Commission passes animal cruelty resolution

Saturday, July 7, 2012

By Angelique McNaughton

Any animals seized on suspicion of animal cruelty in Bourbon County may now be placed for adoption or, if need be, euthanized after 21 days under a new resolution county commissioners passed Friday morning.

 

The Kansas Legislature passed a law on July 1, 2011, giving any appropriate facility the authority to take any animals displaying evidence of cruelty into custody. Where an animal is taken into custody and the owner charged, Kansas county commissioners, under the law, have a right to establish procedures for area animal shelters to petition the district court to put the animal up for adoption or euthanize it.

Those steps will be taken 21 days after the owner is notified, unless the owner files a renewable cash or performance bond with the county clerk in an amount “not less than the cost of care and treatment of the animal for 30-days.”

Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long said Assistant County Attorney Valorie LeBlanc requested the resolution be passed because of a current animal cruelty case. No case specifics were readily available.

Long said Pottawatomie County is the only other county in the state with a similar resolution.

In essence, the resolution (No. 17-12), will give those interested a chance to adopt animals that would otherwise remain in limbo until local courts decide their fate.

Fort Scott Police Department Lt. Travis Shelton said animal seizures don’t happen often, but they typically involve dogs when they do.

Shelton said seized animals are brought to the animal shelter and held until a court renders a decision.

“I know we’ve held dogs down there for a long period of time before we were able to adopt them or decide,” Shelton said.

The resolution will be effective from and after its passage.

In other business, commissioners:

* Approved the re-appointment of Ken Anderson to the Tri-Valley Developmental Services Board for a three-year period.

* Received budget requests from the following: $78,600 from the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center; $40,000 from the Bourbon County Soil Conservation District; and $60,000 from Tri-Valley Developmental Services.

Bourbon County commissioners next meet at 9 a.m. Monday. The Bourbon County Fair and District Court budgets are on the agenda.

Appetite for Entertainment?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ottawa Herald, The (KS)

Published: July 15, 2011

Rides.

Games.

Carnival food.

The Franklin County Fair and Rodeo is long recognized for its support of local 4-H’ers with such activities as livestock shows, various indoor exhibits, rodeo events and the demolition derby, but those aren’t the only things attracting residents and out-of-town visitors to the fairgrounds.

The carnival portion of the fair also entices people to brave the heat, bringing them flocking to the midway at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, 1737 S. Elm St., Ottawa. From such carnival classics as the ferris wheel and the carousel to pony rides and hot festival food, the fair attempts to cater to a wide range of attendees’ interests. While waiting in line for a ride called “The Sizzler,”

Matthew Rodina, 11, Ottawa, and his friend Jordan Hough, 11, Ottawa, both said they only come to the fair for the “rides and to hang out with friends.” Each boy was brandishing the yellow bracelets that can be purchased for unlimited access to the rides.

“We’re coming out here every night,” Rodina said.

The carnival and entertainment at the fair open at 6 p.m. today and Sunday. Ottaway Amusement Company provides the action at the carnival, which began Thursday evening and offers an array of rides, games and entertainment. Individual tickets can be purchased for the rides or fair-goers can buy a bracelet for $25 that provides for an unlimited amount of rides.

Amy Eneihen, 29, Ottawa, said she purchased bracelets for her whole family, including herself.

“We come just for the rides,” Eneihen said. “My favorite is the Tilt-O-Whirl.”

The ride, which consists of passengers in cars spinning in different directions at varying speeds, also is a favorite of her children, who range in age from 18 months to 12 years old.

Robert Potter and his wife traveled all the way from Oregon to visit family in the Ottawa area. They attended the fair with their grandchildren, ages 3 and 13.

“We just brought the grandkids out tonight,” Potter said Thursday.

A longtime companion — and something that has come to be expected at many summer festivals — also can be found on the midway: carnival food. Vendors offer attendees everything from caramel apples and cotton candy to hot dogs and curly-fries. And, of course, one vendor’s stand was selling only one popular carnival staple — a powdered sugar-coated treat — funnel cakes.

Chadeen Crocker, an Ottaway employee working concessions, said at her stand the fries and corndogs, which are made from scratch, were the most popular item.

Concessions worker Robert van Gooswilligen said the cotton candy had outsold everything else offered at his stand.

Many of those in attendance Thursday evening also planned to take part in that night’s annual barbecue dinner at the fairgrounds. The barbecue offered locally provided food including a barbecue sandwich, chips, potato salad, beans and a cold beverage.

Louis and Patricia Parsons, Ottawa, found themselves at the fairgrounds on Thursday evening because they said they had nothing else to do and wanted some barbecue.

In addition to the barbecue, more vendors placed randomly throughout the food garden near Celebration Hall were selling such items as nachos, burritos and more hot dogs.

While some area residents admittedly only go for the rides and games — and some just for the food — that’s not the case for Teresa Oshman, Quenemo.

Oshman said that while her boys, Matthew, 14, and Steven, 16, come out for the rides and to spend time with friends, she doesn’t.

“I come more for the rodeo,” Oshman said. “My son’s friend who came with us said he’d never been to a rodeo. How can you grow up in Kansas and not go to a rodeo?”