A Hays restaurant will be donating a portion of their sales Wednesday to help a good cause — United Way of Ellis County.
The Golden Q’s Dine-Out Day will be Wednesday at the restaurant, 809 Ash.
Click the video for more on the annual United Way of Ellis County fundraising campaign.
BURLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — Federal regulators plan to meet with Wolf Creek nuclear plant officials next month to discuss long-standing design issues with the cooling system at the eastern Kansas facility.
The meeting is scheduled Oct. 2 at the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions’ office in Arlington, Texas. The public will be allowed to ask questions, and can phone in to participate.
The NRC says in a news release that Wolf Creek’s cooling system draws water from Coffey County Lake, pumps it to the plant’s systems for cooling and then returns it to the lake. That water does not contact any radioactive steam or water.
At issue are problems with corrosion and pressure surges in the system’s pipes. Federal regulators want to hear about plans for design modifications.
HIAWATHA, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas woman has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for the beating death of her boyfriend’s 4-year-old son.
KNZA-FM reports 30-year-old Janice Summerford, of Hiawatha, was sentenced Monday in Brown County District Court.
Mekhi Boone died in March 2013, two days after he was taken unresponsive to a hospital. His father, Lee Davis IV, is serving nearly 20 years for second-degree murder and felony child abuse.
Prosecutors said Summerford was the father’s live-in girlfriend and the little boy’s primary caregiver. She entered Alford pleas last month to second-degree murder, child abuse and interfering with law enforcement.
An Alford plea does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors can likely prove the charge.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A group of dissident former Republican legislators has endorsed Democrat Jean Schodorf in her campaign against Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach.
Schodorf had a news conference Tuesday outside the Statehouse to publicize her endorsement by Traditional Republicans for Common Sense.
Schodorf is a former moderate GOP state senator from Wichita who switched parties after losing her seat to a conservative challenger in 2012. She was among the founding members of Traditional Republicans for Common Sense but no longer belongs to it.
The group has also endorsed independent candidate Greg Orman for U.S. Senate, and many of its members back Democrat Paul Davis for governor.
Kobach said the group’s move isn’t surprising and said it is as little a Republican group as he is a Democrat.
Sunflower Media Release
Kansas-based Sunflower Financial, Inc. (“Sunflower”) and Colorado-based First Western Financial, Inc. (“First Western”) today jointly announced the signing of a definitive agreement to merge.
The pro forma combined company will have approximately $2.5b in banking assets and approximately $5.5b in trust and investment assets under management. The transaction creates a strong, focused regional institution with a unique private bank that will initially serve six states. The transaction partners a well-established and well-capitalized bank in Sunflower with a growth-oriented private bank and wealth management platform in First Western. The combined company’s fee income business will contribute approximately 40% of the pro forma company’s revenues. The combined banking footprint will include 45 offices in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Arizona and California.
Mollie Hale Carter, Chairman and CEO of Sunflower, will serve as Executive Chairman of the holding company. Scott Wylie, Chairman and CEO of First Western, will be the Chairman and CEO of the combined bank and investment management subsidiary, as well as CEO and President of the holding company. The combined board of directors will be made up of select legacy Sunflower directors, select legacy First Western directors, and new directors appropriate for the new institution’s strategic focus and direction.
Financial terms of the merger were not disclosed. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of both Sunflower and First Western and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval and other customary conditions.
Mollie Hale Carter stated, “This is an exciting transaction for our associates, our clients and shareholders. We believe the expanded wealth management expertise of First Western as well as the additional growth opportunities in our adjacent markets will provide a meaningful path to our success for years to come.” Scott Wylie added, “The strength and history of a 122 year old bank will significantly add to the breadth and depth of support that we can provide to our clients. Our markets are similar in many ways and the combined footprint makes a lot of sense for our platform.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Kansas man has been sentenced in Missouri to more than seven years in federal prison for his role in a $2.7 million mortgage fraud scheme.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says 49-year-old Terrence Matthew Brown must also pay $1.2 million in restitution under the sentence he received Tuesday in federal court.
Brown, formerly of Wichita and now living in Texas, was convicted earlier in a conspiracy that defrauded lenders in 10 loans for five properties in western Missouri and northeast Kansas.
Prosecutors said the conspirators obtained loans with false information on applications and other documents. Brown bought homes at inflated prices and received more than $200,000 in kickbacks from the excess loan proceeds.
All of the loans went into default and the properties were foreclosed.
DRESDEN — A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 2:30 a.m. Tuesday in Decatur County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Kenworth semi driven by Clay W. Johnson, 38, Colby, was westbound on Kansas 9 seven miles southeast of Dresden. The truck left the roadway, entered into the south ditch and hit a concrete bridge embankment.
Johnson was transported to the Sheridan County Health Complex.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Johnson was properly restrained at the time of the accident.
CANDICE CHOI, AP Food Industry Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Coke, Pepsi and Dr Pepper say they’ll work to reduce the calories Americans get from beverages by 20 percent over the next decade by more aggressively marketing smaller sizes, bottled water and diet drinks.
The announcement was made at the Clinton Global Initiative Tuesday and comes as the country’s three biggest soda makers face public pressure over the role of sugary drinks in fueling obesity.
In many ways, the commitment follows the way customers’ tastes are already changing. People have been moving away from soda on their own for several years because of concerns about sugar. But the industry group says the new commitment will accelerate the calorie-cutting.
Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says the announcement shows “the industry is seeing the writing on the wall.”
ATCHINSON, — Benedictine College has announced its May 2014 graduates.
Andrew Allen of Hays earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Accounting.
Darren Wellbrock of Hay earned a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison.
One in four. What would you do if I told you since this time last year one in four women experienced domestic violence? Ignore it? Be outraged? Offer help?
I have had the privilege of serving on the boards of domestic violence/sexual assault organizations in our state over the last several years. I’m not a victim. Fortunately, I was raised in a great family. I never thought about domestic violence or sexual assault as a problem until about 20 years ago a staff member told me about a young boy, living in a nice rural Kansas community, who drew her a picture so that she would remember what he looked like after his father killed him. Even though that story struck a nerve, I stayed silent, reluctant to get involved. Years later, I finally decided I had a voice and I wanted to do something to end this violence.
Too often we ignore that bruise on someone’s face or that timid, almost scared, posture of a co-worker, relative or friend. After all it’s not happening to us and it may mean having an uncomfortable conversation about personal issues. We convince ourselves it will go away or that it’s not as bad as we might imagine. Domestic violence and sexual assault are never all right. It’s a person breaking someone’s nose, burning them with cigarettes, raping or threatening them with greater violence. It’s ugly and it has to stop now.
What an education I have received from dedicated people in our state who are focused on eliminating this oftentimes silent scourge! They are the ones who make sure emergency shelters are open so that at 2 a.m. a victim has somewhere to go. Or they provide training for medical personnel when responding to a rape victim. Currently, I am president of the board for the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, which is an organization supporting 29 individual programs across our state that provide support, shelter and a voice for those abused and assaulted. From Garden City to Kansas City, Pittsburg to Hays, these programs are literally a lifeline for victims.
Domestic violence and sexual assault have been with us long before the current issues in the NFL. It has been an issue for far too long. What can you do? First, learn about your local program by going to the KCSDV website (www.kcsdv.org) to find out where the closest program is and how you can support them and the coalition. Then add your voice to a growing number of Kansans saying, “Not in my home, not in my business, not in my city, not in my state, NOT EVER will I accept violence.” The coalition and the local programs need your voice added to theirs, whether volunteering time, donating a few dollars or just speaking to colleagues that this violence must stop now!
Mark Twain said, “The two most important days of your life are when you were born and when you find out why.” I suggest the “why” is to raise your voice for those who can’t… the abused, the raped and those who have died. I urge you to join me and many others across Kansas to speak up and say “Not now! Not ever!”
Mark Schreiber is president of the board of directors at the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence.
Ronald L. Pfannenstiel, 65, Hays, died Friday, September 19, 2014 at his home.
He was born February 7, 1949, in Hays the son of Ted and Rosie (Kisner) Pfannenstiel. On June 12, 1982, he married Lynette Bickle.
He was a middle school teacher for many years in Burrton, Kansas, where he also coached football and basketball. He also sold Knights of Columbus Insurance for many years and later sold insurance and investments for Lincoln Investments.
He was a graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy, and received his BS and MS degrees in education from Fort Hays State University. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, the Third Degree Council #1325 Knights of Columbus and the Bishop Cunningham Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
Survivors include his ex-wife, Lynette of Hays, three sons; TJ Pfannenstiel and fiancé Ashley Archer of Sierra Vista, AZ, Zachary Pfannenstiel and wife Renee of Sierra Vista, AZ, and Garrett Pfannenstiel and wife Claudia of Hays, a daughter; Whitney Pfannenstiel of Kansas City, KS, two brothers; Michael Pfannenstiel and wife Anne of Manassas, Virginia, Wesley Pfannenstiel and wife Nancy of Broken Arrow, OK, two sisters; Debbie Kingsley and husband Doug of Hollister, MO, and Christine Unrein and husband Bruce of Hays, and two grandchildren, Addison and Sam Pfannenstiel.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Inurnment will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, October 6, 2014, from 5:00 pm until 8:00 and on Tuesday, October 7, from 2:00 pm until 2:45, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. A parish vigil service will be at 6:30 pm followed by a combined third and fourth degree Knights of Columbus rosary at 7:00, both on Monday, October 6, at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Fresenius Medical Care Dialysis Clinic at Hays Medical Center, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Sentencing for an 18-year-old Kansan who pleaded guilty to shooting his 9-year-old stepbrother to death has been delayed until Nov. 3.
Ryan Velez was scheduled to be sentenced Monday for second-degree murder for the June 2010 death of Kaden Harper. Velez was 14 when his stepbrother was killed at their family home near Assaria.
The Salina Journal reports an attorney for Velez needed more time to review reports from Larned State Hospital. Velez had been housed at Larned from 2011 until mid-July, when he pleaded guilty to his brother’s death.
His stay at Larned was not to exceed 10 years and three months. Because Velez was released before his sentence was complete, he was referred back to district court for sentencing.
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
The Hays Police Department is looking for the driver of a blue SUV — possibly a Jeep Liberty with Colorado license plates — allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident at 2:25 p.m. Sunday in the 2600 block of Vine.
According to Lt. Ron Rounkles, the SUV was traveling north on Vine when the driver rear-ended a stopped vehicle with two occupants.
The driver of the SUV then backed up, turned around and left the scene of the accident, witnesses told police.
It is unclear if the driver was male or female.
Ellis County EMS responded to the scene, but no injuries were reported.
If anyone sees a vehicle matching the description or has any information, contact the HPD at (785) 625-1030.
