The City of Hays will have one less citizen committee. The commission Thursday night voted to disband the Neighborhood Revitalization/Downtown Development Review Board.
City Manager Toby Dougherty says since the area is a state historic district, the board is no longer necessary. Now any applications for improvements are reviewed by city staff to make sure they meet state historic district regulations.
Washburn’s Will McNeill hit two free throws with 19 seconds to play to give the Ichabods a one-point lead then hold the Tigers to a guarded deep 3-pointer that missed at the horn and knock off a shorthanded Fort Hays State team 70-69 at Gross Coliseum Thursday night.
Fort Hays State, without two reserves due to injury and had two players foul out, used a 14-2 second half run to go up eight in the second half. Washburn responded with an 11-0 to take the lead back.
The Tigers led early by seven but Washburn battled back to go up seven with 3:39 to play in the first half. The Tigers responded by scoring nine straight to take a 34-32 lead. Washburn grabbed a one-point lead at the half when Joseph Smith was fouled and converted on a three-point play with five-seconds left in the half.
Dwayne Brunson led four Tigers in double-figures with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Craig Nicholson scored 16 while dishing out six assists and six steals. Lance Russell scored 15 and Ben Congiusta 12. Congiusta’s 3-pointer gave FHSU a 69-68 lead with under a minute to play.
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) have proclaimed January “Kansas Radon Action Month” to help educate Kansans about the dangers of radon exposure and encourage actions to identify and address radon problems in the home.
“Radon is one of the leading environmental causes of cancer mortality,” said Robert Moser, M.D., KDHE Secretary and State Health Officer.
About one out of every three radon measurements performed in Kansas are elevated, being above 4 pCi/l (picoCuries per liter). Some areas have higher levels than others, though elevated levels of radon have been detected in every county in the state.
Topeka, Manhattan and Lawrence building codes require new homes to be built using radon-resistant techniques, and additional cities in Kansas are considering this modification to their building codes.
Inexpensive radon test kits, available at local hardware and builder’s supply stores and at your Kansas county extension office, can reveal the amount of radon in any building. Those with high levels can usually be fixed with simple and affordable venting techniques. Homeowners should talk with a certified radon contractor if levels above 4 pCi/l are detected.
A list of certified radon contractors is available by calling the Kansas Radon Hotline at 800-693-KDHE (800-693-5343). Additional information about radon can be obtained at www.kansasradonprogram.org and at www.epa.gov/radon.
Washburn erased an 11-point second deficit to rally for a 63-60 win over Fort Hays State Thursday night at Gross Coliseum. The loss is the Lady Tigers third straight and drops them to 10-3 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA. The No. 12 Lady Blues improve to 9-2 and 3-0 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State trailed most of the first half before closing with an 8-2 run to lead 28-26 at the break. They would push the lead to 11 with 17:03 to play on a Melissa Nelson steal and layup.
Stormye Everett hit a layup for Washburn with 0:13 to give the Lady Blues a 62-60 lead. Kate Lehman was fouled on a follow attempt with 0:06 to play but she missed both free throws. Laura Kinderknecht then hit one of two free throws for Washburn with three-seconds left. Melissa Nelson missed on a mid-court shot at the horn to end the game.
Kate Lehman led the Lady Tigers with 17 points and eight rebounds but was just 7-for-14 at the free throw line. Kelsie Sorenson and Kate Edwards both added nine points.
The Lady Tigers shoot 35-percent from the floor and 5-of-17 from 3-point range but just 17-of-30 from the free throw line.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is proposing a $10 million initiative to boost mental health services to targeted populations.
The initiative would direct funding to what Brownback called the most at-risk and challenging mental health patients to meet their specific treatment requirements. The program will not target residents who are receiving services through Medicaid.
The Republican governor announced the proposal Thursday in Kansas City, Kan., with Sean Sullivan, secretary of the Department for Aging and Disability Services. Brownback also announced creation of a task force to evaluate the state’s current mental health system and recommend improvements.
Brownback said in a recent interview with The Associated Press the state should examine whether it’s providing sufficient mental health services.
The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in western Kansas. The letting took place Dec. 19 in Topeka.
Rooks County: U.S. Highway 24 South Fork Solomon River Bridge, 1.8 miles east of U.S. 24/U.S. Highway 183, bridge replacement, Bridges Inc., Newton, $695,183.50; U.S. 24 Ash Creek Bridge approximately 5 miles west of Stockton, bridge replacement, Bridges Inc., $964,139.75.
Thomas County: U.S. Highway 83 from the west U.S. 83/U.S. 40 junction in Logan County north to U.S. 83/U.S. 24 in Thomas County, milling and overlay, 19 miles. APAC Kansas Inc. Shears Division, Hutchinson, $5,787,113.06.
Graham County: U.S. 24 from 0.2 miles west of U.S. 24/Kansas Highway 18 east to the Graham/Rooks county line, milling and overlay, 5 miles, APAC Kansas Inc. Shears Division, $1,605,837.80.
Ness County: Kansas Highway 96, from Ness City east to the Ness/Rush county line, milling and overlay, 16.9 miles, APAC Kansas Inc. Shears Division, $1,944,581.09; KDOT mix-strip 0.2 miles east of Ness City, stockpile bituminous material, APAC Kansas Inc. Shears Division, $83,560.
Kansas’ public schools are 37th in the country in Education Week’s annual rankings.
The publication released its 2013 “Quality Counts” rankings Thursday. Kansas’ overall grade was a C.
Kansas received a B minus for its standards, assessments and accountability. It also got a B minus for a category called chance for success. The index looks at 13 indicators, such as high school graduation, family income and preschool and kindergarten enrollment.
But Kansas got a D plus for kindergarten through 12th grade achievement. It also got a D plus for the teaching profession category.
Maryland received the highest score in the survey, followed by Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.
A Russell couple was hospitalized following a vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon on I-70 in Ellis County.
According to the sheriff’s department, Ronald J. Waldschmidt and Diana M. Waldschmidt were transported to Hays Medical Center for apparent minor injuries.
The accident happened at the intersection of I-70 and Toulon Avenue about 3:20 p.m.
A truck, driven by Brent N. Norris of Glade, was exiting the Interstate ramp and pulled out in front of a car driven by Waldschmidt.
The cold is upon us – bringing ice, snow & more. Be sure you’re ready for winter storms with these tips from the Red Cross.
Winter storms may bring hazardous driving conditions and downed trees and power lines. It is important to prepare your home for the possibility of a power outage. When weather and driving conditions are severe, the best place to be is in your own home.
A western Kansas ranch that contains nationally recognized chalk formations and other important historical artifacts has been sold, pending some legal research.
On Wednesday, businessman and rancher Norman Nelson, bought the Pyramid Ranch in Gove County for $10 million.
Its 12,900 acres includes the Monument Rocks chalk formations, which have been designated a National Natural Landmark, as well as fossil finds and two graves of U.S. Cavalry soldiers.
Nelson owns First State Bank and land in Norton, Trego and Russell counties.
Nelson says he plans to use the land for his ranching organization and will expand oil exploration. He also says he’s not sure if he’ll continue to allow complete public access to the Monument Rocks, out of concern for liability issues.
The details are still being worked out, but Ellis County is planning a tire amnesty program at the landfill.
Public Works Administrator Mike Graf says the county will designate a couple of weeks when residents will be allowed to get rid of tires. The limit will likely be ten, and anyone with more than that can contact the county for an inspection so the source of the tires can be identified.
County officials say the program has merit, but they don’t want to be overwhelmed. Graf says he’s planning the tire amnesty in April.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Republicans in the Kansas Senate are proposing major changes in the chamber’s rules, and one measure would give the Senate’s top leader more influence over shaping legislation.
Senate Vice President Jeff King outlined the measures drafted by a GOP leadership panel during an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. They’ll be presented to the Senate when lawmakers open their annual session Monday.
One change would transfer the leadership panel’s power to make committee assignments to the Senate president. Committees do much of the drafting of legislation.
Some Republicans argue the current system is unwieldy.
Another proposal would establish a panel to settle disputes over the rules during debates. Currently, the person presiding over a debate settles disagreements.
WICHITA, Kan.(AP) – Boeing officials say they will begin actively marketing the company’s Wichita defense facilities by the end of January.
The company announced last year that it was closing the Wichita plant and moving work to Oklahoma, Texas and the Pacific Northwest.
Boeing owns 97 buildings on 413 acres, with properties ranging from large hangars to tool sheds.
Company spokeswoman Kathleen Spicer says Boeing is working with national real estate firm CBRE Group ofLos Angelesto arrange the sale of the property.
Boeing closed its Wichita commercial aviation business in 2005 and has concentrated on military programs since then.
