Area/State Colby Free Press Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Page 3 Weather State takes Decatur dogs Flier honors mechanics Corner From “DOGS,” Page 1 ceived a request to dispose of the carcasses. From “MECHANICS,” Page 1 “I fl ew a fl ag for you over Af- The facility is licensed as a regional landfi ll, ghanistan,” MacKeen told Glover. the weekly Decatur County commissioners authorized to take waste from outside the Parts for the engine came in on Sat- “You went over and above what you meeting, the county received a form and a let- county. urday. Foley mechanic Jose Oliver should have done, and we’d like to ter from the state Department of Health and Mark Witt, solid waste manager, said he’s worked until 2 a.m. Sunday morning, present you with that fl ag, fl own by Environment asking for a zoning approval for managed the facility for 10 years. It’s a region- MacKeen said. the MARSS (Medium Altitude Re- a site to dispose of dog carcasses. After discus- al facility, he said, and has the needed permits Oliver’s daughter was graduating connaissance and Surveillance Sys- sion at the courthouse, the form was signed by to take different kinds of waste, including ani- from high school on Sunday, and tem) air crew.” Commissioner Ralph Unger with a statement mal carcasses, plus household and commercial the family had a graduation party The inscription on the certifi cate that no county approval was needed. waste. planned, MacKeen said. that accompanied the fl ag read, “Pre- “No zoning exists for sites outside the City The landfi ll, said Mr. Witt, was contacted “Oliver told us he’d come back sented to: Foley Equipment Com- of Oberlin, so no local approval needed,” was about an option to dispose of euthanized ca- into the shop and work on the vehicle pany (Foley CAT) (Special thanks National Weather Service typed on the form and it was signed and sent nine carcasses from a project the Kansas De- on Memorial Day,” he said. “He even to Daman Glover and MX Crew) Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with back. The form asked for approval to dispose partment of Animal Health was working on in postponed his daughter’s graduation Colby, Kansas. This fl ag was fl own a low around 22. North wind be- of waste “without a permit.” Decatur County. party two times to work on our mo- by MARSS aircrew on July 4th, tween 10 and 15 mph. The state Health Department, among other It’s not uncommon, he said, for the Barton tor home. 2010, over the country of Afghani- Thursday: Mostly cloudy, things, regulates landfi lls and other in-ground County landfi ll to be asked to take different “These amazing people even drove stan during an actual seven-hour long with a high near 38. North wind disposal of waste. In a letter dated last Wednes- kinds of waste, including animals. 45 miles to get a belt.” Combat Mission. As the fl ag fl ew, between 10 and 15 mph. day, it discussed giving Mr. Fortin permission Mr. Witt said they take in between 100 to Thoughts of the events and the it symbolized the sovereign power Thursday Night: Mostly from the Bureau of Waste Management to dis- 200 euthanized dogs through the Humane So- kindness shown to his family stuck of the United States of America and cloudy, with a low around 18. pose of the waste, dogs, without a permit. It cieties in the area each week. with MacKeen, he said, so while he the unshakeable resolve to keep our North wind around 5 mph. said that the disposal or burying had to be done Although Mr. Witt can make the decision on was in Afghanistan, he and his crew country safe.” Friday: Mostly sunny, with a by Friday. what is taken, he said he let the county admin- fl ew an American fl ag on one of their It was signed, Richard MacKeen, high near 40. West wind around Guidelines spelled out in the letter stated istrator know about the request. missions especially for the Foley pilot, and John Holmes, pilot. 5 mph. that the animals had to be buried within 48 Eventually, however, it was decided not to crew in Colby. “Oh, my, this is the best thing that Friday Night: Partly cloudy, hours, quick or slaked lime, if needed, had to take the canines to Barton County. MacKeen and his family were plan- ever happened to me,” Oliver said with a low around 16. be added to control odors, the dead animals Onsite disposal can be done only with state ning another trip to Colorado Springs with a huge grin. “I feel appreciated Saturday: Mostly sunny, with had to be covered with a minimum of four feet permission, he said, but sometimes it is a bet- in early December and would be able all the way to the top.” a high near 39. of soil and the site was to be used only as open ter option when looking at transportation costs. to present the fl ag on their way. So When MacKeen isn’t fl ying combat Saturday Night: Mostly space. The landfi ll, said Mr. Witt, was a secondary that’s what they did – as a surprise. missions, he said, he’s making sabre cloudy, with a low around 19. Stacey Baalman, with the solid waste land- option. MacKeen called the Colby Free shields in his wood shop for gradu- Sunday: Partly sunny, with a fi lls unit under the Department of Health and While the estimate may be high, he said, the Press last Friday and told part of the ates from the Air Force Academy. His high near 44. Environment, signed the letter. She said the dogs were estimated at 33 tons. Mr. Witt said story, adding that the family would wife home schools their fi ve children Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, agency was directing all calls on the matter he wouldn’t have known until the carcasses got be at the Foley parking lot by 8 a.m. so the family can travel together and with a low around 22. through the public information offi cer Katie to the landfi ll. Saturday morning. be in school all at the same time. Monday: Partly sunny, with a Ingells. The dumping fee is $34 a ton, he said, so It was a surprised Foley manager “These people really blessed us,” high near 43. Ms. Ingells was called Wednesday morn- given the estimate, it would have cost $1,122 Daman Glover when the family wait- MacKeen said, “and we just wanted Monday Night: Partly cloudy, ing but said she didn’t have any information plus a $25 administrative fee to place them ing for him in an inner offi ce turned to bless them back.” with a low around 20. compiled yet. Ms. Baalman said that there is there. The landfi ll charges the fee on animal out to be the MacKeens. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a process for this kind of disposal and several carcasses, said Mr. Witt, because they have to a high near 47. people have to sign off on it. keep of records on The disposal issue fi rst became public when that type of waste. Monday: High, 50; Low 14 the manager of the Barton County Landfi ll re- Tuesday: High, 59; Low 19 L L Precip: Monday 0.00 inches OCAL TV ISTINGS Tuesday 0.00 inches Judge commission plans sponsored by the Month: 0.07 inches Year: 18.22 inches Normal: 20.34 inches open selection process (K-State Experiment Station) From “PROCESS,” Page 1 sion’s action doesn’t solve the Sunrise and Sunset fundamental problem, which he Thursday 7:58 a.m. 5:22 p.m. many state appointments, and no sees as the power of a relatively (U.S. Naval Observatory) role for legislators in the selection small group of lawyers to control process. Kansas is one of 11 states the process. with such a system. Arizona and And Stephen Ware, a Univer- Thursday Evening December 16, 2010 Tennessee have a similar process sity of Kansas law professor, said 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 but, unlike Kansas, they have leg- there still will be no way for the KAKE/ABC Charlie Brown Grey's Anatomy Private Practice Local Nightline Jimmy Kimmel Live Cowboy ropes islators select some nominating KBSL/CBS Big Bang Dad Says CSI: Crime Scene The Mentalist Local Late Show Letterman Late public to learn why commission KSNK/NBC Community 30 Rock Office Outsource Office Office Local Tonight Show w/Leno Late commission members. members select certain candidates KSAS/FOX Bones Bones Local fleeing reindeer But Kansas is the only state in as fi nalists over others – or to hold Cable Channels which lawyers chosen only by the commission accountable. A & E The First 48 The First 48 Peace Peace Peace Peace The First 48 SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) – other lawyers make up a majority “I think they understand this is AMC White Christmas White Christmas A cowboy on horseback lassoed ANIM The Blue Planet Blue Planet Blue Planet The Blue Planet Blue Planet of the commission screening ap- a tiny, barely noticeable change, BRAVO Real Housewives Real Housewives Real Housewives Happens Real Housewives Happens a runaway reindeer that escaped plications for the appellate courts. and they’re trying to make it out to CMT Hazzard The Dukes of Hazzard Beverly Hillblls Redneck Redneck from a California Christmas-tree That’s led some critics to describe be bigger than it is,” Ware said of CNN Parker Spitzer Larry King Live Anderson Cooper 360 Larry King Live lot and eluded capture for hours.