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Month: November 2014

Police make arrest in Great Bend truck theft, burglary

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burglary 2SALINA- Three suspects are in custody in connection with the theft of a pickup in Great Bend and a burglary in Salina.

Salina police said a multicolored pickup that looked out of place early Thursday morning led to the arrest of Paul R. Bennett, 51, Larry J. Wray, 34, and Craig C. Darby, 49, all of Salina.

Police made a traffic stop just before 2:30 Thursday morning and determined the three televisions, a lawn mower, furniture, toys and clothing in the truck bed were taken from a home on North 7th in Salina. The truck was stolen in Great Bend.

Darby and Wray were charged in connection with the stolen truck and Darby is facing requested drug charges after he was found with methamphetamine.

KFIX Rock News: Led Zeppelin Reissues Debut At #7 & #12 On Billboard Chart

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zepreissue2Back in June, the first installment of Led Zeppelin’s reissue campaign made a big splash on the Billboard 200, with the three releases — Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II and Led Zeppelin — debuting, respectively, at #7, #9 and #10 on the tally.

Now, the initiative’s second wave — featuring Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy — has arrived on the chart, with slightly less-flashy results.

The revamped Led Zeppelin IV bows at #7 after selling 35,000, while the updated Houses of the Holy lands at #12 after moving 29,000.

Led Zeppelin IV originally hit stores in November 1971, and went on to reach #2 on the Billboard 200.  It’s since sold more than 23 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Houses of the Holy, which was first released in May 1973, topped the Billboard tally for two weeks later that same year.  It’s notched more than 11 million stateside sales.

Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

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Postal Service adds Sunday delivery for holidays

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USPS MailWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service will deliver packages on Sundays in major cities and high volume areas during the holiday season.

Seven-day delivery will run from Nov. 17 through Christmas Day in response to anticipated growing demands.

The agency expects a 12 percent growth in its package business this holiday season, or in the range of about 450 to 470 million packages.

The Postal Service says demand for package services has grown as online retailers ship more products to their customers.

The struggling agency lost $2 billion this spring despite increasing its volume and charging consumers more money to send mail.

The Postal Service is an independent agency that receives no tax dollars for day-to-day operations but is subject to congressional control.

Nine Tigers named to All-MIAA soccer team; Brock Player of the Year, Castorino Freshman of the Year

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FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State had nine selections to the 2014 All-MIAA Men’s Soccer team, highlighted by MIAA Player of the Year Tanner Brock and MIAA Freshman of the Year Mauricio Castorino. Announced Thursday by the conference office, Brock is joined on the First Team by Kent Freund, Eric Hymer, Diego Cabral and Michael Cole, while Castorino was picked to the Second Team alongside Carlos Linares and Davud Lucio. Drew Wilson was named honorable mention.

The nine All-MIAA honorees marks an all-time high for the FHSU Soccer program, summing up a regular season that saw the Tigers go 11-4-3 overall and 8-2-2 in the MIAA, securing the second seed in the MIAA Tournament (which begins Thursday in Olathe, Kan.). All told, six of the nine Tigers honored are repeat winners, with four earning their third All-MIAA nod.

Brock led the Tigers in goals (six) this season, matching the performance with six assists as well. Tied for the team lead in points (18), the senior midfielder started 16 games (appearing in 17) for FHSU. From Winfield, Kan., Brock has added game-winning goals at West Texas A&M, Harding, and at home against Upper Iowa. He sits second in the MIAA in total points this season, as well as third in assists (right behind Cabral).

Career-wise, Brock has played more minutes than any other Tiger in program history (6,295), ranking second in career games (74) while tied for the all-time lead in career starts (72). Brock is a three-time First Team selection, earning the honors in 2012 and 2013 as well. He is the first Fort Hays State Men’s Soccer student-athlete to earn MIAA Player of the Year, the program now in its fourth year of existence and third year in the MIAA.

Freund has appeared in 16 games for FHSU this season, starting 15 while logging 1,453 minutes in the net. A senior goalkeeper, Freund has picked up 64 saves on the year while allowing just 15 goals. From Garland, Texas, Freund’s 0.93 goals against average ranks second in the conference. This is the second All-MIAA award of his career after being honorable mention in 2012.

Hymer, a defenseman, leads the team with 1,649 minutes played for the year, anchoring a back line for the Tigers that has allowed 17 goals on the season. A senior from Overland Park, Kan., he has started all 18 games for FHSU this season, posting complete game performances in 15 contests this year. Hymer repeats for the third consecutive year as an All-MIAA First Team selection, earning the award in 2012 and 2013 as well.

Cabral led the Tigers with 10 assists on the season, adding four goals for 18 points (tied for first on the team). A senior midfielder, Cabral holds the school record for career points (84) and assists (36), posting a .556 shots on goal percentage for the season (30 shots on goal with 54 total shots). He ranks second in the conference in assists this season and in the Top 10 nationally. This is the third career All-MIAA honor for Cabral, who was picked Second Team in 2012 and 2013.

Cole ranks second on the team with five goals this season, adding three assists for 13 points. The junior forward posted a .533 shots on goal percentage (16 of 30 shots) and had three game-winners for the 2014 campaign. Cole’s game winning goals came against Colorado State-Pueblo in the season opener, at home against Southwest Baptist and in a key conference matchup at Lindenwood, when he hit a golden goal in the first overtime (2-1 win). The Round Rock, Texas native has developed a knack for clutch moments, ranking second all-time in career game-winning goals (seven) at FHSU. Cole picked up honorable mention honors in 2013 and was a Second Team selection in 2012.

Castorino’s debut at FHSU has been impressive in 2014, as the freshman forward has two goals and five assists (nine points). Castorino appeared in 14 games during the regular season, starting three while logging 627 minutes on the field. The Asuncion, Paraguay native made the most of his opportunities, firing 20 total shots on the year and putting 13 on goal. This is the second consecutive year that FHSU has produced the MIAA Freshman of the Year, as goalkeeper Jason Babyak won the award last year.

Linares grabs All-MIAA honors for the second year in a row after an honorable mention nod last year. The senior defender ranks third on the team with 1,487 minutes played for the year, joining Hymer on the back line for the Tigers that has allowed only 17 goals on the season. The Aurora, Colo., native has started 17 of 18 games for FHSU this season, posting complete game performances in 12 contests this year.

Lucio picks up the first All-MIAA honor of his career. From Wichita, Kan., the junior midfielder has provided steady play in the midfield for the Tigers, posting three goals and three assists in the regular season for nine points. He has a pair of game-winning goals this year, one at home against Lindenwood and the other on the road at Southwest Baptist.

Wilson picked up honorable mention honors for the first time in his career, playing just under 1,500 minutes (1,490) in 16 starts (17 appearances) for the Tiger defense. From Overland Park, Kan., he is one of the key components to the backline, helping limit opponents to a 0.91 goals against average for the year. On the offensive side of the ball, the sophomore has made an impact as well, scoring twice with one assist (five points).

The Tigers open postseason play Thursday (Nov. 6) in Olathe, Kan. for the MIAA Tournament Semifinals as the No. 2 seed. FHSU will play third-seeded Lindenwood at 4 p.m. from the College Boulevard Activities Complex.

The complete 2014 All-MIAA Soccer Team is below…

2014 ALL-MIAA SOCCER TEAM
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tanner Brock, MF, Fort Hays State 

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Mauricio Castorino, F, Fort Hays State

COACH OF THE YEAR
Rob Czlonka, Northeastern State

FIRST TEAM
GK: Kent Freund, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: Eric Hymer, Sr., Fort Hays State**
D: Adam Schmoker, Sr., Northeastern State
D: Terence Smith, Sr., Northeastern State
MF: Tanner Brock, Sr., Fort Hays State**
MF: Jordan Schmoker, Sr., Northeastern State
MF: Diego Cabral, Sr., Fort Hays State
MF: Ignacio Pizarro Romero, Sr., Lindenwood
MF: Leandro Pena, Jr., Upper Iowa
F: Juan Peralta, Sr., Northeastern State**
F: Michael Cole, Jr., Fort Hays State
F: Ryan Pinkerton, So., Upper Iowa
**Unanimous Selection

SECOND TEAM
GK: Jackson Biles, So., Northeastern State
D: Carlos Linares, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: Alejandro Cases Da Silva, Sr., Lindenwood
D: Crosby Lee, Jr., Northeastern State
MF: Edgar Pineda, Sr., Southern Nazarene
MF: David Lucio, Jr., Fort Hays State
MF: Hayden Rasmussen, Fr., Northeastern State
MF: Justin Schaeffer, Sr., Southwest Baptist
MF: Johnny McBeth, Fr., Upper Iowa
F: Andre Hayne, Jr., Lindenwood
F: Mauricio Castorino, Fr., Fort Hays State
F: Ricardo Palomino, Fr., Northeastern State
F: Blake Rodgers, Sr., Southern Nazarene

HONORABLE MENTION
Fort Hays State: Drew Wilson, D.
Harding: Phillip White, D; Cole Walker, F; Barry Foster, F.
Lindenwood: Jeremy Tutas, D.
Northeastern State: Chance Miller, D; Frank Garay, MF; Justin Todd, F.
Southern Nazarene: Matthew Lawrence, D; Javier Caballeros, F.
Upper Iowa: Connor Rortvedt, GK; Hugo Alves, D; Seb Smith, D; Rhys Williams, D; Fausto Ordenana, MF.

Annual art sale at FHSU will help raise scholarship funds

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FHSU University Relations

The annual Fort Hays State University Department of Art and Design Scholarship Sale is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday in Rarick Hall and will feature art from faculty, students and retired faculty.

Pieces for sale will include paintings, prints, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, handmade books and jewelry. Retired professors John C. Thorns, Frank Nichols, Michael Jilg and Kathleen Kuchar will be among the featured artists.

Hand-printed T-shirts from wood-cuts will be available. T-shirts can be brought to the sale or purchased during the event. Pick a design and watch the shirt be printed.

Proceeds will fund scholarships for art and design majors.

Authorities investigate possible DUI crash

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Injury accident Wednesday afternoon
Injury accident Wednesday afternoon near Salina

SALINA- Authorities in Salina are investigating a Wednesday afternoon accident as a possible DUI.

Saline County Sheriff’s Captain Roger Soldan said a vehicle driven by Nina Petersen-Beard, 23, Rural Saline County, was driving near the intersection of Water Well Road and Burma.
The vehicle hit a culvert and went airborne.

EMS transported Peterson-Beard to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of foot and back injuries. She was the only occupant in the vehicle.

INSIGHT KANSAS: A closer look at the Brownback coalition win

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The Republican coalition headed by Governor Sam Brownback prevailed with Kansas voters on Election Day this past week. The governor fought off a fierce challenge from House Minority Leader Paul Davis and his running mate, Jill Docking.

The Republican victory was aided by a national mood that turned the U.S. Senate red, made the U.S. House redder, and flipped four governorships and even more state legislative chambers from blue to red.

H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.

Ironically, the Kansas Supreme Court — the object of severe criticism by the Republican coalition — handed Brownback and his legislative allies two potent political favors. The court’s order on school finance last spring allowed state lawmakers to respond with modest but increased funding of education, property tax reductions, and “educational reforms.” Then, just weeks before the election the court vacated death sentences for the Carr brothers causing family members and all Kansans to relive one of the most heinous crimes in the state’s history. The Brownback campaign, as well as outside groups, jumped on both court orders to take advantage with a barrage of media.

Regrettably, Kansans will also never know the source of “dark” money that financed the largely anonymous Alliance for Freedom, a group that spent millions in attacking Davis through paid media and oversized postcards.

Even so, Brownback fell just short of tallying 50 percent of the gubernatorial vote and recorded 100,000 fewer votes than he had logged in 2010.

Based on preliminary results, the coalition also knocked off three more incumbent House Democrats and gained open seats giving Republicans a 98 to 27 majority in the Kansas House, the largest margin in over 60 years.

Brownback defied polls consistently showing that over half of those surveyed disapproved of his job performance and indicating he was headed for defeat. Indeed, in 23 statewide polls conducted over the last five months, he trailed in all but three. Davis led in the last eight polls conducted in the three weeks prior to the election, though most were within the margin of error.

Brownback overcame a chorus of critics who pointed to his tax experiment that has brought on unprecedented deficit spending, depleted balances, downgraded credit, higher sales taxes and property taxes, lagging economic growth, and inadequate funding of the state’s primary obligation, public education.

The governor asserted in response that education was adequately funded, the economy was growing, and economic progress would deal with any future budget woes.

Reality in state finance will hit immediately this week when revenue estimators meet and update revenue projections made last April that were dramatically off the mark.

However Brownback steers through the looming financial crisis, his governing coalition will remain intact. That coalition has been described as an opportunistic alliance of voters who believe in economic liberty on the one hand and social order on the other. Economic liberty is translated into state policy as smaller government through tax cuts, budget cuts and restraints, and freedom from governmental regulation. Social order takes the form of policies that restrict abortion, limit gay rights, curb social services and restrict access to voting.

Over the past four years, Brownback and his coalition largely ignored and occasionally attacked centrist Republicans who did not join up in the polar alliance. These Republicans likely comprise the 100,000 vote drop in Brownback’s vote tallies from 2010 to 2014. Where centrist Republicans now go, as well as how the governor responds to them, will write the next chapter in state politics.

H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.

NTSB: Landing gear down before Wichita plane crash

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NTSBWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Investigators say the pilot of a small plane that crashed into a flight training building at a Wichita airport last week declared an emergency about a minute after taking off, saying he had “lost the left engine.”

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Thursday that several witnesses reported the plane had its landing gear down before it hit the Flight Safety International building at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport. The pilot and three people in the building died. Six other people were injured, two of them seriously.

The left wing separated after hitting the building just below the roof line. The nose struck the roof and the plane slid for about 20 to 30 feet before the tail section came over the top, fol

Now That’s Rural: Tom Miller, ag pilot

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Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“Have a SAFE flight!” That’s the type of sentiment which we might express to a loved one as they depart on an airplane. In this case, the term SAFE also applies to a program which encouraged safety and precision in the work of agricultural pilots. Today we’ll meet a farmer and agricultural pilot who has been a leader in this initiative in Kansas.

Tom Miller is a farmer and ag pilot in southwest Kansas. “I grew up on the farm where we live now,” Tom said. His father was also a farmer who flew as a hobby. “My dad was a weekend pilot,” Tom said. He caught the flying bug from his dad.

They bought an old airplane and rebuilt it, and Tom learned to fly. “My dad gave me three hours of flight instruction when I was 10 or 11, long before I could fly by myself,” Tom said. “My dad was going to sell the old plane but I talked him into keeping it if I would pay for the maintenance.”

In those days, the local school district had a policy (since discontinued) that students who turned 16 years old could get a job driving the school bus. “I was the one who lived the furthest out, so I would drive the bus home from school and drop off the other kids on the way. Then I picked `em up on the way back in in the morning.” He used his earnings to pay for the costs of the plane.

He wanted to get into the crop dusting business. After college, he did some charter flying, worked for a neighboring farmer, and ultimately went into farming himself. A classmate of his had a business called Ingalls Aerial Sprayers Inc. When the classmate died in an accident while spraying, Tom and a partner bought the business. It is based at the Ingalls airport.

Ingalls Aerial Spraying provides aerial seeding and spraying for weed and pest control in agricultural crops. It serves Gray County and the southwest Kansas region.

Tom got involved in his professional organization, the Kansas Agricultural Aviation Association.  One of the organization’s projects was a program called Operation SAFE.

“This was a joint project with K-State and KAAA,” Tom said. “Dennis Kuhlman was an extension specialist and he had an educational program for ag pilots.” Tom got involved in implementing the SAFE program.

SAFE was an acronym for Self-regulating Application and Flight Efficiency. It was a program used by ag pilots to avoid drift of aerially-applied products.

“We did pattern testing,” Tom said. “We would put fluorescent dye into the spray equipment and fly into the wind.” A computer program would read the fluorescent effervescence and determine the variability of the spray pattern.

“We could see if a plane was putting out too much product or not enough,” Tom said. This enabled ag pilots to adjust their equipment to assure that they were applying just the right amount of product to the precise place that it was needed.

Tom served as SAFE chairman for the Kansas Agricultural Aviation Association for some 20 years. For many years, he hosted the annual testing at his home airport at Ingalls. Ingalls made an ideal location because it was in a rural area, far from any urban congestion. After all, Ingalls is a community of 331 people. Now, that’s rural.

Tom is farming full time now. He still flies, although he leaves the day-to-day ag applications to another pilot. He and his wife Margaret have three children: Ryan, who attended K-State-Salina; Emily, who is studying to be a dental hygienist; and Kyle, who is a student at K-State-Manhattan.

For more information, go to www.ingallsaerialsprayers.com.

“Have a SAFE flight!” That expression isn’t just for loved ones who are catching a plane. It also applies to this program which helps to enhance and improve the work of agricultural pilots. We salute Tom Miller, Dennis Kuhlman, and all those involved in Operation SAFE and the Kansas Agricultural Aviation Association for making a difference through this initiative. Now it’s time for me to come in for a landing.

2 teens hospitalized after vehicle hits round bale, overturns

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Screen Shot 2014-11-06 at 9.39.16 AMBUHLER — Two teenagers were injured in an accident just after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Reno County.

The Reno County Sheriff’s office reported Jenus Leonia Linder-Taylor, 14, Hutchinson, was northbound in the 9100 block of Victory Road. She swerved to miss an animal and lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle slid into a ditch, hit a round bale and overturned.

Linder-Taylor and a passenger Cameron Owens, 14, Hutchinson, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

 

Kansas City tradition will feature new lights

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City’s traditional lighting ceremony on the Country Club Plaza will be brighter and more energy efficient this year.

The owners of the shopping and entertainment district say 85 percent of the bulbs used in this year’s Thanksgiving Day event will be LEDs rather than the colored lights used in the past. An LED, or light emitting diode bulb, uses 0.46 watts. The traditional holiday bulbs each use 10 watts.

The Kansas City Star reports that Highwoods Properties, which owns the Plaza, began researching the LED bulbs a few years ago but had to wait to more fully use them until colors and sizes became available.

Highwoods officials say the company hopes to be 100 percent LED for next year’s ceremony.

Huelskamp schedules two northwest Kansas stops Friday

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Huelskamp
First District U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp

Fresh off his general election win, First District U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp will make two northwest Kansas stops Friday.

The Republican congressman is scheduled to make an appearance at the fifth annual Natoma Veterans Day Salute at the Natoma Elementary School gym. Huelskamp is scheduled to take part in the program from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m.

Huelskamp then will travel to Plainville for a town hall meeting from noon to 1 p.m. at Plainville Memorial Library, 200 SW First St.

“Now more than ever before, the voice of the American people is needed in Washington,” he said. “These town halls allow me the opportunity to continue to be the voice of the people as a strong representative for the Big First.”

In Tuesday’s general election, Huelskamp defeated Democratic challenger Jim Sherow to win another term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Royals Cain, Gordon earn Wilson Defensive Player of the Honors

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Kansas City Royals

KANSAS CITY, MO  – Kansas City Royals outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon have received Defensive Player of the Year honors by Wilson Sporting Goods, which were announced tonight on as part of a one-hour special on MLB Network.

Cain was also honored last year with a Defensive Player of the Year award.  He ranked third in the Major Leagues in zone rating (.949) and was also fourth among American League outfielders in range factor per 9.0 innings (2.80), seventh in putouts (338) and tied for 11th in the league with a career high eight assists.  Lorenzo committed just two errors in 348 chances for a .994 fielding percentage.  He played a career-best 133 games this season, which included 93 starts in center field.

Gordon was honored by Wilson with a Defensive Player of the Year award for the first time in his career.  Gordon tied for 11th in the American League with eight outfield assists this season, while his 62 assists since the start of 2011 are the most in the Major Leagues in that span.  He led all A.L. outfielders in games (156) and innings (1372.2) for the second-straight year and finished sixth in putouts (341) and committed just two errors in 351 chances for a .994 fielding percentage.

Founded in 2012, the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award winners are determined using a formula that combines traditional defensive stats with advanced metrics, as well as the data logged by the baseball experts working for the scouting service Inside Edge. Dustin Pedroia and Gerardo Parra won the 2013 edition for their respective leagues, while Mike Trout and Michael Born won the inaugural awards in 2012.  Below is a list of the 2014 winners:

 

2014 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners
(P) Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds
(C) Russell Martin – Pittsburgh Pirates
(1B) Adrian Gonzalez – Los Angeles Dodgers
(2B) Ian Kinsler – Detroit Tigers
(3B) Juan Uribe – Los Angeles Dodgers
(SS) Andrelton Simmons – Atlanta Braves
(LF) Alex Gordon – Kansas City Royals
(CF) Lorenzo Cain – Kansas City Royals
(RF) Jason Heyward – Atlanta Braves *
Defensive Team of the Year – Cincinnati Reds

*Jason Heyward named overall 2014 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year.

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