More than 1,100 area fourth graders, their teachers and parents and more than 100 volunteers are registered to attend the 19th Annual Make A Splash Topeka Water Festival at Garfield Park and Community Center Thursday, Sept. 20. This event runs from 9:30 a.m. until 2:05 p.m.
The festival, “Make a Splash Topeka Water Festival,” is part of a program in which festivals are scheduled annually in hundreds of locations around Kansas, the United States and internationally.
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is an international, interdisciplinary, water science education program for formal and non-formal educators of K-12 students. The activities are correlated to the state standards and support what students are learning in school. The Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE), in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, sponsor Project WET in Kansas.
“Water touches nearly every aspect of our lives. We use water to drink, brush our teeth, wash, cook, clean, grow food, produce energy and more. We depend on water not only to live, but for nearly everything we do. That makes conserving and preserving this vital natural resource essential,” said Laura Downey, KACEE Executive Director. “We designed this event for fourth graders, because water is a topic that is often covered by teachers at this grade and this event supports students’ understandings of this amazing resource. Through the hard work of our many volunteers, the 1,100 fourth graders will participate in hands-on education activity stations and learn about a variety of water topics. Stations will teach students about how water gets from the river to their taps, how we can save water, how we can make sure water is clean and healthy for living things and even how to be safe when recreating on the water, to name just a few. By the end of this fun day, students have a better understanding of how important water is to our lives and what they can do to be good stewards of this shared resource.”
The event is offered free of charge to those who register in advance. Many classes are provided financial assistance with transportation costs.
Sponsors of the Topeka Water Festival include the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE); Office of Utilities and Transportation, City of Topeka Public Works; Shawnee County Conservation District; Shawnee County Farm Bureau; Upper Wakarusa WRAPS and Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams; Westar Energy Green Team; Goodyear Tire & Rubber;Jackson County Conservation District; Pottawatomie County Conservation District; Scott Holloman, CPA, LLC; Franklin County Conservation District. Supporters include Arab Shrine Provost Guard Unit; Garfield Community Center and Park; The Salvation Army; Shawnee County Parks and Recreation; Kansas Department of Health & Environment/Bureau of Water, Watershed Mgt. Section; Kansas Water Office.
For information on KACEE programs, individuals may contact Laura Downey, KACEE Executive Director, at 785-532-3322. For more information about the water festival, contact Molly Hadfield at 785-368-0991 or Laura Downey at 785-532-3322.
Jingga, an eight year old female Sumatran Tiger, at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center is pregnant. Ultrasound has confirmed two, probably three and possibly four cubs.
The cubs are due to be born sometime in October. “While we know there were a lot of fireworks going off in the tiger habitat on July 4, we don’t know if that is the actual date the cubs were conceived,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. Sumatran tiger gestation typically has a range of 90 to 110 days.
The father of the cubs is Sanjiv, a seven year old Sumatran Tiger who was born at Zoo Atlanta. He transferred to the Topeka Zoo in 2017 from the Akron Zoo at the recommendation of the Sumatran Tiger SSP. This is the first time that Sanjiv has fathered any offspring.
Eight year old, Jingga was born at the Sacramento Zoo and came to Topeka in 2012. In 2014, Jingga gave birth to three tiger cubs who now reside at the Nashville Zoo.
Sumatran Tigers are critically endangered with only about 400 Sumatran Tigers left in the wild. The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center is an active participant in the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan which strives to maintain enough genetic diversity to manage a healthy population of tigers under human care for 100 years. During that 100 year time frame, it is hoped that enough problems can be corrected in their native habitats that it will be safe enough for tiger populations to begin growing through natural breeding and tiger reintroductions back to the wild.
Patrons of the locally owned Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant who drink Tiger Bite IPA also support Sumatran Tiger Conservation. A quarter from every draw sold goes to the Topeka Zoo’s Conservation Fund. The funding then goes to the Sumatran Tiger Species Survival Plan housed at the Minnesota Zoo. From there, the funding goes to the Wildlife Conservation Society which has a field office on the Island of Sumatra in Southeast Asia. The funding is then used to hire an armed wildlife ranger by the name of Badar Johan who works daily to prevent illegal poaching and illegal farming and deforestation.
Clean Slate Day will take place on Friday, September 21st from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Topeka Municipal Court. Clean Slate Day is an opportunity for a fresh start for people with Topeka Municipal Court offenses. This allows them to begin payment plans for outstanding fines and fees, setting new court dates for outstanding warrants and getting old violations expunged all without the fear of arrest.
The Topeka Community Foundation has provided a $3,500 grant to help those who income qualify to pay their outstanding fees and fines. The funds are available on a first come first serve basis.
“I am glad to have the opportunity to continue offering Clean Slate Day to Municipal Court defendants,” said Municipal Court Judge Lori Dougherty-Bichsel. “This could be their chance to obtain a driver’s license after being suspended for years. This could be their chance to have a case expunged which has kept them from pursuing an employment opportunity in our community. We have the ability to help our community members and I am grateful for all our partners that help make this day possible through donations of time, resources, and money.”
Several other services will also be provided during Clean Slate Day including, free legal advice, employment opportunities, options for drivers’ licenses, housing, financial, education, city services, food resources and other social service needs.
Participants in Clean Slate Day need to bring a driver’s license or government issued photo I.D., information about Topeka Municipal Court offenses, proof of household income and a social security card.
The intersection of the SW Arvonia Place/SW Huntoon Street/I-470 ramp opened shortly after 1 p.m. today, following a ribbon cutting ceremony. The intersection closed on June 4th.
The rest of the project is still under construction with another 1200 feet of Huntoon under construction west of the intersection. The rest of phase one of the project is expected to be completed by December 15th.
“This project is an example of a city and state partnership to replace a badly deteriorated and outdated roadway,” said City Manager Brent Trout. “This is just one of the many projects undertaken this year and on track to be completed on time and on budget. We look forward to this phase to be completed in December and to next year’s project on Arvonia and Winding Road to the south next year.”
This is the first season of a two-season project. Next season, the City hopes that the Arvonia Place and SW Winding Road intersection will be relocated to the south, across from the new hotel entrance, and a section of Arvonia will be rebuilt to the south 1400 feet. This year’s construction budget is $3.6 million with Amino Brothers Inc. as the general contractor. Next year’s portion is budgeted at $2.13 million. Funding is from State grants and local General Obligation (GO) Bonds.
The City of Topeka is a semi-finalist for a $50,000 Gen2Gen Encore Prize. The prize is awarded to an organization that comes up with an innovative solution that will tap into the talent of people over the age of fifty to partner with youth and help them thrive. Out of 110 applicants, the City of Topeka is one of 25 to make the semi-finals.
The City of Topeka needs your help to become a finalist. Our project is a program to partner people over fifty as mentors to youth in Highland Park High School, and help them to achieve their goals after high school, whether that is college, technical school or starting their own business. The program will provide ACT prep, financial literacy courses, college application fees, and college visits. The youth and mentors will also participate in a community service project. If the City of Topeka is awarded the prize, this program will be a pilot program, which we hope to expand to the other USD 501 schools in Topeka.
“We are excited to partner with USD 501 and Highland Park High School to help students achieve their dreams after high school,” said Monique Glaude’, Division Director of Community Engagement for the City of Topeka. “Pairing youth with experienced members of our community can help bridge the age gap and connect people across generations.”
In order to make the finals a public voting campaign is put on from September 12th – 25th. The semi-finalist with the most votes is automatically a finalist and awarded $10,000. The finalists will all pitch their projects in Los Angeles where the winner will win the $50,000 prize.
Everyone is allowed to vote once a day during the public voting period. Please help our project and vote here: https://bit.ly/TopekaCommonUnity
Encore is a non-profit organthat works to leverage the skills and talents of adults over the age of fifty to improve communities. The Generation to Generation program for Encore is a campaign to mobilize adults over fifty to improve the prospects of children and youth. Find out more about Encore here: https://encore.org/
The Topeka Zoo is saddened to report that the staff has made the difficult decision to euthanize Sunda the elephant due to her deteriorating health and quality of life.
On Monday, Sunda was down and unable to get up in her enclosure and had to be lifted up with the help of the Topeka Fire Department. This morning, for the second time, Sunda was down and unable to get up. Sunda has been experiencing health issues and recently underwent a medical procedure to evaluate a sore behind her ear that has been reluctant to heal. She had also been experiencing kidney issues and a mass in her reproductive system. Biopsies and cultures are still pending from that procedure.
“It is hard to lose any animal, especially one who has been at the zoo for as long as Sunda has,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “Sunda was a wonderful elephant who has had the longest tenure of any animal at this zoo and has brought happiness to so many people who have come to see her. We will all truly miss her.”
Sunda was 58 years old and has called the Topeka Zoo home for 52 years. The median life expectancy for elephants is approximately 46.9 years.edian life expectancy for elephants is approximately 46.9 years.
At about 4:30 this morning, Sunda the elephant woke up inside her barn but couldn’t stand up. “Arriving to work and finding a down elephant is your biggest fear when you work with elephants,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley. “We work with geriatric elephants. We train for this.”
The elephant care team moved the other elephants to the outdoor habitat and gave Sunda some time to see if she could get up on her own. “She was trying,” said Wiley. “She was rocking back and forth but just couldn’t get her legs under her.” By 8:00 arrangements had been made to borrow a piece of lifting equipment from a nearby zoo. Attempts were made using airbags to try to give the elephant a little extra help. The airbags were unsuccessful.
At about 9:30 Zoo staff and a group of tactical rescue firefighters from the Topeka Fire Department began the process of using straps, pulleys and ropes to lift Sunda into a standing position. About five minutes after noon, Sunda was lifted and she was able to get her feet under her and stand. Moments later, she was searching for food and interacting with her care team.
“Right now, she appears to be doing well. Having said that, we know that we are in a race with time that we can’t win,” said Wiley. “She is an old elephant and she is a very loved elephant. Her age and health issues tell us that she most likely won’t be with us much longer. Our commitment to her stays the same; we will do everything we can for her as long as we can until her quality of life no longer benefits from it.”
Sunda is a 58 year old Asian elephant. She has called Topeka home for 52 years. She is experiencing kidney issues and has a mass in her reproductive system. Recently she underwent a medical procedure to evaluate a sore behind her ear that is reluctant to heal. Biopsies and cultures are still pending from that procedure.
Sunda and the Topeka Fire Department are the true heroes of this morning’s events. The Zoo is eternally grateful for the support it receives from our Fire Department.
Tuesday evening, September 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center will be hosting a “Cookie Party” for two giraffes born at the Zoo this summer – Little Liz and Big Brother Konza. The first 500 people will each receive a giraffe shaped and hand decorated giraffe cookie made by Aunt T’s Sweet Creations. Giraffe keepers will be making presentations a t 6:00 pm and 7:00 p.m.
The event is a fundraiser to support enhancements to the giraffe habitat at the Zoo. Work has already begun on a Giraffe Bull Yard behind the current giraffe outdoor exhibit. The Zoo would also like to move its giraffe training device from an interior space to the main giraffe yard and add some modifications to it. “Moving the training device outside should make it more comfortable for the giraffes to use and it will allow guests to see the great training and care the giraffes get here,” said Zoo Director Brendan Wiley.
Admission to the event is a $5.00 donation per person or one package of diapers for two admissions. All diapers collected that evening will go to Community Action, Inc’s Diaper Depot which distributes diapers to low-income families in Shawnee County. If choosing a diaper donation for admission, the Zoo encourages you to consider making that a more environmentally friendly donation of cloth diapers.
For more information contact Brendan Wiley at 785-506-3797 or bwiley@topeka.org.
Case # 18-56030
This subject reportedly stole merchandise from the Bed Bath and Beyond on SW Wanamaker Rd.
If you have any information on her identity or whereabouts, please contact Det. Wilson at (785) 969-0629 or email him at cdwilson@topeka.org.
You can also call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 to report anonymously. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
Case #18-82281
On August 19, 2018 officers were dispatched to Cricket Wireless, located at 1104 SW 6th Ave., in regards to a robbery. An employee reported a black male armed with a handgun entered the store and stole an undisclosed amount of currency. The suspect was described to be around 5’05” tall, 150 lbs, with orange colored hair, wearing a dark colored Gap hooded sweatshirt, dark colored cargo pants, gray shoes with white soles, a black stocking cap, and a surgical mask on his face. The suspect is believed to have left in a silver passenger car. No one was injured during this incident.
If you recognize this suspect, or this vehicle, please contact Detective Strathman at jstrathman@topeka.org.
You can also call Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007 to report anonymously. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.