Gardner News

Cole-Smith Unit 350 hosting annual Poppy Day

submissions — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:29 +0000

Cole-Smith, Unit 350, Spring Hill will have their annual Poppy Day on May 19, 2012. Everyone is asked to wear a poppy in memory of our deceased veterans from all the wars.
Poppies are made by the veterans and donations are used to assist veterans and their families. Distributing poppies is a way to say “thank you” to the men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Hall to play basketball at Ft. Scott

submissions — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:00:30 +0000

After a stellar career at Gardner Edgerton High School, C.J. Hall will continue to play basketball at Ft. Scott Community College this fall.
Hall just completed a senior season that included a third place East Kansas League finish and second place at the Spring Hill Invitational. He was also part of a Blazer squad that took third in the 5A state tourney in 2010.
“C.J. has the ability to score both inside and outside the paint,” said Coach Jeff Langrehr. “He opened up three-point shots for the team’s guards.”
Hall now turns his focus on preparation for a season at Ft. Scott. The 6’5″ forward looked sharp in an April 29 All-Star game hosted by Ft. Scott. He scored eight points and was one of 10 future Greyhounds to play in the game.

Scholarships presented at Senior Honors Night

submissions — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:30:49 +0000

More than $100,000 was awarded in scholarships to Gardner Edgerton High School seniors at the Senior Honors Night Award ceremony on May 9. The scholarships are made possible by community clubs, organizations and individuals.
The students and their awards include:
Audra Barber: Leroy Hill American Legion Post #19, Leroy Hill American Legion Auxiliary Unit #19, Sons of American Legion and JCCC Presidential.
Joseph Beeso: Leroy Hill American Legion Auxiliary Unit #19.
Brent Bovitz: Roy O Bruce Gardner Lions Club.
Morgan Buie: Dr. A.S. Reece Memorial, Olathe Health Systems and Patriots Bank.
Felicia Carlson: Dr. A.S. Reece Memorial.
Caleb Clarke: All-School Reunion and American Legion Riders.
Rebecca Clark-Hargreaves: Leroy Hill American Legion Post #19 and Patrick J. Maher Memorial.
Corinne Currier: Leroy Hill American Legion Post #19 and Sons of American Legion.
Kari Devlin: Don Bechard Memorial, Duran Brock and Gardner Rotary Club
Madisen Edstrom: Metcalf Bank Citizenship.
Stephen Felks: Kade Meyer Memorial.
Hannah Freund: Bacon Family Educational Fund and Gardner Lions Club.
Dustin Gillespie: William “Jeff” Lynn Memorial.
Ryan Goetzmann: Andrew K. Hurd Memorial.
Ruskin Golden: Ralph P. Snavely Math & Athletic Memorial and Gardner Lions Club.
Tasha Grossnickle: GENEA and Metcalf Bank Citizenship.
Courtney Henney: Bacon Family Educational Fund and The Ellis Foundation.
Zach Hickman: Patriots Bank.
Paige Johnston: Dr. A.S. Reece Memorial.
Brice Kearney: Athena Club.
Chip Kueffer: Don Bechard Memorial.
Katie McAfee: Gardner Lions Club and Gardner Rotary Club.
Jerrad McDermott: Garrett “Dutch” Russell George Memorial and Ron Kessler Memorial.
Tyler Meek: GENEA
Steven Mercier: Old 56 Car Show and Gardner Masonic Lodge.
Kristina Mitchell: Andrew K. Hurd Memorial and Leroy Hill American Legion Post #19.
Angela Moore: American Legion Riders and Metcalf Bank Citizenship.
Loic Njiakin: Class of 1989 Travis Miller Memorial.
Molly Porter: Beta Sigma Gamma XI – Mary Casey Memorial, Andrew K. Hurd Memorial, Kade Meyer Memorial, GENEA, Gardner Lions Club, and Olathe Health Systems
Lucy Pyle: Bacon Family Educational Fund, Dr. A.S. Reece Memorial, Leroy Hill American Legion Auxiliary Unit #19 and, Metcalf Bank Citizenship.
Tanner Quigley: American Legion Riders Rains and Abby Metcalf Bank Citizenship.
Chase Rossman: Gardner Community Theatre.
Kelsey Schaefer: Kade Meyer Memorial.
Drake Sparks: Sons of American Legion.
Emily Stubler: James Gibbs Memorial and Andrew K. Hurd Memorial.
Matthew Wakefield: Leroy Hill American Legion Post #19.
Alex Winkler: Bacon Family Educational Fund and Angela Lindsey Memorial.
Lucas Wise: Leroy Hill American Legion Post #19 and The Ellis Foundation.
Taylor Zimmerman: Gardner Community Theatre.

Brownback’s tax plan means dramatic cuts

submissions — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:45:30 +0000

Martin Hawver
Guest columnist
One of those not-well remembered provisions of the tax-cut bill that Gov. Sam Brownback outlined at his State of the State address in January was a provision that any new revenue into the State General Fund (SGF) above 2 percent growth be used to reduce taxes.
That was the dreaded-by-many “lid” on state government spending. Tax receipts increase by more than 2 percent? Use that overage to reduce taxes. It was seen—accurately—as a way to shrink the size of state government and that’s what Brownback’s supporters want.
Well, after a little clever, sharp-elbowed legislative maneuvering, he got what he wanted—only bullet-proofed.
While the State Senate was loading up a tax-cut bill earlier this session with showboat cuts designed to generate campaign fodder, it wound up passing a bill that was way too big—basically to get a bill to take into a House-Senate conference committee where it could be pared back to an affordable level.
Guess what? The House took that over-fed Senate bill and sent it to the governor. It is so big in tax cuts that projections are it will in the future nearly bankrupt the state, requiring sharp cuts in spending on virtually everything: Schools, social services, state government, higher education, nearly everything that we’ve gotten used to and expect state government to do for us.
Now here’s the good part for those who want government on a weight-loss program: Instead of just a little 2 percent growth cap that can be bypassed by the Legislature just as it has bypassed the 7.5 percent ending balance law for years, this can’t be bypassed. It reduces the amount of money coming into the state treasury from taxes, forcing cuts in state spending instead of the Legislature voluntarily cutting spending to save money. The money just won’t be there.
The shortfalls in future years under the bill now on Brownback’s desk—estimated at more than $2 billion—mean dramatic spending cuts. The SGF is about $6 billion and change, so in the out-years, the cuts in state spending are going to be massive.
But, if you want to shrink government, that’s the best way to accomplish it. Instead of just fiscally responsibly spending a little less, make sure you have a lot less money to spend. Not exactly the grown-up way to go about it, but it works.
How that plays out after the elections, well, that’s a problem.
It does mean, for example, if the governor’s Medicaid overhaul program doesn’t save the state $800 million over the next few years, or the Supreme Court demands lawmakers spend more money on K-12 education, or the economy sours, there will be tax increases in the next two years.
Hmmm…those tax increases would become necessary just about the time the House and—oh my!—Brownback would stand for reelection. That’s what a too-big tax cut bill could cause if lawmakers don’t agree on a smaller tax cut proposal this year.
But, tame the Senate bill this year and we’re imagining conservative challengers to moderate senators will rail against that on TV and radio and in enough mailings to potential voters to give postal carriers hernias.
Think this is interesting now? This is just the first limbo dance, before the pole gets lowered…
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com.

GFWC Athena Club celebrates 90 years of service

submissions — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:30:50 +0000

The Gardner GWFC Athena Club District #2 poster winner is Moonlight Elementary student Audrey Sineath. Sneath is pictured with Juanita Rothaus, Club President and Ruth Hermon, Conservation Chair. Sineath was the grand prize winner and received a monetary prize, certificate and ribbon. Submitted photo

Juanita Rothaus
Club President
Congratulations and hats off to the GFWC Athena Club of Gardner for its 90 years of service to the Gardner and Edgerton communities.
The GFWC Athena Club of Gardner was founded, on a cold December day in 1922 by Mrs. Maurice Harrington and Miss Ward (later Mrs. Carl Nys) with the purpose of organizing a women’s study club for women in the community to enrich their lives on a monthly basis. The club met in Mrs. Harrington’s home or Harrington Hall, as it was also known. The “Hall” was located on Main St. just west of the Rankin apartments.
The Athena Club began with only 11 members. They became a part of the Greater Federation of Women’s clubs in 1923 following GFWC guidelines for projects and programs.
Today, 90 years strong, the GFWC Athena club still follows and participates in GFWC activities. Now known internationally, GFWC has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. We give goods, services, and time in volunteering to many, many various activities now and in years past.
The Athena Club has a rich history in Johnson County. It was one of the first active service clubs with an emphasis on children, education, music and the arts.
In 1923 the Athena Club sponsored a free art exhibit for children and adults. Club members purchased and planted 35 elm trees on the school grounds in 1924 to make it more beautiful. Athena members helped to start the cemetery board in 1933 and planted the maple trees along the north side of the cemetery.
Club members organized a PTA in 1947 that had 60 members; with officers all from the Athena Club. The PTA began the hot lunch program at the elementary school. The GFWC Athena Club was instrumental in getting kindergarten into our school system, one of the first in the state. The very first band uniforms were purchased by the Athena Club as well.
1960 was a big year for the Athena Club as it joined alongside the Gardner Grange and the study club to place a library in Gardner. This was one of the very first libraries in Johnson County, Kan. Club members were adamant that the library be free to all people.
It was also in this year that adult art classes were offered in Gardner and from that program was the employment of a full time art teacher at the Gardner High school.
Art is still a high priority to the GFWC Athena club members. They sponsor local students to participate in the GFWC Second District Art contest each spring.
The Athena Club is very proud of the fact that local high school students have won best of show at not only Second District but at the State contest. They also encourage the elementary students in art with a conservation poster contest for the Second District of GFWC. This would consist of schools from Paola, Olathe, Lawrence, Baldwin as well as Gardner-Edgerton. This year the overall grand prize winner of the poster contest was Audrey Sineath of Moonlight Elementary.
The GFWC Athena club currently has 20 members, with two of those members celebrating 50 years of service. We congratulate both Mrs. Minnie Ashmore, and Mrs. Flo Biehl on their many years of service. We celebrate our many years of being a part of the community and hope that you wish us well for many more years to come.

Bronco boys overcome Lousburg

submissions — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:30:26 +0000

Using timely hitting and solid pitching, the Spring Hill Bronco boys baseball squad swept Louisburg on May 9.
Spring Hill won the opener 11-0, and the nightcap 9-7 to improve to 15-5 on the season.
“We are playing real well right now,” said Coach David Londene, whose team will take a number one seed into this week’s Eudora regional. “I was real proud of the effort.”
In game one, Spring Hill jumped to a 4-0 lead after three innings and never looked back en route to an 11-0 win.
Zach Girrens was the winning pitcher and helped his cause collecting four hits and one home run.
Miles Updike also had a big night with three hits, including a double and home run. Also collecting two hits were Robbie Sharemet and Tony Bybee.
Things proved a bit more difficult in game two as Spring Hill posted a 9-7 win.
This time, Lake Johnson was the winning pitcher and Girrens got the save.
Sharemet let the offense going four-for-five with three singles and one double. Bybee added three hits and collected two RBI. Also collecting two hits were Carson King and Johnson.

Record setting year for Pioneer Ridge track

submissions — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:00:24 +0000

Pioneer Ridge seventh grader Jonas Pippitt turned in a top performance at the Frontier league meet in Louisburg, May 5. He took second place in the 400 and 800 dashes in near school record times and anchored the 800 relay to a gold medal. He also helped the 1600 relay to third place. Submitted photo

It was a record setting year for Coach Gordon Thiesfeld and his Pioneer Ridge Middle School track teams.
In boys’ eighth-grade competition, Danny Beyer leaped a record 17’1½” in the long jump. Beyer also teamed with James Carr-Hughes, Jordan Jones, and Chase Abram to set a new record in the 400 relay of 49.5.
For the seventh grade, the 800 relay of Jansen Ahrens, Jared Highfill, Zach Mitchell, and Jonas Pippitt set a new standard of 1:53.1.
In eighth-grade girls competition, Macey Elkinton set a new shot put record with a heave of 35’2 ½”.
Seventh-grader Healther Culbertson set a new discus record with a toss of 70’9″.
“It was an outstanding season,” said Thiesfeld. “The kids worked hard and really showed a lot of improvement in their events.”

GEHS, SHHS set to say farewell to class of 2012 this weekend

submissions — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:30:56 +0000

Danedri Thompson
dthompson@gardnernews.com
More than 460 local students officially will say farewell to childhood as Gardner Edgerton High School and Spring Hill High School host graduation ceremonies on Saturday.
Principals at both schools remininced about the class of 2012 and believe the future looks bright for members of the graduating class.
“They’ve been a great class,” Principal Tim Brady said of the soon-to-be 306 GEHS graduates. “They’re quality human beings, quality people. It’s a class with a lot of character.”
The class is the first set of GEHS graduates who attended separate middle schools, Brady said. They started seventh grade as one large class at Wheatridge Middle School and were divided into two schools when they entered eighth grade and Pioneer Ridge Middle School opened.
SHHS Principal Angelo Cocolis echoed similar sentiments about the approximately 165 SHHS graduates. The class achieved a variety of academic, athletic and extracurricular successes, Cocolis said.
“They’ve been a joy to have around,” Cocolis said. “A lot of them are going to be good friends for a long time. I’ve just felt very close to them.”
While the seniors in SHHS are enjoying their final days as high school students, Cocolis is doing the same. He will retire after more than 40 years in education at the end of this school year.
The graduation ceremony, Cocolis said, will be all about the students.
“We want to recognize each and every one of them,” he said. “It’s about the kids that just made it. It’s about the students that excelled. It’s about the student looking forward to going to the military. It’s about all of them and they’ve all contributed in one way or another. It’s about all of their accomplishments and their dreams, and the experiences they had in high school. I think they had a really nice experience.”
The SHHS graduation ceremonies will start at 4 p.m. on May 19 in the high school gym. Valedictorians of the SHHS class of 2012, and there are several, will each give brief remarks and the students will collect their diplomas.
In Gardner, graduation ceremonies will start at 10 a.m. on May 19 at the District Athletic Complex – provided the weather is nice.
“It looks like the weather is going to be perfect,” Brady said. “If it moves indoors, we’ll notify everyone by 7 a.m. if it has to be moved inside.”
If the ceremony is moved inside seating will be limited.
GEHS graduates will hear remarks from senior Laura Weimeyer, and faculty speaker Walt Cochran.
The graduates will also be treated to Project Graduation at New Century Fieldhouse. Hosted by GEHS parents, the event takes place that night and concludes early Sunday morning.
“There’s going to be a lot of fun activities,” Brady said. “It’s a good safe place for them to be on graduation night.”

Ceremonies

Gardner Edgerton
High School
10 a.m., May 19
USD 231 District Athletic Complex

Spring Hill
High School
4 p.m.
May 19
SHHS Gymnasium

Another man’s treasure

submissions — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:30:49 +0000

Staff photo by Danedri Thompson

Donna Hayes and son Ryan Hayes, Gardner, sort through garage sale items during a benefit sale for the American Legion Auxiliary last weekend. Hayes, an Auxiliary member, brought her son along to help. Funds raised from the sale will benefit veteran causes and local scholarships.

Consumers may be due partial refunds for tone-up sneakers

submissions — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:50:41 +0000

Some Kansas consumers may be due a partial refund for their Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups and Skechers Resistance Runner shoes.

The shoe company settled with Kansas and 42 other states to resolve allegations that Skechers made unsupported health claims in advertising for the shoes.

Though the sneaker company did not admit wrongdoing and denies allegations in the suit, Skechers has agreed to allocate up to $40 million for refunds nationwide.

“Deceptive marketing practices and failure to substantiate advertising claims prevents consumers from making informed purchasing decisions,” Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. “This settlement is a win for Kansas consumers.”

The lawsuit alleged that Skechers claimed their rocker-bottom shoes caused consumers to lose weight, burn calories, improve circulation, fight cellulite and firm, tone and strengthen thigh buttocks and back muscles. Skechers, the suit said, did not have adequate support for those claims.

Under terms of the settlement, the shoe company is prohibited from repeating the claims without substantiation in the future.

Kansas consumers who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Skechers Resistance Runner should go to www.ag.ks.gov for information about how to obtain a partial refund. Consumers can also contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at (800)432-2310 for more information.