Hays Post
Month: November 2013
Woman evacuated after unusual accident
(AP) — An Overland Park woman was forced out of her apartment after as much of 10 pounds of mercury spilled from an antique clock.
Fire department spokesman Jason Rhodes says the liquid apparently spilled weeks ago on a back porch of the woman’s apartment but she wasn’t aware it was dangerous mercury until a relative saw the spill Monday.
Overland Park Fire Department spokesman Jason Rhodes says in a news release that the mercury spilled out of tubes that were counterweights for an old grandfather’s clock.
The Environmental Protection Agency is advising on cleanup. The woman’s apartment was sealed until it is cleaned. Occupants of three other units were allowed to stay but advised to check with the Centers for Disease Control to see if they have exposure issues.
Report: Not good news for U.S. farm equipment sales
(AP) — An industry report shows that sales of farm tractors and combines fell in October from the same month a year ago.
But Monday’s report from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers also says that U.S. sales of the items in the first 10 months of the year still remain ahead of last year’s pace.
Sales of farm tractors totaled about 19,600 in October, down 3.4 percent from October 2012. Farmers bought 1,153 combines in October, a drop of nearly 35 percent from the same month last year.
During the first 10 months of this year, farmers bought nearly 173,000 tractors, for an increase of 10.1 percent compared with the same period a year ago.
Farmers bought 8,847 combines during the first 10 months for a sales increase of 5.6 percent.
Kansas Man Arrested On Drug Charges Again
A 27-year-old Hutchinson man who had been released from Community Corrections in September of last year on a drug conviction is back in jail on for possession of drugs.
Dustin Harper told the judge that he has a drug problem and is attending treatment daily. But, both the state and the judge agreed that his treatment must not be working.
Harper was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of oxycodone, his third conviction, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, felony obstruction no tax stamp and no proof of liability insurance. The judge refused to lower the 35-thousand, 600-dollar bond.
He had been on corrections for possession of drugs for a case in July of 2010.
He should be back in court Wednesday for a status hearing.
County will discuss final plans for 718 & 601 Main Project
COUNTY COMMISSION
Tuesday, November 12, 2013 6:45 PM Ellis County Courthouse
Order of Business
I. Opening
A. Call to Order
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Clerk Calls the Roll
D. Approval of Agenda
II. Approval of Prior Minutes
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
IV. Regular Agenda
A. Administrative Center Project – Gina Loomis
1. Amendment to Architect’s Contract
Discussion/Consideration of Amendment to Architect’s Contract for 718 Main and 601 Main Projects
2. Presentation of Final Plans
Consideration of Advertising for Bids Enclosure
B. EMS/Rural Fire Building Project
Consideration of Advertising for Bids
C. Public Works
1. East Highway 40 Project
Consideration of Bid Award Enclosure
2. Fence Viewing
Consideration of Issue Resolution
3. Resolution No. 2013–26 (Conditional Use Permit #1311)
Consideration of Resolution Enclosure
D. County Administrator
1. Bi-Directional Antenna Amplifier for LEC
Report Enclosure
2. 2012 Budget Balance Transfer to Reserves
Consideration of Transfer Enclosure
E. County Commission
1. Commissioner Reports
V. Adjournment
FHSU Men’s Soccer Headed to NCAA Tournament
Fort Hays State men’s soccer received its second consecutive berth into the NCAA Tournament in just the third year of existence for the program as the No. 2 seed in the Central Regional. The Tigers will play Lindenwood, the No. 1 seed, on either Nov. 21 or 22.
The exact location of FHSU’s matchup will be determined by Sunday, Nov. 17 based on the outcome of the other Super Region 3 matchups.
Both Fort Hays State and Lindenwood are already in the round of 16 teams as the Central Region receives only two selections to the tournament. The teams will meet in what is virtually a regional final, before meeting the team that comes out to the Elite Eight from the Midwest Regional.
Fort Hays State enters the tournament at 12-4-3 overall, and is 1-0-1 against Lindenwood this season. The Tigers dropped a 4-3 contest to the Lions in St. Charles, Mo., on Oct. 3, and tied LU in the MIAA Tournament final on Saturday (Nov. 9), though finished second by falling on penalty kicks (6-5). Lindenwood is the only team in NCAA Division II without a loss yet.
— FHSU Sports Information —
Kansas Wheat Commission Needs Ideas
Research proposals that can enhance the profitability of Kansas wheat farmers are being sought by the Kansas Wheat Commission for the 2015 fiscal year.
The KWC, a farmer-funded organization based in Manhattan, needs preliminary letters of intent by Nov. 29, 2013. These will be reviewed by a committee of farmer-commissioners, who will issue an invitation for full proposals on Dec. 18. Final proposals will be due by Jan. 24, 2014 and on Feb. 18-19, proposal applicants will be invited to give a brief proposal presentation to a research review committee in Manhattan. Final award announcements will be made in April, 2014.
“With the current rapidly evolving world of crop technology, Kansas Wheat Commissioners take their job of advancing wheat research very seriously,” says Aaron Harries, director of marketing for the Kansas Wheat Commission. “Nearly one quarter of the Commission’s producer-funded budget is appropriated to wheat research.”
Research proposal applicants should consider the following three goals when submitting research proposals:
Focus research by selecting research initiatives that support the industry’s ability to gain and sustain market share profitably in both domestic and international markets.
Educate Kansas wheat producers to adopt technologies that are shown by research and development to be profitable.
Cooperate with the wheat supply chain to adopt and implement technologies and innovations that support the profitability of Kansas wheat producers.
Some specific areas of interest include:
New Variety Development
Improvement of HRW and HW wheat varieties for Kansas.
Improved insect and disease resistance.
Wheat varieties with increased human health benefit.
Quality screening of new wheat varieties.
Use of wheat doubled haploids for rapid trait discovery and variety development.
Develop wheat varieties that are consumable by people with gluten sensitivity (Celiac disease).
Production
Insect and disease monitoring and development of new management tools.
Stored grain management tools.
Best management practices to maximize yields and profit.
Mobile technology apps for wheat farmers.
Trait Discovery and Biotechnology
Tools, technologies and methods to sequence the wheat genome.
Identify traits that could be introduced into wheat that would encourage consumer acceptance of biotech wheat.
Yield enhancing and adaptability traits (heat tolerance, drought resistant, nitrogen-use efficiency, insect resistance, disease resistance).
Identify proteins that lead to gluten intolerance (Celiac disease).
Testing Methods and Procedures
Efficient and rapid market applicable test for identifying and predicting end-use quality of HW and HRW. Available to growers and grain trade for identifying and capturing value.
Value-Added Uses
Non-food or feed uses for wheat that return value directly to the farmer and have potential mass-market appeal.
Identity preserved niche varieties for contract production.
Consumer Preferences
Benefits of whole grains and healthful components of wheat in the diet.
New uses of wheat.
HRW wheat for Asian-style and instantnoodles.
To submit a two-page, preliminary letter of intent, the following must be included:
Title, Estimated Project Cost (without budget),
Project Status (new or continuing),
Principal Investigators (contact information – including e-mail addresses),
Introduction, Objectives, Project Location and Duration,
Other Funding Received For Project (include other potential funding sources),
Research Cooperators, Expected Outcome (including benefits to Kansas wheat producers).
Proposals not meeting these requirements will be rejected.
All letters of intent should be submitted via electronic mail in a Microsoft Word document or Adobe Acrobat format to [email protected] no later than Nov. 29, 2013. Proposals are evaluated and prioritized by committee based on relevance to Kansas Wheat goals and funds available. Not all research projects will be funded.
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AP: The secret, dirty cost of Obama’s green power push
(AP) — A new Associated Press investigation finds that the push to produce corn-based ethanol has fallen short of clean energy expectations and appears to be causing more environmental damage than promised.
The AP’s investigation is based on government data, interviews and observations. It highlights what many researchers have published in peer-reviewed journals and is consistent with reports by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The investigation finds that farmers rushing to plant more corn wiped out millions of acres of conservation land, destroyed habitat and polluted water supplies with fertilizer use.
The consequences are so severe that environmentalists and many scientists have now rejected corn-based ethanol. The Obama administration stands by its policy.
Ethanol supporters are pushing back hard at the AP report, calling it a “smear.”
Congress is working to do away with requirements that oil companies blend ethanol into their gasoline, something Big Oil is supporting.
Saturday morning high speed chase UPDATE
Monday Update According to the Russell County Sheriff’s Department
At 6:20 AM Saturday Russell County authorities received word from the Osborne County Sheriff’s Office of an attempt to locate on a 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix being driven by a man who fled the scene of a stabbing in Natoma.
Russell County Deputies saw the vehicle south of Natoma.
Following a pursuit, the vehicle was stopped at 7:30 a.m. The driver, Tyrone Lavon Roberson of Russell attempted to flee the scene. He was arrested and taken to the Russell County Jail and charged with fleeing and eluding and for driving without a valid driver’s license. Stabbing charges were not filed.
Osborne County authorities were contacted and responded to transport Roberson to the Osborne County Jail.
Saturday 11/9/13 7:40 a.m. Area law enforcement authorities were involved in a Saturday morning high speed chase in Russell County.
The chase, starting in the Natoma area about 7 a.m., lasted for approximately 30 minutes. The tires on the suspects 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix finally gave out near 400th Ave. and Wiles Road. The suspect had been the object of an” attempt to locate” issued on Friday.
Few addition details are available. Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and check Hays Post for more information as it is released.
(AUDIO) Tiger Talk
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Kansas Statehouse renovation Update
(AP) — A giant construction crane towering beside the Kansas Statehouse is coming down next month as a massive renovation of the building nears its end.
And Statehouse Architect Barry Greis said Monday the cost of the 13-year project will fall a little short of the $332 million projected by state officials last year.
The big crane has been used for work on the Statehouse dome, where scaffolding has been removed. Greis said that beams that supported the scaffolding will start coming down this week.
Meanwhile, work continues on a large visitors’ center in the basement. The floor will contain a map of Kansas set in stone, which each of the 105 counties identified.
Greis said some landscaping will wait until early spring because of the weather.
Police: Woman stabbed outside hotel
Salina Police are looking for a suspect in a stabbing that occurred early Saturday morning in west Salina.
Lt. Scott Siemsen with the Salina Police Department said that at approximately 2:25 a.m. a 19-year-old woman was stabbed during an altercation in the parking lot at the Ramada Conference Center at 1616 W. Crawford.
The woman was stabbed in the left hip, back and neck. She was taken to the emergency room by private vehicle and police were called.
Siemsen said police believe the woman was stabbed with a knife, but the weapon was not found.
Neither the victim nor the suspect were guest at the hotel and it’s unknown why the incident occurred in the hotel parking lot.
Jerry Moran – United States Senator
