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News
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Written by Brandon Steinert
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 08:00 |
During this time when a dismal economy amplifies the challenges of finding a much-needed job, a local nonprofit organization has found a way to be the saving grace for potentially countless unemployed Miami County residents. 
The East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp. (ECKAN) has founded a support and networking program called the Career Transition Network Group, which is a weekly meeting where people who are out of work can network with one another to find jobs.
Anne Smith, human services coordinator for ECKAN, came up with the idea when she realized Johnson County had several similar groups that were effective and no such group existed in Miami County.
“My plan is that it will be every week forever and ever and ever,” Smith said. “This is the first of at least three (networking groups) that will be started.”
A speaker attends the meetings nearly every week to talk about how to improve various job-searching skills.
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News
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Written by Staff
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 08:00 |
Miami County 4-H’ers climbed out of bed early Saturday morning and made the trek to Paola High School for Miami County 4-H Club Days. Club members of all ages competed for ribbons in events ranging from project demonstrations to dance competitions.
“Club Days is important because it gives our youth 4-H members a chance to get up and give public presentations and get experience giving demonstrations and giving talks,” said Karla Hightower, Extension agent for 4-H and youth. “It gives them that public speaking experience that’s so important that they’ll use later in life.”
Miami County 4-H Club Day Results
One-Act Play: Top Purple – Explorers 4-H Club: Nick Beets, Noah Beets, Olivia Beets, Andrew Benne, Eileen Benne, Jacob Benne, Rylee Bergh, Bennett Fisher, Kristen Fisher, Lindsey Fisher, James Foote, Bailey Hart, Dalton Hilt, Tanner Lee, Erin Lemke, Megan Lemke, Shayla MacEylea, Jarrodd Miller, Niccole Miller, Caitlin Schneider, Cale Schneider, Cate Stambaugh and John Stambaugh.
Skit: Top Purple – Trailblazers 4-H Club: Timber Allenbrand, Levi Bruns, Alison Davids, Tessa Davids, Christa Deines, Rebecca Dishman, Conner Hecke, Mara Justesen, Emily Muckelbauer, Nicole VanDaele, Colton Wagner, Samantha Wagner, Daelan West, Rowan West, Ben Wright, Emily Wright, Madelynn Yalowitz, and Jessica Yeater.
Cloverbud Skit: Cloverbud Ribbon – Sunshine Makers 4-H Cloverbuds Club: Brecken Klugman, Dagon Klugman, Peyton Sherron, Grace Young, Jordan West and Nicholas Wright.
Group Novelty: Top Purple – Pathfinders 4-H Club: Sarah Brend, Christian Durbin, Kaitlyn Gaza, Taylor King, Trey Mastalsz, Desire Melton and Allie Smith.
Solo/Duo Novelty: Top Purple – Sarah Brend and Taylor King
Group Dance: Top Purple – Progressive 4-H Club: Ben Damron, Elizabeth Dubois, Nick Fisher, Isaac Dubois, Jason Gallagher, Jesse Gallagher, Kaylee Gallagher, John Hart, Mollie Hart, Patrick Kennedy, Morgan Laudan, Nathan Laudan, Rylan Laudan, Katie Thoden, Laura Thoden and Aubrey Weatherbie.
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News
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Written by Staff
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 08:00 |
TOPEKA — On the heels of last year’s record-breaking corn and soybean crops, what will U.S. farmers plant in 2010? Will last year’s late harvest impact producer’s plans for this year? What is the outlook for Kansas?
These are just a few of the questions that will be answered by the March Agricultural Survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), according to a news release.
“Each year, the agricultural industry eagerly awaits USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, which provides the first survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions for the year,” said Glenda Shepler, director of NASS’s Kansas Agricultural Statistics. “The March Agricultural Survey provides the factual data that underpins these projections, making it one of the most important surveys we conduct each year.”
Shepler explained that data from the March Agricultural Survey benefits farmers and ranchers by providing timely and accurate information to help them make critical decisions for their operation. “When producers finalize their cropping and marketing plans, this survey will be one of the most important sources of information for them,” she said.
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News
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Written by Jene Vickrey
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Wednesday, 10 February 2010 08:00 |
The Legislative session is in that portion of the process when there are many more questions then there are answers. Often, it seems that we are working on issues that are not very important, especially this year, with the ever looming budget problem facing our state. We are working hard to find our way through this difficult challenge. 
The House and Senate have agreed to move the legislative calendar days ahead to achieve a quicker pace. This will, hopefully, bring us to a budget solution sooner and give our constituents more time to plan and adjust to the changes. When returning to working on issues that don’t seem very important, I always have two principles that I have learned.
First, is that even if the matter may be a small change in our law and impacts just a few residents of our state, that change may make a meaningful difference to them and or others in a similar situation in the future with respect of the merits and cost should it be passed.
The second is an issue that I think of as “could happen” or “happened once” to a constituent of mine type of legislation. Many times the merit of these bills is questionable, and I try to not vote for these. We don’t have to have a law for every situation. Many times there is a real expense tied to the enactment of a new law.
Education Committee
On Feb. 3, a hearing was held on HB 2410. Legislative Division of Post Audit had recommended this bill. It would disallow the estimated 1,800 students each year that are determined to be ineligible for free lunches but were still counted for at-risk funding.
Testimony revealed that the 1,800 number included a large number of families that do not respond to school districts before the November deadline, but later are determined to qualify. Also, there are students who apply and qualify after at risk funding is set for the year.
Our committee passed HB 2433, which would allow all six state universities to utilize purchasing authority, which has been extended to two institutions as a pilot project for the past three years. Over the three years, KU and Fort Hays State experienced $2 million in savings through the pilot program.
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