August 2015 – Page 65 – Hays Post Archive

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Fantastic Four’ is dull and dour

Posted on August 10, 2015

James Gerstner reviews movies for Hays Post.

The Fantastic Four do not good movies make. The highest rated of the three Fantastic Four films is the second installment of the first run, and it only managed a 37% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, that 37% (which is very poor) is more than three times higher than the “Fantastic Four” reboot that came out last week.

This movie quite simply fails to deliver on any of the things you want in a superhero movie. It’s dour, dull and defective. This incarnation of the Fantastic Four franchise is an origin story, but with high school kids instead of adults. This film makes the same mind-wrenching mistake that “Project Almanac” made earlier this year – it takes supposedly genius-level students and has them make stupid mistake after stupid mistake. This is a movie that prizes itself on its scientific acumen and then isn’t remotely scientific in its approach or ideals.

Furthermore, and perhaps worse, it’s not heroic. Superhero movies don’t have to be happy-go-lucky (Batman certainly isn’t a hugger) but they do have to be heroic. Director Josh Trank, who helmed the under-appreciated “Chronicle” from 2012, has a keen eye for visuals and has an interesting take on regular people acquiring superhuman abilities, but he does not, unfortunately, have an eye for what makes a hero a hero, or what makes a villain a villain. “Fantastic Four” was awash in inconsistent and incomprehensible character motivations that left the surprisingly little action feeling hollow.

I rather despise the first two “Fantastic Four” movies, but they are miles more entertaining than this heap. At least they have some humor and a believable hero’s journey. It’s very hard for me to recommend this film to any audience, under any circumstances.

On a much more exciting note, I wanted to take a second to let Hays Daily News and Hays Post readers know that I have accepted a job at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and will be moving at the end of the week. I very much intend to continue seeing movies and writing reviews, but if I do happen to miss a week, I hope that you will understand. I’m very much looking forward to starting my new position and starting a new chapter of my life in our nation’s capital.

2 of 6 stars

Gunshot wound leads to arrest of two Russell residents

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

RUSSELL COUNTY SHERIFF

Deputies from the Russell County Office were dispatched at 5:22 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, to a report of a subject at the Russell Regional Hospital with a gunshot wound to his hand. Deputies responded and spoke with Richard Heaton, Russell.

During the investigation it was determined that Heaton was a felon and should not be in possession of a firearm, Russell County Sheriff John Fletcher said in a news release Monday morning. Heaton and his girlfriend, Cassidy Froelich, told deputies the wound was an accident that had happened in the county. Deputies allege Heaton was in possession of numerous firearms.

A later traffic stop at 10:43 p.m. Sunday of Froelich and Heaton led to the arrest of both subjects and a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle. During the search, numerous drugs and drug paraphernalia were located.

A search warrant for 435 W. 7th, Russell, was obtained. Officers from the sheriff’s department and the Russell Police Department executed the search warrant. During the search numerous drugs along with gun-related items were located.

Following that search, a search warrant was obtained for 441 ½ W. 7th, Russell. During the search a number of guns were located by law enforcement officers, including a stolen firearm and numerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Heaton was charged with convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property, and interference with a law enforcement officer.

Froelich was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and interference with a law enforcement officer.

Kan. man arrested on allegations of indecent liberties with a child

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

ABILENE – A Kansas man is custody and faces five felony allegations of Aggravated Indecent Liberties With a Child.

The Dickinson County Sheriff reported that investigators from the Sheriff’s Department have arrested Harold Scrivner, 50, Solomon following the completion of an investigation into alleged aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Scrivner is being held in the Dickinson County jail. His bond has been at $500,000.

Hoffman noted Scrivner will face five felony allegations of Aggravated Indecent Liberties With a Child.

Detectives from the Abilene Police Department assisted the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office investigators in the case.

FHSU unveils new jerseys, sponsors and game themes for ’15

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State Football revealed its new jerseys for the 2015 season on Thursday (Aug. 6). The Tigers are coming off a 7-4 record in 2014 in a season that saw them finish in a tie for fourth in the MIAA standings, their highest-ever finish in the conference. FHSU will be at home six times in 2015.

Click HERE for a closer look at the new uniforms.

After the season opener at Central Oklahoma on September 3, the Tigers return to Hays for their home opener on Thursday, September 10 against Northeastern State. The Tigers host four rival schools at home this year. After the first home game, the next four home dates will be against in-state rivals Pittsburg State, Washburn, Emporia State, and border rival Nebraska-Kearney. FHSU closes out the season at home with Central Missouri on November 14.

Meet all of the Fort Hays State football team at Autograph Day, sponsored by Nex-Tech Wireless, on August 22nd at The Mall in Hays. The event will be held from 1-3 pm. The 2015 schedule poster will be available at the event, along with sharpies for all the players to use for autographs.

Season tickets are available by calling the FHSU Athletics Office at (785) 628-4050 or fill out the 2015-16 season ticket form. Forms are available HERE.

Below is the home schedule for the 2015 season, along with the game sponsors and student themes for each game:

Rileighann LaRae Fisher

Posted on August 10, 2015

Rileighann LaRae Fisher, age 6, passed away Friday, August 7, 2015, as the result of a vehicle accident.

Arrangements are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.

Heath Reh Erbert

Posted on August 10, 2015

Heath Reh Erbert, 38, of Lucas, Kansas, passed away from an accident in Stratton, Nebraska on Friday, August 7, 2015.

Heath was born April 3, 1977, in Lincoln, Kansas. He was the son of Jeff L. and Teresa (Wenthe) Erbert. He grew up in the Lucas area and graduated from Lucas/Luray High School.

Heath was a welder and pipefitter for Sandhill Welding. Before that, he worked as a rigger for TOPS and he also worked for the Lucas Elevator.

Heath enjoyed traveling and living in his trailer where ever he was working, being a clown for rodeos, fishing, hunting, golfing and spending time with his friends. He was a member of the Son of American Legion in Lucas and was a life member of N.R.A.

Surviving family include his daughter, Reese Erbert of Sutherland, Nebraska; mother, Teresa Erbert of Lucas, Kansas; father, Jeff Erbert of Topeka, Kansas; sister, Heather Meyer (Toby) of Sylvan Grove, Kansas; nieces, Cheyenne Meyer and Tyra Meyer; nephews, Kilby Meyer and Kolton Meyer; cousins, Jill Hudson, Katy Wenthe, Cauy Hudson, Connor Hudson, Joey Hudson and Finn Hudson. Uncle, Lawrence Wenthe (Sue) Aunt Connie Hudson (Deone).Many more family and friends.

Celebration of Heath’s Life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the Lucas Grade School Gymnasium with Pastor Les Rye officiating. A private family burial of ashes will follow at a later date. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Friday, August 14, 2015 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Memorials have been established with the Luray Golf Course or the Sons of American Legion Post of Lucas or whoever you wish. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Catholic foundation raises $500K for Kan. students

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas foundation has raised more than a half a million dollars under a new program that seeks to pay for low income children in northeast Kansas to attend private schools.

The state Legislature last spring created a tax credit for corporations, which took effect this year. The program allows businesses to donate money for low-income children to attend private schools.

The Catholic Education Foundation, a Kansas City, Kan.-based foundation, says 65 to 70 children will receive scholarships to switch to the Archdiocese’s schools this year. Most of the children are elementary or middle-school-aged, living primarily in Wyandotte County, Topeka, Ottawa and Leavenworth.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Patrick Woods, president of the Topeka Board of Education, says Kansas instead should give public schools more resources to help struggling children.

Saturday’s heat still not hot enough for a record in Hays

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

Yes, it was hot Saturday in Hays.

How hot was it?

According to official records at the K-State Ag Research Center–108 degrees.

Still, that was not a record high for the day. On Aug. 9, 1936, the temperature in Hays reached 114 degrees.

Last year on Aug. 9, the daytime high was just 87 degrees.

Saturday also brought an official 0.39 precipitation in Hays, as measured at the Ag Center south of town.

Sunday was considerably cooler, with a high of 90 degrees in Hays.

Public hearing tonight in Ellis for 2016 budget

Posted on August 10, 2015

City of Ellis

ELLIS–The Ellis city council will meet in special session tonight at 7 p.m. in Ellis City Hall. A public hearing will be held for the 2016 budget followed by consideration to adopt the budget.

The complete agenda follows.

Special Meeting Agenda City Hall – Council Chambers
Monday, August 10, 2015

CALL TO ORDER 7:00 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED:

• 2016 Budget Hearing

• Consider Approval of the 2016 Budget

ADJOURNMENT

Russell Co. man dies after storm slams RV to the ground

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

STRATTON, Neb. – A Russell County man died in an accident just after 9:30 p.m. Friday in Hitchcock County, Neb.

Officials with the Hitchcock County Sheriff’s office reported strong winds from a thunderstorm lifted a fifth-wheel RV and slammed it to the ground.

Heath R. Erbert, 38, Lucas, died in the violent accident.

Storm damage in the southwest Nebraska community of Stratton, 30 minutes north of Atwood, is still under investigation by the National Weather Service.

Chinese wall painter to visit FHSU

Posted on August 10, 2015

FHSU University Relations

Visiting scholar Tao “Tracy” Lei, Lanzhou, China, will bring the art of traditional Chinese wall painting to Fort Hays State University during her four-month residency beginning Aug. 17.

Lei will pair with assistant professor of art and design Joel Dugan to teach students about mural painting. Dugan said the wall paintings are large, socially derived dioramas similar to those found in America.

“This area of the west and Midwest is known for regionalist murals,” said Dugan. “It references blue-collar workers and farmers. The Chinese wall paintings feature the same type of social class. We are bringing together the same type of artists from two parts of the world.”

Dugan, who owned a mural painting company for seven years, said that the goal of the residency is to make students aware of opportunities outside of studios and galleries such as painting commercial and municipal murals.

“Galleries don’t pay a living income,” he said. “This allows them to create revenue through a craft. And they provide a social service.”

Dugan plans to include Lei in his studio as much as possible by having her participate in dialogues and classroom critiques. She will hold a presentation at the beginning of the semester and give three workshops.

Lei has rare knowledge of how to find and grind minerals into paint in order to make Yancai, a special painting made of rock pigments.

“It’s unique to have someone with this material knowledge,” said Dugan.

FHSU is providing Lei with studio space alongside students. Many of the students are Chinese, but the majority are American. Lei said that she wants to learn more about American culture and tell students about Chinese lifestyles.

“I believe this could help bridge the gap between our universities and our cultures to the benefit of all,” said Lei.

“That is the key to a better world,” she said. “From a small seed, many great things may grow.”

Study shows Kansas sales tax hurting rural grocers

Posted on August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

By JIM MCLEAN

A group pushing for elimination of the sales tax on groceries in Kansas is touting a new study.

The Wichita State University study shows that even before it was raised last month from 6.15 percent to 6.5 percent, the statewide sales tax was costing rural grocers an average of about $18,000 a year in lost sales.

The study was paid for by KC Healthy Kids, a nonprofit organization pushing to make Kansas the 37th state to eliminate its sales tax on groceries.

Ashley Jones-Wisner, a spokesperson for the group, said ongoing budget problems shouldn’t keep Kansas lawmakers from exempting groceries from the sales tax.

“What we can’t afford to do is keep going down the path that we’re going down right now,” Jones-Wisner said, noting that the study suggests the grocery tax could be one of the reasons Kansas has been slipping in state health rankings.

The study indicates that some consumers may be limiting their purchase of fruits and dairy products due to the high tax rate.

“That’s a key finding in the study,” Jones-Wisner said. “Dairy and fruits are so critical to a healthy diet.”

Of the 14 states that levy sales taxes on groceries, only Kansas and six others charge their full rates. Kansas’ rate is now the highest in the nation.

The WSU study indicates that the high tax rate also is costing jobs in rural areas.

“Workers at rural grocery stores see lower compensation due to the sales tax on groceries and employment at rural groceries is lower than it would otherwise be without the tax,” writes Kenneth Kriz, the WSU professor who conducted the study.

If lawmakers want to improve the economies in smaller communities, Kriz said, they could “consider shifting the burden from a sales tax on groceries to the income tax.”

It’s unlikely that members of the Legislature’s conservative Republican majority will consider that trade-off. They ended the 2015 session — the longest in state history — by passing increases in sales and tobacco taxes to generate revenue lost because of income tax cuts approved in 2012.

Several of the tax increase plans discussed in the final weeks of the session would have lowered but not eliminated the sales tax on groceries. But that feature, intended to make the tax package more attractive to Democrats and moderate Republicans, was dropped from the plan that ultimately passed.

Jim McLean is executive editor of KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team.

East Texas judge sentences man to marriage

Posted on August 10, 2015

TYLER, Texas (AP) — An East Texas man who pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend has been sentenced to life — in matrimony.

KLTV-TV reports 21-year-old Josten Bundy pleaded guilty on July 2 to assault with bodily injury for a February fistfight with the ex-boyfriend of 19-year-old Elizabeth Jaynes.

Bundy tells the Tyler television station that the man “had been saying disrespectful things” about Jaynes, so he challenged him to a fight and punched him twice in the jaw.

Smith County Court-at-Law Judge Randall Rogers sentenced Bundy to probation on the condition that he marry Jaynes within 30 days. Otherwise, it would be 15 days in jail.

Reluctantly, Bundy and Jaynes applied for their marriage license and scheduled a date with a justice of the peace.