75¢ COLBY Friday December 26, 2014 Volume 125, Number 201 Serving Thomas County since 1888 8 pages FFREEREE PPRESSRESS Turning faces toward the sun Solar panels have been planted in neat rows in the solar “garden” (above) north of Colby along Veterans Memorial Drive. Construction workers (right) carried solar panels into place over the weekend to complete the assembly step on the Community Solar Array. The panels waited (below) to be attached to their holders, another step closer to completing the array, for which ground was first broken at the end of August. At that time, the array was expected to be connected to the power grid in early December, though it is still project- ed for completion this month. SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press Jackknifed rig hospitalizes four, closes road Four people went to the hospital and cident blocked both westbound lanes. In- Soon afterwards, Gerald S. Clay, 86, ville, were taken to Goodland Regional Although crews got one of the lanes Interstate 70 was closed down from Col- terstate 70 closed west of Colby at noon, Springville, Utah, who was also driv- Medical Center, the patrol reported. open, whiteout conditions contributed to by to the west Tuesday after a car hit a both because of the accident and road and ing west, swerved to avoid the semi but Lambert and his passenger, Malissa H. the Department of Transportation’s deci- semi-trailer that jackknifed right in front weather conditions. hit near its rear axle. His vehicle, a 2006 Hill, 53, also of Stratton, were unhurt. sion to close the highway, both the west of them. Richard G. Lambert, 55, Stratton, Ford sport utility vehicle, came to a stop Three of the people involved had their and eastbound lanes, west of Colby at The wreck, which Kansas Highway Pa- Colo., saw some packed snow on the left under the trailer. seatbelts on, including both drivers and noon. The highway was reopened be- trol officers responded to at 10:55 a.m., lane of the interstate about 11 miles east It was reported that one of those in the Paul Clay. Hill was in the sleeper com- tween Colby and Goodland at 4 p.m. was the only injury accident reported dur- of Goodland, the patrol reported. When car may have had a heart attack although partment of the semi. Although none were reported in town, ing Tuesday’s storm, along with numer- he moved into the other lane, his 2008 it is not clear who. Clay, along with his Two ambulances were sent to the scene several minor accidents kept responders ous slideoffs. Traffic on the interstate had Peterbilt tractor-trailer rig jackknifed in passengers Jeffrey Clay, 21, Paul Clay, from Goodland, and one from Brews- busy in the county. The Thomas County to be re-routed at Brewster, since the ac- the right lane. 14, and Gerald P. Clay, 58, all of Spring- ter. Kansas Department of Transporta- Sheriff’s Office worked three separate tion workers had to take over manning a slideoffs along K-25 north of town, one roadblock on the interstate at Goodland at 12:30 p.m., one at 2:22 and one at while law enforcement officers went to 4:21, and another accident was reported Come on, ring those bells the wreck. The highway had been closed near Levant, although it was unclear who from Limon to Goodland at 8:35 (Central worked it. The sheriff’s office did not re- Time) that morning. spond. Senate creates panel By John Hanna “It was crazy, the amount of legislation AP Political Writer we carried,” said Smith, who has served as the Judiciary Committee’s vice chairman. TOPEKA (AP) – The Kansas Senate’s The new committee’s vice chairman top leader has created a new committee to is Sen. Forrest Knox of Altoona, and its review criminal justice issues and name ranking Democrat is Sen. Pat Pettey, of new chairmen for two other panels. Kansas City. Senate President Susan Wagle said Wagle also appointed Sen. Rob Olson of Tuesday that she formed the Corrections Olathe as Utilities Committee chairman. and Juvenile Justice Committee to ease He replaces former Sen. Pat Apple of the workload of the Judiciary Committee, Louisburg, appointed earlier this year to which handles criminal justice issues the state commission regulating utilities along with legislation dealing with court by Gov. Sam Brownback. administration and civil lawsuits. Olson gave up the chairmanship of Wagle on Monday appointed Sen. Greg the Financial Institutions and Insurance Smith of Overland Park, a former police Committee. Wagle gave that position to officer, as chairman of the new, seven- Sen. Jeff Longbine of Emporia. member committee. Wagle is a Wichita Republican, and all of the chamber’s Online: Kansas Legislature: www. committee leaders are Republicans, in kslegislature.org SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press line with the GOP’s 32-8 majority. The JuBellation handbell choir kept a crowd of well over 100 people entertained at the group’s annual concert The House created a similar committee Saturday night at Trinity Lutheran Church. The musicians played well-known Christmas carols, accompanied by in 2009. Wagle said more than a third of several musicians, and a singer from the Pride of the Prairie orchestra. the bills considered by the Senate this year went through the Judiciary Committee. Page 2 Colby Free Press Friday, December 26, 2014 Area/State Weather Reception winds up art exhibit Briefly The deadline for Briefly is noon A former instructor at Colby the day before. Items submitted in the Community College visited morning will be set up for the following with locals Saturday at the Prai- day, space available. The deadline for rie Museum to talk about his art Monday’s paper is noon Friday. this month. Cal Mahin greeted former stu- dents and co-workers at a clos- Pool closed ing reception in the museum. during holidays He talked with them about 29 of The Colby Community College his collages on the last day they swimming pool will be closed from were displayed at the museum. Tuesday through Friday, Jan. 2, for Mahin helped establish the Christmas break. Hours Saturday and college art department when the Sunday, Jan. 3 and 4, will be 1 to 3 p.m., school was founded in 1965 and then the pool will be closed from Mon- worked as an art teacher at the day, Jan. 5 to Sunday, Jan. 11. Regular college until 2009. He taught hours will begin with the spring semes- art at Colby High School from ter on Monday, Jan. 12. 1964 to 1999. Although he is retired as an art teacher, Mahin, who now College offers lives in Hays, has not finished classes for adult degree making artwork. He has four un- The Adult Education Department at finished collages laid out in his Colby Community College is offering studio right now along with the free General Educational Development ones on display, which are some (GED) prep classes beginning Monday, of his most recent works. Jan. 5, with instruction in reading, math, Mahin said he finds inspira- study and critical thinking. For infor- tion by working with a wide ar- mation or to register, contact Director ray of media. The mixed-media SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press Nance Munderloh at 460-4663. works on display use assem- Cal Mahin, a former art teacher at Colby Community College and Colby High School, met blage, acrylic paint and sculp- many of his former students Saturday as he talked about almost 30 of his collages on the last No trash pickup National Weather Service ture, and he has also made hand- day they were displayed at the Prairie Museum of Art and History. Friday: A 40 percent chance formed books, boxes, wearable on New Year’s Day Colby’s sanitation department trucks of snow. Cloudy, with a high art and small installations. objects glued into place. read in and of themselves. Many Although he has done other will not be running on New Year’s near 26. North wind around 15 The boxes could be seen in The time it takes him to put of them are taken from just one kinds of art, most of his work Day, Thursday, residential trash will mph. several the framed collages on the work together is especially small piece of the overall col- has been in colleges. As for be picked up on Friday’s route, Jan. 2. Friday Night: A 20 percent display. Mahin made them from variable, Mahin said. He has to lage. One of the works, for in- choosing that style, he said he For information, call Omar Weber at the chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, cardboard-like material that he look at each small piece laid out stance, is named “Armadillo was “just drawn to it.” Public Works Department, 460-4420. with a low around 14. cut into shape with an Exacto in a collage before he glues it crossing,” after one tiny picture “That’s my way of making Saturday: Mostly sunny, with knife, and then glued together. all together. Even a small piece of sign that says the same thing, art,” he said, “I make my art in a high near 28. Most of his works are three- might take six months. barely noticeable from within paper.” Kids Closet plans the rest of the work. Saturday Night: Mostly clear, dimensional, made out of tiny His titles are interesting to Open House Jan. 4 with a low around 13. Kids Closet, a children’s clothing and Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a baby gear “store,” will open its doors high near 34.