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Month: September 2012
Sternberg Museum Receives $7,000 Grant
With more than 60 competitive applicants,Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History was awarded a $7,000 Ronald McDonald House Children’s Charities (RMHC) grant.
Out of this grant, $3,500 was donated by RMHC of Wichita and $3,500 was funded by RMHC Global. The funds will help update technology, institute new learning techniques and create more interactive exhibits. The Discovery Room is for children to learn about plant and animal life, with everything from live exhibits to hands-on learning areas.
“We are ordering supplies now in hopes to have it remodeled by the spring,” said James Leiker, education director at the Sternberg Museum. “This is a great opportunity for the Discovery Room to meet the needs of the children.”
The Sternberg has received three grants in the past from RMHC, totaling $73,819 for the Discovery room.
Polka Fest Benefits Local Cancer Patient Families (VIDEO)
Polka music filled the air this past weekend at the Ellis County Fairgrounds as family and friends of Harold Dorzweiler, along with other polka lovers, gathered for some dancing and fun in memory of Dorzweiler.
The popular Catherine musician, bandleader of “The Country Dutchmen,” died of cancer two years ago this month.
His family is honoring his wish to help pay the expenses of financially-strapped families of cancer patients.
“When Harold was undergoing treatment in Kansas City, we met so many other families who had a real burden in trying to pay medical bills, even just buy gas for the car, ” remembers his wife Janie.
So Harold recorded all the polka music he’d ever written on to a CD and began selling it, donating the proceeds to cancer-stricken families.
Since his death, Janie and Harold’s father, Leo Dorzweiler, organized the annual Harold Dorzweiler Cancer Memorial Fund Polka Fest. “He was a giver in life and he’s still giving now that he’s gone, ” says Janie.
A website is being set up for requesting financial assistance online. Until then, requests can be made by calling Janie Dorzweiler at 785-625-5256.
See and hear more tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.
Girlfriend Accused Of Hitting And Killing Kansas Man With Her Car
A southeastern Kansas woman is jailed on $1 million bond, accused of intentionally hitting and killing her boyfriend with a car after an argument.
The Independence Daily Reporter says 49-year-old Martin “Moochie” Dunn was pronounced dead Tuesday at an Independence hospital. His 21-year-old girlfriend was booked on suspicion of first-degree murder and made a first court appearance Wednesday.
Family members and Independence police say the two have a child together.
Witnesses said the pair argued in Dunn’s yard about changing the oil in the woman’s car. They said the woman got in the car and drove at Dunn, crossing a curb and striking him.
A large crowd of Dunn’s family and friends gathered later at the hospital where Dunn died. Nearly 25 law enforcement officers were called to maintain order.
Kansas Candidates Fined Over Facebook Postings
Two Kansas legislative candidates who had been “friended” by lobbyists on Facebook have been fined for improperly posting announcements about fundraisers on the social media site.
Kansas law bars incumbent lawmakers and candidates for the House or Senate from soliciting campaign contributions from lobbyists while the Legislature is in session.
House Republican Greg Smith, of Overland Park, and House GOP candidate Becky Nioce (nys), of Topeka, posted notices about fundraising events on their Facebook pages in late May. But the Legislature didn’t formally end its session until June 1.
On Wednesday, the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission fined them both $100. Smith and Nioce both said they didn’t mean to violate the law.
Smith is running for an open state Senate seat. Nioce is challenging Democratic Rep. Annie Kuether.
Area Burn Bans Lifted
The burn ban for Russell County has been lifted. Russell County Commissioners voted to make the change during their Monday meeting. Several fire chiefs supported the move.
Ellsworth and Barton Counties have also rescinded their burn bans.
Russell County Commissioners pointed to cooler temperatures and recent rains in making their decision.
Drier than normal conditions still exist, so caution is urged when burning fields or trash.
KHAZ Music News: Blake Shelton Fan Club: Economy Pricing
(AP) – Blake Shelton fans can now get more B-S for free. He’s making his fan club free starting later this month. Country Weekly reports that Shelton insists the deal will benefit everyone and he doesn’t want current paying members to “freak out.” He says all the pre-sales and everything they’ve had up until now won’t change, it will get better.
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State Leadership Group Converging on Hays
The Hays area will play host to the 2012 Leadership Kansas class next week
The 40 members of the class will visit Hays Medical Center for a Workforce Development panel, discuss the Hays Water Conservation Program, and participate in an in-depth discussion on rural health care challenges and the Agriculture industry. They will also take a tour of downtown Hays, visit the Sternberg Museum, and visit Fort Hays StateUniversity.
This will be the fifth out of six community visits for the leadership class, which includes Hays City Commissioner Barbara Wasinger. The group will be in Hays next Wednesday to Friday.
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Russell Police Chief Named Interim City Manager
Russell Police Chief Jon Quinday will serve as interim Russell City Manager. City Council members made the appointment during their Tuesday meeting.
Quinday will assume his duties October 1, which is the last day on the job for current city manager Ralph Wise.
The city will utilize the League of Kansas Municipalities in the search to hire a new permanent manager.
KHAZ Music News: Martina McBride Surprised By Greatest Hits Album
(AP) – That awkward moment when Martina McBride finds out on Twitter that her former label is releasing a greatest hits album of hers. McBride tweeted “Wow! Kinda sucks” that she got the news that way. The 40-song double disk comes out Oct. 22 through RCA Nashville. McBride says she’s not mad about it, but it “just would have been cool to get a phone call.” She says she hopes she at least gets a free copy.
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Water Advisory Issued in Russell, Osborne Counties
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the cities of Paradise and Waldo public water systems which are located in Russell County as well as Osborne County Rural Water District #2.
These public water supplies obtain their water from the same source, and that source has experienced a loss of pressure in the main water supply line to them. When such a loss of pressure occurs, it is possible for contaminants to enter the system. Chlorine residuals may also drop to levels that are inadequate to protect against bacterial contamination.
Effective immediately, customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
- Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.
- Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
- Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
- Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
- If tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
Tuesday’s Police Activity Log
The Hays Police Department conducted 21 traffic stops and received seven animal calls on Tuesday, according to the Police Activity Log.
Damage to Property: The Hays Police Department investigated two reports of criminal damage to property. The first incident occurred over the weekend in the 500 block of Main Street. The alleged damage occurred between Friday evening at 5:00 and Sunday morning at 12:00. The second report of damage was in the 300 block of East 8th Street Tuesday afternoon at 4:19.
Vehicle Accidents: Officers responded to three reports of motor vehicle accidents on Tuesday afternoon. The first two were accidents with private property. The first was reported in the 400 block of West 9th Street at 2:10PM and the second was reported in the 1300 block of East 41st Street at 3:30PM. The final motor vehicle accident was reported with a personal injury at 27th and Sherman Avenue at 5:20PM.
Suspicious Activity: The Hays PD received two reports of suspicious activity on Tuesday. The report of suspicious activity was reported in connection with a traffic stop in the 2700 block of Broadway Avenue at 9:37AM Tuesday. The second suspicious activity report was in the 400 block of Halladay Street at 8:10 Tuesday evening.
Battery on Law Enforcement Officer: Hays EMS conducted an ambulance run early Tuesday morning in the 800 block of Ash Street at 12:59AM. Officers investigated a report of battery on a law enforcement officer in connection with the ambulance run.