New Transceiver at Ensor
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- Written by: Rick Nichols
Several members of the club assembled at Ensor Park and Museum the morning of July 29 to meet Lee Ward of Peculiar, Mo., KØLW, as he arrived with a new Icom 7300 that has been donated for use at the historic eight-acre site owned and operated by the City of Olathe. Ward, who subsequently tuned the transceiver in the Radio Room, told Jeff Darby, KSØJD, club president, Marty Peters, KEØPEZ, secretary-treasurer, Joe Krout, KRØUT, president of The Olathe Ensor Foundation, Howard Cripe, NØAZ, vice president, and Peg Nichols, KDØVQO, that the transceiver was purchased from the company at a nice discount and that "an angel donor" had picked up the tab.
Park Sales Tax Extended by Voters
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- Written by: Rick Nichols
FOX4 reported April 26 that a majority of the Olathe residents who did participate in the sales tax election held in April gave their approval to the proposal that the city's 1/8-cent Parks Sales Tax be extended by 10 years.
According to the Kansas City, Mo., television station's online story, Olathe residents cast 15,959 "Yes" votes (roughly 78%) and 4,608 "No" votes (roughly 22%) in responding to the question on the ballot. As a result, the tax will now be in effect at least through March 31, 2035.
Had a majority of the voters said "No" to the question, the tax would have expired March 31, 2025.
The numerous parks in Olathe, one of which is Ensor Park and Museum, collectively stand to benefit from the extension of the tax.
It also was reported by FOX4 that a majority of the voters voted in favor of the proposal that the city's 3/8-cent Street Maintenance Sales Tax be extended by 10 years to March 31, 2034. The Johnson County Election Office had the unofficial tally at 16,367 "Yes" votes (roughly 80 percent) and 4,199 "No" votes (roughly 20 percent).
But only about 21% of Olathe's 96,802 registered voters took part in the election, according to the story.
The votes that were cast were cast by mail, with the last day to vote being April 25.
Ensor Foundation Formed
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- Written by: Rick Nichols
With one collective eye focused on the present and the other collective eye clearly fixed on the future, some members of the club, working quietly behind the scenes, have put their heads together and established The Olathe Ensor Foundation.
The foundation is a not-for-profit corporation registered with the Office of the Kansas Secretary of State - this occurred April 3 - and is eligible to accept financial contributions under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, it exists "To preserve and maintain the historical and cultural documents and artifacts of the Ensor Park and Museum and to expand the exhibits, programs, and activities that relate to those documents and artifacts in order to: A. Inspire and enable young men and women to study and follow careers in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, and B. To honor Marshall H. Ensor and Loretta Ensor and to showcase to the public their principles and values and the contributions they made to their farm neighborhood, to the community of Olathe, to the citizens of the United States, and to radio amateurs around the world," quoting here from the Articles of Incorporation.