Kansas Highway Patrol

Deer can be spotted near our state’s roadways any time of the year. However, in the fall, motorists should be especially vigilant for deer crossing the highways. Deer breeding season peaks in mid-November, and this marks the period when deer-vehicle collisions are highest. That’s why the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the Kansas Highway Patrol are working together to raise awareness and help drivers avoid collisions with deer.

According to KDWPT biologist Lloyd Fox, the increase in deer-vehicle crashes is strongly influenced by the deer mating season, called “rut.” During rut, deer focus on mating; they travel more than in other seasons, and pay less attention to hazards such as vehicles. Also during the fall, many deer move to new locations as crops are harvested and leaves fall from trees and shrubs, so they are less secure than in their summer habitats.

Not only are deer more active during the fall, shorter days mean dusk and dawn — when deer are more likely to be on the move — occur when commuter traffic is highest. According to KDOT spokesperson Steve Swartz, 14 percent, or 8,104, of all traffic crashes in 2013 involved deer. Six people were killed and 286 were injured in these crashes. Deer-vehicle collisions occur in every Kansas county. In most cases, counties with high human populations and high traffic volumes record the most deer-vehicle crashes. Sedgwick County recorded the most crashes with 331, followed by Johnson County with 282, and Butler County with 259, while 15 counties had fewer than 10 of these types of crashes.

Ellis County had one fatal deer-related accident in 2013, with three injuries caused by deer in roadway.

Click here to see a county-by-county breakdown of deer-related accidents.

Motorists should observe the following tips to avoid deer collisions:

• Be especially watchful at dawn and dusk when deer are particularly active.
• Watch for more than one deer, as they seldom travel alone.
• Reduce speed and be alert near wooded areas or green spaces such as parks or golf courses and near water sources such as streams or ponds.
• Deer crossing signs show where high levels of deer/vehicle crashes have occurred in the past.
• Use your bright lights to help you detect deer as far ahead as possible.
• Don’t swerve to avoid hitting a deer – the most serious crashes sometimes occur when motorists swerve and collide with another vehicle or run off the road and hit an obstacle.
• Always wear a seat belt and use appropriate child safety seats. Even if you are waiting in your car, it is best to wear your seat belt, and have your kids in car seats.

If you do hit a deer, here are some additional tips:

• If you hit a deer or other animal, do not worry about the animal. KHP troopers or your local law enforcement will worry about removing the animal from the road when they arrive. If it is in the road, make sure you let dispatch know when you call (*47 for KHP; *582 for Turnpike).
• If possible, remain in your vehicle, and remain buckled up, that way if a crash would occur involving your car or another vehicle nearby, you are more protected than if you are out in the roadway or even on the shoulder.
• If you must be outside of your vehicle, make sure it is as far off the road as possible; make sure your hazard lights are activated; don’t stand between your vehicle and another vehicle; and make sure your children are kept properly restrained in your vehicle.
• If you have exited your vehicle, it is important to remain very vigilant and watch traffic to make sure they aren’t getting close to you. If your vehicle has broken down at night, you can wait for law enforcement with extra lights to help make your vehicle more visible to other motorists.

According to KHP Lieutenant Joshua Kellerman, if you hit a deer, slow down and pull onto the shoulder, and turn on your emergency flashers. If you have a cellular phone and are on a Kansas highway, dial *47 (*HP) for a highway patrol dispatcher, *582 (*KTA) for assistance on the Kansas Turnpike, or dial 911.

Anyone involved in a vehicle-deer crash resulting in personal injury or property damage that totals $1,000 or more is required to immediately report the crash to the nearest law enforcement agency. Failure to report any traffic crash is a misdemeanor and may result in suspension of driving privileges.

A salvage tag is required to remove a deer carcass or any part of the carcass from a crash site. Tags can be issued by KHP troopers, sheriff’s deputies, or KDWPT game wardens.

If you are involved in a non-injury crash on an interstate, U.S. highway, or any divided or multi-lane road in the state of Kansas, and if you are not transporting hazardous materials, you are required by law to move your vehicle out of the lane of traffic. This law is intended to help keep drivers and passengers safe by getting them out of the lane of traffic and away from oncoming vehicles.

FHSU University Relations

Patty Nicholas, archivist at Fort Hays State University’s Forsyth Library, received the Award of Merit from the Smoky Hill Trail Association for organizing and maintaining the Smoky Hill Trail archives.

Nicholas started the project in 2012.

“The trail is important because it was a road that was used for people going out to Colorado during the gold rush,” Nicholas said. “The trail later became important for the military that were moving along the trail.”

The archives are available to the public in the special collections room in Forsyth Library from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The two candidates for the 111th District in the Kansas House, which includes Hays, Victoria and Munjor, along with a few townships, both plan to “knock on more doors this weekend.”

Incumbent Republican Sue Boldra, 65, is seeking her second term to the Kansas House. Democratic challenger James Leiker, 31, is hoping to unseat Boldra in his first quest for state office. Both are Hays residents.

Boldra is a former longtime government teacher at Hays High School, a former small business owner and is now a Fort Hays State University instructor of teacher education. Leiker is president of the Hays USD 489 school board, the former educator at Sternberg Museum of Natural History and is now involved in a health and fitness business, Genesis Pure, with his wife, Taryn. Both candidates are active in their respective family farm interests.

They squared off in a debate Thursday night hosted by the Fort Hays State University Student Government Association and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce at the FHSU University Robbins Center. Dr. Joe Romance, FHSU assistant professor of political science, moderated the debate, then opened the floor to questions from the audience of about 80 FHSU students, staff and community members.

Asked what the “most pressing issue” is in the Kansas Statehouse, Boldra answered “the rural versus urban split among legislators.” Leiker said it was “education funding.”

The pair also disagreed about the effectiveness of Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to gradually eliminate the state income tax.

“Yes, I believe with improved small businesses and the growing economy we’ve seen, I think it will take care of itself,” Boldra said. “I think if more people have more money in their pockets they’re going to spend it here. They’re going to buy things for themselves and for other people. That’s what needs to happen. Right now, the average income across Kansas is 10.6 percent higher than it was two years ago, so our people really are doing better.”

Leiker countered.

“No one I’ve talked to (in the 111th district) has said ‘I’m thankful for my income tax cut from the state,’ ” he said.

He challenged constituents to people to “look it up. Get the nonpartisan study and numbers from Wichita State (Prof. Ed Flentje’s research) and make that decision for yourself. I stand very against it.

“Wiping out 42 percent of your budget, your income taxes, is going to take a lot of sales taxes to make up. What it does it help the people at the top first. We need to look out for everybody, not just the 1 or 2 percent at the top. We need to find out what are the consequences of these tax breaks,” Leiker said.

In her closing statement, Boldra called herself a “common person, making less than $100,000 a year.” She described Leiker as “probably the poster child of entrepreneurial excellence in Kansas. His Facebook page says he made a quarter million dollars the first year they put their business on the Internet. That’s great and I applaud him and his family. That means Brownback’s policies are probably working.”

Leiker’s closing statement came before Boldra’s.

“The people you elect to office really hold the future. Educate yourself on all the issues — get to know your candidates. A lot of times you put people in office who say they’re going to do one thing and they turn right around and do something else,” he said. “I give you my word tonight as I look you in the eye, that I will represent you. I’m not in this race for myself. I’m concerned about the future, especially for my two children. I’m running for this office because I believe it’s the right thing to do. It’s time for change.”

After the forum, Leiker wrote on his Facebook page in response to Boldra calling him “the poster child of entrepreneurial excellence in Kansas.”

“I was of the understanding that people want leaders who can manage money, spend wisely and who are successful and driven,” posted Leiker.

First District Congressional candidate Jim Sherow, D-Manhattan, the former mayor of Manhattan and a Kansas State University history professor, also participated in the second portion of the forum.

Incumbent Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, was not present. His campaign statement was read by Romance. Huelskamp was in Hays on Thursday morning with the Kansas GOP Clean Sweep bus tour which traveled on to eastern Kansas.

The election is Tuesday.

The Hays Police Department conducted 14 traffic stops and received five animal calls on Thursday, Oct. 30, according to the HPD activity log.

Drug offenses, 1000 block East 29th, 3:04 a.m.
Driving under the influence, 100 block West 12th, 1:45 a.m.
Domestic disturbance, 500 block West 35th, 3:30 a.m.
Welfare check, 1500 block Canterbury, 7:01 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/animal, 100 block West 48th, 6:45 a.m.
Water use violation, 1700 block Henry, 7:39 a.m.
Welfare check, 1900 block Holmes, 8:51 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 300 block West Ninth, 9:42 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 1200 block Donald, 9:51 a.m.
Drug offenses 4300 block Vine, 10:30 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/personal injury, 17th and Oak, 10:40 a.m.
Lost animals, 400 block Milner, 11:36 a.m.
Civil transport, 2200 block Canterbury, 12:28 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 1500 block Vine, 1:35 p.m.
Animal injured, 400 block West Fifth, 1:54 p.m.
Lost animals, 1500 block Old U.S. 40 Bypass, 2:41 p.m.
Identity theft, 100 block West Fourth, 2:56 p.m.
Animal at large, 1900 block Whittier, 3:21 p.m.
Found/lost property, 1500 block Haney, 4:08 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 1000 block East 27th, 5:18 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 3400 block Country Lane, 11:44 p.m.