The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 3

THE SAUNA JOURNAL Great Plains FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2003 A3 SAUNA SYMPHONY Symphony's arrangement on the table Negotiations between Stiefel and symphony officials start anew By AMY SULLIVAN TlwSnlltm Journal The question of where the Salina Symphony will play the first concert of its 2003-04 season appeared to be answered long ago. Since donations started being solicited in 1997 to renovate the Stiefel (formerly the Fox) Theatre for the Performing Arts, the plan was for the theater to become the symphony's new home. The symphony has been performing in Sams Chapel in Kansas Wesleyan University The Stiefel opened March 8 and, with the symphony's season beginning in October, it would make BRIEFLY Two-car wreck injures Ellis woman OGALLAH An Ellis woman was injured in a two-car wreck Thursday on Kansas Highway 147 just south of Ogallah. April L. Park, 22, pulled out in front of a pickup truck, and the truck struck her sport utility vehicle, Kansas Highway Patrol said.

The wreck was at 4:33 p.m. Park was taken to Trego- Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney for treatment. The hospital declined to release her medical condition. The other driver, Stephen J. Stramel, 27, Victoria, was not injured.

Both were wearing seat belts. Firefighters put out pickup truck fire Traffic was interrupted on North Ninth Street for a few minutes Thursday morning as Salina firefighters extinguished a blaze in a half-ton pickup truck pulling a camper. Division Chief Ken Giersch said the truck, which was hooked to a camper, was parked in a lot at Access Storage, on North Ninth Street near Thomas Park, when the fire started about 10:30 a.m. Giersch said the fire never reached the camper and was extinguished quickly Giersch said firefighters had to stretch hose across Ninth Street to fight the fire. Man linked to forgeries of invoices A Salina man is accused of forging bus-delivery invoices to receive money from Bennett Motor Express, 1001 Franklin.

James R. Gilbert, 41,506 E. Antrim, was arrested Wednesday Salina police Lt. Mike Sweeney said Bennett Motor Express received invoices May 13,19 and 21 indicating that El Dorado buses had been delivered to customers, so the company deposited money into the account of the employee who supposedly delivered the buses. Bennett Motor Express later learned the buses had not been delivered and that the invoices had been forged.

Total loss was estimated at $3,400. sense for the opening concert to be at the theater. But that's not set in stone. According to Martha Rhea, interim theater co-director, the symphony and theater are in preliminary negotiations." Back to the start again Almost five years after the start of the effort to renovate the Stiefel, and negotiations are preliminary? Well, yes. Ron Kramer, co-president of the symphony, pointed out that leadership for both organizations has changed.

Each time a new theater director or symphony president is changed, negotiations essentially start over, Kramer said. The Stiefel's seen tors in the past two years. David Jenkins resigned in December 2001. Jonathan Cloward took over in July and resigned in January. Rhea was brought in temporarily in February The personnel changes at the symphony started in July Eric Stein, the founder and the only conductor its ever had, resigned, and guest conductors were brought in for the 2002-03 season.

In April, symphony president Judy Brengman resigned, and Kramer and Dena Berquist became co-presidents. One of the first things Rhea did when she started working for the Stiefel was to find out about the status of negotiations between the two organizations. About that package "1 was interested in the tations of everyone and the symphony's needs to start putting a package together, because I had not been involved in the beginning," Rhea said. The package would outline costs for weekly rehearsals, concerts, storage and office 'space, Kramer said. He estimates it would run $5,000 to $10,000 more than the "minimal" cost the symphony pays Wesleyan.

"It's the difference between an educational institution and a commercial venue," Kramer said. That's understandable, because any agreement would need to benefit both parties, he said. "They (Wesleyan) are going to keep the building up, keep the lights and the heat on whether we're there or not. We're incidental to what they do there," Kramer said. Storage at the Stiefel is a concern.

The symphony has two Steinway pianos, a tympani set, chairs and music stands, and sheet music from several decades. Who would have access to theater keys, and who would clean up after the theater is used are issues, too, Kramer said. It's unlike most of the theater's other contracts, Rhea said. "Normally a company comes in or an event comes in for a day or two days. There's a big difference between that and something that's an ongoing relationship," Rhea said.

Looking for a home The symphony could stay at Wesleyan, but recently the university notified the symphony Jump into summer iiillSilSlis The Associated Press Jared Lowrie, 8, Prairie Viliage, takes the piunge off the high dive Thursday at the Prairie Viiiage Swimming Pool Com- piex. Swimmers had pienty of sun as they played in the large pool, slid down water slides and jumped off diving boards. EDUCATION Report highlights early education Kansan gets probation for eagle shooting LINCOLN, Neb. A Kansas man has been sentenced to three years of probation and fined $5,000 for shooting a bald eagle near Red Cloud. Bailey Jacobs, 20, of Plains, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Lincoln to shooting the bird on Feb.

7, 2002. Jacobs is not allowed to hunt, fish or trap during his probation. From Staff and Wire Reports CORRECTIONS Because of a Journal error, the time and date of the Tony's Pizza employee picnic was incorrect in Thursday's edition. The picnic will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday south of Dean Evans Stadium at the East 6rawford Recreation Area. The fiublic is invited to watch an air show at 2 p.m. at the site by the Red Baron Squadron, which features four biplanes. The Journal wants to set the rf cord straight. Acjvlse us of errors by calling the Journal at (785) 823-6363.

or toll free at 1-800827-6363. Corrections will run In this space as soon as possible. Legislators review report with different thoughts for future By CAROL CRUPPER Harris News Service TOPEKA A new national report emphasizes the importance of early childhood education, points to growing diversity in the student population and says poverty sets the context for achievement. Kansas legislators read different implications into trends outlined Thursday by the National Center for Education Statistics. More funding is critical to meet growing challenges, particularly in early education, said Sen, Ruth Teichman, R- Stafford.

Also, she said, the state can't ignore its growing diversity. "Kansas, on the whole, does a good job," she said, but districts must stay alert to the needs of alL For House Education Chairwoman Kathe Decker, R-Clay Center, the report reinforced her interest in putting more focus on primary education, par- LEGISLATURE ticularly in reading. But before sinking additional money into preschool, Decker insists on accountability "We spend $8 million in early childhood education," she said, and if that money was truly targeted into programs that work, "I'd expect to see a lot of good results." On the matter of diversity. Decker sees Kansas, not unlike other states, experiencing "diversity growing pains." Handling it, she said, is a local matter. "We can't fix them all," she said.

"The needs in Garden City are different than needs in Clay Center." A Democrat on her committee sees broader responsibilities. Rep. Ethel Petersen, D-Dodge City, decries what she views as the state's retreat fi-om educational commitments and, in part, faults the federal government. "President Bush talks a good fight about No Child Left Behind, but he doesn't put the dollars there," she said, The result, she said, is Increased class sizes and fewer dollars to address "cultural diversity and ability diversity" On the net The full report of the Condition of Education In 2003 http://nces.Bd.gov. States, charged with the responsibil- ity for public education, are financially strapped.

Instead of granting huge tax cuts to the wealthy, Petersen thinks Congress should be helping states stand up for Even in tough budget times, Petersen said, Kansas must focus on children. "If you cut dollars on kids," she said, "you pay for it all down the line." Teichman agrees, but adds that, "money doesn't solve everything." Support for school employees and parental involvenient are critical to good schools, she said. Highlighting the trends Among trends noted in "The Condition of Education 2003," a new report from the National Center for Education Statistics: During kindergarten and first grade, children from less- advantaged family backgrounds made gains in basic reading skills, but on more difficult skills the gap widened. The number of 5- to 24- year-olds who spoke a language other than English at home more than doubled between 1979 and 1999. U.S.

fourth graders outscored their counterparts in many other countries, and the percentage of high school graduates who completed advanced- level courses in English increased since the early 1980s. Yet the reading literacy scores of 15-year-olds were average among industrial counties, Paralleling the growth in postsecondary education, participation in adult education also has increased. The more education people have, the more likely they are to vote. Public funding for K-12 education has increased 20 percent during the past decade. Expenditures per student increased most in rural areas and in central cities of mid-sized metropolitan areas.

that Sams Chapel could be under renovation in October when the symphony's first concert is scheduled, Kramer said. Philip Kerstetter, Wesleyan president, said he's not ready to reveal renovation plans. So the symphony is still looking for a home, and it's still considering the Stiefel. If a contract isn't worked out, other locations for the first concert include Salina School District buildings or the Masonic Temple, 336 S. Santa Fe.

"We need to find a place that will hold 60 musicians and an audience of 300 to 600," Kramer said. Reporter Amy Sullivan can be reached at 823-6464, Ext. 125, or by e-mail at saljournal.com SALINE COUNTY Planners seek delay Company nnay have to wait for answer about cell tower By The Salina Journal Saline County planners hope to delay action on a request for a conditional-use permit for a communications tower southwest of the Interstate Highway 135 and Falun Road intersection while they gather more information. The permit request will be considered by the Saline County Planning and msmmmmmamm Zoning Com- I mission at its LUuHL meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in Room 107 of the City-County Building.

Selective Site Consultants has requested the conditional- use permit for a 250-foot communications tower on behalf of Wireless. According to the company's application, the tower is needed to provide continuous "in-car" service to vehicle traffic on 1-135. But Gina Bell, assistant Saline County planner, said the county wants to know why can't lease space on one of two towers that are within five miles of the proposed site. Bell said there is a tower about four miles away, southwest of Bridgeport and about half a mile north of Centennial Road, and another about three miles from the proposed site, on Hedberg Road between Burma and Lightville roads. "It's not that we're really trying to limit them (towers)," Bell said.

"We're just trying to make sure they co-locate if at all possible." Bell said county commissioners will be asked to table the request for the permit for the communications tower so more information can be obtained. Also to be considered Monday are: A request from Edwin and Brenda Wikoff to create two residential tracts one 3 acres and the other 7.6 acres on a 160-acre tract at 4136 S. Brownhill in Brookville. the rest of the land would be preserved for agricultural use. A request from Leslie Sanders for a conditional-use permit to build a 20-by-lOO-foot greenhouse northwest of her house at 4433 E.

North and operate a plant nursery Parking would be off the current gravel driveway Senate honors oldest member before 2003 adjournment By The Associated Press TOPEKA The Legislature adjourned its 2003 session Thursday with the biggest item of business an affectionate tribute to the Senate's eldest member. In most years, the adjournment session is relatively brief, though nothing precludes lawmakers from passing bills or attempting to override gubernatorial vetoes. The ceremony is known as "sine die," Latin for "without another day." The House convened for about 15 utes, but the Senate remained In session nearly 45 minutes to consider congratulatory resolutions. The final one honored Sen. U.L.

"Rip" Gooch, D-Wlchita. Gooch's 80th birthday is Sept. 13, and he plans celebrate with an all-day party and golf tournament In his hometown. The Senate resolution, adopted unanimously, honored him for his political career, as well as his 55 years as a pilot, which included operating his own aviation company His seat-mate. Sen.

David Haley, D- Kansas Cityi praised Gooch as a mentor and conscientious legislator. Gooch and Haley are the Senate's only black members, and Haley recalled how Gooch and other blacks struggled for decades against prejudice. "Thank you, sir, for your tenacity and your patience," Haley said. "I love you, sir, because you are symbolic of our very best." Sen. Robert Tyson, R-Parker, a former TWA pilot, recalled that Gooch helped him buy his first plane as a young flyer.

Tyson said Gooch had helped many pilots and is well-regarded In the aviation industry Gooch is a member of the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame. "I honor him and salute him for that," Tyson said. Gooch, a native of Brownsville, served four years on the Kansas Commission on Civil Rights in 1971-74 and was a member of the Wichita City Council In 1989-92. He was elected to the Senate In 1992 and re-elected In 1996 and 2000. "He is truly one of my heroes," said Majority Leader Lana Oleen, R-Manhattan..