Posts Tagged ‘EHS’

SOS 2 COLORWhen Denise Brown found out that her sister Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered on June 12, 1994, she was devastated and confused.

“I had lost my best friend,” Brown said. “My sister Nicole, who I had been extremely close to my whole life, was dead. I also was the first to say that she wasn’t a battered woman, but I didn’t know everything that she was keeping from me.”

However, Brown decided to take an active role in the prevention of domestic abuse after her sister’s death.

“I looked at her diary and I was shocked at what she’d been hiding,” Brown said. “There was a cycle of violence involved with her relationship that I didn’t know existed – we hadn’t been raised in an environment like that. Unfortunately, it took my sister’s life ending to wake me up to domestic abuse.”

Services Offering Safety (SOS), the local domestic abuse prevention and education group, hosted Brown and Emporia High School Thespians’ production of “dont u luv me?” at the Granada theatre Monday night.

“I thought it was a great presentation and it’s great that (Brown) is spreading the word about domestic abuse,” said Jessica Fleming, freshman criminal justice and sociology major. “I have been in an abusive relationship and this sort of presentation needs to be done more often. I wish it’d been there for me.”

The presentation began with the Emporia High School Thespian’s performance of “dont u luv me?” which portrayed an abusive high school relationship. The play utilized modern text messaging, language and cyber stalking to demonstrate what an abusive high school relationship may look like.

“I thought the play was fantastic,” said Cody Pritchard, junior math secondary education major. “It’s modern and that kind of thing happens every day. The young people watching may not have known what abuse looked like.”

After the play, Brown began her presentation on the necessity of strong community bonds and communication to prevent domestic abuse. Her sister’s story was an example of poor communication about domestic abuse, Brown said.

“It takes a lot of courage for someone to be willing to talk to you about domestic abuse,” Brown said. “If you make the call on their behalf you may be saving their life, and I wish I got to talk to my sister about what was happening to her.”

Brown also praised SOS and its program for being more proactive about domestic abuse than many programs around the nation.

“You guys do some really impressive work in Kansas,” Brown said. “I am really impressed, and I hope that other counties or states will follow your lead.”

Brown also mentioned the transfer of Domestic Abuse Awareness Month from October to May.

Brown concluded her presentation by explaining her view on the necessity of involving every member of society in the process of ending domestic violence. Brown put a particular emphasis on young men and boys.

“I love the ‘Hands Are Not For Hurting’ program that many schools have instituted,” Brown said. “My nephew still remembers learning the program as a child, and he’s a man now.”

A key point of Brown’s lecture was the importance of getting men in positions of power to encourage better legislation for Domestic Abuse victims and abusers.

“I agree with her that that’s the key,” said Joel Wilburn, junior secondary education major. “Men still have a lot of authority in some positions, and they need to help out just as much as women do.”

Brown’s final statements encouraged involvement by all members of a community.

“Get involved before it’s too late,” Brown said. “Get involved before it happens to your family, or get involved before it happens to someone that you love. Let’s not let evil prevail. We must meet the challenge of doing what’s right every day.”

Josh Johnson/The Bulletin

Newscast: Government shutdown may occur if Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on new spending plan.(Broadcast transcript)

NBC Nightly News (Transcript) February 20, 2011 LESTER HOLT, anchor:

In Washington, a government shutdown, the first in 15 years, is a growing possibility tonight if Republicans and Democrats can’t reach common ground on the new spending plan. NBC’s Mike Viqueira is at the White House tonight with more on that. Mike:

MIKE VIQUEIRA, reporting:

Good evening, Lester. Some thought it could never happen again, but with a GOP-controlled House of Representatives facing off against a Democratic president at odds over spending, the government could be headed to a shutdown.

Republican or Democrat, both sides agree on one thing…

Senator DICK DURBIN (Democrat, Illinois): (From “Meet the Press”) The starting point is that we know we need to cut spending, we know we need to live within our means.

VIQUEIRA: But they can’t agree on where to cut or how much. Now, as the odds of a government shutdown grow, each side is already blaming the other. here government shutdown military pay

Senator LINDSEY GRAHAM (Republican, South Carolina): (From “Meet the Press”) The only way we’ll shut the government down is if our Democratic colleagues insist on keeping the federal government large and unsustainable.

VIQUEIRA: The new GOP speaker vows there will be no new money coming from Congress, even to fund the government in the short term, without big cuts.

Representative JOHN BOEHNER (Republican, Speaker of the House): Read my lips: We’re going to cut spending.

VIQUEIRA: Boehner led a wide-open House debate, ending in the wee hours Saturday, resulting in a $61 billion cut to this year’s budget, slashing everything from foreign aid to high-speed rail. But the Senate, led by Democrats, isn’t likely to go along.

Senator CLAIRE McCASKILL (Democrat, Missouri): (From Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday”) Are we going to take a weed whacker to education funds in this country while we let millionaires continue to deduct interest on their second home?

VIQUEIRA: But the clock is ticking. Funding for the government runs out on March 4th. And with the Senate in recess all next week, that leaves only five days to work out a compromise.

Senator CHARLES SCHUMER (Democrat, New York): (From CNN’s “State of the Union”) The way it’s always been done, the way to do this like adults is not to say, `It’s my way or no way’–that’s what Newt Gingrich did with lots of severe consequences–but rather sit down and negotiate. this web site government shutdown military pay

VIQUEIRA: Gingrich, then a brand-new speaker, took most of the blame in 1995 when a similar impasse led to a four-week shutdown of federal courts, museums and national landmarks. Now, with the economy still fragile, President Obama is warning this time could be worse.

President BARACK OBAMA: It would be destabilizing at a time when I think everybody is hopeful that we can start growing this economy quicker.

VIQUEIRA: But with debt and deficits at record levels, this time Republicans think the public is behind them.

Representative PAUL RYAN (Chairman, Budget Committee): (From CBS’ “Face the Nation”) Look, we’re not looking for a government shutdown, but at the same time, we’re also not looking at rubber-stamping these really high elevated spending levels that Congress blew through the joint two years ago.

VIQUEIRA: And, Lester, this could be battle in a yearlong fight over spending. The government is expected to exceed its statutory debt limit of $14.3 trillion. That’s in about two months. And Republicans say they won’t vote to raise it unless there are bigger cuts in spending. Lester:

HOLT: Mike Viqueira, thanks.

For more on this, I want to bring in John Harwood, chief Washington correspondent for CNBC.

John, Republicans say slashing the budget was the mandate that voters gave them in November, and we just heard they’re not going to agree to even a temporary deal without big cuts. So the question to you, is this posturing or are they really prepared to allow a government shutdown?

JOHN HARWOOD reporting:

Well, this group of Republican freshmen does not appear to be the kind that plays the usual game of striking a tough initial posture and then making a big compromise. But Republican leaders know that the likelihood is that they would be blamed if the government shuts down. We’ve seen in polling that the public believes President Obama is trying harder to work with Republicans than Republicans are trying to work with him. That gives him some leverage. The question is whether Republicans will be able to pull those freshmen back from the brink if it comes to that.

HOLT: And, of course, we’re talking about a narrow window, perhaps 12 days here, to get this done. So what are the options to break a stalemate?

HARWOOD: Well, they don’t have time for the Senate to pass their own stopgap funding bill and then make a compromise. You’re going to have to have some sort of an agreement. John Boehner has said he will not do it at current levels. The question is, how big of a cut from current levels will it take to move something through the House? My guess is that, at the end of the day, the House still is going to try to move something that cuts spending, not nearly as much, though, as Republicans have already passed.

HOLT: Very quickly, let me ask you a question on the budget drama in Wisconsin. The governor there wants to limit the bargaining power of public employees. Does this signal the weakening of public employee unions across the country?

HARWOOD: The decline of private sector unions has made public sector unions the most vibrant part of the labor movement and the most vibrant labor union contributor to the Democratic Party, but this is the–potentially a big blow. Budget deficits across the country have put them in a very difficult spot. But one thing we know, Lester, is that nothing in politics moves in a straight line. It will be a blow if they lose this fight in Wisconsin, but there are more chapters to go on this story.

HOLT: John Harwood, good to have you on tonight, thank you.

 
Thomas Field and the rest on the Trusler Sports Complaex will be shared with the EHS baseball team for the rest of the season. The decision will benefit both ESU and EHS by reducing costs of maintaining their own facilities with their funds alone./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

Thomas Field and the rest on the Trusler Sports Complaex will be shared with the EHS baseball team for the rest of the season. The decision will benefit both ESU and EHS by reducing costs of maintaining their own facilities with their funds alone./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

The Emporia State athletics department and Emporia High School athletics have recently agreed to share the Trusler Complex.

According to ESU Athletic Director Kent Weiser, both schools have had a history of the cooperative use of each other’s facilities.

“Emporia State and Emporia High have always had a very solid and strong relationship with our athletic programs as far as sharing facilities,” Weiser said.

For several years, EHS has used ESU’s facilities.

“Emporia High School uses Welch Stadium for their football and track meets,” Weiser said. “They were a major part of helping fund the artificial surface on Jones Field.”

Although both schools are cooperative, the use of all facilities is not free for EHS.

“They pay the hard costs like electricity bills and upkeep,” Weiser said. “As far as their use of the Trusler Complex, there are really no extra expenses for ESU because we will have our maintenance staff mow the grass, which they do anyway. Emporia High school is responsible for all of the other field maintenance.”

According to Weiser, Emporia High is responsible for using dry agents on the infield, striping the infield and providing their own bases.

Britton Hart, athletic director for Emporia High, said the use of the facilities will be a great improvement from the school’s previous arrangements.

“It is a great deal for them because it is a much nicer facility than using Whittier Park because it was not as nice for fans or student athletes in comparison to Trusler,” Hart said.

Although both schools have a good rapport with each other, scheduling conflicts will always be an issue.

“The only conflict we have this year is when they have a contest we will only have one field to practice on, which really is not bad because we have a couple batting cages, a couple pitching mounds and a large outfield,” Hart said.

EHS is not the only school that will benefit from these arrangements. According to Weiser, EHS also allows ESU’s tennis team to use their courts.

“The high school has been terrific with letting us use their tennis courts,” Weiser said. “They have got a great tennis complex with 12 courts and when we have dual meets with both men and women it allows us to go to a quality facility and play all the matches at once.”

According to ESU tennis player Andrew Shipp, the larger facility is a necessity when it comes to hosting matches.

“It is mostly for matches where we need more courts than our courts supply,” Shipp said.

Weiser said he feels the alliance is good for the community.

“We share facilities with the city of Emporia, Emporia High School and Emporia State,” Weiser said. “We can each end up with a very nice facility and share rather than each having smaller facilities.”

Doug Irby/The Bulletin

 
Beth Wegemer, freshman sociology and psychology major, and Ashley Williams, freshman history major, hold signs in counter-protest against Westboro Baptist Church picketers Monday afternoon at Flint Hills Technical College, across the street from Emporia High School. Wegemer and Williams were two of nearly 100 counter-protesters that gathered in opposition of WBC members, who preach against homosexuality./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

Beth Wegemer, freshman sociology and psychology major, and Ashley Williams, freshman history major, hold signs in counter-protest against Westboro Baptist Church picketers Monday afternoon at Flint Hills Technical College, across the street from Emporia High School. Wegemer and Williams were two of nearly 100 counter-protesters that gathered in opposition of WBC members, who preach against homosexuality./PHOTO BY KELLEN JENKINS

Members of P.R.I.D.E. protested alongside other Emporia State and Emporia High School students Monday afternoon against picketing held by Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka outside of Emporia High School.

“With the appearance of the anti-Christ, that is the beast Obama, in the White House, the time is so very short,” said Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of Fred Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church attorney and member. “The Lord is coming, America is doomed and they have only one course of action that will do at this hour. (They must) put away their idols, put away their false gods and put away their filthy manner of life and obey their God.”

Approximately 15 members of the WBC attended to protest and about 100 students counter protested. Members of WBC were protesting in Emporia in reaction to a being “put on trial for trumped up charges brought by a criminal D.A.,” their Web site said.

WBC members said that they speak out primarily against homosexuals and consider them to be evil.

“What they were doing was they were down here, picketing the high school to educate ‘our little brats’,” said Luke Wolford, sophomore sociology major and president of P.R.I.D.E. “We came out here because it’s only fair that they hear both sides. The goal of P.R.I.D.E. is to promote respect, to promote diversity and not to have that kind of hate, that kind of discrimination.”

But WBC members said they do not consider their picketing hateful or discrimination – they said they consider what they do to be loving.

“You call it picketing because that’s just the vernacular that’s used in this generation,” Phelps-Roper said. “But really what it is, is the preaching moment. We do it so we can warn this generation, so we can fulfill the royal law in James 2:8 and that is to love your neighbor as yourself.”

The counter protest open not only to members of the homosexual community, but to all those who support the cause.

“Even though I’m not gay, I have gay friends and I think everybody should coexist,” said Kris Benitez, freshman math major. “I see no reason why I should have to push my beliefs on other people or why other people should push their beliefs on me.”

Police guarded the roads that led to parking areas and made sure that neither side group of protestors stepped off of the pavement, the only place they were allowed to protest.

“Loving your neighbor is to not suffer this sin upon them,” Phelps-Roper said. “You warn them that their sin is taking them to hell, and then it says that if you don’t do that, you hate your neighbor in your heart. You’re not supposed to do that, you’re not supposed to be hating on your neighbor. So that’s why we do it. We do it because it’s our duty.”

But many of those dissenting against the WBC do not consider the actions of WBC to be beneficial ones.

“I hope that Emporia, at least Emporia, is more accepting of everyone,” Benitez said. “I think (Phelps is) really ignorant, just like any other kind of racist, sexist bastard.”

WBC members said they do not consider themselves hateful or racist, only that they are trying to save those they feel are in danger of going to hell.

“You’d think that they wouldn’t oppose us, wouldn’t you?” Phelps-Roper said. “I mean, if they were blind and they were heading towards a cliff, and we lifted up a really loud voice and said, ‘don’t go over the cliff, hello,” do you think they would really be hating on us like they do now?”

Members of the WBC left earlier than they had anticipated, saying that it was too cold to stay.

“I hope to send Fred away which, clearly, we did,” said Brittani LeMay, sophomore elementary education major and member of P.R.I.D.E. “They weren’t here for very long and we had a lot of support from the high school and a lot of people from the university came out and gave support.”

Alex Pedersen/The Bulletin

USDA ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR TWO EXPORT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

US Fed News Service, Including US State News July 9, 2008 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has issued the following press release: see here duns number lookup

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) today announced that it continues to accept applications for two export market development programs: the Quality Samples Program (QSP) and the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program. These programs are designed to help expand commercial export markets for U.S. agricultural commodities.

On March 30, 2007, FAS released an announcement requesting applications for export assistance, stating that proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 14, 2007, would be considered for funding if funding remained available. This notice confirms that fiscal year 2008 funding remains available for these programs.

The QSP helps U.S. organizations supply samples of U.S. commodities to potential foreign buyers and provide technical assistance regarding product quality and proper use as a means to encourage new purchases. The program supports projects that benefit whole industries rather than individual companies. When a project is finished, USDA reimburses the costs for procuring and exporting the samples. go to site duns number lookup

The TASC program helps open, retain and expand markets for U.S. specialty crops. Resources are provided to address barriers, including phytosanitary or related technical restrictions that prohibit or threaten the export of U.S. specialty crops. Specialty crops include all cultivated plants and their products produced in the United States except wheat, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, rice, peanuts, sugar and tobacco. Recent passage of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 provided an additional $2 million in funding available through Sept. 30, 2008, for the TASC program, bringing total available funding for the program to $4 million in fiscal year 2008.

All applicants must obtain a Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number for federal assistance prior to submitting applications. Information and numbers may be obtained by calling 1-866-705-5711.

Applications not submitted via the internet can be hand-delivered to: USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, Program Policy Staff, Portals Office Building, Suite 400, 1250 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20024; or mailed to: USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, Grants Management Branch, Stop 1052, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20250-1052.