Field day planned for amateur radio hams

Amateur radio operators will test their equipment and make contacts around the nation and the world today during the annual Amateur Radio Field Day.

Members of the Douglas County Amateur Radio Club will participate in the event by setting up operations this weekend at Wells Overlook Park. The radio operators will use emergency power and test their generators and batteries. The event will help radio operators be prepared for emergencies.

The public can watch from noon to 10 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

Water garden tour benefit today in Ottawa

The Ransom Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will conduct a water garden pond tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

Tickets are $7 regardless of age. The proceeds will benefit the auxiliary’s scholarship fund.

For more information, call Jody Lancaster at (785) 229-8231.

Former mayor’s smoke ban efforts honored

A former Lawrence mayor who helped lead efforts to implement an indoor smoking ban was honored recently by the Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition.

David Dunfield, mayor from 2003 to 2004, received the organization’s 2005 Clean Air Award at a ceremony on Wednesday at Jade Mongolian BBQ in Lawrence.

As mayor, Dunfield established in the fall of 2003 a task force to research possible workplace smoking bans. The city approved an indoor, workplace smoking ban in May 2004. The ban has been in place since July 1.

“David Dunfield’s courage and foresight have set the standard for other elected officials in Kansas as they adopt policies to protect the health of their residents,” said Joan Smith, chair of Topeka-based Tobacco Free Kansas Coalition.

Agency on Aging to conduct hearing

The Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging will conduct at public hearing at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the agency office, 1720 SW Topeka Blvd., Topeka.

The agency will review the 2005 fiscal year final revisions to the current area plan and review the proposed services to be funded under the Older Americans Act for the 2006 fiscal year.

Services include congregate and home-delivered meals, legal services, care giver services, transportation and in-home services. The public is invited to attend and provide comments.

For more information, contact Marsha Ridinger, program manager, at (785) 235-1367 or (800) 798-1366

Golfer recovering after fall from cart

A golfer was recovering from head injuries at the University of Kansas Hospital Thursday after falling from a golf cart during a tournament at the Alvamar public course Wednesday.

Police and golf course officials said the 52-year-old man was taken by helicopter ambulance from the sixth hole about 6:45 p.m. after falling from a moving cart and striking his head on the cart path.

Witnesses said the man was unconscious for more than 25 minutes.

Almost 170 golfers were on the course participating in the Johnny’s Tavern golf tournament.

Confirmation of the man’s condition was not available from hospital officials.

City finance

Proposed budget may include lower mill levy

Tight city finances will not result in an increase in the city’s property tax rate, if city commissioners adopt City Manager Mike Wildgen’s budget.

Wildgen is recommending a mill levy decrease of .523 mills, according to the recommended budget released late Friday afternoon. The mill levy would drop to 27.359 mills. A mill is one dollar in property tax for every $1,000 worth of assessed value in property that a person owns. For the owner of a $200,000 home, a mill represents $23 in property tax.

Under Wildgen’s proposed budget, overall city spending would rise to $126.1 million, up from $122.2 million in 2005.

The declining mill levy will not necessarily mean a lower tax bill for residents. County officials are estimating that the assessed value of property in the city will increase by 8 percent in 2006.

Commissioners will be briefed on Wildgen’s recommended budget at a study session at 9 a.m. on Wednesday at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.