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PUBLIC NOTICE
(Published in the Labette Avenue, Wednesday, February 11, 2009)
RESOLUTION NO. 2009-7-L
NATURE OF THE IMMINENT THREAT OF DISASTER:
The grassland and cropland of Kansas form an important part of our economy, and provide for protection of watersheds, forage for livestock, refuge for wildlife, and recreational opportunities. Wildfires endanger these resources, real and personal property, and the lives of residents and visitors in these areas. Extremely dry, hot, and windy weather conditions with temperatures above normal have created an extreme fire hazard in the grassland and cropland of Kansas. Fires have been reported throughout the county and have caused substantial damage. Once started, these fires are difficult to control and strain both paid and volunteer fire department manpower and resources. The fire danger is “extreme” in this county. The dry condition, above-normal temperatures and fire danger will continue unabated until sufficient rainfall occurs across the area.
It is hereby resolved, directed and ordered by the Board of County Commissioners of Labette County, Kansas, that the following acts are prohibited within the boundaries of this County by all citizens and visitors:
1. Careless use of smoking materials, including cigarettes, cigars and smoking pipes. Discard shall be in a manner to preclude threat from smoldering remains.
2. Building, maintaining, attending or using any open fire or camp fire except in permanent stoves or fireplaces or barbecue grills in developed recreational sites or residential lawns.
3. Prescribed burning of all fence rows, fields, wildland, ravines, trash and debris. Prescribed burning may be exempted from this order where such burning is necessary for crop survival and has been specifically approved in writing by the Fire Chief (or other appropriate officer) of this County. Crop survival is defined as stubble burning in preparation for second crop planting.
The knowing and willful violation of this Resolution shall constitute a Class C misdemeanor and any person convicted of such violation shall be punished as provided by law.
This Resolution shall be in full force and effect until action is taken by the Board of County Commissioners to terminate.
Dated this 5th day of February, 2009.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
LABETTE COUNTY, KANSAS
Lonie R. Addis, Chairperson
Brian C. Kinzie, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Linda Schreppel
Labette County Clerk

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PUBLIC NOTICE
(First published in the Labette Avenue, Wednesday, February 4 and 11, 2009)
NOTICE OF SPECIAL
QUESTION ELECTION
LABETTE COUNTY, KANSAS

The Board of County Commissioners, Labette County, Kansas, has heretobefore, pursuant to resolution duly adopted, declared it advisable to extend (retain) the current one percent (1%) County Wide Retailer’s Sales Tax for a period of five (5) years from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016.
NOTICE is hereby given to the qualified electors of the County that a special question will be submitted at the general election held on April 7, 2009 as follows:
Shall the following be adopted?
Shall a County Wide one percent (1%) Retailer’s Sales Tax be extended (retained) for a period of five (5) years from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016, all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 12-187 et seq.?
To vote in favor of the question darken the oval to the left of the word “Yes”.  To vote in opposition of the question darken the oval to the left of the word “No”.
O    YES
O     NO
The polls will be open at 7:00 o’clock A.M. and will close at 7:00 o’clock P.M., on April 7, 2009, the Election Day.  The voting places in the County, and the area each voting place will serve, will be as follows:
Voters Residing In    Will Vote At
Canada/Howard Township – Angola Community Center, Angola
Elm Grove Township – Edna Community Senior Center, Edna
Fairview/Hackberry Township – Christian Church, 100 W 3rd, Bartlett
Labette Township – Meadow View School, 1377 21000 Rd, Parsons
Liberty Township – Center Bethel Church, 1699 18000 Rd, Parsons
Montana/Neosho Township – Neosho Twp Fire Station, 25001 Wallace Rd, Parsons
Mound Valley Township – Mound Valley Community Center, Mound Valley
Mount Pleasant Township – 1st Baptist Church, 400 S Wabash, Altamont
North Township – Foursquare Church, Hwy 400 (E Main), Parsons
Osage Township – United Methodist Church, Dennis
Walton Township – Westside Christian Church – 5100 W Main, Parsons
Chetopa City/Richland Township – Masonic Lodge, 4th & Locust, Chetopa
Oswego City/Township – Community Bldg, 5th & Merchant, Oswego
Parsons – 1st Ward – First Baptist Church (Lobby New Bldg) 1621 Main, Parsons
Parsons– 2nd Ward  – Municipal Building (Basement), 112 S 17th, Parsons
Parsons – 3rd Ward  – First Christian Church, 1500 S 29th, Parsons
Parsons – 4th Ward  – Parsons Middle School Community Rm, 2710 Main, Parsons
The election will be conducted by the county election officer being the County Clerk as provided by law for holding elections, and the method of voting will be by ballot.  Registered voters are eligible to vote by advance voting ballot upon application to the County Clerk of Labette County whose address is Labette County Courthouse, 501 Merchant, Oswego, Kansas 67356 pursuant to K.S.A. 25-1117 et seq.
DATED: January 26, 2009.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
(First published in the Labette Avenue, Wednesday, February 4, 2009)
RESOLUTION NO. 2009-06-L    

A RESOULTUTION EXTENDING A ONE PERCENT (1%) COUNTY WIDE RETAILER‘S SALES TAX IN LABETTE COUNTY, KANSAS
WHEREAS, the qualified electors of Labette County previously authorized a one percent (1%) County Wide Retailer’s Sales Tax for a period of five (5) years which took effect on July 1, 2006; and
WHEREAS, said one percent (1%) County Wide Retailer’s Sales Tax will expire on the 30th day of June, 2011; and
WHEREAS, revenue derived from the sales tax is divided between Labette County and its incorporated cities and is used for reduction of property taxes.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LABETTE COUNTY, KANSAS:
1.) That a special question election be held in the manner prescribed by law on April 7, 2009 for the purpose of submitting to the qualified electors of Labette County the question of extending for an additional five (5) years the levying of the County Wide Retailer’s Sales Tax in the amount of one percent (1%).
2.) Such extension of said tax, if approved, to take effect on July 1, 2011 and end on June 30, 2016.
3.) This resolution shall become effective upon passage and its publication in the official county newspaper.
Adopted this 26th day of January, 2009.
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF LABETTE COUNTY, KS
Lonie R. Addis, Chairman
Brian C. Kinzie, Commissioner
Jack W. Martin, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Linda Schreppel, County Clerk

A Food Drive sponsored by the Kansas Food Bank will be held during the month of February. Radio KIND of Independence 102.9 will be at G & W Foods, in Oswego on Feb. 15 from 11:30 to 1 p.m.
A drop off will be available at G & W Foods, Chetopa Foods, and Chetopa First Baptist. All food will stay local. Monetary donations will be accepted through the local churches.
For more information, contact Clarence Newman, Chetopa First Baptist Church, (620) 236-7858.

A new family of three have moved to the Oswego area recently and have become active members of the community. Nathaniel Sharp is the new manager of the Sonic Drive-In.
Sharp grew up in Girard with three younger brothers, and his mom even comes and works at Sonic to help  him out occasionally. He has been in the restaurant business for 10 years off and on since he was 16.
Kristi Bohannon, formerly of Oswego, managed the new Oswego Sonic for several years and Sharp has worked for her, so he knows the operation. Bohannon is the daughter of Joe and Linda Schreppel of Oswego.
He and his wife Holly have a daughter, Skyla who is two years old. Holly works in the courthouse in the treasurer’s department.
“I’m here and I want the customers to be taken care of and I want you to come and tell me your complaints,” Sharp said. “Come to me first.”
The Sonic passed the health inspection last Thursday with flying colors. He has around 30 employees. Sharp works 11 to 12 hours daily and he feels your opinions are welcomed. He wants to get the orders out right. “Work with me, I am getting it back up to par and we just keep improving,” he said.
New equipment is being added and he gives his crew incentives as he works around their schedules.
The Sonic Drive-In had over $170,000 renovation on the outside last February.
A Valentine’s special is being offered, you can purchase sundae’s for 99 cents, with a variety of toppings.  In December of 2008,  the “Everyday Value Menu” was added. This offers a variety of menu items for only a $1.
Sonic was founded in 1945 in Shawnee, Oklahoma and his headquarters is in Oklahoma City, Okla. There are 3462 Sonic locations. Sonic recreates the drive-in diner feel of the 1950s, complete with carhops who sometimes wear roller skates. Happy Hour is held from 2 to 4 everyday. Your favorite soft drink can be purchased for half price.
The telephone number is 620-795-2747 and is located at 608 North Commercial in Oswego.

Nick LaPee, a junior at Chetopa High School, has been selected for the 1234A High School State Band that will perform at the Kansas Music Educators’ Association annual in-service workshop and convention that will be held in Wichita on Feb. 26-28.
Nick had to go through a district and state-wide audition process to reach this honor. Over 6000 students started this process last fall. From this number about 500 have been selected for the high honor of participating in one of the state honor groups which include 1234A Band, 56A Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Jazz Band.

Topeka – The House Transportation Committee has voted unanimously  to recommend House Bill 2045, legislation to designate bridge #85 located on U.S. 166 in Labette County as the Veterans Memorial Bridge be passed by the Kansas House of Representatives.
Representative Rich Proehl (R-Parsons) is sponsoring the bill.
“This matter has been discussed among the citizens of Chetopa since the new bridge was completed.  I am pleased the committee was so supportive of my district’s efforts to honor our veterans,” Rep. Proehl said.
The bill requires that before the state will put the designation signs, the VFW members must cover the cost of the signs and help defray future maintenance or replacement costs of the signs.  The fiscal note is $1,170.00.
The bill now goes to the full House for its consideration.
“This matter has been discussed among the citizens of Chetopa since the new bridge was completed. A survey was conducted through the Labette Avenue newspaper as to what the name the citizens would like to see on the bridge.  The consensus was overwhelmingly “Veterans Memorial Bridge,” Rep. Proehl told the committee.
Rep. Proehl was approached last summer by the Chetopa Memorial VFW Post #10508 to request the change.
“This is an opportunity to recognize and to honor the men and women who serve our country and fight for our freedom,” Rep. Proehl said.

Who do you know who has been a fire chief, taught EMT classes, owned and operated an ambulance service, served as a nurse in a local hospital as well as spent a tour in Viet Nam in the naval reserves and served in Operation Desert Storm with the US Army, built houses, worked in the Sheriff’s Department, become a physician’s assistant, raised nine kids, been run off by his future father-in-law, been a commander of the VFW, coached PeeWee baseball, had five heart attacks, two three-way heart by-passes, had a pacemaker and a couple of stints and still enjoys fishing, playing cards and tinkering in the garage?
This individual is none other than Harvey Fry. He laughingly tells the story about the future father-in-law who ran him off while he was dating his wife, Patty. At the time he was serving in the Naval Reserves. When he worked up the courage to come back and get married, he had no money and was given a free haircut at Jack’s Barber Shop in Oswego. Jack Wilkinson showed his appreciation for his serving in the military by giving him a free haircut. Harvey has never forgotten this.
Harvey talks about arriving in Oswego on a Friday night and going to work with his father-in-law on Monday building houses. The first house they built was Philip Blair’s house.
He worked in the Sheriff’s Department when Carl Cloke was sheriff. He acted as fire chief between 1978 and 1988. He and Patty started the ambulance service in 1979 until 1988. While owning the ambulance service, he taught EMT classes at Labette Community College between 1981 to 1986. Then he became a nurse at the Oswego Hospital between 1983 and 1986. He went to Viet Nam and then was in Desert Storm as a paramedic. He retired from the reserves after 26 years of active duty.
In 1986 he became a physician’s assistant until Jan. 31 when he retired from the clinic of St. John’s -  Oswego. With his medical history, he has seen both sides as a physician and as a patient.
Harvey and his wife, Patty Blair Fry, will be married 40 years on Feb. 21 of this year.  The couple have two of their own children, Jennifer Christine and Harvey IV. They have adopted seven other children. Only one, Allison, 17, is still at home. They have 5 granddaughters.
Harvey said he would enjoy speaking at Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs, service clubs and community organizations to share some of his vast experiences. He was a short-term member of Lions, Rotary and Jaycees. He was Commander of the VFW for two years and has coached PeeWee baseball.
When asked about his association with the clinic and Dr. Bortmes, he became very serious and said, “I have great respect for him; he is a brilliant doctor.” He said, “I have so many friends, wonderful patients after 14 years at the clinic. A lot of these people I knew before I went into medicine. They are more like family. Medicine has been very satisfying. I wish I had realized earlier my love for medicine.”
His health has become an issue, and he wants to relax and enjoy himself. He said, “I want to smell the roses before I start pushing up daisies.”
A retirement reception will be held for Harvey on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Oswego Community Center from 4 to 5:30 p.m. It will be a come and go reception. All friends, patients and family are urged to attend this city-sponsored event.

A special meeting was called Thursday in the commission room of the Parsons Municipal
Building, when the commissioners signed a resolution to issue a burn ban for Labette County.

It will be the standard grassland and cropland ban, which will include
exceptions for prescribe burning for crop survival if the burn has been
SPECIFICALLY APPROVED in wiring by the fire chief or other appropriate
officer. Crop survival is defined as stubble burning in preparation for
second crop planting.

The ban will continue until specifically lifted by the commission, based on
precipitation.

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Red Flag Warning National Weather Service Wichita KS 1047 AM CST Fri Feb 6 2009

…Extreme Fire Danger Can Be Expected Across The Entire Area This Afternoon…

Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-Mcpherson-Marion- Chase-Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick- Harper-Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery- Labette- 1047 AM CST Fri Feb 6 2009

A Red Flag Warning Remains In Effect Until 6 PM CST This Afternoon.

South Winds Will Increase To 25 To 35 Mph This Afternoon…With Near Record High Temperatures In The Upper 60s To Near 70. The Gusty Winds And Record Warmth Will Combine With Cured Vegetation To Create Extreme Fire Danger Conditions Across The Area.

A Red Flag Warning Means That Critical Fire Weather Conditions Are Either Occurring Now…Or Will Shortly. A Combination Of Strong Winds…Low Relative Humidity…And Warm Temperatures Will Create Explosive Fire Growth Potential.

Please Advise The Appropriate Officials Or Fire Crews In The Field Of This Red Flag Warning.

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WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT
UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING
Urgent - Weather Message National Weather Service Wichita KS 1046 AM CST Fri Feb 6 2009

Saline-Mcpherson-Marion-Chase-Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood- Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper-Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson- Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette- Including The Cities Of…Salina…Mcpherson…Marion… Cottonwood Falls…Hutchinson…Newton…El Dorado…Augusta… Eureka…Yates Center…Iola…Kingman…Wichita…Anthony… Harper…Wellington…Winfield…Arkansas City…Howard… Fredonia…Chanute…Erie…Sedan…Coffeyville…Independence… Parsons 1046 AM CST Fri Feb 6 2009

A Wind Advisory Remains In Effect Until 6 PM CST This Evening.

Surface Low Pressure Is Expected To Strengthen Over The Northern Plains This Afternoon. This Will Allow Strong South Winds To Overspread Southeast And South Central Kansas With Speeds Of 25 To 35 Mph Expected. Some Gusts To 45 Mph Will Be Possible At Times.

A Wind Advisory Means That Sustained Winds Of At Least 30 Mph And/Or Wind Gusts Over 45 Mph Are Expected. Winds This Strong Can Make Driving Difficult…Especially For High Profile Vehicles. Use Extra Caution.