December 2014 – Page 38 – Hays Post Archive

Klaus retiring post as Ellis County Rural Fire director

Posted on December 17, 2014December 17, 2014

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After more than 35 years with the Ellis County Rural Fire Department — 22 years as director — Dick Klaus will retire this summer.

Ellis County Rural Fire Director Dick Klaus

Klaus began working at the rural fire department in 1978 and, at Monday night’s Ellis County Commission meeting, said he plans to retire in June.

The county will begin advertising the opening this week.

Klaus said there are in-house candidates that are interested.

“They work together anyway. All of my chiefs work together well when I’m gone,” Klaus said.

Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund added handling volunteer firefighters are an important part of the job.

“We are a district that survives on volunteers, and you’ve got an amazing number of them,” Sund said. “If the volunteers do not respect this position, we can have major trouble in no time flat.”

Klaus and the commission called for a 60- to 90-day transition period for the new hire to get acquainted with the job.

KCC approves Chanute public broadband proposal

Posted on December 17, 2014

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Chanute will be allowed to provide ultra-high speed Internet service to area homes and small businesses.

The Kansas Corporation Commission on Tuesday approved the city’s plans issue bonds so it can extend a service with a download speed of 1 gigabit, at a cost of about $40 a month for city residents. That’s 14 times faster and 60 percent cheaper than the fastest Internet service currently offered in Chanute.

The commission’s approval was the last step needed before Chanute could issue bonds, buy equipment and begin offering the service.

The Wichita Eagle reports the commission’s decision could have wider implications. Earlier this year, Chanute and Kansas City worked together to stop a bill before the Legislature that would have outlawed public broadband systems throughout the state.

Sylvia Bernice Wasinger

Posted on December 17, 2014

Sylvia Bernice Wasinger, age 87, of Hays, passed away Monday, December 15, 2014 at Via Christi Village, Hays. She was born October 16, 1927 Hays, Kansas to Sylvio Joseph and Bertha (Unrein) Boudreau. She married Gregory Wasinger September 26, 1953.

Sylvia was a homemaker who enjoyed gardening, nature, animals and taking care of her family. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays and a past Daughters of Isabella member.

Sylvia is survived by her husband, Gregory of Hays; a son, Gerard Wasinger and wife Lynette of Hays; a daughter, Kathleen Horlick and husband Royal of Leawood, KS; two grandchildren, Joel Wasinger and wife Sarah of Hays and Blake Wasinger and wife Teresa of Garden City, KS and one great grandchild, Maddison Wasinger of Garden City, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial services will be at 10:0 AM Thursday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Inurnment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the church Thursday 9 AM – 9:30 AM with a rosary service at 9:30 AM.

Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorials are suggested to be used for Masses. Condolences may be sent to the family by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]

Lawrence to seek audit on Rock Chalk Park

Posted on December 17, 2014December 17, 2014

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Lawrence City Commission will ask for an outside audit of public funds spent on the Rock Chalk Park sports complex.

The commission also decided Tuesday to delay a $1 million payment for infrastructure for the park in northwest Lawrence. The commission had been criticized for not seeking competitive bids on about $12 million in infrastructure work at the park.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports City Auditor Michael Eglinski will determine the scope of the audit and recommend auditors not connected to the city or the University of Kansas.

Commissioners said they hope the audit will be finished by early February.

Commissioners have said they did not require competitive bids on the project largely because KU Endowment officials objected to the bid process.

Cathedral Concert will be rebroadcast tonight on 14-KAYS

Posted on December 17, 2014

The annual Cathedral Concert, which was Dec. 7 from the Basilica of St Fidelis in Victoria, will be rebroadcast in its entirety at 7 p.m. Wednesday on KAYS-1400 AM.

The Eagle Radio presentation is brought to listeners commercial-free thanks to Gorham State Bank in Victoria and Gorham.

Tune in tonight to hear the annual event, which features the choirs of Fort Hays State University (Fort Hays Singers and Concert Choir), Smoky Hill Chorale and guest choirs including the Hays High School Chamber Singers and Southeast of Saline High School Madrigal Singers.

Cuba releases US prisoner

Posted on December 17, 2014

JULIE PACE, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior Obama administration official says Cuba has released American Alan Gross, who has been imprisoned for five years.

The official says Gross has departed Cuba on a US government plane bound for the United States. He was released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the United States, the official said.

The official insisted on anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly by name.

KFIX Rock News: Joan Jett Discusses Rock Hall Induction

Posted on December 17, 2014December 17, 2014

As reported earlier on Tuesday, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts were among the artists who will be welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the institution’s 2015 induction ceremony, which will take place April 18 at Cleveland’s Public Hall.

Now, the band’s influential frontwoman has issued a statement expressing her feelings about the honor.

“I’m still collecting my thoughts, but the feeling is surreal,” says Jett.

“I’ve always focused on making music for the art of it, and its ability to reach others. I am truly honored that my music has been recognized by the great rock and roll community that voted me in.”

The 2015 ceremony will be the second consecutive Rock Hall induction event at which Joan will appear.

This past April, she was one of several female artists who performed with the surviving members of Nirvana in celebration of that group’s induction at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Jett, of course, began her music career as a teenager in the 1970s when she helped found the all-female hard-rock group The Runaways. That band broke up in 1979, and Joan released one solo album before forming the Blackhearts in 1981.

Their most recent album, Unvarnished was released in September of 2013.

“Like” KFIX on Facebook.

Moran: Securing the future of aerospace in Kansas

Posted on December 17, 2014

By U.S. Sen. JERRY MORAN

Safeguarding our nation means both a strong national defense and a strong economy. The aerospace industry is where these two priorities combine. In today’s global economy, aerospace provides vital opportunities for America at home and abroad, and Kansas is fortunate to be at the crossroads of the aerospace industry.

In Kansas, we build world-class airplanes and build them well. According to the Kansas Aviation Museum, Kansas aviation workers have supplied 74 percent of all general aviation aircraft since the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk. Today, roughly 32,000 Kansans support hundreds of aerospace companies – from large companies like Airbus, Spirit AeroSystems, Bombardier and Textron, to many smaller suppliers – and their work contributes more than $7 billion annually to our state’s economy.

The economic future of our state and nation depends on securing a vibrant aerospace industry, and it is important that Congress do all it can to support a robust future for aerospace. That is why I am honored to serve as co-chair of the Senate Aerospace Caucus.

The Senate Aerospace Caucus, founded in 2010, provides an important forum for U.S. Senators and aerospace representatives to discuss issues of importance to the nation’s defense, civil aviation and space sectors. This caucus strives to: provide critical oversight of the U.S. government’s aerospace defense industry program; promote increased government investment in U.S. aviation infrastructure and development; ensure a competitive industrial base; and promote education and workforce development programs that prepare Americans for careers in the aerospace industry.

The focus of the Senate Aerospace Caucus on the future of aerospace and aviation is especially important to the Wichita community. Known as the “Air Capital of the World,” Wichita is internationally recognized as one of the best cities for aerospace innovation and talent. In fact, more than half of all Kansans in the Wichita metro area are employed by aerospace companies, and the city boasts the third-highest concentration of engineers in the United States. This is because Wichita is the only place in the world that offers 90 years of experience in aviation manufacturing, access to the world’s largest supplier base, and a highly-skilled workforce. It’s no wonder global aviation manufacturers are eager to tap into the talents of Kansans.

But Kansas is not only a leader in aircraft manufacturing. Our state also supplies the workforce the aerospace industry needs through education and training facilities, the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) and Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). It is NIAR’s mission to conduct research, transfer technology and enhance education for the purpose of advancing the nation’s aviation industry, and to assist non-aviation industries that may benefit from aviation-related technologies. These facilities make Wichita a hub for future generations of aviation manufacturers and engineers – and help solidify Kansas’ aerospace reputation around the world.

As Kansas’ largest industry, general aviation generates nearly $2.9 billion annually in exports from our state. An estimated 11.2 percent of Kansas’ total private-sector employment are linked to manufacturing. This means Kansas jobs depend on aerospace exports – our state must continue to build quality products to stay competitive. By promoting education, workforce and research development, as well as increasing manufacturing within the aerospace industry, we can grow America’s economy and maintain our state’s competitive edge.

Kansas’ impressive record of accomplishment in aerospace did not happen by accident – it took hard work and innovation. I look forward to bringing those same attributes to my work as co-chair of the Senate Aerospace Caucus to make certain this historical and innovative American industry remains strong, secure and globally competitive.

Obama: As a black man he’s been mistaken for valet

Posted on December 17, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — He may be president now, but Barack Obama says he’s a black man who has been mistaken for the valet.

Obama tells People magazine that every black professional male his age has had someone hand over their keys while waiting outside a restaurant. That happened to him, he said.

First lady Michelle Obama says her husband also used to have trouble catching cabs and once was mistaken for a waiter at a black-tie party. She says even when she went to Target as first lady, a fellow shopper asked her to get something from a shelf.

The president says racial relations have gotten better, but more progress is needed.

He says the small indignities they have experienced pale in comparison to young men who have been mistaken for criminals just for being “dressed the way teenagers dress.”

Tuesday’s high school basketball results

Posted on December 17, 2014December 17, 2014

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Area Games
Dighton 54, LaCrosse 45
Ellis 66, Wheatland-Grinnell 64
Hays 69, Junction City 53
Hill City 65, Oberlin-Decatur 57
Hoxie 59, Trego 37
Plainville 65, Natoma 39
Victoria 58, TMP-Marian 56

Other Games
Andale 52, Wellington 44
Andover 62, Arkansas City 47
Argonia 48, Cunningham 47
Attica 46, Ashland 34
Basehor-Linwood 68, KC Piper 63
Beloit 78, Southeast Saline 63
Bennington 51, Lakeside 28
Berean Academy 45, Caldwell 36
Buhler 48, El Dorado 41
Burlingame 61, Madison 39
Canton-Galva 72, Centre 22
Chase 66, Tescott 44
Cheney 59, Medicine Lodge 33
Circle 73, Clearwater 57
Concordia 76, Marysville 64
Derby 64, Maize 46
Douglass 49, Bluestem 39
Ellinwood 44, Ell-Saline 41
Eudora 54, Louisburg 43
Eureka 65, Neodesha 38
Fort Scott 46, Parsons 44
Frankfort 59, Wetmore 40
Galena 50, Jasper, Mo. 43
Gardner-Edgerton 53, Olathe North 44
Goddard-Eisenhower 66, Andover Central 49
Haven 61, Nickerson 51
Healy 64, Heartland Christian 37
Hesston 61, Smoky Valley 26
Humboldt 55, Yates Center 39
Hutchinson 52, Wichita Campus 44
Immaculata 42, Horton 36
Independence 60, Labette County 44
Independence Home School 55, Kansas Deaf 26
Jackson Heights 65, Pleasant Ridge 45
Jefferson West 64, Perry-Lecompton 50
KC Turner 59, KC Bishop Ward 47
KC Washington 68, Atchison 54
Larned 57, Hutchinson Trinity 53
Lebo 54, Southern Coffey 49
Linn 46, Clifton-Clyde 43
Little River 57, Hutchinson Central Christian 53
Lyndon 59, Mission Valley 26
Manhattan 61, Great Bend 45
Maur Hill – Mount Academy 63, Valley Falls 42
McDonald County, Mo. 68, Pittsburg Colgan 47
McPherson 82, Abilene 56
Meade 64, Cimarron 49
Mill Valley 53, Lansing 46
Minneapolis 33, Ellsworth 29
Nemaha Central 69, Hiawatha 40
Ness City 52, Hodgeman County 28
Northern Heights 62, West Franklin 33
Norton 61, Goodland 24
Olathe South 68, Washburn Rural 65
Olpe 45, Hartford 28
Onaga 39, Wabaunsee 24
Osage City 61, Herington 27
Oswego 54, Chetopa 28
Ottawa 63, Topeka West 47
Paola 55, Baldwin 47
Peabody-Burns 61, Burrton 60
Pike Valley 84, Smith Center 43
Pratt 74, Kingman 44
Pratt Skyline 63, Kinsley 48
Republic County 51, Valley Heights 46
Rock Hills 45, Lawrence-Nelson, Neb. 34
Royal Valley 49, Riverside 46, OT
Sabetha 73, Atchison County 27
Salina Sacred Heart 70, Russell 25
Salina South 44, Newton 35
Satanta 52, Minneola 48
Sedgwick 48, Halstead 47
Solomon 58, Inman 35
South Central 54, Kiowa County 25
South Gray 81, Ingalls 44
Spearville 66, Fowler 33
St. John 59, Central Plains 57
Sterling 51, Lyons 48
Sunrise Christian 98, St. John’s Military 16
Syracuse 53, Wichita County 24
Topeka 62, Highland Park 47
Troy 55, Jefferson North 47
Udall 68, Norwich 34
Ulysses 87, Colby 40
Uniontown 55, St. Paul 44
Valley Center 62, Goddard 60, 2OT
Wakefield 54, Rural Vista 42
Wallace County 88, Weskan 53
Wamego 68, Chapman 38
Washington County 61, Axtell 23
Waverly 57, Marais des Cygnes Valley 51
Wellsville 58, Osawatomie 46
Wichita Home School 54, Derby Invasion 41
Wichita Trinity 55, Belle Plaine 29
Winfield 54, Augusta 43

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Area Games
Ellis 44, Wheatland-Grinnell 33
Hays 54, Junction City 43
Hill City 53, Oberlin-Decatur 29
LaCrosse 44, Dighton 33
Plainville 52, Natoma 21
TMP-Marian 64, Victoria 30

Other Games
Andale 53, Wellington 34
Andover 73, Arkansas City 41
Andover Central 78, Goddard-Eisenhower 54
Attica 50, Ashland 26
Baxter Springs 56, Erie 39
Beloit 61, Southeast Saline 42
Bennington 54, Lakeside 35
Bonner Springs 61, Tonganoxie 36
Bucklin 64, Pretty Prairie 49
Buhler 70, El Dorado 30
Caney Valley 61, Copan, Okla. 24
Central Plains 62, St. John 34
Centre 58, Canton-Galva 33
Chanute 59, Columbus 46
Chase 45, Tescott 38
Chase County 38, Council Grove 26
Cheney 59, Medicine Lodge 29
Cherryvale 38, Southeast 32
Chetopa 28, Oswego 26
Cimarron 65, Meade 54
Circle 45, Clearwater 25
Clay Center 36, Riley County 28
Coffeyville 62, Pittsburg 60
Colby 63, Ulysses 48
Concordia 64, Marysville 49
Cunningham 50, Argonia 13
Douglass 56, Bluestem 26
Ellinwood 54, Ell-Saline 24
Fairfield 63, Stafford 36
Flinthills 58, Altoona-Midway 13
Gardner-Edgerton 50, Olathe North 32
Girard 53, Anderson County 35
Goddard 38, Valley Center 24
Goodland 50, Norton 41
Hanover 59, BV Randolph 32
Haven 58, Nickerson 27
Heartland Christian 51, Healy 35
Herington 54, Osage City 43
Hesston 51, Smoky Valley 16
Hiawatha 53, Nemaha Valley, Neb. 50, OT
Hiawatha 53, Nemaha Central 50, OT
Horton 29, Immaculata 23
Hoxie 74, Trego 33
Hutchinson 51, Wichita Campus 30
Hutchinson Central Christian 31, Little River 16
Hutchinson Trinity 53, Larned 25
Ingalls 61, South Gray 36
Inman 55, Solomon 16
Iola 38, Central Heights 32
Jasper, Mo. 54, Galena 47
KC Bishop Ward 65, KC Turner 33
KC Piper 40, Basehor-Linwood 31
KC Washington 64, Atchison 53
Kingman 57, Pratt 45
Kinsley 51, Pratt Skyline 32
Lakin 57, Sublette 38
Lawrence-Nelson, Neb. 53, Rock Hills 41
Lebo 56, Southern Coffey 36
Linn 52, Clifton-Clyde 41
Louisburg 51, Eudora 37
Madison 62, Burlingame 23
Maize 54, Derby 30
Manhattan 72, Great Bend 57
McDonald County, Mo. 50, Pittsburg Colgan 45
McPherson 68, Abilene 54
Metro Academy 61, Topeka Heritage Christian 40
Mill Valley 55, Lansing 52, OT
Minneapolis 56, Ellsworth 29
Newton 46, Salina South 28
Northern Heights 62, West Franklin 33
Norwich 42, Udall 29
Olpe 63, Hartford 37
Ottawa 49, Topeka West 28
Paola 54, Baldwin 45
Parsons 64, Fort Scott 60
Perry-Lecompton 45, Jefferson West 30
Pleasant Ridge 53, Jackson Heights 51
Remington 41, Berean Academy 30
Republic County 57, Valley Heights 31
Royal Valley 62, Riverside 19
Russell 39, Salina Sacred Heart 25
Sabetha 54, Atchison County 32
Satanta 73, Minneola 68
Sedgwick 30, Halstead 19
Smith Center 54, Pike Valley 30
South Central 54, Kiowa County 25
Spearville 65, Fowler 32
St. Paul 53, Uniontown 19
Sterling 54, Lyons 37
Sylvan-Lucas 48, Lincoln 38
Syracuse 40, Wichita County 26
Topeka 54, Highland Park 42
Troy 51, Jefferson North 21
Wabaunsee 59, Onaga 17
Wallace County 56, Weskan 16
Wamego 58, Chapman 40
Washington County 51, Axtell 40
Waverly 67, Marais des Cygnes Valley 48
Wellsville 59, Osawatomie 23
Wetmore 51, Frankfort 44
Wichita Collegiate 46, Mulvane 34
Wichita Independent 39, Chaparral 27
Winfield 38, Augusta 29

KCC approves rate increase for Black Hills Energy

Posted on December 17, 2014

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Corporation Commission approved a rate increase for natural gas customers of Black Hills Energy.

The Wichita Eagle reports the KCC on Tuesday approved an increase that will cost the average customer about of $3 a year. The settlement gives Black Hills an overall increase of $5.23 million. But customers were already paying about $4.5 million of that through special riders on their bills.
The company applied for a $5.1 million net increase in April, which would have raised the average bill by $4.17 a month, or about $50 a year.

Black Hills serves about 110,000 customers in Kansas. The company said it needed the rate hike because of increased operating costs and $51 million in infrastructure and line extension costs.

Someone walks off with 9 pieces of art in Wichita

Posted on December 17, 2014

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita artist says he won’t press charges if thieves return nine pieces of art that were stolen from a gallery.

Josh Tripoli says someone stole the art right off the walls at Murillo Studios in Old Town. He said the work likely was wrapped in a tapestry and then taken out the door.

KWCH-TV reports the total loss is estimated at $2,500.

Tripoli says he will forgive and forget and press no charges if the work is returned. And he says he plans to start anchoring his art so it’s harder to steal.

Partly cloudy, chance of rain, snow

Posted on December 17, 2014

A weak weather system will bring a wintry mix tonight.

Today A chance of rain and snow before 5pm, then a chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. East southeast wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight Snow, mainly before 3am. Low around 29. East wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Thursday A slight chance of snow, mixing with freezing drizzle after 7am, then gradually ending. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. East wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Friday Partly sunny, with a high near 42. South southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.