A motorcycle rider was injured in an accident on I-70 Friday morning.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, “Fifty-four year old Richard Lee Young of Flatonia, Texas was westbound on I-70 at milepost 168, 9 miles east of Hays, when A deer crossed in front of him. Young tried to avoid the deer and laid the motorcycle down on its side. He was transported to Hays Medical Center. He was wearing a helmet.”
On Friday afternoon Young told Hays Post he didn’t know how much longer he would be hospitalized.
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) law enforcement officers will be on the lookout for boaters under the influence during Operation Dry Water June 28-30.
Operation Dry Water is part of a national effort to reduce accidents and fatalities related to boating under the influence (BUI) of drugs and alcohol, and educate recreational boaters about the dangers of BUI.
During Operation Dry Water, officers will be out in force looking for boaters whose blood alcohol content exceeds the state limit of 0.08. The weekend will include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, life jacket checks, and boater education. Impaired boaters can expect to be arrested or face other serious penalties. In Kansas, the consequences for BUI include fines, jail, and loss of boating privileges.
During the 2012 Operation Dry Water, eight arrests were made for BUI offenses.
“We are dedicated to keeping boaters safe on our waters. Boating is a safe and enjoyable pastime when people stay alert and follow the rules,” said Kansas boating law administrator Major Dan Hesket. “Many factors contribute to the way alcohol affects a person on the water, such as the sun, wind, glare, dehydration and wave motion, causing a person to become intoxicated three times faster than on shore.”
Last year Kansas recorded 27 boat accidents, of which two resulted in a fatality, 12 resulted in injuries, and 13 involved only property damage. Property damages were estimated at $112,321.
Kansas revenue receipts ended fiscal year 2013 on a high note Friday, beating estimates by $86.6 million.
The revenue figures also reflect the state’s revenue picture six month after income tax rates were cut for every working Kansan on Jan. 1. While most people only think of taxes in mid-April when they file returns, people’s pay checks this year have benefited from those reduced withholding and individual income tax rates.
Revenue receipts also beat monthly projections by $25.1 million, or 4.6 percent, overall and revenue receipts were $159.6 million more than had been collected during the prior fiscal year.
“We are heading into fiscal year 2014 on firm financial footing and I’m pleased to see that Kansas’ economy continues to improve,” said Revenue Secretary Nick Jordan.
Kansas Interim Secretary of Administration Mark J. McGivern today announced that as of Monday, July 1, 2013, properly licensed firearms will be allowed in all State office buildings not exempted by law. The 2013 Kansas Legislature passed a measure permitting concealed carry of guns in public buildings with certain exceptions, and McGivern said his agency is complying with the intent of the new law.
“The Kansas Legislature clearly indicated the belief that properly licensed individuals should be allowed to exercise their right to carry concealed firearms in most public buildings,” said McGivern.
The new law stipulates that concealed carry is permitted in any state or municipal building “unless such building has adequate security measures to ensure that no weapons are permitted to be carried into such building . . . .” Although the State could exempt itself and prohibit concealed carry until January 1, 2014, the Department of Administration is not exercising an exemption for state-owned buildings.
The law defines a state or municipal building as “a building owned or leased by such public entity.” The Department of Administration interprets the definition of a building leased by the State to include free standing buildings in which the State is the sole tenant.
In order to get clarification from the Attorney General on how the law should be applied to leased premises within a building where the State is not the sole tenant, the Department of Administration will exercise a six-month exemption for those properties. McGivern said those buildings shall operate as they had prior to July 1, 2013.
State correctional facilities, courtrooms and law enforcement agencies are generally exempt from the new law. Certain State health care facilities and post-secondary educational facilities may notify the Attorney General of six month and four-year exemptions to the law. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Commission on Veterans’ Affairs have exercised six month extensions for their health care facilities throughout the state.
USD 489 Superintendent Will Roth is retiring next year.
Roth has notified school board members he will retire July 1st, 2014.
Roth has been employed by the Hays school district for 28 years, starting as the Felten Middle School principal and then as a deputy superintendent of instruction and curriculum.
He was appointed interim superintendent in September 2010 after Fred Kaufman retired, and then named superintendent two months later.
His contract expires June 30, 2015.
Roth wrote this on the District Facebook page today
From the Superintendent:
Since my start as principal of Felten Middle School in July of 1985, the Community of Hays has offered my family and me many positive opportunities. In 1992 I became part of the district leadership team as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and eventually as Superintendent in 2010.
Over the past 28 years in Hays, my wife Sharon and I have raised a family; she has earned two degrees from FHSU, and together we have created many fond memories with our family and friends along the way.
I want to thank you, the parents and students, the current and previous Boards, and my colleagues of USD 489 for the support and all that I have learned from you in those 28 years. I look forward to my last year with USD 489 and I am confident that the Board will thoughtfully consider and select my replacement for the 2014 school year. I look forward to a successful transition with the next Superintendent.
School Board Vice President Greg Schwartz did not immediately return a call for comment.
The Barton County Attorney’s office confirmed to Hays Post this afternoon that charges against 38 year old Travis Beal will probably be filed on Monday. The Attorney’s office was busy making decisions on what charges to file against the man from rural Ellinwood after he allegedly threatened people at a home in the 400 block of SE 58th Ave, with guns and a baseball bat.
Following a brief standoff with law enforcement authorities, Beal was taken into custody. He remain in the Barton County jail and is facing a variety of possible charges including Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
As part of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism is providing a forum and survey to learn more about what park-goers want. Public input is desired on topics including managed park use, issues and needs, and the types of experiences park-goers hope to have in the future.
Public input gathered from the forum will be shared with the State Outdoor Recreation Plan Advisory Committee at their September meeting. The online forum, moderated by Dr. Sid Stevenson of Kansas State University, will focus on four topics during specific time frames:
June 21-July 4: Which outdoor recreation facilities are most in need of renovation or replacement at state and federal parks in Kansas to best enhance outdoor recreation experiences? Specific examples are welcomed.
July 5-July 18: Share a story of a meaningful outdoor recreation experience that you or your family had in Kansas and how the site where that experience took place contributed.
July 19-Aug. 1: Which of the following local outdoor recreation experiences would you like most to be within walking distance of your home (if you live in town)? Trails, picnic areas, sports venues, natural areas, playgrounds, etc.
Aug. 2-Aug. 15: Improved access to natural outdoor experiences, particularly those that are water-based, is important for urban dwellers. Please provide suggestions on how this can best be achieved and examples of success stories.
The Kansas Outdoor Recreation Needs and Issues survey, which is being offered in conjunction with the forum, will assist outdoor recreation planners and agency decision makers in developing strategies to address important issues facing outdoor recreation in Kansas over the next five to 10 years. Participants should expect to take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete the survey.
SCORP serves as a vision for outdoor recreation in Kansas. It is designed to meet the requirements of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (LWCF) which requires states to have an approved State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan on file with the National Park Service.
(AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a former Wichita home day care provider in the 2008 strangulation death of a 13-month-old girl.
The court on Friday threw out the involuntary manslaughter conviction against Jessica Cummings. The court said it is firmly convinced that if the jury had been properly instructed, it would have reached a different verdict.
At issue in the appeal was the jury instruction about the standard of proof prosecutors needed for a conviction of endangering a child. The court said it was convinced jurors had applied a potential civil liability standard.
Evidence at Cummings’ 2009 trial indicated the toddler slid down in the car seat where she was placed to sleep and was strangled by a strap.
“It’s a serious issue,” says Hays City Commissioner Eber Phelps.
He and the other commissioners voted Thursday night to implement new Conservation Tier 2 billing structure beginning August 1.
The hope is the top 20% of residential water users, who consume 44% of the residential water, will cut back on their water usage:
Conservation Tier 2 kicks in for all water usage exceeding the first 1,000 cubic feet in Conservation Tier 1. Cost per 1,000 cubic feet will be $7.20; Conservation Tier 1, capped at 1,000 cubic feet, will change to $3.60 per 100 c.f.
Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno told commissioners that 83% of city water customers operate in the First Conservation Tier. The remaining 17% would not see a significant increase based on usage from July 2011-July 2012.
The top residential water user for 2012 used 139,000 cubic feet of water. The average household in Hays uses 8,000 c.f. annually.
In other business:
Commissioners approved the City Manager to renew the 2013/2014 Commercial Insurance Policy with Companion Commercial Insurance for the coverage presented, to be funded from the Intergovernmental Insurance and Surety line item.
Commissioners approved the authorization to enter a contract with APAC-Kansas, Inc. for the rehabilitation of 13th Street from Vine Street to Harvest Road including restriping from Milner to Harvest from four lanes to three lanes, with funding from the Financial Policy Projects line item.
Commissioners accepted the 2012 audit for the City of Hays as presented by Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball.
Commissioners heard an update from the City Manager in regard to concealed gun/knife legislation approving the authorization of the City Manager to send a letter to the Attorney General exempting City of Hays facilities from the provisions of the modified concealed carry law through January 1, 2014.
Commissioners implemented a 1 year moratorium while agreeing to limit water service request for properties outside the city limits of Hays.
Central Kansas golfer Steve Gotsche has qualified for and will play in the US Senior Open in Omaha, Nebraska July 11-14.
Gotsche is a former PGA touring pro and is the head pro at Stoneridge golf club in Great Bend.
TOPEKA, Kan. – (June 27, 2013) The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) samples publicly accessible bodies of water for cyanobacteria,
Logan city lake
commonly called blue-green algae, when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom in Kansas lakes. When harmful algal blooms are present, KDHE, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and other lake managers where appropriate, responds by informing the public of these conditions.
Based upon sampling results and established health risk levels, the following Warnings and Advisories are in place.
KDWPT reminds visitors that when a lake is under an Advisory or Warning, marinas, lakeside businesses, and park camping facilities remain open for business, although swim beaches will be closed. Park drinking water and showers are safe and not affected by the algae bloom. Also, it is safe to eat fish caught during a harmful blue-green algae outbreak, as long as consumers clean and rinse the fish with clean, potable water; consume only the fillet portion; and discard all other parts. People should also wash their hands with clean, potable water after handling fish taken from an affected lake.
CURRENT WARNINGS & ADVISORIES
Public Health Warning: High levels of toxic blue-green algae have been detected. A Public Health Warning indicates that water conditions are unsafe and direct water contact (wading, skiing and swimming) is prohibited.
Kansas public waters currently under a “Warning” status:
LOGAN CITY LAKE, Phillips County MARION RESERVOIR, Marion County MEMORIAL PARK LAKE (Veteran’s Lake), Barton County
When a Warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
Humans, pets and livestock do not drink lake water
Water contact is prohibited. Avoid swimming, wading or other activities with full body contact of lake water
Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts
Do not allow pets to eat dried algae
If lake water contacts skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation
Public Health Advisory: Harmful blue-green algae have been detected. A Public Health Advisory indicates that a hazardous condition exists. Water activities like boating and fishing may be safe; however, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock.
Kansas public waters currently under an “Advisory” status:
MILFORD LAKE (North of Farnum Creek) Geary County
When an Advisory is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
Humans, pets, and livestock do not drink untreated lake water
Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, discarding other parts
Do not eat or allow pets to eat dried algae
If lake water comes in contact with skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation
KDHE will update these statements as conditions warrant
