We’re on Twitter! Follow us: @StarNewsNWKS The MIDWEEK Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 Goodland1205 Main Avenue, Goodland, Star-News KS 67735 • Phone (785) 899-2338 $1 Volume 82, Number 16 10 Pages Goodland, Kansas 67735 inside Star-News today recognized by Kansas press org The Goodland Star-News has won six awards in this year’s Kansas Press Association Awards of Excel- lence contest. Graphic Designer Jessica Haren- berg got first place in the Best Hardware Ad for Burlington Home Cowboys Center, Best Political Ad for John Garcia and Best House Ad for the Star-News’ Full Page Half Price win regional promotion; and second place in the Best Agriculture Ad category for The Goodland High Yost Farm Supply. School varsity wrestling The Star-News staff won third team won the Class 4A re- place in the Special Sections catego- gional competition in Colby ry for its Senior Living section. The on Friday and Saturday. Goodland firefighters worked to put out a fire at this house, at 515 damaged, reportedly by an explosion. One person was injured. section was contributed to by busi- W. Ninth St., Friday morning. The front of the house was heavily Photo by Pat Schiefen/The Goodland Star-News See Page 10 nesses and organizations around Goodland and was put together by Harenberg, Advertising Represen- tative Angela Bonham and Editor One injured in Friday morning house fire weather Kevin Bottrell. The Star-News plans A house at 515 W. Ninth St. caught fire Friday Flames were visibile in the front of the house had the flames out within an hour of the first call. to make this a regular section put out morning in what may have been an explosion. and the reporting party – who was taken to the A second ambulance was ordered to the scene report several times each year. Goodland and Sherman Rural firefighters hospital with severe burns – said there had been to handle any further medical needs. Bottrell also placed third in the were called to the scene at 10:50 a.m. Friday. an explosion. The Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office was called Sports Column Writing category for One person had been in the home at the time Gas and electricity was shut off to the home in to investigate. 23° his columns on becoming a Formula and reported the fire from another location. while firefighters put out the blaze. Firefighters 10 a.m. 1 racing fan. Monday Today • Sunset, 5:34 p.m. Students participate in state music events City signs contract Wednesday • Sunrise, 6:25 a.m. • Sunset, 5:36 p.m. for manager search Midday Conditions By Kevin Bottrell questioned where they money to • Soil temperature 32 degrees [email protected] finish it would come from. Com- • Humidity 84 percent The Goodland City Commission missioner Jenifer Sanderson asked • Sky overcast signed a contract on last Tuesday to if the building was structurally • Winds south 15-24 mph have the Kansas League of Munici- sound. Malsom said that although • Barometer 30.02 inches palities conduct the search for a new some people have said it was unsafe, and falling city manager. it is sound and is built to city codes. • Record High today 75° (1989) Current City Manager Doug Ger- Gerber said the city has had com- • Record Low today -19° (1960) ber will be leaving to take a new job plaints about debris from the proper- Last 24 Hours* as financial director for the city of ty, but has not had an engineer look at the building itself. ADM looked High Sunday 27° Topeka. The league, an association at the building, he said, but the city Low Sunday 22° of Kansas cities of which Goodland did not get a copy of those results. Precipitation trace is a member, will help the city with “They just said it wasn’t suitable This month 0.30 advertising the vacancy, review- for what they wanted, which was Year to date 0.87 ing applications and conducting grain storage,” he said. Above normal 0.10 inches interviews. Malsom said his plan is to tear The Topside Forecast The search will cost a base fee of $4,290, plus the city will con- down the structure and use the Today: Cloudy with a 30 percent tribute for advertising, recruitment materials on other building sites in chance of flurries and freezing trips and other expenses during the nearby cities. The weather hasn’t drizzle, a high near 26, winds out process. been conducive to getting started, of the east at 5 to 15 mph and a At their meeting last Tuesday, the he said. The commission asked low around 7. Wednesday: Sunny commission also spoke to Dennis Economic Development Director with a high near 42, winds out Malsom about the unfinished struc- Michael Solomon for his opinion. of the southwest at 5 to 10 mph ture at the Industrial Park. Malsom “There’s always the theory: ‘if switching to the northwest and a said he has cleared out under the you build it, they will come,’ but is low around 24. structure, and offered to donate a this the time to sink $200,000 into a Extended Forecast Michael Solomon with the Goodland Ambassadors presented bags of treats to Goodland High School students on their way to the state piano and band events. State Piano results have been 150-foot by 150-foot section of it project?” he said. “We could end up Thursday: Partly sunny with a released. Berkley White, Brianna White and Ryleigh Paxton received a I rating, the highest given to the city if they decided to finish it. sitting on it for a long time.” high near 42 and a low around out. Kelsey White received a II. Also pictured is Cheyenne Stegeman, who is going to the Kansas Commissioner Gary Farris said The commission decided not to 19. Friday: Partly sunny with a 20 Music Educators Association state honor band Thursday. Photo by Pat Schiefen/The Goodland Star-News that while it would be nice to get take the offer and have Malsom go percent chance of snow, a high some use out of the building, he ahead with the demolition. near 35 and a low around 13. Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. (National Weather Service) Experts, landowners weigh in on noxious weed spread By Sam Dieter weeds as a parking space. him the same sort of options for dealing with cause that’s where they were laying down,” [email protected] “I’ve seen antelope that’s entirely covered animals that he offers to other landowners. he added. A Sherman County farmer claims prong- with Canada thistle,” he said. “They lay down Both Hopper and Sowers said they have never While it is possible that animals could horn antelope are wandering onto his land, in it.” found direct evidence of antelope spreading spread weeds, he added, the weeds are prob- spreading noxious weeds, but state wildlife The problem has gotten worse over the noxious weeds, and both say that there are ably on Ihrig’s land because he did not wait officials he talked to won’t let him shoot them. years, Ihrig said, adding that he has only been many other ways for the plants to move from long enough before plowing it after taking it Game managers see things a little differently. seeing antelope and deer on his land in the last field to field. out of the conservation program. That land local Chuck Ihrig, who farms south of Good- 15 years. Recently, Ihrig said, he saw a herd “Over the last nine years, Chuck and I have should have been treated with weed killer and land, said he has seen dozens of antelope of perhaps 100 antelope along K-27 about six conversed many times,” Hopper said. “I’ve planted with a cover crop for a year before it markets on his land in recent years, and along with miles south of Goodland. tried offering solutions to Chuck, just like I was tilled, he said. Land that was used for the them, an explosion of bindweed and Canada “They want you under their thumb and they have with other landowners.” program will still have a lot of seeds in it when 10 a.m. thistle. He said the animals seem to gravitate don’t want you bothering them,” Ihrig said of The depredation permits let farmers shoot it is converted back to farmland, and these can Wheat — $6.75 bushel to patches of thistle on his land, adding that the state agency. deer out of season, he said, but the department sprout when that ground is tilled. Posted county price — $6.50 they are relatively recent visitors to the area The agency, the Department of Wildlife, does not give out-of-season antelope permits. He added that weed seeds can spread in Corn — $4.39 bushel he farms. He said he has received only limited Parks and Tourism, he said, puts seed on Con- The department issues unlimited tags to hunt many ways, including wind, birds, other wild Posted county price — $4.44 cooperation from government officials, and servation Reserve land for plants that entice antelope with a bow and arrow, Hopper said. animals, livestock, people and trucks. Farm Milo — $3.98 bushel feels the state has been going out of its way the animals to graze there. Ihrig said he feels A seven-person panel of farmers, bankers and machinery especially can kick up mud with Soybeans — $13.01 bushel to accommodate the animals because the the department’s main goal is to bring in more business owners, none of them department seeds in it.