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When the bracket seedings came out for the 17th Annual Mid-America Classic in McPherson, many were surprised to see the Blazers with a 9-1 record seeded #4. But when you have three other teams that are undefeated, that will put a one loss team at #4. The Blazers had to open with a 3A Beloit team that was riding a six game winning streak. The Blazers knew they were going to have their hands full with a scrappy Trojan team. The Blazers needed to come out quick and take control of the game, and they were able to do that starting with an 8-0 run, with Molly Porter hitting two quick three-point buckets to start the game. Beloit answered with a 9-0 run of their own to take the lead. Kyra Burcham stopped the bleeding a bit by hitting a bucket with 1:30 to go in the first quarter to give the Blazers a 10-9 lead going into the second quarter. The Blazers stretched their lead to five with 6:00 to...

TOPEKA - A concept paper submitted today by the State of Kansas seeks a waiver from the federal government so it may begin its efforts to reform the state's Medicaid system.
 
"The Section 1115 Waiver will allow us to move forward with implementing some of the changes to the Medicaid system. This is the first step of many towards improving the health outcomes of Kansans while bending the cost curve of Medicaid down over time," Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. said.
 
Dr. Colyer said the State is asking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a two-track waiver approach. In the first track, the State will work with CMS to implement the State's integrated care system model, KanCare, by 2013. In the second, separate track, the State seeks to begin discussions with CMS to implement a future global waiver to maximize flexibility in administering an...

Sophia Stockton of rural Gardner ordered a text book through Warehouse Deals, an Amazon retailer. According to the Gardner Police report she was surprised to find a small bag with a white powdery substance. She took the questionable powder to the Gardner Police Department and reported the incident. The Gardner Police Department tested the substance and confirmed that it was cocaine. The police department will destroy the cocaine at a later date. An interesting side note, the book purchased by Ms. Stockton is titled, "Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives and Issues." According to Officer Spalding of the Gardner Police Department, "We did not report this to Amazon or any other agency." We have a phone call into Ms. Stockton and hope to report additional details after speaking with her.
UPDATE: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 12:09 PM.
GardnerEDGE spoke with Ms. Stockton,...

The Blazer girls basketball team will play in the 17th Annual Mid-America Classic in McPherson Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Blazers (9-1) will play the Beloit Trojans (6-3) scheduled for 6:00 tonight. Beloit being a 3A school started the season 1-3, but have won the last five games and have three players averaging over 10 points a game. The Blazer Broadcast Network will have complete coverage of the Blazers with tonights pre-game starting at 5:45 with Ryan Ragland and Darrin Hicks. Click here for the complete tournament bracket  

Olathe, KS - Congressman Kevin Yoder will be the featured speaker at this year's Olathe Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting.
This event will be open to the media.
 
What: Congressman Kevin Yoder, Keynote Speaker
Rep. Yoder will give his thoughts about the State of the Union, the Congressional session ahead, and the importance of creating an environment that helps grow small businesses and lessens the burden for job creators.

When: Friday, January 27, 2012, 11:30AM
Registration begins at 11:00am, Lunch will begin at 11:30, Rep. Yoder will speak after lunch is served around 12:10pm
 
Where: Holiday Inn - Olathe, 101 W. 151st Street
 
Congressman Yoder will be available for interviews after the presentation. If you are available to attend and would like to interview the Congressman, kindly reply to Matt.Manda@mail.house.gov
 
For more information, go to...

Desoto, Kansas-Today at approximately 2:00pm a car was reported to be partially submerged in the Kaw River in Desoto, Kansas near Riverfest Park. A park visitor walking along the river noticed the car and called authorities.
The vehicle, a gray or silver passenger car, was in the water about fifty yards from the south shoreline. Overland Park Water Rescue was called to assist in the recovery. Nobody was in the car however it was reported stolen out of Overland Park sometime after midnight on Wednesday the 25th.
 

The Gardner Kiwanis Club is hosting a Gardner monopoly tournament on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Pioneer Ridge Middle School Commons Area from 9:15 am to 11:45 am.
Registration and participation is FREE.
Grand Prize: A Netbook!!! Many more prizes will be given to table winners. Age Range preferred 3rd grade - 8th grade.
Contestants must be able to play Gardneropoly (similar to Monopoly) with other children.   Questions call Scott Wetterstrom at 913-856-3233 or Frank Postlewait at 913-963-3126.  

The Special Services Parent Advisory Council of USD 231 will host a Special Needs Planning Workshop on January 26 at the Board Office Building.  This workshop will help parents to better understand the planning which our children will need during all stages of life. We will cover what Social Security is, if your child is eligible and why it is important for our children to obtain these benefits. We will focus on using Special Needs Trusts to protect assets for our children. We will also be reviewing Guardianship, explain how to create a blue print for providing care for the child after the parents are gone and help you understand how planning for your special needs child is different both legally and financially. The Special Needs Planning Center was formed specifically to work with families who have children with special needs. The firm was created out of the need for a...

Washington, DC- President Obama spoke in front of a joint session of Congress and gave his third State of the Union address. Shortly after, Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder delivered the following response to the President's speech. Excerpt: "Earlier tonight, I had the pleasure of witnessing the President give his annual State of the Union address. As we work towards bi-partisan solutions to our nation's challenges, I was eager to hear the direction our President intends to take our country.   Unfortunately, tonight I believe the President missed a valuable opportunity to demonstrate a unifying vision for our nation by once again seeking to divide the American people.   I agree with the President that we need an economy built to last. But with a suffocating national debt of over 15 trillion dollars that continues to grow by the second and millions of Americans out of work, it's...

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Johnson County Community College has released its student honor roll listings for the 2011 fall semester. Students on the President's List completed 12 credit hours or more and maintained a 4.0 grade point average. Students on the Dean's List completed 12 credit hours or more and maintained a grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0. Students on the part-time honor roll have completed a minimum of six credit hours and earned a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
Each list is sorted by cities. For a complete list of honor roll recipients, visit http://www.jccc.edu/press_releases/2012/gen-fall-11-honor-roll.html.
For more information, call 913-469-3886.
 

TOPEKA, KS-As part of the state's commemoration of the Kansas sesquicentennial, Governor Sam Brownback announced the top 12 Notable Kansas Events today at the Topeka High School Media Center. Students from Topeka High assisted the Governor in announcing the top 12 events.
 
"Our state has been at the forefront of national movements since its founding 151 years ago. This year, we marked our state's sesquicentennial by honoring the Top 25 Kansans in history, holding a cattle drive through our state's largest city, wearing period clothing, and singing Home on the Range--hundreds of times," Governor Brownback said. "It's a fitting end to the year of celebrating our history to recognize the 12 events in Kansas history that most impacted the nation and the world."
 
Selected by the Governor's Blue Ribbon Panel for History, the 12 events are (in chronological order):

Overland...

Topeka - A collaborative effort to develop an ongoing strategy for the Kansas Flint Hills gained momentum last week with more than 150 people attending at the Second Governor's Flint Hills Visioning Summit at Maner Conference Center in Topeka
 
"We need to keep this going, to keep it real," said Governor Sam Brownback told the group. "We don't want to lose the authenticity of the Flint Hills experience."
 
The Governor's summit brought together stakeholders and community leaders representing a variety of interests including agriculture, ranching, tourism, natural resources, commerce, the arts and others.
 
Like the first summit held last May, this meeting focused on growing the Kansas economy and creating jobs. Governor Brownback said his administration and the stakeholders will use the additional input gathered at this summit to continue to strengthen local and...

1/1/2012
0048 - 500 Blk E Willow Ambulance Call
0205 - 200 Blk W Warren Battery
0225 - Old 56 & New Century DUI
0225 - Old 56 & New Century Vehicle Accident - Non-injury
0232 - 800 Blk E 167th Ct Check the Welfare
0302 - 1000 Blk E Buffalo Tr Check the Welfare
0617 - 17100 Blk S Jessica Suspicious Activity
0632 - 300 Blk W Main Ambulance Call
0640 - 1800 Blk E Santa Fe Vehicle Lockout
0724 - 100 Blk N Cedar Open Door/Window
0949 - 200 Blk E Warren Suspicious Activity
0954 - 700 Blk N Olive Ambulance Call
1044 - 200 Blk E Colleen Ct Citizen Assist
1315 - 16900 Blk S Agnes Animal Control
1451 - 1700 Blk E Santa Fe 911 Hang Up
1532 - Main & Center DWS
1603 - 17300 Blk S Agnes Outside Agency Assist
1633 - 1100 Blk E Santa Fe Disturbance - Domestic
1654 - 200 Blk W Warren CINC
1744 - US 56 & Cedar Niles Vehicle Accident - Non-injury
2059 - 400 Blk E Main...

The Sons of the American Legion will be having our third annual Mouse Race fundraiser on Sat. Feb. 4th at 7:00pm.
This event is sponsored by Big O Tire. Raffle tickets are available for a $500 gift Certificate to Big O tire and are on sale now at the legion or the night of the event.
Participants will have a chance to win a prize package of over $1200 on the last race. It includes a $750 tire package from Big O as well as an alignment and oil change. Free car washes for one year have been donated by the Car Pool car wash next to Xpress Shell. Finally a gift pack from O'Rielly .
The event is open to the public and proceeds benefit The Sons of the American Legion High School Scholarship fund as well as local charities and veterans.
Come on out to what to what those who have attended think is the most fun you can have in Gardner this winter.
Run Rodnet Run!!
 

Along with a runner-up finish at the 2012 Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Gardner-Edgerton Trailblazers also had two players named to the All Tournament team. Senior Tanner Webb and junior Kyle Huppe were both awarded with All Tournament honors after the championship game.  "Kyle and Tanner provide us with some veteran leadership on and off the court. As returning starters from last year's team, they have already been through the EKL wars before, and therefore understand what it takes to be competitive on a nightly basis," Head Coach Jeff Langrehr said of the contributions from Huppe and Webb. "Both kids give us excellent perimeter threats, and I believe that they continue to grow in their ability to be more creative and successful in terms of penetration, finishing inside, and creating shots for teammates. The two combined also give us solid late game free...

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas cities and towns wishing to establish community gardens are eligible to apply for a start-up grant from the Kansas Community Gardens Project.
The new statewide opportunity is funded by the Kansas Health Foundation and administered by K-State Research and Extension, said Evelyn Neier, project coordinator.
The project is intended to provide funding for up to 20 gardens in each of the next three years (2012-2014) to increase public interest in community gardening and encourage growing of health-promoting fruits and vegetables, said Neier, associate extension 4-H youth gardening and plant science specialist.
Start-up and other community gardens less than three years old and in the development process will be given preference in funding of up to $5,000 per garden.
The funds can be used for such expenses as tool or other equipment purchases, water line or...

Maintenance of the Edgerton Cemetery is becoming a financially grave issue for the Edgerton Cemetery Association.
The non-profit association of volunteers has been operating and taking care of the cemetery for more than a century, but maintaining the grave sites, including mowing and repairing tombstones, needs a new source of revenue to avoid the possibility of the 154-year-old cemetery falling into a state of neglect and disrepair.
Setting up a cemetery district is a rare occurrence since Johnson County isn't in the business of maintaining cemeteries. But it does allow the formation of districts where residents pay a small amount every year in taxes to go toward cemetery upkeep.
On Thursday, January 19, the Edgerton Cemetery Association submitted a petition to the Johnson County Board of Commissioners and requested creation of a new cemetery district with taxing authority within a...

OLATHE, KS, January 19, 2012 -- The Headache Relief Center has been selected for the 2011 Best of Olathe Award in the Chiropractic Clinics category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA). The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. The Headache Relief Center was founded by "Dr. Scott" Chorny who is beginning his 20th year in practice in 2012. The Headache Relief Center was founded on two simple philosophies. First, nobody has exactly the same problem; therefore care must be personalized and customized to fit each person's specific needs. This is how long-term solutions are forged. Secondly, in order to earn trust and confidence, an amazing, unforgettable experience must be created that is unrivaled in healthcare today.
"Building and nurturing caring relationships and trust is the reason that we've been able to build...