Due to continuing inclement weather, Hays USD 489 announced schools will again be closed Wednesday.
Because school is cancelled for Wednesday the high school swim meet at Salina South, for the Hays High swimmers has been cancelled.
With the continuing snowstorm dumping an estimated 5 inches of snow on the region so far, check the Hays Post listing of cancellations and delays. The list will continue to be updated throughout the storm.
FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State moved up one spot in the latest NABC Division II Top 25 Men’s Basketball Poll, released on Tuesday (Feb. 4). The Tigers won a pair of overtime contests last week at home, allowing them to move up one spot and grace the top 25 for the fifth time out of 11 regular season polls this year.
Fort Hays State was in the top 25 for the first three regular season polls this year, ranked No. 25 in the first, No. 20 in the second, and No. 15 in the third before falling out after a pair of overtime losses on the road in conference play. However, an eight-game win streak vaulted the Tigers back into the poll last week at No. 24 and they extended the win streak to 10 with a pair of overtime wins at home over Emporia State and Washburn to secure a spot in the poll for another week, now at No. 23.
Fort Hays State will have the new ranking tested this week with a pair of tough road games. FHSU faces a red-hot Nebraska-Kearney team in Kearney on Wednesday, then heads to Emporia Saturday for the return match-up with Emporia State.
Fort Hays State (18-3 overall) remains the only school from the MIAA represented in the top 25, with Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern each receiving votes.
Below is the NABC Top 25 Poll for February 4, 2014…
| Team | Record | Points | Pvs |
| 1. Metropolitan State, Colo. (8 first place votes) | 18-1 | 388 | 3 |
| 2. Tarleton State, Texas (6 first place votes) | 18-0 | 385 | 4 |
| 3. East Stroudsburg, Pa. (1 first place vote) | 20-0 | 361 | 6 |
| 4. Drury, Mo. (1 first place vote) | 18-1 | 356 | 5 |
| 5. West Liberty, W.Va. | 17-1 | 323 | 1 |
| 6. Florida Southern | 19-1 | 320 | 2 |
| 7. Lincoln Memorial, Tenn. | 17-1 | 293 | 8 |
| 8. Indianapolis, Ind. | 17-2 | 283 | 10 |
| 9. Indiana, Pa. | 18-2 | 253 | 11 |
| 10. Montevallo, Ala. | 16-2 | 225 | 12 |
| 11. Colorado School of Mines | 17-2 | 221 | 13 |
| 12. Cal State-San Bernardino | 16-2 | 220 | 7 |
| 13. California Baptist | 18-1 | 218 | 14 |
| 14. Delta State, Miss. | 17-2 | 190 | 15 |
| 15. Southern Indiana | 16-3 | 168 | 16 |
| 16. Southern Connecticut State | 18-2 | 143 | 19 |
| 17. South Carolina Aiken | 18-3 | 135 | 9 |
| 18. Cal Poly Pomona | 15-3 | 117 | 23 |
| 19. Seattle Pacific, Wash. | 18-4 | 92 | T20 |
| 20. Wisconsin-Parkside | 17-3 | 87 | 18 |
| 21. Minnesota State | 19-4 | 85 | 22 |
| 22. Lewis, Ill. | 16-3 | 84 | 17 |
| 23. Fort Hays State, Kan. | 18-3 | 53 | 24 |
| 24. GRU Augusta, Ga. | 17-3 | 43 | NR |
| 25. Lake Superior State, Mich. | 19-3 | 39 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Bellarmine (Ky.) 36, Franklin Pierce (N.H.) 16, Walsh (Ohio) 13, Chico State (Calif.) 10, Northwest Missouri State 10, Western Washington 8, Findlay (Ohio) 6, Missouri Southern 6, Dixie State (Utah) 5, Winona State (Minn.) 3, Texas A&M International 2, Barry (Fla.) 1, Dowling (N.Y.) 1. Records are through games of Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014.
FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State re-entered the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 on Tuesday, grabbing 56 votes for the 25th spot after sweeping last week’s action against rivals Emporia State and Washburn at home.
FHSU (15-4, 8-4 MIAA), which had 29 votes in last week’s poll, took down then No. 3 ESU on Thursday (Jan. 30), 72-57, and on Saturday (Feb. 1), defeated WU, 69-62. ESU (now No. 7) joins the Tigers as one of three MIAA teams in the Top 25. The other squad, Central Missouri, fell one spot, from 12th to 13th. Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern are in the receiving votes section of the poll. PSU earned eight points, while MSSU had five points. The Tigers have been in the WBCA Top 25 three times this season, ranking 23rd on Jan. 14, and 24th on Jan. 21.
FHSU travels to Nebraska-Kearney on Feb. 5 (Wednesday) for a 5:30 p.m. contest, and to Emporia, Kan., for a rematch with ESU on Saturday, Feb. 8.
The complete WBCA Top 25 poll is below…
|
Rk
|
Institution – First Place Votes |
Previous
|
Record
|
Points
|
|
1
|
Bentley University (30) |
1
|
20-0
|
798
|
|
2
|
Colorado Mesa (2) |
2
|
19-0
|
763
|
|
3
|
Gannon University |
4
|
20-1
|
712
|
|
4
|
Nova Southeastern |
5
|
17-1
|
697
|
|
5
|
West Texas A&M |
6
|
17-1
|
671
|
|
6
|
Harding University |
8
|
19-1
|
618
|
|
7
|
Emporia State |
3
|
19-2
|
589
|
|
8
|
Wayne State College |
9
|
21-2
|
523
|
|
9
|
Drury University |
7
|
17-2
|
515
|
|
10
|
Glenville State College |
10
|
18-2
|
490
|
|
11
|
Quincy University |
15
|
17-2
|
451
|
|
12
|
Delta State University |
11
|
16-2
|
441
|
|
13
|
Central Missouri |
12
|
16-3
|
416
|
|
14
|
Virginia State University |
14
|
17-1
|
400
|
|
15
|
Rollins College |
13
|
18-3
|
371
|
|
T16
|
Cal State Polytechnic – Pomona |
17
|
15-3
|
265
|
|
T16
|
Lewis University |
20
|
16-3
|
265
|
|
18
|
Wayne State University |
18
|
17-2
|
254
|
|
19
|
University of Indianapolis |
16
|
18-4
|
170
|
|
20
|
North Georgia |
21
|
15-3
|
163
|
|
21
|
Tarleton State |
19
|
15-4
|
162
|
|
22
|
Northern State University |
23
|
17-3
|
146
|
|
23
|
Minnesota State – Mankato |
24
|
15-5
|
76
|
|
24
|
Wingate |
NR
|
15-3
|
60
|
|
25
|
Fort Hays State |
NR
|
15-4
|
56
|
Others Receiving Votes: Edinboro University (Pa.) 47; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 45; University of District of Columbia (DC) 37; Lenoir-Rhyne University (N.C.) 27; Montana State University – Billings 26; California State University – Dominguez Hills 16; Concordia University (Minn.) 12; Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho) 12; Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) 12; Clayton State University (Ga.) 10; Adelphi University (N.Y.) 9; Pittsburg State University (Kan.) 8; Indiana University of Pennsylvania 6; Texas A&M International University 6; Western Washington University 6; Michigan Technological University 5; Missouri Southern State University 5; Saint Edwards University (Texas) 4; Saint Mary’s University (Texas) 4; University of Tampa (Fla.) 4; Georgia College 3; Minot State University (N.D.) 3; Stonehill College (Mass.) 3; Academy of Art University (Calif.) 2; Young Harris College (Ga.) 2; Belmont Abbey College (N.C.) 1; Lee University (Tenn.) 1; Philadelphia University (Pa.) 1; Saint Leo University (Fla.) 1; Simon Fraser University (BC) 1; University of Alaska – Anchorage 1.
MANHATTAN – Kansas Farm Bureau President Steve Baccus on Tuesday welcomed final passage of the farm bill.
“This bill gives Kansas farmers and ranchers the certainty they need,” said Baccus, an Ottawa County grain farmer. “It strengthens crop insurance, helps stockmen who’ve been hammered by natural disasters and improves conservation programs.”
Baccus acknowledged the final bill is not perfect.
“While there are certainly programs or titles for which Kansas Farm Bureau might have selected a different path, the uncertainty and unpredictability surrounding farm programs has become extremely burdensome for our farmers and ranchers and has begun to impede everyday business opportunities,” he said.
“Once the bill becomes law, Kansas Farm Bureau looks forward to working with Congress to ensure Kansas farmers and ranchers can continue to feed, fuel and clothe an ever-growing population and strengthen our rural communities.”
TOPEKA (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback is getting a firsthand look at the state’s efforts to clear highways amid the winter storm that has closed schools and state government offices.
Brownback hopped aboard a Kansas Department of Transportation snowplow Tuesday afternoon to observe snow removal on Interstate 70 west of Topeka.
Forecasters were predicting up to a foot of snow in northeast Kansas. Brownback said his decision on whether to reopen state offices Wednesday will rest partly on whether winds are causing snowdrifts.
Brownback said he rode the KDOT plow to observe snow removal firsthand. He planned to travel about 15 miles on I-70 to the exit for the town of Maple Hill, then return to Topeka for a late-afternoon briefing at the State Emergency Operations Center.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts today voted against final passage of the 2014 Farm Bill conference report because he said it goes backward toward protectionist subsidy programs, instead of forward with innovative and responsible solutions for producers and the taxpayer. The report was approved by the Senate with a vote of 68-32 and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
Monday night, Roberts again spoke on the Senate floor regarding his concerns with the conference report, especially for Kansas farmers and ranchers.
The following is text of Senator Roberts’ remarks from his floor speech Monday as prepared for delivery:
I am here today to go beyond my philosophical concerns with the direction of the legislation and will instead focus on how the 2014 farm bill will negatively impact agriculture in Kansas, my home state.
Remember, the Farm Bill is not a simple reauthorization or continuation of our nation’s farm and food programs. We have already done that once with a one year extension of the 2008 bill.
Instead, the legislation before us should be a whole sale rewrite of the programs and policies at the Department of Agriculture.
When this bill is signed into law by the President and fully implemented, producers will have to make choices among new safety net programs, new regulations, and rules.
Some of these choices will happen only once and will be irrevocable – they cannot change – for the next five years.
We owe it to these farmers, ranchers – small businesses owners – as well as the next generation of producers, to get this legislation right.
Unfortunately, I believe that Congress has missed the mark, and that the conference report goes backwards towards protectionist subsidy programs, instead of forward with innovative and responsible solutions.
I am not alone in that assessment, as reported by the Kansas City Star on Friday, January 31st – “All four Kansas House members voted no — on what is arguably the single most important piece of federal legislation in Kansas.”
That should grab everyone in America’s attention – the entire House delegation from the wheat state – was united in opposing this version of the farm bill.
It is not that we do not appreciate agriculture or the producers and their families in our state, it is entirely the opposite – we care so much that after three years of work we will not settle for supporting backwards legislation “just to get something done.”
I call it a look in the rear view mirror.
I understand that compromises were made, but I cannot support a bill that marches backwards towards producers making decisions based off of government subsidies, retaliation against our livestock producers, and once again agriculture taking a disproportionate cut in spending compared to federal nutrition programs.
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Hays Police are investigating a break-in to the Reed Center — a facility that provides training and educational classes for the developmentally disabled.
According to Lt. Brandon Wright, employees at the Reed Center, which is located at 317 W. 13th and operated by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, called police at approximately 8 a.m. Tuesday when they arrived at work to see the sliding glass doors of the entrance wide open.
Wright said there were a few scratches to the door, and it appeared someone had pried the doors open.
According to Wright, the incident is under investigation, but so far it looks as if the only item taken was food stored in a freezer.
Wright also said according to the building’s surveillance systems, the cameras were triggered at 9:11 p.m. Monday. Investigators are examining the footage.
Meanwhile, Steve Keil, DSNWK director of development, is thankful the incident happened after hours.
“Fortunately, no one was in the building, no-one was hurt and there was no damage,” he said.
Wright encourages anyone with information to call the HPD at (785) 625-1030.
The Big First Tea Party will host Dr. Milton Wolf, a radiologist who is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts. Sen. Roberts, who is a Marine who has an excellent conservative voting record for the people of Kansas almost equal to Congressman Tim Huelskamp, is being challenged by Dr Wolf, who has no record to defend.
Wolf is telling people he is more conservative than Sen. Roberts. Many candidates tell potential voters how they will change Washington, but once the party bosses and the lobbyists tell them how to vote they fall in line. This has been true for all but a few as a newly elected politician has to learn the ropes especially one who has no political experience. Possible the rarest thing in Washington is a “backbone.” The Big First Tea Party has given any candidate who is running for any important political office the opportunity to be heard.
Even Huelskamp, the man with a proven record of having a conservative “backbone,” will have a primary challenge by several people. The difference between Huelskamp and Wolf is that Huelskamp had many years experience in the Kansas Legislature and that experience has served him well. He knew the legislative process and had years of experience with party bosses and lobbyists. Newly elected candidates want to compromise. Normally to compromise the candidate has to compromise his conservative principles.
For example, a candidate just announced that he would challenge Huelskamp by the name of Mr. LaPolice. LaPolice says he is a conservative but knocks Huelskamp for not compromising. When the bill to be voted on is so outrageously liberal and the other side will not compromise, the true conservative with a “backbone” votes no. Mr. LaPolice said he supports the farm bill that is not really a farm bill but a welfare bill that will cost almost $1 trillion — of which, $800 billion goes for welfare.
Could it be that some people want to be elected to the U.S. Congress because after serving several years in Congress they receive $175,000 pension a year for life?
I doubt we could find two more patriotic men as Roberts and Huelskamp working for Kansas.
Come join us on Tuesday, February 11th, at 6:30 PM, at Thirsty’s, 2704 Vine, Hays. Come and ask questions of Dr. Wolf. See for yourself if he is a candidate who is all “rhetoric or if he has a backbone”
Roger Ewing, Hays
City of Hays staff is recommending a special-use permit for a series of storage facilities at 501 Vine be denied.
The Hays Area Board of Zoning Appeals will discuss the proposal at a meeting at 8:15 a.m. Feb. 12 at City Hall.
The applicant, James Wacker, proposed multiple storage units be allowed on the property — buildings ranging in size from 280-by-30 feet to 400-by-30 feet. Approximately 154 storage units would be contained in the buildings.
City staff is recommending the zoning board turn away the proposal, according to the board meeting packet, because of several factors that don’t conform with city regulations.
The city considers the area a “gateway” to the community, the staff wrote, and storage units would be considered an inappropriate use of that land, noting no architectural drawings or design criteria was submitted with the proposal. The proper also is in the 100-year floodplain, and the staff said development of the land is “tricky and limited at best.”
For additional information on the proposed project and other agenda items, view the board packet HERE.
ATLANTA (AP) — A new report shows fewer children are dying in traffic accidents, and officials say that’s because more young kids are buckled up.
Over a decade, the number of children 12 and younger who died in crashes dropped by 43 percent. Health officials say increased use of car seats and booster seats drove the decline.
Still, a third of the 650 children who died in 2011 were not buckled up. That was the case in almost half of the black and Hispanic deaths compared to a quarter of white deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the report Tuesday.
The campus of Fort Hays State University, including the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, will close at 1 p.m. Tuesday due to inclement weather.
The Sebelius Lecture Series appearance by Karl Rove that was scheduled for tonight will be rescheduled for a later date. Tickets will be honored at that time.
The campus will be open and classes will resume Wednesday morning unless there is an announcement to the contrary early tomorrow.
At 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty declared the city of Hays to be under a “Phase One” winter storm traffic emergency, meaning it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any street designated as an emergency snow route.
The Hays Public Works Department and Hays Police Department are requesting the public’s assistance with snow removal along emergency snow routes. Residents are asked to take the appropriate measures and move vehicles from the snow route. Vehicles left on snow routes could be cited or towed at the owner’s expense.
The traffic emergency will remain in effect until further notice.
Since winter precipitation continues to fall and conditions are expected to worsen through the day, the Hays Police Department is asking that motorists avoid travel if at all possible. Those who must travel are advised to do so with caution and are encouraged to give themselves extra time to reach their destination. Please remember to drive slow, pay attention to vehicles in front of you, and allow for extra stopping distance.
The public’s cooperation is greatly appreciated. If there are questions, contact that Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1011 or the Hays Public Works Department at (785) 628-7350.
• • •
At this morning’s press briefing at City Hall, Public Works Director ID Creech and Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said the city is making calls to get the vehicles removed from the snow routes.
Scheibler said there had been several minor vehicle accidents as of late Monday morning.
Check Hays Post for continued updates on the weather situation.
Lawrence (AP) — An autopsy indicates that a 23-year-old University of Kansas student died last December from a fall after he had been drinking.
The autopsy released Tuesday said Gianfranco Villagomez-Saldana suffered skull fractures, bruising on the brain and broken ribs that suggested he fell on a hard surface.
Coroner Erik Mitchell says the death was an accident.
Villagomez-Saldana, from Lima, Peru, was found dead on Dec. 9, two days after he was seen leaving a party. The autopsy concluded he died Dec. 7.
His body was frozen when it was found but the coroner ruled he did not die from the cold. His blood alcohol level was 0.18 percent. No drugs were found in his system.
