BUHLER – Buhler School Superintendent Dr. Dan Stiffler and Buhler Mayor Daniel Friesen, announced Tuesday that they received verification from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment that cancer rates within the community of Buhler were at or below normal statistical levels.

The Buhler School District, the City of Buhler, and KDHE have been working together since February to gather factual data to resolve concerns raised by a few community members. These concerns were significantly and sometimes inaccurately reported by some in the media, Eagle Stations not included.

The report indicates there were 483 breast cancer cases, and 482 lung/bronchus cases during a period from 1999 to 2008 in what they call Region 5, which includes Reno, Harvey. McPherson, and Sedgwick Counties.

Because of the concern around the Buhler Grade School, they sampled cases in zip codes 67501, 67502, and 67522. This would be the areas where teachers in the Buhler district live. They say the number of cases was actually less then expected at 394, compared with 396.2 which was expected. The same was true on the lung cases at 390, compared with they expected which would be 400.5.

“This confirmed the majority of the community’s feelings all along,” commented Dr. Stiffler. Mayor Friesen continued saying, “We are happy this is matter has come to a resolution, we look forward to getting back to the work of growing our community and our school district.”