Ice storm damage highest in history

The ice storm that struck Wichita and other areas of Kansas in January caused more than $150 million, making it the most expensive disaster in Kansas history, according to the Kansas Adjutant General’s office.

Included in the damage estimate is $17 million reported by the Kansas Insurance Department as a result of more than 7,000 insurance claims, $38 million to $42 million in damages reported by Westar Energy and more than $100 million in damage to units of local and state government.

More than 85 percent of the disaster expense for local and state government was to municipal utilities and rural electric cooperative infrastructure.

Previously, the most expensive disaster was an ice storm in 2002.

Wellsville

Area town puts up first wall of fame

A music teacher and a scientist are about to become the first two inductees into the “Wellsville Wall of Fame.”

The wall of fame will occupy part of a hallway at Wellsville High School and will honor notable residents or former residents. The first induction ceremony will be at 6 p.m. May 21 before the annual Wellsville Alumni banquet at Wellsville High School.

The first inductees are James C.T. Pool, a scientist who graduated from Wellsville High in 1955, and Arthur Wendell Hicks, the longtime music director for Wellsville schools.

Pool has worked for the past 12 years as associate director of the Center for Advanced Computing Research at the California Institute of Technology.

Hicks, who died in 1998, was known for helping build the vocal and instrumental music programs in Wellsville schools starting in the late 1950s.

Mcconnell Air Force Base

Open house canceled because of deployment

Wichita — Citing the number of people deployed for the war on terrorism, McConnell Air Force Base announced Wednesday it would cancel its annual open house.

Col. David J. Kramer, vice commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, said in a statement the decision was reached after consideration of the safety, security and workload requirements to put on the event.

About one third of the bases’ active duty airmen — just under 300 people — are now deployed to various locations.

The open house, which had been scheduled for Sept. 24-25, typically draws about 200,000 people each year.

“It is part of a program to let the public know what we do … what we are doing with the public’s tax dollars,” Sgt. Gene Lappe said.