Hospital, liquor votes on ballot

Rawlins County residents will decide whether to approve a 14-cent mill levy to finance their hospital and Rawlins County and Decatur County voters will vote yes or no to allow liquor by the drink, when they go to the polls Tuesday.

In a state-wide race, Connie Morris of St. Francis (R) is running for the Kansas Board of Education. Morris is being challenged by the man she defeated in the primary, incumbent Republican Sonny Rundell, whose name appears on the ballot after he conducted a write-in campaign. The issue between the two appears to be the education of children of illegal immigrants. Morris believes kids enrolled in American schools must be American citizens. Rundell said it is morally wrong and illegal not to educate all children.

Morris objects when large schools purchase books in Spanish, when small schools can't even afford textbooks at all.

Rundell was quoted in the Oberlin Herald, "The world is getting smaller, and we are dealing more globally these days and need to have an understanding of all people."

If Rawlins County voters say yes to the hospital issue, the hospital, clinic and pharmacy would levy 14 cents per $100 of value in 2003 and 2004. The Rawlins County Square Deal reports: "This proposed tax is the bare minimum needed to ensure that finances will not force the hospital to close."

A $50,000 property would be assessed 22 cents a day, if the issue passes, as an editorial in the Square Deal indicates.

If voters approve liquor by the drink, establishments such as Two Lees Steakhouse in McDonald -- whose owners requested the issue be placed on the ballot -- would no longer have to be private clubs, but open to the public. Garold and Sandy Lee wrote in a "Letter to the Editor" of the Square Deal that, at this time, any establishment that holds a liquor license must be a private club and open only to members or guests of members. Approval of "liquor by the drink" would eliminate that stipulation, the Lees' letter indicates. Regional votes

On Tuesday, voters across the Golden Plains will also select their sheriffs, majors, county commissioners and school board members.

Sheriffs will be under fire at the polls in Hayes, Furnas and Gosper counties.

In Hayes County, incumbent Donald Miller (R) is being challenged in a write-in campaign by Brad Buescher (D).

In Furnas County, incumbent Hank "Joel" Pulley (D) is challenged by Gregg Meyer (R).

In Gosper County, David Landreth and Mike Houck will battle it out at the polls. Houck conducted a petition campaign to get his name on the ballot after the primary election last spring.

In Furnas County, incumbent county attorney Tom Patterson (R) has been challenged by Frank Shoemaker (D).

County-by-county, here's how other races stack up at the polls:

HAYES COUNTY

Hayes Center school board: (three positions) Debra K. Lawson, Loran A. Wach, Bob Rosno and Randy Richter.

Hayes Center village board: (three positions) Dean T. Hansen, Bernard A. Goetze, Morris Hartman, Brandon Wood, Maury Cox and Vickie Christner.

Wallace school board: (three positions) Bill Arnett, Delynn Gohl, Lila Koop, Joan Simmons.

Wauneta-Palisade school board, four-year term: (three positions) Kelly J. Egle, Beth Padilla, Brenda Anderson, James D. Skelton.

County clerk: Joan E. Lauenroth (R); Victoria L. Gohl (D). FURNAS COUNTY

Arapahoe mayor: Howard David vs. Mark Graf.

Arapahoe city Council, North Ward: (two positions) Duane Webb, Melody N. Adams, John E. Koller, Victor L. Breinig.

Arapahoe City Council, South Ward: (one position) Charles Six, Ward Carpenter.

DUNDY COUNTY

County commissioner, First District: (one position) Jim D. Baney (R), Gary Stamm (D).

County commissioner, Second District: (one position) John W. Sutherland (R), Dallas Chartier (D).

Benkelman city council, East Ward: (one position) Barbara Jo Horner, Tammy Buffington.

Benkelman mayor: (one position) Steven T. Barenberg, Tony Wonderly.

Dundy County school board, four-year term: (five positions) John Metzger, Steven M. Krug, Tom Roundtree, Bruce Woods, Michael L. Blecha, Aaron L. Irwin.

FRONTIER COUNTY

Maywood village board, four-year term: (two positions) Morris L. Johnson, Douglas L. Werkmeister, Wayne Willis, Traci N. Van Drimmelen, Dan J. Lemmert. County commissioner, Third District: Kevin Owens (R), Fred A. Baugher Libertarian).

Stockville village board, four-year term: (three positions) Nicola M. Buker, Arlene Sass, Kenneth Crawford, David R. Baugher, Laurie Ramesbothom, Crystal Byrns.

Eustis-Farnam school board, four-year term: (three positions) Brenda S. Davis, Andy Widick, Troy Easterday, Jerry D. Johnson, Melissa Keller Thompson, Sharon Hueftle.

Medicine Valley school board, four-year term: (three positions) Sharon Jorgensen, Michael Lee Baum, Trent Florom, Kim Krull, Robert Meyers.

HITCHCOCK COUNTY

Stratton village board: (two positions) Earl D. Denio, Rich Bernt, Jerry L. McDonald, Barbara J. Carstens.

Stratton school board: (three positions) Linda J. Ruzicka, Mary Faimon, Richard Kollmorgen, Donald Rife.

County commissioner, District One: Richard P. Hampton (R), Francis Friehe (D).

County commissioners, District Two: John E. Hall (R), Dale J. Keeney (D).

DECATUR COUNTY

Prairie Dog Township clerk: (one position) Kevin D. Caman, Dresden (R), Charles A. Neff, Dresden (D).

CHASE COUNTY

Grant school board: (three positions) Dan Hughes, Tim Pofahl, Kent Kroeker, Nita McGreer.

Imperial mayor: Annie Longan, Thomas Spunaugle.