Page 2 Colby Free Press Thursday, December 1, 2011 Area/State Weather Committee urges merger delay Briefly TOPEKA (AP) – An interim istration says the changes, which said Sen. Tim Owens, an Over- san,” Siedlecki said. Legion group plans legislative committee has urged include awarding contracts to land Park Republican. The meeting was the latest in- to send care packages Gov. Sam Brownback to delay private-sector managed care Owens and Siedlecki ex- stance of the SRS secretary, leg- The Colby American Legion Auxil- combining Kansas juvenile jus- providers, will allow the state changed words after the senator islators and advocates engaging iary is taking donations for the Christ- tice programs with the state’s so- to curb the growth in Medicaid said he found it offensive that in often tense discussions over mas Care Package Drive. The Auxiliary cial services agency, saying the spending. Brownback estimates people hired by the administra- policy changes. will be sending holiday care packages system for dealing with troubled the changes could save $800 tion from out of state haven’t Lobbyists and law enforce- to soldiers serving overseas. To make a youth and providing for public million over fi ve years. done their research in Kan- ment offi cials attending the donation or have a soldier added to the safety was working. Sen. Dick Kelsey, a Goddard sas before proposing changes. hearing noted that the current list, call Megan Quenzer at 443-3611 Members of the House-Senate Republican, made the motion Siedlecki, who moved from system was developed in the late or Abby Barnett at (785) 694-1626. All National Weather Service Committee on Corrections and recommending that Brownback Florida, responded that he had 1990s when juvenile justice pro- names and donations must be in by to- Tonight: Cloudy, then gradu- Juvenile Justice were critical of not issue an executive order bought a home in Kansas and grams were removed from SRS day. ally becoming partly cloudy, with the proposal during the commit- reorganizing the programs un- was paying state taxes. control because of the agency’s a low around 15. Blustery, with tee meeting Tuesday and recom- til more research is completed. “I prefer you call me a Kan- failings. Enter parade now a north wind between 15 and mended that the effort be delayed Only Rep. Jana Goodman, a 20 mph becoming calm. Winds Registration is open for the Colby until it’s thoroughly studied, the Leavenworth Republican, voted Christmas Light Parade. Forms are could gust as high as 30 mph. Lawrence Journal-World (http:// against the motion. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a available at the Colby/Thomas County bit.ly/sWnTBZ ) reported. “This whole thing hasn’t been State revenue up Chamber of Commerce offi ce at 350 S. high near 38. Calm wind becom- Rep. Pat Colloton, a Leawood vetted enough,” Kelsey said. ing south between 10 and 15 Range. The parade is scheduled to begin Republican and chairwoman of Siedlecki and Juvenile Justice TOPEKA (AP) – Kansas rev- collect $403.4 million. at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at Second Street. It mph. the committee, told Social and Authority Commissioner Curtis enue collections are up for No- The state has collected nearly Friday Night: A 40 percent will go down Franklin Avenue to Fike Rehabilitation Services Secre- Whitten have scheduled a meet- vember, with the state taking in $2.3 billion since the fi scal year Park and then to Santa City. Forms are chance of snow, mainly after tary Rob Siedlecki that he should ing Dec. 12 to meet with those $2.5 million more in taxes than began July 1. That’s $144.3 mil- midnight. Increasing clouds, with due by Friday. For information, call have gathered more information affected by the changes to dis- anticipated. lion, or 6.7 percent, more than 460-3401. a low around 23. South wind 10 before making such a proposal. cuss the moves. Revenue Secretary Nick Jor- through the same period last fi s- to 15 mph becoming north. “This sounds like ready, fi re, Several legislators and local dan says Wednesday the state cal year. Saturday: Snow and areas aim,” she said. juvenile justice offi cials said collected $2.4 million more in Jordan says the revenue col- Dance the night away of blowing snow. High near 28. Brownback wants to place SRS wasn’t equipped to handle sales taxes than projected. lections show steady growth Saturday at golf course Blustery, with a north wind be- juvenile justice programs under the new tasks, such as intake Overall, Kansas collected in the Kansas economy. But he A Single’s and Couple’s Dance will tween 15 and 25 mph, with gusts SRS as part of his reorganiza- and assessment of juvenile of- $405.8 million in November. says the state must be careful be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the as high as 35 mph. Chance of tion of state agencies linked to fenders and administering pre- A group of economists and re- not to disrupt what he sees as Meadow Lake Golf Club. Gary Phipps precipitation is 80 percent. sweeping changes in the state’s vention grants. searchers had predicted earlier positive trends. will be the musician. For information, Saturday Night: A 20 percent Medicaid programs. The admin- “If it ain’t broke, don’t fi x it,” this month that the state would call Lue Duffey at (785) 269-7057. chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Come to the workshop Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a Governor, administration make water proposals this coming Saturday high near 31. From “WATER,” Page 1 posal to the committee, and the committee two banks chartered in Kansas, one of The Thomas County Community Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, has embraced it. which is a groundwater bank. That program Foundation will operate Santa’s Work- with a low around 17. tomatically lose them. As it is now, he said, the only conserva- was to sunset this year. The administration’s shop from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Monday: Mostly sunny, with a “That’s not the case,” he said. tion tool is the Intensive Groundwater Use recommendation is to extend the lifetime of the Thomas County Offi ce Complex. high near 28. The use it or lose it law looks at fi ve years Control Area program. Under that program, the program and remove the two-bank limit. The workshop is for children in pre- Monday Night: Mostly clear, of water usage, plus a bevy of other require- the chief engineer holds public meetings on This would allow people to obtain more school through fourth grade. Volunteer with a low around 11. ments to determine whether a particular wa- a proposal where anyone can fl oat any idea. bank charters. elves will help them shop for gifts for Tuesday: Sunny, with a high ter right should be taken back. The chief engineer then takes all of that and Bossert said he didn’t know how much their family. For information, call 460- near 37. Bossert said if a water user wants to set crafts the fi nal conservation order. usage this recommendation will get if ap- 9152. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, aside their rights for a period of time and “We have no idea what will come out,” he proved. The current groundwater bank is with a low around 19. still have them in the future, they can agree said. “That can be risky, and there’s no way not very active. Lions to serve pancakes Wednesday: Mostly sunny, to a conservation plan with the chief engi- to stop the process.” • Amend multi-year fl ex accounts to give The High Plains Lions Club will with a high near 43. neer. However, a lot of people don’t know For this reason, the program has only irrigators more capability to manage their hold a pancake feed from 7 a.m. to 2 they can do that, he said, and the state should been used a few times. However, Bossert crop water over a fi ve-year period. p.m. Saturday at the Colby Communi- Wednesday: High, 58; Low 24 have thought about putting more money into said, the types of conservation measures Bossert said six to seven years ago the ty Building. Proceeds go to the club’s Precip: Wednesday 0.None educating water users on their options. you could put in place with the program state created a program where water users community projects. Month: 0.None • Provide a process for creating conserva- were good. could sign an agreement with the chief en- Year: 19.63 inches tion plans – Local Enhancement Manage- The proposed management plans would gineer to create a fl ex plan. The plan would Normal: 20.65 inches ment Plans – that can include mandatory still originate at the local level and be sent take their average water use over the past Prairie orchestra (K-State Experiment Station) reductions and other corrective measures. to the chief engineer, but the plans would be fi ve years, then subtract 10 percent. The to play this Sunday Sunrise and Sunset The local Groundwater Management Dis- the sole focus of the hearing. user would get to use that total amount of The Pride of the Prairie Orchestra Friday 7:46 a.m. 5:21 p.m. trict would originate the plan and the state’s Bossert said the chief engineer can ap- water over the next fi ve years, but they can will present “A Cozy Christmas with the First quarter Moon at 3:53 a.m.