Dole forum to feature Social Security issues

Social Security will be the topic of a forum Monday at the Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University.

The panel talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Panelists will include Carolyn Weaver, former aide to Sen. Bob Dole who worked on Social Security issues; Syracuse University professor Eric Kingson, author of “Social Security in the 21st Century”; and University of Missouri-Kansas City political scientist Max Skidmore, author of “Social Security and Its Enemies: The Case of America’s Most Efficient Insurance Program.”

David Ekerdt, director of the KU Gerontology Center, will moderate. Norman Franker, local Social Security Administration representative, also will be on hand to answer questions about the program.

County Commission

New resolution could regulate fireworks

Douglas County commissioners may agree to make changes in the county’s fireworks resolution that would affect rural parts of the county.

The resolution passed in 1988 is outdated, causing safety and enforcement issues, said county zoning and codes director Keith Dabney.

An example, Dabney said, is that the county requires firework stand operators to have a phone on site.

“But it says nothing about it in the current resolution,” he said.

The proposed changes also would prevent people from selling items not related to fireworks. A few vendors have tried to sell used cars, Tupperware, books, clothing and food in addition to fireworks, Dabney said.

Commissioners will consider the new fireworks resolution at 8:30 Monday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.

Kansas University

Film professor to join KCUR radio panel

Kansas University film professor Kevin Willmott will join a panel of Kansas film professionals on KCUR 89.3 FM’s “Up to Date” on Monday.

Willmott, who gained recognition for his film “Confederate States of America” at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, will be discussing how Kansas can attract more film projects. The other guests will be Peter Jasso, manager of the Kansas Film Commission, and Scott Allegrucci, director of travel and tourism for Kansas.

Up to Date will air from 11 a.m. to noon. KCUR offers archived copies of old programs on its Web site, www.kcur.org.

Weather

City Hall to participate in state tornado drill

Employees at City Hall will be participating in a statewide tornado drill Tuesday.

An emergency alarm will sound sometime Tuesday at City Hall and employees will practice what to do in case of severe weather. The exercise is part of the annual statewide tornado drill that is part of Severe Weather Awareness Week. The drill is held each March to prepare residents for the typically active tornado months of April, May and June.

“The simulation is a good reminder to both employees and employers that severe weather can occur during the work day,” said Jennifer Harvey, a city risk manager who is helping to organize the drill. “This once a year drill refreshes our safety plan in everyone’s mind.”

Offices in City Hall will retain minimum staffing during the drill to answer phones and assist citizens.

Student’s catchy slogan boosts tsunami relief

A Cordley School student’s catchy slogan may have helped raise money for tsunami victims in southeast Asia.

Fifth-grade teacher Heather Watgen asked students to help come up with a campaign to raise money for the disaster relief efforts. At a meeting one afternoon, fifth- grader Taylor Treichel came up with “Give a penny; save many.”

With that slogan as a basis for the fund-raiser, the school’s students began bringing loose change into class to donate.

“We wanted it to be kids helping kids,” Watgen said. “There were kids that were donating part of their allowance, and money they found in the sofa or in the car.”

The fund-raiser lasted for three weeks and raised $518.96. The money will be donated to the Red Cross.

Kansas University

Debate teams qualify for national tournament

Two Kansas University debate teams have qualified to compete in the National Debate Tournament later this month, marking the 38th consecutive year KU has been represented at the tournament.

The tournament runs March 24-28 at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash.

The team of Jordan Tinsley, a junior from Little Rock, Ark., and Todd Jordan, a senior from Lenexa, qualified for nationals at a district tournament at the University of Texas at Dallas. Matt Cormack, a senior from Lincoln, Neb., and Lindy Simonsen, a junior from Omaha, Neb., qualified with an at-large bid reserved for the top 16 teams in the country.

KU has won the national debate title four times.

Scott Harris, assistant specialist in communication studies, has coached the team for 14 years.