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INSIDE SALUTE TON EMPORIA, KANSAS Check out Hometown of this week’s Jodie Fund community Holton Recorder subscriber calendar! for 10 years. CSering the acson ounty ommunity for years See page 2. Volume 153, Issue 2 HOLTON, KANSAS • Wednesday, January 8, 2020 14 Pages $1.00 Raise New EMS OK’d contract for city approved By Ali Holcomb The Jackson County Commissioners have entered workers the county into a new three- By Brian Sanders year contract with Jackson Full-time City of Holton County EMS for ambulance employ ees will be getting an services at a rate of $352,000 average raise of about 3 percent per year. in 2020, following Holton City The three commissioners Commissioners’ ap proval of a unanimously approved the salary and wage schedule for contract during their meet- the coming year at their first ing Monday. The new rate is meeting of the new year on $50,000 less than what was Monday. allocated to the business in Commissioners voted 4-0 to 2019. ap prove the updated salary and The county’s three-year con- wage schedule that included tract with Jackson County EMS what Holton City Manager expired at the end of 2019 and Kerwin McKee said amounted it included $302,000 in funding to a 72-cents-per-hour raise, or for 2017, $352,000 for 2018 $64,014.50 in new money for and $402,000 for 2019. the year, for permanent full-time Brent Teter and Jay Watkins, city employees. Commissioner owners and operators of Mari lyn Watkins was absent Jackson County EMS, present- from Mon day’s meeting. ed two contract options to the The wage schedule also commissioners last July. included a 20-cents-per-hour The first contract option in- increase for all permanent cluded a five-year contract part-time employees and a flat through 2024 at a rate of 3-percent increase for the city $402,000 per year. attorney, city treasurer, fire The second five-year contract chief, ani mal control officer, proposed included $452,000 in municipal court judge, Public Holton Elementary School preschool students (from left) Cass Dillon and Juvon Davis demonstrate the pretzel 2020 and $502,000 each year Wholesale Water Supply technique that helps students relax and breathe when they are having trouble with their emotions. Student Avery after through 2024. District 18 general manager Hundley (at right) is shown holding a blanket that illustrates other techniques used in Kelli Thompson’s classroom With the additional funds in and operations manager and to help students regulate their emotions. The techniques are a part of a conscious discipline course being taught for the proposed second contract, the commissioners themselves, free this winter to parents and staff members at HES. Photo by Ali Holcomb Teter and Watkins said the sec- totaling $2,530 in new money. ond ambulance provided for McKee said the city’s the county would have been budget for fiscal year 2020 had fully staffed by 2021. included an increase in the base Free parenting classes being offered at HES The commissioners rejected pay schedule that would cover By Ali Holcomb their optimal brain state,” said is the optimal state for problem- “This is for any parent who both contracts and proposed a cost of living al lowance of Holton Elementary School Karen Williams, HES principal. solving and learning.” feels frustrated. There are skills a new three-year contract that up to 6 percent, or $128,029, is offering a free nine-week The class is being offered at Williams said that it’s you can take home right away was approved unanimously including full and part-time parenting class this winter to two different times at HES. One important for students who are and use that will help make on Monday that included employees and overtime pay for help both students and adults will be held from 3:30 p.m. to in a survival or emotional state to your life easier,” she said. “A $352,000 in funding for the all employees. regulate their thoughts and 5 p.m. on Monday afternoons identify how they feel and what big piece is creating a school next three years. Jackson Commissioner Tim Morris emotions. from Jan. 13 to March 16. The they need to do to become calm family. The students care for County EMS also approved said he would prefer a The course, “Conscious other will be held from 9 a.m. to and “back to a thinking state.” and communicate with each the contract. 2.5-percent pay in crease for Discipline: Building Resilient 10:30 a.m. on Friday mornings “A lot of time bad behaviors other. They see each other as As part of the new contract, full-time employees, or 60 cents Schools and Homes” by Dr. from Jan. 17 to March 27. come from not knowing how to people. I think a lot of the hurt Jackson County EMS will pro- per hour, rather than the 3-per- Becky Bailey, will include The course covers the cope with an emotion,” Williams that happens between people vide one fully staffed primary cent increase, but noted that video-based training and seven skills of discipline, said. “By teaching very young is when we have tunnel vision. ambulance in Holton. A sec- he did n’t “want to vote against workbooks for both parents and which include composure, kids to stop, take a breath and Conscious discipline teaches ond ambulance will also be a pay increase” and eventually HES staff who participate. encouragement, assertiveness, deal with their emotions, I’ve our kids how to connect to each located in Jackson County that accepted the proposed 3-percent “The course will equip choices, empathy, positive intent seen such a change in how kids other and that our actions affect will be staffed with on-duty raise. educators and parents alike with and consequences. respond to different situations. others.” personnel 64 hours per week. Commissioner Mike a foundational understanding of “When anyone starts to get They are now calm and can Several HES teachers The remainder of the staffing Meerpohl noted that while he the conscious discipline brain a strong emotion, our brain is think things through instead of participated in the course last for the second ambulance will favored the 3-percent raise for full- state model and how to create triggered into a survival state,” being upset.” year and are implementing the be on-call, Watkins and Teter timers, he sug gested that rather safe, connected and problem- Williams said. “When we’re in Williams said the skills and strategies in their classroom. said. solving environments that allow a survival state, we have to get strategies offered in the course are Continued to Page 14 adults and kids to function in back to executive state, which valuable for students of any age. Continued to Page 8 Continued to Page 14 2019 in review: September through December The final four months of 2019 high school ad dition more than The Prairie Band Potawatomi were an eventful time in Holton a decade ago can be fixed, but Tribal Council is interested in and Jackson County, as this the energy cost savings for the mov ing forward with several review of the top stories of that district, if any, will be minimal. economic development studies period from the pages of The The Holton City Commission to possibly de velop the east side Holton Recorder demonstrates. this month approved an of U.S. Highway 75 along 150th This is the third of a three-part ordinance authorizing Sunday Road. The council is working review of the year. sales of package liquor and on an updated feasibility study, cereal malt beverage in the city. as well as an economic impact • September The ordinance will not take study, for that area. Holton Farm and Home, effect until after the expiration located at the corner of U.S. of a 61-day protest period, it • October Highway 75 and Sixth Street was noted. The proposed transmission in Holton, has closed its doors. The city commission also line route for the recently The store opened in March of autho rized the issuance of approved Nex tEra Energy 1973 and was purchased in 1978 “hospital loan anticipation Resources wind farm in by Wally and Julie Hawthorne, revenue bonds” in the amount Nemaha County includes areas who op erated the store until its of $14,615,000 for the Holton in northern Jackson County, closing. Community Hospital expan- and the Jackson County Ruth Weber is now serving as sion project, in anticipation Commission met with NextEra the new assistant superintendent of a loan from USDA Rural representatives to discuss the proposed transmission line for and di rector of curriculum at Development for the hospital’s Jackson County Arts members Katie Morris (right) and April Lemon helped Holton USD 336. For the past expansion project. the approved 132-site wind farm. put together this clay mural that was installed this week at Beck Bookman Li- seven years, Weber served as Hospital officials presided brary. The mural consists of more than 90 tiles promoting the library and en- the assistant superintendent at over the breaking of ground If and when the case of Jacob Ew ing returns to Jackson couraging reading that were put together by Jackson County Arts members, Oklahoma Bible Academy in this month for the expansion Jackson Heights students and others. Photo by Brian Sanders Enid, Okla. project, and hospital CEO County Dis trict Court for retrial, The first phase of heating Carrie Saia expressed gratitude District Court Judge Norbert and cooling improvements at to all who helped the hospital Marek said he would not Book-themed mural now on display Holton High School was noted raise funds for the expansion, as preside over that retrial.