One man died and another remains hospitalized from injuries sustained in an oilfield accident west of Hays Monday.
Fifty-year-old Todd White of Great Bend, an employee of D&S Casing, died. Another D&S employee, Charles McHenry, 24, is at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
Shelly Thill, who co-owns D&S Casing with her husband, told Hays Post that an investigation into what caused the Trego County accident near A and 300 Road continues.
“There are several business involved in the project including a drilling firm from Texas, a cement business and others. This has all happened so fast. Others saw the accident but most of them are still in shock.” OSHA is also a part of the investigation.
McHenry is scheduled for surgery on Friday. “We’ve been to Wichita a couple of times to check on him and he’s going to be just fine.” she said.
Luke Bryan‘s new album will be titled Crash My Party, after the project’s lead single. That song title may sound like a party anthem, but “Crash My Party” is actually a sweet love song. Luke tells fans to expect more twists like that on the full-length album, due out August 13.
Says Luke, “I think in the same way fans will definitely hear some surprises on my new album. It still reflects my sound but you will get to hear a little bit deeper, different side to me musically as well.”
Crash My Party is the follow-up to Luke’s double platinum album, tailgates & tanlines.
The Kansas Senators released the following statements on their vote against final passage of S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act:
Senator Pat Roberts “I just voted no on the immigration bill before the Senate today. We’ve been down this road before. The 1986 comprehensive bill failed to achieve what was promised. The 2007 bill could not pass because of unrealistic promises and this legislation will fail as well, which is why I could not support it.”
Senator Jerry Moran said, “Like Kansans, I am skeptical this 1,200-page bill will create an immigration system that is fair, efficient, meets the needs of the American economy, and discourages future illegal activity.”
“Rather than focusing on tackling the problem in manageable increments and delivering the reforms Americans are asking for, the Senate chose to lump every immigration and border security problem together into one massive and flawed bill. Americans are keenly aware of where this irresponsible method of legislating has gotten us in the past – but the Senate has clearly learned nothing from the failure of the 1986 immigration reform bill, and more recently the rushed passage of Dodd-Frank and Obamacare.
“My Senate colleagues and I were poised to solve the problems in this bill during the amendment process, but the open debate Americans were promised was replaced by backroom talks, limited amendments and excessive haste. In total, more than 530 amendments were offered but votes were blocked on all but ten of those amendments. On an issue of such significance, the American people deserved to have their voices heard through an open process that allowed their elected representatives to debate and vote on amendments.
“Americans want Congress to fix our flawed immigration system the right way – and fix it for good. Unfortunately, this bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would only reduce the number of illegal immigrants by 25 percent does not meet that standard. This bill fails to fix our broken immigration system.
Toby Keith is really, really rich. If you need proof, just check him out smiling on the cover of Forbes‘ magazine’s Celebrity 100 issue with the caption “Country Music’s $500 Million Man.”
While most of Toby’s money comes from touring, album sales and his restaurant and liquor businesses, a good chunk of it actually comes from Taylor Swift. When Toby launched his own record label, Show Dog, in 2005, he shared backroom operations with another new label, Big Machine Records. Toby also invested $400,000 in Big Machine, the label home of then-newcomer Taylor Swift. Toby maintains a stake in Big Machine, even though his label is now run separately from that company.
As you may imagine, the revenue from Taylor’s album sales has had a nice impact on Toby’s bottom line. Toby says, “I know there’s an extra comma if you added up all the money I’ve ever made.”
The Big Machine Label Group is also home to Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert and Eli Young Band.
As for Toby, his latest single, “Drinks at Work,” is now available for download at iTunes.
(AP) — A Shawnee County lawsuit aims to challenge the Kansas law that requires voters to present a picture identification when casting ballots.
Wichita attorney Jim Lawing filed the lawsuit in Shawnee County to contest the constitutionality of the mandate included in the Secure and Fair Elections Act of 2011. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (https://bit.ly/14zDXRr ) the law was written by Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who’s the only defendant in the case.
Critics say the legislation is an attempt to suppress voter turnout among poor, minority and elderly voters.
Kobach said Thursday he’s confident the Kansas voter ID law will stand, and says the lawsuit against it likely won’t progress very far because the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a similar challenge to an Indiana photo ID law in 2008.
Wheat farmers and custom cutting crews are always racing against Mother Nature, but those huge combines, grain carts and wheat trucks are not racing on the road.
Ellis County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Shannon reminds other drivers to watch out for slower ones:
Shannon says the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department usually responds to three or four traffic accidents every year during wheat harvest.
A Great Bend animal shelter is over capacity after 50 dogs were removed from a woman’s home.
The Golden Belt Humane Society coordinated the roundup of the animals from a trailer home Tuesday on the southeast side of Great Bend. A concerned citizen notified People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which called the local shelter.
The Golden Belt’s animal shelter has a capacity of 32 animals. Its manager, Seth Orebaugh, says volunteers are working to find homes for the dogs and contacting other shelters to take some of them but it is possible some will be euthanized.
Orebaugh says most of the dogs are in good health.
The home owner could face charges because Great Bend allows only four dogs in a home.
Mary Kay Brown, age 73. died Wednesday, June 26, 2013, at Via Christi Village Care Center, Hays, Kansas.
She was born October 14, 1939, in Hays, Kansas to Adolph H. and Helen W. (McGinty) Goetz.
She married William (Bill) Brown on August 4, 1958 in Hays, Kansas.
She was a sales clerk at Hallmark and Kline’s on The Mall, she also worked at Mayo’s Pharmacy all in Hays. She and her husband Bill own and operate Tri-Central Office Supply in Hays. She was a 1957 graduate of LaCrosse High School and attended Fort Hays State College. During high school she was a life guard and has always enjoyed swimming and ice skating. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays, Kansas. She enjoyed her friends, family and grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, William “Bill” Brown, of the home; one son, William Kelly Brown, Atlanta, GA; three daughters, Christy Werth and husband, Galen, Wichita, KS; Jennifer Calvin and husband, Chris, Hays, KS; Lori Lang and husband, Mark, Hays, KS; one sister, Phyllis Hooker, Hutchinson, KS; one brother-in-law, Tom Greenway, Eudora, KS; seven grandchildren, Joshua Werth, Ashley Calvin, Trevor Calvin, Kelsey Robben, Quincy Robben, Maggie Brown, Ben Brown and her beloved dog, Lucy.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Becky Greenway.
Services are 11:00 A.M. Monday, July 1, 2013 at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. Monday at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.
Memorials are to the Humane Society of the High Plains.
Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]
Jody Marie Brooks Address: Hays Age: 26 Charges: 21-5602 Abuse of a child; Unknown circumstance
The Ellis County Attorney’s office filed felony child abuse charges in District Court on Wednesday against a 26-year-old Hays woman.
According to the complaint, “On or about the 17th of June, 2013, Jody Marie Brooks, did unlawfully, feloniously and knowingly torture or cruelly beat a 2 year old child. The child was struck and stomped on resulting in a mid shaft tibia fracture to his left leg and severe bruising to other areas of the body, above and below the waist.” Brooks remains in the Ellis County jail on a $100,000 bond.
Fort Hays State wrestler Adam Ludwin competed in the 2013 Junior World Team Trials this past weekend in Stillwater, Okla. in the Greco Roman discipline at 121 pounds. Ludwin qualified for the World Team Trials by placing fifth at the FILA Junior National Tournament in Las Vegas back in April. The bracket was small but comprised of only the United States elite Greco Roman wrestlers who qualified to get in this tournament. Ludwin finished with a record of 1-2 taking fourth.
“Adam wrestled pretty well,” said FHSU head coach Chas Thompson. “He was just on the wrong end of some controversial calls. The calls could have gone either way and in both of his losses, Adam wins the match if the call goes his way. The good news is Adam gets to represent the United States at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile July 12-14 in both Freestyle and Greco Roman.”
Ludwin will be in Santiago, Chile from July 8-15 with team USA for the Pan American Games. He will be competing July 12-14 in two different styles, Freestyle and Greco Roman.
“We are excited for Adam to get this chance to represent the United States on such a big stage,” said Thompson. “The team is comprised of mostly NCAA Division I wrestlers. Adam is the only Division II wrestler on the roster as of now.”
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback introduced his latest three appointments to the Kansas Board of Regents during a news conference held on the campus of Kansas
Shane Bangerter
State University Thursday morning. Shane Bangerter, Dodge City; Ann Brandau-Murguia; Kansas City; and Helen Van Etten, Topeka will each serve a four year term, expiring June 30, 2017.
“Our institutions of higher education are major drivers of economic growth in our state. The Regents play a key role in our long-term strategy to create good jobs in Kansas,” Gov. Brownback said. “Shane, Ann and Helen bring a great amount of experience and talent to the board and I am excited they’ve agreed to serve our great state.”
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is appointed by the governor. It is the governing board of the six state universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, 19 community colleges, and six technical colleges).
· Shane Bangerter has practiced law in the state of Kansas for more than 23 years and is a founding partner of Rebein Bangerter Rebein P.A. which has offices in Dodge City and Tampa, Florida. Among the many organizations he is involved with, Bangerter serves as Vice Chair of the Dodge City community College Board of Trustees and the Young Life Start Up Board in Dodge City. He earned his bachelor of science from Oral Roberts University and his juris doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law.
· Ann Brandau-Murguia is the Executive Director of the Argentine Neighborhood Development Association in Kansas City, KS. She also serves as 3rd District Representative on the Kansas City, KS Unified Government Board of Commissioners. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services from Ottawa University and her Masters of business Administration from Baker University.
· Helen Van Etten is an Audiologist with the Topeka Public School District. She is on the Board of Governors for the Eisenhower Excellence in Public Service Series and is a member of Heartland Sertoma Club. She earned her Bachelor of Education in Health Education/Special Education from National Taiwan Normal University; her Masters of Audiology at Wayne State University and her Doctorate of Audiology Program from University of Florida.
“The Governor has appointed three great Regents. Shane Bangerter’s community college trustee background will be a tremendous asset. Ann Murguia has an outstanding record of civic and public leadership in Kansas City, Kansas and the greater Kansas City area. Helen Van Etten is a passionate supporter of higher education. I know I speak for all of the Regents when I say that we are excited to work with Shane, Ann, and Helen,” Regents Vice Chair Fred Logan said.
The Board also administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, GED, career and technical education programs, and the state university retirement plans. And it approves private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions to operate in Kansas, and administers the Kan-ed network.
D&S Casing, died. Another D&S employee, Charles McHenry, 24, is at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
