A penny once meant something

Written by John Schlageck Tuesday, 04 December 2012 18:19

Until recently, I often stopped by the corner convenience store after work to treat my sweet tooth. From the time I was 4 years old and walked barefoot down to Vern Wagner’s little general store, I’ve always enjoyed the wonderful taste of chocolate.

Today, I wind up plunking down nearly a buck and a half ($1.50) for my favorite candy—either Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or the mouth-watering chocolate sticks. While this chocolate treat is every bit as good as any “Denver Sandwich” or “Cherry Mash” I ate as a boy, today’s bar appears to be about half the size I paid one nickel for 50 years ago.

Now that I think about it, $1.50 is much easier to come by today than a nickel was when I was a youngster growing up in the...

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Holub warns of local property-tax hike if Senate bill passes

Written by Jerry Engler Tuesday, 20 November 2012 15:59

All you needed now was a property-tax hike.

Marion County property taxes may have to be increased by 5.42 percent, based on past rates, according to the Kansas Association of Counties, if Kansas Senate Bill 317 exempting industrial properties such as grain elevators and oil equipment becomes law.

The real estate affected would include residential, commercial retail and farms.

Marion County Commission Chairman Dan Holub said Monday at the regular weekly commission meeting that the bill, which would also stop taxes for other industrial entities, is part of an effort at federal and state levels to shift the burden to local taxing entities.

According to KAC statistics provided by Holub, the exemptions would have decreased Marion...

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Hunters, remember common courtesies of your sport

Written by John Schlageck Tuesday, 06 November 2012 15:49

This weekend the hills, fields and woods will once again awaken to the sound of booming shotguns as hunters and their dogs swarm the countryside searching for pheasants, quail, ducks and other wildlife.

It goes without saying that Kansas farms and ranches have always been a handy, ready-to-use outlet for many urban dwellers in search of recreational hunting.

On opening day of the upland game season the interstate and U.S. highways will be a steady stream of pickups, SUVs and cars headed for central and western Kansas.

If you’re one of these hunters who plan to hunt on private land, remember one key word when your thoughts turn toward hunting. This word is consideration. Translated, this word means thoughtful and sympathetic...

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Drought lowers expectations as pheasant, quail seasons open

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 06 November 2012 15:44

Hunters will be hoping to bag their limits when pheasant and quail season opens Saturday, but it could be slim pickings for pheasant after another summer of extreme heat and drought conditions.

Mike Miller, chief of information production with the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department, said pheasant numbers aren’t looking too good this year.

“This is the second year of extreme drought in most of the state and extreme summer temperatures,” he said. “The drought doesn’t allow weeds and bird habitats to grow.”

Adding to that, Miller said, it was also an early wheat harvest, which affected pheasants because these birds next in winter wheat.

“Most of the time (pheasants) hatch before harvest, but this year farmers were...

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