Winter weather coming in this weekend, be prepared

With winter weather forecasted by the National Weather Service for this weekend including the possibility of accumulating snow, sleet and ice, area residents are encouraged to be prepared for changing conditions.  

Some areas may see a wintry mix or rain and freezing rain with some ice glazing.

If you plan to travel, use caution and make sure your car emergency kit is stocked. A car emergency kit should include bottled water for everyone; nonperishable, high-energy snack items; flashlights and batteries; a battery-operated radio; blankets; a compact snow shovel; extra medications; signal flares and other emergency supplies to allow you to survive until help can arrive. Make sure your gas tank is filled before you start and check engine fluid levels and tire pressures. Make sure your cell phone is fully charged and take a car charger with you.

It is a good idea to make sure your home emergency kit is well-stocked, too. To keep your family safe and prepared, make sure you have your emergency supplies up-to-date, including a safe alternative heat source if needed if you have one available.

Outdoor pets are especially vulnerable to bitter cold and extreme wind chills. Bring outdoor pets inside if possible or ensure that they have a draft-free enclosure with straw type bedding that is large enough to sit and lay down, but small enough to hold their body heat if they must remain outside. Always make sure that your pets have access to food and non-frozen water.

We will be monitoring the situation as it develops and work closely with our local media in getting out important updates as conditions can change quickly.

McKinney wins K-State Leadership scholarship

Kansas State University

Michael McKinney, a senior at McPherson High School, was awarded Kansas State University's Leadership Scholarship during ceremonies on February 16 at K-State. Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students, presented the award.

During K-State's annual Scholarship Day, students and their parents were guests of the university at a banquet. Throughout the day, they attended meetings with academic deans and student life officials.

Mohler Lecture at McPherson College Marks 40th Anniversary of Great Guest Speakers

McPherson College

For 40 years, the generosity of Dr. Robert and Mrs. Fern Shoemaker Mohler has brought prominent speakers and cultural programs to McPherson College – spanning academic disciplines and representing a wide range of human experience and thinking.

The first lecture in 1975 highlighted MC professor Dr. H.H. Nininger, famous for his work on meteorites and paleontology. In addition to providing information about Dr. Nininger’s lifetime of knowledge in meteorites, it also functioned as a 90th birthday party for both Dr. Nininger – the first speaker of the lecture series – and Dr. Moher – one of the lecture’s two benefactors.

Since then, speakers have included Dr. Elmer Staats, comptroller of the currency of the United States in 1982; “Roots” author Alex Haley in 1987; and Holocaust survivor Gerda Weissman Klein in 2003.

Susan Taylor, a granddaughter of Dr. Mohler who helps select the speakers every year, said Haley’s lecture always stood out in her mind.

“The audience was just spellbound,” she said. “It was more than an hour, but felt like a few minutes.”

Academic disciplines represented by Mohler lecture speakers have included; philosophy and religion, chemistry and nutrition, music performance, dance, medicine, automotive restoration, government and public policy, business, history, art, literature, politics, service, ecology, economics, agriculture, education, diversity, biology and more.

Roberta Reed, Dr. Mohler’s daughter, said the lecture series has been a way to honor his love of lifelong learning.

"It meant a lot to him,” Reed said, “To have a way to continue his legacy."

Taylor recalled other lectures that had a significant effect, both personally and across the McPherson community.

For example, in 1989 Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, inspired students to form a campus chapter of the non-profit that builds homes for low-income families. At the time, MC was the smallest college with a local chapter anywhere in the nation. That campus organization developed into the McPherson County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which even today continues to build homes.

When on the faculty, Taylor remembered the classroom visits from the lecturers as her favorite part of the series. In particular, she recalls MC alumnus Noel Grove, a writer for “National Geographic,” explaining to students how he got his start at the magazine. He would spend all night working on getting the captions just right. Taylor said Grove’s work ethic made a positive impression on her students.

The lecture is supported by permanent funds from the Mohler’s initial gift that are now held in the McPherson College endowment, meaning that the Mohler lecture will continue to bring great speakers to McPherson College for years to come.

This year’s Mohler lecturer is alumna Dr. Kathy Melhorn ’77 – an expert in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Dr. Melhorn will present “Child Abuse and Neglect: Do we have the Evidence and Courage We Need to Make a Difference?” starting at 4 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre on the campus of McPherson College. Her lecture will cover what researchers and physicians know about child abuse – and what researchers still need to learn.

The lecture is free and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

McPherson competing in statewide photo contest

Cindy Griggs

The City of McPherson is one of 64 towns competing in the League of Kansas Municipalities' Hometown Showdown photo contest. The contest is structured in a 64-team tournament style with multiple rounds of voting. Please support McPherson's entry in the first round by March 1 by liking it on the League's Facebook page.

Photos are identified by town in the caption.

www.facebook.com/LeagueofKansasMunicipalities

USD 418 Associate Superintendent interviewing for top job

McPherson USD 418 Associate Superintendent Chris Ruder is interviewing today for the Superintendent's post being vacated by Dr. Randy Watson. Watson will be Kansas next Education Commissioner, and will begin those duties July 1.

Mr. Ruder graduated from Fort Hays State University with a degree in mathematics. He earned his masters from Fort Hays State in administration and leadership in 2000 and is currently working on a doctorate degree at Kansas State University.

Mr. Ruder was a teacher and coach in Marysville and Salina prior to coming to McPherson as the Assistant Principal/Activities Director at McPherson High School in 2000. He has been the Associate Superintendent in McPherson since 2008.

All staff and public are invited to meet the candidate in the McPherson High School Little Theater from 3:45 - 4:30 for a "meet and greet" time hosted by MEA.

Interviews will continue Friday and next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Each candidate will have a meet and greet time from 3:45-4:30 on the day of their interview.

Public Meeting concerning Avenue A Sidewalk March 5

A Public Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building located at 400 East Kansas, regarding the construction of the Avenue A Sidewalk.

The sidewalk will be constructed from Wall Park to Deerfield Dr./Thunderbird St.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this project and are unable to attend, please contact the Public Works Department at 620-245-2545.

McPherson County sets Road and Bridge schedule

The McPherson County Public Works Department has released its Road and Bridge Schedule beginning February 25th.

Bridge replacement is underway on Old Highway 81 (CR 2043), between Comanche Road and Cimarron Road.

Box Extension will take place on 27th Avenue between Sioux Road and Shawnee Road.

Shouldering will continue between 24th Avenue and 27th Avenue on Smoky Valley Road.

Depending on the weather, the actual conditions encountered and requirements at each location could vary for the specific location each day.

The traveling public is urged to obey all traffic control devices and to use caution when traveling in the road construction areas listed.

As a reminder, the Kansas Legislature doubled the fines for any traffic violation in a work or construction zone area. Roadway maintenance work has become the No. 1 area for accidental death of any work area.

The Traffic Stop

Defective or Improper Equipment Violations;

Brakes & Horns — STO #173 & 174 and KSA 8-1738 kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1738.html

Lamps (Head, Tag, Tail, & Turn indicator) — STO #146, 147, 161 and KSA 8-1705, 1706, & 1721

kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1705.html

kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1706.html

kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1721.html

Mufflers — STO #175 and KSA 8-1739 kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1739.html

Tires — STO #178 and KSA 8-1742 kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1742.html

Windshields/Windows (rear or side) — STO #108, 177, & 181 and KSA 8-1576, 1741, 1749a

kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_15/8-1576.html

kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1741.html

kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/Chapter_8/Article_17/8-1749a.html

Bottom Line: Kansas law enforcement may stop drivers for violations of traffic and equipment ordinances. Equipment should be checked to be sure it is legal and in working order when you purchase your vehicle and regularly afterward. With some exceptions as listed at the links above, Kansas Statute requires motor vehicles be equipped with a functional set of brakes and a horn. Vehicles also need working head, tag, tail, and turn lights of the correct color, and visible from the designated distances. Vehicles must have a muffler to prevent excessive noise. Tire restrictions include accessories, measurement and tread –which are detailed in Statute. Windshields must be unobstructed, without excessive damage and with working wipers, and appropriate tint as listed. Check the links for answers to your questions and private message McPherson KS Police Department if you don’t find the correct answer. All equipment violations are non-moving and subject to a $30 fine, plus $55 court cost.

The “Traffic Stop” appears on Tuesdays and addresses topics of traffic enforcement in the City of McPherson.

The Traffic Section of Patrol Bureau organizes the “Traffic Stop” and welcomes suggestions on topics to address!

Call us if ANY question requires an immediate answer on our non-emergency line: (620)245-1200.

USD 418 Superintendent candiates to meet public following interviews

Candidates for McPherson USD 418 Superintendent will meet the public from 3:45-4:30 the day of their interview. Those interviews will happen Thursday, February 26th, Friday, February 27th, Monday, March 2nd, Tuesday, March 3rd and Wednesday March 4th. Candidate bios will be sent to the media the day before each interview. We plan to post information on the interviews as we are able.

Current McPherson USD 418 Superintendent Dr. Randy Watson has been named the next Kansas Commissioner of Education. He will start full time in Topeka on July 1.

McPherson High Senior awarded Leadership Scholarship from K-State

Riley Burghart, a senior at McPherson High School, was awarded a Leadership Scholarship from Kansas State University on February 16th.  The Leadership Scholarship is awarded to those students that have exhibited Leadership in their community, school, and church as well as having an exemplary GPA and ACT score.