Government

A federal judge has issued a $5.5 million civil penalty against Zen Magnets LLC, a Colorado company, which illegally sold powerful small magnets that already had been recalled by another company, the Justice Department announced.  Because of the company's inability to pay the penalty, most of it was suspended.

Kiowa County has released its budget for fiscal year 2015, which begins January 1, 2017. A copy of the 60 page document is attached below this article (requires the free Adobe Acrobat PDF reader available from adobe.com if you do not currently have the software - most computers do).

The budget was sent to all county offices Wednesday morning.

Due to decreases in tax valuations, the county has made what it terms "severe" cuts to the budget.

Despite the cuts, full-time county employees will receive a $0.25 per hour raise, equivalent to about $500 per year.

This year, seven entities across the state will receive $525,185 in grant funds for projects aimed to improve water quality. Projects must be focused in one of three areas: stormwater management training, projects that improve water quality where there's been a violation, and the planning and/or construction of stormwater or wastewater improvement projects. Government agencies, publicly owned water systems and nonprofit water systems, watershed groups, stormwater program administrators, training providers, and private landowners were eligible to apply.

The Kiowa County Hospital District and County Board met in regular session on October 25, 2016 at 6:32 p.m. at the Bank Meeting Room.

District Board members present were: Robert Woods, Priscilla Waggoner, Mary Eikner, Sylvia Shields and Cathryn Anderson.

County Board members present were: Kim Harris, Craig Kerfoot and Lori Shalberg. Absent: Dennis Pearson (called) and John Negley

Others present: Tristen Sheridan, Wendy McDowell, Shannon Dixon, Kevin Siefkas, Braylynn Eder and Cassie Frey.

The meeting was called to order by Mary Eikner, Chairman of the Board.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus -- and the U.S. Postal Service can help you prove it when Santa replies to your child's letter -- complete with a North Pole postmark.

Here are the steps for your child to get a letter back from Santa:

1.    Have your child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.

2.     Later, when alone, open the envelope and write a personalized response.

The regular Kiowa County Commissioner's Meeting was called to order on October 25, 2016 at 9:00a.m. by Chairman Richard Scott. Scott opened the meeting with prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Those in Attendance were:

Richard Scott, Chairman

Cindy McLoud, Commissioner

Donald Oswald, Commissioner

Delisa Weeks, County Clerk

Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Oswald moved and McLoud seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Ensuring those serving in the nation's armed forces and diplomatic service receive their holiday mail in time is a priority for the Postal Service. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Deadlines for Christmas delivery to U.S. Military and APO/FPO depend on the destination. For most destinations, the following cutoff dates apply:

Priority Packages  and First-Class Cards and Letters: Dec 9

Priority Express Mail: Dec 16

The file below in Adobe Acrobat PDF format contains the unofficial election results from Kiowa County for the 2016 general election.