Bonner family selected as fundraiser beneficiary

Basehor Sentinel – May 24, 2013

The KC Guns ‘N Hoses Ride, an annual event that raises funds for Kansas City Metro Fire and Police families in need, has selected a Bonner Springs family as the beneficiary of this year’s event.

The event, set to begin at 10:30 a.m. June 1 at the Lenexa Christian Center, 17500 W. 87th St., Lenexa, this year will benefit the Bernard family. Haley Bernard, daughter of Bonner Springs volunteer firefighter Dennis Bernard, last year was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia.

Haley was able to receive stem cells taken from the umbilical cord blood of her baby sister, born last November, in a transplant in January and is now back home. However, home is in a different place due to Haley’s weakened immune system. The family had to move from their own home due to possible contamination from mold/mildew in the home’s crawl space. In addition, the medical procedures and their high deductibles have left them in financial strain.

The Guns ‘N Hoses Ride is a police-escorted ride that this year will travel up Kansas Highway 7 through Bonner Springs and ultimately will end at Worth Harley Davidson in Kansas City, Mo. Advance registration is $25 per person; the cost is $30 the day of the ride.

For more information, contact the event organizers at committee@kcgunsnhosesride.com .

Fire destroys vacant house in KCK

By Tony Rizzo
Kansas City Star – May 24, 2013

A suspected arson fire destroyed a vacant Kansas City, Kan., house Friday morning.

The residence in the 3000 block of North 43rd Street had been vacant since it was damaged in another fire in March, according to city fire officials.

Friday’s fire was reported just before 4:30 a.m. and the building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. Siding on an adjoining house was damaged.

No injuries were reported.

Smoke signals

Winfield Courier – May 24, 2013

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The Arkansas City Fire-EMS and Police departments responded to a car fire shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday near a garage at 824 North D St. Resident Howard Meador, the car’s owner, was working underneath the vehicle when a spark started a fuel leak on fire. The vehicle was going to be hauled off to a junkyard anyway, according to ACFD Capt. John Scott. There were no injuries and the fire was contained quickly, he said. (Donita Classen/Traveler)

Open house held for Mankato Fire Department

Jewell County Record – May 2, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – May 24, 2013

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Saturday evening the Mankato Volunteer Fire Department had the fire station open to the public for viewing of the newly completed facility. The firemen also served a meal to those who wished to eat.

A total of 160 people signed the guest register and the signup sheet for the drawings. The winner of the fire extinguisher was Barb Snyder.

More than $1,000 was taken in by the department for the free will donation meal the firemen prepared. Tables were set up inside the building to accommodate visitors who wished to stay for supper. Served were hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, chili, chips, tea and coffee.

LES students learn from emergency workers in LEAP

By Jyll Phillips
Lincoln Sentinel-Republican – May 16, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – May 24, 2013

Lincoln Elementary School students had the opportunity to learn from county emergency volunteers as part of the Lincoln Enrichment and Achievement Program (LEAP) at the school.

Emergency Preparedness director Rod Job, along with firemen Greg Babcock, Jeremiah Zachgo, Jeff Lyne, and Patrick O’Hare took the city’s ladder truck, and Marla Job took the rescue truck to the school to show the students how it worked as part of his commitment to the program to provide Basic First Aid, Search and Rescue, Basic Firefighting, Storm Spotters Training, Weather Preparedness, and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training.

Fire’s Cause Likely Electrical in Nature

By Chuck Samples
KVOE – May 23, 2013

An electrical issue triggered a small house fire in central Emporia.

Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Rich Gould says the fire developed in the laundry room at 909 Arundel. Crews had light smoke inside the house when they arrived shortly after 10:30 a.m. Gould says the fire was centered in or near the washing machine.

No injuries have been reported. Homeowner information has not been released.

Ammonia leak at Kan. plant sends 7 to hospital

By Chuck Samples
KVOE – May 23, 2013

All seven people sent to Newman Regional Health after a “low-level” ammonia leak Thursday have been released from Newman Regional Health.

Emergency workers were dispatched to the plant at Sixth and Prairie shortly after 8:30 a.m. Emporia Fire Battalion Chief Rich Gould says Tyson officials on site indicated up to 10 parts per million of ammonia were registered on company equipment, well below what’s considered lethal at 300 parts per million.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says 50 parts per million is acceptable over the course of an eight-hour shift.

In a set of emails, Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said the leak temporarily disrupted production in part of the processing plant before it was found and stopped. Operations were put on hold briefly but have since resumed.

About six weeks ago, Tyson Foods agreed to pay a nearly $4 million civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act largely because of ammonia issues. In April 2009, there was an accidental release resulting in injuries for one person. Seven months later, an inspection revealed the safety relief valves weren’t tested or replaced as needed. Tyson issued a news release admitting some improvement projects fell behind schedule and the company cooperated immediately to make improvements.