The Wild West Festival weekend was wonderful. The volunteers who help organize the event deserve a lot of thanks for another successful festival.
Despite the wind on Saturday, the weather was great and the entertainment was outstanding. What were your favorite or least favorite moments? Any highlights or suggestions? Tell us in the comments section below.
About 60,000 fans packed the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman Saturday for Toby Keith‘s Oklahoma Twister Relief Concert. The star-studded event is part of the ongoing effort to help those affected by the deadly tornadoes that ripped through the state in May.
According to The Tulsa World newspaper, Toby closed out the night performing his hits “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “How Do You Like Me Now?,” and “Red Solo Cup,” which he changed to “Red Sooner Cup” in honor of the Oklahoma Sooners. Toby also made a special appearance during Willie Nelson‘s set to perform their duet “Beer for My Horses” as well as Willie’s classic 1978 duet with Waylon Jennings, “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.”
Garth Brooks was on hand to give his first performance in his home state of Oklahoma since 1997. Garth’s set kicked off with “Rodeo” and continued with “Papa Loved Mama,” “Callin’ Baton Rouge” and a duet with wife Trisha Yearwood on “In Another’s Eyes.” After Trisha sang a few solo numbers, Garth closed his set out with “The Dance.” He introduced that number by saying, “I gotta say God bless Toby Keith for putting all this together. Okies unite! … Today is a great day to start the healing process. I want to dedicate this song to everyone.”
Garth dashed in and out of Norman for the performance. He was also busy in Las Vegas this weekend shooting a DVD of his one-man show at Wynn Las Vegas.
Carrie Underwood delivered a performance via satellite from Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House. Her set list included “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats” and her latest hit, “See You Again.” Ronnie Dunn sang Brooks & Dunn hits “My Maria” and “Ain’t Nothin’ About You” as well as his new solo track, “Kiss You There.”
Mel Tillis, John Anderson and Sammy Hagar also performed at Saturday’s benefit concert, the proceeds from which will go to the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. You can donate $10 by texting REBUILD to 52000.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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The Hays Eagles Senior American Legion finished defeats the SC Prospects 5-0 Sunday morning to finish 4-1 in the Wild WestFest Tournanent. The Eagles are now 19-12 on the season and will play at a tournament in Kansas City this weekend.
The Eagles did all of their scoring Sunday in the first inning. Hayden Hutchison’s two-run single proved to be all the Eagles would need. Layne Downing, John Griffith and Marcus Altman also drove in runs.
Cade Parker went the distance for the win, allowing just hits runs, walking two and striking out two.
The Hays Monarchs win their final three games at the Wild WestFest Tournament to 3-2. The Monarchs closed out play with a pair of wins Sunday at Hays High, defeating the Colorado Bandits 8-7 then knocking off Canon City 7-3. The Monarchs are now 11-9 on the season and are back at home Wednesday for a doubleheader with Larned.
Game 1: Monarchs 8, Colorado Bandits 7
The Monarchs scored three in the third to take the lead in the first game. Pierce Schippers had three hits and two RBIs. Kameron Schmidt pitched a complete game and gets the win.
Game 2: Monarchs 7, Canon City 3
The Monarchs raced out to a 4-0 lead after three innings against Canon City. Braiden Werth went 3-for-3 and Cameron Brin pitched six innings for the victory.
(AP) — Republicans and Democrats put goodwill to the test as Congress returns this week. What lies in store are potentially incendiary fights over nominations, unresolved disputes over student loans, a farm bill, and the uncertainty of whether lawmakers will rewrite the nation’s immigration laws.
Last month’s cooperation in the Senate that passed the bipartisan immigration bill could be wiped out immediately if Majority Leader Harry Reid tries to scrap the three-fifths majority needed to pass bills for a simple majority.
Republican leader Mitch McConnell has indicated Reid could regret the change if the GOP seizes control in next year’s elections.
In that case, McConnell sees a long list of reversals, from repealing President Barack Obama’s signature health care law to shipping radioactive nuclear waste to Reid’s home state of Nevada.
USD 489 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Work Session MONDAY, JULY 8, 2013 – 6:30 p.m.
AGENDA
1. Topic: Board President’s Appointment to Committees
Greg Schwartz will present recommendations for 2013-14 committee
appointments.
2. Topic: Handbooks
2013-14 student and employee handbooks will be available for your review. Richard Cain will present handbooks to be approved at July 15 meeting.
3. Topic: Paper Copy Bid
Richard Cain will present the bid for copy paper
4. Topic: Hays High Soda Proposal
Marty Straub will present a proposal from Coke and Pepsi.
5. Topic: Wireless Bid
Todd Bryant will present the bids for wireless infrastructure upgrades.
6. Topic: FY 14 Capital Outlay Draft
Richard Cain will present a preliminary draft of the FY 14 Capital Outlay plan.
7. Topic: Contracts for Administrators and Directors
Bill Jeter will present a recommendation for contracts.
8. Topic: Policy for Contracts
Will Roth, Superintendent and Bill Jeter, BOE Attorney will lead a discussion on current contract policy DJFA – Purchasing Authority which address purchases made under $20,000.
9. Topic: Home Rule Resolution
Bill Jeter will lead a discussion of the necessity of a Home Rule Resolution
10.Topic: Surplus Equipment
Richard Cain will present a list of numerous Nutrition Services equipment to declare surplus at the July 15th meeting.
11.Board of Education Meeting Dates for 2013-14: Consider Resolution specifying board of education meeting dates, location and times per K.S.A. 72-8205. Also see BOE Meeting Calendar for 2013-14.
12.Topic: Multi-Peril Insurance for 2013-14:
Consider the approval of Multi-peril Insurance for the 2013-14 school year from Insurance Planning.
13.Topic: Board Attorney Retainer Fee for 2013-14
The Board will need to discuss the Board Attorney Retainer Fee. The fee could not be determined until the Board meeting calendar was set.
14.Topic: FY14 Budget Review
Richard Cain will review with the Board the development of the FY14 Budget.
15.Other topics for discussion
16.Executive Session
17.Adjournment
WORK SESSION AGENDA ADDITION
TOPIC:Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program
ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of Federal Agreement for the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program.
NARRATIVE:
This is a federal program, introduced last year at Washington Elementary, which emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables. The products are introduced to the children outside of, or during normal lunch and breakfast programs. There is no additional cost to the district. The signed document is due July 15, 2013. A two day extension was granted in order to accommodate the regularly scheduled Board meeting. The approved document must be returned by July 17, 2013.
LEGAL CONSIDERATION:
NA
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION:
NA
STAFF CONSIDERATIONS:
Any extra staffing is paid through the federal program
OPTIONS:
The Board has the following options:
Option 1: Accept program agreement to continue program Option 2: Do not accept
PERSON/STAFF MEMBER(S) MAKING PRESENTATION:
Jessica Calhoun, Director, Nutrition Services
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
Accept agreement to continue the program at Washington Elementary.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION(S):
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
2013-14 PROGRAM AGREEMENT ADDENDUM – Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program
Harvesters were busy in the field throughout the Independence Day weekend, as the 2013 wheat harvest continues. While much of the crop
has been better than what farmers expected, some of it is much worse.
Very few farmers are still cutting in Ellis County. In Trego County The Cargill Elevator at Ogallah was closed for the weekend. Caleb told Hays Post that Cargill’s WaKeeney elevator was very slow on Sunday, receiving 10-15,000 bushels of wheat after taking in 40,000 bushels on Saturday.
Richard Kvasnicka, KAWG Director from Winona, says this harvest is the worst he’s experienced in 40 years of farming. The crop ranged from 6 to 20 bushels per acre on ground that he harvested, but he abandoned 35% of his wheat acres due to drought. Test weight ranged from 57-60 pounds. Kvasnicka says some of his fields in Logan County have not yet had an inch of rain on them in this calendar year.
Shirley Zweygardt, grain merchandiser at the St. Francis Mercantile Equity Exchange, says harvest is about 50% complete; but she expects to receive only 35% of a normal year. She expects most yields to average 20 bushels per acre. Test weight averages 60 pounds per bushel. Early protein samples are over 14.
Jeff McNeely, manager of the Frontier Ag facility in Kanorado says harvest just started on Independence Day; early yields range from 8 to 30 bushels per acre. Test weights range from 55 to 61 pounds per bushel. McNeely says the area will harvest just 20% of a normal crop.
Ron Suppes, Kansas Wheat Commission chairman from Dighton, abandoned 40% of his acres. On the acres he did harvest, summer fallowed wheat ranged in yield from 8 to 45 bushels per acre, with a 25 bushel per acre average and test weights ranging from 61 to 63 pounds per bushel. Suppes grows all white wheat; Danby was the best performer on his farm.
Gary Millershaski, KAWG President from Lakin, says his wheat yields in Kearny County farms ranged from 12 to 24 bushels per acre and averaged in the teens. A hailstorm right before harvest knocked yields down even further. About 12% of the acreage was abandoned. In 30 years of farming, this was Millershaski’s worst harvest.
The 2013 Harvest Report is brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and sponsors Kansas City Board of Trade, and the Kansas Grain & Feed Association.
AP) — A Kansas doctor has a crucial court hearing this week in her fight to regain her medical license after state regulators revoked it over her referrals of young 
patients for late-term abortions.
Attorneys for both Dr. Ann Kristin Neuhaus and the State Board of Healing Arts expect the hearing in Shawnee County District Court to be the final one before Judge Franklin Theis (TICE) rules.
Neuhaus is appealing the board’s revocation of her license in July 2012. Neuhaus provided second opinions that the late Dr. George Tiller needed under Kansas law to perform some late-term abortions at his Wichita clinic.
The board concluded that Neuhaus performed inadequate mental health exams in 2003 on 11 patients, aged 10 to 18.
Neuhaus has argued her exams met accepted standards of care.
A teenage driver was injured in a Sunday accident in Barton County.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, “Sixteen-year-old Seth N. Owen of Hoisington was 
driving a 1996 GMC Sierra westbound on U281, a mile west of Hoisington and 19-year old Chad J. Romine of Great Bend was driving a 1998 Jeep Wrangler eastbound on U281.
The Sierra failed to yield while attempting a left turn onto 110 Road and collided with the Jeep. Romine was transported to Clara Barton Hospital. Owen refused to be transported. A passenger in the Sierra, Cameron A. Davis, age 14, of Hoisington was not injured. Owen and Davis were wearing seat belts. Romine was not wearing a seat belt.”
The Free presentation”Taking Control of your Diabetes” with Kammi Bean is coming to HaysMed on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Hadley Room #3. Call Tara Roa at 785-650-9504 for details.
Board Member Holmgren was not present for the July 1, 2013 meeting and Board Member Wasinger will not be present for this meeting.
COUNTY COMMISSION
Monday, July 8, 2013 6:45 PM Ellis County Courthouse
Order of Business
A. Call to Order
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Clerk Calls the Roll
D. Approval of Agenda
II. Approval of Prior Minutes
Special Meeting of April 22, 2013 Regular Meeting of June 17, 2013 Special Meeting of June 17, 2013
III. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Employee Status Changes as presented
B. Approval of Refunding Warrants as presented
C. Approval of Tax Roll Adjustments as presented
D. Approval of Escape Tax Orders as presented
E. Approval of Accounts Payable and Payroll as presented
F. Approval of High Risk Rural Road Grant Application
Enclosure
G. Approval of Off-System Bridge Grant Application
IV. Regular Agenda
A. Monthly Extension Service Report – Susan Schlichting
B. County Administrator
1. 601 Main Architect Contract
Consideration of contract with Spangenberg Phillips Tice
2. RWD 1C KANSTEP Project – Payment Request #4
Consideration of Payment
3. Joint Planning Commission Appointments
Consideration of up to Two Appointments to the Joint Planning Commission – Marcy McClelland and Ron Adams
4. Payment to EC Kansas Public Building
Commission
Consideration of paying $500 to cover general costs such as account setup fees, check purchase fees, etc…
5. Governor’s Conference on Future of Water In Kansas
Report
6. Budget Meeting Enclosure Reminder of July 15 Budget Meeting
C. County Commission
1. Commissioner Reports
V. Adjournment
. (AP) — Two Los Angeles-based filmmakers are preparing to shoot a movie about a family of southeast Kansas innkeepers who killed about a dozen travelers in the 
1870s.
The film will be called “The Bender Claim.” Director John Alexander called it a “Hitchcock-like psychological thriller.” He and producer JC Guest will shoot the movie from July 10 through Aug. 11 at locations in Junction City, El Dorado and Wichita.
Alexander and Guest met at Harvard University and decided they wanted to make a film based on a true legend of the western frontier.
Alexander said the story of the Benders gave him goose bumps. The Benders are accused of killing travelers and burying their victims in their apple orchard before the crimes were discovered.
(AP) — Authorities have recovered the body of a teenager from a Clay County pond.
The 15-year-old, Tommy Watt, was swimming with a friend and began struggling to make it to the shore of the pond near Longford. The Clay County sheriff said the friend was attempting to aid Watt when he submerged and didn’t resurface.
Clay County authorities were called around 4:25 p.m. Friday. Watt’s body was recovered about six hours later.
