We the People

Seneca County Courthouse timeline set

A permanent solution to the Seneca County courthouse debate is set to begin before the year is over.

According to a schedule created by MKC and Associates Inc., a Mansfield engineering firm hired to design the new courthouse, construction is slated for November 2008 through December 2009.

MKC divided the design project into two phases. Phase one is creating the concept of the new building, which includes programing.

Once the programing is finalized and approved, MKC would begin concept design drawings including site and floor plans, exterior and elevations. The drawings will be reviewed by the board as well as building users, like the judges and clerk.

The public will also get a chance to give its input at two community focus group meetings. At that time, MKC will provide detailed construction cost estimates.

Once phase one is approved, phase two begins and consists of implementation of the previous phase.

In phase two, leading up to construction in November, MKC set schematic design for July, design development for August, construction documents for September and bidding for October.

The cost of phase one is $42,500. Phase two services are based upon a percentage of construction cost and will be converted to a fixed fee once the scope and schedule is further defined. That percentage is 8.25.

MKC will also provide additional services like landscape design, security and technology design and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.

What will be salvaged from the 1884 courthouse will also be pounded out during the design project.

Related to the salvage of the courthouse, the board passed a resolution setting 4:30 p.m. June 5 for the public auction of county surplus items and courthouse furnishing. The board also passed a resolution entering into a contract with Watson Auction and Real Estate as auctioneer for the event. The company will receive 6 percent of earnings up to $12,500 and 3 percent for anything over.

~Original story by Sandra

Show me the money!

Under the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, the Internal Revenue Service will begin sending checks to more than 130 million households May 2.

Although some filers, such as those with very high incomes, will not qualify for a stimulus payment, most people can expect between $300 and $600 if filing separately and up to $1,200 for married persons filing jointly, according to the IRS.

The United States Treasury Department will make payments starting in early May and have already set up a schedule for the check payments.

The IRS has set up a Web site specifically for the economic stimulus package.

Those who want to estimate the amount of their payment can use the economic stimulus payment calculator.

To receive a stimulus payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return, according to the IRS economic stimulus package Web site.

They also cannot be considered a dependent.

People with no net income tax liability — those who receive all of the money they pay in income taxes back from the government — will usually get a minimum payment of $300.

In addition, parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17.

Stimulus payments are not taxable and will not reduce a taxpayer's refund or increase the amount owed on 2008 returns, but they can be used to pay past-due taxes as any other refund would, according to the IRS.

Many retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers who usually are exempt from filing a tax return may also receive a stimulus payment by filing a 2007 tax return.

More information

regarding this and other special circumstances can be found on the IRS' stimulus package Web site.

~ Original story by Stephany

Open the doors, but where are all the people?

The continuation of a Catholic parish's fight to keep its church will depend on the charity of others.

Parishioners of the former St. James Parish in Kansas, left, are looking for funding to take their legal battle with the Catholic Diocese of Toledo to the Third District Court of Appeals. A 10-day fundraiser to raise $50,000 for legal fees will go through Tuesday.

In the lawsuit filed in June 2006, the St. James parishioners argue the church, its contents and the land the building sits on are the parishioners' property. The parishioners claim they are beneficiaries and therefore have equitable title.

Parishioners haven't been allowed in the church since March 6, 2006, when Bishop Leonard Blair ordered the doors to be padlocked. The parish closed in July 2005 as part of a larger restructuring effort. The diocese argued the parish as an entity owned the property and not the parishioners.

Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Kelbley states the plaintiffs have no claim to the property of the former parish in his judgement entry because it is undisputed the title of the parish is in Blair's name.

Anyone interested in donating to the St. James parishioners' cause should fill out a form on their Web site at http://www.stjameskansas.org by Tuesday, April 22.

~ Original story by Sandra

Execution for child rapists discussed

Louisiana sentenced Patrick Kennedy, right, to die in 2003 after he was convicted of raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter.

Louisiana prosecutors say the attack, which happened in the girl's bed, caused severe emotional trauma and internal injuries which required extensive surgery.

The girl lived, but the sentencing imposed is not in violation of the law, according to the Lousiana Supreme Court.

Although the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976,  it was specified in 1977 that a person who raped an adult female could not be executed.

The court will now decide if the death penalty applies to rape of children.

If Kennedy, 43, is executed, it will be the first time in 44 years someone was put to death for a crime in which the victim did not die. 

Opponents of the death penalty have said if the Louisiana law stands, there will be nothing to stop a child rapist from killing his victim. Also, the message sent to a victim will be that his or her life is over because of the rape.

Supporters of the Louisiana law argue, however, that there is no crime, other than murder, worse than the rape of a child and that those found guilty of the crime should be punished with the harshest punishment available if the circumstances were particularly heinous.

Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Montana all have the death penalty for the crime of rape, but none except Louisiana has enacted the law. The state has one other inmate on death row besides Kennedy for the crime.

Currently, there is no indication of how the justices will rule.

~Chandra

Earth Day meets demolition

Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

While likely not done on purpose, the joining of Earth Day and the demolition the 1884 Seneca County Courthouse is well, ironic. There is just no better word to describe it.

Since the debate over the 1884 courthouse has been at the forefront of county news for more than a year, it is hard to imagine the issue coming to a close and the structure toppling.

However, the county commissioners are moving forward with demolition plans along with the design for a new building.

Board announced March 31 its intention to interview three firms for the design of a new courthouse at an upcoming board session.

In the meantime, the commissioners are finalizing the demolition specifications. 

Oddly enough, if all goes as planned, the commissioners intend to start advertising for demolition firms on April 22 -- Earth Day.

A little too ironic? Yeah, I really do think.

~ Sandra

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