The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its annual banquet, this year scheduled for Feb. 5 at Fort Hays State University.
The five honors bestowed annually include Hall of Fame Award, Small Business of the Year, Business Woman of the Year, Eagle Communications Rising Star Award and Citizen of the Year.
For more information, call the chamber at (785) 628-8201.
TOPEKA – Gov. Sam Brownback in a news release Monday announced the grant recipients of the 2015 Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. JAG program funding helps strengthen partnerships for safe communities and enhance the state’s capacity to prevent, solve, and control crime. More than $1.8 million will be awarded to local and statewide criminal justice agencies and support organizations for their criminal justice projects.
“Kansas has an extraordinary network of agencies and organizations that contribute to the safety and well-being of our citizens,” Brownback said. “These grants strengthen partnerships and engage our communities in preventing crime and protecting Kansans.”
The Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council oversees the criminal justice federal funding made available to Kansas through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The KCJCC includes the Governor, Attorney General, Supreme Court Chief Justice, Corrections Secretary, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director.
“Providing the best public safety services requires dedicated local officials and access to modern technology,” said Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who serves as KCJCC chairman. “These grants will help advance local priorities for improving public safety.”
Northwest Kansas agencies receiving grants are:
Ellis County: Northwest Kansas Community Corrections, $92,579
Scott County: Sheriff’s Department, $26,850
Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center, $ 55,321
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man convicted of fatally shooting his 9-year-old stepbrother will not be sentenced until December.
Eighteen-year-old Ryan Velez was scheduled to be sentenced Monday for second-degree murder in the 2010 death of Kaden Harper at the family’s home near Assaria.
Sentencing was rescheduled for Dec. 1 after his attorney, Mitch Christians, said he needed more time to review records for Velez from Larned State Hospital.
The Salina Journal reports prosecutors say Velez shot his stepbrother while they were arguing about doing chores. He has been housed at Larned for treatment since pleading guilty.
Dry fall like weather is expected for the rest of the week.
Today Sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 33. South southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 68. West southwest wind 8 to 14 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Clear, with a low around 35. North northwest wind 9 to 11 mph.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 58. North northwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.
Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 65.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 55. Breezy.
Kansas Athletics
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Thirty minutes in, the big play that Kansas fans await each gameday came through via a Kelly Oubre, Jr. breakaway dunk delivered by a grinning Wayne Selden, Jr. Kansas downed Washburn, 85-53, in the unofficial start to the 2014-15 men’s basketball season Monday night inside Allen Fieldhouse.
Squaring off in exhibition play for the first time since 2012 and the 40th time overall, No. 5 Kansas and Washburn were heartily welcomed by the Allen Fieldhouse crowd, eager to watch the latest edition of the Jayhawks in action. High-octane recruit Cliff Alexander played to his hype, leading the Jayhawks with a game-high-tying 14 points on 6-for-8 accuracy and coming in just one rebound short of a double-double. His three blocks, all in the first half, led his team’s solid defensive effort as the Jayhawks chalked up nine rejections and held the Ichabods under 30 percent shooting.
KU’s other freshman All-American, Oubre was also solid in his debut with nine points, including his thunder dunk inside the 12-minute mark. By night’s end, all 15 Jayhawks checked in and 12 scored en route to a 30-for-53 field-goal performance (56.6 percent). Nine of those came from behind the arc, only one shy of KU’s best three-point total a year ago (10 vs. Iowa State, 1/29/14).
Sophomore guard Frank Mason started the game at point, flanked on either side by Selden and freshman Devonte’ Graham. the only newcomer to crack the starting lineup. All-Big 12 returnee Perry Ellis reclaimed his starting spot, while junior forward Jamari Traylor would have registered his second career start had the game counted.
Mason looked the part at floor general, dishing out a game-high seven assists to just one turnover while turning in 13 points with only one missed shot on the night. Sophomore forward Landon Lucas posted a perfect 4-for-4 show to tally nine points and six rebounds. He, Traylor, Alexander and junior forward Hunter Mickelson all swatted multiple shots in the win.
On the opposing bench, senior guard Korey Fisher tied Alexander for the game’s lead with 14 points. He hit two of Washburn’s three three-pointers on Monday as the Ichabods were held to 3-for-20 from long range.
Senior guard Kyle Wiggins connected on a long jumper to put his team ahead 2-1, but the early lead would be the Ichabods’ last. Selden answered with a three on the other end to fuel an 8-0 run, capped by Graham’s first fastbreak layup as a Jayhawk. Not 15 seconds after he checked in, Alexander turned KU’s run to 12-straight points with back-to-back buckets. Halfway through the opening 20 minutes, Ellis already had a three-pointer to his credit and four of KU’s five freshmen had checked into the game. Like Alexander, Oubre also wasted no time collecting his first basket as he drained a three from the corner in hurry.
The rookies shared their night of firsts with Mickelson, who at long last heard his named called after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. He scored a put-back layup, a turnaround hook shot and blocked a shot to power KU’s lead past the 20-point plateau. Moments later, a three from Mason pushed it over 25 points.
Three minutes remained in the first half when a runner through the lane by Fisher finally put the Ichabods in double-digits. By halftime, KU’s defense had taken its toll, pestering Washburn with seven blocks and five steals. While Kansas shot 52 percent in first frame, the Jayhawks forced the Ichabods to miss 25 of their 30 first-half shots to take a commanding 42-13 lead to the lockerroom.
Scoring was slower to start the second half as nearly five minutes ticked away before free throws from Ellis and Mason saw KU eclipse 50 points. The ‘Svi for Three’ call from the PA announcer rang out for the first of, what the Jayhawk fan base hopes many, times this season after freshman guard Svaitaslav Mykhailiuk connected from three-point territory, and the Jayhawks found themselves ahead by 30 points, 59-29.
Firmly in command, Kansas utilized various lineups for the rest of the night – all of which are likely to appear in the regular season. Graham spent some time in the point guard spot and fired off five late points, before Evan Manning, Tyler Self and Josh Pollard replaced the backcourt for the final minutes of the 85-53 win.
UP NEXT
Kansas will conclude exhibition play when it plays host to Emporia State on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. (Central) and the game can be seen on Jayhawk IMG Television, ESPN Full Court and ESPN3 outside the state of Kansas. KU will then open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14 against UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. That contest is also on the Jayhawk IMG Television, ESPN Full Court and ESPN3 outside the state of Kansas.
MCPHERSON- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 6 p.m. on Monday in McPherson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Kenworth semi driven by James G. Burnham, 31, Wichita, was stopped at a stop sign at 1st and U.S. 56 one mile from Windom.
The truck failed to yield, turned east on U.S. 56 and was hit by a 2011 Ford Fusion driven by Kevin R. Karraker, 54, Little River.
Karraker was transported to McPherson Memorial Hospital.
Burnham and two passengers in the sleeper part of the semi were not injured.
The KHP reported the drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Kansas voters aren’t exactly known for an independent streak. Not since 1932 have they elected someone other than a Republican to the U.S. Senate.
Republican Sen. Pat Roberts was looking to continue his party’s good fortunes Tuesday against a surprisingly staunch challenge from independent candidate Greg Orman.
Roberts has described his re-election campaign as crucial to Republican hopes of regaining the Senate and providing a check to the policies of Democratic President Barack Obama. He’s tried to portray Orman as a liberal Democrat.
Orman has described Roberts as part of a broken partisan system that has ground Washington to a halt. He’s vowed to bridge political divides and has emphasized his business expertise.
Orman became the main alternative to Roberts after Democratic nominee Chad Tayler dropped out in September.
PARTRIDGE- Two people were injured in an accident just after 7p.m. on Monday in Reno County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Hyundai Sonota driven by Laura Y. Miller, 16, Arlington, was southbound on Kansas 61 2 miles south of Partridge. The driver swerved to miss an animal in the roadway. The vehicle left the roadway to the east and struck a power pole.
Miller and a passenger Arlyn Miller, 49, Arlington, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
The KHP reported Arlyn was not wearing a seat belt.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Winter wheat planting in Kansas is almost finished.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 93 percent of the wheat has been planted in the state. About 82 percent has now emerged.
Kansas farmers were also busy bringing in fall crops during the past week. About 86 percent of the corn crop has now been harvested.
About 52 percent of the sorghum and 72 percent of the soybeans have also been cut. The sunflower harvest is 43 percent complete.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is awaiting a verdict from Kansas voters on whether his conservative tax-cutting experiment went too far.
Brownback was in a close race ahead of Tuesday’s election with Democratic challenger Paul Davis and faced a revolt from GOP moderates.
The 58-year-old governor painted Davis as a liberal and tried to tie him to Democratic President Barack Obama.
Davis is a 42-year-old Lawrence lawyer and the Kansas House minority leader. He ran as a centrist who would have a bipartisan administration.
Personal income tax cuts enacted in 2012 and 2013 at Brownback’s urging dropped the state’s top rate by 26 percent and exempted the owners of 191,000 businesses altogether.
A budget shortfall of $260 million is predicted by July 2016, but Brownback contends the economy is growing.
RUSSELL — A Kansas teen was injured in an accident just before 4 p.m. Monday in Russell County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Toyota SUV driven by Javaun Parker, 48, was northbound on 187th two miles east of Russell. The driver lost control of the vehicle and entered a wheat field and overturned.
A passenger, Destiny A. Aldrich, 18, Russell, was transported to Russell Regional Hospital. Parker was not injured.
The KHP reported both were properly restrained at the time of the accident.
COLUMBUS, Kan. (AP) — The state Highway Patrol says a southeast Kansas teenager has died after crashing a car while being chased by law enforcement.
Four other teens were injured when they were thrown from the car.
The patrol says the crash occurred just after 8 a.m. Monday near the Cherokee County town of Columbus while officers were chasing a car driven by 17-year-old Noah Kirsch, of Pittsburg. The car went off the road and rolled over several times.
Kirsh and passengers Autumn L. Bell, 16; Hannah N. Newcomer, 15, and Preston Herzog, 15, all of Pittsburg were transported to Freeman Medical Center. Kirsh died just after 5 p.m.
Another passenger Isaiah Beeney, 16, Pittsburg, was transported to Via Christi.
The KHP reported they were not wearing seat belts.
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COLUMBUS- Five teenagers were injured in an accident while fleeing from law enforcement just after 8 a.m. on Monday in Cherokee County.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office said a 2002 Pontiac was reported stolen in Pittsburg.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the Pontiac driven by Noah Kirsch, 17, Pittsburg, was westbound on Northwest Lawton Road three miles northwest of Columbus.
The vehicle left the south side of the roadway, rolled several times, ejected four occupants and partially ejected another.
Kirsh and passengers Autumn L. Bell, 16; Hannah N. Newcomer, 15, and Preston Herzog, 15, all of Pittsburg were transported to Freeman Medical Center.
Another passenger Isaiah Beeney, 16, Pittsburg, was transported to Via Christi.
The KHP reported they were not wearing seat belts.
