Wichita

Officer returns, meets pen pals

Air Force Capt. Christina Daniels has 53 new friends — all of whom are second graders.

Daniels, who recently returned from Iraq where she spent four months, talked to students at Spaght Accelerated Magnet Academy. Daniels and the students had corresponded during her tour of duty.

Students gave her flowers and an American flag, and peppered Daniels with questions.

Daniels told students that being in a war was exciting. “I got to do all the things you’ve seen on TV. And I was in a different country, and I got to meet people with different lifestyles, which made me appreciate the lifestyle we have here even more.”

Daniels leaves in two weeks for her next assignment in South Korea.

Greensburg

Town looks to fill administrator’s post

Officials in this Kiowa County town are seeking a replacement for city administrator Paul Poczobut, who is searching for work in Oregon or in his native Vermont.

“I’ve been looking for another job for personal reasons that are not related to city administration,” Poczobut said. “It’s nothing that I’ve done wrong.”

Mayor Stanley Adolph said a jump in residents’ bills from the municipally run power plant played a “small” part in the decision to seek a replacement.

Electricity rates haven’t been affected, but higher gas prices have led to steep increases in the fuel-adjustment fee portion of electricity bills to offset the cost of operating the city’s gas-fired generator.

Adolph didn’t blame Poczobut but said the controversy weighed in city officials’ decision to seek a replacement.