Cessna Aircraft Company announced today (Thursday) it will cut 200 jobs from its Independence assembly plant in a round of company-wide layoffs that total 4,600 jobs.

Of the 4,600 total layoffs, 4,000 will also come from the company’s Wichita headquarters and assembly plant; 105 will come from a plant in Columbus, Ga.; and 120 will come from a plant in Bend, Ore. Cessna also announced it will close its Citation Service Center in Toledo, Ohio, at the end of March.

Jack Pelton, Cessna CEO, said in a letter to Cessna employees today that the company had originally planned to reduce 2,600 jobs several months ago. However, because of declining production levels, a total of 4,600 jobs will need to be eliminated.

Sixty-day layoff notices started to filter through the Cessna plants this morning, and more will be issued over the next few weeks, according to a Cessna spokesperson.

CHERRYVALE — Dozens of items are now being collected for a benefit auction on Saturday, Feb. 7 for Landon Windsor, the six-week-old infant son of Devin Windsor and Valerie Ross. The Windsor baby currently is at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Pa., where he is expected to undergo surgery this week for congenital hyperinsulinism — a pancreatic disorder in which too much insulin is secreted into the body.

Family members tell the Montgomery County Chronicle that Landon is scheduled for surgery on Friday, Jan. 30. Recovery time is expected to be between 10 and 14 days.

The benefit auction will be held at 1 p.m., at Cherryvale’s Logan Park Community Building, and organizers of the benefit auction say they are receiving numerous items, including a vacation trip to the Caribbean, to sell to the highest bidders. All proceeds from the auction will go to the Windsor family to defray medical and transportation costs.

Persons wishing to donate items to the auction are encouraged to give the items to Tina Cunningham before 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 2. An advertisement in next week’s Montgomery County Chronicle will list the items to be sold in the auction. Cunningham can be contacted at (620) 891-0072.

The Windsor and Ross families have relatives across Montgomery, Chautauqua and Wilson counties. Maternal grandparents are Pam Graves and George Ross Jr., of Fredonia. Maternal great-grandparents are Marvin and Darlene Daniel of Caney and Wanda Ross of Seattle, Wash.

Paternal grandparents are Steve and Michele Housel of Cherryvale and Mark Windsor of Sedan. Paternal great-grandparents include Nancy and Roger Rockwell of Cedar Vale, Carolyn and Arthur Wonser of Henning, Tenn., and Ted and Sonja Housel of Cherryvale.

In other events benefitting the Windsor infant:

• On Saturday, Jan. 31, local photographer Lasha McPherson, owner of Portrait Designs by Lasha, will be hosting a portrait event called “Best Friends” to raise funds for Landon Windsor.

The portrait event will feature best friends. From children to adults, each session may include you and up to three friends, your furry friend or stuffed buddies. A $25 donation includes the mini portrait session and a gift print.

For more information and to reserve a session time, contact Lasha at (620) 336-4043. You may view her photography on her web site www.portraitdesignsbylasha.com.

• Community National Bank, which has 19 branches in southeast Kansas, has established a fund for the Windsor family. Persons can take donations to any Community National Bank location.

BY RUDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

The wintertime air in the east part of Caney carries a faint aroma of hickory wood these days, thanks to a new business located in the Gunny Sack convenience store at Third Street and Highway 75.

Mette’s Ranch House is operating a carry-out barbecue business from inside the store which is owned by Dickie Rolls of Caney. Rolls also owns another Gunny Sack located three blocks to the north.

Mette’s features beef brisket, pull pork, glazed ham and polish sausage sandwiches and dinners, along with barbecue beans, potato salad and other sides.

“We’ve been open here for three weeks and business has been great,” said owner Milton Palasota. His partner in life and in business, Jimette Neese, works by his side as they serve mostly lunch-time meals.

The “Mette’s” name comes from Jimette, according to Palasota who developed quite a reputation in the smoked meats business at Coffeyville before the flood of 2007 took away his business site — and their home.

“We lived only two blocks from the Ranch House barbecue,” said Jimette. “Just recovering from that flood has taken a lot of time and effort,” she said.

After they flood, they lived in a small RV vehicle which was one of the only possessions they saved. “I lost my car and just about everything in the house,” she said.

They then moved to a FEMA trailor at Independence and only recently found a rent house in Coffeyville.

But things are looking up for Milton and Jimette, especially if you ask their customers who line up at a serving window located inside the store.

“Once they start coming, they never stop,” said Milton. “The people of Caney are so friendly, and they seem appreciative of finding good barbecue.”

Palasota, who is a former packaging company executive, is now working on finding other locations, perhaps at Bartlesville, Coffeyville and Independence, and they like the idea of providing sit-down dining.

“Right now, this is working great,” said Palasota, “but people still like to come inside, order their food then sit down and eat.”

Mette’s serves only choice grade beef and they smoke their meats daily.

Mette’s Ranch House is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, serving lunch through early evenings.

(Published in the Montgomery County Chronicle on Thursday, Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 5, 2009)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KAN.

National City Mortgage Co., (Plaintiff)
vs.
Michael R. Stevens, et al (Defendants)
No. 08CV68I
Div. No.
K.S.A. 60
Mortgage Foreclosure

NOTICE OF
SHERIFF’S SALE
Under and by virtue of an Order of Sale issued by the Clerk of the District Court in and for the said County of Montgomery, in a certain cause in said Court Numbered 08CV68I, wherein the parties above named were respectively plaintiff and defendant, and to me, the undersigned Sheriff of said County, directed, I will offer for sale at public auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand at the south door of Judicial Center in the City of Independence in said County, on February 19, 2009, at 2:00 pm, of said day the following described real estate located in the County of Montgomery, State of Kansas, to wit:
LOT 14, RIVERVIEW ADDITION #2, CITY OF INDEPENDENCE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS Commonly known as 813 E Main, Independence, Kansas 67301
This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Robert Dierks, sheriff
Montgomery County, Kan.
SHAPIRO & MOCK, LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff
6310 Lamar- Ste. 240
Overland Park, KS 66202
(913)831-3000
Fax No. (913)831-3320

* * * *

(Published in the Montgomery County Chronicle on Thursday, Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 5, 2009)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KAN., CIVIL DEPARTMENT

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company as Trustee For First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust 2006-FF1 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-FF1 (Plaintiff)
vs.
Jason D. Clark and Shelley J. Clark, et al. (Defendants)
Case No. 08CV156I
Court Number:
Pursuant to K.S.A. Chapter 60

Notice Of Sale
Under and by virtue of an Order of Sale issued to me by the Clerk of the District Court of Montgomery County, Kansas, the undersigned Sheriff of Montgomery County, Kansas, will offer for sale at public auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand, at the the South door of the Judicial Center of the Courthouse at Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, on February 12, 2009, at 2:00 PM, the following real estate:
All that following described estate, situated in the County of Montgomery and state of Kansas, to-wit:
Beginning at a point on the East line of Lot 1, Section 4, Township 35, Range 16 where the South line of right of way of Missouri Pacific Railroad intersects the East line of said Lot 1, thence South 191 feet, thence West 288 feet, thence Northeasterly to a point on the South right-of-way line of said railroad (said point being 276 feet northwesterly of the point of beginning), being measured along the south line of said right-of-way, thence southeasterly 276 feet along the south line of said right-of-way to the point of beginning, except any part taken or deed for road, street, right of way and/or ingress-egress purposes., commonly known as 1677 County Road 4500, Coffeyville, KS 67337 (the “Property”)
to satisfy the judgment in the above-entitled case. The sale is to be made without appraisement and subject to the redemption period as provided by law, and further subject to the approval of the Court. For more information, visit www.Southlaw.com.
Robert Dierks, sheriff
Montgomery County, Kan.
South & Associates, P.C.
Mark Mellor (KS #10255)
6363 College Boulevard, Suite 100
Overland Park, Kansas 66211
(913) 663-7600
(913) 663-7899 (Fax)
Attorneys For Plaintiff (70569)

* * * *

(Published in the Montgomery County Chronicle on Thursday, Jan. 22, 29 and Feb. 5, 2009)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS

Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as Trustee (Plaintiff)
vs.
Thomas Mattox, et al (Defendants)
No. 08CV104I
Div. No.
K.S.A. 60
Mortgage Foreclosure

NOTICE OF
SHERIFF’S SALE
Under and by virtue of an Order of Sale issued by the Clerk of the District Court in and for the said County of Montgomery, in a certain cause in said Court Numbered 08CV104I, wherein the parties above named were respectively plaintiff and defendant, and to me, the undersigned Sheriff of said County, directed, I will offer for sale at public auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand at the south door of Judicial Center in Independence in the City of Independence in said County, on February 19, 2009, at 10:00 am, of said day the following described real estate located in the County of Montgomery, State of Kansas, to wit:
LOT 83, COLLEGE CREST ADDITION NO. 3, CITY OF INDEPENDENCE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS. Commonly known as 934 Crescent Dr, Independence, Kansas 67301
This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Robert Dierks, sheriff
Montgomery County, Kan.
SHAPIRO & MOCK, LLP
Attorneys for Plaintiff
6310 Lamar- Ste. 240
Overland Park, KS 66202
(913)831-3000
Fax No. (913)831-3320

* * * *

(First published in the Montgomery County Chronicle on Thursday, Jan. 22 and subsequently on Jan. 29, and Feb. 5, 2009)

IN THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF LABETTE COUNTY, KANSAS, SITTING AT PARSONS

In the interest of: KENYON HARRIS: DOB 2006 A child less than 18 years of age.
Case No: 07 JC 87 PA

A NOTICE OF HEARING
TO: Zachariah Harris and all other persons who are or may be concerned:
A petition has been filed alleging the above captioned child to be a child in need of care and a Motion for Termination has been filed in this court requesting that the court terminate the parental rights of the above named child or children.
You are required to appear before this court at 11:00 a.m. on March 24, 2009 at the Judicial Center in Parsons, Kansas or prior to that time file your written response to the pleading with the clerk of this court. If, after a child has been adjudged to be a child in need of care, the court finds a parent or parents to be unfit, the court may an order terminating the parent’s or parents’ parental rights.
Timothy Grillot, an attorney, has been appointed as guardian ad litem for the child or children. Each parent or other custodian of the child or children has the right to appear and be heard personally either with or without an attorney. The court will appoint an attorney for a parent who is financially unable to hire one.
BY: Hillary McKinney
Labette County Attorney

* * * *

(Published in the Montgomery County Chronicle on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009)

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
January 29, 2009
City of Cherryvale
123 W. Main
Cherryvale, KS 67335
On or about February 5, 2009 the City of Cherryvale will submit a request to the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC) for the release of HOME Investment Partnerships funds under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12701 et seq.), as amended, to undertake a project known as Housing Rehabilitation for the purpose of rehabilitating approximately 16 owner occupied low-income homes, with a grant of $300,000 and matching funds of $58,500 in the city limits of Cherryvale, Montgomery, Kansas..

The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file with the City of Cherryvale at 123 W. Main and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 A.M to 5 P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Cherryvale. All comments received by February 4, 2009 will be considered by the City of Cherryvale prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

RELEASE OF FUNDS
The City of Cherryvale certifies to KHRC that John M. Wright in his capacity as Mayor consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. KHRC’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Cherryvale to use HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
KHRC will accept objections to its release of fund and the City of Cherryvale’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Cherryvale; (b) the City of Cherryvale has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by KHRC; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to KHRC at 611 S Kansas Avenue, Suite 300, Topeka, Kansas 66603. Potential objectors should contact KHRC to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
John M. Wright, Mayor

* * * * *

(Published in the Montgomery County Chronicle on Thursday, Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and 12, 2009)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KAN., CIVIL DEPARTMENT

Chase Home Finance LLC (Plaintiff)
vs.
Gerard G. Williams and Stephanie Williams, et al. (Defendants)
Case No. 08CV151I
Court Number:
Pursuant to K.S.A. Chapter 60

Notice Of Sale
Under and by virtue of an Order of Sale issued to me by the Clerk of the District Court of Montgomery County, Kansas, the undersigned Sheriff of Montgomery County, Kansas, will offer for sale at public auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand, at the the South door of the Judicial Center of the Courthouse at Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, on February 19, 2009, at 2:00 PM, the following real estate:
Beginning at the NE corner of the NE/4 of Section 32, Township 32, Range 16, Montgomery County, Kansas, thence West 311 feet, thence South 1,478 feet more or less to the North bank of ravine, thence Northeasterly along the North edge of the ravine to the East line of said NE/4, thence North to place of beginning, lying South of U.S. Highway 160, Montgomery County, Kansas, EXCEPT a tract of land located in a portion of the NE/4 of Section 32, Township 32 South, Range 16 East of the 6th P.M., Montgomery County, Kansas, and being more particularly described as follows:
Commencing at the NE corner of the NE/4 of said Section 32; THENCE South 00 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds East (assumed bearing) along the East line of said NE/4 a distance of 382.90 feet to the South right of way line of U.S. Highway 160, and the POINT OF BEGINNING of the herein described tract of land;
THENCE continuing South 00 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds East along the East line of said NE/4 a distance of 589.00 feet;
THENCE North 88 degrees 27 minutes 54 seconds West a distance of 165.00 feet;
THENCE North 00 degrees 23 minutes 46 seconds East a distance of 534.00 feet to said South right of way line of U.S. Highway No. 160;
THENCE North 72 degrees 34 minutes 49 seconds East along said South right of way line a distance of 169.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, commonly known as 2115 E. Main Street, Independence, KS 67301 (the “Property”)to satisfy the judgment in the above-entitled case. The sale is to be made without appraisement and subject to the redemption period as provided by law, and further subject to the approval of the Court. For more information, visit www.Southlaw.com.
Robert Dierks, sheriff
Montgomery County, Kan.
South & Associates, P.C.
Mark Mellor (KS #10255)
6363 College Boulevard, Suite 100
Overland Park, Kansas 66211
(913) 663-7600
(913) 663-7899 (Fax)
Attorneys For Plaintiff (92582)

* * * *

(Published in the Montgomery County Chronicle on Thursday, Jan. 29, Feb. 5 and 12, 2009)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KAN., CIVIL DEPARTMENT

Countrywide Home Loans Servicing LP (Plaintiff)
vs.
Judy A. Crumrine, et al. (Defendants)
Case No. 08CV152I
Court Number:
Pursuant to K.S.A. Chapter 60

Notice Of Sale
Under and by virtue of an Order of Sale issued to me by the Clerk of the District Court of Montgomery County, Kansas, the undersigned Sheriff of Montgomery County, Kansas, will offer for sale at public auction and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand, at the the South door of the Judicial Center of the Courthouse at Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, on February 19, 2009, at 2:00 PM, the following real estate:
Lot 6, Cresthill Addition to the City of Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, commonly known as 201 Crestview Drive, Independence, KS 67301 (the “Property”)
to satisfy the judgment in the above-entitled case. The sale is to be made without appraisement and subject to the redemption period as provided by law, and further subject to the approval of the Court. For more information, visit www.Southlaw.com.
Robert Dierks, sheriff
Montgomery County, Kan.
South & Associates, P.C.
Tricia M. Oldridge (KS #18213)
6363 College Boulevard, Suite 100
Overland Park, Kansas 66211
(913) 663-7600
(913) 663-7899 (Fax)
Attorneys For Plaintiff (92556)

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

Montgomery County commissioners on Monday discussed the merits of researching whether a county manager position can function properly in the county’s central government.

The discussion on a county manager position was first broached last Friday at a meeting of the Independence Rotary Club, where Rotarians heard a presentation from Butler County officials about that county’s manager position. County commissioners Tony Fowler and Larry McManus were present at that Rotary meeting.

To follow up on Friday’s presentation, commissioners on Monday discussed how best to investigate and research the county manager position for Montgomery County and whether that position can function properly.

Fowler said he was impressed to hear that the Butler County manager was able to cite ways he saved money for the county, thereby justifying the salary of that administrative position.

“If they could produce the proof that a county manager can somehow conduct county business and allows his operations day to day while also justifying his salary, I would be interested in hearing more about it,” said Fowler.

Commissioner Fred Brown of Coffeyville said he was also interested to know how a county manager would be able to interact in a county government setting, where most of the department chiefs are elected by the people.

Fowler said there were pros and cons to having a county manager position but that he was willing to have further research done on that subject.

“I think we need to nip this issue one way or another,” he said. “If we need to have a blue-ribbon committee organized to look at the issue, then I would be interested in having that committee.” Fowler also said he was interested in reading a letter to the editor written several years ago by Independence attorney Jeff Chubb, who, Fowler said, detailed the advantages of a county manager form of government.

In other business transacted at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:

• approved to spend $5,170 from the county’s 911 communication fund to relocate the sheriff’s department tower system from atop the Montgomery County Courthouse to the KIND radio transmitter near Elk City Lake. KIND will charge Montgomery County a $75 monthly fee to allow the sheriff’s department repeater device to be located on its tower. In return, Montgomery County will mow the one-half acre area where the KIND radio transmitter is located.

Hall Communications of Fredonia was chosen to remove the repeater to the KIND tower site. Hall Communications will be paid $5,170 for the service.

• agreed to have the public works director and county sheriff jointly recommend whether the county courthouse should be closed during inclement weather. The recommendation will be forwarded to county commissioner Larry McManus, who will then contact county clerk Charlotte Scott-Schmidt to contact the media and county department chiefs about the courthouse’s closure.

• awarded a bid for extermination services for the county courthouse and judicial center to CPR Pest Management of Independence, which submitted the lowest bid among a total of three vendors.

• were informed by the county treasurer that a sale of delinquent tax properties will be held later in the fall 2009. Delinquent tax sales are held every other year. Properties that qualify for the sale are those whose property owners have not paid property taxes for three years.

Clubine said 700 parcels of property were sold in previous countywide sales, however she said she anticipated a lower number of parcels in 2009.

In action taken by the commission at last Thursday’s meeting, commissioners:

• agreed to retain the official county newspaper for legal notice designation on a rotational basis between the Independence Daily Reporter, Coffeyville Journal and Montgomery County Chronicle. The Coffeyville Journal will be the official county newspaper for legal notices in 2009.

• agreed to join the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, a consortium of southeast Kansas counties, with yearly dues of $7,837. The commission also voted unanimously to join the Kansas Association of Counties with yearly dues of $7,304. Randall Allen, executive director of the Kansas Association of Counties, made a presentation to the commission about the benefits of joining the organization.

BY ANDY TAYLOR
Montgomery County Chronicle

INDEPENDENCE —Independence school district officials are keeping close contact with state lawmakers this week concerning potential cuts in state funding for school improvements projects in local districts.

A bill now pending in a Kansas Senate committee — Senate Bill 20 — would put a delay on the state’s commitment to pay for local construction projects beginning this year. Independence school district patrons will decide next Tuesday, Feb. 3 whether to approve a bond project for $45.1 million in improvements to local schools. As part of the project, some 32 percent of the total project would be financed through state assistance.

In a joint statement issued by USD 446 superintendent Chuck Schmidt and USD 446 Board of Education president Carole Farthing, the two officials said the school board would not issue any bonds until the state assistance — or some other comparable financing package — was in place.

“In the unlikely event that state aid is suspended, the USD 446 Board of Education pledges that it will not sell bonds until the state aid is available, or until there is a viable alternative other than local property tax to replace the state aid. The Board is committed to keeping the property tax portion of our project at or near the current 17% level. If that isn’t possible, the bonds will not be sold,” Farthing and Schmidt said in the statement.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has issued a proposed 2009 budget that would not impact state aid for school construction projects. Senate Bill 20 would put a two-year delay on the state’s commitment to new construction projects.

And, the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday approved Senate Bill 23, which calls for a 3.4 percent across-the-board cut to most, if not all, state programs or commitments to state projects.

Those two bills – Senate Bill 20 and Senate Bill 23 — have yet to be voted on by the entire Kansas Senate.

Said Farthing and Schmidt, “Regardless of what happens in Topeka, the Board believes the district needs to move forward with plans because the proposed facility improvements are needed for this community to grow, prosper and attract young families and quality new teachers; our community will benefit from the economic stimulus it will provide during this slumping economy; and, most importantly, because it is important to the future of Independence school children.”

A story in the Jan. 22 edition of the Montgomery County Chronicle had specific details about the $45.1 million bond issue proposal to be voted on by Independence school voters on Feb. 3.

* * * *

NOTE: The Montgomery County Chronicle will use its website (www.taylornews.org) to announce results of the Feb. 3 special election questions in USD 446-Independence. Go to the website shortly after 7:30 p.m., to begin seeing the first sets of election results.

Announcement of the results also can be heard at 7 a.m., Wednedsay on the morning newscast for KGGF (690 AM).

Cherryvale High School basketball fans are encouraged to wear pink to the Cherryvale/Neodesha games at Neodesha on Friday, Jan. 30 to salute the 2009 Cancer Awareness Week.

The CHS Lady Charger basketball team has been selling pink T-shirts this week to recognize the nationwide cancer awareness campaign. Sales from the T-shirts will go to the American Cancer Society in memory of Bob Kirby, a longtime Cherryvale resident who lost his battle with cancer on Jan. 9. Two of Bob’s daughters, Roberta Housel and Melissa Niemier, are employees in USD 447. Kirby also is survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who attend USD 447 schools.

Members of the Cherryvale basketball teams will be wearing the pink T-shirts during the warm-up portion of the Jan. 30 games.

For more information about the T-shirt sales, contact Casi Addis at Cherryvale Middle-High School at (620) 336-8100.

CANEY — The 2009 Caney Valley High School Winter Sports Homecoming Queen and King will be crowned Friday night, Jan. 30, as CVHS basketball teams host the Eureka Tornadoes.

The coronation will take place at the halftime of the varsity men’s basketball game.

Five CVHS senior men and women are vying for the royalty honors. The king candidates are James Albee, Ethan Elsheimer, Kyle Kuehn, Branden Stephens and Brad Terry. Queen candidates are Jessica Larkin, Courtney Lay, Morgan Rolls, Halie Simmons and Lindsey Sims. All candidates are members of winter sports teams or cheerleading squads.

Following the game, CVHS students and their dates are invited to a homecoming dance in the CVHS Cafeteria.

To get students and faculty into the spirit of the week, special activities have been designated for each day. However, inclement weather on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week shut down local schools, thereby putting a dent in spirit week events. On Friday, Jan. 30, students and faculty are encouraged to wear Bullpup apparel to school and the basketball games.

A federal lawsuit has been filed by the family of a Montgomery County Jail inmate who died in 2007 after being hit with a pair of electrical shocks from a taser gun.

The family of Michael Hartshorn filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court last week. Randy Rathbun, a Wichita attorney, is representing the Hartshorn family.

According to the complaint filed by the Hartshorn family, Michael Hartshorn was an inmate in the Montgomery County Jail in March 2007 after being convicted of his fourth driving under the influence violation. He was sentenced to 90 days in the county jail, and his sentence began on March 9.

The complaint says Hartshorn, who was 38 years old, suffered from long-term alcohol addiction and had previously experienced seizure problems when “detoxing off” alcohol for a period of time.

Family members had arranged a visit with Hartshorn four days after he was booked into jail. However, when making the call to jail officials to schedule a visit, a chaplain had arrived at the family’s home in Wichita to alert them that Michael had been found dead in his jail cell that morning, the complaint said.

The Hartshorn family attempted to contact then-Sheriff Stan Veach and other jail employees to ascertain how Michael died. The complaint claims that the jail officials “were openly hostile” to the Hartshorn family.”

“The only thing the Hartshorns were told that ‘this is an ongoing investigation — the only thing we can tell you is that your son assaulted an officer,’” the complaint said. “These complaints were false and made with the express purpose of covering up the conduct of the defendants.”

In November 2007, a Butler County judge ordered the appointment of a special administrator to investigate the Michael Hartshorn’s cause of death and determine if any civil action should be taken as a result of the investigation’s findings. The investigation determined that on March 12, 2007, Michael Hartshorn had become delusional and began to hallucinate from delirium tremens, the complaint said. Hartshorn spoke to other inmates of trying to help people who he believed were trapped under the floor. In the state of hallucinations, he believed the jail cell was an elevator. Jail officials then placed Hartshorn in a separate cell for observation.

The complaint alleges that Hartshorn was placed in restraints that evening and was “brutally tasered” by two employees of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department: Eniseli Maalaelu and Nick Bradford.Early on March 13, another jail inmate heard Hartshorn chocking in his cell. The jail inmate, whose name was not disclosed, yelled for jail guards to assist Hartshorn, however the inmate’s attempt to seek the guards’ attention, which lasted about 20 minutes. was ignored.

Hartshorn suffered from delirium tremens, which is a condition prominent in persons who suffer from alcohol abuse, the complaint aid. When not treated, delirium tremen can be fatal, the complaint said. The complaint said the Montgomery County Sheriff and jail officials were aware of Hartshorn’s medical condition, which included seizures from alcohol withdrawal.

“The sheriff is responsible for the medical treatment of those confined in the Montgomery County Department of Corrections,” the complaint said. “He is likewise responsible for the training of those who work in the jail. The sheriff failed to train the individual defendants on the appropriate use of Tasers and the correct manner of providing medical care to individuals suffering from severe delirium tremens.”

The Hartshorn family is seeking more than $75,000 in damages, plus payment of attorney costs and other court fees.

The Hartshorn lawsuit is the second lawsuit filed against then-Sheriff Stan Veach and other sheriff’s department employees in recent months. In October, attorneys for Blanca J. Herrera filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan., seeking $3 million in damages. Herrera contends that corrections officer Nick Bradford fired a taser gun at her after Herrera and another female inmate got in a fight in the county jail in May 2007.

Herrera alleges that she was pregnant at the time of the incident. Herrera was denied medical attention for 24 hours, even though she requested to see a nurse or director, according to the complaint.Herrera further claims that when she was finally given medical attention, the actual medical treatment was not given. As a result she suffered a severe staph infection, and her unborn child was involuntarily aborted as a result of the incident.

She also had to undergo psychological counseling due to her injuries and the loss of the unborn child.Taser guns are used by law enforcement officials as a non-lethal alternative to rowdy behavior. The taser weapon ejects a pair of needle-like probes into the a person’s body. The probes then discharge a series of electrical shocks that impair a person’s muscular system, rendering them immobile. The muscular system normally is functional once the electrical discharges cease.