75¢ COLBY Friday March 31, 2017 Volume 128, Number 51 Serving Thomas County since 1888 10 pages FFREEREE PPRESSRESS Cutting up for college After school program now at risk By David Tan track. Colby Free Press Each after-school program must [email protected] provide testing data for account- ability, Vaughn said. Last year, The federal 21st Century Com- standardized testing showed that munity Learning grant the Colby after-school program students After School program has re- received an average 90 percent applied for is in danger of being score in math and 98 percent of denied. the students were proficient at or After school director Kathy above grade level in reading. Vaughn said the grant helped A community survey in Feb- pay for the program when it first ruary showed Colby parents are started in 2013. She is looking for concerned about the possibilities support from the community to let of losing the program, Vaughn the federal government know ru- said. Some parents are concerned ral schools across the nation need that their child would have to go this grant. home due to the high cost of day- Vaughn said she reapplied for care and the lack of available day- the grant in early February and care in the area. won’t know until June whether Other parents said their child Colby will receive it. The money would have to go to their work- goes first to the Kansas State De- place, Vaughn said. They would partment of Education, which have to get off work early and it picks only 30 applicants to receive could hurt their family income. the money. The lack of transportation options The proposed federal budget to daycare is another problem. will cut the grant program or pos- Around 99 percent of the parents sibly eliminate it, Vaughn said. who took the survey were in favor She doesn’t know when or if it of continuing the program. will be cut, but chances are high. “We need to get in contact with “What this means for students our elected federal officials to let and parents is we will need to look them know the importance of the at other ways to fund the program grant,” Vaughn said. if it doesn’t receive the grant,” There is a letter that is collect- REBEL JAY/Colby Community College Vaughn said. “I am not sure how ing signatures from organizations Tiernen Heydt (above) of Athens, Ga., cut out an elegant figure for wall decor for but I am going to try my best to like school districts, businesses the Colby Community College Endowment Auction next Saturday at the City Lim- figure out a way.” and youth recreation groups that its Convention Center. Abigail Sweeney (top right) from Salt Lake City, Utah, and This also mean similar pro- wants to show support for the Morgan Carney (right) from Goodland worked on sanding some of the “elegant” grams across the nation will need grant, Vaughn said. The letter is figures. Tickets are available at 460-4684. to find other funding sources if the only for organizations; individu- program is cut completely. The als are not included. community has been supportive of Any local organization can the after school program and be- show their support for the after lieves they can find a way to keep school program and let the federal the program going, Vaughn said. government know they shouldn’t Airport to get state project funds The federal government has cut the grant. They can go to said the program doesn’t work www.goo.gl/forms/OdHPVBF- Twenty-six airports have been selected for The program requires airport sponsors to share services available to more Kansans all across and that is why funding is being W6lmD4MJO2 to sign the letter. Kansas Airport Improvement Program fund- in the project costs by paying a minimum of the state,” said Transportation Secretary Rich- cut, Vaughn said. They said there The deadline to sign is Monday. ing to repair or improve facilities and enhance five percent of the total project costs up to a ardCarlson. “Improvements currently under- isn’t any data on whether after- To learn more about after school air ambulance access. maximum of 50 percent, depending on project way at rural airports will help ensure that 93 school program students are being programs across the nation, they Colby will receive $49,750 for pavement category. percent of our population has air ambulance kept safe and out of trouble. This can go to www.afterschoolal- maintenance and repair in fiscal year 2018. “These projects will help us make critical air access.” is something that is impossible to liance.org. Multi-instrumentalist to give Oakley concert Have you heard any good Middle Eastern Oud were spent in New York City, where he performed or Kemenche lately? How about South American with the top echelon of studio musicians and toured Charango and Zamponia or East Indian Tablas or extensively with bands throughout the United States, Santoor? Canada and Europe. In 1988, Green decided to Intrigued? These and many other ethnic trade in the skyscrapers of New York City for the instruments from the Middle East, Central Asia, mountains of Montana to pursue his own music India, China and South America will be played full time. Green stopped playing the electric guitar by multi-instrumentalist Todd Green at 7:30 p.m. to concentrate on acoustic music and has since Saturday, April 8, at the Oakley High School performed as a solo artist for concert associations, Auditorium. arts councils and colleges in the U.S. and Canada. Admission is by Western Plains Arts Association His column on improvisation and composition season ticket or $20 adults, $10 students. has been published in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, Green has astounded audiences across the country where he received kudos for his first recording with his original music performed on over 30 string, “Awakening.” Currently a resident of the Lake flute and percussion instruments from all over the Tahoe, Nev., area, Green’s discography include his world. His concert will be enhanced by three five- companion recordings, Sequel to an Unfinished Story, channel “loopers,” which allow him to layer many Vol. 1, “Celebration” and Vol. 2, “Meditation,” each instruments for his trademark “solo-ensemble” with 24 tracks of original music, performed on well performance. As fascinating to watch as to listen over 40 instruments from around the world. He’s to, he intersperses his playing with entertaining also recorded “The Voice Within,” “Beneath a Starlit explanations of the music and the instruments. Sky,” with jazz and blues pieces, and “Composing Green has been writing and performing his own the Silence.” music professionally since age 15. He studied Green is also the author of “Sparks from Life’s composition, arrangement and performance at Flint: Meditations for the Future Soul, Today,” a Berklee College of Music and privately with guitar book of 365 poems. greats George Benson, Pat Metheny, Christopher Green is a 2017 Artist Fellowship recipient, Parkening and Mick Goodrick. He has also studied Nevada Arts Council’s top artistic recognition, as ethnic instruments, including the Indian bansuri flute well as a recipient of an Award of Excellence from with masters Sachdev and Steve Gorn, and many Traditional Association for Cultural Harmony. other instruments with players from around the Green will also provide presentations and shows world. at 2 p.m. next Thursday to students in Hoxie and at 2 Most of his 45 years as a professional musician p.m., Friday, April 7, to students in Oakley. Season programs have been made possible through contributions from the Dane Hansen Foundation, www.toddgreen.com area businesses and individual donors. Todd Green’s fascination with musical instruments from around the world is all too evident from Go to the Instrument Gallery at www.toddgreen. this glimpse of his collection. com to learn more about Green’s many instruments. Page 2 Colby Free Press Friday, March 31, 2017 Area/State Weather History in your hand Briefly Group plans dance at American Legion A public dance is planned for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the American Le- gion. Craig Stevens will provide music. Everyone welcome. For informa- tion, call Lue Duffey at (785) 269-7057. Time to order those special, sweet onions The Hi Plains Shrine Club is selling fresh Vidalia onions, $12 for 10 pounds. Order by Saturday, April 22; the onions will arrive about May 1. Those who order will be notified to pick them up at Colby Canvas Co., 285 E. Third St. Call Steve Molstad at (785) 462-3981 for information or to order. Stock up on books as March turns to April Go crazy at the Pioneer Memorial Library’s March book sale today National Weather Service through Saturday. The sale will run each day from opening time until half Tonight: Showers, mainly af- an hour before closing. For information, call the library at 460-4470. ter 2 a.m. Low around 37. North- east wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance Health care scholarships available of precipitation is 90 percent. Citizens Foundation is now accepting scholarships applications for stu- Saturday: Showers. High dents pursuing a health care related career. Applicants must live in north- near 42. Northeast wind 10 to west Kansas. Deadline is Saturday. For information go to www.cmciks. 15 mph. Chance of precipitation com/foundation/scholarships or contact Megan Carmichael at (785) 460- is 90 percent. 1214 or [email protected] Saturday Night: Rain show- ers likely before 5 a.m., then a chance of rain showers, snow Weather radio programming scheduled showers, and sleet.