The FRIDAY December 1 2000 Goodland Daily News 50¢ Volume 68, Number 236 Eight Pages Goodland, Kansas 67735

weather report Troopers seeking public support 33° By Rachel Miscall means less law enforcement, less help for stranded problems. years of problems with staffing and public per- The Goodland Daily News motorists on Kansas highways and more drivers “It’s a good opportunity,” he said, “for us to ception, patrol officials thought it was time to talk at noon Some people may think all Kansas Highway wondering where all the troopers are. provide information, answer questions and end the over the issues with citizens. Patrol troopers do is write speeding tickets, Maj. Highway Patrol officials from Goodland and perception that the patrol writes speeding tickets “We felt like there was a lot of information lack- Craig Dewell says, but their jobs are much more across the state plan to talk about their jobs, their and that’s all we do.” ing in regards to what we do,” he said, “and the Today complex. pay and their staffing problems at a “town hall The meeting in Goodland, he said, will be one staffing issues needed to be brought out.” • Sunset, 4:24 p.m. Considering all they do, he added, Kansas meeting” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Sherman of nearly a dozen to be held across the state this Lt. John Eichkorn, the patrol’s spokesman in troopers don’t get paid much — especially when County Fairgrounds 4-H building. Dewell said month. Patrol officials started the sessions on Nov. Topeka, said a main reason is to get as many citi- Tomorrow their salaries are compared with those of other they’ll also do some listening. 4, scheduling 29 through December. zens, legislators and law enforcement officers be- • Sunrise, 6:49 a.m. states or other law enforcement agencies. He said the public, city and county officials, It’s the first time the patrol has held public meet- hind them when they ask the Legislature for more • Sunset, 4:24 p.m. Because of low pay, Dewell said, the patrol has state legislators and other law enforcement offic- ings, Dewell said, noting that they got the idea trouble hiring and keeping troopers, which ers are invited, bringing along any questions or from the Missouri Highway Patrol. He said after See PATROL, Page 4 Midday Conditions • Soil Temperature 36 degrees • Humidity 51 percent • Sky sunny Association helps • Winds northeast 14 mph • Barometer 30.42 inches and steady • Record High 64° (1951) ° (1985) county fill new job • Record Low -5 Last 24 Hours* By Rachel Miscall dividual applicants’ qualifications un- High 59° The Goodland Daily News til he’s had a chance to review all of the Low 22° Eleven people applied for the newly resumes. He said he was pleased with Precipitation none created job of Sherman County admin- the number of applicants, considering istrator, with applications coming from the position’s requirements and far- Northwest Kansas Forecast Kansas and other states, the director of west, small-town location. Tonight: Partly cloudy, low 10-15, the state association helping commis- “The qualifications are rigorous,” he south winds 5-15 mph. Tomorrow: sioners in their search says. said, noting that it’s the type of job only Mostly sunny, high 30s, low 15-20, Randy Allen, executive director of persons in the business would know south winds 15-25 mph. the Kansas Association of Counties in about. Qualifications include a degree Topeka, said the association has helped in public administration and five years’ Extended Forecast commissioners by writing and placing experience. Sunday: dry, high 50, low 15-20. advertisements and taking in the re- “It’s not the kind of job you would Monday: dry, high 50, low 25-30. sumes. The commission created the place in metropolitan newspapers,” he Tuesday: dry, high 50-55, low 20-25. position in October to catch up with a said, adding that there was an ad in The (National Weather Service) growing county government. Goodland Daily News to let people in Get 24-hour weather info. at 162.400 MHz. This week, Allen said, he will review the area know about the job. Allen * Readings taken at 7 a.m. applications, make a summary of each wouldn’t say if anyone from Goodland candidate for the commissioners and had applied. rank the applicants. Later, he said, he He volunteered to help the commis- will be involved in the interviewing sion “make a good hire,” he said, be- process, helping to prepare questions, cause the association’s goal is to make schedule interviews and sit in if the sure counties are successful and follow commissioners want him to. the laws. Chuck Frankenfeld, acting chair- The association, he said, tracks down local man, said the commission would wel- information for counties all of the time come Allen. He said interviews will and usually doesn’t ask for compensa- markets most likely start this month, as the com- tion. mission is back to three members. Frankenfeld said the county pays an Noon One seat was empty for most of the annual membership fee. month as Chairman Kenny Davis re- Except for reimbursing the associa- Wheat — $2.82 bushel tion for advertising costs, Sherman Posted county price — $2.64 signed on election day after Mitch County isn’t paying anything. Loan deficiency payment — 0¢ Tiede, a write-in candidate who now Corn — $1.91 bushel represents District 2, defeated him. Frankenfeld said he feels better about Posted county price — $1.82 Problems organizing Sherman moving forward with hiring a county Loan deficiency pmt. — 17¢ County’s Democratic Party caused de- administrator now that Tiede has filled Milo — $3.10 hundredweight lays, but Tiede was sworn in Thursday the vacant commission seat. He said it’s Soybeans — $4.47 bushel after Gov. Bill Graves made the ap- important Tiede is involved. Posted county price — $4.36 pointment. “They’ll be working together for four Loan deficiency payment — 54¢ Allen said he couldn’t talk about in- years,” he said. Millet — no posted price; ask. Brandon Douglas, winner of the Harry Potter look-alike contest, watches the “magic” science show put on Sunflowers at the Goodland Public Library. Photos by Rachel Miscall and Dana Sulsberger/The Goodland Daily News Oil current crop — $5.80 cwt. Loan deficiency pmt. — $4.19 Columbine survivor Confection current — $15/$6 cwt. Pinto beans — $15 (Markets provided by Mueller Grain, Frontier Wizards attend Hogwart’s Equity Co-op and 21st Century Bean. is a ‘walking miracle’ These may not be closing figures. ) By Dana Sulsberger The Goodland Daily News What is it that could draw a crowd of young wizards to Teen-ager and pastor discuss tragedy the Goodland Public Library on a Thursday night? They weren’t looking for hexes or spells in the large By Dana Sulsberger about once a week, Epperhart said. afternoon selection of books or searching for the elusive “everbean.” The Goodland Daily News Epperhart was a youth pastor in Burl- So why did kids, dressed like the famous young wiz- It was a day like any other when she ington from 1978 to 1980, which is why wire ard Harry Potter, line up in the library? went to school that morning, Heidi he wanted to speak there. They came for the libraries version of Harry Potter’s Johnson recalled. She was worried “Usually these guys won’t speak to Late news Hogwart’s School of Wizardry. about a math test and had gone to the a crowd of less than 1,000,” said Skov, from the library to study. “but they made an exception to come Associated “I organized this to try and draw students here in the Press middle of the year,” said Karen Gillihan, the children’s Johnson’s voice shook a little with here.” librarian. emotion as she talked to a crowd of 100 The first funeral for one of the Col- 1 p.m. She said in the summer, it’s easy to get kids to come to in Burlington on Wednesday night umbine victims, Rachel Scott, was held the library, but during school, when they have so much about that day, April 20, 1999. She told at Epperhart’s church, the Trinity else going on, it is more difficult. how she crouched behind a big wooden Christian Center in Littleton. He said it Lawyers plead “The difference,” Gillihan said, “is tonight we will be table while Dylan Klebold and Eric became the most watched event in the practicing my brand of magic — science.” Harris marched through the library at history of CNN. for candidates The Harry Potter books, by British author J.K. Rowling, Columbine High School, shooting stu- “There was something about this are tremendously popular among kids, she said, and about dents at random. tragedy that woke up the nation,” he WASHINGTON (AP) — Law- 20 children came to the library to see amazing science ex- Johnson said most of the students said. yers for George W. Bush and Al periments with natural gas, electricity and air. were shot just a few feet from where she Johnson’s father talked about trying Gore pleaded their cases in the While children gathered outside of the room where the was hiding. to find his daughter after news of the high-columned solemnity of the games were to be held, one young kid gazed up at a Harry Two questions ran through her mind, shooting came out, pausing often to Supreme Court on Friday before Potter look-alike and could be heard to whisper, “Will you she said: “What is happening in our collect himself. He told how he got justices openly questioning disappear me?” school?” and, “What if I’m next?” news of the shooting and drove as fast whether they should intervene in Then the kids filled into the library. First up was the Johnson said she prayed while she as he could over to the school. the nation’s contested presidential “everbean” guessing contest. was laying there and she felt a peace He and other parents had to wait at a election. “Everbeans” in the Harry Potter books, the librarian come over her. She knew when she got crowded elementary school near Col- “We’re looking for a federal is- explained, are kind of like jellybeans but come in every out that she was a walking miracle and umbine as busloads of students were sue here,” said Justice Anthony flavor you could imagine. has decided to devote her life to teach- brought across a stage and he searched Kennedy. Dani Mangus, almost 3, and Devin Mangus, 10, were ing about God. Her speeches across the desperately for his daughter’s face. “Why should the federal judi- among the Potter look-alikes that competed last night. country bring the message that our time “I waited for over an hour as other ciary be interfering in what seems Dani carried a Harry Potter doll made by a neighbor. on earth is short and people need to be parents took their children home,” he to be a very carefully thought-out Devin excitedly explained that he had read all four of investing in their salvation. said, “I looked around and there scheme” for settling elections in the books in the Potter series. He said his mom heard about “Me getting out to speak and spread weren’t many others left waiting.” Florida, Justice David H. Souter the library program on the radio and wanted to bring him my message,” said Johnson, “was part Finally, he said, his wife called and prodded. and his sister to the event. of the good that came out of this trag- told him that Heidi was OK and gave “This is a federal court,” Justice “The first of the books was the most exciting,” said edy.” him a number to call. Antonin Scalia said at another Devin. “I liked when he was just getting used to the Johnson came to Burlington with her “We were at separate ends of the point in an exchange with Joseph Hogwarts school.” father, Barry Johnson, and her pastor, school property,” Johnson said. “She Klock, the lawyer representing It seemed that every kid at the library had read at least Dr. Billy Wayne Epperhart, on the re- was a mile away on one side and I was Florida Secretary of State Michael Smith, dressed as Harry Potter, lit bubbles quest of the Rev. Terry Skov with a mile away on the other side and a thou- Katherine Harris. See POTTER, Page 4 of propane with a small torch on Thursday night. Bethel Assembly of God. They have been speaking around the country See SHOOTING, Page 7