June 2013 – Page 56 – Hays Post Archive

KHAZ Country Music News: Easton Corbin Played a High-Flying Gig Last Week

Posted on June 4, 2013September 16, 2014

Easton Corbin played for a truly captive audience last weekend on a Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Las Vegas. The show was part of the Southwest Airlines’ Live at 35 program in conjunction with Taylor Guitars. Easton played his hits “Roll with It,” “A Little More Country than That” and “Lovin’ You Is Fun” on a travel-sized Taylor guitar. That instrument will be given away in a sweepstakes open now through June 14 at Southwest.com/TaylorTour.

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Moran: We Need a Long Term Student Loan Solution

Posted on June 4, 2013

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran released the following statement today regarding the importance of finding a permanent solution that will reduce interest rates for all new student loans:

“As a father of two, I understand that education can be a family’s most important investment and ought not be complicated by short-sighted Washington politics. Rather than settling for another ineffective, short-term patch that only helps a portion of students, it’s time for Congress and the President to pass a student loan policy that provides certainty and reflects the long-term financial planning students and families undertake to pay for higher education. In the interest of both students and taxpayers, I support legislation that permanently addresses interest rate levels for all federal student loans.”

Oklahoma Tornado the widest known EF 5

Posted on June 4, 2013

El Reno Tornado. Click on the photo for a closer look

The National Weather Services is reporting that last Friday’s El Reno, Oklahoma tornado is officially the widest known tornado in the U.S. Rated EF-5.

The storm killed 6 children and 12 adults including 3 storm chasers.

New Kansas Grain Elevator Planned

Posted on June 4, 2013June 4, 2013

(AP) — McPherson County might soon get a 3 million-bushel grain elevator and a high-speed loading facility near Canton.

The county commission signed a resolution of intent last week to grant industrial revenue bonds for the operation about 2 miles west of Canton.

Mid-Kansas Cooperative of McPherson and Cenex Harvest States, a large regional cooperative based in Minneapolis, Minn., chose the site because of its proximity to Union Pacific Railroad lines.

Kerry Watson, a spokeswoman for MKC, says the co-ops have been researching the project for a couple of years. It will provide the group with its first train loading facility. The grain shuttle will load 110-car trains bound the Pacific Northwest, the Gulf Coast and Mexico.

Other projects, such as agronomy services, could be considered later.

Senate Vice President’s Disappearing Act

Posted on June 4, 2013June 8, 2013

SEN. JEFF KING’S DISAPPEARING ACT: SENATE VICE PRESIDENT TAKES A POWDER TO AVOID CASTING LATE-NIGHT BUDGET VOTE

All but four members of the Kansas Senate voted early Sunday morning on a budget that cuts funding to the Department of Corrections by $7.3 million and reduces the budget for the judicial branch by $5.4 million. Three Senators were out of state while one, Senate Vice President Jeff King, went missing in action.

“On the last bill of the session when the vote was gridlocked at 20 to 16, it was hard to believe that a key member of Senate Republican leadership would go missing,” said Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley. “There’s no doubt in my mind that King purposely avoided voting on a budget that would cut judiciary funding when just a few short weeks ago he was accused of threatening similar cuts in exchange for support on changes to judicial selection.”

A request for a call of the Senate was made while attempting to locate King. After nearly 20 minutes passed and still no King, Sen. Steve Fitzgerald (R-Leavenworth) gave into pressure from the Senate Majority Leader and changed his vote from “no” to “aye.” The budget, in the form of Senate Bill 171, passed on a vote of 21-15.

“Sen. King got someone else to do his dirty work,” said Sen. David Haley (D-Kansas City), who serves as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I wouldn’t blame Sen. Fitzgerald for being angry because of King’s maneuver. He’s in his first year, and represents a district that includes Lansing State Penitentiary. He was forced to go against his personal convictions and those of his constituents to support a budget that makes significant cuts to the Department of Corrections. Meanwhile Sen. King, who is also the chairman of the Judiciary committee, avoided a vote to cut public safety by $7.5 million, which would make him look soft on crime.”

As it has been reported in the news media, King was in the building with Governor Brownback at the time of the vote. Moments after the vote closed, King reappeared in the Senate chamber to introduce his staff and to thank the Senate Secretary and her staff for their work during the session.

“I’ve never seen anyone in Senate leadership avoid casting a vote on the budget, especially when that vote was needed to pass the budget and adjourn the session,” said Hensley. “Jeff King should be ashamed of himself for his absence which resulted in forcing one of his colleagues to vote for a budget he didn’t support. Regardless of his reasons, this is inexcusable behavior for a person in King’s leadership position.”

Kansas Farmer Suing Seed Giant Monsanto

Posted on June 4, 2013June 4, 2013

AP) A Kansas farmer has sued seed giant Monsanto over last week’s discovery of genetically engineered experimental wheat in Oregon.

The civil lawsuit filed Monday by Elkhart wheat grower Ernest Barnes alleges the finding of the unapproved wheat in an 80-acre field drove down wheat futures prices and caused a backlash from some international markets, which suspended certain imports. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

Warren Burns, one of the attorneys representing the farmer, said in a phone call from Dallas that such lawsuits help police the agricultural system and make sure farmers are protected.

Monsanto Executive Vice President David Snively issued a statement saying “tractor chasing lawyers” have prematurely filed lawsuits without any evidence of fault and before the crop’s harvest.

Monday’s Police Activity Log

Posted on June 4, 2013

The Hays Police Department conducted 29 traffic stops and received seven animal calls on Monday, according to the Police Activity Log.

Theft: The Hays PD investigated one theft

1:00 > 1:11 p.m. – General Theft was reported in the 100 block of West 4^th Street

Driving Under the Influence: Officers conducted one DUI stop

2:11 a.m. – Driving Under the Influence in the 500 block of West 32^nd Street

Civil Dispute: The Hays PD received one Civil Dispute

7:39 p.m. – Civil Dispute was reported in the 100 block of West 34^th Street

Juvenile Complaint: Officers responded to a Juvenile Complaint

1:00 p.m. > 2:00 p.m. – Juvenile Complaint was reported in the 2200 block of Marjorie Drive

Criminal Damage to Property: The Hays PD investigated two report of damage to property

4:08 p.m. – Criminal Damage to Property was reported in the 100 block of East 7^th Street

9:05 p.m. – Criminal Damage to Property and Unlawful Use of a Weapon was reported in the 200 block of East 7^th Street

Suspicious Activity: Officers received two Suspicious Activity reports

9:51 p.m. – Suspicious Activity was reported in the 400 block of West 11^th Street

9:56 p.m. – Suspicious Activity and a Warrant Service (Fail to Appear) was reported in the 1100 block of East 22^nd Street

Disturbance: The Hays PD responded to one disturbance report

1:55 p.m. – Fight and a General Disturbance was reported in the 500 block of West 27^th Street

Vehicle Accident: Officers worked on Accident

3:30 p.m. – Accident-Private Property was reported in the 3600 block of Vine Street

Will the Weather Permit?

Posted on June 4, 2013

I 70 RESEAL — KDOT awarded the I-70 Ellis County chip seal construction contract – totaling $1,559,218 – to Heft and Sons, L.L.C. of Greensburg.

The reseal project of I-70 in Ellis County is moving closer to Hays.

Work started last Tuesday, May 28, at the Trego/Ellis County line and will continue east about 15 miles to the U.S. Highway 183 junction.

A thin layer of asphalt is being spread over the pavement then coated with a layer of rock chips pressed into place with heavy rollers.

Interstate traffic is reduced to one directional lane through the work zone during daylight hours. Weather permitting, the I-70 seal will be complete by mid-June.

KSHSAA Splits 4A Postseason

Posted on June 4, 2013June 4, 2013

Click here to take a closer look at the State's 4A schools and enrollment #s from 2012-13 — Click here to take a closer look at the State’s 4A schools and enrollment #s from 2012-13

In Accordance with the memo and ballot mailed April 30, 2013, the voting on Class 4A post-season competition in two separate enrollment divisions as proposed by the Big Seven League has now been completed. Forty Two (42) schools voted in favor of two divisions, twenty two (22) schools voted in opposition.

Based on sixty four (64) Class 4A member schools the proposal needed 33 votes to pass. That requirement has been met and the proposal as been adopted. Accordingly, the change to Classification of Senior High Schools Rule 5 Section 2, Article 1, approved by the Board of Directors last April by a vote of 35-27, will become effective in the 2013-2014 school year in volleyball, basketball, softball, and football in 2014.

KSHSAA Handbook Rule 5, Section 2, Article 1 will be modified by adding the following exception.

Class 4A Exception: Class 4A schools shall compete in two separate divisions for postseason and KSHSAA state basketball championship competition in the following activities: football, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball.

Following the annual classifications and determination of schools assigned to class 4A, the half of the schools with the larger enrollments will be assigned to Division I and the half of the schools with the smaller enrollment will be assigned to Division II. If class 4A has an odd number of schools, Division I will be assigned one more school then Division II.

Since the origin of this proposal, KSHSAA staff have been working to identify host sites necessary to facilitate this new Class 4A format. That process is ongoing.

Gary Musselman

Executive Director

KHAZ Country Music News: Kacey Musgraves Is Thankful for Her Warm Welcome into Country Music

Posted on June 4, 2013September 16, 2014

Kacey Musgraves couldn’t ask for a better 2013 so far. Her debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, bowed at #1 on Billboard‘s Country Albums chart in March, and her top 10 debut single, “Merry Go Round,” earned her a gold certification for 500,000 paid downloads. Her new single, “Blowin’ Smoke,” is now climbing the country chart, and Kacey is thrilled to be embraced by country fans and radio programmers alike.

She tells ABC News Radio, “I just want to let everybody know how thankful I am being on the other side of getting the record out, and having people just really love it, it just makes me feel good ’cause I poured a lot of myself into it.”

As for the success of “Merry Go Round,” Kacey is thankful her sparsely produced song about secret lives in small towns made such a big dent at country radio.

“I can’t believe that I got to come out of the gate with a song that is so near and dear to my heart and means so much to me,” Kacey says. “It’s a big part of me, and I’m just really happy that they helped me get it so far off the ground.”

Kacey’s having big success on the road too. After wrapping up a stint on Little Big Town‘s Tornado tour earlier this year, she’s now opening Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Nation tour all summer long. Kenny even invites Kacey on stage at select shows to sing a duet version of his sexy song, “Come Over,” but that invitation to sing never comes with an advance notice.

Says Kacey, “It’s always kind of an off-the-cuff thing. I was just standing side stage and his guitar tech comes over and says, ‘Hey, Kenny wants you to sing, like now.’ I’m like, ‘Ahhh!'”

Since “Come Over” is such an intimate song, Kacey admits she does get a little flirtatious with Kenny during the performance. It’s all just part of the act though.

“You gotta get into it a little bit,” Kacey says, “but it just kind of does make me laugh a little bit, like, ‘Oh, Kenny. You know, Come over, Kenny. Or I’ll come over to your island. Don’t worry.'”

In all seriousness, Kacey is in awe of the way Kenny holds massive crowds in the palm of his hand every night.

She explains, “It’s just cool seeing him like every time, bring his total A-game, and his band too. It’s been a learning curve for me. I’m sure he gets tired, like every other human. He never lets it show, ever.”

Kacey joins Kenny on the bill for his show at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia this Saturday.

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Western Kansas Grass Fire Continues to Burn

Posted on June 4, 2013June 4, 2013

UPDATE: (AP) – Fire officials say a blaze that has been burning thousands of hay bales in southwest Kansas should be extinguished this week.

Stevens County Fire Chief Darroll Munson said firefighters made good progress over the weekend in containing a blaze that started May 28 on the northern edge of Moscow.

Munson said equipment was brought in on Sunday to begin tearing down the hay bales, and he believes the fire should be out sometime this week.

Munson said that many of the homes in Moscow have suffered smoke damage but no homes were lost and no injuries were reported.

A preliminary report indicated that the fire was caused by lightning but Munson said Monday those reports haven’t been confirmed and an investigation continues.

____________________________________________________________

Update Thursday 7:30 a.m. Residents in the area near the Stevens County Community of Moscow are being given the option to evacuate Thursday as the large grass fire continues to burn.

____________________________________________________________

(AP) — A large grass fire in southwest Kansas has spread to thousands of bales of corn stalks stored at a facility in the Stevens County town of Moscow.

The fire broke out late Tuesday and involved about 50,000 corn stalk bales by Wednesday.

Moscow Mayor Billy Bell told KAKE TV that a bioenergy company had planned to use the stalks to produce ethanol.

Bell says firefighters have contained the blaze, which investigators believe was intentionally set.

The mayor also says no injuries have been reported and no structures were in danger, but residents have been told to prepare to evacuate if the wind changes direction.

Local farmers also have their irrigation systems on standby to help out if necessary.

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Polls Busy for Today’s School Bond Election

Posted on June 4, 2013June 4, 2013

Polls are open until 7 p.m. for voters deciding the $10 million school bond for USD 388, Ellis.

Supervising Judge Karen Day says 55 voters were in before 7:50 this morning, many more than usual. She predicts a high voter turnout.

The 100 or so USD 388 registered voters who live in Trego County are also voting at the Ellis VFW, the only polling place for this election.

All ballots will be counted at the Ellis County Courthouse.

Check back with Hays Post tonight for the results.

Study: Sunscreen Each Day Stops Wrinkles

Posted on June 4, 2013

You have heard for years that using sunscreen regularly can protect your skin against aging. Now there’s research to confirm it.

A study published in the Annals of Internal medicine showed that those who used sunscreen daily had less skin aging. Below is a summary of the study.

Sunscreen and Prevention of Skin Aging
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Changes in the appearance of the skin are known to be influenced by sun exposure and the effects of growing older. Although sunscreen has been shown to protect against skin cancer, whether it can protect against skin aging has not been established. Antioxidants, such as