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Month: March 2012

3rd KAMS Class Continues Tradition of Trip To Legislature, Regents, Court

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The 28 students in the third class of the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, who have dubbed themselves the Voyagers, will continue a KAMS tradition Wednesday and Thursday, March 14 and 15, when they travel to Topeka to present to the education committees of the Kansas House and Senate and visit the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas Supreme Court.

However, unlike the two classes before them — the Pioneers and the Trailblazers — they won’t have to leave Custer Hall on the FHSU campus at oh-dark-30 for the trip to Topeka. Instead, they will travel the night before and arrive at the Capitol fresh and rested at 8:30 a.m.

The first stop, at 9 a.m. Thursday morning, March 15, will be at the House Education Committee meeting room for a presentation by Fort Hays State University President Edward H. Hammond, KAMS Director Ron Keller and several KAMS students. FHSU is the institutional host of the academy.

At 10:30, the class will visit the Regents, then have lunch with selected legislators before arriving at the Kansas Senate Education Committee meeting at 1:20 p.m. Hammond, Keller and KAMS students will again make presentations before being introduced to the entire Kansas Senate in the Senate chamber at 2:30 p.m. KAMS parents and invited guests will be able to watch from the East Gallery. The students will be seated in the VIP section on the Senate floor.

The Senate will present a resolution to KAMS.

The final visit of the day will be to the Kansas Supreme Court for a presentation by and Q&A with Justice Marla Luckert. A tour of the Kansas Judicial Center will follow.

KAMS was created by an act of the Legislature in 2006 to promote mathematics and science education, to reduce the “brain drain” in which many of the best and brightest young Kansans go to out-of-state universities and never return, and to promote economic development by providing a well-educated workforce. Thirteen of the 14 students in the first KAMS graduating class went on to Kansas universities.

No. 3 Kansas Falls To No. 12 Baylor In Big 12 Tournament Semifinals

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(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Baylor sharpshooter Brady Heslip hit a pair of 3-pointers to keep No. 3 Kansas at bay, and Perry Jones III finished with 18 points as the No. 12 Bears beat the Jayhawks 81-72 on Friday night to reach the Big 12 tournament title game.

Quincy Miller added 13 points and eight rebounds, and Pierre Jackson had 11 points and seven assists for the Bears (27-6), who will play No. 5 Missouri or Texas for the championship.

Baylor lost to the Tigers in its only previous Big 12 title game.

Tyshawn Taylor had 20 points for Kansas (26-6), which used a big second-half charge to briefly take the lead. But the Bears hung tough down the stretch, and Heslip’s two 3-pointers — one with 2:03 remaining, the other with 1:12 left — allowed them to hang on.

No team from Texas has ever won the Big 12 tournament.

Baylor will get another chance.

The last time the Jayhawks lost to Baylor was in the quarterfinals of the 2009 conference tournament, when they were also the top seed. Now they’ll spend the rest of the weekend waiting for their seeding in the NCAA tournament, where many expected them to receive a No. 1 spot.

Thomas Robinson finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for Kansas. Elijah Johnson added 15 points but was 1 of 6 from beyond the arc, while Jeff Withey added 11 points.

Baylor took a 15-8 in the opening minutes and, with the exception of a couple flurries by the Jayhawks, managed to hold the advantage all the way to halftime.

Jones looked as if he never left the Sprint Center after his epic 31-point outing against Kansas State in the quarterfinals. He had 10 points and five boards by halftime, once going way up for an alley-oop jam off a pass from Pierre Jackson that seemed headed for the cheap seats.

Kansas pulled even at 22 when Taylor scored with 8:23 left in the half, but Miller — who also had 10 points at the break — responded with a deep 3-pointer. It was the start of a 14-5 surge by the Bears that A.J. Walton capped with a 3 of his own.

Walton, hit with a technical foul in the opening minutes, had eight first-half points.

The Jayhawks trailed 43-35 when the teams hit the locker room, and they were fortunate it was that close. Robinson, the Big 12 player of the year, was held to five points and a single lonely rebound in 13 minutes, forced to spend the final five on the bench because of foul trouble.

The Bears kept building on the lead in the second half, going ahead 53-40 on Quincy Acy’s basket with 16:32 left. Little did they know it would be their last one for a while.

Taylor started the Jayhawks on an 18-3 push with an easy basket, and after Acy blew a dunk on the other end, Robinson scored underneath. Kansas started to get into transition, where it’s at its best, and Taylor eventually rattled in another 3 to get the Jayhawks within one with 12:52 to go.

The senior guard shrugged his shoulders on his way back to defense, the Sprint Center coming alive with the crowd heavily favoring the school about a 30-minute drive from Kansas City.

Withey’s three-point play and a basket by Robinson gave Kansas a 58-56 lead, its first since midway through the first half — though it was short-lived.

Baylor scored the next nine points, four of them coming on Jones’ first buckets of the second half, and still led 65-60 on a pair of foul shots by Walton with 6:08 left.

Taylor and Robinson managed to get to the foul line for Kansas, but Heslip’s 3-pointer with 2:03 left gave Baylor a 70-64 advantage, and his next 3 with 1:12 go made it 73-66.

– Associated Press –

FHSU Baseball Drops Pair At No. 24 Missouri Southern

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(FHSU Athletics Photo)

The Fort Hays State baseball team could not snap its losing streak on Friday (Mar. 9), dropping a pair of conference contests to 24th-ranked Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo. FHSU saw a 2-0 lead slip away in game one and fell 5-4, then dropped the nightcap 7-4. FHSU is now 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Missouri Southern 5, FHSU 4
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning when the Tigers took advantage of an error to open the inning. A Ryan Busboom single scored Brandon Hoefler from second base to give FHSU a 1-0 lead. Shawn Lewick worked around trouble in the bottom of the fourth to keep FHSU in the lead. He struck out the last two batters to strand a runner at third.

In the fifth, the FHSU lead grew to 2-0 on a Jay Sanders double and Luke Kordsmeier scored on an error by the right fielder.

Missouri Southern finally broke through on the Tigers in the bottom of the fifth. A one out single scored a run from second, then a double put runners at second and third. An untimely error by Tiger shortstop Sheldon Howell allowed a second run to come in on a grounder, which gave MSSU a 3-2 lead.

The Lions broke through with two more runs in the sixth, both charged to Lewick. An error on a failed pickoff attempt and a wild pitch by relief pitcher Kyle Leroy led to the two insurance runs scoring for the Lions.

They would need those insurance runs as FHSU rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh. An error allowed one run in with two outs and extended the inning to allow Nash Smith to single in another run. But with runners at first and second, Mace Krol struck out to end the game.

Lewick, who has been the strongest pitcher for FHSU this season, was handed the tough-luck loss. He has had two no decisions and now a loss, but has a 3.45 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 15.2 innings of work.

Cody Griebling moved to 4-0 on the season for MSSU with the win. He went the distance, striking out eight over the seven innings.

Game 2: Missouri Southern 7, FHSU 4
FHSU fell victim to the big inning in the second game as Missouri Southern scored six of its seven runs in the second inning. A strong outing from MSSU starter Ryan Wheat, kept the Tigers from rallying until later in the game. After giving up a run in the first to FHSU, he settled in to pitch 7.2 innings. He retired the side in order in four innings following the first.

The Tigers finally rallied for a pair of runs in the eighth on RBI singles by Nash Smith and Ryan Busboom. Mace Krol produced the final run for FHSU in the ninth on an RBI single.

Bo Bergen picked up a save for MSSU in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Andy Lewton took the loss for FHSU in 6 innings of work. Four of the six runs he allowed were earned. He allowed four hits, walked four, and struck out five.

– FHSU Sports Informaton –

UPDATE: Suspects In Hutch Woman’s Murder To Be Tried Separately

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by Fred Gough – Hutch Post

The two men suspected in the murder of Jennifer Heckel last summer will be tried separately. We learned that this Friday when both were arraigned on the charges.

48-year-old Billy Craig Jr., was arraigned Friday morning in front of Judge Tim Chambers and remained mute as to the entry of any plea. Craig along with his attorney Donald Snapp appeared via video from the Reno County Jail and his attorney told Judge Tim Chambers that his client would remain mute, meaning the court then entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Judge Chambers also indicated that he would set a pre-trial hearing in the case within the next 30-days. He also told Snapp to see if an additional attorney could be assigned to assist him at trial considering the complexity of the case.

The jury trial is tentatively set for July 17.

Friday afternoon, 32-year-old Charles Christopher Logsdon was arraigned in front of Judge Trish Rose, and entered a not guilty plea, so the judge set at pre-trial hearing for April 6.

The two face a jury trial, each charged with first degree murder and other related charges in association with the death of 27-year-old Jennifer Heckel. She was killed in her home at 501 Coronado back on June 14 of last year. Evidence suggest she was a victim of mistaken identity.

Logsdon also faces trial for a charge of aggravated battery. He’s accused of shooting Eric Harbacek in the leg after an altercation on November 26, 2010.

The victim testified that a friend had called him and asked him to come to a home in the south part of Hutchinson. He says he arrived and at one point was sitting on the couch at the home at 108 South Severance. There was apparently argument over prison stuff between Harbacek and another man sitting on the couch with him. He alleges Logsdon then shot him in the leg.

Judge Chambers set a trial date of May 22, in that case, with a motions deadline for both sides set on April 2.

In the murder case, both men could see the state seek a Hard 50 sentence in that case if they’re convicted.

 

Flu at Highest Level in Kansas so Far This Season

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TOPEKA, Kan. – Though influenza activity has remained lower than usual in Kansas this season, activity has been steadily increasing over the last several weeks with the latest weekly influenza surveillance report showing Kansas with “widespread” flu-like illness.

For the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to identify a state as “widespread,” the outbreaks of influenza or increases in influenza-like illness cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza are in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in that state.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment identified the first laboratory-confirmed influenza cases of the 2011-2012 flu season on Dec. 21. Symptoms of influenza include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, and muscle aches. Complications can include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, and dehydration; influenza may also worsen other chronic conditions.

“Flu activity in Kansas is now widespread and is at the highest level so far this season. Influenza will continue to circulate through spring, so there is still time for people to get a flu vaccination to protect themselves, their families and the community,” said Robert Moser, MD., KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer. “The seasonal influenza types we’ve seen in Kansas are covered by the current vaccine.”

Influenza vaccination is effective for reducing the chances of getting sick and spreading influenza to others. Additional ways to avoid spreading influenza include covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands and staying home when sick.

All persons six months and older are recommended to receive an annual influenza vaccine. This is especially important for anyone at high risk of complications or who is caring for, or in regular contact with, an infant less than six months of age. Babies this age are too young to be vaccinated and are more vulnerable to the complications from influenza disease.

Experts: Gas Prices Should Rise Again This Spring

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Gasoline prices are a little lower this week after 39 days of increases, though experts say they should rise again this spring.

The national average, which stayed at $3.758 per gallon on Friday, was down about a penny since Monday. Prices are still at the highest levels ever for this time of year.

Tom Kloza, chief analyst at the Oil Price Information Service, says prices dipped this week as suppliers conduct the equivalent of a spring clearance. They’re discounting winter gasoline blends to make room for different blends that are required for summer driving.

Meanwhile, benchmark oil prices rose by $1.42 to $108 per barrel in New York. Brent crude rose 46 cents to $125.90 per barrel in London.

 

Dead car battery?

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We all dread the day when our car battery dies. But I assure you; it’s not so bad if you’re prepared for it.

Click here to see what you need and how to jump a car.

City Approves Street Maintenance Program

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Over one million dollars in street repairs and maintenance projects will be done this year in Hays as part of the city’s annual program. The commission added $250,000 worth of projects to the program, and City Manager Toby Dougherty says it is a wise use of the available funds.

Low bid prices also made the total project more affordable. The extra funding will come out of the City Commission Financial Policy Projects budget.

Kansas House Finishing Work On State Budget

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A key Kansas House committee is nearing the end of its work on a draft of the state budget.

The House Appropriations Committee planned to meet most of Friday to complete work on the bill. Chairman Marc Rhoades, a Newton Republican, says it closely follows the budget submitted by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

Rhoades says the measure will retain Brownback’s goal of having a projected ending balance of $465 million as of June 30, 2013. That would satisfy a law requiring Kansas to have a reserve account equal to 7.5 percent of state general fund expenditures.

The Senate is working on a version of the budget as well.

Severe Weather Awareness Week

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Next week is Severe Weather Awareness Week for the State of Kansas. Ellis County Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Ring says along with the statewide tornado drill, the weekly warning siren tests will begin Monday.

The statewide tornado drill will be Tuesday afternoon at 1:30. The Kansas Department of Emergency Management will host a disaster preparedness fair on March 24th in Salina.

 

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