The Ellis baseball team saw their season come to an end Monday in a 4-3 loss to Spearville in the Holcomb 2-1A Regional semifinals in Dodge City.
The Lancers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two, then tacked on a run in the fifth after the Railers had pulled within a run. Ellis added another run in the sixth.
Brandon Bollig takes the loss, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, striking out 12 and walking just one.
Ellis committed three errors in the game and sees their season end at 10-7.
Rain and isolated thunderstorms will spread across western and central Kansas through tonight. High temperatures will be in the 50s to lower 60s today. After a break in the rainfall Wednesday and Thursday, there is another good chance of rain and thunderstorms from late Thursday night through Saturday evening.
Today A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 10am. High near 53. East wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 5am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5am. Low around 42. North wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
WednesdayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 56. North northeast wind 11 to 13 mph.
Wednesday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind 5 to 11 mph.
ThursdayPartly sunny, with a high near 63. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
Thursday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
FridayShowers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Mitch Morse would have been hard-pressed to find a better opportunity.
Start with the fact that the rookie offensive lineman was drafted by the Chiefs, just down the road from where he played in college. Throw in the fact that he was picked well before most experts anticipated – and what that meant for his first contract.
Then consider this: The Chiefs watched their starting center sign with the Oakland Raiders in free agency, leaving a gaping void in the middle of their offensive line.
Suddenly, the second-round draft pick could be counted on by a playoff contender.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old Wichita boy has been robbed while trying to buy a pit bull puppy.
Local media outlets report the victim told police that he requested information about pit bull puppies on Facebook. Lt. James Espinoza said someone the victim knew responded and gave him an address for where a transaction would happen.
Espinoza said the victim went to the location Monday morning, where two people told him to go to the back of the house. Once there, the suspects pulled out a gun and took the $150 the victim had to buy the puppy, as well as his shoes and a chain necklace.
The victim left the area uninjured.
According to Espinoza, the suspects may be people the victim knows from school.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A man who escaped from custody in Kansas City, Kansas, last week has been found.
Police Chief Terry Zeigler says 29-year-old Ted W. Taylor was found in Kansas City, Missouri. KCTV-TV reports he was charged with felony possession of a firearm and criminal discharge of a firearm on May 9.
Taylor, who was in the custody of the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office, was checked out by the police department in Kansas City, Kansas, so that he could help them with an unrelated investigation. He escaped while in their custody.
According to Zeigler, Taylor was not handcuffed at the time because he was cooperative with detectives while being interviewed.
I’ll be the first to admit, I really came around on the first “Pitch Perfect” movie. I initially scored it a 4/6, but in the time since the film was released, it has easily climbed to a 5/6 in my books and it may or may not have seen repeated use when it was saved on my DVR.
Naturally, another “Pitch Perfect” was very welcome, not only to me but to the multitude of fans the world over (hence “Pitch Perfect 2” steam rolling “Fury Road at the box office). I will stop short of calling the “Pitch Perfect” the “Breakfast Club” of this generation; as so many have, but nevertheless, it’s impact has been sizable.
Comparatively, “Pitch Perfect 2” is a less-inspired sophomoric outing after a combination slow burn/smash-hit debut. This film was made to please and as a result felt less authentic than the original. Nevertheless, I laughed, I enjoyed some fantastic singing and I got to watch the ever-lovely Anna Kendrick awkwardly prance about while singing better than a fair percentage of thoroughbred musicians. This sequel makes small, but critical, errors in trying to give fans everything they want, even if it wasn’t always in the best interest of the film.
“Pitch Perfect 2” is a fine film and will no doubt entertain its many patrons. If it had been kept in the oven just a little longer, it might have come out a little higher on the scale. For this particular film, and this burgeoning franchise, I’m not sure that more well-done is actually necessary – which I understand is a little hypocritical coming from me. It’s a funny world we live in.
4 of 6 stars
JUNCTION CITY – An Abilene man was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility for parole for at least 25 years under Jessica’s Law according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
John R. Harwood Jr., 46, of Abilene, was sentenced in Geary County District Court by Judge David R. Platt. Harwood was convicted by a Dickinson County jury in December 2014 of aggravated criminal sodomy. The charge involved a child under of the age of 14 and stemmed from an incident that occurred in May 2012.
The case was investigated by the Abilene Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Assistant Attorney General Christine Ladner prosecuted the case.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Longtime Washington Elementary School Principal Allen Park submitted his retirement during Monday night’s meeting of the Hays USD 489 school board.
Park has served as the Washington school principal the past 25 years.
The Washington building, opened in 1926, will cease operation as a school today, May 19, 2015. It is being repurposed to house the district’s Early Childhood Connections programs beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.
Park will continue to serve as the Transition Coordinator until Oct. 2.
He has been working with students, parents and staff to transfer to one of the four other USD 489 elementary schools. In mid-March, Park said “all teachers and 117 students have already been assigned to one of four remaining elementary schools within the district.”
Related story: Personnel transactions for May 18
In his letter presented May 18 to board members Park said, “I wanted to take this time to thank you for all of the opportunities that I have experienced working for USD #489. I have enjoyed my employment as a paraprofessional, coach, ELL and industrial arts teacher, and as the principal of Washington Elementary for the last twenty-five years. I will miss the many students, families, and co-workers that I have had the privilege to work with over the last thirty years.”
Park was also named District Migrant Director in 1990.
He has earned a number of honors the past 25 years:
Sunrise Rotary Club of Hays, 2014 Rotarian of the Year
Boy Scouts of America Area Council, 2011 Outstanding Administrator
Outstanding Administrator Technology Rich School Grant- 2004 $149,000 grant
NAESP – National Association of Elementary School Principals, 1999 National Distinguished Principal Award winner representing Kansas
KAESP – Kansas Association Elementary Principals, Distinguished Principal nominee District Five 1998
KAHPERD – Administrator Award 1998
KAHPERD – Exemplary Program of Physical Education 1997
Distinguished Principal nominee District Five
KAESP, Outstanding Focus School 1991
Leadership Hays, Inaugural class 1990
Superintendent Dean Katt said, “We are thankful for Allen’s 25 years of service to the students, staff, and parents of USD #489. Allen will play an important role as the Transition Coordinator over the next several months to ensure the Washington students and parents are able to transition smoothly into their new environments. We wish Allen the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Three Kansas organizations are joining forces to help children who are dealing with a loss in their lives.
Hospice and Homecare of Reno County, Horizons Mental Health Center and Reins of Hope are hosting the annual “Kids Kamp” next month. The event is free and open to any child age 6 to 17 who has experienced a loss.
The sessions will be held on four consecutive Thursday mornings on June 4, 11, 18 and 25. Each three-hour-long session begins at 8:30 a.m.
Hutchinson Regional Medical Center said in a news release Monday that space is limited and advanced registration is required to attend.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has picked a former state Bar Association president to lead the division in Schmidt’s office that handles civil lawsuits.
Schmidt announced Monday that Dennis Depew has been appointed deputy attorney general.
Depew is from Neodesha in southeast Kansas and has had a private law practice for more than 30 years. He served as the Kansas Bar Association’s president in 2013 and 2014.
He also serves on Neodesha’s board of education. He was a member of the board from 1985 to 1999 and was re-elected again in 2009.
The division Depew leads is the principal defender for the state, its agencies or its employees when they are sued.
Depew replaces Jeff Chanay who was promoted last year to chief deputy attorney general.
USD 489 board members Monday evening approved a lengthy list of personnel changes in Hays schools and facilities, including the retirement of longtime Washington Elementary School Principal Allen Park. The building is being repurposed to house the district’s Early Childhood Connections programs.
Personnel Transactions May 18, 2015
Resignations:
1. Name: Austin Leiker Position: Custodian
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: April 25, 2015
2. Name: BreAnna Slanger Position: Paraeducator
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: May 19, 2015
3. Name: Kileigh Cure Position: Asst. Volleyball Coach
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: May 19, 2015
4. Name: Kileigh Cure Position: Head Basketball Coach (Girls)
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: May 19, 2015
5. Name: Steven Grant Position: Technology Assistant
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 7, 2015
6. Name: Garrett Bland Position: CCU Leader
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 25, 2015
7. Name: Rhonda Windholz Position: 4th Grade Teacher
Building: O’Loughlin Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
8. Name: Jenny Johnson Position: SPED Teacher
Building: Westside School Effective: May 19, 2015
9. Name: Taylor Rathgeber Position: After School Assistant
Building: Wilson Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
10.Name: Taylor Oller Position: After School Assistant
Building: Wilson Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
11.Name: Lindsay Eitel Position: After School Assistant
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 18, 2015
12.Name: Morgan Schulte Position: After School Assistant
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 18, 2015
13.Name: Ashley Hoover Position: Para Educator
Building: LaCrosse Elementary Effective: May 21, 2015
14.Name: Jessica Geist Position: After School Director
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
15.Name: Kristin Kurup Position: Teacher Asst./Family Worker
Building: Connections (Simpson) Effective: May 20, 2015
16.Name: Monty Smith Position: Asst. Boys Golf Coach
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 30, 2015
17.Name: John Schmidt Position: Custodian
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 26, 2015
18.Name: Emily Christians Position: SPED Para
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 19, 2015
19.Name: Jordan Koehn Position: After School Assistant
Building: Wilson Elementary Effective: May 15, 2015
20.Name: Lisa Pickering Position: SPED Para
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 19, 2015
21.Name: Brandi Roland Position: SPED Para
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 12, 2015
22.Name: Lacie Jacka Position: SPED Para
Building: Hays High School Effective: May 5, 2015
Retirements
1. Name: Sheryl Rader Position: Physical Education Instructor
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
2. Name: Nina McNeal Position: Special Education Instructor
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
3. Name: Patty Weber Position: Physical Education Instructor
Building: Lincoln and Wilson Elem. Effective: May 19, 2015
4. Name: Jannice Hawpe Position: Administrative Assistant
Building: Hays High School Effective: June 1, 2015
5. Name: Martha Lang Position: Copy Center Manager
Building: Rockwell Effective: June 30, 2015
6. Name: Kathy Beyer Position: SPED Para
Building: Lincoln Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
7. Name: Mary Casey Position: Reading Teacher
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: May 19, 2015
8. Name: Kathy Ubert Position: Nutrition Services Admin. Assistant
Building: Rockwell Effective: July 1, 2015
9. Name: Jeanette Budig Position: SPED Teacher
Building: Lincoln Elementary Effective: May 19, 2015
10.Name: Allen Park Position: Transition Coordinator
Building: Districtwide Effective: October 2, 2015
Leave, Transfers, Other
1. Name: Gena Feldt Position: SPED Teacher
Building: Holy Family Elementary Effective: August 24, 2015
Action: 12 Week Leave
2. Name: Karla Bieber Position: SPED Teacher
Building: Hays High School Effective: August 1, 2015
Action: Transfer to Victoria Jr. /Sr. High
3. Name: Christine Weber Position: Connections Teacher
Building: Lincoln Elementary Effective: April 27, 2015
Action: 6-Week Leave (Estimated)
4. Name: Ryan Walt Position: Speech Pathologist
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: August 29, 2015
Action: 6-Week Leave
5. Name: Katty Terwort Position: ELL Para
Building: O’Loughlin Elementary Effective: April 30, 2015
Action: Termination
6. Name: Tracy Archer Position: 4
th Grade Teacher
Building: Lincoln Elementary Effective: August 12, 2015
Action: Transfer to 2nd Grade Teacher at Wilson Elementary
7. Name: Kristin Conor Position: After School Director
Building: Washington Elementary Effective: May 20, 2015
Action: Transfer to After School Assistant at Roosevelt Elementary
8. Name: Diosha Johnson Position: After School Assistant
Building: Washington Elementary Effective: May 20, 2015
Action: Transfer to After School Assistant at Roosevelt Elementary
9. Name: Kylie Powell Position: After School Assistant
Building: O’Loughlin Elementary Effective: May 20, 2015
Action: Transfer to After School Assistant at Roosevelt
10. Name: Connie Yost Position: SPED Para
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 11, 2015
Action: Termination
11.Name: Darlene Arnhold Position: SPED Para
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 11, 2015
Action: Termination
12. Name: Amanda Bayse Position: ELL Para
Building: Lincoln Elementary Effective: May 15, 2015
Action: Rescind Resignation
13.Name: Amanda Bayse Position: Lunchroom Supervisor
Building: Lincoln Elementary Effective: May 15, 2015
Action: Rescind Resignation
Employment
1. Name: Brandon Maska Position: Head Basketball Coach (Girls)
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: October 12, 2015
2. Name: Kellen Griffin Position: Head Soccer Coach (Boys)
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: March 7, 2016
3. Name: Tami Robben Position: Head Soccer Coach (Girls)
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: March 7, 2016
4. Name: Megan Bird Position: Assistant Soccer Coach (Boys)
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: March 7, 2016
5. Name: Margaret Meier Position: Assistant Soccer Coach (Girls)
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: March 7, 2016
6. Name: Emily Roberts Position: Para Educator
Building: Wilson Elementary Effective: April 29, 2015
7. Name: Erin Holder Position: SPED Para
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: April 28, 2015
8. Name: Alice James Position: SPED Teacher
Building: Ellis School District Effective: August 12, 2015
9. Name: Jerry Braun Position: Math Teacher
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: August 12, 2015
10.Name: Matthew Rome Position: Band Teacher
Building: HMS/HHS Effective: August 12, 2015
11.Name: Darren Timken Position: Custodian
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: May 11, 2015
12.Name: Margaret Meier Position: 6th Grade Math/Science
Building: Hays Middle School Effective: August 12, 2015
13.Name: Tiffany Fox Position: K-5 Elementary
Building: TBD Effective: August 12, 2015
14.Name: Marie Henderson Position: Instructional Tech Specialist
Building: District Wide Effective: June 1, 2015
15.Name: Heath Owens Position: Asst. Football Coach
Building: Hays High School Effective: August 17, 2015
16.Name: Nick Fawcett Position: PE Teacher (K-5)
Building: Wilson/Lincoln Elementary Effective: August 12, 2015
17.Name: Nick Fawcett Position: Asst. Football Coach
Building: Hays High School Effective: August 17, 2015
18.Name: Jay Sanders Position: PE Teacher (K-5)
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: August 12, 2015
19.Name: Maddy Mall Position: SPED Teacher
Building: Roosevelt Elementary Effective: August 12, 2015
20.Name: Haleigh Pippert Position: PM Teacher Assistant
Building: Connections-Munjor Effective: June 16, 2015
21.Name: Amy Kelly Position: K-5 Elementary
Building: TBD Effective: August 12, 2015
22.Name: Katherine Mai Position: Speech Language Pathologist
Building: HACC Effective: August 1, 2015
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The latest government snapshot of Kansas crops shows an improving winter wheat crop amid widespread rains.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that 30 percent of the crop was still in poor to very poor condition, a slight improvement compared to a week ago. About 41 percent of the wheat is reported in fair condition, with 27 percent rated as good and 2 percent as excellent.
About 86 percent of the state’s winter wheat crop has headed and 5 percent has colored.
Kansas growers have now planted about 78 percent of their corn crops and 17 percent of their soybeans. Sorghum planting trails at 6 percent. About 1 percent of the sunflowers have also been planted.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A new proposal for narrowing a tax break for business owners and farmers has emerged in the Kansas House.
The House Taxation Committee introduced the measure Monday and scheduled a Tuesday hearing on it.
Chairman and Republican Rep. Marvin Kleeb of Overland Park said the proposal could raise between $45 million and $55 million during the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Legislators must close a budget shortfall projected at $406 million for the next fiscal year. The gap arose after lawmakers cut personal income taxes in 2012 and 2013 at Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging to stimulate the economy.
One policy exempted the profits of 281,000 business owners and 53,000 farmers from income taxes.
The bill introduced Monday would exempt only the first $150,000 of their profits for this year.
