MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas State University laboratory that conducts rabies testing is reporting a spike in positive results.
Diagnostician Rolan Davis says there were 28 positive rabies cases from January through March of this year, up from 10 positives for the same three months in 2014.
The school said this week in a news release that 23 of the cases involve rabies in a skunk, the animal most associated with carrying the virus in Kansas. There also were three cases in cats, one in a bovine and one in a fox.
Davis says the increase isn’t a cause for alarm but urged people to be aware in case they come across an infected animal. Officials at the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory say vaccinating pets is the best protection against rabies.
Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute.
In another of his patented truth-to-power moments, Pope Francis triggered international debate this week by having the temerity to call genocide “genocide.”
Speaking at Sunday Mass on April 12, the pontiff described the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by Turks 100 years ago as “the first genocide of the 20th century” — a characterization of that horrific episode strongly supported by the evidence of history.
The Turkish government — which vehemently denies that the killings were genocide — has reacted with outrage, condemning the pope for spreading “hatred and animosity.” Many other countries remain conspicuously silent, continuing their longstanding policy of tiptoeing around Turkish sensibilities on the Armenian question.
In the real world, it is Turkish denial — like Holocaust denial — that fuels hate and animosity.
As the pope explained in his sermon, “concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it.”
Naming evil matters. Avoiding truth, appeasing transgressors, and downplaying atrocities allow evil to flourish — and history to repeat itself.
The pope’s candor was a provocative start to the “Days of Remembrance” — an annual week of events commemorating international Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yon Hashoah) which falls on April 16 this year.
Tragically, the world has much to remember — or perhaps “confront” is the more apt term.
Anti-Semitism, the poisonous prejudice that fueled the Holocaust, is on the rise across the world, especially in Europe and the Middle East.
According to a survey released last year by the Anti-Defamation League, 26% of the world’s population harbor anti-Semitic attitudes and, alarmingly, two out of three people surveyed have either never heard of the Holocaust, or do not believe historical accounts to be accurate.
Holocaust amnesia accompanied by worldwide resurgence of anti-Semitism are dire warnings that the world’s promise of “never again” can’t be relied on by the Jewish people — or by any other people.
Despite the lessons of history, genocide is chillingly common in the post-Holocaust world as we have seen in Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi, and Bosnia — and see today in the ISIS-led genocide against Christians in Syria and Iraq.
“The enthusiasm generated at the end of the Second World War,” warned the pope, “has dissipated and is now disappearing. It seems that the human family has refused to learn from its mistakes caused by the law of terror, so that today too there are those who attempt to eliminate others with the help of a few and with the complicit silence of others who simply stand by.”
From the 219 girls still missing (and 2,000 additional girls and women kidnapped and enslaved) in Nigeria, to the Rohingya Muslims languishing in concentration camps in Myanmar, to the Christian communities under attack in Syria and Iraq, people around the world are facing forces of oppression and violence that the pope describes as nothing less than a “third world war.”
If we care about our common humanity — and, selfishly, our own safety and security — we must find ways to “remember” by actively countering those who would persecute others in the name of their twisted, evil ideology.
Pope Francis is right: Remembrance means speaking unpleasant truths about the past — and breaking our complicit silence about the present.
Charles C. Haynes is vice president of the Newseum Institute and executive director of the Religious Freedom Center. Web: www.religiousfreedomcenter.org Email: [email protected]
SALINA — An employee of the Salina Walmart was taken to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after he was punched several times in the head by a man he found on the ground in the area where shopping carts are stored.
Video by Tyler John Griem
Caution: Strong Language
Police Captain Chris Trocheck said 36-year-old Elijah Gragg, whose last known address was McPherson, is alleged to have hit 63-year-old Roger Bennett after Bennett found Gragg lying on the floor.
Trocheck said Gragg had caused a disturbance earlier at a checkout lane inside the store.
Another Wal-Mart employee took Bennett to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of injuries.
Gragg was arrested on requested charges of battery, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct.
According to Det. Chuck White of the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, local law enforcement collected 208 pounds of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medicines at Friday’s Drug Takeback event.
“We’d like to thank Fort Hays State University and the Good Samaritan Society for their participation with the event, and to those citizens and students that took the time to discard their unwanted medicines in an effort to make our community a safer, healthier place to live,” White said in a news release Friday afternoon.
SOLOMON- An employee of Solomon Corp. suffered a hand injury after an industrial accident just after 12-noon on Friday.
Mike Dahl, corporate environmental and safety manager for the oilfield services business, said the employee was working on a transformer at the time of the accident.
“The lid came off the transformer and caused a minor injury to the employee’s hand,” said Dahl. The employee was transported to Salina Regional Medical Center and had the hand stitched up.
“We were lucky,” said Dahl.
The hospital released the injured employee on Friday afternoon.
The search for a new executive director of the United Way of Ellis County is underway.
On Friday, Josh Dreher, president of the United Way of Ellis County, accepted the resignation of Jason Rauch as the executive director, effective immediately.
“We appreciate all of the hard work that Jason put into the United Way during his time with us, and our board wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” Dreher said. “The board will continue to provide leadership for our organization through this transition period. Their continued commitment to the United Way will ensure that the 2015 campaign will remain on track and the 2015 CARE Council process will continue on the same schedule as in the past.”
A search committee will be formed, and the process of finding the future executive director will start immediately. Dreher said a new director in place by the end of June.
If an individual is interested in applying for the United Way of Ellis County executive director position, the job description and application form can be found on the United Way of Ellis County’s website, www.uwec.itechra.net, or applications and resumes can be emailed to [email protected].
Hays High senior Brooke Russell new at an early age she wanted to play soccer on the collegiate level. When Barton County Community College came calling it was too good to pass up. Russell chose Barton not only because of her want to play soccer, but also because she can work toward her major in ag-business.
Brooke Russell
Indian’s soccer coach Jim Maska has seen Russell play since she was eight years old, and it was no surprise that she worked her way into a college scholarship. Maska also said that Russell has really taken a bigger leadership role on a young Indian’s soccer team that is in midst of their spring season, crediting her with the marked improvement he has seen in the team over the past couple of games.
Charges are expected to be filed next week in the case of seven Fort Hays State University students arrested Wednesday for their alleged connection to the distribution of illegal drugs and prescription pills.
Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees said six of the seven have had their bond hearings and were released on bond.
According to Drees:
• Tyler Asamora, 18, Colorado, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of small quantities of marijuana.
• Taylor Scott, 19, Colorado, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of distribution of cocaine, marijuana and LSD.
• Tanner Fahey, 19, Colorado, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of Adderall and Ritalin.
• Jacob Herrel, 19, Kansas, was arrested on suspicion of distribution of Ritalin & small quantities of marijuana.
• Robert Nintze, 19, Colorado, was arrested on suspicion of 3 counts of distribution of marijuana.
• Eduardo Moreno, 19, Kansas, was arrested on suspicion of 3 counts of distribution of marijuana.
The seventh individual has not appeared before a judge for a bond hearing, Drees said.
Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal appeals judges peppered lawyers on both sides with questions in a fight over President Barack Obama’s move to shield millions of immigrants from deportation.
A 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Friday held a special hearing in a closely watched case that is holding up Obama’s immigration action.
A coalition of 26 states, including Kansas and led by Texas, sued to block the plan. The hearing was on an appeal of a Texas judge’s injunction.
The Justice Department argued that Texas has no legal standing in the matter. Texas’ solicitor general countered that granting legal status to immigrants will be costly for Texas.
The judges did not rule and took the case under advisement.
Throughout the hearing chants and drumming by pro-immigrant protesters outside the courthouse filtered into the packed courtroom.
MANHATTAN -Westbound Interstate traffic at exit 316 has re-opened to one lane of traffic due to a vehicle fire.
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MANHATTAN-Westbound traffic on Interstate 70 is temporarily closed in Riley County at Deep Creek Road, exit 316, due a vehicle fire according to the KHP.
Few additional details are available. Check the post for more information as it becomes available.
Wendy Rohleder-Sook, FHSU Financial Aid employee, drops off two plastic bags filled with unwanted and unused medicines in McMindes Hall.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
For the first time, a Fort Hays State University drop-off location for unwanted drugs is part of the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit annual Drug Takeback Day.
The Ellis County Law Enforcement Center, 105 W. 12th, has long been a drop-off site, but the building is undergoing renovation and closed to the public.
According to Ellis County Sheriff Detective Chuck White, FHSU residential life officials contacted the sheriff’s department about taking part in the program giving university students, faculty and staff have an on-campus location to drop off unwanted medications.
An employee in the Financial Aid office, Wendy Rohleder-Sook, took advantage of the convenience and tossed several bottles and packs of unused and unwanted drugs–prescription and over-the-counter are accepted–into one of two green recycling carts provided for the program.
FHSU Police Sgt. Nathan Lang at the booth just outside McMindes Cafeteria.
The on-campus site, manned by FHSU Police Sgt. Nathan Lang, is located in McMindes Residential Hall, just outside the cafeteria entrance.
“I’m hoping students will see us here when then come for lunch and then go back to their rooms to collect any unwanted drugs and bring them by,” said Lang.
Lang thinks the FHSU location is a great idea.
“We also have information here for the students to pick up and learn about the dangers of prescription drug abuse,” he said. Other pamphlets highlight alcohol abuse and alcohol poisonings.
In recent years, overdoses from prescription medications are on the rise, and there are more overdoses from those medicines than from illegal drugs, according to White.
As in previous years, the program is free and completely anonymous.
White said officers will take medicines in capsules, tablets, pill and liquid form — but syringes and aerosols will not be accepted.
The other drop-off site is a drive-through location at the Good Samaritan Center, 27th and Canal.
Both locations were open until 2 p.m. this afternoon.
The takebacks are organized by the Ellis County Drug Enforcement Unit, which is made up of representatives from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, Hays Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Ellis County Attorney’s Office.
SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Salina arrested a suspect on Thursday who allegedly claimed to be an undercover police officer.
Salina Police Captain Mike Sweeney said officers were sent to Boomer’s Sports Bar and Grill on South Broadway around 3p.m.
A bartender told police there was a man in the bar claiming to be an undercover officer and he wanted sell .22 caliber handguns.
After getting a description of a car, officers stopped Bradley D. Sanders, 24, Salina, just after 4:30 p.m., in the area of Schilling Road and Melanie Lane. Officers also recovered three handguns.
According to Sweeney, Bradley has a prior felony conviction. He was arrested on requested charges of criminal possession of a firearm and impersonating a police officer.
