Monthly Archives: September 2010

David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower to celebrate Ike’s birthday in Abilene

Sept. 30, 20107:07 p.m.
President Dwight Eisenhower

President Dwight Eisenhower

David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower

David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower

ABILENE — David and Julie Nixon Eisenhower will be in Abilene next month as part of the celebration of the 120th birthday of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The pair will release and sign advance copies of their new book “Going Home to Glory,” a memoir primarily by David Eisenhower on his grandfather’s life after the presidency.

David Eisenhower is the director of the Institute for Public Service at the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania.

His wife, the daughter of former President Richard Nixon, is an author and is active in civic causes in the Philadelphia area.

The couple are scheduled to attend a book talk, signing and reception at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 — President Eisenhower’s birthday — in the visitors center at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, 200 SE 4th St., Abilene.

Although the book is not scheduled for release to bookstores until Oct. 26, a limited number of copies will be available for purchase at the museum gift shop, officials said.

The book signing will be one of several events marking the birthday celebration, including:

Wednesday — Bruce Hoff of the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio will portray Eisenhower as he was during his time as a World War II general and greet visitors to the museum.

Oct. 14 — Kansas Veterans of Foreign Wars will stand vigil at Eisenhower’s gravesite at the library complex. The vigil will begin at 4:30 p.m. and continue overnight.

Oct. 15 — The annual Legacy Dinner will be held in the Library building, with reception at 6:15 p.m. and dinner at 7. The featured speaker is author Geoff Loftus. Cost is $60, or $75 including a copy of Loftus’ book, “Lead Like Ike: Ten Business Strategies from the CEO of D-Day.” Reservations are required by Oct. 8.

Oct. 16 — Brig. Gen. David Petersen and Command Sgt. Major Darrell “Buddy” Wallace, of the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, will participate in a 10:30 a.m. procession and wreath-laying ceremony at Eisenhower’s burial site. The ceremony will be followed by the Kansas American Legion Annual Pilgrimage at the Eisenhower statue in the center of the complex.

For more information on any of the events, call the museum at 877-746-4453.

By Dion Lefler | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

NRA endorses Six for attorney general

Sept. 30, 201011:20 a.m.

TOPEKA – The National Rifle Association has thrown its support behind incumbent Attorney General Steve Six.

“On behalf of the National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund and the tens of thousands of NRA members in Kansas, I am pleased to inform you of your ‘A’ rating and endorsement in the 2010 General Election for Attorney General,” Randy Kozuch, Director of State and Local Affairs at the NRA, wrote to Six’s campaign.

The association noted that Six had joined a “friend of the court” legal brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case McDonald v. Chicago. The brief argued that the Second Amendment guarantees a right that applies to all Americans.

“I’ve focused on keeping politics out of the Attorney General’s office and making the priority enforcing Kansas laws,” Six said in a written statement. “This endorsement is recognition of my commitment to protecting Second Amendment rights and the rights of Kansans to defend themselves.”

Six, a Democrat, is running against Senate Republican Leader Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, for the state’s top prosecutor position.

By | Filed under Election 2010 | Comments

Rallies planned for Kansas voting rights amendment

Sept. 30, 201011:14 a.m.

From Associated Press

Proponents of amending the Kansas Constitution to protect the voting rights of the mentally ill are planning six rallies before the Nov. 2 election.

The Kansas Mental Health Coalition is pushing the change, which must be approved by a simple majority of voters to become part of the constitution.

The rallies are scheduled Oct. 7 in Garden City, Oct. 11 in Independence, Oct. 12 in Hays, Oct. 15 in Olathe, Oct. 15 in Topeka and Oct. 18 in Wichita.

The proposed change would eliminate language in the constitution that authorizes legislators to deny voting rights to people with mental illness.

Kansas doesn’t bar voting by people with mental illness, but supporters say the change would be a meaningful step.

By Marcia Werts | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Former KBI director to help chair Schmidt’s attorney general campaign

Sept. 30, 201011:07 a.m.

TOPEKA – Former Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Larry Welch will help chair Sen. Derek Schmidt’s campaign for attorney general, the campaign announced Thursday.

“Year in and year out, Derek Schmidt has been a reliable friend of law enforcement in the Statehouse, and he will make a great attorney general for Kansas. I strongly support him,” said Welch in a written statement.

Schmidt, the Senate Republican leader, is running for attorney general against incumbent Democrat Steve Six.

Welch served as KBI director for 13 years and was first appointed to the post by former Attorney General Bob Stephan in July 1994.

Welch cited Schmidt’s work in creating the Sheriff Matt Samuels Act, which helped reduced the number of meth labs, as well as the senator’s support of the death penalty and work with legislation targeting child predators.

“Larry Welch is a respected leader in the Kansas law enforcement community,” Schmidt said. “His counsel and leadership are major contributions to our campaign for attorney general.”

By | Filed under Election 2010 | Comments

Congress candidates Goyle and Pompeo duel over health care at Chamber debate

Sept. 29, 20103:16 p.m.
Goyle

Goyle

Pompeo

Pompeo

Congressional candidates Raj Goyle and Mike Pompeo clashed over health care at a debate this afternoon.

Goyle, a Democratic state representative from Wichita, argued for keeping some parts of the national health-care law passed earlier this year that he says help families and seniors, but supported repealing a tax provision he sees as onerous for businesses.

Pompeo, a Republican national commiteeman and oilfield services executive, said he wants to repeal the entire law and start over.

The two squared off at a luncheon of the Wichita Metro Area Chamber of Commerce at the Airport Hilton Hotel. Read More »

By Dion Lefler | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Parkinson endorses Six for state’s top attorney job

Sept. 29, 20101:40 p.m.

steve_sixGov. Mark Parkinson endorsed state Attorney General Steve Six on Wednesday in the race for the job of the state’s top prosecutor.

“In just three years, Attorney General Six has turned the Attorney General’s office around by focusing on the right priorities instead of political agendas,” said Parkinson,a Democrat, in a written statement.

Six, a Democrat, was appointed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in 2008 to serve the remainder of the term when former Attorney General Paul Morrison stepped down after admitting to an affair with a staffer.

Six is now running against Senate Republican Leader Derek Schmidt, of Independence, in November’s election.

“Working with Governor Parkinson, we’ve cut our own taxpayer funded budget almost in half while at the same time protecting vital funding that is being used to eliminate the DNA backlog and keep sexually violent predators off the streets and away from our children,” Six said.

By | Filed under Election 2010 | Comments

Sedgwick County rejects only bid for property at Waterman and Washington

Sept. 29, 201011:36 a.m.

Sedgwick County received only one bid for a piece of property it owns at Waterman and Washington. Commissioners voted this morning to reject the $236,000 bid from Leslie Rudd Investments and Affiliates.

The county purchased the property to make improvements at that intersection before the opening of Intrust Bank Arena.

The county didn’t end up needing all of the property and put it up for sale using a sealed bid process.

What’s next for the property is unclear.

After receiving only one bid, the county contacted developers to determine why response was so limited. Some said they didn’t like the sealed bid process. Other said they were only interested in the property with the existing buildings on it.

By Deb Gruver | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Sedgwick County gives forgivable loan to Cargill

Sept. 29, 201010:50 a.m.
Cargill opened a new office building in 2007 for employees of the soybean oil and salad dressings department.

Cargill opened a new office building in 2007 for employees of the soybean oil and salad dressings department.

Sedgwick County commissioners this morning approved a $40,000 forgivable loan to Cargill Meat Solutions.

Cargill is building a new 70,000-square-foot facility between First and Second streets in downtown Wichita.

As part of an incentive package involving the state, county, city and the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition, Cargill has agreed to maintain 50 jobs and create 10 new jobs in the next five years with an average salary of $73,500.

By Deb Gruver | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Commissioner urges “Little Engine that Could” attitude about downtown development

Sept. 29, 201010:38 a.m.

Downtown renderingWhile some of his colleagues expressed concerns about the economy and availability of public funds for downtown development, Sedgwick County commissioner Tim Norton urged a positive outlook.

Commissioner Karl Peterjohn had noted that he had read books about downtown development in the mid-20th century and expressed concerns about investing public funds to revitalize Wichita’s central core.

Norton said he had read a book recently, too — “The Little Engine that Could.”

Their discussion illustrates a division among commissioners about downtown. Some believe the county has done enough for downtown and should focus on other parts of the area. Kelly Parks called downtown “a nice place to visit” but said he never would want to live there.

Others, such as Norton and commissioner Dave Unruh, see a vibrant downtown as crucial to the area’s success.

A master plan for downtown was unveiled Tuesday night. Commissioners talked about the plan but will not vote on it until later.

By Deb Gruver | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments

Commissioners recognize Mental Illness Awareness Week

Sept. 29, 20109:34 a.m.

mental healthMental health is an important part of a person’s overall health, county officials stressed this morning while recognizing Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Marilyn Cook, executive director of Comcare, which provides mental health services in the community, talked about stereotypes about people with mental illnesses and encouraged the public to arm themselves with information — not misinformation — about mental illnesses. She said two films, “A Beautiful Mind” and “The Soloist” are good primers because they show that people with mental illnesses can have positive lives and make a contribution to society.

She also urged people-first language about mental illnesses. Instead of saying someone is a schizophrenic, for example, Cook would say “a person with schizophrenia.” Using such language helps people not be defined by their mental illness, she explained. Read More »

By Deb Gruver | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments