The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 4

PRIDAY. AUGUST 30. 2002 OWEAT CLAIMS I DEATHS FUNERALS LOCAL BUSINESS THE SALINA JOURMAI Mdrle Albracht LINCOLNVILLE Merle Albrecht, 76, LlncolnvlUe, died Thursday, Aug. 29,2002. Brockmeier Funeral Chapel In Herington is handling arrangements.

Maiitiarttiltuth Dieck COLORADO SPRINGS, coio. Margaret Ruth Dleck, 72, Colorado Springs, formerly of Whitewater, died Monday, Aug. 26,2002. Mrs. Dieck was a retired schoolteacher.

Survivors include three sisters, Elsie Hiebert of Galva, Ann Dieck of Colorado Springs and Helen Fryover of Hutchinson, Kan. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Emmaus Mennonite Church Cemetery, Whitewater. The memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Emmaus Mennonite Church, Whitewater.

Memorials may be made to Wycliff Bible Translators. Visitation will be fi-om 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at Lamb-Nutter Mortuary, 120 S. Main, Whitewater 67154, where the family will receive friends flcom 6 to 8 p.m.

today James R.Dunn James R. Dunn, 82, Salina, died Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002. Mr. Dunn Aug.

29, 1920, at Hunter. iHe was a captain for the Salina Fire Department, retiring after 33 years of service. Survivors in- 1 elude his wife, Helen of Salina; a daughter, Judy Ann Michaels of oMtuiMit James R.Ourtn Mar 'D)Mk, Colorado John Jolly, KanMt, Henry C. Jones, Apacha MMon, Michairs, UaClaIr, NortK VflflaSi neuter, Uibiina; III. TtieJoun irttormaHoirt'and phi)t6i tan b6 lncluded1or funeral your fuhenl boMe'or caHl tfw Journal 81(765)823-6963, Lee's Summit, MR.

DUNN two sisters, Elizabeth Jo Beil of Salina and Marguerite Pipes of Manhattan; four grandchildren; and five grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Salina. A will be at 6:30 p.m.

Monday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart High or Sacred Heart Grade School. Visitation will be fcom noon to 4 p.m. Sunday and 4 to 8 p.m.

Monday at the mortuary Joann P. Goossen MINNEAPOLIS Joann Goossen, 53, Minneapolis, died Thursday, Aug. 29,2002. Shields Funeral Home, Minneapolis, is handling SOLDIER'S RETURN arrangements. B.L.

Graham TUCSON, Ariz. B.L. Graham, 75, Tucson, died Sunday, Aug. 25,2002. Mr.

Graham was born Dec. 29, 1927, at Walsenburg, Colo. He was one of the original "Graham. Western Riders," the largest family act of western trick horse riders and ropers in the United States. He co-owned and operated S.M.A.R.T.

Inc. Promotions and Public Relations and owned Restaurant Equipment and Graham's Western Sales, all of Tucson. He also owned Great Western Mining and Milling Co. with holdings in Arivaca and Wickenburg. He was a member of Nelson Bledsoe Masonic Lodge No.

74, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Sabar Shrine Temple, Tucson. He was a three-time president of Western Rider Unit of Sabar Shrine Temple and a member of Shrine International Horse Patrol. He was preceded in death by his wife, Verda, in January; and his parents, Alonzo Roy "Ole" Graham and the former Wila Belle Lee Graham. Survivors include two stepdaughters, Ila Mae Sahellfeffer of Lakewood, and Judy Robinson of Loveland, a brother, "A.R." Graham Junior and wife Bonnie of Corpus Christi, "Fexas; two sisters, Lorraine Shoultz and husband Jewell of Lake City, Texas, and Gene Calzavara and husband Rudy of Lebanon, a sister- in-law, Betty Graham of Odem, Texal; seven stepgrandchil- dren; and 14 stepgreat-grand- children. The funeral will be at 10 a.m.

Saturday at Ryan Mortuary, Salina, the Rev. Paul Robbins officiating. Burial will be in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina, with Masonic rites by Saline Lodge No. 60. Memorials may be made to Shrine Crippled Children's Hospitals.

Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. today at the mortuary 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p.m. John Thomas "Tom" Jolly KARVAL, Colo. John Thomas "Tom" Jolly 60, Karval, died Tuesday, Aug.

27,2002. Mr. Jolly was born Feb. 16, 1942, at Limon. He was a stockman.

Survivors include his wife, Cheryl of Karval; two sons, Scott of Karval and Thomas Brett of Truckee, a daughter, Cheryl Dawn Jolly of Goodland, and a brother. Jay of Hugo, The memorial service wiU be at 2 p.m. Mountain time Sunday at Lincoln County (Colo.) Fairgrounds Event Building. Memorials may be given to his wife or mailed to Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland 67735, to be designated later by the family Mary R.

Nix ATTALA, Ala. Mary R. Nix, 63, Attala, formerly of Kanorado, died Tuesday 27, 2002. The service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in Kanorado Cemetery Bateman Funeral Home, Goodland, is handling arrangements.

Teresa L. Reuter URBANA, 111, Teresa L. Reuter, 53, Urbana, died July 4, 2002. Ms. Reuter was born Feb.

25, 1949, at Decatur. She was a former director of food service at Salina (Kan.) Regional Health Center and taught nutrition In the nursing program facilities at Salina. Survivors include four daughters, Virginia of Greenfield, Donna Reuter of Urbana, Jo Ann "Josle" Neunaber of EdwardsvlUe and Laura Hedln of St. Joseph. The funeral was July 7 at Mattis Avenue Free Methodist Church, Urbana.

Memorials may be made to the church, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation or Provena Covenant Hospice Program. Mlttendorf-Calvert Funeral Home, Champaign, Is handling arrangements. Holiday Inn has new owner Henry C. Jones APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. Henry C.

Jones, 88, Apache Junction, died Wednesday Aug. 28, 2002. Geisendorf-Rush Smith Funeral Home, Salina, is handling arrangements. Michael S. LeClaIr NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev.

Michael S. LeClair, 50, North Las Vegas, formerly of Concordia, died Monday Aug. 26, 2002. Mr. LeClair was born June 18, 1952, at Concordia.

He was the former owner and operator of Print 5 in Concordia, retiring in 1999. Survivors include two brothers, Richard of Clyde, and Robert of Salina, Kan. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Clyde.

Burial be In Mount Calvary Cemetery Clyde. Memorials may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association. There will be no visitation. Chaput Mortuary 310 Washington, RO. Box 291, Clyde 66938, is handling arrangements.

Esther I. Schafer RUSSELL Esther I. Schafer, 88, Russell, died Wednesday Aug. 28,2002. The funeral will be at 2 p.m.

Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church, Russell. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Pohlman's Mortuary 610 N.

Maple, Russell 67665, and 1 p.m. until the service Saturday at the church. Dale D.Walker LUDELL Dale D. Walker, 86, formerly of Ludell, died Tuesday Aug. 27,2002.

Mr. Walker was born Feb. 16, 1916, at Ludelli He was a retired farmer He was preceded in death by his wife, Verda, and a daughter, Marilyn McCormack. Survivors Include a son, Charles of Ludell; seven grandchildren; and many grandchildren. The funeral will be at 10 a.m, Saturday at United Methodist Church, Atwood.

Burial will be In Atwood Falrvlew Cemetery Memorials may Good Samaritan Center or Obert Senior Center, Atwood. Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m, today at Williams Funeral Home, 109 N. Second, Atwood 67730. Holidome to undergo $3 million renovation; Express also bought By The Salina Journal Salina's Holiday Inn- Holtdome, the Holiday Inn Express and three other hotel properties in Kansas have been purchased by HHC Hotels of. Overland Park.

Not only did the 17-year-old Holidome, 1616 W. Crawford, get a new owner Aug. 23, but by the end of the year, It's going to get an extensive, $3 million makeover. "You can pretty well anticipate a totally renovated liotel by the end of the year," said Dan Gudenkauf, the facility's new general manger. "Which means we have a lot of work to do." The other hotels purchased by HHC Hotels from Atlanta- based Six Continents Hotels were a Holiday Inn and a Hampton Inn in Hays and the Holiday Inn in Great Bend.

Gudenkauf didn't know a purchase price. In Salina, the Holiday Inn Express is located at 201 E. Dia- WICHITA Teacher returns after military stint Reserves sergeant spent eight months on duty in Mideast By CLARA KILBOURN The Hutchinson News CHASE Mitch Light missed the beginning of the school year by one week but his first day back in class Tuesday couldn't have been sweeter. Light, after seven months and 22 days of active duty with a US. Army Reserves unit hi the Eastern Arabian country of Qatar, returned home to his fifth-grade classroom at Chase Grade School.

"It was pretty emotional this morning," Light said Tuesday afternoon. "There were a lot of hugs and high The smile on Light's face matched the emotion in his voice. "I couldn't wait to get back," he said. "I've been looking for- CAMPAIGN 2002 ward to this day for a long time." Sgt. 1st Class Light was released from active duty at 1 p.m.

Monday at Fort Riley near Junction City By 4 he had driven to Chase, where he was met with a banner emblazoned in bright, bold letters that read "Welcome Home Mitch" stretched across Main Street. "It looked good." Light said. His eyes glistened for a moment, and then he continued. "The support I've gotten from this town is unbelievable letters, e-malls, packages," he said. Light arrived in time for Monday night's annual back-to- school community picnic and open house.

Fourth-grade teacher Zoe Kratzer. who team-teaches with Light, pointed to the American flags tied with yellow ribbons placed outside each classroom door when Light left. "We're very glad he's home," she said. In addition to teaching. Light coaches high school football and junior high basketball, said Sonny Parker, superintendent for the district.

"He hits aU levels" In the school system, Parker said. "The kids like hhn. He's a vital part of our school, the kind of person you want your children and grandchildren to have as a teacher." New outlook after service Light, who has been an elementary schoolteacher for 17 years, left in January for duty with his medical supply xmit. "Basically we were supplying medical supplies to the people of Afghanistan, Light said. "We need to have a presence there to keep our country safe." Light's company was at an air base manned multiple U.S.

forces the Army Marines, Navy and Air Force. When they arrived in February the temperature was "bearable," he said In the 90s. Then summer arrived. "It's hard to sit here and teU how hot It Is." Light said. "We were right beside a big chunk of asphalt where the heat index reached 170.

180. With the wind blowing off the tarmac where we were, it reached 140. "Comparing our situation to the guys in the trenches my heart goes out to them," he added. Light said his mission brought him a new outlook on life. Beyond the firsthand world geography lessons he can share with his students Qatar Is an Arab emirate In the Persian Gulf Light wants to pass on to them how lucky they are to be Americans growing up in a free country "I realhsed how great a life I have here in Chase my wife, kids, family friends, job." he said.

"It opened my eyes to what we have and how we take America and the fteedoms we have for granted." Treasurer candidate calls for more farm loans Panel requested to study financial crisis as result of drought By SARAH KESSIHGER Harris News Service TOPEKA A candidate for the state treasurer's office wants the state to expand low- interest loans to farmers. Sen. Lynn Jenkins, R-Topeka, asked legislative leaders this week to appoint a panel to study the financial crisis of farms ravaged by drought. Jenkins hopes the committee will recommend that next year's Legislature add $25 million to the state's $55 million farm loan, program. The state treasurer administers the program, Jenkins will face Democirat Sally Finney in the Nov 5 election, Twenty-flve farmers recently were on a slow-moving waiting list for the loans.

More than 600 producers have received loans of as much as $250,000 since the program began three years ago. State Treasurer Tim Shal- lenbiurger, the Republican candidate for governor, agreed the program should be expanded. "At this point, we need to do more about the ag economy" he said. "Leveraging more of our deposits would be a good thing to do." But a budget shortfall could cause cash-flow problems that would prevent more loans, said Senate Budget Chairman Steve Morris, R-Hugoton. The state had to borrow $450 million from its idle funds just to start the new budget year in July "I think we'd really have to do research to see where we stand," he said.

Morris, a farmer, noted that Kansas farms really need emergency drought relief from Congress. Otherwise, many might not make- it through year's end. Finney doesn't agree Finney didn't agree with the loan-expansion proposal. "Our farmers don't need loans," Finney said. "They need fair prices for their products.

One of the best ways the state treasurer can help farmers and all Kansans is to make sure the state is spending taxpayers' hard-earned money wisely instead of paying for things like putting a statue on the Statehouse dome." The state loan program is niond, Between the two hotels, the company will have 28 rooms in Salina. He said HHC Hotels has other hotels, including "some Marriott properties and more under construction. It's a growing and growing company" Gudenkauf said workers at the Holidome will renovate about 20 rooms at a time. "The whole room will be torn out and everything redone," he said, so when It's done "it'll basically be a brand-new Other changes Include a renovated ballroom and meeting rooms, a garden in the atrium and a remodeled bar. The bar will become an Irish pub and sports bar.

Gudenkauf said the hotel will have a contest to let the public get In on naming the new bar. The business center also will become an Internet cafe with laptop computer hookups, high-speed Internet access and printers. The hotel's pool, which is both indoors and outdoors, wUl be converted to indoor only and will feature a 150-foot water slide. The pool will be for guests only he said. Harvey County stays in metro area Market size Is starting point when companies scout for locations By The Asaoclated Press NEWTON Business leaders and government officials are cheering the federal government's decision to keep Harvey County within the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The decision, announced Wednesday, affects the region's attractiveness to companies and the flow of federal funds to the area, officials said. Metropolitan Statistical Areas are set by the White House Office of Management and Budget and define an urban area's boundaries. Factors include the "labor exchange rate" the number of people who live in one county but work in another county within the area. The Wichita MSA Includes Sedgwick, Harvey and Butler counties, Harvey County was added to the Wichita MSA In 1986 according to legislation handled by then-Sen, Bob Dole, R-Kan, But 2000 census data showed that the labor exchange rate involving Harvey County residents was technically too low for the county to remain in the Wichita MSA, Alarmed by the possibility the Wichita MSA would shrink. Rep, Todd Tiahrt, R- led the successful effort to persuade the White House to keep Harvey County within the Wichita area.

"This Is a huge impact on the community" Tiahrt said Wednesday in announcing the White House decision. With about 545,000, the three-county Wichita MSA is the 74th largest in the nation. Without Harvey County the region would have dropped to 75th largest. Every point counts That might not seem significant, said urban economics professor John Wong at Wichita State University but market size Is a starting point for businesses looking at locations, and the bigger Wichita Is, the betten "Your ranking Is going to have a lot of bearing on whether Macy's is going to come to town or not, or whether Krispy Kreme's going to build another location," Wong told The Wichita Eagle. Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce President Tim Witsman agreed.

"A larger MSA makes Wichita and Sedgwick County look better for economic development purposes," Witsman said. "Some retail organizations win not locate in an area unless the MSA Is a certain size." ON THE RECORD very attractive to bankers, who now can access the money at 0 percent Interest. The program loans bankers state money at 2, percentage points below the prevailing interest rate, which is now about 2 percent. Banks then must agree to loan it to farm operations for no higher than 2 percentage points above the going rate, or about 4 percent. Most of the money is now on loan.

As it is repaid It goes Into new loans. The state's cost for the program is about $1 million in interest lost from the idle funds that are normally invested until needed. The state budget office estimated that adding $25 million to the program would cost about $500,000 more in lost interest. Ponce THEFT Cash, five gold rings, two diamond earrings, an 18-Inch gold necklace, 60 compact discs and three football jerseys belonging to Eddie M. Charles were taken from 632 Duvall between 6:45 p.m.

Monday and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, and a red nylon suitcase was damaged; $10 damage, $1,061 loss. PROPERTY DAMAGE The paint and body were damaged on a 1998 Mercury sport utility vehicle belonging to April S. Pickering while the vehicle was parked at 333 Jewell between 1 and 10:30 Wednesday; $1,800 damage. Munidiial court DUI CONVICTIONS Dusty C.

LeBlanc, 29,209 S. Oakdale. second conviction, six months In jail, probation granted for one year after serving five days. $1,000 fine. $30 court costs, $150 alcohol evaluation fee.

DUI DIVERSION Jose F. Castro. 29. 1105 N. Ninth, was granted diversion from prosecution for driving under the influence.

He was ordered to perform 20 hours of community service and to pay the following: $500 fine. $30 court costs and $150 alcohol evaluation fee. TODAY'S SCRIPTURE Ricky Ray Henry. 27. and Kelli Diane Spencer, 24, both of Salina; Andrew W.

Adams, 25, and Jennifer Goodwin, 22, both of Salina; Bryan Cox, 20, and Casie S. Long. 20. both of Salina. Animal shottBr These animals were picked up Aug.

28 at the locations listed and taken to the Salina Animal Shelter. 329 Second, Phone 826-6535, DOGS White and orange female Brittany, 400 block of west Cloud Street; brown and Wack female Pekingese with green collsir, 1100 block of Yale Avenue; red and white female mix, Brookvllle; gray femalg schnauzer mix with blue collar and bandanna, 900 block of Oags Drive. CATS Orange neutered male shorthair. 1800 block of Page Avenue. DAILY PICK 3 4-3-4 "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declam (he Lord.

Then the Lord reached out his Imid and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth" Jeremiah (NIV) Larry Humbargfur Remembering fun times we had together on our Birthday. 1935-1997 a Your twin sister Louise.