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New court, dental programs to help mentally ill

courtTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — People with mental illness will be offered two new programs in Topeka beginning in January.

An alternative sentencing court run through the Topeka Municipal Court will allow mentally ill people who committed relatively minor crimes to be released from a jail earlier if they comply with a treatment plan. The program also will offer employment, housing and substance abuse help.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports  the second program will provide dental services to the mentally ill who don’t have dental insurance.

It’s being offered through a partnership between Valeo and Community Health Ministry. Valeo CEO Glea Ashley says many people with mental health disorders have not had routine health care for some time and have more advanced problems.

Clinton, Bloomberg push for data to help women

JONATHAN LEMIRE, Associated Press

Screen Shot 2014-12-15 at 10.33.37 AMNEW YORK (AP) — Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are highlighting an effort to gather data to help women and girls around the world.

Clinton and Bloomberg made their push on Monday at the Manhattan headquarters of the billionaire ex-mayor’s charitable foundation.

Clinton says women across the globe suffer due a lack of knowledge about their health, childbirth conditions and workplace roles. She says data gaps undermine the progress of women and girls.

The initiative is called “Data 2x.”

It’s a partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Clinton Foundation and the United Nations Foundation.

EXPLORING KANSAS OUTDOORS: Operation Game Thief

Steve Gilliland
Steve Gilliland

About this time each year we begin to hear and read stories that all center on the illegal taking of Kansas wildlife. Whether it’s bald eagles being shot, outfitters being investigated for assisting their clients in illegally taking and transporting game, or numerous game law violations intentionally and knowingly committed by people mistakenly calling themselves hunters, it all amounts to theft from those of us who attempt to abide by all the game rules and regulations of our state.

Kansas is divided into 105 counties and currently a drastic shortage of game wardens saddles only 62 natural resource officers (NROs) with the intense responsibility of patrolling all those counties, making Kansas wildlife some of the least protected in America.

Each year those NROs check tens of thousands of hunters and fishermen in the field and about 96% of them are found to be law-abiding. Unfortunately, many non-hunters associate ethical hunters with the small percentage who are not.

Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism has an excellent tool to help fight wildlife crimes called Operation Game Thief. It’s a toll-free telephone hotline, (877) 426-3843 that can be accessed anytime of the day or night, any day of the year. Callers are given the choice to remain anonymous and each call is immediately relayed to the natural resource officer nearest the violation. Examples of activities that can be reported over the game thief hotline are road hunting, trespassing, littering, vandalism, drinking while hunting, taking more game than allowed by law, using illegal equipment, hunting out of season or taking wildlife for which there is no legal season.

Two important rules to remember when observing illegal wildlife related activities are:

• Never confront the suspects you observe committing these crimes

• Be observant and be prepared to provide as much information as possible about what you observe, such as detailed descriptions of the people and vehicles including license plate numbers, and location and time of the incident. My wife also reminds me that everyone these days has a cell phone, most with a camera, and everyone (excluding me) knows how to use it.

Calls to Operation Game Thief have resulted in arrest and convictions on violations from vandalism to deer poaching and everything in between. Drug operations have even been uncovered as a result of calls to this number. Perhaps the worst result of wildlife related crimes is the damage caused to the image of those of us who attempt to abide by all the wildlife rules and regulations. I refuse to be categorized with those who call themselves “hunters” but refuse to abide by the rules.

If they insist on being known as “hunters” then perhaps the rest of us should find a different term for what we enjoy. Remember, Operation Game Thief, (877) 426-3843. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

Supreme Court: Traffic stop OK despite mistake of law

Screen Shot 2014-12-15 at 9.41.12 AMWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says police are justified in making a traffic stop even if it turns out the officers are mistaken in thinking the driver broke the law.

The justices said Monday that such a stop does not violate the Constitution’s protection against unreasonable searches.

The ruling came in a North Carolina case in which a police officer pulled over Nicholas Heien’s car because the right brake light was out, although the left one still worked. A search led to the discovery of cocaine in the trunk.

A state appeals court said the stop was impermissible because state law only requires a car to have one functioning brake light. But the state’s highest court reversed, finding that the officer’s misunderstanding of law was reasonable. The Supreme Court agreed.

‘Old infrastructure’ causes overnight water main break in Ellis

ellis water towerBy BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS–“We’re dealing with old pipes, old infrastructure,” Ellis Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman said Monday morning as his employees headed back out to finish work on an overnight water main break.

The break happened about 8 p.m. Sunday at 10th and Cottonwood in Ellis. An “estimated 30,000 gallons of water was lost–not too bad,” according to Scheuerman.

Crews were on the scene until 2:30 a.m. Monday and are finishing street repair in the area today. The southwest portion of Ellis was without water during the overnight work.

“That pipeline needs to be replaced,” Scheuerman said. “It’s on the city’s replacement list (in upcoming projects.)”

Nonprofit for visually impaired acquires station

EnvisionWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita nonprofit that serves the visually impaired is going into the radio business.

Envision on Friday acquired KFTI, a 100,000-watt FM radio station, from Journal Broadcast Group.

Envision CEO Michael Monteferrante says the radio acquisition is part of the nonprofit’s plan to expand its mission. He says the station will provide jobs for people who are blind or have low vision, while also diversifying Envision’s revenue sources and allowing the group to spread its message.

The Wichita Eagle reports Envision’s business operations support its non-employment programs and services.

Envision is best known for providing jobs for the visually impaired at a plant where it manufactures plastic bags. It also operates office supply stores at 16 Army, Air Force and Navy installations in 10 states.

Privacy watchdog demands changes from Google

GoogleTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch privacy watchdog is ordering Google to make changes to the way it handles users’ personal data or face fines of up to 15 million euros ($18.7 million).

The College for the Protection of Personal Data announced Monday it is giving the Internet giant until the end of February to comply with measures aimed at giving consumers more clarity about how their personal information is used across the suite of Google services.

Privacy watchdogs in six European countries, including the Netherlands, opened investigations into Google after it amended its privacy policy early in 2012.

Al Verney, a spokesman from Google, says the company is disappointed with the order, “especially as we have already made a number of changes to our privacy policy in response to their concerns.”

Annual audit review scheduled for USD 489 school board

By KARI BLURTON
Hays PostUSD 489

The Hays USD 489 Board of Education will go over the results of its annual year-end audit at Monday’s meeting at the Rockwell Administration Building, 323 W. 12th, scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

At last week’s board work session, Superintendent Dean Katt said he has been presented with the findings from local auditing firm, Adams, Beran and Ball and thought the results were “good.”

The board is also expected to vote on a bid for a copier at the copy center’s main copy center, a move that is expected to reduce copy expenses at individual schools and buildings.

Another vote regarding policy revisions for certified administrators is on the agenda, as well.

December’s “Best of the Best Awards” will be given to one student and one staff member, nominated for their accomplishments within the district.

Katt will also present “School Spotlights,” to highlight district events.

A full agenda can be viewed on the USD489 website HERE.

 

 

Hays SSRT will train this week on West 13th Street

The Hays Police Department Special Situation Response Team will train at 301 W. 13th Street on Thursday.

The training will be held between 2:30 and 6 p.m. Training signs will be posted around the specific training site prior to the start of training.

There will be no danger to anyone living or working in the area. The Hays Police Department appreciates the public’s cooperation, noting training should not impede daily activities.

For more information, contact the Hays Police Department.

Emporia farmer with NW Kan. ties will lead livestock association

WICHITA – Kansas Livestock Association members have elected Emporia rancher Jaret Moyer as president for the coming year. Matt Perrier, a seedstock cattle producer from Eureka, was chosen as the new president elect of the 5,000-member organization. Both were elected by members during the annual business meeting December 5 at the KLA Convention in Wichita.

Moyer’s ranch is focused on growing light cattle using a combination of Flint Hills pastures and a backgrounding facility. He also is president of Citizens State Bank and Trust Company, with locations in Woodbine, Bremen, Gypsum and Reading.

Moyer serves on both the KLA Executive Committee and KLA Board of Directors. He is a member of the KLA Stockgrowers Council and previously served as the KLA director for Lyon County. Before moving to the Emporia area in 2003, he was involved in the Phillips County KLA Committee. Moyer is a past chairman of the Kansas Beef Council. He is on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Board of Directors.

Moyer serves on the Federation of State Beef Councils Domestic Consumer Preference Committee and Value Subcommittee. He is a past member of the NCBA Retail Committee. Moyer is the current president of Flint Hills Beef Fest, which is the annual celebration of the state’s grass cattle industry.
Moyer has been actively involved in leadership development programs. He is a past participant in the NCBA Young Cattlemen’s Conference. Moyer has attended the KLA Leadership Conference. He also graduated from the Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership program.

He graduated from Kansas State University in 1992 with a degree in animal science. Moyer later completed course work at the graduate school of banking in Madison, WI.

Moyer and his wife, Shawna, have two daughters. Arissa is a junior at K-State studying ag economics. Sarah is a senior at Northern Heights High School in Allen.

Perrier represents the fifth generation of his family’s registered Angus and ranching operation in Greenwood County. Dalebanks Angus started as a sheep farm in 1867. It has maintained a registered Angus herd continuously since 1904. Today, the seedstock cattle operation produces genetics for the commercial cow-calf producer.

The list of industry leadership positions he has held is lengthy. Perrier is a past chairman of the KLA Stockgrowers Council. He currently serves on the KLA Board of Directors and the NCBA Board of Directors. Perrier is a member of the NCBA Ag and Food Policy Committee.

He attended the NCBA Young Cattlemen’s Conference and served as chairman of the group in 2007. Perrier also has attended the KLA Leadership Conference.

Perrier is a member of the Kansas Animal Health Board and Greenwood County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, of which he is a past president. He is a past member of the U.S. Premium Beef Nominating Committee and Kansas Angus Association Board of Directors. Perrier is a past president of the Greenwood County Cattlemen’s Association and previously served as vice president of the Greenwood Preservation Society, which helped restore the Greenwood Hotel.

He graduated from K-State in 1996 with a degree in animal science. Prior to coming back to the family business, he was director of retail and foodservice programs for the Pennsylvania Beef Council and served in several staff capacities, including as a regional manager, for the American Angus Association.

Perrier and his wife, Amy, have four children: Ava, Lyle, Hannah and Henry. They are expecting a fifth child in mid-March.

KLA is a trade organization representing the state’s livestock business on legislative, regulatory and industry issues at both the state and federal levels. The association’s work is funded through voluntary dues dollars paid by its members.

Beulah May (Franklin) Cress

Funeral services for lifelong Sherman County, Kansas, resident Beulah May (Franklin) Cress, 93, will be held Friday, December 19, at 10:00 AM MT at Pleasant Home Church in rural Sherman County.

Interment will be at Goodland Cemetery.

Friends may share respects Thursday, December 18, 3-7 PM MT at Koons Chapel in Goodland. Family will be present from 5-7 PM MT.

Memorials to Pleasant Home Church may be left at the service or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 North Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.

Online condolences to www.koonsfuneralhome.com.

Sylvia Louise Hurst

Funeral services for longtime Goodland, Kansas, resident Sylvia Louise Hurst, 88, will be held
Saturday, December 20, at 10:00 AM MT at First Christian Church in Goodland, Kansas.

Interment will be at Goodland Cemetery.

Friends may share respects Saturday, December 20, from 9:00-10:00 AM MT at First Christian Church.

Memorials to First Christian Church may be left at the service or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 North Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555

Online condolences to w.ww.koonsfuneralhome.com.

Congress puts potatoes on menu for low-income moms

WIC programMARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a political victory for the popular potato.

For the first time, low-income women would be able to pay for potatoes with government-subsidized vouchers issued by the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.

The potato provision is part of a massive spending bill expected to be signed by the President.

White potatoes have been excluded from WIC since fruits and vegetables were first allowed under the program in 2009. The Institute of Medicine had recommended they be left off of WIC vouchers, saying recipients of the aid already eat enough white potatoes.

The potato industry has aggressively lobbied for inclusion in the WIC program, saying it’s not as much about sales as the perception that potatoes aren’t as nutritious as other vegetables.

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