 News 'TVG' ; New Friend" Jeff is surprised to air travel when a flight attendant is murdered. (N) 'TV14' ; learn that his new friend is gay. Paid Program 'TVG' ; Paid Program 'TVG' ; Cribs Tours the homes of your Colours TV favorite stars. 'TVG' ;

11 PM

:35 The Late Show With David Letterman Nicholas Cage,

Rachel Maddow (N) 'TVPG' ; :35 Two and a Half Men :05 Frasier "Momma Mia" Charlie finds success as a 'TVPG' ; children's singing star. Nightly Business Report Charlie Rose 'TVG' ; Reporting on fast-breaking business and economic news. ; :35 The Late Show With David Letterman Nicholas Cage, Rachel Maddow (N) 'TVPG' ;

Everybody Loves Raymond The everyday life of Raymond and Debra Barone. 'TVPG' ; 27 News Nightbeat

{7} to retrieve the Cipher from a sultry spy named the Black Widow.

FOX 43 News at Nine 'TVG' ; Everybody Loves Raymond The everyday life of Raymond and Debra Barone. 'TVPG' ; Medium "Car Trouble" Allison learns that her 'new' vehicle is at the center of a horrific unsolved crime. 'TV14' ;

Frasier A radio call-in Family Guy A family psychologist deals with life experiences everyday trials and issues. 'TVPG' ; tribulations. 'TV14' ; :35 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Jim Norton, The Randy Rogers Band, Julia Louis Dreyfus 'TVPG' ;

Castle "Nanny McDread" Castle and Beckett uncover dirty Manhattan secrets when a young nanny is murdered. (N) 'TVPG'

49 News at 10

:35 ABC News Nightline 'TVG' :05 Jimmy Kimmel Live Don

{9}

{6}

24 "Day 7: 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM" Malevolent mastermind Jonas Hodges emerges as Jack Bauer's latest adversary. (N) 'TV14' ;

Chuck "Chuck Versus the Seduction" Chuck must go undercover Heroes "A Clear and Present Danger" A powerless Hiro tries to train a reluctant Ando to be a true superhero. 'TV14' ; 'TVPG' ; Dancing With the Stars (N) 'TVG' ;

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Rickles, Regis Philbin, Ben Sollee 'TV14' ;

CABLE CHANNELS A&E

{41}

AMC

{55}

AP BET BRAVO CMT CNBC CNN COM

{67} {57} {61} {66} {53} {25} {58}

{5}

DISC DISNEY E!

{42} {45} {59}

ESPN

{32}

ESPN2

{33}

FAM FNC FOOD FSN FX

{47} {27} {40} {34} {31}

HALL

{54}

HGTV HIST LIFE MSNBC MTV NICK

{39} {49} {38} {24} {36} {46}

SCI-FI

{50}

SPEED SPIKE TBS

{60} {44} {29}

TCM

{65}

TLC TNT TOON TRAVEL TRUTV TVLND UNI

{43} {30} {63} {68} {64} {48} {56}

USA

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VH1 WGN

{35} {10}

Intervention "Brad" A former soldier abuses alcohol and Intervention "Sandy" Sandy's happy life was lost when she Paranormal State "The Paranormal State "Room & Paranormal State "The Paranormal State "Requiem" Intervention "Brad" 'TVPG' ; marijuana to quell the nightmares and flashbacks. 'TVPG' ; started combining prescription drugs with alcohol. 'TVPG' ; Basement" 'TV14' Board" 'TV14' ; Sickness" 'TV14' ; 'TVPG' ; < Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines +++ (2003, Action) Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, Arnold Schwarzenegger. A deadly Terminatrix arrives to kill teenagers destined < Star Trek: Nemesis +++ (2002, Sci-Fi) Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Patrick Stewart. The crew discovers a sinister plot when to save the world from machines. 'TVM' ; the Enterprise is diverted to a Romulan planet. 'TV14' ; It's Me or the Dog "The Not-So-Great Dane" Dogs 101 "French Bulldog, Poodle, Airedale" Animal Cops 'TVPG' ; It's Me or the Dog "The Not-So-Great Dane" Dogs 101 < King's Ransom + (2005, Comedy) Jay Mohr, Kellita Smith, Anthony Anderson. 'TV14' ; Harlem Heights (N) ; Harlem Heights ; Judge Hatchett 'TVPG' ; Judge Hatchett 'TVPG' ; < King's Ransom + 'TV14' ; 5:30 < Trading Places ++ (‘83, Com) Eddie Murphy. 'TV14' ; < Trading Places ++ (‘83) Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy. As part of a secret wager, a wealthy investor and a hustler find their positions reversed. 'TV14' ; < Ghostbusters II ++ (1989, Comedy) Bill Murray. 'TVPG' ; Extreme Makeover: Home Edition "Harper Family" 'TVPG' ; Extreme Makeover: Home Edition "Powell Family" 'TVPG' ; The 42nd Annual CMA Awards County music's elite gathers to recognize and celebrate the industry's best. 'TVPG' ; CNBC Reports Big Brother, Big Business Pt. 1 of 2 cont'd March 17 On the Money Mad Money 'TVPG' Fast Money Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull 'TVG' ; Larry King Live 'TVG' ; Anderson Cooper 360 A live program featuring breaking news from around the world and pop culture stories. 'TVG' ; Larry King Live 'TVG' ; The Daily Show The Colbert Report 'TV14' ; Futurama 'TVPG' ; South Park 'TVM' ; South Park 'TVMA' ; Futurama 'TVPG' ; The Daily Show The Colbert Report (N) 'TV14' Reel Comedy 'TVPG' Gossip Girl "The Age of Dissonance" 'TVPG' One Tree Hill "You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight" Style by Jury "If Looks Could Sex and the City "The Ick Sex and the City "O' Come All Married With Children "A Married With Children "At the 'TVPG' ; Kill (Lisa)" 'TVG' ; Factor" 'TV14' ; Ye Faithful" 'TV14' ; Little Off the Top" 'TVPG' ; Zoo" 'TV14' ; Destroyed in Seconds ; Destroyed in Seconds ; Explosions Gone Wrong 'TVPG' ; County Jail: Miami How It's Made 'TVG' ; How It's Made 'TVG' ; Destroyed in Seconds ; < Stuart Little 2 ++ (2002, Family) Hugh Laurie, Michael J. Fox. 'TVPG' ; Wizards of Waverly Place Wizards of Waverly Place Hannah Montana 'TVG' ; The Suite Life of Zack & Cody That's So Raven ; Life With Derek 'TVY' Candy Girls Candy Girls The Kardashians The Kardashians Jennifer Aniston Chelsea Lately 'TVPG' ; E! News 'TVG' ; Chelsea Lately 'TVPG' ; Baseball World Classic Teams TBA Round 2 Site: Dolphins Stadium -- Miami Gardens, Florida (L) 'TVG' ; Sportscenter A thorough and entertaining presentation of the NBA Fastbreak (L) ; day's news in sports. (L) 'TVG' ; College Gamenight ; Baseball Tonight Scores, highlights, news and analysis from the Baseball World Classic Round 2 Site: Petco Park -- San Diego, Calif. (L) 'TVG' ; day in baseball. (L) The Secret Life of the American Teenager Kyle XY "Bringing Down The House" (F) (N) 'TVPG' ; The Secret Life of the American Teenager 700 Club 'TVPG' ; Life of the Teenager The O'Reilly Factor 'TVG' ; Hannity's America 'TVG' ; On the Record 'TVG' ; The O'Reilly Factor 'TVG' ; Hannity's America 'TVG' ; Good Eats 'TVG' Unwrapped 'TVG' ; Unwrapped 'TVG' Will Work For Food Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 'TVG' Good Eats 'TVG' ; Unwrapped 'TVG' ; Unwrapped 'TVG' ; WPT Poker 'TVPG' ; Best Damn Sports Show Period 'TVG' ; Best Damn Top 50 'TVG' ; ATP Tennis BNP Paribas Open Early Round Coverage (L) 'TVG' ; 5:00 < Mr. and Mrs. Smith ++ (‘05, Act) Brad Pitt. 'TVPG' ; < XXX: State of the Union + (‘05) Samuel L. Jackson, Ice Cube. A man must foil a military splinter group that threatens to overthrow the U.S. government. 'TVPG' ; < Most Wanted ++ (‘97, Act) Keenen Ivory Wayans. 'TV14' ; Walker, Texas Ranger "The Commitee" Walker infiltrates a < A Stranger's Heart +++ (2007, Drama) Peter Dobson, Gina Hecht, Samantha Mathis. Two people develop an uncanny Murder, She Wrote "Murder in the Electric Cathedral" ; Golden Girls "And Then There vigilante group of law-enforcement officials. 'TVPG' ; Was One" 'TVPG' ; emotional connection to a young orphaned girl. Property Virgins 'TVG' ; Dear Genevieve House Hunters 'TVG' ; My First Place 'TVG' ; House Hunters International Bought & Sold Desperate to Buy My First Place 'TVG' ; Property Virgins 'TVG' ; Battles B.C. "Hannibal: The Annihilator" 'TVPG' ; Battles B.C. "David: Giant Slayer" Ax Men "By Air, Land and Sea" 'TVPG' Modern Marvels "Icebreakers" 'TVPG' ; Battles B.C. 'TVPG' ; Rita Rocks 'TVPG' ; Reba 'TVPG' ; Wife Swap "Graff/ Medici" 'TVPG' ; Wife Swap "Stockdale/ Tonkovic" ; Will & Grace 'TVPG' ; Will & Grace 'TVPG' ; Frasier 'TVPG' ; Countdown With Keith Olbermann 'TVPG' ; The Rachel Maddow Show Countdown With Keith Olbermann 'TVPG' ; The Rachel Maddow Show Hardball With Chris Matthews True Life "I'm Pregnant" ; Real World: Brooklyn The City 'TVPG' Making the Band 4 'TVPG' ; Real World: Brooklyn SpongeBob SquarePants ; SpongeBob SquarePants ; Home Improvement 'TVPG' ; Home Improvement 'TVPG' ; George Lopez 'TVPG' ; George Lopez 'TVPG' ; Family Matters 'TVPG' ; Family Matters 'TVPG' ; Home Improvement 'TVPG' ; Star Trek: The Next Generation Follow the adventures of Capt. Star Trek: The Next Generation Follow the adventures of Capt. Battlestar Galactica "The Last Frakkin'" Gurren Lagann "Bust Through Gurren Lagann "I Said I'm Rave Master 'TVY7' ; Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the starship Enterprise. 'TVPG' ; Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the starship Enterprise. 'TVPG' ; the Heavens with Your Drill!" Gonna Ride That Thing!" This Week in NASCAR SuperCars Exposed SuperCars Exposed 'TV14' Barrett-Jackson 2008: The Auctions "Scottsdale Highlights" Car Crazy 'TVG' Pass Time 'TVPG' ; This Week in NASCAR CSI: Crime Scene Investigation "Daddy's Little Girl" 'TV14' ; < Terminator 2: Judgement Day ++++ (‘91) Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Arnold Schwarzenegger. A machine is sent back in time to protect a boy who will be the savior of the world. 'TVM' ; CSI: NY 'TV14' ; Family Guy 'TV14' ; Family Guy 'TV14' ; Family Guy 'TV14' ; Family Guy 'TV14' ; My Name Is Earl 'TV14' ; My Name Is Earl 'TV14' ; Seinfeld 'TVPG' ; Sex and the City 'TV14' ; Sex and the City 'TV14' ; < The Navigator ++++ (1924, Comedy) Kathryn McGuire, Noble Johnson, Buster Keaton. Two < The Brain That Wouldn't Die + (1963, Horror) Jason Evers, Paula Maurice, Virginia Leith. 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Solid company ‘Witch Mountain’ races to top at box office presents ‘Hairspray’ Associated Press

We’ve been spending a lot of time in K-State’s McCain Auditorium, which means we’ve been having a lot of fun. We saw “Die Fledermaus,” then Gaelic Storm, and then it was a solid touring company version of “Hairspray.” So it was easy to consider how the audiences were different for the three shows. Until the conventional standing o. at the end of the musical, the “Hairspray” audience had been the quietest of the three. This wasn’t, however, because they weren’t attending to the action on-stage. Rather it was because there was so much action that they hardly had any openings to express their pleasure. The musical (its songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman) is based on John Waters’s 1988 movie of the same title. Waters, who also wrote and directed “Pink Flamingos,” “Cry Baby,” “Polyester” (the movie with the scratch and sniff cards), and “Serial Mom,” loves the popular culture of his youth. It might seem at this point in history, with race an obligatory topic,that the story of “Hairspray” is intended as satire. But it isn’t. And while the musical is more about civil rights demonstrations in Baltimore in 1962 and the original film is more about a local sock hop t.v. show, Waters’s happy acceptance of both gives the musical its slant. The original film made Rikki Lake a star. She played hefty little Tracy, the lead part taken in the McCain production by Brooklynn Pulver. Living in the era of the beehive hairdo, Tracy loves pop culture and a local dance show. Having learned some steps from African-American students with whom she served school detention, she tries out for and wins a cast spot on the Corney Collins show. In fact, Tracy’s popularity makes her the main rival of blonde Amber, the show’s producer’s daughter. And while the girls are fighting over votes in a local popularity contest and over hunk Link, Tracy decides it is time for the show’s

G.W. CLIFT ARTS CRITIC cast to be integrated. Wild action ensues. The musical’s adapters have quite rightly kept as many of Waters’s minor characters as they could, and this is one of the reasons the show seems packed and the handling of the race question seems pleasantly diffused. Playgoers get to know Tracy’s folks, joke store owner Wilbur and plus-sized laundress Edna. Edna is always played by a man in drag—Jerry O’Boyle here, John Travolta in the musical film, and the late Devine (Waters’s longtime friend and collaborator) in the original film. We enjoyed Kate Ferrick’s three different authority characters (Mrs. Pingleton, the gym teacher, and the prison matron), Motormouth Maybelle and her family, and especially Tracy’s pal Penny (Amber Rees). There were nearly thirty actors on stage and perhaps half that many amusing and individually recognizable characters. The pit band of nine and the show’s singers drove through eighteen songs in fifteen scenes. “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Welcome to the 60s,” and “Can’t Stop the Beat” would be memorable songs even in a show generated during a more distinguished age for musicals. The costumes,lighting, sound, and props in the production were all successful. But I came away from the show thinking mostly about how much Waters packed into his story, how much the musical included, and how the show’s fullness kept the audience happy and relatively quiet. “Hairspray” the musical is as chunky as Tracy. And as unstoppable.

LOS ANGELES — Disney’s ‘‘Race to Witch Mountain’’ raced to No. 1 at the weekend box office, bypassing expectations with $25 million in ticket sales. The PG-rated sci-fi flick starring Dwayne Johnson as a cab driver with a pair of alien teenagers along for the ride topped the R-rated superhero epic ‘‘Watchmen,’’ which earned $18.1 million in its second week. Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday. 1. ‘‘Race to Witch Mountain,’’ $25 million. 2. ‘‘Watchmen,’’ $18.1 million. 3. ‘‘The Last House on the Left,’’ $14.7 million. 4. ‘‘Taken,’’ $6.7 million. 5. ‘‘Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail,’’ $5.1 million. 6. ‘‘Slumdog Millionaire,’’ $5 million. 7. ‘‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop,’’ $3.1 million. 8. ‘‘He’s Just Not That Into You,’’ $2.9 million. 9. ‘‘Coraline,’’ $3.3 million. 10. ‘‘Miss March,’’ $2.4 million. Mark Zoradi, president of Disney’s motion-picture group, said analysts had predicted that ‘‘Race to Witch

Mountain,’’ director Andy Fickman’s re-imagination of the 1975 live-action film ‘‘Escape to Witch Mountain,’’ would fly away with $20 million or less. Now he expects this ‘‘Witch Mountain’’ to maintain a high orbit in theaters with kids on spring break. ‘‘I think audiences this weekend were really drawn to the action adventure of ’Race to Witch Mountain,’’’ said Zoradi. ‘‘There was also this element of parents over 30 who remembered the original and were drawn to this one, so I think that combination is what helped us exceed what folks in the industry thought this movie was going to do.’’ Ticket sales for ‘‘Watchmen’’ plummeted 67 percent from last weekend’s $55.2 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. executive vice president of distribution, said the studio antici-

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end box office total was down 16 percent compared with last year, making it the first down weekend in six weeks. Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Media By Numbers, does not believe the shift signals the end of 2009’s otherwise stellar year at the box office. ‘‘I don’t think this down weekend reflects any kind of lack of interest by the audience,’’ Dergarabedian said. ‘‘I think it has to do with ’Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who’ opening a year ago with $45 million. That’s really a tough comparison. Not every weekend this year is going to be up when you have some strong openings like that from last year.’’

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pated the big dip for director Zack Snyder’s comic book adaptation about a team of subversive superheros. ‘‘It’s very common with higher profile, highly anticipated movies,’’ said Goldstein. Also opening this weekend in wide release was ‘‘The Last House on the Left,’’ the Universal horror remake, which turned up at No. 3 with $14.7 million in ticket sales, and ‘‘Miss March,’’ the Fox Atomic comedy in the No. 10 spot with $2.4 million. 20th Century Fox’s t h r i l l er ‘‘T aken ’’ remained at No. 4 with $6.7 million in its seventh weekend in theaters. Factoring in 2009’s higher admission prices, the week-

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