Daylight Saving Time Get out to VOTE Remember to “Fall” Tuesday back at 2 a.m. Sunday! November 4 75¢ COLBY Friday October 31, 2014 Volume 125, Number 171 Serving Thomas County since 1888 12 pages FFREEREE PPRESSRESS Fewer kids immunized in state now Fewer Thomas County kids parents opting out of certain vac- have been immunized in recent cinations, according to the group, years, following a trend seen state- and the organization views this as wide, according to Kansas Action a problem. for Children’s annual Kids Count “Timely immunization not only report, which assesses health, ed- keeps children healthy but also ucation and economic indicators protects others, including infants for Kansas kids. who are too young for vaccina- Between 2009 and 2012, the tions and people with compro- statewide immunization rate in- mised immunity,” said its presi- creased from 63 to 72 percent, the dent, Shannon Cotsoradis. report says, but in 2013, the rate Thomas County’s “prenatal dropped to 61 percent. Thomas care indicators” also decreased County’s rate was even lower last slightly, but so did the percentage year at 58 percent. This reflects a national trend of See “KIDS,” Page 2 ‘Haunts’ horrify Colby Fall reminder: turn clocks back Feel free to hit the snooze button on your alarm clock this week- end, because Daylight Saving Time is coming to a close. Daylight Saving Time comes to an end at 2 a.m. Sunday; which is when clocks should be turned back an hour to Standard Time. The Colby Fire Department, which sent employees to change smoke detector batteries last weekend, has been reminding people for several years that this is a good time to remember to change your batteries. Student survey results mixed By Sam Dieter erally listed affordability, parents, Colby Free Press college graduates, a high reputa- [email protected] tion for the college and a promise of better jobs as their reasons for Colby Community College coming here. trustees heard about the results Only about 58 percent plan to of a student survey from the col- transfer to another college after lege president at their meeting last they are done here, Vacik said, SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press Monday night. which is fewer than he expected. There were screams aplenty (top) Thursday night at the fairgrounds President Stephen Vacik said The college’s orientation and when victims – er, customers – made their way through a hospital room 240 students, most of whom were transition to college life got good with a couple of deranged patients. Scary clowns (left) and other suspi- going to school full-time and marks, he added, but the students cious characters waited for more visitors to the American Youth Soccer were under age 21, responded to said they wanted better activities Organization’s haunted house. The scaring starts at the front desk for the poll. About 60 percent were at the college itself. Vacik said he the haunted house, where 30 people entertained 120 visitors Thursday, women. found that odd because of all the and which will be open again both tonight and Saturday night. Eighty-six percent said they activities the college already has. would recommend Colby to oth- In other business, the trustees: ers, Dr. Vacik said, and they gen- • Approved the resignation of Bronwyn Bitner as payroll ac- counting specialist. • Approved purchase of silage House candidate says for around $42,000 to feed cattle at the college farm. • Approved paying bills for $813,896. • Approved the renewal of a cooperation critical clinical affiliation agreement with the University of Kansas Hospital Authority and a first amendment By Sam Dieter like. support from members of both to education affiliation agreement Colby Free Press “A lot of people don’t real- parties for what he called “bot- with Banner Health of Phoenix. [email protected] ize that, but it’s really diverse,” tom-line issues,” including sup- • Approved nurse aide contracts Sherow said. port for agriculture and other in- for Kallie Olofson and Deanna Jim Sherow, the Democrat run- This includes both the ethnic- dustries, especially ethanol and Schmidtberger, who will be co- ning for the 1st District seat in the ity of the people living in the dis- wind power. teaching together, along with 23 U.S. House of Representatives trict, as well as the institutions in Sherow listed his top priorities mostly unpaid contracts for part- against Tim Huelskamp, stopped each of the towns. Sherow said if he is elected as getting back on time instructors and six contracts in Colby on Thursday, saying had spent four straight days away the House Agriculture Committee, for part-time outreach coordina- what he thinks should happen for from home and two days on the which Huelskamp was removed tors. Kansas if he wins. road touring the district, which he from in 2012, and joining the No • Went into closed session for Sherow stopped at the Colby pointed out is larger than the state Labels Caucus, a group promoting 10 minutes with Vacik to discuss Free Press before a “meet-and- of Illinois. bipartisanship. nonelected personnel. greet” at the Prairie Museum of “The people who talk to me, He said he plans on taking a • Approved the sale of used ra- Art and History. Although his they want somebody who will look at the Affordable Care Act, dio equipment for $2,500. goals have not changed since work well with others,” Sherow or Obamacare, the health care SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press he last visited Colby in March, said. “They want somebody who overhaul passed into law in 2010, City Manager Tyson McGreer, (left) and his wife Amanda joined Sherow said, he has gotten a much is not an embarrassment.” about a dozen community members at a meet and greet with Jim Sherow), the Democrat running for Tim Huelksamp’s seat in the better sense of what the district is The candidate said he has seen See “HOUSE,” Page 2 U.S. House of Representatives. Page 2 Colby Free Press Friday, October 31, 2014 Area/State Weather Trojan homecoming paints town Briefly SAM DIETER The deadline for Briefly is noon the day before. Items submitted in the Colby Free Press morning will be set up for the following day, space available. The deadline This group of for Monday’s paper is noon Friday. Colby Commu- nity College stu- Advance voting open at courthouse dents got ready Early voting at the Thomas County clerk’s office will close at 4:30 p.m. for homecoming Monday. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, Friday and Monday. For week Tuesday by information, call the clerk’s office at 460-4500. painting the win- dows of down- town businesses. Democratic candidate to call here Sunday The college had Paul Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, will be in Colby its Dig Pink vol- from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Quality Inn lobby, 1950 S. Range leyball game that Ave. Everyone is invited to stop by speak with him. For information, call night, as well as a Carolyn May, 460-3655. National Weather Service talent show Thurs- Tonight: Mostly clear, with day, and is getting Haunted House still scary at fairgrounds a low around 31. South wind ready to for its Hall The American Youth Soccer Organization’s haunted house, “Return of around 15 mph. of Fame induction the Haunted Pirates,” will open at 7 p.m. tonight to Saturday at the Thomas Saturday: Mostly sunny, with ceremony Satur- County Fairgrounds. General admission is $7. For information, call Emily a high near 61. Breezy, with a day. Griffin at 443-5884. south wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Saturday Night: Partly Grass-clipping collection ends this week The Colby Sanitation Department will stop picking up grass clippings as cloudy, with a low around 41. of Saturday. After that date, put any clippings in with regular trash through Breezy, with a south wind 15 to House: cooperation critical the winter. The department will announce resumption of the separate 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 pickup in the spring. For questions, call Omar Weber at the Public Works mph. From “HOUSE,” Page 1 Sherow said he would not with Barack Obama and Nancy Department 460-4420. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with vote for the proposed Environ- Pelosi. a high near 75. South wind 10 to see what should be kept and mental Protection Agency rules “I’ve always said in this race to 15 mph becoming west in the what should be replaced. But he that would define all surface wa- eventually I would be photo- College to honor alumni Saturday afternoon. said the original model for the ter on farms, such as streams and shopped playing golf with Colby Community College will honor Alumni Hall of Fame inductees Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, law came from the conservative ponds, as navigable waterways Barack Obama and Nancy Pelo- Lou and Audrey Hines and Rich and Judy Epp and Sports Hall of Fame with a low around 43. Heritage Foundation. that can be regulated. He said he si,” Sherow said, “and yesterday inductees Daniel Cormier and Kirk Hunter at a reception from 5:30 to 7 Monday: Partly sunny, with a The requirement that employ- heard that fewer ecologists and I saw it.” p.m. Saturday in the Little Theatre, on the lower level of the Community high near 61. ers provide health insurance or more lawyers are writing the This is odd, he said, consid- Building downtown. The first Trojans home basketball game will follow at Monday Night: A 20 per- face a tax penalty is one part of regulations for the agency.