Ben Kitchens Painting Co., INc., has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award. The award reflects a stellar year of customer service to member sof the local services marketplace and consumer review site in 2016.

“Companies that can meet higher demands without missing a beat in their exemplary performance standards truly do stand apart from their peers,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “Only a fraction of the home improvement companies in Junction City/Manhattan area were able to do it.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2016 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade. The SSA winners must also be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

“It is an honor to win this award for the 3rd year in a row and it is a testament to the dedication and commitment of my team who all take pride in their approach to customer service,” Ben Kitchens said. “I am extremely proud of their efforts in treating our customers with a friendly, helpful attitude to make our customer’s experience be the best it can be.”

The Trump Administration is yet to confirm an Agriculture Secretary.

Local producers expressed their concern that the ones who largely voted the President into office are being forgotten.

Congressman Roger Marshall said that this is something that leaders in Washington, D.C. are concerned about as well.

“We’re all frustrated in agriculture that we don’t have a Secretary of Agriculture yet, he was one of the last people named, and still has not been confirmed; so certainly, we’re frustrated, [we] do feel like we kind of got the short end of the stick, and especially when Mr. Trump did away with TPP that really killed us in a lot of ways in agriculture – and he went on to say that he was very much in favor of bilateral trade agreements, but we got to get to work on those,” said Marshall.

Marshall said that Kansans need help now, “not three years from now”.

“Our average Kansas farmer made $6000 in 2015, and it’s worse in 2016 and 2017 could be even worse; so we need help and relief now, it’s frustrating that we don’t a Secretary of Agriculture because there’s going to be no trade agreements started until that happens,” said Marshall. “We’re burning daylight.”

Marshall, U.S. Congressman of the big 1st District of Kansas, addressed a concerned group at a Geary County Farm Bureau Luncheon.

Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was President Trump’s pick for Agriculture Secretary. The Senate has not yet scheduled a hearing for Perdue.

Manhattan, KS – New delegates to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature (KSHL) will be elected  soon in the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging region. Elections will occur Wed., March 15 in Lincoln and Dickinson counties.  KSHL candidates in other counties are unopposed.

Each Delegate is elected to serve a two-year term.  Those elected are responsible for meeting with older  Kansans  and caregivers in their county, identifying issues of importance to seniors and caregivers, attending KSHL region and state meetings, advocating for legislative priorities, and testifying at hearings.

Candidates in Dickinson County are Harris Laing and Chester Strobel. The  polls for this election will be at the following times and locations on March 15:

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Abilene Senior Center, 100 N Elm St. in Abilene
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Chapman Senior Center,  439 S Marshall in Chapman
• 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hill Top Community Center, 2 South A St. in Herington
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Solomon Senior Center,  119 W 4^th St. in Solomon

Candidates in Lincoln County are Cynthia Nelson and Lester “Les” Richards. The poll for this election will be open 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. at the Lincoln Senior Center, 116 W. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln on March 15.

Any registered Kansas voter who is 60 years of age or over on the day of the election may vote at the KSHL poll in their respective county.  Each voter must bring a copy of at least one of the following documents to the polling location to prove age and residency:  driver’s license, Kansas non-driver I.D., Medicare card, birth certificate, marriage license, or notarized statement.

Voters wishing to receive an advance ballot must send their letter of request and copy of document proving age/residency postmarked by Friday, February 28, 2017 to: NC-FH AAA SHL Election, Attention: Karen Mayse, 401 Houston St., Manhattan KS 66502.

Applications for an advance ballot must contain the following information:

• The advance voter’s name
• Current address and city and town
• Age
• Name and relationship of person requesting the ballot if different than the voter

KSHL candidates unopposed in their counties are: Jane Gingles, Clay County; Don Menard, Cloud County; Ron Etchison, Ellsworth County; Susan Davis, Geary County; William Ballard, Lyon County; Barbara Smith, Marion County; Jay Rowh, Mitchell County; Joan Duggan, Ottawa County; John Long, Pottawatomie County; John Allard, Riley County; Memory Maginley, Wabaunsee County.

The KSHL is comprised of 125 delegates who serve in the unicameral body.  The Kansas Silver Haired Legislative Session takes place in Topeka in early October.

Kansas State University’s Animal Sciences and Industry Department will host the Legacy Sale on Friday, March 3 at the Stanley Stout Center in Manhattan. This marks the 40th anniversary of the student-managed sale.

This year’s offering includes 43 Angus, 12 Simmental and 13 Hereford yearling bulls as well as 46 bred registered females and two heifers. The bulls to be sold rank in the top 20 percent of all three breeds designated for calving ease, weaning weight and end product merit.

Also featured in the sale are four American Quarter Horse Association ranch performance horses. Visit www.asi.ksu.edu/legacysale to view the sale catalog and lot videos and to request a sale catalog.

Prior to the sale will be the 104th Annual Cattlemen’s Day. New K-State President Richard Myers will kick off the event sharing his vision for the university. Barry Flinchbaugh, K-State professor emeritus, will share his thoughts regarding agriculture policy in a new federal administration. Both presentations will set the stage for the rest of the day with the theme of “Beef Cattle Economics Trilogy: Beef Industry Outlook, Drivers of Profitability and Better Use of Farm Management Budgets.”

The cost to attend Cattlemen’s Day 2017 is $20 if paid by March 2 at noon or $30 at the door. There is no charge for students. Online registration is available at Upcoming ASI Events. For more information visit www.KSUBeef.org or contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or lschrein@ksu.edu.

Following the Cattlemen’s Day sessions and prior to the Legacy Sale, attendees are invited to K-State’s new Beef Purebred Unit dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. The new unit is located adjacent to the Stanley Stout Center at 2230 Denison.

On March 2, the evening before Cattlemen’s Day, Richard Janssen will be honored as the Stockman of the Year at the 47th Annual Stockmen’s Dinner at 6 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. A separate registration, $50 per attendee, due Thursday, Feb. 23 is required for the dinner. Information can be found online at www.found.ksu.edu/rsvp/asi or by contacting Charla Henry at 785-532-7093.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies; and member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, as well as State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs – traveled overseas this week for meetings with German, French and British foreign and defense ministers. Additionally, he met with American General Curtis Scaparrotti – Commander, U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe – to discuss the state of U.S. military installations in Europe.

“During our meetings, I have been underscoring America’s commitment to retaining a robust alliance that defends against terrorists and hostile governments,” Sen. Moran said. “Germany, France and the United Kingdom serve as essential partners in Afghanistan, sending their men and women to serve there alongside ours and sharing vital information on terrorists. European sanctions against Russia for its illegal activity in Ukraine work in tandem with American sanctions to impose costs on Russia’s destabilizing actions. Additionally, it is useful to deliver the message in person that Congress is watching European trade practices closely, and emphasize that Kansas farmers and ranchers should be on the same level playing field as those from other countries. America’s relationship with these nations is important to our security and prosperity, and these meetings reinforce those common bonds.”