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Opera Time at FHSU

It is Opera time at Fort Hays State University and students have been working to bring the community a delightfully delicious, late-winter treat.

The FHSU Department of Music and Theatre’s production of Englebert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel will be performed in the Felten-Start Theatre on the FHSU campus this weekend. The Saturday, March 9th, matinee at 2:30 p.m. will be presented exclusively, free of charge, for children who are currently in grades 4-5. The production is also scheduled for this Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30p.m.

 

Admission prices for these performances are: $7:00 for students

(all students) and seniors; $12.00 for adults.Felten Start Theatre

Sound Off: Is Brownback the Nation’s Most Unpopular Governor?

SOUND OFF in our comments section below. Is Sam Brownback the nation’s most unpopular Governor?  Why?

According to a recent
survey by Public Policy Polling, Sam Brownback is one of the most unpopular Governors in the country. Only 37% of Kansas voters approve of him to 52% who SAM BROWNBACK KS FLAGdisapprove. He meets with near universal disapproval from independents (22/66) and Democrats (14/81), but what really drives his numbers down is that even among Republicans just 55% approve of him to 30% who disapprove.

 

 

War on Educators in Topeka?

Kansas legislators are considering major changes in a state law governing contract negotiations between teachers and school districts, prompting the state’s largest teachers union to complain of what it calls a “war” on educators.
State capitol buildingKansas National Education Association President Karen Godfrey said Monday the bill before the House commerce committee would hurt public schools. A hearing on the measure is set for Wednesday.

The committee’s chairman, Overland Park Republican Marvin Kleeb, says proponents of the bill want to give school districts more flexibility and encourage innovation.

Under the measure, fewer issues would be subject to negotiations between teachers’ groups and local school boards, but they would still include pay.

School boards wouldn’t have to negotiate how teachers are evaluated or the number of classes they must teach must per day.

Two Farmers Wanted for KS Wheat Commission Positions

ks wheat comm logoMANHATTAN, Kan. – Few wheat farmers are given an opportunity to shape the future of their industry by engaging in research, marketing and promotion efforts. The Kansas Wheat Commission, however, has an opportunity for wheat farmers to do just that.

The Kansas Wheat Commission seeks a wheat farmer to fill two At-Large Positions. These positions – which can be filled by any active wheat producer in the state – become open on March 19. They are currently filled by Richard Randall, Scott City and Doug Keesling, Chase.

Kansas Wheat Commissioners must be engaged in wheat production. The newly-selected commissioner will take officially join the Commission in April and serve a three-year term.

Members of the Kansas Wheat Commission set budget priorities, establish policies and procedures that determine research, education and nutrition priorities – plus learn leadership skills and gain valuable insight into the entire wheat industry.

Kansas Wheat Commissioners must be willing to travel in- and out-of-state, although travel is limited to a few overnight stays per year. Interested Commissioners may participate in international travel to promote Kansas wheat worldwide. The position is not paid, but Commissioners have all travel expenses reimbursed.

If you are interested in becoming a Kansas Wheat Commissioner, please send a personal resume, plus letter of interest with brief biography, to [email protected] by March 19, 2013. Applications will be sorted and selected applicants will be asked to participate in a telephone interview. A decision will be made by April 1, and the successful applicant will participate in the first Kansas Wheat Commission meeting after that time.

Learn more about the Kansas Wheat Commission by logging onto https://www.kansaswheat.org/.

HHS LifeSmarts Team at State

For the third straight year Hays High LifeSmarts team has qualified for state. They will open competition at Wichita State University today.  The team includes  five seniors: Conner Hess, Ryan Unruh, Courtney Hess, Anna Hickert and Corinne Ziegler.

The coaches are Sondra Hickert and Beth Ziegler.  LifeSmarts was established in 1994, and has been a program of the National Consumers Leaguelifesmartphoto  since 2000. The educational program develops the consumer and marketplace knowledge and skills of teenagers in a fun way and rewards them for this knowledge. Winners of the Wichita competition will advance to the National Competition in Atlanta.

Huelskamp: Don’t Believe Doomsday Claims

Congressman Tim Huelskamp wrote on his web site  about Sequestration:

tim-huelskamp“As you may know, sequestration went into effect on Friday. It requires the President and the millions of federal bureaucrats to find $85 billion in savings for the American taxpayers over the next two years.  For this year, the “cuts” equal about 1% of the total budget.  And even after the “cuts,” the budget will still be bigger this year than last – and still bigger next year.  The deficit will still be an astounding $845 billion!

I did not vote for sequestration in 2011, because there were much smarter ways to make necessary and larger spending reductions. However, the sequester is a huge step in the right direction — the first time ever that we have forced the federal government to reduce planned spending. Yet, we still have a long way to go to put our fiscal house back in order.

But be aware: you will hear many more doomsday claims about the sequester in the next few weeks. Don’t believe them.  America’s families and businesses have been tightening their belt – it is time Washington did the same. ”

 

Guns Taken in Kansas Burglary

A central Kansas sheriff’s department is investigating the theft of more than a dozen firearms in a weekend residential burglary.

The break-in happened Sunday at a home in northeastern Reno County.

A list of the stolen weapons posted by the sheriff’s department includes eight shotguns as well as rifles and .357-caliber revolver. Also taken were two compound bows and a Reconyx Hyperfire game camera.

No other details about the burglary were released Monday.gun

Ex Kansas PD Officer: Guilty on Sex Crimes

A 33-year-old former Wichita police officer and University of Kansas football player has pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation involving a 15-month-old girl.

Gregory Nicks entered his pleas Monday in exchange for the state dropping two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.greg-nicks

The former Lawrence teacher was arrested in his Maize home in November 2011 after his wife called 911 to report the abuse.

Co-defendant Luz Coronado was found guilty in August of one count of aggravated indecent liberties and four counts of sexual exploitation of a child. She and Nicks both are scheduled to be sentenced May 3.

Nicks was the Jayhawks’ long snapper in 2001 and 2002 and later was a Wichita police officer for about three years.

Weekend Police Activity Log

Police - Hays 001The Hays Police Department conducted 70 traffic stops and received 20 animal calls between Friday morning and Sunday night, according to the Police Activity Log.

Rape: The Hays Police Department began an investigation into a sex offense reported in the 400 block of West 5th Street. The alleged rape occurred between 3:00 and 3:30 Sunday morning.

Theft: Officers from the Hays Police Department investigated eight theft reports between Thursday afternoon and Sunday morning. The first theft was the report of shoplifting in the 1000 block of Main Street between 1:20 and 1:30. The second theft was in connection with the report of criminal damage in the 200 block of West 6th Street between Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 11:02 a.m. Saturday. A third theft was reported at 12:34 Saturday afternoon in the 4300 block of Vine Street

The fourth theft was reported in the 600 block of East 6th Street between Friday afternoon at 5:30 and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. A fifth theft was reported Saturday afternoon at 3:18, in the 3000 block of Thunderbird Court. Officers investigated the report of a suspicious vehicle in connection with a theft in the 700 block of West 12th Street between Friday at 3:00 a.m. and Saturday morning at 7:00. Another theft was reported in the 500 block of West 7th Street between 12:00 and 12:30 a.m. Saturday. The final theft was reported as a theft of a vehicle in the 2000 block of Milner Street. The alleged incident occurred between 8:00 and 8:08 a.m.

Drug Offenses: Officers investigated a drug related offense in the 500 block of Hallady Street on Saturday morning at 1:00.

Police Pursuit/Chase: The Hays PD conducted a pursuit/chase in the 1100 block of East 13th street on Saturday morning at 2:46 a.m.

Domestic Disturbance: Officers responded to three domestic disturbances over the weekend. The first domestic disturbance was in connection with a 911 hangup in the 500 block of East 20th Street Saturday afternoon at 1:33. A domestic disturbance was reported in the 500 block of East 20th Street Wednesday morning at 4:31. The final domestic disturbance was reported in the 300 block of East 7th Street at 1:36 Sunday afternoon.

Disturbances: The Hays PD received four disturbances over the weekend. The first was for a fight in the 500 block of West 7th Street Friday between 11:57 and 11:59 p.m. There were also disorderly conducts in connection with disturbances. One was in the 600 block of Park Street at 2:53 a.m. Sunday. The other was in the 3600 block of Vine Street at 2:56 Sunday.

Minor in Possession: Officers investigated a minor in possession of cereal malt beverage or liquor in the 500 block of Halladay Street Friday night at 10:20.

Driving Under the Influence: The Hays PD conducted five driving under the influence stops between Friday morning and Sunday evening. Two of the stops were on Friday. The first was in the 700 block of East 8th Street at 2:24 a.m. The second was in the 400 block of West 14th Street at 11:08 Friday night. Two of stops were conducted on Saturday. The first was in the 100 block of West 12th Street at 2:40 a.m. and the second was in the 400 block of East 8th Street at 11:55 p.m. The driving under the influence was reported Sunday at 10:45 p.m. in the 4300 block of Vine Street.

Motor Vehicle Accidents: Officers responded to six motor vehicle accidents over the weekend. The first accident was a personal injury accident reported in the 000 block of Reservation Road at 4:30 on Friday afternoon. Officers also investigated a hit and run accident in the 2700 block of Colonial Street. The alleged accident occurred between Saturday even at 9:00 and Sunday morning at 9:05 a.m.

Water Use Violation: There was one water use violation reported to the Hays Police Department on Sunday morning at 8:58 in the 2200 block of Main Street.

Midwest Energy Customers Report Copycat Scam

Midwest_Energy logoMidwest Energy is again warning customers of a scam where a person calls claiming to be from the electric company. This person then says the customer’s bill is past due and they have to make immediate payment or service will be cut off.

The scam was first reported from a Hays business owner in January. Midwest Energy Spokesman Mike Morley says last week two Hays businesses received similar phone calls. They were told to make a payment within 30 minutes or face disconnection. The businesses were then given a call back number based in Bakersfield, California.

The business owners called Midwest Energy to confirm that their accounts were up to date.

Morley says the company will never use a phone call to tell a customer that their service is being disconnected.

Similar scams have been reported by other western Kansas electric companies.

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