December 2013 – Page 24 – Hays Post Archive

Vehicle donated to Kansas veteran is stolen

Posted on December 18, 2013

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Army National Guard member who is raising four sons alone says someone stole the vehicle an organization donated to help him.

Benjamin Lewis of Wichita says the SUV was taken from his home Sunday night or Monday morning. Making the situation worse — his children’s Christmas presents were hidden in the vehicle.

Lewis works for the Wichita school district while raising four boys under the age of 7 and serving in the Guard. The organization Cars 4 Heroes gave him a black and gold 1989 Suburban in September.

Lewis has insurance so he eventually could get another vehicle. But he says he’d like to get the SUV back because it meant a lot to him to receive it for serving his country.

Tuesday’s High School Basketball Scores

Posted on December 18, 2013

BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Andale 56, Wellington 44
Andover 63, Arkansas City 31
Ashland 60, Attica 49
Augusta 70, Circle 59
Axtell 61, Washington County 45
Baileyville-B&B 50, St. Mary’s 25
Baldwin 52, Paola 51
Basehor-Linwood 70, Bonner Springs 56
Beloit 62, Southeast Saline 58
Bennington 60, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 31
Buhler 56, El Dorado 42
Burlington 48, Central Heights 45
Canton-Galva 51, Ell-Saline 46
Chaparral 46, Medicine Lodge 41
Chase County 70, Herington 53
Cimarron 71, Meade 66
Coffeyville 58, Labette County 48
Concordia 63, Marysville 28
Conway Springs 50, Garden Plain 48
Council Grove 59, West Franklin 55
Cunningham 49, Argonia 38
Dighton 48, LaCrosse 41
Douglass 80, Bluestem 42
Ellis 82, Palco 31
Eudora 65, Louisburg 42
Eureka 84, Neodesha 19
Fairfield 75, Stafford 48
Frontenac 64, Columbus 53
Goddard-Eisenhower 83, Andover Central 58
Hanover 38, BV Randolph 34
Hartford 75, Waverly 59
Hays 46, Junction City 45
Hesston 62, Pratt 43
Hillsboro 46, Halstead 34
Hodgeman County 47, Ness City 45
Hoxie 59, Trego 18
Humboldt 64, Yates Center 37
Hutchinson 57, Wichita Campus 36
Ingalls 58, Bucklin 19
Iola 60, Fredonia 56
Jasper, Mo. 60, Galena 55
Johnson-Stanton County 44, Deerfield 21
KC Piper 78, Tonganoxie 49
Kingman 62, Haven 49
Kinsley 59, Pratt Skyline 55
Kiowa County 45, South Central 40
Lakin 42, Sublette 35
Larned 53, Hutchinson Trinity 39
Lawrence-Nelson, Neb. 32, Rock Hills 25
Liberal 50, Girard 42
Linn 69, Clifton-Clyde 50
Little River 56, Hutchinson Central Christian 48
Lyons 45, Smoky Valley 24
Maize 71, Derby 46
Maize South 52, Salina Central 46
Manhattan CHIEF 52, St. Xavier 50
Marais des Cygnes Valley 51, Lebo 17
Maur Hill – Mount Academy 56, Jackson Heights 42
McPherson 82, Mulvane 46
Minneapolis 47, Ellsworth 34
Nemaha Valley 83, Atchison County 29
Newton 50, Salina South 47
Nickerson 53, Sterling 31
Oberlin-Decatur 31, Hill City 0
Olathe North 71, Gardner-Edgerton 53
Olathe South 44, KC Wyandotte 42, OT
Olpe 67, Burlingame 47
Onaga 59, Wabaunsee 53
Osage City 53, Lyndon 50
Osawatomie 66, Metro Academy 65
Oswego 54, Chetopa 36
Otis-Bison 53, Ellinwood 13
Ottawa 86, Topeka West 78
Oxford 74, Central Burden 34
Parsons 72, Pittsburg 63
Peabody-Burns 55, Burrton 54
Perry-Lecompton 47, Jefferson West 46
Phillipsburg 72, Hays-TMP-Marian 59
Plainville 81, Natoma 61
Pleasant Ridge 56, KC Christian 33
Riley County 42, Clay Center 39
Riverside 54, Hiawatha 38
Royal Valley 71, Santa Fe Trail 58
Rural Vista 43, Wakefield 31
Sabetha 67, Horton 35
Salina Sacred Heart 68, Russell 30
Shawnee Heights 60, Topeka Seaman 50
Silver Lake 50, Jefferson North 47
Smith Center 42, Pike Valley 39
Solomon 57, Inman 47
South Gray 66, Spearville 62
Southeast 61, Commerce, Okla. 49
Southern Coffey 41, Madison 28
Southwestern Hts. 54, Satanta 36
St. John 67, Central Plains 53
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 57, Logan 30
Stockton 41, Norton 26
Syracuse 59, Wichita County 52
Udall 57, Norwich 28
Uniontown 54, St. Paul 47
Valley Center 65, Goddard 57
Valley Falls 59, Centralia 56
Valley Heights 42, Republic County 33
Wamego 72, Chapman 40
Wetmore 56, Frankfort 49
Wichita East 58, Wichita Heights 57
Wichita Independent 64, Cheney 45
Wichita North 42, Kapaun Mount Carmel 40
Wichita South 49, Wichita Northwest 47
Wichita Southeast 64, Wichita West 41
Wichita Trinity 74, Belle Plaine 52
Winfield 65, Rose Hill 54

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Andale 48, Wellington 44
Andover 48, Arkansas City 31
Andover Central 52, Goddard-Eisenhower 22
Ashland 48, Attica 37
Baileyville-B&B 54, St. Mary’s 25
Baldwin 52, Paola 51
Beloit 60, Southeast Saline 55, OT
Bennington 40, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 25
Bonner Springs 56, Basehor-Linwood 47
Bucklin 41, Ingalls 40
Buhler 85, El Dorado 37
Burlington 40, Central Heights 24
Central Plains 49, St. John 30
Centralia 54, Valley Falls 52
Chaparral 59, Medicine Lodge 51
Chase County 48, Herington 30
Cheney 54, Wichita Independent 21
Cimarron 71, Meade 66
Circle 38, Augusta 35
Coffeyville 67, Labette County 65
Council Grove 47, West Franklin 19
Cunningham 43, Argonia 38, OT
Dighton 36, LaCrosse 24
Douglass 62, Bluestem 28
Ell-Saline 52, Canton-Galva 38
Ellinwood 64, Otis-Bison 43
Ellis 55, Palco 30
Eureka 84, Neodesha 19
Fairfield 48, Stafford 16
Flinthills 48, Altoona-Midway 20
Frontenac 64, Columbus 53
Galena 57, Jasper, Mo. 48
Garden Plain 37, Conway Springs 30
Gardner-Edgerton 52, Olathe North 43
Goodland 41, Rawlins County 22
Hanover 41, BV Randolph 28
Haven 43, Kingman 32
Hesston 61, Pratt 42
Hiawatha 88, Riverside 22
Hillsboro 47, Halstead 28
Hoxie 78, Trego 18
Hutchinson 41, Wichita Campus 32
Hutchinson Trinity 52, Larned 30
Independence 45, Chanute 40
Inman 40, Solomon 34
Jackson Heights 35, Maur Hill – Mount Academy 29
Jefferson North 60, Silver Lake 30
Jefferson West 32, Perry-Lecompton 26
Johnson-Stanton County 44, Deerfield 21
Junction City 50, Hays 32
Kapaun Mount Carmel 70, Wichita North 35
KC Piper 45, Tonganoxie 40
Kiowa County 55, South Central 48
Lakin 42, Sublette 35
Lawrence-Nelson, Neb. 34, Rock Hills 27
Linn 51, Clifton-Clyde 15
Little River 49, Hutchinson Central Christian 17
Logan 39, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 31
Louisburg 58, Eudora 44
Lyons 63, Smoky Valley 40
Madison 59, Southern Coffey 42
Maize 62, Derby 31
Marais des Cygnes Valley 42, Lebo 32
Marysville 68, Concordia 63
McPherson 55, Mulvane 41
Minneapolis 36, Ellsworth 33
Nemaha Valley 60, Atchison County 43
Ness City 49, Hodgeman County 25
Newton 41, Salina South 29
Norton 58, Stockton 21
Oberlin-Decatur 31, Hill City 0
Olathe South 64, Highland Park 29
Olpe 47, Burlingame 29
Onaga 52, Wabaunsee 42
Oswego 42, Chetopa 28
Ottawa 52, Topeka West 18
Peabody-Burns 57, Burrton 56
Phillipsburg 47, Hays-TMP-Marian 32
Pittsburg 56, Parsons 25
Plainville 48, Natoma 36
Pleasant Ridge 56, KC Christian 33
Riley County 44, Clay Center 24
Royal Valley 60, Santa Fe Trail 44
Rural Vista 36, Wakefield 21
Russell 32, Salina Sacred Heart 24
Sabetha 49, Horton 14
Salina Central 62, Maize South 37
Smith Center 42, Pike Valley 39
Southeast 54, Commerce, Okla. 26
Southwestern Hts. 54, Satanta 36
Sterling 71, Nickerson 25
Syracuse 34, Wichita County 32
Topeka Seaman 47, Shawnee Heights 28
Valley Center 43, Goddard 23
Valley Heights 42, Republic County 33
Wamego 62, Chapman 26
Washington County 61, Axtell 35
Waverly 65, Hartford 32
Wetmore 47, Frankfort 32
Wichita Heights 53, Wichita East 29
Wichita South 44, Wichita Northwest 22
Wichita Southeast 49, Wichita West 32
Wichita Trinity 54, Belle Plaine 19
Winfield 47, Rose Hill 46

2 winners in $636M Mega Millions drawing

Posted on December 18, 2013December 18, 2013

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lottery officials said winning ticket tickets were sold in California and Georgia for the $636 million Mega Millions jackpot, the second-largest lottery prize in U.S. history.

The winning numbers were: 8, 14, 17, 20, 39; Mega Ball: 7.

Paula Otto, the Virginia Lottery’s executive director and the lead director of Mega Millions, said $336 million in tickets were sold for Tuesday’s drawing.

California Lottery spokesman Alex Traverso said Tuesday one ticket was sold at Jennifer’s Gift Shop in San Jose, Calif.

The lucky Georgia ticket was sold at a Gateway Newsstand in the affluent Buckhead area of Atlanta. Owner Young Soolee grinned as she arrived this morning at the shop, off the beaten path to the public and frequented by workers from the Alliance Center office building.

The jackpot resets to $15 million for the next drawing, which is on Friday night.

Ag across the pond

Posted on December 18, 2013December 17, 2013

By JOHN SCHLAGECK

Kansas Farm Bureau

Genetically modified organisms still face challenges within the European Union; however, one Irish wheat farmer is optimistic change is on the way.

“With this challenge of feeding the world, we must embrace technology,” says John Dardis, who farms approximately 30 miles south of Dublin in Kildare County.

The challenge will be for farmers to double food production by 2050 to feed an estimated 9 billion mouths, Dardis told nearly 1,000 farmers and ranchers at Kansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting the first week in December.

Originally the Dardis family raised beef cattle. Recently, John has moved exclusively to raising wheat, barley and oats. He is a 5th generation to farmer and serves as First Secretary of Agriculture and Food with the Embassy of Ireland in Washington, D.C.

While the EU clings to studies that say Western European consumers do not want bio technology used in their food, Dardis contends this attitude is changing.

The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, recently talked about the shift in the UK’s attitude towards this technology. Cameron emphasized the importance of fostering a “pro-science” culture and said he’s ready to call on the EU to relax its stifling restrictions on biotechnology.

“There’s also a vigorous scientific effort on behalf of the European Food Safety Authority to ensure the proper scientific overview is given to GMOs,” Dardis says. “When you look at the facts they conclude biotech is safe.”

As a wheat breeder, Dardis is convinced that ultimately food products will all post labels saying whether or not they are genetically modified. Then the consumer will have the opportunity to decide what she wants to buy, he says.

Another challenge the Irish farmer said his countrymen continue to face is the inability to use growth promoters with beef cattle. This means more time and expense to ready their livestock for market.

“We have a wonderful resource in our native grasses, but we have to feed our cattle silage and protein for another three to four months to finish them off,” Dardis says.

Ireland exports nearly 90 percent of its beef, mainly in the European Union. Irish-produced beef is a close second on the grocery shelf running only behind domestic beef raised throughout Western Europe, according to Dardis.

“While I prefer the grass-fed beef of Ireland, a good steak is a good steak wherever you have it in this world,” he says.

Dardis is also excited about the prospects of dairy in his home country. Irish dairy farmers have been restricted by a quota for many years.

In the early ‘80s Irish dairymen were exporting milk on par with New Zealand, Dardis recalls. New Zealand has expanded its dairy exports threefold since then and Ireland now lags far behind.

“We’re excited that in 2015, the quota will be removed from dairy,” the Irish farmer says. “We have plans to grow our dairy exports by 50 percent and rank in the top five in the coming years.”

Today Ireland imports milk from other countries and adds value to this raw product and then exports it as infant formula and finished cheeses.

Wrapping up his comments to the farmers and ranchers from across Kansas, Dardis told them to be, “proud of what you do.

“Farmers and ranchers on both sides of the Atlantic are increasingly under pressure from outside our world,” he says. “The natural reaction is to go into your shell and back to what you do and not put the facts on the table.

“You are feeding the world,” Dardis says. “That’s not rhetoric. Be proud of this and mold the discussion. Don’t stay away from it.”

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas who writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Canadian man back in jail in Kansas identity theft case

Posted on December 18, 2013

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge in Kansas has revoked the bond of a Canadian man charged with stealing the identity of his infant brother who died decades ago.

U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten ordered federal marshals to take Winfield resident Leslie Camick back into custody. The court notation filed Tuesday comes a day after a hearing on the government’s request.

Prosecutors contend Camick broke the law while on release by filing a groundless federal lawsuit to retaliate against government witnesses against him. The government says he also violated the terms of his release by driving while intoxicated. Prosecutors say he has been banned for life from driving in Canada and has an outstanding arrest warrant from that country.

A revised indictment accuses him of obstruction of justice, aggravated identity theft and other charges.

Restaurant Inspections 12/01/13 – 12/15/13

Posted on December 18, 2013December 17, 2013

GUTIERREZ MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1106 E 27TH ST HAYS, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/3/2013

Fail Notes
2-401.11
EMPLOYEES shall eat, drink, or use any form of tobacco only in designated areas where the contamination of exposed FOOD; clean EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, and LINENS; unwrapped SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES; or other items needing protection cannot result.[there is open drink cup and open can of soda on the cooks prep table, one cook attempted to take a drink. COS moved to back suggested a drink rack next to the handsink]
Fail Notes
3-501.18(A)(1)
P – RTE PHF/TCS, Disposition (discard if held more than 7 days) Refrigerated, READY-TO-EAT, POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD (TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD) prepared or opened and held in a FOOD ESTABLISHMENT for more than 24 hours shall be discarded if it is held at a temperature of 5°C (41°F) or less for more than 7 days, with the day of preparation counted as Day 1.[in the 4 door cooks ric is 7 6oz styro cups containing white gravy dated 11-23-13 COS discard]

Fail Notes
7-102.11
Pf – Common Name (Working Containers) Working containers used for storing POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS such as cleaners and SANITIZERS taken from bulk supplies shall be clearly and individually identified with the common name of the material.[chemical spray bottle of all purpose cleaner (identified by PIC) not labeled COS labeled]

FIELD WARNING LETTER

The Kansas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, effective July 1, 2012, K.S.A. 65-619 et seq. andregulations promulgated pursuant thereto, grants the Kansas Department of Agriculture authority to regulate food establishments and food processing plants. The Kansas Food Code is adopted and amended by K.A.R. 4-28-8 through 15. During the inspection today of the Food Establishment listed above, violations of the KansasFood Code were observed. The violations are documented in the attached Kansas Food Establishment Inspection Report.
Although we will not take further action at this time based on this inspection report, repeated violations observed during future inspections may result in:
• Embargo of non-compliant products;
• immediate closure of your establishment;
• civil penalties of up to $1,000.00 per violation;
• denial of license renewal;
• modification, suspension and/or revocation of any license or authority issued pursuant to the Kansas Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act;
• and/or any other penalty authorized by law.
Future inspections will be initiated during the next routine inspection cycle, unless we receive a complaint about the food establishment.

RAMADA HAYS CONVENTION CENTER 3603 Vine St HAYS, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/5/2013

PIC called inspector on 12-2-13 to inform of bed bugs in room 183. This room is sealed from entry due to treatment. Inspector could not enter. PIC will call inspector when ready to put back to market for release.
VOLUNTARY CLOSURE STATEMENT

BECAUSE OF DEFICIENCIES NOTED ON THE ATTACHED KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INSPECTION REPORT, I VOLUNTARILY AGREE TO CLOSE THIS ESTABLISHMENT AND CEASE OPERATION UNTIL NEEDED CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. I AGREE NOT TO REOPEN THIS ESTABLISHMENT PRIOR TO RE-INSPECTION BY THE FOOD, DRUG, AND LODGING SURVEYOR.

Additional Notes room 183

RAMADA HAYS CONVENTION CENTER 3603 Vine St HAYS, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/9/2013

Rooms Inspected: 183 inspector is releasing this room to market, however the manager said they were going to have it treated one more time.

BINGO HAUS 1218 CANTERBURY HAYS, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/3/2013

No violations
No fail notes

DEFIANCE BREWING CO. 2050 E. Hwy Co. HAYS, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/2/2013

No violations
No fail notes

Rose Garden Steak Haus & Catering 2350 E. 8th Hays, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/5/2013

No violations
No fail notes

Shorty’s BBQ & Catering 609 E. 8th Hays, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/3/2013

No violations
No fail notes

SONIC DRIVE IN 1708 VINE HAYS, KS 67601
Inspection Date: 12/2/2013

No violations
No fail notes

Hays splits with Junction City

Posted on December 18, 2013December 19, 2013

By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

GIRLS: Junction City 50, Hays 32
The Hays High Indians traveled away from Hays for the first time this season taking on Junction City Tuesday night.

The Lady Indians fell behind 6-0 early, but battled back to twice get with in two points. At 10-8, Hays had two opportunities to tie or take the lead but couldn’t take advantage of Junction City miscues. The Lady Jays built their lead to 11 at halftime and moved on for the 18 point win.

Hays was led by a big night from sophomore Audra Schmeidler, scoring 19 points grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking 2 shots. Schmeidler made all but one of the Indian’s eight field goals on the night.

Hays shot just 25% on the night making 8 of 32 shots and hitting 14 of 27 free throws. Junction City shot 14 of 38 and made 19 of 24 free throws. The teams combined for 52 turnovers and 50 plus fouls. Hays falls to 0-5 on the season and Junction City improves to 2-2.

Kirk Maska Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

BOYS: Hays 46, Junction City 45
Junction City was looking for a 3-0 mark in games against the Western Athletic Conference this season after beating Great Bend and Dodge City on Friday and Saturday. Hays though would rally from four down after losing a 13 point third quarter lead.

Hays looked to be well on their way to a fifth consecutive victory to open the season after 10-0 run to take a 13-3 first quarter lead. The Indians held a nine point lead when Lane Clark was fouled and took an elbow on the top of the head that opened a gash on top of his head that forced him to miss the rest of the quarter. Hays scored just five more points in his absence, all by Brady Werth, and led 22-13 at intermission.

The Indians pushed their lead to 28-15 on back to back Kade Parker and Clark threes. Junction City though answered back with a 18-4 run to grab an early fourth quarter 33-32 lead, their first of the game. Hays would regain the lead on a pair of Werth free throws before a three pointer by the Blue Jays gave Junction City a 36-34 lead with 5:55 remaining in the game. Hays used another three pointer from Kade Parker to tie the game at 38, before falling behind 44-40 with 2:33 remaining on a Junction City three point play. The Blue Jays would score just one more point the rest of the game. In the next two minutes Hays got four points from Werth to get with in one at 45-44. Junction City had the ball but committed a turnover with 35 seconds left and fouled Jordan Windholz who hit both free throws giving Hays the 46-45 lead.

Junction City ran the clock down and after calling a time out, never got a shot off as the Indian defense forced a turnover as the clock expired.

Hays was led by Brady Werth with 22 points 16 rebounds and two blocked shots. Werth was also 6-6 from the free throw line. The Indians got a huge night from Kade Parker hitting 3 of 4 three pointers on his way to a season high 11.

Hays shot 13 of 20 from the free throw line, but made their final six over the games last three minutes to help seal the win. The Indians shot 14 of 36 in the game for 39% and made 5 of 12 threes. Junction City also shot 39% at 18 of 46 and made 6 of 15 3’s. The Blue Jays though made just 3 of 8 free throws. Hays had a season high 21 turnovers in the win.

Hays moves to 5-0 and is ranked 4th by the KBCA in class 5A. Junction City falls to 2-2.

Hays is off for the rest of 2013 and will play again on January 7th in Pratt.

Rick Keltner Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

TMP loses pair in Phillipsburg

Posted on December 18, 2013December 18, 2013

By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post

GIRLS: Phillipsburg 47, TMP-Marian 32
A close first half was blown open by Phillipsburg in the third quarter. Leading by eight points at the break, the Lady Panthers stretched the lead to 14 at the end of the third on their way to the 15 point win. The Lady Monarchs had trouble scoring all night long. Freshman Megan Koenigsman led TMP with nine points. TMP drops to 1-3 on the season and will host Ellinwood at the Kennedy Middle School Gymnasium on Friday.

Rose McFarland Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

BOYS: Phillipsburg 72, TMP-Marian 59
A flurry of activity early wasn’t enough for the TMP Monarchs as they dropped their third game of the year on Tuesday night in Phillipsburg. TMP held the lead much of the first half and were on top 27-26 at halftime. The third quarter proved to be to much for TMP as the Panthers outscored them 24-11 to grab control of the game. TMP had a couple of chances to cut the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter but could never get over the hump.

Jared Vitztum scored a career high 17 points including five three-pointers in the losing effort. The Monarchs are now 1-3 and will host Ellinwood on Friday night.

Joe Hertel Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

No. 11 Wichita State holds on 72-67 over Alabama

Posted on December 17, 2013December 18, 2013

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Cleanthony Early scored 26 points and Fred VanVleet made two free throws with 11 seconds left to lift No. 11 Wichita State to a 72-67 victory over Alabama on Tuesday night.

Early scored nine straight points for Wichita State (11-0) during one late stretch and the Shockers extended the program’s best start, answering every time the Crimson Tide (5-5) threatened to overtake them.

Rodney Cooper’s 3-pointer brought Alabama to 65-64 with 1:57 remaining. VanVleet responded with a basket and Darius Carter scored on a putback with 37 seconds remaining after Trevor Releford hit two free throws. Alabama collected a long rebound but Retin Obasohan’s 3-pointer missed, forcing Alabama to foul.

VanVleet iced the game at the line.

Early made 7 of 11 from the field and hit all 11 free throw attempts. The Shockers were 25 of 27 from the line.

VanVleet and Tekele Cotton each had 11 points for Wichita State, which outrebounded Alabama 38-26. Leading scorer Ron Baker was held to eight points for the second straight game since injuring his left ankle. He got in foul trouble and played just 16 minutes.

Releford led Alabama with 22 points after missing the Charleston Southern game with a hip injury

Releford also had six assists and made three 3-pointers but was scoreless in the first 14 minutes. Rodney Cooper had 14 points for Alabama.

The game marked the first time a ranked nonconference opponent had played at Coleman Coliseum since No. 5 Purdue in December 2009. The Shockers are the second-highest ranked team to visit.

They left with their second straight win over a Southeastern Conference team after beating Tennessee 70-61.

Alabama got its biggest lead, 56-53, with 6:22 left on Nick Jacobs’ dunk. Then Baker hit a 3-pointer and Early went on his nine-point binge, hitting all five free throw attempts during that stretch and also scoring on a dunk after a pass from Baker.

Cooper’s 3-pointer brought Alabama to 65-64 with 1:57 remaining.

The Tide had a chance to make it a one-score game with 8 seconds left but Obasohan missed the second of two free throws. Cotton then made a foul shot at the other end.

Alabama had sliced an early 10-point deficit to 33-32 at halftime. The Tide took its only lead of the half on Cooper’s 3-pointer with 53 seconds left. Then Cotton answered with two free throws to give the Shockers the halftime edge.

State receives insurance settlement funds

Posted on December 17, 2013December 18, 2013

(TOPEKA)— Sandy Praeger, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance, announced today in a news release the Kansas Insurance Department (KID) will receive $510,146 in settlement funds from seven different insurance companies following a review of the companies’ death benefit practices.

The department has or will receive the following amounts from these insurance companies: ING, $114,726; New York Life, $110,255; Lincoln National, $78,182; TransAmerica, $67,668; TIAA-CREF, $67,620; Aviva and Global Atlantic, $48,057; and Midland, $23,638. The funds are the Kansas portion of the national settlements for each company.

Previously, life insurance companies used the Social Security Death Master File to search for and stop payments to deceased annuity holders, but they hadn’t used the database to identify deceased life insurance policyholders in order to pay beneficiaries promptly. Under the settlement agreement, they now have to.

The settlement money, under Kansas law, goes to the state’s general fund budget.

Union Pacific donates $5K to local Red Cross

Posted on December 17, 2013December 18, 2013

train arc hfe 2 — The Hays American Red Cross chapter relocated residents near the July 16 train derailment to the Holy Family Elementary School gymnasium.

The American Red Cross Western Kansas Chapter has received a donation of $5,000 from Union Pacific railroad.

The donation was made after the American Red Cross assisted with a train derailment and fire in Hays July 16.

During the train derailment, the Red Cross opened a shelter for residents temporarily displaced from their homes.

“The Red Cross is able to do what we do thanks to the generosity of community partners like Union Pacific,” said Meagan Carver, American Red Cross Disaster Specialist, in a news release.

“Their generous donation helps us continue in our mission of alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies.”

The Red Cross also provided services to the emergency responders on the scene in south Hays.

Kansas judge orders scientist from China detained

Posted on December 17, 2013December 17, 2013

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Chinese scientist accused of taking seeds taken from a private Kansas research facility and passing them off to a visiting delegation from China will remain in federal custody at least until his next court appearance.

Weiqiang Zhang, an agricultural seed breeder at a biopharmaceutical production facility in Junction City, is charged with conspiracy to steal trade secrets. He’s accused of taking proprietary seeds from the facility and giving them to visiting Chinese agriculture officials this summer.

A federal judge in Kansas City, Kan., on Tuesday ordered Zhang detained, but said he’d consider substantial bail amounts at Zhang’s next court appearance Dec. 30.

Zhang and a co-defendant from China who worked at a U.S. Department of Agriculture facility in Arkansas face up to 10 years in prison if convicted in the case.

On-air expletive costs Kansas TV anchor

Posted on December 17, 2013December 17, 2013

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An anchorman for NBC’s Wichita affiliate has been fired after accidentally uttering an expletive at the end of a newscast.

KSNW weekend anchor Justin Kraemer muttered, “Let’s get the (expletive) out of here,” after Saturday’s 10 p.m. newscast. The cameras had already cut away from the anchors, who had signed off, and the end-of-broadcast music had played — but viewers heard the comment.

Kraemer says he was let go Monday and that he completely understood the station’s decision. A YouTube clip posted by a viewer minutes after the broadcast has had more than 1 million viewers.

Kraemer says he’s “embarrassed” and that the slip-up followed “a very long day.”

Although he declined to offer details, Kraemer says he’s lined up his next job move.