It’s time for Walk Kansas. For information on how you can enroll and what Walk Kansas is all about, is Linda Beech.
Month: March 2015
US flag with Lincoln connection to fly in Leoti
LEOTI, Kan. (AP) — A United States flag with 36 stars will fly again in western Kansas, 150 years after President Abraham Lincoln’s death.
The Wichita Eagle reports Susan Schrader of Leoti donated the flag to the Museum of the Great Plains after her family owned it for five generations. Schrader and Karen Walk, the curator of the museum, believe the flag is loosely connected to Lincoln.
Schrader believes the flag’s original owner was S.P. Holmes, a businessman who dealt in American and foreign silks.
According to Walk, Holmes was likely a Lincoln supporter and his flag may have flown over the Lincoln’s funeral procession in New York City in 1865.
After being restored, the 8 by 5 foot flag will be framed and hung on the museum’s wall. Museum officials hope to unveil the flag on June 14 – Flag Day.
Major credit agencies agree to change how they handle your info
NEW YORK (AP) — The three largest credit reporting agencies will change the way they handle records in a major revamp long sought by consumer advocates.
Medical debts won’t be reported until after a 180-day waiting period to allow time for insurance payments to be applied. People who contest items in their credit reports will receive additional information concerning their dispute, including instructions on what they can do if they don’t like the answer they get.
The plan is intended to provide people with more transparency and more simple navigation when dealing with the bureaus that hold their credit reports.
The changes were announced Monday after talks between Equifax, Experian, TransUnion and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
The consumer assistance plan will begin to be implemented over the next several months.
State high school tourneys give a boost to local business community
FHSU University Relations
Cars, vans, buses, pickups and an occasional RV sprawled last weekend from the vast parking lot at Gross Memorial Coliseum onto the adjoining grass fields. Inside, 224 grapplers from 70 Kansas high schools were competing in the Class 3-2-1A KSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament.
Official attendance at the two-day event on the campus of Fort Hays State University totaled 4,958, which included 2,612 adults and 2,346 students.
The event, which represents the very best of what student-athlete competition should be, also gives the university an opportunity to showcase its top-rate facilities to many first-time visitors. And it does something else. When Fort Hays State brings visitors to campus for major events such as the state wrestling tournament, it creates an economic windfall for the local community.
The visitors eat meals, rent hotel rooms, shop and take advantage of the many recreational opportunities available in Hays and Ellis County.
While it is not possible to calculate the exact economic impact, the official numbers for participants and fans provide reliable estimates by applying formulas developed by tourism experts. A recent Wichita State University study indicated that day-only visitors attending Hays events spend approximately $55.00 per person per day. For 224 wrestlers and 4,958 fans, that calculates to $285,010. But this was a two-day tournament, which means many if not most of those 5,182 people rented rooms. The average room rate for hotels north of I-70 in Hays is $98.66. A conservative estimate would be that 3,000 people rented rooms. Figuring three people to a room, that would be nearly $99,000.
So, in addition to enjoying the thrilling experience of a state tournament, our visitors pumped more than $380,000 into the local economy.
“The partnership Fort Hays State has with the community of Hays expands beyond the traditional classroom learning opportunity,” said Tammy Wellbrock, executive director of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce. “It is a major economic driver greatly impacting our local business community, especially when the university hosts large events such as state wrestling.”
She noted that the wrestling tournament — and others like it — brings in a large number of visitors who need the basics, like food and lodging, but also many spend their free time shopping at the various offerings available in Hays.
“For some of these guests, attending an event held on campus may also be the first time they have visited our community, prompting return visits and experiences,” Wellbrock said. “We are so proud to be able to showcase our remarkable community during events like state wrestling and appreciate the great hospitality Fort Hays State and local businesses provide to our out-of-town guests.”
HPD Activity Log March 6-8
The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and 16 traffic stops Friday, March 6, 2015, according to the HPD log.
Animal Call–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 9:50 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1200 block Fort St, Hays; 10:01 AM
MV Accident-Priv. Prop.-Hit & Run–700 blk Main, Hays; 11:56 AM; 3/5/15 6:30 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 3:27 PM
Identity Theft–1900 block Marshall Rd, Hays; 4:35 PM
Domestic Disturbance–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 4:39 PM
Juvenile Complaint–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 4:46 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1500 block Main St, Hays; 5:03 PM
Document Service–1000 block Fort St, Hays; 5:00 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–400 block W 4th St, Hays; 6:34 PM
Civil Dispute–2800 block Indian Trl, Hays; 7:01 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:13 PM
Suspicious Activity–1200 block Main St, Hays; 5 PM; 5:15 PM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–4100 block Hall St, Hays; 9:08 PM
Found/Lost Property–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 9:17 PM
Theft (general)–300 block E 11th St, Hays; 10:25 PM
Disturbance – Noise–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 10:26 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and 13 traffic stops Saturday, March 7, 2015, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Traffic Stop—200 block W 8th St, Hays; 12:10 AM
Battery – Domestic–2900 block Skyline Dr, Hays; 12:30 AM; 12:40 PM
Aggravated Battery–2700 block Elm St, Hays; 3:11 AM
Found/Lost Property–3000 block New Way, Hays; 10:22 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–1000 block W 38th St, Hays; 11 AM; 11:05 AM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 4:05 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–2500 block Gen Hancock Rd, Hays; 4:26 PM
Driving Under the Influence–1000 block Centennial Blvd, Hays; 5:35 PM
Disturbance – Noise–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 6:33 PM
Juvenile Complaint–1200 block E 27th St, Hays; 6:53 PM
Found/Lost Property–27th & Canterbury Dr., Hays; 6:49 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 7:02 PM
Animal Call–1500 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 7:08 PM
Disturbance – Noise–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 7:20 PM
Drug Offenses–200 block W 10th St, Hays; 8:06 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–200 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:21 PM
Accident-Private Property–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 9:00 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 9:29 PM
Battery – Domestic–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10:08 PM
Domestic Disturbance–2000 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:20 PM
Animal Call–100 block E 7th St, Hays; 10:47 PM
Aggravated Battery–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 11:07 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and 8 traffic stops Sunday, March 8, 2015, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Disturbance – Noise–600 block E 5th St, Hays; 3:37 AM
Domestic Disturbance–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 3:56 AM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–500 block E 16th St, Hays; 4:46 AM
MV Accident-Hit & Run–100 blk W 36th St, Hays; 3/7/15 8:30PM; 3/8/15 8:55 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block E 19th St, Hays; 10:26 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2900 block Walnut St, Hays; 11:30 AM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12:30 PM; 12:31 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–500 block E 16th St, Hays; 4:46 AM; 12:25 PM
Theft (general)–500 block E 16th St, Hays; 12:39 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 2:04 PM
Domestic Disturbance–1200 block Milner St, Hays; 2:50 PM; 2:54 PM
Civil Transport–1300 block Kansas Highway 264, Larned; 3:01 PM
Domestic Disturbance–400 block Milner St, Hays; 4:15 PM
Search Warrant–300 block E 6th St, Hays; 4:52 PM
Battery – Domestic–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 8:18 PM
Suspicious Activity–100 block Elm St, Hays; 9:59 PM
Exploring Kan. Outdoors: Examining the ‘right to hunt’ amendment
There is an old adage that says if you drop a frog into boiling water it will immediately jump out, but if you put that same frog into a pot of cool water then slowly raise the water temperature to boiling, the frog will likely be boiled.
The gist of the proverb is that we will instantly react to sudden changes around us, but if those changes come slowly and subtly, it may be too late to properly react once we notice.
House Concurrent Resolution 5008 just now starting its journey through the Kansas legislature would amend the state constitution to guarantee Kansas residents the right to hunt, fish and trap wildlife here in our state.
My first reaction was “Do we really need this?” Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to become like the frog in the pot and eventually lose my hunting, fishing and trapping rights after years of slow and subtle attacks on those rights by the likes of PETA and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS.)
But this is Kansas after all, and I really don’t worry much about us Kansans being out-muscled nor out-witted by that sort of thinking. I also know that federal law still trumps state law, so we can pass all the laws and resolutions we want here in KS, but if something contrary gets passed at the federal level, it’s all for naught. I could only hope that the bills co-authors Adam Lusker from Fontenac and Travis Couture-Lovelady from Palco had some reasoning in mind that I was missing.
I spoke with Rep. Lusker on the phone and here are some points they hope to make with this proposed constitutional amendment. First, they want its passage to show groups like PETA and HSUS just how seriously we Kansans value our right to hunt, fish and trap, making them think twice about trying to force their agendas here in Kansas; sort of the ounce-of-prevention-is-worth-a-pound-of-cure principle.
Secondly they want to show Kansas sportsmen and women that our state leaders take our hunting, fishing and trapping rights seriously enough to do whatever they have to do to protect them. Also by doing this they want sportsmen across the country to take notice that Kansas also wants their business as well.
If ratified by two-thirds of the house and two-thirds of the senate, House Concurrent Resolution 5008 will appear on the ballet in the next regular election year, 2016. If passed by the voters in Kansas, that should add even more teeth to its intent. I’m still not sure we need an amendment to our state constitution to guarantee our right to hunt, fish and trap here in the state of Kansas, but things take awhile to grow on me.
I have to say that the points presented to me by Rep. Lusker were very valid and thought-provoking. In the mean time, let’s all exercise those rights to the fullest and Explore Kansas Outdoors.
Steve Gilliland, Inamna, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Foster parent training will be this month in Hays
Submitted
Too often children in foster care are uprooted from more than just their families. Through no fault of their own, children can leave their home, school, and community in one swift move. Opening your heart and your home to a child in foster care is one of life’s most rewarding moments.
KVC, Kansas Foster Care will sponsor a Foster Parent Training, also known as TIPS-MAPP, on March 19 at KVC Wheatland Hospital, 205 E. Seventh, Hays. beginning at 6 p.m. Anyone who has considered becoming a foster or adoptive parent is invited.
The training is offered at no cost and is open to couples and single-parent households. TIPS-MAPP must be completed before being considered for placement of children in state custody.
For more information or to register, contact Stephanie Smith at (316) 618-5437 or [email protected].
It’s time for the Eagle Radio Auction!
The Eagle Radio Auction begins at 8 a.m. March 19 and 20 and will be aired live on KJLS-103.3 FM and KHAZ-99.5.
Businesses wanting to participate should call Eagle Radio of Hays at (785) 625-2578 by Wednesday.
Listeners can place a bid by calling (785) 625-2578 or (800) 569-0144 during the auction. Select items also can be purchased in advance by visiting https://www.eagleradioauction.com.
For more information on the event, click HERE.
KFIX Rock News: Director Of Rolling Stones Documentary “Gimme Shelter” Dies
The man who directed the classic 1970 Rolling Stones documentary Gimme Shelter, has died. Albert Maysles [MAY-zuhls] passed away Thursday of natural causes at age 88, Variety reports.
After filming the first concert of their 1969 U.S. tour — a show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden — Maysles and his brother David convinced the Rolling Stones to let them film their 1969 U.S. tour.
They ultimately captured the infamous December 6, 1969 concert at Northern California’s Altamont Speedway, which also featured Jefferson Airplane, Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Grateful Dead, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
Hells Angels hired by the Stones to provide security instead attacked audience members, stabbing concert goer Meredith Hunter to death in what was later ruled an act of self-defense. The Maysles Brothers captured Hunter’s murder on film.
Albert Mayles’ had dozens of both feature-length and short documentaries to his name. He was currently working on a documentary about the late artist Keith Haring. Mayles’ brother and Gimme Shelter co-director, David, died in 1987.
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved
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Images courtesy The Criterion Collection
Hays Big Creek Fundraiser: ‘A Night Out for Elk Country’
Submitted
Do you love elk, hunting and spending time in the outdoors? Do you recognize the importance of conserving North America’s most vital landscapes? Then join us for an entertaining evening while raising money to benefit elk, other wildlife, their habitat and our hunting heritage — that’s what the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation promises at the 1st annual Big Creek Chapter fundraiser banquet and auction scheduled for March 14, at the Unrein Building at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.
The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a social hour, games, general raffle and silent auction and dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by a live auction for world-class wildlife prints, unique collectibles, home furnishings, firearms and much more.
“Money raised at our banquet will go toward on-the-ground conservation and hunting heritage projects here in our own backyard of Kansas while also assisting elk and elk country across the nation,” said Morris Foster, Big Creek Chapter Chairman. “We promise a good time for a great cause and we’re proud of our continuing support for RMEF’s conservation work here and across the country.
Since 1984, RMEF enhanced or conserved more than 6.5 million acres of habitat — nearly all on public lands — for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also opened or secured access to more than 715,000 acres of land for public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. With a national and international membership of over 200,000 volunteers, RMEF members have worked to restore wild elk populations in parts of their former historic range such as Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Missouri, Virginia and Arkansas, and has funded almost $500,000 in Kansas alone to conserve and enhance acres for wildlife habitat.
Tickets are $50 per person, $65 per couple and $10 for youth 6 to 16. Kids under 6 are free. Each single and couple ticket includes a yearly RMEF membership and a BUGLE magazine subscription.
To purchase tickets, go to https://events.rmef.org/ or contact Morris at (785) 342-5139 or Myles at [email protected].
Auctions, raffles and other games are always a popular highlight at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation events. Featured prizes at the upcoming event include, Browning X-Bolt Medallion Maple .300 with Zeiss Terra 3-9×42 mm # 20 plex scope, a Kimber Custom II Two Tone RMEF Special Edition, .45 ACP, Tikka T3 Camo, Stainless, .300 WSM, Savage 93R17 BSEV,17HMR, Stoeger Condor Over/Under,20 ga., as well as other guns, a Custom made knife by Joe Eshelman, Prints, 2015 Banquet edition RMEF Knife and Belt Buckles and many more items.
Discover why “Hunting is Conservation” at www.rmef.org or (800) CALL ELK.
Kansas bill would help cities establish arts and cultural districts
By Kelsie Jennings
KU Statehouse Wire Service
TOPEKA — The city of Wichita has proposed a bill that would help Kansas cities establish arts and culture districts by giving them a property tax credit for 10 years.
Proponents of the bill said the promotion of arts and culture will have economic benefits and encourage young people to stay in the state.
In House Bill 2368 the amount of the tax credit would be a percentage of the assessed tax value of the property. The maximum percentage would be 80 percent for the first five years, 70 percent for the sixth year, 60 percent for the seventh year and so forth through 10 years. However, percentages would be up to each city to decide.
John D’Angelo, director of the Division of Arts and Cultural Services in Wichita, spoke of the vibrant art district in the city. He said the art districts have drawn in other businesses to those areas because of the locations’ popularity, and artists tend to take their art to affordable areas. He also said the city of Wichita has invested in developments near its art districts, so it would like to protect those investments by protecting the art districts.
“The intent is to give artists tax relief or, in the case of Topeka, to give the property owners some tax relief as a way for them to continue to invest in that development,” D’Angelo said. “What we find is they just reinvest. What they’re going to do is take that money and use it again.”
D’Angelo said Wichita officials do not know exactly how much tax revenue the arts districts generates, but said the non-profit sector employs about 2,000 people.
The bill’s fiscal note says that passage of HB 2368 would potentially result in less tax revenue for the Educational Building Fund and the State Institutions Building Fund. Also, the bill would decrease the amount of property tax revenues school districts receive through the state’s uniform mill levy.
A couple Kansas artists spoke in support of the bill, as well as some members of NOTO Arts District of North Topeka. NOTO has art galleries and studios, tattoo artists, boutiques, as well as restaurants and bars.
Mikki Burcher, a member of NOTO Anonymous, said there aren’t just economic benefits of increasing business revenue but arts districts also play a vital role in keeping young people in Kansas by giving them reasons to stay.
“These cultural centers are the types of things that people my age, the millennials, crave. This is where we want to be. This is where we want to learn,” Burcher said. “These are the areas that we go to have fun, to congregate, to learn, to talk to each other. They’re critical to attracting young professionals to our state.”
Burcher said she doesn’t think legislation like this was really pushed before because these art districts typically grow over time on their own and people are just now realizing how valuable they are to communities. She said even though some of the art districts have been successful, they’re having a hard time growing past the initial success.
“Now that they’re past their infancy and they’ve had some measure of success, they’re struggling with sustainability and that’s why this is important at this point and time,” Burcher said. “We need to make sure that that successful district stays there.”
Rep. Steve Brunk (R-Wichita), chairman of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, said if the bill is passed, each city, along with its county and school district jurisdictions, would have to agree before it could happen in their community.
Brunk said the committee will discuss the bill at a later date, but didn’t have a specific time.
Kelsie Jennings is a University of Kansas senior from Olathe majoring in journalism.
Man zips around Lawrence streets in custom-built Batmobile
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence man is catching the eye of other motorists with his custom-built Batmobile.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Rich Johnson has been restoring cars for more than 25 years and can be seen driving the car in parades or around Lawrence.
Johnson, who used to watch Batman’s adventures on TV when he was a kid, had begun working on the car after learning that a man from Ohio had a mold of the original Batmobile in 2012. Johnson asked the man to create a fiberglass shell of the car for him.
It took Johnson over five months to construct his own Batmobile that’s painted black with red pinstripes and Batman logos on its doors. Johnson’s car made its debut in 2013 at a pre-party for an annual city parade.
Sunny, warmer Monday
Dry and warm conditions continue through the week with a slight increase in cloud cover Friday.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 72. West southwest wind around 7 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. North wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 71.
Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.