September 2013 – Page 53 – Hays Post Archive

Congress looks at Justice’s marijuana decision

Posted on September 10, 2013September 10, 2013

(AP) — The Obama administration is facing criticism over its attempt to straddle the federal law that makes marijuana illegal and state laws that permit recreational use of the drug.

In the first congressional hearing since the administration announced a new, permissive enforcement policy, law enforcement and drug-prevention groups and their congressional allies see an opportunity to push back. The administration’s Aug. 29 announcement allows the two states where recreational marijuana use has been legalized — Colorado and Washington — to go their own way without federal interference as long as they implement strong enforcement systems.

The lead witness at Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was to be Deputy Attorney General James Cole, who signed the guidance putting the new marijuana enforcement standards in place.

Rural Fire northwest of Hays UPDATE

Posted on September 10, 2013September 10, 2013

7:15 a.m. Monday night’s rural grass fire northwest of Hays burned almost 40 acres. Ellis County Rural Fire Director Dick Klaus told Hays Post that the blaze

2000 Block of 220th Ave, Site of Monday evening grass fire

started on the road, probably by someone who discarded something. Rural Fire companies 5, 6 and a farmer pulling a disc helped fight the fire. There were no injuries.

9:14 p.m. The fire is reported to be under control. We will report details on what caused the fire as soon as they are available.

Ellis County Rural Fire is on the scene of of a grass fire northwest of Hays. An estimated 20-30 acres are reported to be on fire in the 2000 Block of 220th Avenue. Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and Check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.

Schlageck: More moisture needed

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

By John Schlageck, Kansas Farm Bureau

Rainfall during the end of July and the first week of August has provided hope for farmers and cattlemen across Kansas – even in the farm western corners of the state.

As southwestern Kansas farmers prepare for fall wheat seeding, there are more happy faces than during the last couple years, but that’s not to say some areas don’t need moisture.

“I don’t believe we’re out of the drought by any means,” says Stevens County farmer Ben McClure. “I know we haven’t gone back to a wet period. We were just blessed to have rain when we needed it badly.”

McClure received five inches of rain on his farm during the first week of August. Stevens County averages 17 inches of moisture annually. Most farmers in this county are still at least 12 inches shy and in many cases more.

The rains that fell in early August were spotty. A couple miles south of McClure’s fields, thirsty crops received half about two inches. Two miles north, even less.

For those dry-land wheat farmers in this region of Kansas, the rains have given them the prospect of planting wheat this fall. Many haven’t harvested a crop here in three years.

“Maybe we can get it up,” McClure says. “That wasn’t the case before the rain.”

If, and this is a big if, these wheat growers receive another half, three-quarters or even a full inch of rain between now and the end of October, dry-land wheat will have a good chance of getting up and going heading into the winter.

“Just the possibility of planting, growing and harvesting a dry-land wheat crop would be great,” McClure says. “After three years of little, if any moisture, the early August rains allowed everything out here to take a deep breath.”

From a soil conservation point of view, these summer rains were a real “life saver.”

Farmers like McClure were able to go into fields that hadn’t grown a crop for three years and plant a crop to cover the bare soil. Watching the precious top soil blow during this three year drought has been especially painful with no residue to hold the soil in place..

Last winter the Stevens County farmer watched the soil blow down to the hardpan – a layer of soil so compacted that neither plant roots nor water can penetrate.

That’s gut-wrenching. It leaves a scar on a farmer and the land.

This year will be different, thanks to the summer rain.

“We planted some feed on some of our land after we received the moisture,” McClure says. “If we hadn’t received the rain, the crop wouldn’t have grown.”

Instead, the feed crop covers the land and stands between three and four feet high.

The pheasants are enjoying the feed and cover, McClure says. He’s hoping for a couple good hunts in November.

This year even the road sides sport green weeds. Last year was totally brown.

“The pigweed and kochia are doing well since the rain,” McClure says. “It’s even been nice to see some weeds grow in places.”

When’s the last time you heard a farmer talk about “liking” the looks of weeds on his land?

Troubled times and conditions lend themselves to unlikely conversation, especially in western Kansas during a prolonged drought. Let’s just hope and pray these farmers receive the much needed rain they are desperate for.

John Schlageck is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas. Born and raised on a diversified farm in northwestern Kansas, his writing reflects a lifetime of experience, knowledge and passion.

Ness City Native Confirmed as Secretary of Admininstration

Posted on September 9, 2013September 10, 2013

Clark Photo — Jim Clark, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration

The Kansas Senate last week confirmed Kansas native and former business executive Jim Clark as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Administration.

The Senate voted 40-0 to approve Governor Sam Brownback’s pick to lead the agency that oversees many of state government’s administrative activities, including payroll, purchasing, printing, facilities management and personnel services.

Clark was born in Ness City, raised in Wichita and has worked in Kansas his entire life.

A practicing Certified Public Accountant, Clark participated in the audits, review of filings with the Securities & Exchange Commission and other client services for clients including, Beech Aircraft, Learjet, the Coleman Company and Pizza Hut, Inc.

Much of Clark’s experience is in the utilities industry. Clark was responsible for all accounting functions for Kansas Gas and Electric, including cost control functions during the construction of the Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant.

In the early 1990’s, as vice president of Westar, he was responsible for integrating the internal audit departments of Kansas Gas & Electric and Kansas Power and Light following the merger of the two companies. He later managed the information systems and telecommunications department for Westar and its subsidiaries from 1995 to 1997.

In 1997, Clark moved to Oneok as vice president of Kansas Gas Service, where he managed the accounting, legal and management information systems of the company as well as their interface with Oneok’s systems. He retired from Oneok in 2001.

Upon retirement from Oneok, Clark has consulted and remained active with the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Renovated Jail to Improve Security and Safety (VIDEO)

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

The Ellis County Public Building Commission met Monday night prior to the regular Ellis County Commission meeting.

Sheriff Ed Harbin explains the upcoming jail renovation and expansion will provide improved security and safety:

Bids for the jail project will go out in March with 10 months anticipated for construction.

“It will be a hectic time,” says Harbin.

Inmates will have to be moved to other counties, although there will be temporary housing for new arrestees. Jail employees will also have to be temporarily relocated.

Woman jumps off bridge over I-70 UPDATE

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

UPDATED 3:57p.m. The following is a release from the Saline County Sheriffs Office:  At approximately 1:13pm emergency personnel were dispatched to the area of I-70 and Milepost 264 for a report of a female subject that had jumped from the overpass at Amos Road and I-70.

Responding units found Amy Caldwell (43) of Salina laying in the roadway with obvious fractures and unknown other injuries. She was conscious and speaking with medical personnel at the scene.

She was flown from the scene to Wesley Medical Center by Eagle Med.

2 p.m. A woman who jumped off a bridge that goes over Interstate 70 near the rest area west of Solomon was taken by helicopter to a Wichita hospital for treatment of serious injuries Monday afternoon.

Trooper Ben Gardner with the Kansas Highway Patrol said a state trooper assisting a motorist just after 1p.m. Monday afternoon about a mile away, was told by another motorist of what happened, and several troopers of the Kansas Highway Patrol and Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office responded.

Traffic was shut down for a time in the westbound lanes of I-70.

The woman was taken by helicopter to Wesley Medical Center . Her name and age has not been released.

The Saline County Sheriffs Office is investigating the incident, and will be issuing a statement later this afternoon.

Issues with Kansas voter citizenship rule not going away

Posted on September 9, 2013

(AP) — Kansas lawmakers have learned that administrative issues are likely to linger from a state law requiring new voters to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship.

The issue arose Monday because Department of Revenue officials told a legislative committee they don’t have a timetable for requiring everyone who seeks to renew a driver’s license to provide citizenship documents.

People can fill out voter registration forms at driver’s license offices. Some legislators assumed that people renewing driver’s licenses would be required to provide citizenship documents and therefore comply at the same time with the proof-of-citizenship rule for new voters.

But more than 16,600 prospective voters have their registrations on hold because they haven’t provided proof of their citizenship. Many filled out registration forms at driver’s license offices.

(AUDIO) Tiger Talk

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

In case you missed Tiger Talk on Tiger Radio Mix-103, here it is. The program, featuring FHSU head football coach Chris Brown, airs Monday night’s at 6pm on Tiger Radio Mix-103.

Oklahoma man admits robbing Kansas bank

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

(AP) — An Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to robbing a bank in southeast Kansas earlier this summer.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says 44-year-old Thomas Hass, of Quapaw, entered the plea Monday in federal court in Wichita. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing Nov. 25.

Investigators said Hass entered the American Branch in Galena on July 22 and requested a loan application. He then pulled a gun and demanded money.

The weapon turned out to be a pellet gun that shot rubber pellets.

Hass was arrested within days after surveillance photos from a nearby convenience store brought tips from the public. One caller said Hass had approached a woman saying he had recently obtained a large amount of money and wanted to take her to Las Vegas.

HHS Musical Auditions Begin

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

Auditions for the Hays High School musical begin tonight. Hays High will be putting on the show “All Shook Up”. Brenda Meder, Executive Director of the Hays Arts Council, told Hays Post that it’s a brand new show with an old twist.

“It ran on Broadway for less than a year. It’s a new musical, but the music is all Elvis. It’s what they call a Jukebox musical. It’s set in 1955. Elvis does not appear, it’s not a story about Elvis, but all the music is Elvis Presley songs, written into this exciting, fast-paced, funny-spirited musical.”

The show is similar to other productions that use hit songs to tell a unique story, such as “Mama Mia”, which used songs from Abba or “Crazy for You” (which FHSU is putting on this fall), a musical comprised of all Gershwin music.

Meder says that the production of the musical will be a collaborative effort between herself as the Stage Director and Johnny Matlock as the Music Director. She added that there are many other roles of people working together to put a play on such as costume, set and lighting design, as well as crews to manage the show backstage.

Meder said that details and pre-audition requirements can be found online. Interested Hays High students can find more information through Moodle at the Hays High Website.

Musical auditions are tonight September 9th from 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Monologue auditions are Setpember 10th from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, with dance activity and other work to follow.
Callbacks will be Wednesday September 11th.

Save On Your New Phone!

Posted on September 9, 2013

For NexTech Wireless’s 8th Anniversary, they have $8 select phones! Drop by The Mall kiosk to check it out!

Injury accident on Victoria Road UPDATE

Posted on September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

3:30 p.m. Ellis County Sheriff Ed Harbin told Hays Post the accident happened around 10:45am in the 2100 block of Victoria Road. Mindy Juenemann was eastbound driving a Ford Focus and came to the top of a hill. She saw a vehicle driving down the center of the road and swerved to avoid the oncoming vehicle. She lost control of the car and her vehicle rolled one time.

Juenemann was transported to Hays medical Center with injuries. She was the only person in the vehicle. It appears that she was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

11:12 a.m. One person from this morning’s rollover accident has been transported to Hays Medical Center.

10: 53 a.m. Emergency crews and law enforcement are responding to a rollover accident with injuries in the 2100 block of Victoria Road. A woman was reportedly injured. Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.

Ellis County Receives Justice Assistance Grant

Posted on September 9, 2013

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback today announced the grant recipients of the 2014 Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program. JAG funding helps strengthen partnerships for safe communities and enhance the state’s capacity to prevent, solve, and control crime. Local and statewide criminal justice agencies and support organizations will receive $2,865,208 for their criminal justice projects.

“Kansas has an impressive network of agencies and organizations committed to making our state a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. JAG funding helps strengthen their partnership for safe communities and enhance the state’s capacity to prevent, solve and control crime,” Governor Brownback said.

The Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (KCJCC) oversees the criminal justice federal funding made available to Kansas through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The KCJCC includes the Governor, Attorney General, Supreme Court Chief Justice, Corrections Secretary, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, Juvenile Justice Authority Commissioner, and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director.

“These grants will help improve public safety and provide critical assistance to victims of crime,” Attorney General Derek Schmidt and KCJCC Chair said.

Entities eligible for JAG grant awards include units of state and local government, Native American Tribes, and nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations. JAG funds are intended to support:

Law enforcement programs
Prosecution and court programs
Prevention and education programs
Corrections and community corrections programs
Drug treatment programs
Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs
Crime victim and witness programs

Below is the list of the 2014 JAG grant recipients:

Barton County, Family Crisis Center $ 62,619
The Family Crisis Center will provide outreach services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and forensic interviews for child abuse victims.

Butler County, Andover Police Department $ 6,244
The Andover Police Department was awarded funds to purchase audio equipment for increased safety in undercover operations.

Ellis County, Northwest Kansas Community Corrections $ 91,673
Northwest Kansas Community Corrections will utilize grant funds for surveillance officers, drug testing, and substance abuse treatment.

Leavenworth County, Brothers In Blue Reentry $196,175
Brothers In Blue Reentry was awarded funds to provide drug treatment and prevention and education programs to Lansing Correctional Facility inmates as well as parolees.

Leavenworth, Tonganoxie Police Department $ 19,985
The Tonganoxie Police Department was awarded funds to purchase an electronic ticketing solution.

Lyon County, SOS Inc. $ 29,557
SOS will utilize funds to provide domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking services to victims in rural Osage County.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department $ 22,045
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Department was awarded funds to upgrade the mobile records management system, allowing officers to access data from their patrol vehicles.

Saline County, 28th Judicial District Community Corrections $ 59,086
The 28th Judicial District Community Corrections was awarded funds for an Intensive Supervision Officer at the Drug Court Program.

Saline County, Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas $ 45,057
The Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas will implement prevention and education services to middle and high school students about domestic and sexual abuse in dating relationships.

Scott County, Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center $ 52,091
The Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center will utilize funds to provide forensic interviewing and advocacy for child abuse victims.

Sedgwick County, Wichita Police Department $201,204
The Wichita Police Department was awarded funds to purchase a laser scanning system for enhanced crime scene documentation and reconstruction.

Sedgwick County, Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters $ 29,557
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters was awarded funds to provide mentoring services for children an incarcerated parent.

Sedgwick County, Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas $ 18,333
The Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas was awarded funds to provide intervention services to at-risk girls age 11 to 17.

Wyandotte County, Unified Government Sheriff’s Office $214,046
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Sheriff’s Office was awarded funds for compliance officers to monitor and update offender registrations, locate offenders out of compliance, and assist with prosecution.

Statewide Agencies:

Kansas Bureau of Investigation $675,992
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was awarded funds for the Southwest Kansas Drug Task Force serving an 18-county region, managing the Kansas Incident Based Reporting Section, replacing the interface to the Kansas Department of Revenue’s updated driver licensing and vehicle registration systems, and modernizing the security architecture of the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System.

Kansas Department of Administration $102,806
The Kansas Department of Administration was awarded funds for the director of the Kansas Criminal Justice Information System (KCJIS).

Kansas Department of Corrections $181,749
The Kansas Department of Corrections was awarded funds to retain staff for the Office of Victim Services Division.

Kansas Highway Patrol $651,837
The Kansas Highway Patrol was awarded funds to hire and train a new recruits class and to continue the collaborative partnership with the Reno County crime reduction project.

Kansas Supreme Court $205,152
The Kansas Supreme Court was awarded funds to continue the implementation of the Electronic Filing System for Kansas courts.