May 2014 – Page 61 – Hays Post Archive

USD 489 offers updates on transportation and fees for 2014-15

Posted on May 13, 2014May 13, 2014

Submitted by Hays USD 489

Beginning July 1, Hays USD 489 will be increasing fees for the 2014-15 school year. At Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, the board took action to set the fees for the upcoming school year, so that patrons could begin to plan accordingly.

The consensus of the Board, after Monday night’s action to increase fees, is to reduce the fee schedule should the Local Option Budget pass on June 27. The board stressed that the basis for these increases is to support the main goal of reducing class sizes kindergarten to sixth grade.

What you can plan for the 2014-15 school year:

• Transportation: The Board of Education approved the following transportation plan: To discontinue transportation within a 2.5 radius of the student’s attendance center and continue to transport students city and rural routes over 2.5 miles from their attendance center. There will also be a change in the mileage reimbursement rate from 56 cents per mile to 17.5 cents per mile.

• Workbook/materials fee: The Board of Education approved a workbook/materials fee increase from $100 to $160 per student, for the 2014-15 school year only.

• Activity fee: The Board of Education approved an activity fee increase of $50 per student for sixth through 12th grades, for the 2014-15 school year only. The change would result in an increase in the activity fee for Hays High students from $16 to $66 and Hays Middle School students from $12 to $62.

• Kindergarten fee: The Board of Education approved a fee of $150 per kindergarten student; with a reduced fee of $75 per student for families that qualify for reduced lunch and no fee for families that qualify for free lunch under the qualifications set forth by the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch program. The kindergarten fee will be applied until future action by the Board of Education.

Ellis Co. Catholic schools will meet for second planning session today

Posted on May 13, 2014May 13, 2014

The second strategic planning reporting meeting for Ellis County Catholic Schools will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Holy Family Elementary School gymnasium, 1800 Milner.

During the meeting, Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger of the Salina Diocese will address key points in an April 11 letter outlining long-range plans for Catholic education in Hays. The initial planning meeting was earlier this spring.

Among the upcoming issues is the hiring of a new principal for Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior/Senior High School for the 2015-16 school year.

Kathy Taylor has served as TMP principal since just after the end of the 2012-13 school year after the departure of former principal Bill DeWitt.

TMP spokesman Jeff Brull said DeWitt’s departure came at an unfortunate time to conduct a principal search, noting Taylor “graciously” stepped in to fill the void. She has, however, made it known that she will be departing the school at the end of the 2014-15 school year, Brull said.

A search for her replacement will begin this summer, according to a letter written by Weisenburger.

The residence program also will face changes, whether in the form of building improvements, host families or an end to the program. Facilities require approximately $1.3 million in “badly needed” repairs at residence halls.

“If $1.3 million can be raised immediately for the repairs and upgrades of the residence halls, then the program will be retained. An alternative option is to have a substantial number of host families come forward to offer to care for international students in their homes,” Weisenburger wrote. “Barring one of these two decisions by the local community, the residence program will come to a close in May of 2015.”

Another facilities concern is the former Kennedy Middle School, closed by Hays USD 489 at the end of the 2011-12 school year. The following year, junior high was added to TMP, costing approximately $700,000 to implement.

Catholic schools officials have estimated it would cost an additional $750,000 to operate Kennedy as a separate school site, not including significant capital improvements necessary to upgrade the existing building to standards.

“After careful fiscal study, it became unquestionably clear that a third site would cause us to go deeply into negative spending. In short, it would be irresponsible for school leadership under my authority to open a third campus for our local Catholic schools,” Weisenburger wrote. “For this reason the Catholic schools in Hays will remain in the two campus model.”

The bishop did, however, note that positive enrollment trends could lead to construction at one of the other two campuses — TMP and Holy Family Elementary.

Brull said the gymnasium and other parts of the former school remain in use by students. While the Salina Diocese owns the building, it is under the direct control of the St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish.

Read Weisenburger’s letter on strategic planning HERE.

European court: Google must delete some search results

Posted on May 13, 2014

AMSTERDAM (AP) — A European court has ruled that Google must amend some search results at the request of ordinary people when they show links to outdated, irrelevant information, in an important test of the so-called “right to be forgotten.”

In an advisory judgment stemming from a Spanish case, The Court of Justice of the European Union said that Google has control of individuals’ private data, given that it sometimes compiles and presents links to it in a systematic way.

Google had argued that it doesn’t control personal data, it just offers links to information already freely and legally available on the internet.

The court said users may approach Google to request links to personal data be removed under some circumstances.

KHAZ Country Music News: Scotty McCreery to Sing on Idol

Posted on May 13, 2014September 16, 2014

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Scotty McCreery returns to “American Idol” this week. He will perform his new song, “Feelin’ It,” on Thursday’s results show.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

Reporter who covered Affordable Care Act debate coming to Kanas

Posted on May 13, 2014

By Jim McLean

Sarah Kliff, national health reporter for Vox.com- photo KHI News

KHI News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A national reporter who covered the congressional debate on the Affordable Care Act and its up-and-down rollout is coming to Kansas to share her observations.

Sarah Kliff, who covered health issues for Politico and the Washington Post before moving recently to Vox.com, is scheduled to speak at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Wichita as part of the Sunflower Foundation’s Advocacy in Health Speaker Series.
The event, scheduled for the Hotel at Old Town, is free and open to the public. However, because space is limited, the foundation is asking that people interested in attending register online.

After her remarks, Kliff will answer questions from a panel of Kansas health care experts and from members of the audience. Kevin Strecker, senior administrator for Via Christi Hospital on St. Teresa, Cathy Harding, executive director of the Kansas Association of Medically Underserved, and Linda Sheppard, director of health care policy and analysis at the Kansas Insurance Department, are scheduled to participate on the panel.

With the first enrollment period over and more than 8 million Americans signed up for health coverage, the next big test for the health reform law will be whether people are satisfied with their coverage, Kliff said.

That’s an open question because most Americans who purchased coverage through federal and state Obamacare exchanges selected plans that require relatively high out-of-pocket costs in the form of deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance.

“So, I think there is the potential for a lot of confusion and a lot of surprises from people who thought, ‘Hey, I have health insurance. How did I end up spending $5,000 out-of-pocket?’” Kliff said.

If there are “a lot of horror stories,” she said, opponents of the ACA likely will use them to continue their attempts to undermine if not repeal the law. However, if people are generally satisfied with their coverage, it could take some steam out of the anti-Obamacare movement, Kliff said.

“It (the movement) could face some challenges if people realize they like the health insurance that they have gained,” she said.

Prior to the public event, Kliff will speak to participants in the Sunflower Advocacy Fellowship program.

Facing leadership change at airport, city will discuss terminal, funding

Posted on May 13, 2014May 13, 2014

Hays Regional Airport is expected to be the topic of considerable discussion when the Hays City Commission meets in work session Thursday.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, one hour earlier than usual.

The city will discuss both an airport terminal renovation project and future funding sources for the airport — and this as a change of administration is occurring at the facility.

Airport Manager Bob Johnson submitted his resignation to the city Friday, according to Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, who said the city will seek to fill that position in the near future.

One bid for a renovation of the airport terminal renovation was received late last month. the bid of just less than $1.2 million from Paul Wertenberger Construction, Hays, comes in slightly lower than estimates, according to a memo to commissioners from I.D. Creech, Hays public works director.

The Federal Aviation Administration would fund approximately $918,000 of the project, with the city’s matching funds estimated at approximately $466,000.

The terminal, constructed in 1991, has a number of leaks in the roof, and Creech said problems are beginning to mount with the ventilation systems.

Larger planes scheduled to fly out of the airport in August will increase the need for larger security screening and holding areas, as well, which would be factored into the renovation.

The commission also will hear from Creech on future funding of the airport, which staff has determined will not be sufficient in the future without changes.

Projected operating budgets for the airport range from $362,000 in 2015 to $382,000 in 2020, with a capital budget from $218,000 in 2015 to $520,000 in 2020.

Options on the table include a passenger charge, slight increase in lease fees and an increase in fuel charges, Creech said in a memo to commissioners. A discussion of the city’s mill levy and how it is used to fund airport operations also is included in the memo.

A complete agenda for Thursday’s meeting can be seen HERE.

Changes at the top: Benjamin resigns as NCK Tech’s Hays dean

Posted on May 13, 2014May 13, 2014

In a news release issued Tuesday, North Central Kansas Technical College announced the resignations of the dean of its Hays campus and dean of student services.

Don Benjamin, former Hays dean, submitted his resignation to the board at the NCK Tech board’s meeting Monday in Beloit.

Sandra Gottschalk, Hays campus nursing program department chairwoman, was appointed interim dean of the Hays campus.

“NCK Tech is a recognized leader in technical education and workforce development within the state of Kansas and we will continue to focus on the quality of our training and our commitment to excellence,” said NCK Tech President Eric Burks.

David Hughes, former dean of student services, also submitted his resignation to the NCK Tech board on Monday.

The search for replacements for the dean of the Hays campus and the dean of student services will begin immediately.

Saline County lifts burn ban

Posted on May 13, 2014

SALINA — The Saline County Commission has lifted the ban on open burning in the county. The commission imposed the ban on March 18 due to the extremely dry conditions.

Rainfall from one to 2 inches fell in Saline County from Sunday into early Monday easing the danger of open fires getting out of control.

A burn permit is required for burning for pastures and fires, and can be obtained from the Saline County Emergency Management Office or at saline.org.

30 arrests made in warrant sweep in Saline County

Posted on May 13, 2014May 13, 2014

SALINA — Law enforcement conducted a warrant sweep Monday in Salina and Saline County, making 30 arrests and clearing 46 outstanding warrants.

The sweep involved 27 officers from the Salina Police Department, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Department of Corrections and the Kansas Parole Task Force.

SPD Officer Brent Rupert said cleared were warrants from Salina Municipal Court, Saline County District Court, county warrants and a state warrant. The warrants ranged from obstruction, parole violation, state absconder and failure to appear.

Rupert said four warrants were paid in full, and several more were scheduled to be addressed Tuesday morning in municipal court.

KU releases non-conference basketball schedule

Posted on May 13, 2014

Kansas Athletics

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Known for its schedule strength, Kansas men’s basketball will face traditional powers Kentucky, Florida, Georgetown, Utah, Temple and UNLV with the potential to meet up with the likes of Michigan State, Tennessee, Marquette, Georgia Tech and Rhode Island, making the 2014-15 non-conference schedule another difficult slate for the Jayhawks.

There is no doubt Kansas’ 2013-14 men’s basketball schedule was the toughest in the nation and KU’s 2014-15 non-conference schedule potentially includes six opponents who advanced to the 2014 postseason (four NCAA and two NIT). Add in the Big 12’s round-robin format and KU could play as many as 16 games versus 2014 NCAA Tournament teams and four against 2014 NIT squads.

“Obviously, next year’s non-conference will be very challenging,” head coach Bill Self said. “We always play a good schedule, but this past year was rated by many to be about as tough of a non-conference schedule that a team has played in years. Certainly, next year’s schedule will be one of the better non-conference schedules that anyone in America plays, as well. When you think about two teams that were in the Final Four last year with Kentucky and Florida, then you throw in the Orlando Classic, which is loaded, including Michigan State, then on the road at Georgetown and Temple along with other tough non-conference contests like Utah and UNLV, all of those will certainly prepare our guys to make another strong push at a conference championship.”

Along with the non-conference schedule unveiling, Kansas also announced the beloved tradition that kicks it all off. Late Night in the Phog will be held on Oct. 10.

The 2014-15 non-conference slate, paired with its home-and-home meetings against league foes, will help keep Kansas’ strength of schedule among the nation’s best. In KU head coach Bill Self’s 11 seasons in Lawrence, the Jayhawks’ strength of schedule has ranked 10^th or higher six times, including four of the last five years dating back to 2009-10.

Strength of schedule is a factor in the RPI, one of the tools the NCAA Basketball Committee uses to select and seed teams in the NCAA Tournament. Kansas’ RPI has checked in at No. 5 or better each of the last five seasons, including No. 1 in 2010 and 2011. The Jayhawks ended 2013-14 at No. 4 in the final RPI.

Kansas will play 2014 NCAA runner-up Kentucky Nov. 18 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in the fourth Champions Classic. KU and UK last met in the Champions Classic in 2011 in Madison Square Garden in what was an early preview to the 2012 NCAA Championship game at the Final Four in New Orleans. This historic contest pits the two winningest teams in college basketball history with Kentucky at 2,140 wins and Kansas at 2,126 victories.

Kansas will open the regular season playing host to UC Santa Barbara on Nov. 14 as historic Allen Fieldhouse enters its 60^th season. The Gauchos feature the 2013-14 NCAA rebound leader in senior Alan Williams who averaged 11.5 boards per game as a junior.

Kansas will make its first appearance in the Orlando Classic in Orlando, Florida, Nov. 27-30. The brackets have yet to be set, but the eight confirmed teams participating in the event include: Kansas, Michigan State, Tennessee, Marquette, Georgia Tech, Rhodes Island, Santa Clara and Rider. Kansas will host Rider on Nov. 24 in an early Orlando Classic matchup.

Non-Conference Opponent Breakdown
–UC Santa Barbara (Nov. 14 in Lawrence) improved 10 wins from the 2012-13 season by going 21-9 and finishing second in the Big West with a 12-4 league record in 2013-14. In 16 seasons as head coach at UCSB, Bob Williams has guided the Gauchos to 20-plus victories 11 times. Senior forward Alan Williams lead the NCAA with an 11.5 rpg in 2013-14. Kansas won the only meeting with UCSB, 72-52, in the opening round of the Wolf Pack Holiday Classic, Dec. 20, in Reno, Nevada, in Bill Self’s first season at Kansas.

–Kentucky (Nov. 18 in Indianapolis at the Champions Classic) finished runner-up to Connecticut in the 2014 NCAA title game in Dallas, posting a 29-11 overall record. The Wildcats tied Georgia for second in the Southeastern Conference with a 12-6 record and finished runner-up in the SEC Tournament to Florida, KU’s Dec. 5 foe in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. After a Kansas three-game win streak versus Kentucky, the Wildcats have won the last two meetings, both during the 2011-12 season: 75-65 in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden and 67-59 in the NCAA Championship game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

–Rider (Nov. 24 in Lawrence, Orlando Classic) went 14-17 in 2013-14 and tied for sixth in theMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 9-11 record. The Broncs are coached by Kevin Baggett, who led Rider to a 19-15 record in 2012-13, his first season at Rider. Kansas is 2-0 versus Rider with both games in Allen Fieldhouse: 110-72 on Dec. 12, 1987, and 103-51 on Dec. 15, 1990.

–Pairings for the Orlando Classic (Nov. 27, 28 and 30) have not been announced. Joining Kansas in the eight-team field is Michigan State (MSU leads the series 6-4 and has won the last three meetings with the previous 67-64 in Atlanta in the 2012 Champions Classic); Tennessee (series is tied at 1-1 with UT winning the last meeting 76-68 on Jan. 10, 2010, in Knoxville); Marquette (KU leads 6-1 and has won the last three meetings. The previous matchup was in the 2003 Final Four, a KU 94-61 victory in New Orleans); Georgia Tech (KU leads 5-1 with the last meeting a 71-66 Jayhawk win in Atlanta on Dec. 18, 2007, during KU’s 2008 NCAA National Championship season); Rhode Island (KU leads 2-1, including an 80-69 win on Dec. 30, 2006, in Allen Fieldhouse in the last matchup); Santa Clara (KU leads 5-0 with the last meeting a 99-73 KU victory on Nov. 14, 1997, in Allen Fieldhouse) and Rider, who Kansas will play Nov. 24 in Lawrence.

–Florida (Dec. 5 in Lawrence) will face Kansas in the second SEC/Big 12 Challenge with this year’s meeting in Allen Fieldhouse. The Gators went 36-3 in 2013-14, posted a perfect 18-0 in winning the SEC regular-season title, won the SEC Tournament and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. Kansas leads the overall series with Florida 3-2 with three of the five meetings being top-10 nationally-ranked contests. Last year Florida defeated Kansas, 67-61, in Gainesville.

–Georgetown (Dec. 10 in Washington, D.C.) finished the 2013-14 season with an 18-15 record advancing to the second round of the NIT. The Hoyas were 8-10 in the BIG EAST, placing seventh. Kansas has a 2-1 series edge against Georgetown after last year’s 86-64 win on Dec. 21 in Allen Fieldhouse. A traditional power, Georgetown won the first meeting, 70-57, in the 1987 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in Louisville, Ky., and Kansas edged GU, 67-63, in the opening round of the 2011 Maui Invitational.

–Utah (Dec. 13 at Sprint Center in Kansas City) went 21-12 and finished tied for eighth in the Pac-12. The Utes fell to St. Mary’s in the first round of the 2014 NIT. It was Utah’s first postseason appearance under third-year head coach Larry Krystkowiak. Kansas won the only meeting with Utah, 79-68, on Nov. 25, 1995, at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, in The Classic.

–Lafayette (Dec. 20 in Lawrence) is located in Easton, Pennsylvania, and the Leopards went 11-20 overall and tied for seventh in the Patriot League with a 6-12 record. Lafayette head coach Fran O’Hanlon will be entering his 20^th season on the Leopards’ sidelines. O’Hanlon has guided Lafayette to three conference titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances. The Jayhawks and the Leopards have yet to face each other in men’s basketball.

–Temple (Dec. 22 in Philadelphia) is looking to rebound from a 9-22 season in 2013-14 where the Owls tied for eighth in the American Athletic Conference with a 4-14 league record. In his eight seasons at Temple, head coach Fran Dunphy has guided the Owls to three Atlantic 10 titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances. Kansas has won the last three meetings with Temple and leads the overall series 8-3. The Jayhawks defeated the Owls, 69-62, on Jan. 6, 2013, in Allen Fieldhouse in their last meeting.

–Kent State (Dec. 30 in Lawrence) went 16-16 last season, including a 7-11 record which ended the Golden Flashes fifth in the Mid-American Conference East standings. Kent State head coachRob Senderoff has guided the Golden Flashes to two 20-win seasons and postseason appearances in his three years at Kent State.

–UNLV (Jan. 4 in Lawrence) went 20-13 in 2013-14 and finished tied for third in the Mountain West Conference with a 10-8 record. In head coach David Rice’s first two seasons at UNLV, the Running Rebels advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances going 26-9 in 2011-12 and 25-10 in 2012-13. Kansas has won all four meetings with UNLV with the last being in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a KU 75-56 win in Omaha on March 22, 2008, en route to its NCAA National Championship.

Kansas will open the 2014-15 season with home exhibition games against Washburn (Nov. 4) and Emporia State (Nov. 11).

For the third-straight year, KU will have home-and-home meetings against all nine Big 12 Conference foes. Besides Kansas, other conference teams that participated in the 2014 NCAA Tournament included Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas. West Virginia played in the 2014 NIT. The Big 12 traditionally releases that schedule in July.

2014-15 Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Date               Day                 Opponent                                          Location
Nov. 4          Tuesday        Washburn (Exh.)                          Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 11         Tuesday        Emporia State (Exh.)                    Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 14         Friday           UC Santa Barbara                        Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 18         Tuesday        Kentucky (Champions Classic)        Indianapolis, Ind.
Nov. 24         Monday         Rider (Orlando Classic)                  Lawrence, Kan.
Nov. 27         Thursday       TBA (Orlando Classic)                   Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 28         Friday           Semifinals (Orlando Classic)           Orlando, Fla.
Nov. 30         Sunday         Championship (Orlando Classic)      Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 5           Friday           Florida (SEC/Big 12 Challenge)        Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 10         Wednesday    at Georgetown                            Washington, D.C.
Dec. 13         Saturday       Utah (Sprint Center)                     Kansas City, Mo.
Dec. 20         Saturday       Lafayette                                   Lawrence, Kan.
Dec. 22         Monday         at Temple                                   Philadelphia, Pa.
Dec. 30         Tuesday        Kent State                                  Lawrence, Kan.
Jan. 4           Sunday         UNLV                                         Lawrence, Kan.

GM recall reveals gaps in air bag knowledge

Posted on May 13, 2014

(AP) General Motors’ recent recall of 2.6 million small cars has exposed gaps in the government’s knowledge about air bags — and could lead to more regulations.

Thirteen people have died in crashes involving older GM cars with defective ignition switches. In each of those crashes, the air bags failed to deploy after the engine stalled.

Federal safety regulators told Congress last month they believed the cars’ air bags should have worked for up to 60 seconds.

But GM tells The Associated Press that the cars only had enough reserve power to sense a crash and deploy the air bags for a fraction of a second.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency says it’s now contacting automakers and suppliers to find out how their air bags would function in similar situations.

Monarch girls’ soccer defeats Word of Life

Posted on May 13, 2014

The TMP-Marian girls’ soccer team ran their non-loss streak to five games Monday with a 7-1 win at Wichita Word of Life. The win improves the Monarchs to 6-2-1 on the year.

TMP jumped out early, scoring six goals in the first half from five different players. Bailey Hageman and Rachel Hamel both scored two goals each. The others goals came from Kelsey Dewitt, Annika Applequist, and Megan Koenigsman.

The Monarchs wrap up their regular season Thursday at Wichita North.

Five FHSU women earn USTFCCCA All-Region Honors

Posted on May 13, 2014May 13, 2014

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State had five women earn United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association All-Central Region honors for the 2014 outdoor season. The individuals include Samantha Woodburn, Madision Wolf, Lexi Riedel, Whitney Taylor and Mindy Wilson. To earn the distinction, the athletes must be among the top five performers in an event within their region.Woodburn earned the honor for three different events, including the 100 meters, 200 meters, and the 4×100-meter relay team. She is currently 12th on the national performance list in the 200 (23.95 seconds) and 14th in the 100 (11.71 seconds), events in which she also earned All-MIAA honors. She anchors the 4×100-meter relay team, which is the event in which Lexi Riedel, Whitney Taylor and Mindy Wilson join her for the honor. The team ran its fastest time of 46.60 seconds at the MIAA Championships to finish second and earn All-MIAA honors.Just a freshman, Wolf was the MIAA Champion in the javelin and currently ranks ninth on the national performance list. She has punched her ticket to competing at the NCAA Championships later this month. Her best effort this year of 155′ 1″ earned her the conference title earlier this month.