The Hays Police Department conducted 12 traffic stops and received 1 animal call Tuesday November 12th according to the Police Activity Log.
2:29 AM – Abandoned Vehicle reported in the 300 block of W 12th St
11/11/2013 03:00PM > 04:00 PM – MV Accident-Private Property reported in the 4300 block of Vine St
9:36 AM – Warrant Service (Fail to Appear) reported in the 1000 block of Fort St
9:37 AM – Warrant Service (Fail to Appear) reported in the 100 block of W 12th St
12:20 PM – MV Accident-City Street/Alley reported in the 2400 block of Canterbury Dr
8:00 PM – Civil Dispute reported in the 1200 block of Motz Ave
2:22 PM – Welfare Check reported in the 2700 block of Plaza Ave
3:54 PM – Theft (general) reported in the 4400 block of Vista Dr
5:27 PM – Civil Dispute reported in the 2200 block of Vine St
11/11/2013 08:00 PM > 11/12/2013 02:30 AM – Sex Offense reported in the 3600 block of Vine St
Eagle Radio’s Mike Holliday has been honored as the Wrestling Broadcaster of the Year by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association.
The Coaches Association held their annual Awards Banquet luncheon on Saturday, November 2nd and Holliday was honored for his coverage of high school wrestling during the season and with Smoky Hills Public Television during the 3-2-1A State Wrestling Tournament.
Holliday has been covering high school wrestling for the past 22 years and he also won this award in 1997.
The TMP Wrestling Family, Bill Dewitt and Gene Flax were also honored as the Administrator of the Year.
Norton’s Bill Johnson was named the 3-2-1A coach of the year and Hoxie’s Calvin Ochs was named the Senior Wrestler of the Year.
(AP) — A Fort Riley soldier has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for a deadly wrong-way chase on Interstate 70.
22-year-old Spc. Gary Nelson was sentenced Tuesday in Geary County District Court. He pleaded no contest in August to second-degree murder and reckless driving.
Authorities said Nelson intentionally drove the wrong way on I-70 the night of April 3. A vehicle that tried to avoid a head-on collision went off the highway and rolled over, killing 53-year-old passenger Jake Black of Manhattan.
A Highway Patrol trooper continued chasing Nelson at speeds of up to 100 mph before the soldier surrendered after several miles.
Investigators said Nelson told them and others he had planned to commit suicide by hitting a tractor-trailer but lost his nerve.
The Ellis County Commission held the weekly meeting on Tuesday this week and the commission voted to move forward with three big projects.
Representatives from Spangenberg Phillips Tice Architecture were on hand to give the commission a look at the final floor plans for the 718 Main building, the former Commerce Bank building and the commission voted to go ahead and send the project out for bids. They will begin taking bids on December 17th.
The commission also voted to amend the contract with the firm for an extra $10,200 for additional services. When the two parties entered into the agreement they didn’t know about lighting upgrades, HVAC modifications, additional electrical distribution to operate IT equipment during power outages and enhancements to the audio/visual system.
After dealing with architectural issues early on, the commission also approved taking bids for the EMS and Rural Fire building. The bidding process begins December 18th.
The commission also approved the $2.7 million dollar bid with APAC to begin construction on the East Highway 40 project. Crews will replace asphalt on 6.1 miles of Highway 40 from 280th Avenue to Victoria. According to Tom Bennett with BG Consultants APAC told them, this would be their first project of the year and he estimated it would take 60 days or less. Construction will begin in March, weather permitting.
(AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that only 371 Kansas residents selected a health insurance plan through a federally run online marketplace during its first, glitch-plagued month in operation.
HHS released the figures Wednesday. The department said the insurance exchange had about 6,100 completed applications from Kansas from Oct. 1 to Nov. 2. Those applications sought coverage for about 12,000 people.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated earlier this year that 363,000 of the state’s 2.8 million residents had no health insurance. The federal health care overhaul set up online marketplaces to help people find affordable insurance, but the rollout of the HHS website has been rocky from the start.
The federal government did not say how many of the people selecting a health plan started paying premiums.
Artist Jerry Thomas, Scott City, and KDOT Area Engineer Mathew Withington, Oakley, install one of the six interpretive panels at the kiosk location. (Photos courtesy KDOT)
An informational kiosk which showcases the stunning views and depicts the rich history of the Western Vistas Historic Byway, located in western Kansas, is now complete.
The kiosk location is approximately 27 miles south of Oakley along the west side of U.S. 83 Highway.
Scott City artist Jerry Thomas illustrated the historic scenery which couples narratives and maps associated with the Western Vistas Historic Byway. It runs from Scott City north to Oakley on U.S. 83, and then west to Sharon Springs on U.S. 40 Highway.
The historic byway features seven National Historic sites and six museums that explore the various cultures and events that played a role in America’s western expansion. It also highlights Scott State Park.
Thomas’ illustrations and photographs by Marilyn See are showcased on six interpretive panels.
The idyllic location of the kiosk is on land donated by the family of Gerold Been. Native limestone from the property of the Been family has been implemented into a seating/staging area near the kiosk.
The prime contractor on the signing project is Bridges Inc., of Newton.
The total project cost is $109,754. It started during the first week in October.
A ribbon-cutting is being planned for next spring, to mark the project’s completion.
The Western Vistas Byway is Kansas’ first historic byway and the tenth of 11 Kansas byways.
The byway program, established by the Federal Highway Administration, is a partnership between the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism and local grass root community groups working to engage visitors in the natural, scenic, historic, cultural, archeological and recreational qualities of Kansas.
2:10 PM – Authorities in Nebraska have located the Florida man that was reportedly in Hays at some point Tuesday. So far, the only details available are that the man has been located by officers in Nebraska and authorities have been advised they no longer need to be on the lookout for him.
Original Story: Law enforcement authorities in Hays are looking for a white 2002 GMC Dually pickup truck with Florida license 754JNZ. The vehicle has a Browning Deer symbol on the back window.
The truck was being driven by 50 year old Michael Danny Young. He is described as a white male, 5’7” tall, 240 pounds.
Young is a missing corrections officer and his cell phone was tracked to the Hays area on Tuesday.
(AP) – A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe will play Sunday night against Denver after his arrest for speeding and possession of marijuana over the weekend.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because he was not authorized to discuss the situation. Chiefs coach Andy Reid is expected to address Bowe’s status for the key AFC West showdown after the team’s morning walk-through.
Bowe was pulled over for speeding Sunday in the Kansas City suburb of Riverside. Police said an officer smelled “a strong odor of marijuana from inside of the vehicle.” He was cited for speeding and possession of a controlled substance, police said.
Bowe posted $750 bond and faces a Dec. 18 court appearance.
James Carpenter, professor of zoological medicine, and Warren Beard, professor of equine surgery, led a team from the Veterinary Heath Center at Kansas State University to assist Rolling Hills Zoo in treating a patient of massive size on Friday, Nov. 8. A 2-ton, 34-year-old white rhinoceros named Milton was immobilized so center specialists could biopsy a mass on the animal’s abdomen.
The white rhinoceros, native to Africa, is one of five endangered species of rhinos and is actually closely related to the horse.
Upon the team’s arrival, Rolling Hills’ veterinarian Danelle Okeson administered anesthetics and, with the help of the large teams of Rolling Hills Zoo and K-State’s center personnel, the rhino was stabilized in a standing position that allowed the team to perform the diagnostic procedure.
The Veterinary Heath Center team led the procedure to obtain samples of the mass, a well-vascularized external growth larger than a human hand. First, the mass was examined through an ultrasound to provide guidance through the rest of the procedure. Beard then extracted samples of the mass to be examined for abnormalities.
Within minutes of the completion of the procedure, the rhino was mobile, safely walking around his secured area.
“It was a combination of great planning and organizing by Dr. Okeson and the Rolling Hills Zoo team, terrific assistance in diagnostics by Dr. Beard and the equine team, and great collaboration by the students on the zoological medicine clinical rotation,” Carpenter said. “Everything was done safely. Everything was accomplished that we had planned, and it was a great and memorable experience.”
The preliminary diagnosis is the mass is an epidermal hyperplasia similar to a callous. The samples will be submitted to the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for examination.
NASHVILLE (AP) – Hank Williams Junior will be honored for his work supporting U.S. troops. The nonprofit organization Operation Troop Aid will give Williams its Patriot Award. It’s given to celebrities who stand up for those serving in the armed forces. Williams has performed at military bases, met with members of the military at his concerts, and supported military charities. Williams will receive the award during his New Year’s Eve show in Nashville.
L to R: Clayton Capra, Eriana Holle, Morgan Soldan, Karl Pratt, Dr. Perniciaro, Max Haverfield, Luke Fairbank, Calder Craig, Hayley Funk, Jon-Luke Martin, Rebecca Urban
Twenty-two Fort Hays State University students competed at the West Central Region National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) student auditions on Thursday, Oct. 31, in Emporia against singers from Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and portions of Wyoming.
Six students were selected as regional finalists and six were semi-finalists.
Dr. Ivalah Allen, assistant professor of music and theatre, told Hays Post that NATS is a competition between colleges as well as private voice teachers from the region. This year there were about 340 auditions, with divisions for each age level.
“There are high school, undergraduate and graduate divisions. With us specializing in undergraduate training of voices, this not only gives [students] a chance to see how they are doing in comparison to other freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors around the region, but it also gives them a chance to hear more advanced singers as well.”
Allen added that NATS is a great goal-builder for students. Each undergraduate competitor must have three songs memorized in various languages, and each graduate student must prepare six separate pieces.
Freshman and sophomores perform two pieces (one selected by the student, the other chosen by the judges). Juniors and seniors must perform all three. Graduate students have to perform at least three of their six songs.
On top of the preparation and commitment to vocal studies, students must also pay a $12 fee for entry, payment for the accompanist, and food/lodging, which Allen said totals about $100 that each performer must pay out of pocket. Allen said that this competition requires a great deal of dedication from students.
“It’s not only a beneficial thing for them in terms of their vocal studies; they have to be really committed to it also. They have to be as committed to it as we, the teachers, are. There’s a lot of time and extra effort that goes into it.”
Dr. Joseph Perniciaro, associate professor of music and theatre, said that every year FHSU does well at NATS. In talking to Hays Post, he was quick to give credit to his students.
“I feel very lucky that my students have continued to do well year after year, advancing both to semi-finals and finals. And this year is clearly no exception. I’m very proud of them all, they all sang really well. It’s a tough competition, particularly given our size compared to K-State, UNL, WSU… We represent the university well.”
Perniciaro added that this competition is a great example of how hard these students work year round. He said the goal moving forward is for students to continue to grow and develop “not only as musicians but also as artists.”
Students of Dr. Perniciaro to receive honors:
Karl Pratt, Hoxie senior: second place in the graduate student men’s division.
Morgan Soldan, Salina freshman: third place in the college freshman women’s division.
Pratt and Soldan also qualified to compete in the inaugural national student auditions in spring 2014. Pratt was also a semi-finalist for the college men’s upper division musical theatre.
Max Haverfield, Hays junior: fourth place in the college junior men’s division.
Eriana Holle, Hays junior: fifth place in college senior women’s division.
Clayton Capra, Dighton freshman: fifth place in the college freshman men’s division.
Hayley Funk, Quinter junior: semi-finalist for the college junior women’s division.
Rebecca Urban, Hays junior: semi-finalist for the college junior women’s division.
Jon-Luke Martin, Salina freshman: semi-finalist for the college sophomore men’s division.
Kelli Veach, Hays, Thomas More Prep-Marian high school junior: semi finalist for the high school women’s division.
Students of Dr. Allen to receive honors:
Lauren Kohpay, Winfield freshman: honorable mention in the college freshman women’s division.
Cassandra Canto, Oberlin freshman: semi-finalist for the college freshman women’s division.
The below video is of Senior Karl Pratt singing “Younger Than Springtime” from the musical South Pacific. Video courtesy of Dr. Joseph Perniciaro.
The final football game for Fort Hays State University will include special honors for past and present members of the military. FHSU is holding Military Appreciation Day on Saturday November 16th at 2:00 pm at the football game versus Nebraska Kearney.
All members of the military as well as veterans will gain free entry to the game just by showing his or her military ID. Also, all scouts that come in uniform will be admitted to the game for free and will be allowed to participate in the National Anthem ceremony on the field.
The athletic department will also be distributing 250 t-shirts as the FHSU tigers fight to end their season with a winning record of 6-5. All students and members of the community are invited to come out, cheer on the team and support our military as the Tigers take on the Lopers this Saturday.
