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The Western Times
February 6, 2014
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1.00
“Raging Prairie”
by Julie Samuelson
“Published in an Area of Clean Air, Clean Surroundings, and Fine People”
Volume No. 139 • Published Weekly Since 1874 • Sharon Springs, KS 67758
Local Weather
Forecast
Wednesday
Night
20% chance of
snow. Mostly
cloudy, low
around -11. Wind
chill values as
low as -21. Calm
wind becoming
SE @ 5 after
midnight.
Thursday
20% chance of
snow. Mostly
cloudy & cold,
high near 8.
South wind @510.
Who owns the national debt?
Rep. Tim Huelskamp visits county
by Julie Samuelson
Editor & Publisher
Kansas Rep. Tim Huelskamp
was in Sharon Springs last Friday, making a stop here as part of
his Town Hall meeting circuit.
Huelskamp’s first topic of
discussion was who actually
owned the national debt, meaning, who has loaned America
money and expects to be re-
paid. In 1970 only 6% of the
country’s debt was held by
foreign powers. In 1990 that
percentage had risen to 19%.
Now, 47% of the nation’s debt
is held by foreign powers,
with China being the number
one creditor. “We owe China
$3+ trillion,” said Huelskamp.
Huelskamp then took time
to congratulate the WCHS students for their Hunger video.
“It worked,” said Huelskamp.
“There’s nowhere to go but up.”
Huelskamp also said that the
government is suffering from
regulation frustration. So far,
the legislation has stopped the
Photo by Julie Samuelson
Thursday Night
Scattered flurries.
Mostly cloudy,
low around 2.
Friday
Mostly cloudy,
high near 18.
Friday Night
20% chance of
snow. Mostly
cloudy, low
around 8.
Saturday
20% chance of
snow. Partly
sunny, high near
22.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy,
low around 11.
Sunday
Mostly sunny,
high near 30.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy,
low around 11.
Monday
Partly sunny, high
near 36.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy,
low around 18.
Tuesday
Mostly cloudy,
high near 34.
Tuesday Night
Clear, low around
19.
Wednesday
Sunny, high near
52.
Wednesday
Night
Partly cloudy,
low around 21.
Representative Tim Huelskamp was in Sharon Springs last Friday morning to talk to, and
listen to, his constituents about what is going on in Washington.
Indiana teens arrested
on drug charges
by Julie Samuelson
Editor & Publisher
Two teenagers from Greenwood, Indiana have been arrested in Wallace County
and now face drug charges.
Austin Lucas, 19, and Halea Kopetsky, 18 were in front
of District Magistrate Judge
Steve Unruh on January 28th for
first appearance proceedings.
Lucas was charged with 1)
unlawful possession of a controlled substance (marijuana),
with intent to distribute, a severity level 3 drug felony; 2)
unlawful possession of a controlled substance (peyote), a
severity level 3 drug felony;
3)possession of drug paraphernalia (grow light used
to grow plants), a severity
level 4 drug felony; 4)possession of drug paraphernalia (a
smoking device), a class A
non-person misdemeanor; 5)
no drug tax stamp, a severity level 10 nonperson felony.
The two charges of unlawful possession with intent to
distribute carry a maximum
prison sentence of 83 months
in prison and a maximum fine
of $300,000. The third count
of possession of paraphernalia
carries a maximum 52 month
prison sentence and a maximum fine of $300,000. The
fourth count of possession of
paraphernalia carries a one year
maximum prison sentence and
a fine of $2,500. The charge
of no drug tax stamp carries a
maximum prison sentence of
13 months and a $100,000 fine.
Halea Kopetsky faces the
same charges and also the
same maximum sentences.
Lucas asked for a court appointed attorney, as the only
jobs he has had were mowing
and snow shoveling. Judge
Unruh set his preliminary hearing for Feb. 7th at 9:00 a.m. in
Wallace County District Court.
The judge also suggested that
Lucas not enter a plea at this
time and wait for his attorney.
Front Page Notices
Last Weeks Weather
Date High 1/27
17
1/28
23
1/29
49
1/30
46
1/31
22
2/1
19
2/2
33
Low Precip.
-3
2”
0
18
17
14
Tr.
8
15
Issue No. 33
For updates or correction to
the Wallace County Business
and Services Directory contact Sharon Rohr at 852-4117
or 821-2232, Errin Bollig at
The Eastern Colorado Bank or
Chanell Heyl at Wendy Dickey Insurance Agency. 33-1tc
There will be a bridal shower
for Kenzi Knobbe, bride-elect
of Tate Andrews, on Saturday,
Feb. 22 at the Sharon Springs
United Methodist Church at
10:00 a.m. The couple is reg-
istered at Bed Bath & Beyond,
Walmart and Target. 33-2tc
WKLL Band Clinic Concert
at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Feb.
10 in the Weskan gym. 33-1tc
Attention Commercial Vehicle Owners: DO NOT wait
to do your tags. We will not
be able to process them the
last week of February. Do
them now if you need them
before March.
33-2tc
Bond was set at $100,000 cash
or commercial surety bond.
Halea Kopetsky and her retained attorney Joe Bain, addressed the court next. Bain
said that he wished to discuss
a bond reduction for his client.
“Her father is here, and he has
assured me that he will supervise her very closely at their
home in Indiana.” He also told
the court that the Kopetsky’s
would be willing to sign an extraditionary waiver. “The dad
said he would make it work,
and there is no safety concern as
far as violence. She has a clean
record and has been in custody for a week already.” Bane
also told the court that he had
tried to contact county attorney
Charles Moser by email, but
Moser had not replied to him
yet, since he was busy with a
jury trial. Bane also asked that
Kopetsky receive an O.R. bond.
Sheriff Larry Townsend told
the judge, “I believe what Mr.
Bane is asking is probably
within reason, but it is a decision for the county attorney.”
Kopetsky’s father said that
he could pay $1,000 today,
but admitted that he is financially strapped at home. He
also told the court that Halea’s mother was having a
birthday the next Sunday.
Judge Unruh reduced the
bond to a $25,000 O.R. bond,
and allowed Kopetsky to remain with her family in Indiana. Her attorney will prepare
extradition papers for use if
necessary. Her preliminary
hearing was set for February 7th at 10:30 a.m. in Wallace County District Court.
EPA from enacting regulations on livestock emissions;
kids working on the farm; requiring a CDL to drive tractors; and the banning of being
able to say “Merry Christmas” on government grounds.
Huelskamp also informed the
crowd that OSHA is forbidden
on the family farm. “They can’t
be there,” he stated firmly.
Huelskamp is also worried
about the EPA’s current drive
to ban farm dust; the introduction of the Missouri Shiner in
Logan County, where there
is little or no water to sustain the fish; the attempt to
make the lesser prairie chicken an endangered species.
He also said that the new
Farm Bill had passed the
House but that he was not in
favor of the bill. “The Food
Stamp program takes up 80%
of the bill,” he complained.
He doesn’t think that the Farm
Bill and Food Stamps belong together in any bill, but
should be dealt with separately. He also expressed concern
that the country was going
back to the target price concept in regards to establishing
crop prices, and this is a very
dangerous direction to take.
Huelskamp said that the only
input for the farm bill is from
lobbyists and is done behind
closed doors. “Pat Roberts,
with all his years of experience, was not allowed any
input on the farm bill. They
kept him completely out.”
The House was handed
the bill at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, and the vote was held
first thing Tuesday morning.
The bill was 900 pages long,
making reading the whole
bill impossible for legislators.
Local farmer Ron Blaesi expressed his concern that there
was “a lot of disconnect” between the people and the government. In the new farm bill,
setting the wrong price level
could be disastrous for farmers.
Huelskamp also commented
that the Wildlife and Parks Departments spent three billion
dollars on the black-footed
ferret. Ferrets were released
in prairie dog towns because
the dogs provide food for the
ferrets. “It doesn’t always
work out that way,” said Huelskamp. “The ferrets are not
thriving, and they keep reintroducing them. Wildlife
and Parks is taking the stance
that “man has to make up for
what Mother Nature can’t do.”
Christy Hammer, who teaches government at WCHS and
was there with her class, asked
if there was any help to change
the school lunch program and
upping the calorie intake.
Huelskamp told her that they
loosened it a little and that he
will keep pushing the USDA.
Hammer said it was said that
the USDA thinks “Marijuana
is not that bad for you, but a
few extra calories is” Huelskamp said that the USDA is
still cracking down hard on the
issue in some states, and will
in Kansas too. “Get ready, and
keep pushing back,” he said.
Bill Mai asked, “When is the
Republican Leadership gonna
start listening to the people?”
Huelskamp replied, “They’re
not doing it now. The party
has lost touch with the people they represent. Both sides
aren’t listening.” Mai also
commented. “Ted Cruz did
a good job and they beat him
up for it.” Huelskamp quoted
Mark Twain who said, “Do
the right thing and it will upset
people and astonish the rest.”
Jon Voth asked, “How are
we gonna handle this debt?
It’s out of control.” Huelskamp replied, “The Federal
cont’d to pg. 10
Amended complaint
filed in fail to
register case
by Julie Samuelson
Editor & Publisher
A rural Wallace man, who
had been charged with failing
to register as a sex offender after moving to Wallace County,
had an amended complaint filed
against him by Wallace County Attorney Charles Moser.
The first complaint filed
against Lee James Martin
listed the charge as a second offense, making it a level
5 non-drug person felony.
The amended charge does
away with the second offense
charge, and is labeled a level
6 non-drug person felony.
James and his court appointed attorney Joe Bain,
appeared in front of District
Magistrate Judge Steve Unruh on January 20th, and after
the amended complaint was
read, waived Martin’s right
to a preliminary examination.
Arraignment was set for
February 20th at 10:00 a.m. in
Wallace County District Court.
Martin’s bond was modified
to a $35,000 O.R. bond conditioned upon the defendant
registering as a sex offender
in Wallace County under the
Kansas Offender Registration
Act. Martin has also agreed to
plead guilty to the charge listed in the amended complaint.
Because of this, both attorneys
agreed to depart from prison
to probation upon completion. Martin must also prove
employment and residency in
Wallace County to the court.