The WEDNESDAY March 6 2002 Goodland Daily News 50¢ Volume 70, Number 46 Eight Pages Goodland, 67735

weather report Two legislators talk taxes, education ° “A single person only has to pay 42 $10,” he said. “Does that seem fair?” at noon One says state He said the state should cut perks to state employees and find cheaper Politicos Today phone cards for employees to use. ¥ Sunset, 5:43 p.m. can spend less “There are hundreds of thousands, Tomorrow maybe millions, of minutes being By Doug Stephens charged on these phone cards,” skip water ¥ Sunrise, 6:11 a.m. The Goodland Daily News ¥ Sunset, 5:44 p.m. Morrison said, adding that the current Sherman County’s state legislators, cards charge between 7 to 25 cents a Midday Conditions Sen. Stan Clark and Rep. Jim Morrison minute. held a “town hall” meeting Monday for meeting ¥ Soil Temperature 26 degrees “The state is very inefficient when it about 12 voters, who talked about comes to spending money,” he said. ¥ Humidity 50 percent By John Milburn school funding, possible tax increases, He told the audience the state stopped ¥ Sky partly sunny Associated Press Writer and trying to preserve social programs. mailing paychecks in an effort to save ¥ Winds northeast 14 m.p.h. After they were done, two statewide money, but now they pay to make an LAWRENCE — What was ¥ Barometer 30.03 inches candidates, , state electronic deposit to the employee and billed as a town hall meeting of and rising treasurer and candidate for governor, to mail receipts for the checks. gubernatorial candidates discuss- ing water policy turned out to be a ¥ Record High 82° (1972) and , a former member of the “It just isn’t very sensible,” he said. one-woman show Tuesday. ¥ Record Low -13° (1948) Kansas House of Representatives and Sen. Clark talked about relations in candidate for attorney general, talked the Senate since it passed the redistrict- “I’ve never been at town hall Last 24 Hours* about their backgrounds and their ing bill. meeting all by myself,” Attorney High 66° qualifications for the jobs they are seek- “It’s been wonderful,” he said. General told partici- Low 25° ing. “There has been a civility there hasn’t pants at the 19th Annual Water and Precipitation — Rep. Morrison told the audience it been before.” the Future of Kansas Conference. will be hard for the state government to He told how two senate members, on “I’m kind of excited. I hope I can Northwest Kansas Forecast cut what it spends on social programs. opposite sides of the political spectrum, hold your attention.” Tonight: Partly coudy, low upper “I’ve been talking for a long time argued the no-fault divorce bill, which But the absence of the other can- 20s, wind southwest 10-15. Tomor- about how the government spends too failed. didates was no laughing matter to row: Partly sunny, high lower 60s, much money,” Morrison said, “but “These two argued bitterly for and Mike Hayden, the former Kansas wind southwest 10-15. that’s just rhetoric. We’re not going to against the bill, as complete opposites governor now awaiting confirma- cut much between now and summer.” as could be,” Clark said. “But when it tion as the state’s secretary of wild- Extended Forecast Sherman County residents get a little was all over, they hugged each other.” life and parks. He said it is impor- Thursday night: Mostly clear, low less than $3,000 on average from trans- He said Senate members have been tant for those running for governor in upper 20s. Friday: Mostly sunny fer payments like Medicare and Med- Phill Kline, a candidate for , spoke to a Goodland communicating like they never had to develop positions on water is- then becoming cloudy, windy, high in icaid, Morrison said, so cuts would hurt resident Monday at the Elks Lodge. before. sues. mid 50s. Friday night: Very windy, here. Photo by Doug Stephens/The Goodland Daily News “It’s wonderful to see people actually Kansas State University and the partly cloudy, 30 percent chance of “We have to be careful cutting,” he care,” Clark said. “I’ve been thrilled Kansas Geological Survey spon- snow, temperature falling upper 20s said. “I’m not necessarily opposed to a locally than you would from the state. ered to local governments. and tickled.” sored the conference, which drew about 200 people at a Lawrence by midnight. tax increase. I will not cut services to “The fight for me is that we’re going “There is a bill in appropriations,” he He talked about nursing home care, hotel. (National Weather Service) people.” to keep the programs we promised.” said, when asked if the House is work- saying traditionally churches and fami- Get 24-hour weather info. at 162.400 MHz. He said for the current social pro- Morrison said the state has to find a ing on the idea. lies have helped picked up the bill for Stovall, her fellow Republicans * Readings taken at 7 a.m. grams to continue, money will have to way to “get money into the hopper.” The state has many ways to save nursing homes, but once the state gov- Tim Shallenburger and Bob be raised somewhere. If the state His suggestions included selling money, Morrison said. For one, he said, ernment started putting a little money Knight and Democrat Kathleen doesn’t raise taxes, he said, local gov- state property which is infrequently it is unfair what state employees, in- into them, the volunteers disappeared. Sebelius had all been expected at ernments will. used, beefing up Highway Patrol opera- cluding himself, paid on health insur- The state picks up the bill once the “I’m getting testy about this,” he tions stopping the flow of drugs and ance deductibles compared to most pri- See WATER, Page 7 said. “You might end up getting it worse giving more of the drug money recov- vate policies. See TOWN HALL, Page 7 local markets Board to mull Interpretating dance Noon Wheat — $2.62 bushel Posted county price — $2.48 Loan deficiency payment — 0¢ Corn — $1.87 bushel Posted county price — $1.91 offer for gym Loan deficiency payment — 8¢ Milo — $1.60 hundredweight Soybeans — $3.90 bushel Posted county price — $3.90 Auctioneer has high bid for $15,000 Loan deficiency payment — $1.02 By Rachel Miscall Brent Hostetler of Seibert, Colo., bid Millet — $3.25 hundredweight The Goodland Daily News $1,714, and didn’t include an offer to Sunflowers rent. Oil current crop — $9.63 cwt. Though Goodland School Board The board said they were leaning Loan deficiency pmt. — $.16 members agreed Monday that a Confection current — $16/$8 cwt. $15,000 bid for the Edson gymnasium towards Harrison’s bid. His price origi- nally included the water well, pump and Pinto beans — $26 (new crop) is probably the best offer they’ll get, pressure tank near the old Edson (Markets provided by Mueller Grain, Sigco they decided to give it more thought Sun, Frontier Equity Co-op and 21st Century before selling. school, but Superintendent Selby said Bean. These may not be closing figures. ) A couple of years ago, a group from those aren’t owned by the district. Edson asked the board to give them the Harrison said he will put in a new well. district-owned gym for a community He said TNT Auction plans to spend center. $3,000 for a floor covering so the com- Members said they would sell the pany can hold auctions in the gym with- afternoon gym, where Goodland athletes practice out damaging the wood surface. and sometimes play games, but the Harrison said his main goal is preserv- Edson group never returned with an ing the gym, which would be available wire offer. to the Edson community. The board is facing budget problems “I just want to see it left as a gym,” Late news from the this year because lower enrollment will he said. “I don’t want to see it torn Associated likely mean less money from the state, down.” Press and decided to sell the gym. Member Ron Schilling, who lives in 1 p.m. Members opened three bids at their Edson, said no one called him with an Kennedy Dinkle (left) and Austin Shelly, both 3, practiced their dance number, “Micky Mouse’s Birthday regular meeting, none from the Edson opinion about whether the board should Party,” at the Goodland Activities Center on Tuesday. They are in a class taught by Cheryl Schwartz. group. sell the gym. He said he thinks the com- Photo by Doug Stephens/The Goodland Daily News Soldiers gain The high bid from Tom Harrison, munity can’t afford to buy it or main- branch broker for Homeland Real Es- tain it. tate in Goodland, was triple the second- Selby said the district paid $14,000 on terrorists highest offer, but included a stipulation for utilities at the gym last year. BAGRAM AIR BASE, Af- that could cost the district more in the Kathy Russell, who was acting as Group may fix vetoed map ghanistan — U.S.-led coalition long run. president because Dick Short was out troops have gained the upper hand Harrison, also a co-owner of TNT of town, said they should take some after killing at least half the al- Auction, bid $15,000 on the gym and time to consider the offers before sell- Bipartisan coalition making changes to Senate redistricting bill Qaida and Taliban forces holed up ing the gym. Selby said members either offered to rent it to the district for $325 By Joshua Akers Drafted by the Senate’s 10 Demo- cess, and received no review by any in the mountains of eastern Af- a day. have to accept one of the offers or re- Associated Press Writer crats and 11 of its conservative Repub- committee or by the general public,” ghanistan in the biggest joint of- Superintendent Marvin Selby said ject all of them and start a new round of TOPEKA — A coalition that pushed licans, the redistricting map was pre- Graves said in a statement accompany- fensive in the war, the U.S. com- athletes have used the gym about 30 bidding. a redistricting plan through the Senate sented as debate was under way in the ing his veto message to legislators. mander said Wednesday. days this year, which would mean the Mike Campbell also missed the expects to offer another proposal in the chamber on a version endorsed by the Coalition members said their plan Several hundred more Ameri- district could pay almost $10,000 a year meeting because he was out of town, wake of a veto from Gov. . Senate Reapportionment Committee. left the cores of existing districts intact can troops were deployed in the in rent. and Eric Gray said he felt Short and Democrats and conservative Repub- The coalition pushed its plan to pas- — including those of most incumbent rugged terrain of Paktia province Selby said that the high school re- Campbell should be able to have their licans in the coalition said some small sage on a 21-19 vote over the objections Democrats. Critics suggested the plan — bringing their number to more modeling project forced the district to say. changes could be made to improve the of top Senate Republicans, including drew other districts, especially in than 1,000. Also arriving were use the Edson gym more this year be- Ben Duell agreed, but added that it bill, which redrew the 40 Senate dis- President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson. Johnson County, to help conservative fresh forces from their Afghan al- cause furniture was stored in the high would be nice to have a business in the tricts. The House approved it last week, send- Republicans. lies. Working at altitudes some- school gym. vacant building. However, Democrats backed off a ing it to Graves. The coalition’s map placed Sens. times about 10,000 feet, they en- Harrison, who attended the meeting, Schilling said the board isn’t likely promise that the coalition would send In a lengthy veto message, Graves Janis Lee, D-Kensington, and Larry gaged in continuous firefights said he would be willing to negotiate to find a better offer than Harrison’s. Graves the same map he rejected. suggested the plan’s legality was ques- Salmans, R-Hanston, in a new north- with al-Qaida fighters and cleared the $325 figure. “I think the building is worth a lot of “I don’t think you can assume any- tionable because of some of the west Kansas district. several enemy caves. A bid for $5,025 came from Mike money,” he said, “but to whom? To me, thing at this point,” said Senate Minor- changes it made in existing districts. He Lee and other Democrats said that “We’ve got confirmed kills in Miller, owner of Miller Construction, I think it’s time to move.” ity Leader Anthony Hensley, D-To- also raised the issues of fairness and the would give her a better chance in 2004 the hundreds,” Maj. Gen. Frank L. which did a majority of the work on the Other members agreed that it was peka. “Obviously, the veto puts us in a way the measure came to a Senate vote than the Kerr-backed map, which Hagenbeck told a press conference remodeling project, and Rick Billinger, probably the best offer they’ll get, but position where we’ve got to continue — without the usual committee hear- paired her in a district with a fellow Wednesday at Bagram air base a city commissioner. They offered to the board decided to wait until their talking about this issue, so we’ll go ings and floor debate. north of the capital Kabul. rent the gym to the district for $6,500 a meeting on March 18 to talk about it back in and see what the thinking is.” “This bill did not go through that pro- See SENATE, Page 7 year. more.