KHP photo of Saturday’s crash scene in Chase County
STRONG CITY- A Kansas teen died and a semi driver was injured in an accident just before 11 a.m. on Saturday in Chase County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford passenger car driven by Kaleb James Montgomery, 18, Marion, was eastbound on Kansas 150 14 miles west of Strong City.
The vehicle had just passed a 2003 Mitsubishi and was about to pass a semi while a 2003 Kenworth semi driven by Charles H. Foreman, 53, Garden City, was coming westbound.
The Ford swerved to the right and the driver overcorrected. The Ford traveled into the northbound ditch.
The westbound Kenworth semi struck the Ford’s passenger side.
The semi left the roadway to the right and overturned.
Montgomery was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the Ford. He was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Brown-Bennett-Alexander mortuary.
Foreman was transported to Wesley Medical Center.
Debris from the collision struck the Mitsubishi. The driver and a passenger in the Mitsubishi were not injured. The accident closed Kansas 150 for several hours on Saturday.
MERRIAM- Two people were injured in an accident just before 3 p.m. on Saturday in Johnson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Jerod M. Bader, 26, Olathe, was entering Interstate 35 Southbound from ramp at Shawnee Mission Parkway.
The motorcycle was traveling too fast, drifted out of the lane and sideswiped a Ford pickup.
Bader and a three-year-old in the pickup were transported to KU Medical Center.
The driver of the pickup Omar Mojico-Cruz, 38, Kansas City, and 2 additional passengers were not injured.
By Marsha Boswell, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers
Twenty members of the Nigerian flour milling and noodle/pasta manufacturing industries traveled to Kansas during wheat harvest to learn more about the Kansas wheat industry and use their newfound knowledge to make purchasing decisions for their company.
The eight senior managers from Nigeria visited Kansas on June 25-26 to examine the current hard red winter (HRW) crop as part of a U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) trade team. USW believes this annual event helps maintain a loyal customer base in a traditionally large market.
In addition on June 18-26, 13 Nigerian flour millers were attending the two-week U.S. Wheat Associates Nigerian Flour Milling course at the IGP Institute in Manhattan, Kan. As a major U.S. partner with the Nigerian milling industry, Kansas State University’s IGP Institute annually hosts the Nigerian Flour Milling course in conjunction with U.S. Wheat Associates.
Year-to-year, Nigeria buys more U.S. HRW than any other country. Nigerian millers imported 58.4 million bushels of hard red winter wheat last marketing year.
The United Nations predicts that Africa – and Nigeria in particular – will have a larger population than the United States by 2050. Emannuel Mshelia, of Royal Mills & Foods Ltd., said, “With population growth, there is more eating. With more eating, there is much buying of U.S. wheat.” Mshelia was on his third trip to the United States and attended the IGP Institute course.
The trade team’s Kansas visit included stops at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, USDA’s Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, IGP Institute and a Kansas wheat farm near Wilsey, as well as time with grain merchandisers.
“U.S. Wheat Associates and our state wheat commission member organizations built long-term demand for U.S. wheat in Nigeria by providing information and technical support,” said Muyiwa Talabi, marketing consultant with USW based in Lagos, Nigeria. “This is our fifteenth annual trade team from Nigeria since 2001 and it is still a key part of our work in an important market where we face new challenges.”
In Nigeria, instant noodles are an increasingly popular source of nutrition for more than 170 million people. Combined with bread, cookies and crackers and pasta, per capita consumption of wheat foods in Nigeria has more than tripled since 1995.
Nigerian flour is used predominately to make a dense, high volume loaf of bread. Nigerian flour millers are looking for wheat able to withstand variable conditions and produce the same high quality loaf of bread time and again.
Kansas hard red winter wheat is a great match.
In addition to bread, Nigerians eat more instant noodles than anyone else outside of Southeast Asia. Why? Because as more Nigerians move from rural areas to urban ones, they are looking for a more convenient, nutritious food source. U.S. Wheat Associates, with assistance from Kansas Wheat, helped introduce this product in the market.
Today, instant noodles made with HRW wheat are so popular that every milling company produces them, even though the product was a foreign concept just a decade ago. Indomie, the largest producer of instant noodles in Nigeria, can make up to two million boxes of instant noodles every month.
“In an increasingly competitive market, those customers still benefit from, and appreciate, the support USW provides including the chance to see the new U.S. wheat crop and learn about its supply chain from the people who manage it,” said Gerald Theus, assistant regional manager for Sub-Saharan Africa with USW who is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Theus and Talabi led this trade team visit. Accompanying the IGP Institute group on the trip was Cathy Marais, an accountant for U.S. Wheat in Nigeria.
Kansas Wheat, together with U.S. Wheat Associates, continually works to strengthen the relationship between Kansas wheat farmers and Nigerian flour millers through annual trade team visits and specialized courses at the IGP Institute. Through these activities, Nigerian millers know Kansas farmers will have the wheat they want, year after year.
WICHITA – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 2 p.m. on Saturday in Sedgwick County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Dakota Dawson, 20, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 235 just north of U.S. 54.
The Cobalt was passing another vehicle and attempted to also pass a 1987 Dodge Dakota on the right. The Dodge moved into the right lane. The driver of the Cobalt lost control. The vehicle spun off the road and rolled.
Dawson was transported to Wesley Medical Center. The driver of the Dodge Douglas Bell, 34, Wichita, was not injured.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident according to the KHP.
PLAINVILLE — The Plainville Police Department reported Saturday an arrest has been made in the case of an attempted armed robbery that resulted in a shooting. The incident occurred June 7 at the Plainville Short Stop convenience store.
Hunter Bishop was arrested between midnight and 1 a.m. today in White County, Arkansas, according to Plainville Police Captain Chris Davis, on suspicion of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery.
During the incident, police said Michael Downing, store clerk, reached for the gun and was shot in the right hip. Downing, 40, was taken to Rooks County Health Center by Plainville EMS. The Plainville Police Department reported he was released a few days later.
Davis said the Plainville Police Department received word in the early morning hours today that Bishop was arrested. Plainville Police Chief Troy Rudman said several charges against Biship are pending.
Bishop moved to Plainville from Oklahoma and is originally from Arkansas.
JUNCTION CITY – The Geary County Attorney’s Office set the bond for a suspect held in connection with a law enforcement chase and standoff on Wednesday.
In District Court, bond for Chris Charles Hennington, 55, Junction City, is set at $100,000.
Hennington was arrested following a law enforcement pursuit in southwest Geary County, and a standoff in a Dickinson County pasture. No one was injured.
Hennington is being held on suspicion of three counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and one count each of Criminal Damage to Property, and Fleeing or attempting to elude a Law Enforcement Officer.
According to Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf, Hennington fired a gun, and was acting irrationally.
Deputies responded to the scene and a chase began.
Wolf said the suspect fired three shots at the Kansas Highway Patrol aircraft.
The KHP along with the Geary County Sheriff’s Department, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department, Junction City Police and Fire Departments responded to assist with the case.
A status check and preliminary hearings for Hennington have been scheduled July second in Geary County District Court.
Leroy A. “Butch” Dinges, 80, died Monday, June 22, 2015, at HaysMed.
He was born September 7, 1934, in Hays to Nick L. and Julia (Smith) Dinges. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Military Academy in 1952.
On June 6, 1953, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Schnatterly in Hays.
He was a farmer & cattleman for 35 years. In his later years, he was a land developer, developing the Woodland Plains Addition west of Hays. Butch greatly enjoyed spending time with his family and caring for the wildlife surrounding his home.
Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Chris, Golden, CO, Rick (Dorene) Littleton, CO; seven daughters, Terri Rupp (Bruce), Hays, Sharon Wasinger (Roxie Whitmer), Pueblo West, CO, Mary Jane Arnhold (Tim), Loveland, CO, Michelle Dietrich (Fred), Wamego, KS, Lucy Barnes (Howard), Julie Rider (Kurt), and Betsy Forinash (Brian), all of Hays; a sister, Dorothy Burkart, Lacrosse, KS; two brothers, William “Chris”, and Norman “Joe”, both of Broomfield, CO; 23 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two step-great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Cliff; a daughter-in-law, Sara; three brothers, Adrian, Howard and (infant) Charles; two sisters, Norma Jean and (infant) Charlotte.
A graveside service will follow visitation on Friday at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Visitation will be Thursday, July 2, from 5-8 PM and Friday 9:30-11 AM, July 3, at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine, Hays.
Memorials are suggested to the Ellis County Historical Society in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed [email protected].
A domestic disturbance turned into a manhunt Friday afternoon in Russell County.
According to a news release from the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to 244 E. Eighth, Bunker Hill, domestic disturbance.
Deputies responded and met the male party of the domestic driving west on Homer Road in a white GMC pickup. Deputies attempted a traffic stop and a pursuit began. The vehicle fled by driving on the railroad tracks and through fields, according to authorities.
Sheriff John R. Fletcher said the vehicle chase ended when the driver — identified as David Allen Combs — stopped his vehicle at 190th and Fairfield Road. A manhunt began and, after several hours, the suspect was located and reportedly resisted arrest.
Combs was tased several times before being taken into custody, Fletcher said, adding he refused medical treatment and was taken to the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, where he was placed under arrest on suspicion of domestic battery, driving while suspended, felony fleeing and eluding, and several other traffic violations.
Agencies involved in the manhunt included the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Russell Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office.
Republican candidate for the Kansas first congressional district Roger Marshall was in Hays earlier last week as part of the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commission. During a break in the sessions, Marshall shared with Hays Post how the campaign is going and what he has learned since his official announcement a little over a month ago.
Marshall is from Great Bend and works as a practicing physician there. He announced his candidacy in a tour of the state stopping at locations across the district.
“We finished 22 cities in a weeks time, traveled 2,000 miles, great reception where ever we went to,” Marshall said, adding feedback during those announcements was invaluable and people are now seeking him to speak at their venue.
While the campaign is just firing up, Marshall has already promised to do things differently than two-term incumbent Tim Huelskamp.
“What I’ve learned in my life, whether I’m leading a church, or leading a Rotary club, which are volunteers, or leading a cooperation, is that if I genuinely listen to and respect other peoples views and use their ideas to find a better solution for everybody, that we get much better buy-in,” Marshall said.
For Marshall creating working relationships is vital to making government work and that message stands in stark contrast to Rep. Huelskamp’s hard-line negotiating. Marshall said what he is good at and what he would bring to the office, if elected, would serve western Kansas well.
If elected, Marshall has a simple plan for working with other lawmakers.
“(We need to) identify the problem clearly, leave the things that we disagree on out of the way, let’s figure out what the goal is for this country, and for this state, and let’s move in that direction and leave some of our personal differences aside,” he said.
Even with his message of working together, his campaign message is in line with mainstream Republican views that permeate western Kansas. He said one of the areas of policy he hears about regularly, is government overreach.
“Whether you’re in farming or banking or insurance, no matter what business you’re in, there’s just a big concern about government overreach,” he said.
Photo by Andy Marso Sean Gatewood served as executive director of the Kansas Health Consumer Coalition, which is ceasing operations this week. –
BY DAVE RANNEY
The Kansas Health Consumer Coalition will cease operations this week.
“It’s been a struggle to maintain our funding,” said Carol Ramirez Albott, president of the Topeka-based advocacy group’s governing board. “Things just got to a point where we felt like we couldn’t adequately do the job.”
The board, she said, notified its supporters of the decision late last week.
“We are very sorry about this,” Albott said. “It really leaves a vacuum when it comes to there being an independent voice to advocate for the health care needs of Kansans. We don’t have any state or federal funding, so we haven’t had to worry about stepping on anybody’s toes. We can say what needs to be said.”
The coalition and its executive director, Sean Gatewood, have been active in recent — and as yet unsuccessful — efforts to expand eligibility for the state’s Medicaid program and allow the licensing of mid-level dental practitioners.
The group also has been critical of KanCare, the state’s now-privatized approach to administering the state’s Medicaid program.
“We think there’s a lot of work yet to be done with KanCare,” said Albott, who’s a semi-retired clinical social worker and former director of the Shawnee County Health Department. “We’re not sure that Kansas is doing all that needs to be done when it comes to protecting consumers.”
Founded in 2005, the coalition has relied on grants from regional health foundations, which, in the past 18 months, have been reduced or have not been renewed.
The coalition’s office closed Friday.
“I’m very sorry to hear this,” said Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center of Kansas. “I can tell you, firsthand and in the trenches talking to legislators about issues like Medicaid expansion, that Sean Gatewood and the coalition did great things to help advance the cause in a very difficult situation.”
Tanya Dorf Brunner, executive director at Oral Health Kansas, said the coalition was instrumental in building legislative support for creating what’s now known as the Legislature’s Robert G. Bethell Joint Committee on Home and Community Based Services and KanCare Oversight.
The coalition also led efforts starting in 2011 to coordinate the work of consumer advocacy groups in Kansas, she said.
“I’m really sad to see them go,” Brunner said.
Contacted Thursday, Gatewood, a former Democrat legislator from Topeka, said he didn’t have any immediate plans other than helping his wife, Terica, care for their son, Koen, who was born June 22. The couple also have a 6-year-old daughter, Kennedy.
Dave Ranney is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.
Listen to Mike Cooper interviewing Bryan Noone, Director of the Sleep and Neurodiagnostic Institute; and Dr. Monoj at HaysMed, by clicking the link above and then clicking the play button
Ricky Hockett pitched a complete game shutout and six different Hays Monarchs drove in runs as the 18U Monarchs blank Hugoton 8-0 Saturday morning in Garden City.
Hockett allowed just two hits while striking out five and walking two over six innings.
The Monarchs scored a run in the first then added five in the third to take control.
Jared Vitztum and Braiden Werth both had two hits and each drove in a run as the Monarchs win for the fifth time in six games to improve to 10-3 on the season.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon homered to back Edinson Volquez, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics 5-2 on Friday night.
Unlike when these two teams met in April, when there were bench-clearing scuffles in all three games, there were no signs of lingering animosity. A few players from both clubs exchanged hugs and handshakes before the game, and both managers downplayed talk of any carry-over effect.
Instead the Royals rode the power of Morales and Gordon, and got another strong outing from Volquez.
Pitching against the A’s for the first time since 2007, Volquez (8-4) gave up three hits and one run in seven innings. Volquez also reached 1,000 strikeouts for his career when he fanned Brett Lawrie in the sixth.
Sam Fuld had an RBI double for Oakland, which had its five-game win streak snapped.
