The I-70 westbound rest area facilities located east of Russell are now open to the traveling public.
The facilities were closed Sunday, September 8, in order to make repairs to a broken water line, according to KDOT Area Three Engineer Kevin Zimmer.
Although the restroom facilities were closed, the parking lot, dump station, and picnic areas remained open.
The Kansas Department of Commerce violated state law by extending about $1.5 million more in incentives through an economic development program than is allowed, according to a state audit released Wednesday.
Auditors told a House-Senate Committee that the commerce department authorized $7.5 million in incentives through the Promoting Employment Across Kansas, or PEAK, program in the current fiscal year, above the $6 million cap.
Republicans on the Legislative Post Audit Committee said the administration was doing a good job of using the economic development programs to create employment opportunities and bring companies to Kansas. PEAK allows companies that create 100 new jobs within two years to keep 95 percent of employee withholding taxes for up to 10 years.
Auditors said it was difficult to assess the benefits of PEAK because the commerce department is more than a year behind in reporting outcomes to the Legislature, the Kansas Department of Revenue’s tax incentive information was incomplete and the department did not follow up with companies that didn’t submit reports.
Commerce department officials said they believed the cap was a cumulative amount that increased by $6 million each year. Commerce Secretary Pat George said the agency disagreed with some of the audit findings but he acknowledged some shortcomings.
“While Commerce disagrees with several of the characterizations and findings,” George said, “I hope the report will lead to improved administrative processes for the state’s economic development programs.”
Following a 1-1 start to the 2013 season, the Fort Hays State men’s soccer team has dropped from the top-25 of the NSCAA Division II national poll. The Tigers were ranked No. 23 in the preseason poll, but sits among nine teams receiving votes in the latest poll released on Tuesday.
The Tigers have been in the rankings for two consecutive years now, reaching as high as No. 9 in 2012.
Two teams from the MIAA remain in the rankings, Northeastern State at No. 5 and Lindenwood at No. 13.
Fort Hays State heads on the road this weekend for a pair of non-conference matches in Colorado. The Tigers play at Colorado Mesa on Thursday, then play at Adams State on Sunday.
— FHSU Sports Information —
(AP) — Kansas Corrections Secretary Ray Roberts says recent changes in post-release supervision of convicted offenders should help control growth in the state’s 
prison population before more beds are needed.
Roberts said Wednesday the changes could result in 100 fewer people being returned to prison in each of the next two years for technical violations. He also said the savings would be reinvested in programs to treat substance abuse and mental health problems among prison inmates.
As of Wednesday, Roberts said, the state’s male prison population was 8,877, or 78 over capacity. The female population was 761, or 34 below capacity.
The Kansas Sentencing Commission is expected to issue new forecasts for prison populations in the coming weeks.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement today following President Obama’s speech from the White House on military action against Syria:
“After meeting with President Obama yesterday, and reviewing his speech to Americans last night, I remain strongly opposed to the use of military force in Syria. It is becoming increasingly clear that the President does not have a coherent strategy for intervention. He continually fails to detail the parameters of our national security interests, goals and an exit strategy.
“A vote in Congress has been put on hold as the Administration waits to see whether Russia’s interest in a diplomatic solution is genuine. I have serious doubts, and should the negotiations result in nothing, I expect the President to return to Capitol Hill and allow Congress to use its Constitutionally-vested power to debate and vote on whether to intervene in Syria. Our country cannot afford another conflict that taxes our resources without achieving goals that advance American interests.”
It wasn’t the traditional ribbon cutting. Instead, three cheers went up for the third and final Chestnut Street District Gateway Marker.
Members of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation Board of Directors gathered around the limestone marker at 17th and Main Streets.
Along with the other two, it’s designed and constructed by local artist Pete Felten. He used limestone from the historic Opera House building at 9th and Fort which was demolished last summer.
DHDC Executive Director Traci Stanford says the markers resemble the many stone buildings and structures in downtown Hays:
Monday’s ceremony was one of the final few duties remaining for Stanford who is moving to her husband’s new job location later this month.
Megan Colson, Projects Coordinator for the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, will assume the DHDC Executive Director position September 23.
An inmate of the Saline County Jail since late August has been charged with aggravated arson and felony trafficking of contraband in a correctional facility, after he
started a small fire Monday afternoon in his cell.
Sheriff Glen Kochanowski said 23-year-old Zachary Ruehlen of Clay Center was booked into jail on August 26th on a felony obstruction warrant from the Kansas Department of Corrections.
On August 29th while being moved to another inmate pod in the jail, it was discovered that Ruehlen had six wooden matches and a striker plate from a matchbox among his personal items.
He was charged with rules violations of the jail and placed in an individual cell and that is where he set what is believed to have been toilet paper on fire in a air vent in his cell.
Smoke from the small fire caused set off the fire alarm, and the Salina Fire Department responded and cleared out the smoke.
Corrections officers discovered where the fire had been set. A small amount of paint and the vent were damaged.
Kochanowski said officers are not sure how Ruehlen was able to get the matches to start the fire on Monday.
In a press release from the Kansas Department of Transportation:
“A project that began in June of 2011 to rebuild the I-70 lanes in Sherman County is nearing completion.
“Travelers may now utilize one lane of travel in the newly constructed eastbound lanes. Yesterday, construction crews permitted one lane of travel in both the east and westbound lanes. This traffic setup will be utilized within 12 miles of the corridor until contractors complete the removal of the temporary center-line striping, followed by the installation of permanent traffic markings – including the center and edge-line striping.
“The interchange at Ruleton (Exit 9) is also opened to eastbound traffic.
“The project begins at the Colorado/Kansas state line and extends 12 miles east into Kansas. The maximum width is restricted to 16.75 feet; and the speed limit is reduced to 60 miles-per-hour throughout the 12-mile work zone. Please pay attention to the signs and workers within a construction zone, slow down and ‘Give ‘Em A Brake!’
“Drivers may be diverted to the adjacent lane in the next few weeks, as crews continue to make necessary lane closures during the roadwork.
“The scope of the entire project includes removing 12 miles of the old pavement, reworking the base, and placing 11.5 inches of new concrete material along this section of the interstate.
“Access to the Visitors’ Center near Ruleton has been maintained throughout all phases of this I-70 project. The weigh station at the KS/CO line was temporarily re-located to the Colby eastbound rest-area; but was reinstated to its original location yesterday.
“Koss Construction Co., Inc., of Topeka, is in charge of this $48 million project funded by T-WORKS, the transportation program passed by the Kansas Legislature in May of 2010.
“The projected date to have all the I-70 lanes open to normal traffic is set for mid-October, weather permitting.”
The Hays Public Library will be hosting an international performer. Australian Blues guitarist Nick Charles will be playing Saturday, September 14 at 3:00 p.m. in the Schmidt Gallery.
Adult Librarian Marleah Augustine told Hays Post that Charles travels internationally, touring in Italy, Germany, and the UK among other places, but recently he began adding Hays to his list of stops.
“We, a few years ago, had a patron see him play elsewhere in the state and recommended him as a performer. So we got in touch with him and he said ‘yeah, I’d love to stop.’ Any time he comes through the States he lets me know and we see if we can work out a date.”
Augustine added that while it’s a great opportunity for residents to see an international performer, Charles puts on a great show.
“Nick is very charismatic; he involves the audience in his performances. He’s just an all-around great performer.”
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas has received an $80,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
DSNWK president Jerry Michaud says the award will be used to replace the roof at Pioneer Developmental Center in Russell.
“We are forever grateful to the Hansen Foundation for their tremendous support of DSNWK and other organizations throughout northwest Kansas,” said Michaud.
Developmental Services is a private, not for profit organization serving more than 500 individuals with developmental disabilities in the 18 counties of northwest Kansas.
Looking for a job?? The Mall stores have some great opportunities! Check them out!
(AP) — A Wichita massage parlor employee accused in a sex trafficking scheme is scheduled to return to federal court for a detention hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge
Karen Humphreys will also arraign 42-year-old Xiuqing Tian, of Framingham, Mass., at Wednesday’s hearing. At this early stage of the federal proceedings the only plea the magistrate judge can accept is not guilty. Tian is accused of conspiring with Gary H. Kidgell and his wife, Yan Zhang, to recruit women from around the country to come to Wichita to work at Asian massage parlors, then coercing them into prostitution. Their trial is set for October. Investigators who raided the parlors reportedly found ads in a Chinese-language newspaper in New York, Chicago and San Francisco offering “massage parlor hiring” in Kansas.
10:55 a.m. – According to the Trego County Sheriff, Richard Hanks, law enforcement officials have captured Ashley Cooper.
Hanks said that Cooper was captured on Interstate 70 west of WaKeeney between milemarkers 126 and 127.
The Trego County Sheriff was assisted by the WaKeeney Police Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol.
8:30 a.m. – The WaKeeney Sheriff’s department is asking the public for help in locating a subject who escaped custody Tuesday evening.
According the Trego County Sheriff, Richard Hanks, at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday officers conducted a traffic stop in WaKeeney and as a result Ashley Cooper was placed under arrest and place inside a patrol car.
While the officers were dealing with her husband Cooper escaped from the patrol car on foot while still wearing handcuffs.
Hanks said they are now asking that anyone with information, or if you see her to contact your local law enforcement officials.
Ashley Cooper is also known as Ashley Poole of Lana Poole. She is described as a 5’6” white female with blonde hair.
6:30 a.m. Law enforcement authorities in the region continue to look for a suspect who escaped during a vehicle stop Tuesday evening in Trego County. Ashley Cooper is also known as Ashley Poole or Lana Poole. She is 5’6″ tall.
The Trego County Sheriff’s Department has asked area law enforcement to be on the lookout for a woman who escaped police custody late Tuesday evening. Initial reports are that she escaped from a police car in Wakeeney while wearing handcuffs.
The suspect, Ashley Cooper, is described as a white female with blonde hair in a pony tail She was last seen wearing light colored jean shorts, a tanktop and sneakers.
No additional details were available. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Trego County Sheriff’s office at (785) 743-5721.
Stay tuned to Hays Post and Eagle Radio for updates.
