Flags

Flags across Kansas will fly at half-staff Thursday in honor of three Kansas soldiers killed in Afghanistan.  The three army reservists were based out of Olathe. Sergeant Alexander J. Bennett, Specialist Spencer C. Duncan and Hays native Chief Warrant Officer Two Bryan Nichols. They were among thirty servicemembers who died in last August's Chinook helicopter crash. They will be honored for their sacrifice in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Thursday. Flags were also flown at half-staff on Wednesday in honor of Private First Class Clyde Miller who died on May 24 in Afghanistan.

Protestors waved American flags and demonstrated at Florida fire station Sunday. They were protesting a decision by Seminole city officials to ban flying the flag on city fire trucks. The order to remove the flags came after a complaint from a member of the public. The complaing concerned a flag being flown from the back of a ladder truck. Smaller flags were later displayed in the truck's windows, but they, too, were removed after complaints. A spokesperson for the city's fire department says the complainer did not take issue with the flags themselves-- but how they were displayed.

Flags across Kansas will fly at half-staff today in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day.   The memorial recognizes local, state and federal law enforcement and peace officials. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued a statement saying "They do difficult jobs in often dangerous circumstances, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities. " Peace Officers Memorial Day

President Obama orders all flags to be flown at half-staff through July 6 in honor of the late U.S. Senator Robert Byrd. Flags should be flown at half-staff until Tuesday July 6, with the exception of July 4. Flags should fly at full-staff Independence Day and move back to half staff on July 5. Byrd died this week at the age of 92. He served in the Senate 51 years representing West Virginia. Byrd's casket is in the rotunda of West Virginia statehouse.

Governor Mark Parkinson is ordering flags to be flown at half-staff throughout Kansas on Friday, October 8th in honor of Sergeant Justin officer of Wichita. Sgt. Officer died on September 29th from injuries sustained during an improvised explosive device attack while serving in Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He is survived by his mother and father.

By Roger Cornish (TOPEKA, Kan.) Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson has directed flags to be flown at half-staff throughout Kansas from sunup to sundown May 27 in honor of U.S. Army Colonel John M. McHugh. Colonel McHugh, 46, died May 18 in Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces used a vehicle borne improvised explosive device and struck his convoy. McHugh was serving as Chief of Operations Group A with the Battle Command Training Program. McHugh was on a NATO key leader training mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Governor Mark Parkinson has directed flags to be flown at half-staff throughout Kansas today in honor of Specialist Thomas A. Moffitt of Wichita. “On behalf of all Kansans, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Specialist Moffitt,” said Parkinson. “His willingness to answer the highest call of duty and make the ultimate sacrifice for his country will never be forgotten.” ------------------------------- Original Story, October 25 Family and friends say he died doing what he loved.

An 11-year-old Wichita boy gets his iPod back after two juveniles took it from him yesterday afternoon. Police say the boy flagged down an officer and told him his iPod was taken by force. The officer was able to stop both suspects and recover that iPod.  The two suspects were then booked into the Juvenile Intake & Assessment Center on robbery charges. The boy was not hurt.

The wind uprooted a tree in southwest Wichita Monday.  The tree toppled over in the strong winds at a house near 31st and south Meridian. Fire crews say the trees roots had rotted out, so it wouldn't have taken much to knock the tree down. No one lived at the home where the tree fell, but city crews cleaned it up to make sure it didn't fall on the home next door.  They also wanted to make sure children couldn't play on it and get hurt. Wind may have contributed to a roll-over accident this afternoon, but officers say the driver was also going too fast.  The semi was carrying a load of table salt, when it tried to exit K-96 for westbound Kellogg.  The driver was not seriously hurt.

An 11-year-old Wichita boy gets his iPod back after two juveniles took it from him yesterday afternoon. Police say the boy flagged down an officer and told him his iPod was taken by force. The officer was able to stop both suspects and recover that iPod.  The two suspects were then booked into the Juvenile Intake & Assessment Center on robbery charges. The boy was not hurt.

Protestors waved American flags and demonstrated at Florida fire station Sunday. They were protesting a decision by Seminole city officials to ban flying the flag on city fire trucks. The order to remove the flags came after a complaint from a member of the public. The complaing concerned a flag being flown from the back of a ladder truck. Smaller flags were later displayed in the truck's windows, but they, too, were removed after complaints. A spokesperson for the city's fire department says the complainer did not take issue with the flags themselves-- but how they were displayed.

June 14th is flag day, but did you know it is also a special day for Wichita's city flag. 75 years ago, the current design was officially adopted by then Mayor T Walker Weaver. "Very few people know that we have a flag," said Sedgwick County Historical Society Museum Curator Jami Frazier Tracy. "It does give pride in our community, and represents our past our indian heritage. " The design derives from the indian word Wichita, meaning scattered lodges. The white circle is the indian symbol for home, .the blue sun represents happiness and the red and white rays signify honor and courage.

Flags across Kansas will fly at half-staff Thursday in honor of three Kansas soldiers killed in Afghanistan.  The three army reservists were based out of Olathe. Sergeant Alexander J. Bennett, Specialist Spencer C. Duncan and Hays native Chief Warrant Officer Two Bryan Nichols. They were among thirty servicemembers who died in last August's Chinook helicopter crash. They will be honored for their sacrifice in a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Thursday. Flags were also flown at half-staff on Wednesday in honor of Private First Class Clyde Miller who died on May 24 in Afghanistan.

The City of Wichita has identified a permanent solution to the leaking valve at the primary Sewage Treatment Plant at 2305 E. 57th Street South. The repair work is scheduled to be completed on Friday. The city says it involves the construction of a concrete plug in the chamber that leads to the leaking valve. City crews made a temporary repair to the leak over the weekend. The permanent work will eliminate the line from which elevated levels of bacteria traveled into the Arkansas Rive.r.

Back at work after Memorial Day weekend. Just wanted to add my thanks to all of you who have or are currently serving in uniform. And many thanks to the families who have made the sacrifice. The many flags this weekend were a great reminder of the cost of our freedom. Roger

The City of Wichita say its temporarily plugged a leaking valve at the sewage treatment plant at 2305 E. 57th Street. It's not known when the leak started or how much wastewater entered the Arkansas River. The city and the Kansas Department of Health and Enviornment discovered the leak Saturday, one day after issuing a public health advisory for the river.  Both organizations are sampling water quality to determine the effectiveness of the temporary plug.  Permanent repairs will be made after an inspection by KDHE.

Flags across Kansas will fly at half-staff today in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day.   The memorial recognizes local, state and federal law enforcement and peace officials. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback issued a statement saying "They do difficult jobs in often dangerous circumstances, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice for their communities. " Peace Officers Memorial Day

The Confederate Flag and NASCAR. It's the 800lb gorilla in the middle of every race track.  And I don't care if it's Phoenix, Daytona, Darlington or Kansas. They are as much apart of the sport as the cars, the the gas cans and race haulers. And as much as NASCAR wants to ignore it...it's there. And it's a part of their image. Then there is the General Lee. A fictional car from a 80's television show. Is it named after a civil war general? Yes. Does it have a large confederate flag on the hood?