Notre Dame shot 75-percent in the second half including 6-of-8 from 3-point range and pulled away in the second half for an 80-71 win over Wichita State in the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal in Cleveland Thursday night.
The Shockers rallied from a 13-point first half deficit to pull within three at halftime and took a brief one-point lead with 16:40 to play but the Fighting Irish respond with a 17-6 over the next four minutes and never led by less than eight the rest of the way.
Demetrius Jackson scored 20 to lead Notre Dame. Fred VanVleet led the Shockers with 25 and Darius Carter added 22. Ron Baker was held to nine and hit two of Wichita State’s three 3’s.
The Shockers finish the season 30-5. Notre Dame moves on to face top-seeded Kentucky who cruised to a 78-39 win over West Virginia.
The TMP-Marian softball team opens their season with a pair of wins over Salina Sacred Heart on Thursday. The Monarchs take the opener 11-5 then pick up a run-rule 12-1 victory in game two.
Katelyn Zimmerman’s two-run homer in the first gave the Monarchs the early lead in the first game. After the Knights went up 3-2, TMP answered with two in the third, fourth and fifth then put the game away with three in the seventh.
Alison Helget strikes out five and walks just one in the complete game victory in the first game. She also had two hits and drove in a run. Jodi Veach had four hits and an RBI while Heidi Gottschalk and Megan Brin both drive in two.
The Monarchs jump out early in game two scoring three in the first, four in the second and two in the third.
Only three of TMP’s 12 runs were earned thanks to 10 Sacred Heart errors.
Freshman Bailey Lacy gets the game two victory allowing just two hits while striking out seven. Laurel Hageman had two hits while Veach and Meagan Brin both drive in two.
The Hays High softball team opens their season 0-4 after a couple of losses in Goodland Thursday. The Indians fall 6-3 in
the first game then 7-6 in game two.
The Indians are on the road again Tuesday for a triangular at Valley Center.
Game 1: Goodland 6, Hays 3
The Indians commit six errors in the first game resulting in five unearned runs.
Hays scored two in the top of the first on a triple by Tessa Stickel scoring Albany Schaffer. Stickel scored on an RBI single by Kaylie Schoendaller who finished 2-for-2.
Goodland answered with four in the second.
The Indians made it 4-3 with a run in the fourth but the Cowgirls score single runs in the fourth and fifth for the final margin.
Madison Prough goes the distance allowing all six runs (one earned) on eight hits and takes the loss.
Game 2: Goodland 7, Hays 6
Hays was up 4-1 in the second game going into the bottom of the fifth when Goodland scores four. They add two in the sixth before the Indians rally with two in the seventh and had the tying run at third to end the game.
Kaylie Schoendaller had two hits including a two-run homer in the third and drives in three.
Erika Arnhold takes the complete game loss allowing all seven runs while walking nine and striking out eight.
The TMP-Marian girls soccer team opens their season with a 5-0 win over Hays High. Alyssa Keil records the hat trick with three goals while freshman Aubrey Koeningsman and Kayla Vitztum each get one.
CONCORDIA, Kan. (AP) — The Cloud County Health Center is warning residents to beware of a woman claiming she has an appointment to check medical equipment at their homes.
The Salina Journal reports the woman pretends to be associated with a medical-related business or organization to gain entry. After she leaves, residents have discovered prescription drugs missing.
LeRoy Dickinson, the center’s vice president of operations, marketing and public relations, says the impostor has visited the homes of at least three to four elderly individuals in the Concordia area. Dickinson says it appears she’s working alone.
Dickinson says the scam has been reported to Concordia police and is under investigation. No arrests have been announced.
Dickinson says any suspicious activity should be reported to authorities.
BEL AIRE, Kan. (AP) — Bel Aire police say some residents were evacuated for several hours and others told to stay indoors after a grenade was discovered at a home damaged last week by a fire.
Police Chief Darrell Atteberry says a construction crew was tearing into the home’s ceiling Thursday when the grenade dropped from the attic. The crew backed out as a precaution and notified the homeowner, who called 911.
Atteberry says the current owner had only lived in the home for about 11 months and was unaware the grenade was in the attic. Wichita police sent its bomb squad to the scene to check for additional devices and safely removed the grenade.
WICHITA- A Kansas man died in an accident just before 9 p.m. on Thursday in Sedgwick County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Watkins, Nathaniel A K. Watkins, 20, Wichita, was northbound on Webb Road, failed to yield at the intersection of Kansas 254 and was struck by a 2013 Scion driven by Scott C. Wilson, 45, El Dorado.
Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Sedgwick County Coroner. Wilson was transported to Wesley Medical Center.
The KHP reported both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Police have solved the mystery of a stolen casket that was found earlier this month along a Wichita road.
The Wichita Eagle reports that the casket was dug up in February because a family member wanted to have the body cremated. Lt. James Espinoza says the cemetery where the grave was doesn’t accept used caskets, so the family made arrangements to have the casket hauled away.
The hauling company transported the casket to its facility to be discarded. But Espinoza said thieves stole the casket before the facility’s staff could get rid of it, and the hauling company chose not to report the theft to police.
Police suspect the thieves were looking to scrap the casket but dumped it when they learned no one was going to take it.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A state agency is reminding utility customers who are behind on paying their electric and natural gas bills that the Kansas Cold Weather Rule ends Tuesday.
The Kansas Corporation Commission says the rule aims to protect residential customers who cannot fully pay winter utility bills. It is in effect from Nov. 1 through March 31 of each year for customers of companies under the KCC’s jurisdiction.
The agency says customers can contact their utility company to set up a payment plan. The rule requires utilities to set up 12-month payment plans for customers who cannot afford to pay their full bill.
But the KCC cautions that failure to make arrangements or follow the payment plan could result in service disconnection.
Hays Public Works Director I.D. Creech presents a staff recommendation against a final plat for Clubhouse Gardens II Addition. City commissioners, however, approved the plat unanimously.
By BECKY KISER Hay Post
Four areas of continued residential and business development in north Hays were approved unanimously by Hays City Commissioners during their Thursday night meeting, including one that was not supported by city staff. Commissioner Kent Steward was absent.
Information was presented by I.D. Creech, Public Works Director, for a replat in the North Hays Addition east of Carrico Implement, the final plat and rezoning of Clubhouse Gardens II adjacent to the Smoky Hill Country Club, as well as an engineering services agreement in King’s Gate Addition Phase II on the north side of 41st Street.
Creech reminded commissioners the Hays Planning Commission had already unanimously approved each project.
However, city staff recommended against approval of the final plat of Clubhouse Gardens II Addition because “the two large lots do not conform with the spirit of the city’s comprehensive plan,” Creech explained. “There is too large of a discrepancy in lot size.”
“They do conform with the development to the south of it,” mayor Henry Schwaller pointed out. “I think the developer (P & W Residential Investments LLC) is correct in configuring the development in this manner.”
City Commissioner Ron Mellick said he had attended the planning commission meeting when it was approved and “the nearby neighbors are aware of the change and support it.”
“We didn’t have anybody show up against this, which is unusual when we replat something. I think the neighbors are fine with it,” Mellick said.
Commissioners also heard from Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno about special assessments for two Special Improvement Districts within the city which are ready to be finalized and assessed to the property owners. The SIDs are 46th Street Second Addition–with $453,951.60 to be assessed, and Golden Belt Estates Fifth Addition-with $522,416.55 to be assessed– for water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and streets.
A resolution was approved setting a public hearing for April 23 to consider the proposed assessments.
Each year, 10% of all medical costs in the US are attributed to obesity. One in three adults and one in six children are obese. While we cannot change our genetics, we can change our behavior and environment.
On Friday, March 27, Ellis County Extension will host a free noon-hour program on managing obesity at the Extension Office meeting room, 601 Main, in Hays. Call 785-628-9430 to pre-register; bring a lunch to enjoy during the meeting if desired.
Linda Beech
Guest speaker Donna Krug, Barton County Extension Agent, will present ways to reverse the trend of obesity. Learn how to develop an action plan for healthy eating and active living to manage your weight and improve your health.
The US Dietary Guidelines suggest that Americans should enjoy their food, but eat less. Healthy meals start with more vegetables and fruits and lowfat dairy along with recommended portions of protein and grains. You can enjoy your meals while making small adjustments to the amounts of food on your plate. Here are a few tips for avoid overeating while still enjoying mealtime:
1. Get to know the foods you eat. Find out what kinds of foods and how much to eat. An easy place to start is www.supertracker.usda.gov to find recommendations for food and activity for your age and activity level and to get tips and support for making better food choices.
2. Take your time. Be mindful to eat slowly, enjoy the taste and textures, and pay attention to how you feel. Use hunger and fullness cues to recognize when to eat and when you’ve had enough.
3. Use a smaller plate at meals to help with portion control. That way you can finish your entire plate and feel satisfied without overeating. The MyPlate guidelines recommend a 9-inch plate. Measure your dinnerware and see how it compares.
4. If you eat out, choose healthier options. Check and compare nutrition information about the foods you are eating. Choose smaller food items or share a large meal with a friend. Preparing food at home– instead of eating out– makes it easier to control what is in your meals.
5. Satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way. Indulge in a naturally sweet dessert dish—fruit! Serve a fresh fruit cocktail or a fruit parfait made with yogurt. For a hot dessert, bake apples and top with cinnamon.
6. Choose to eat some foods more or less often . Choose more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or 1% milk and dairy products. Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt.
7. Find out what you need. Get your personalized plan by using the SuperTracker to identify your food group targets. Compare the foods you eat now to the foods you need to eat and make adjustments accordingly.
8. Sip smarter. Drink water or other calorie-free beverages, 100% juice, or fat-free milk when you are thirsty. Soda and other sweet drinks contain a lot of sugar and are high in calories.
9. Compare foods. Become a label-reader to look up and compare nutrition information and make the most healthful choices.
10. Make treats “treats,” not everyday foods. Treats are great once in a while. Just don’t make treat foods an everyday choice. Limit sweet treats to special occasions and choose foods from MyPlate for everyday snacks and desserts.
For more information on making healthy, active choices, plan to attend the free Extension program “Action Plan for Managing Obesity” on March 27 at noon at the Ellis County Extension Office. Call (785) 628-9430 to reserve your spot.
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Pittsburg State University in southeast Kansas is bringing the Holi festival to the state.
The university announced Thursday that its Indian Students Association will host its annual Holi celebration Saturday.
Holi is a Hindu festival observed at the end of the winter season and marks the victory of good over evil. Groups of people traditionally celebrate it by dancing and throwing colorful powders and dyed water at each other.
The association will provide the powders and music, and the event will take place at 1 p.m. near the soccer fields in the Bicknell Sports Complex in Pittsburg, Kansas. It will be open to both students and the general public.
Clouds with sprinkles and very light rain showers will move southeast across western Kansas the first half of the day today. As skies clear, temperatures will warm nicely into the lower 70s across far western Kansas. Temperatures will only reach around 60 from Hays to Pratt to Medicine Lodge.
Today A chance of rain and snow showers, mainly between 8am and 9am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind around 7 mph becoming west after midnight. Saturday Sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon. Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Southeast wind 11 to 15 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a north wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Monday Sunny, with a high near 74.
