Fort Hays State women’s golfer Samantha Hobson was named the MIAA Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week on Wednesday (Apr. 1). Hobson tied for fourth at the UNK Spring Invitational, held March 30-31 at Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Neb.
Hobson tied the lowest round shot in the tournament, carding a 75 in her second round to vault up the leaderboard. She nearly chased down the second-place finishers in the tournament, just one stroke back with a total of 159. She was seven strokes back of the tournament winner. The 75 was Hobson’s lowest round of the year, with 79 as the previous low.
Fort Hays State women’s golf finished seventh as a team at the Nebraska-Kearney Spring Invite, held March 30-31 at Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Neb. The Tigers were led by a fourth-place finish by Samantha Hobson, who tied the lowest round of the tournament with a 3-over par 75 on Tuesday.
Hobson shot rounds of 84 and 75 for a total of 159. She was seven strokes off the winning pace of 152 by Samantha Crawford of Nebraska-Kearney, who shot two rounds of 76. Hobson was only one stroke back of second place.
Abby Schmidtberger tied for 35th with rounds of 94 and 84. Megan DeWerff and Quillen Eichhorn tied for 37th. DeWerff shot rounds of 93 and 91, while Eichhorn shot rounds of 98 and 86. Hadley Tharp figured into the team scoring on day one with a 97, and then shot 96 on day two.
FHSU shot 704 as a team. Nebraska-Kearney won its home tournament with a total of 633, nine strokes ahead of Missouri Western at 642.
The FHSU women return to action on April 6-7 at the Virginia McCoy Intercollegiate, hosted by Park University in Parkville, Mo. The tournament will be held at The Deuce at The National.
TOPEKA — Elk County teachers expressed concern in a hearing Tuesday for legislation that would change the benefits for retirees who want to return to work for a Kansas Public Employees Retirement System affiliated employer.
A key component of Senate Bill 299 would put pension benefits into an interest-bearing account during re-employment to be paid only upon termination. The bill would affect state and local government employees and public school teachers, but special education teachers would be exempt.
KPERS covers 150,000 active members, representing about 1,400 state and local employers, according to the membership guide.
Jason Crawford, superintendent for Elk Valley Schools in Longton, said the provision would make it even more difficult to employ teachers in the small school in a rural area.
Crawford said 60 percent of the staff would be directly impacted by the change to the current working-after-retirement exemption. June Kramer, a science teacher and library media specialist at Elk Valley High School, said the school is the largest employer in town.
“We rely heavily on the teachers that we already have on staff that are working after retirement,” Kramer said.
Tom Krebs of the Kansas Association of School Boards, said he wants to know whether the plan is enough to entice teachers and other educators to take hard-to-fill positions like math, science and foreign language.
Teachers would be just one group affected by the bill. The bill would also place a yearly earning limit at $20,000 for state, local and school non-licensed employees who return to the same employer. There would be no limit for school-licensed employees who return to the same employer. In addition, there would be no limit for state, local, school non-licensed or licensed employees who return to work for a different employer.
Upon reaching the income limit, the retiree can either stop working and continue his or her KPERS benefit or continue to work and have benefits suspended for the remainder of the year.
Ed Klumpp, a legislative law enforcement liaison, said although some police officers can no longer meet the physical demands of the job, their expertise is still valuable.
The second part of SB 299 extends the sunset for provisions to licensed teachers to July 1, 2016. Under current law, the provisions expire this July; which is why Chairman Jeff King (R-Independence) said the committee must make a decision this year.
“I don’t think an acceptable solution is just to allow the sunset to occur,” King said. “I think we need to take some policy action.”
The bill will be re-evaluated when the legislature reconvenes in late April.
Amelia Arvesen is a University of Kansas senior from San Ramon, Calif. majoring in journalism.
The lecture series named for one of Fort Hays State University’s most notable alumni will feature an appearance in April by Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a Republican candidate for president.
Newt Gingrich
Gingrich, who can still be seen as a regular commentator on CNN, will present “Provocative Politics: A Candid Discussion with one of the World’s Most Distinguished Leaders” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the FHSU campus. This is the second and final lecture of the 2014-2015 academic year.
“We are excited to have Speaker Gingrich as a part of the Sebelius Lecture Series,” said Vincent Bowhay, chair of the Special Events Committee and assistant director of the Memorial Union. “Mr. Gingrich has been an inspiring leader in American politics for more than three decades, with an uncommon intelligence and solution-oriented perspective that has kept the national debate lively and productive.”
Gingrich is well known as the architect of the “Contract with America” that led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years. After the 1994 election, Gingrich was elected speaker of the House of Representatives. Under his leadership, Congress passed welfare reform, the first balanced budget in a generation, and the first tax cut in 16 years. In addition, the Congress restored funding to strengthen defense and intelligence capabilities, an action later lauded by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission.
Today, Gingrich is a contributor to CNN, where he continues to advocate bold policy ideas.
From May 2011 to May 2012, Gingrich was a candidate for the Republican nomination for president of the United States, winning the South Carolina and Georgia primaries. The campaign was especially notable for its innovative policy agenda, its effort to bring new coalitions into the Republican fold and for his debate performances. His $2.50-a-gallon energy plan set off a nationwide discussion about the use of America’s energy resources.
As an author, Gingrich has published 24 books, including 14 fiction and nonfiction New York Times best-sellers.
Speaker Gingrich’s lecture will draw upon his experience as a statesman and champion of opportunity to analyze current global and political issues.
Tickets are now available for purchase online at www.fhsu.edu/sebelius. Tickets for the general public are $10 per person; for FHSU students they are $5 per person. Approximately 200 patrons help sponsor the Sebelius Lecture Series each year. Patrons donate $150 per person. These donations are tax deductible, less benefits received. Patrons will receive an exclusive invitation to a reception featuring Newt Gingrich on the day of the lecture, exclusive tickets to sit in rows A-G in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center for the lecture, and their names will be prominently placed in the event program. To become a patron, visit www.fhsu.edu/sebelius and complete a ticket order form as a patron.
For more information about the Sebelius Lecture Series, call Bowhay at 785-628-4664 or send email to [email protected].
About former U.S. Rep. Keith Sebelius
Sebelius graduated from FHSU in 1941. While at FHSU, he was one of the original Lewis Field Pioneers, made up of young men who lived on campus while working a variety of jobs to pay their tuition, room and board.
Sebelius was born in Norton. He earned a law degree and returned to Norton to practice law. He served on the city council and as mayor. He also served in the Kansas Senate. He became active in the Republican Party and ran for the U.S. House seat previously held by Bob Dole in 1968.
He served for 12 years and didn’t seek re-election in 1980. He died at age 66 and is buried in Norton. His son, Gary Sebelius, is a federal magistrate judge and the husband of Kathleen Sebelius, a former Democratic Kansas governor and former U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services. His son, R. Douglas Sebelius, is the Norton County attorney.
Phillipsburg resident Shirley L. Kats passed away April 1, 2015 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE at the age of 74.
She was born October 18, 1940 in Norton County, KS the daughter of Claire & Leona (Archer) Alexander.
Survivors include her husband Derek of the home; 3 daughters; Kathy Nimz of Littleton, CO, Sherry Woodside of Prairie View & Vicky Allen of Fredrickburg, VA; her brother, Charles Alexander of Norton; 2 sisters: Sharon Posvar of Beaver City, NE & Sandra Salaz of Salt Lake City, UT & 2 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Sat. April 4 at 10:00 a.m. in the Luctor Christian Reformed Church with Dr. Dave Rozema & Pastor Aaron Rust officiating. Burial will follow in the Luctor Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Thursday & 9:00 to 9:00 Friday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or The Phillips County Hospital.
Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.
Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Lucia Bain is Kansas Room librarian at Hays Public Library.
It seems to me that the “Recycle, Reduce, Reuse” mantra really took off in the 1990s.
Having grown up in the ‘90s, I was fully submerged in the emerging green culture. I watched “Captain Planet” on Saturday mornings and helped my third-grade class raise money to purchase an acre of rainforest.
We always recycled at home and to this day, it makes me cringe when I see someone toss a metal can or plastic bottle in the garbage. As an adult, I purchase most of my clothing secondhand, use both sides of printer paper and try to avoid food waste as much as possible. I don’t consider myself a “green activist” or even an enthusiast; I think being green is just something that comes naturally to millennials.
During the month of April, the whole library is banding together to provide programming on the theme of “Recycle, Reuse, Re-love.” Programs will vary across departments and will touch on a variety of subjects related to recycling and conservation.
For example, the adult department will be running a program called “Re-Love Your Leftovers” on April 18th at 11 AM in the gallery, the young adult department will be turning old books into planters on April 23rd at 3:30 in the Trish Davies Room, and the children’s department will be taking a look at worm composting on April 29th at 4 PM. The Kansas Room is also getting in on the action with two programs that fit into April’s theme.
On April 23rd at 6 PM in the Schmidt Gallery there will be a presentation called “The Nature Conservancy’s Smokey Valley Ranch.” This program will be delivered by the ranch’s project manager, Matt Bain, who happens to be my brother-in-law. The Smokey Valley Ranch is nearly 17,000 acres and is located in Logan County, KS. This ranch is a shortgrass prairie preserve and is home to countless, native flora and fauna. The history of the ranch, from its extensive fossil record to its location along the Smokey Hill Trail, is both unique and remarkable. Whether you’re a naturalist or a history buff, don’t miss this opportunity to learn about one of Western Kansas’ hidden gems!
On April 25th at 11 AM in the Schmidt Gallery, I’ll be running a program on propagating houseplants. Many mature, foliage houseplants can be “recycled” by having cuttings taken and replanted. It’s surprisingly easy to start your own plants just by using a single leaf or stem from a “mother” plant. In this program you’ll learn about the different ways to propagate houseplants, the plants that are most successfully grown from cuttings, and you’ll also have the opportunity to start your own houseplants! This program is free and open to everyone.
April 12th through the 18th is National Library Week. To celebrate our library and to thank our patrons for their loyalty, I’ll be hosting a “cake social” in the gallery on April 17th from 2-4 PM. Stop by the gallery for your piece of cake! Throughout the week, patrons will also have the opportunity to tell us why they love the library. Make sure you drop in to show your support of the library!
There will be a Red Cross Express blood drive at the library on April 7th from 1:30 to 5 PM. You can make an appointment by stopping by the library or by calling 625-9014. Walk-ins will also be welcome.
Finally, the next meeting of the Hays Genealogy Group will be held on April 18th at 10 AM in the Kansas Room. All family history enthusiasts are encouraged to attend.
Have a great month and a wonderful Easter!
The Kansas Room is located in the basement of the Hays Public Library and is open from 9 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and by request.
Lucia Bain is Kansas Room Librarian at the Hays Public Library.
Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute.
Nationwide outrage over Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) — signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence on March 26 — is a remarkable sign of just how far the country has come on the issue of civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans.
Everyone from basketball luminary Charles Barkley to Apple CEO Tim Cook have sounded an alarm about a law that critics charge will promote discrimination against LGBT people.
Gov. Pence is now scrambling to contain the damage as the “boycott Indiana” movement goes viral. Absent repeal or a major fix, it’s entirely possible that the Final Four will be playing in Indianapolis this week for the final time — a scary prospect for basketball-crazed Hoosiers.
At a press conference this week, Pence kept repeating the mantra “RFRA is not a license to discriminate” — and announced that he has asked the legislature to amend the law to make that clear.
The governor blamed opponents of the law and inaccurate media coverage for creating the “misperception” that Indiana’s RFRA would permit discrimination against LGBT people. While it’s certainly true that heated rhetoric describing the law as “anti-gay” and alarmist media stories contributed to the backlash against the law, that’s not how Indiana’s RFRA got a bad rap in the first place.
In an hour-long exchange with reporters, Pence refused to acknowledge that many supporters of the law — including leaders of conservative Christian groups standing by the governor’s side when he signed the bill into law — pushed for RFRA precisely because they hope it will permit business owners to deny services and benefits to same-sex couples on religious grounds.
As a supporter of both equality and religious freedom, I am torn between celebrating the outrage at the specter of discrimination and mourning the damage done to the cause of religious freedom.
The Indiana debate — much like the RFRA fight in Arizona two years ago and current debates in Georgia and Arkansas — has been so misleading, vindictive and divisive that any rational discussion of if (and how) we can uphold both nondiscrimination and religious freedom in Indiana or anywhere else may no longer be possible.
Here’s the tragic irony: As the governor belatedly admitted at his press conference, the Indiana RFRA is very unlikely to protect religious claims in the way many proponents promise — and thus equally unlikely to bring about the wave of anti-gay discrimination that many opponents fear.
For a fuller understanding of just why RFRA is not (or should not be) the villain of this piece, we need a little history.
Let’s start with the 1990 U.S. Supreme Court decision — Employment Division v. Smith — that sharply curtailed the application of the “compelling state interest” test long used by courts to determine when government laws or regulations substantially burden the free exercise of religion.
Under the pre-Smith regime, many religious claims for exemption from laws that substantially burdened the practice of faith were accommodated — unless the government could demonstrate a compelling state interest in refusing accommodation and no less restrictive way of accomplishing that interest.
In the three years following Smith, more than 50 reported cases were decided against religious groups and individuals. As a result, a broad coalition of groups from across the political and religious spectrum worked to pass the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The intent was to “restore” pre-Smith protection for religious freedom by requiring the government to demonstrate a compelling state interest for denying a religious accommodation or exemption.
Then in 1997, the Supreme Court struck down RFRA as applied to the states, although, as we saw in the Hobby Lobby decision last year, it still applies to the federal government. Since that time, 19 states — now 20 with the addition of Indiana — have passed state RFRAs. Courts in at least ten other states have provided the same level of protection through religious freedom provisions of state constitutions.
Indiana’s RFRA appears to go beyond similar laws in other states by, for example, explicitly extending protection to corporations (and not just “closely-held corporations” as in the Hobby Lobby case).
But many legal scholars agree that business owners cannot use RFRA — in Indiana or anywhere else — to discriminate against LGBT people. As Indiana University law professor Daniel Conkle (a supporter of LGBT rights who testified in favor of the Indiana RFRA) has pointed out, that there are no RFRA cases where the court has upheld a religious claim in a discrimination case.
“The ‘license-to-discriminate’ argument that seems to have this relentless repetition,” Conkle told the Associated Press, “is just legally wrong.”
Properly understood and applied, RFRAs are an important protection for free exercise of religion — especially for members of minority religious groups who often need exemptions from government actions that burden the practice of their faith.
Enacting RFRAs to fight the effects of same-sex marriage not only gives RFRA a bad name, it poisons the well for religious freedom.
Instead of using RFRA as a weapon in the culture wars, religious people seeking religious exemptions or accommodations need to sit down with the other side and seek common ground on how to both uphold LGBT civil rights and protect religious freedom. If Utah can do it, so can Indiana.
I predict the quick fix to RFRA proposed by Gov. Pence will not be sufficient to undo the damage caused by this controversy.
To send a clear, unmistakable message that Indiana does not discriminate, Indiana lawmakers must pass — and the governor must sign — a statewide law protecting LGBT people from discrimination.
Once discrimination is off the table, RFRA opponents — many of whom were RFRA proponents 20 years ago — might once again see the merit in legislation that guards the free exercise of religion.
If lawmakers don’t act quickly to undo the damage, the real fallout from the Indiana debate will be “religious freedom = bigotry.”
And that would be a disaster for the future of religious freedom in America.
Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Web: www.religiousfreedomcenter.org Email: [email protected]
Reginald Lipp passed away peacefully at age 84 on March 30, 2015, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters.
Reginald was born February 26th, 1931 to Frank and Regina (Braun) Lipp. He worked and lived his entire life on the Collyer farm homesteaded in 1902 by his grandfather, Phillip Lipp.
On June 7, 1954 he married Betty Nemechek of WaKeeney, Kansas. Throughout their years together on the farm, they raised dairy and beef cattle, hogs, chickens, and crops. To this union, they were blessed with 3 daughters, Cindi, Lori and Susan. Throughout the years, Reginald enjoyed fishing, playing cards and spending time with his family. He will be fondly remembered for his keen sense of humor, generosity, devotion to his family, and being a life-long farmer.
Reginald is survived by his wife, Betty, daughters Cindi (Gary) Stefanatz of Denver, Colorado, Lori (Chuck) Mattke of Ogallah and Susan (Rob) Bestgen of Rochester, Minnesota. Grandchildren include Kristin Stefanatz, Casey (Kambi) Mattke and their children Alexa and Gavin, Melia Hollis and her son Jaylen, and Josh, Jessica, Alex, Ben, Seth, Maggie and Brady Bestgen. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Jacob Bestgen.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon him. Blessed be his memory.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 2, 2015 at St. Michael Catholic Church, Collyer. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
There will be no visitation.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorials are suggested to Masses for Reginald, or the Hooves of Heaven Foundation, which offers equine therapy primarily for at-risk youth. Checks made to the memorial may be sent in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has narrowly approved a bill authorizing $1 billion in bonds to bolster the short-term financial health of the pension system for teachers and government workers.
The vote Wednesday was 63-57 on a compromise drafted by House and Senate negotiators. The Senate expects to vote Thursday on the proposal, and approval then would send the measure to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.
Issuing bonds would give the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System an infusion of cash, immediately narrowing a long-term gap in the funding for retirement benefits. Supporters believe KPERS will earn significantly more from investing the funds raised than it will pay on the bonds.
Brownback proposed $1.5 billion in pension bonds.
Critics see the idea as risky.
The vote came as lawmakers also negotiated over budget issues.
Photo by Dave Ranney Akash Chougule, senior policy analyst for Americans for Prosperity, said during a Kansas House committee hearing that Medicaid expansion efforts in other states have been plagued by cost overruns. –
By JIM MCLEAN
A conservative advocacy group that opposes Medicaid expansion in Kansas is fighting a Florida plan backed by that state’s Republican Senate president.
Health News Florida, a partner of the KHI News Service, reports that Americans for Prosperity, a free-market advocacy group funded by Kansas business titans Charles and David Koch, is sending mailers to voters in 23 Florida Senate districts in an effort to stop a Medicaid expansion plan that recently started gaining momentum.
Andy Gardiner, president of the Florida Senate, is the main sponsor of the expansion bill, which is similar to plans recently advanced by several conservative Republican governors. It requires non-disabled, childless adults to work 30 hours a week in order to qualify for coverage. Unemployed adults could qualify by spending that same amount of time searching for employment or participating in job training.
The bill also requires recipients to pay monthly premiums ranging from $3 to $25 depending on their income. It’s estimated the plan would extend coverage to approximately 800,000 Floridians who make too much to qualify for the state’s Medicaid program but too little to be eligible for Obamacare subsidies.
The AFP mailer sent to voters in Gardiner’s district criticizes him for supporting “Obama’s Medicaid expansion in Florida.” It says the plan would “give good people bad coverage.”
The group has waged similar campaigns against expansion proposals in several other Republican-dominated states.
Akash Chougule, a senior policy analyst in AFP’s Washington, D.C., office, testified recently against a Kansas Medicaid expansion proposal. House Bill 2139 would require Gov. Sam Brownback to develop an expansion plan and negotiate its approval with federal officials.
During his testimony, Chougule said that AFP was prepared to challenge Kansas lawmakers who supported the bill.
“We certainly plan to hold accountable any legislator who supports this misguided scheme,” Chougule said.
A Florida legislative committee recently voted unanimously to send Gardiner’s expansion bill to the full Senate. The AFP campaign is aimed at stopping it there.
The Kansas bill received two days of hearings in the House Health and Human Services Committee, but the panel’s chairman, Wichita Republican Dan Hawkins, has said he doesn’t plan to schedule a vote. That means, barring some maneuvering by expansion supporters, it’s unlikely to reach the floor of the House or Senate before the Legislature adjourns its 2015 session.
Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
Over the years, musicals based on the hits of Carole King, Billy Joel, The Four Seasons and Motown have made their way to Broadway.
Could the Eagles songbook be the next to hit the Great White Way? Maybe.
The New York Daily News reports that at a recent event in New York City, the Eagles’ Glenn Frey said that he’d been spending a lot of time in the Big Apple lately.
He then seemed to hint at an Eagles musical in the future, saying, “I’m going to see a lot of shows, so you never know.” He also named the Carole King musical, Beautiful, as one of his favorites.
When asked if an Eagles musical would include all the fights the notoriously combative band has had over the years, Frey laughed and said, “Conversations. Give and take.”
However, Frey may be jumping the gun a bit. When asked if an Eagles musical is actually in the works, a rep for the band told ABC Radio that there is “nothing to discuss at this time.”
Meanwhile, the Eagles are hitting the road for another round of tour dates, starting May 19 in Austin, Texas. They have shows mapped out through the spring and summer, wrapping up July 29 in Bossier City, Louisiana.
The Fort Hays State University Shotgun Sports Team finished as the division 2 runner-up at the ACUI National Collegiate Shotgun event held March 24 through 29 San Antonio, Texas.
The 13-member team placed first in four of the six events.
5-Stand 210/250 targets – 1st Place
Sporting Clays 463/500 targets – 1st Place
Wobble Trap 275/300 targets – 3rd Place
International Skeet 273/300 targets – 1st Place
American Skeet 480/500 targets – 2nd Place
American Trap 490/500 Targets – 1st Place
Total targets were 2,191/2,350
Four team members also participated in a special event sponsored by USA Shooting
Kylie Hutchison placed 4th in Ladies Olympic (Bunker) Trap
Tye Smith placed 3rd in Men’s Olympic International Skeet.
FHSU Shotgun Sports Team Members:
Austin Svoboda Burwell, NE
Josh Crankshaw North Platte, NE
Damian Giles North Platte, NE
Tye Smith Bartley, NE
Jeremy Denny Fremont, NE
Jerrod Lies Mineola, KS
Cody Escritt Pleasanton, NE
Tyler Bock Kingman, KS
Kylie Hutchison Pratt, KS
Caleb Scholz Crete, NE
Dylan Young Tonganoxie, KS
Emily Steenbock Maize, KS
Zeb Harvey Lamar, CO
The FHSU Shotgun Sports team had 4 members named to the prestigious NRA All-American First Team. Those members are:
Tye Smith
Austin Svoboda
Josh Crankshaw
Damian Giles
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Colorado man who was moving to Florida was found dead at a Kansas rest stop.
The Geary County Sheriff’s office says 47-year-old Keith Morrison of Aurora, Colorado, was found dead Tuesday in the parking area of a rest stop on Interstate 70 east of Junction City.
He was found next to a moving van, and relatives told authorities that Morrison was moving from Colorado to Florida.
Authorities say an autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday but they believe Morrison died of natural causes.
