Andover

On April 26th, 1991 a series of tornadoes barreled down on the Midwest from East Texas up to the Iowa/Minnesota border killing 24 people, injuring 200 more and causing $250 million in property damage. The storm left 19 people in Kansas dead, 13 in the city of Andover, home to 4,149 people at the time. The single Andover tornado siren that would have warned the residents of the danger was not working that day, leaving people in the area listening to news reports to find out how close the funnel was to their homes.

by Robert Marin (ANDOVER, Kan.) The Andover School Board says they've reached an impasse in negotiations for a new teacher contract. District officials say, in talks with the Andover Education Association, they have not settled issues of salary and district compensation for fringe benefits. The district says they have contacted a federal mediator to help the two sides reach an agreement. Students return to school in Andover August 19th.

Cookies and cupcakes serve as life lessons for some Andover students.  The district operates the Stadium Bakery , a place where special needs students learn both baking and business. Click here for photos They've been busy preparing for Valentine's Day, baking and frosting dozens of cookies.  They also take special orders for other sweet treats. The students and the staff say they love working in the bakery.  The students learn life skills they can utilize once they graduate.  And the teachers say it's a lot of fun helping students learn different things.

Two decades have passed since the Andover tornado but it's still fresh for some residents there. "I remember it well. It was pretty scary and I remember I couldn't get to my grandmother," said one Andover resident. Since then, Andover has quadrupled in size and that means almost constant re-vision of emergency plans including more tornado sirens. This summer, officials will add two more. They'll go on the edge of town where new houses are going up. "You can hear them out there but we want to make sure they really hear it," said Andover Mayor Ben Lawrence.

About 600 people showed up to see former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Andover for the latest stop on her book tour. The former Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor is promoting "American by Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag. " The book is her first since her memoir, "Going Rogue. " The tour began two weeks ago in Phoenix, the home state of her 2008 running mate, John McCain. People started waiting in line early Sunday morning at the Andover Dillions for wristbands and copies of the book.

By Kim Wilhelm and Nathan Navrat (ANDOVER, Kan.) He's been a part of their team for years.  This week, the football team at Andover Central Middle School made sure their manager knows how much he means to them. 14-year-old Matthew Noah has been the Andover Central Middle School football manager the past two years. Thursday night, the team retired his number 88 jersey. Matthew was born with Fragile X Syndrome, which is the most commonly known cause of autism. Many of the players on the team have known Matthew since elementary school.

(WICHIA, Kan.) It's just an empty room now, but this summer, the gym inside the Christian Faith Centre will become a lunchroom. For four years, Pastor Wade Moore, and the Centre have provided summer lunches to kids through the school districts summer food program. "You see parents that bring their children in and you know that this is the only meal that this child is getting that day," explains Pastor Moore.  Last year the church was among 26 sites kids could go to get breakfast for lunch, Monday through Friday.

By Megan Strader (ANDOVER, Kan.) He's far from talking, but two day-old Brody has quite a story to tell. It starts Monday night with a diagnosis of false labor "They sent us home about 8:00 or 8:30 and I guess the adventures started about an hour later. " Started and ended on Jonathan and Jessica Reiter's bathroom floor. "I was just thinking, I'm having a baby on my bathroom floor!" Jonathan called for an ambulance, but the baby wasn't about to wait. That's where 911 dispatcher Gretchen Fooshee enters Brody's story.

Wichita State's basketball team might have to drive to Omaha this season instead of flying. Times are hard. Boosters may not be able to come through on donations like they used to. Gregg Marshall says his job description as Shocker basketball coach doesn't change a bit. "I'm still going to be asked to graduate players, represent the university in a first-class way and by the way, win some championships," Marshall said. "There's not going to be excuses about not getting to fly to Creighton.

It's the middle of the season, so should a high school basketball player get a new try-out? That's the question for a judge who says he'll announce his decision Tuesday morning. He's hearing the case of a family whose child didn't make the team. As we told you last month, the family claims the Andover School District created a "pay to play" environment. Monday, both parties were in court, because attorneys for the Andover School District asked the judge to dismiss the case. "It's an issue that belongs in front of the school to make the decision," said Richard James, representing the district.