October 2015 – Page 29

FHSU volleyball holds annual Pass, Set, Pink event Friday

Posted on October 22, 2015October 22, 2015

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State Volleyball will hold its annual Pass, Set, Pink Event in support of Breast Cancer Awareness on Friday, October 23 at Gross Memorial Coliseum as the Tigers take on No. 12 ranked Central Missouri at 6 pm. A silent auction will begin at 5 pm.

The silent auction begins one hour prior to the match near Gate 3 with all proceeds going towards the PINK scholarship, which was established by the Tiger Volleyball Program to benefit an FHSU student who has been affected by cancer. The winners of the silent auction items will be announced after the match.

The team will also be selling pink volleyball t-shirts for $15, (image attached) with proceeds going towards the PINK scholarship. To order a t-shirt prior to the game, please contact Assistant Coach Lily Dillard ([email protected] or ext. 4363). Anyone wearing a pink shirt will get into the match for FREE and there will be an autograph session with the volleyball team after the match. The PINK scholarship is currently at $6,289 and will be endowed once it reaches $10,000.

Be with us at Gross Memorial Coliseum throughout the weekend for both home matches. FHSU takes on Lindenwood at 2 pm on Saturday.

Police chase on I-70 ends with rollover accident

Posted on October 22, 2015October 22, 2015

Click HERE for the updated story.

Ellis County Sheriffs and Kansas Highway Patrol on currently on the scene of a rollover accident following a police chase at mile marker 165 on Interstate 70, just east of Hays.

It is unknown at this time what led to the chase and the condition of the suspect.

Both east and west bound traffic is being slowed as emergency responders work to remove the car from a culvert running under the interstate.

Hays Post is on the scene and will provide updates as they become available.

Longtime K-State worker claims school violated civil rights

Posted on October 22, 2015

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A longtime Kansas State University employee has filed a lawsuit claiming the school discriminated against him because he is an Iranian-born Muslim who was in line for promotion to an associate vice president post.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Abdullah “Abe” Fattaey worked at Kansas State from 1971 until 2014. A federal lawsuit filed earlier this month claims he was terminated after a concerted effort by top university officials to get rid of him.

Fattaey was the school’s director of campus planning and facilities management when he was nominated in April 2013 to become associate vice president for campus planning and facilities management.

He says that instead of the promotion he was given a “terminal contract” and was told he would be dismissed in 12 months.

HaysMed physical therapist earns second specialist certification

Posted on October 22, 2015October 22, 2015

Hays Medical Center

Jill Billinger, physical therapist at HaysMed, recently earned a clinical specialization in orthopaedic physical therapy from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists.

According to the ABPTS, there are 11 sports-certified clinical specialists and 43 orthopedic certified clinical specialists in Kansas. Billinger is the only physical therapist in the state of Kansas to be board certified in these two specialties. In addition to the orthopaedic designation, she is also board certified in sports.

Specialization is the process by which a physical therapist builds on a broad base of professional education and practice to develop a greater depth of knowledge and skills related to a particular area of practice. Clinical specialization in physical therapy responds to a specific area of patient need and requires knowledge, skill, and experience exceeding that of the physical therapist at entry to the profession and unique to the specialized area of practice.

The specialist certification program was established to provide formal recognition for physical therapists with advanced clinical knowledge, experience, and skills in a special area of practice and to assist consumers and the health care community in identifying these physical therapists

“Our team is fortunate to have someone with Billinger’s specialized knowledge and skills in both areas,” said Theresa Roe, director of rehabilitation services at HaysMed. “She has shown real dedication to helping patients achieve the best quality of life possible through physical therapy by earning two specialty certifications.”

Billinger works in the outpatient rehabilitation department at HaysMed and has been an associate of HaysMed since 2002.

Kansas middle school locked down, arrest made

Posted on October 22, 2015

WAMEGO -Law enforcement authorities in Pottawatomie County are investigating a suspect that prompted a lockdown at the middle school in Wamego.

The school at 1701 Kaw Valley Road was briefly under a lockdown Thursday morning according to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Dispatch.

Wamego Police Department also responded to the scene as back up to the county sheriff’s deputies.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office did confirm that one suspect was taken into custody in the area.

No additional details have been released.

UPDATE: Manhunt suspect still at large in Gorham area

Posted on October 22, 2015October 22, 2015

Multiple law enforcement agencies on the scene of a manhunt in Gorham. (Photo courtesy Tod Hileman, KHP — Multiple law enforcement agencies on the scene of a manhunt in Gorham Thursday morning.
(Photo courtesy Tod Hileman, KHP)

Click HERE for the updated story.

GORHAM–Law enforcement officials are still in Gorham, according to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman of Hays.

“We are looking for a light skinned black male, 6’1″ and stocky build. The suspect is also possibly armed. If you have info please call 911 and report it,” Hileman said.

The town of Gorham and schools in Russell are on lockdown at the request of the Russell County Sheriff’s office.

The incident began before 6 a.m. morning as a vehicle chase on Interstate 70 westbound, resulting in a crash near the Gorham exit in western Russell County.

Reports from the scene indicate the suspect is now on foot.

Kansas regents name new president for Emporia State

Posted on October 22, 2015October 22, 2015

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents has chosen an administrator at a private university in Texas to serve as the next president of Emporia State University.

The board announced the appointment of Allison Garrett on Thursday. She’s currently executive vice president at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.

She was one of two finalists for the Emporia State job. The other was Petra Roter, the vice chancellor for student affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Garrett takes over as Emporia State’s 17th president in January. She has been Abilene Christian’s executive vice president for three years.

Michael Shonrock left the Emporia State presidency in April to become president at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Retired Butler County Community College President Jacqueline Vietti has served as interim president since May.

FHSU women’s basketball picked second in MIAA preseason coaches poll

Posted on October 22, 2015

FHSU Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coming off the best season in the program’s NCAA Division II history, Fort Hays State has been picked second in the MIAA Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Thursday (Oct. 22). Fort Hays State was the MIAA Regular Season Champion last year, finishing with a record of 30-4 overall and 18-1 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State sits only behind Emporia State in the preseason poll. The Hornets were unanimously picked No. 1 with 13 votes. Fort Hays State received the one first place vote from ESU, since coaches cannot vote for their own team. Fort Hays State and Emporia State had four epic battles last year, both ranked inside the top 10 of the WBCA Poll in each meeting. FHSU won the two regular season meetings before ESU claimed victories in the two postseason meetings, the MIAA Tournament Final and NCAA Tournament Central Regional Final. Emporia State went on to the national semifinals and finished its year at 29-5 overall.

Sitting behind the Tigers in the poll are Central Missouri and Pittsburg State. The Jennies went 21-9 last year, while the Gorillas finished 27-7 overall. Pittsburg State was also a participant in the NCAA Tournament along with FHSU and ESU last year. The Gorillas fell in the regional semifinal to the Hornets.

The Tigers three of five starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, which includes Beth Bohuslavsky, Chelsea Mason and Paige Lunsford. All three are seniors this year. However, the Tigers adjust to losing two of their best defensive players, first team All-American Kate Lehman and Keriann Shaw.

Bohuslavsky averaged 8.9 points and 3.8 assists per game last year and once again was one of the top ball security players in the nation, ranking sixth in assist/turnover ratio. Mason is the top returning scorer at 12.5 points per game, while Jill Faxon added 9.4 points and shot 41 percent beyond the 3-point line. Lunsford is the top returning rebounder, pulling down 4.1 per game last year. She added 4.9 points per game. Nikola Kacperska turned into a solid offensive threat for FHSU late in the year, finishing at 6.5 points per game, while Ellie Stein added 3.1 points per game in the post.

2015-16 MIAA Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Emporia State (13) 169
2. Fort Hays State (1) 147
3. Central Missouri 135
4. Pittsburg State 128
5. Missouri Western 124
6. Washburn 103
7. Central Oklahoma 102
8. Missouri Southern 99
9. Lindenwood 58
10. Northeastern State 57
11. Lincoln 53
12. Nebraska-Kearney 38
13. Northwest Missouri 35
14. Southwest Baptist 26

KBI opening new $55M crime lab

Posted on October 22, 2015

The KBI At Washburn- photo Washburn University

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is opening its new $55-million Topeka crime laboratory next month, replacing a facility that opened in the 1980s.

KBI Director Kirk Thompson says the previous Topeka lab space didn’t meet accreditation standards, and the new lab located at Washburn University will allow for more efficiency in processing evidence.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the new lab is one of four operated by the KBI. Others are in Kansas City, Pittsburg and Great Bend. But the new lab will be the only one with facilities for all of the various forensic science disciplines.

Members of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on State Building Construction toured the site Wednesday. The committee has overseen the project since it was authorized in the state’s 2013 budget.

Computer issue delaying processing of Kansas vets’ claims

Posted on October 22, 2015

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas agency says its workers are locked out of a computer program, delaying them from processing veterans’ claims through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs uses a computer program that allows them to process hundreds of claims each month and send them to the VA’s regional office in Wichita.

But commission workers have been locked out of the program lately. Without the program, the claims have to be faxed or mailed, which can take weeks.

Wayne Bollig, a deputy director at the commission, says the outage began Tuesday, and if the issue isn’t resolved soon, the agency will receive a flood of claims at the end of the month.

The VA didn’t immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday.

City/Employee union hearing to be held during tonight’s commission meeting

Posted on October 22, 2015

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A hearing will be conducted during tonight’s Hays City Commission meeting in which representatives of Service Employees International (SEIU) Union Local 513 and city staff will explain their positions regarding the 2016-2018 employment contract.

Three items remain to be agreed upon, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty. Those are health insurance, paid time off, and termination of the agreement, as listed in the factfinding report.

Impasse was declared on June 3; a mediator was brought in with no success.

“According to the Public Employee/Employer Relations Act, we then requested that the director of PERB request a factfinder to be appointed,” Dougherty said.

The factfinder, Rex Wiant of Kansas City, was appointed, a hearing was held Sept. 17 and the factfinding report was submitted to Dougherty’s office Sept. 28.

“By state law, the factfinding report remains confidential for 14 days to allow the parties to come to agreement. If the parties don’t come to agreement, the report is made public and the city commission by statute is required to hold a hearing on the matter,” Dougherty explained.

The factfinding report and the complete Oct. 22, 2015, meeting agenda can be seen here.

Nancy Ann McDermed

Posted on October 22, 2015

Lifelong Phillipsburg resident Nancy Ann McDermed passed away Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS at the age of 78.

She was born August 29, 1937 in Phillipsburg the daughter of William Eugene & Doris Marie (Atkins) Tackwell.
She was united in marriage to Roy F. “Frank” McDermed on May 19, 1957 in Phillipsburg, KS. He preceded her in death on January 13, 2013.

Survivors include her 5 daughters, Peggy Fabin & husband, Tom, Marla McDermed, Connie Capps & husband, Melvin, Kelli Brandon & husband, Jack, & Kandi McDermed all of Phillipsburg; a brother, Bill Tackwell & wife, Dee of Hastings, NE; sister Vickie Barg & husband, Loren of Lincoln, NE; 6 grandchildren; and 9 great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 26, 2015 at the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg with Jay Brandon officiating.

Mrs. McDermed will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillips County Health Systems or Meals on Wheels. Online condolences to www.olliffboeve.com.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of arrangements.

Mazda recalling 1.2M vehicles to fix ignition switches

Posted on October 22, 2015

DETROIT (AP) — Mazda says it is recalling 1.2 million older cars and minivans in the U.S. because ignition switches could overheat and catch fire.

The recall covers the 1990-1996 323 and Protégé, the 1993-1998 626, the 1993-1995 929, the 1993-1997 MX-6, the 1989 to 1998 MPV and the 1992-1993 MX-3.

Mazda says it put too much grease on electrical contact points in the switches when the cars were manufactured. The grease can carbonize and reduce electrical insulation. The company says continuous use can cause electricity to flow between the points and make the switches overheat. That can cause smoke and possible fire.

Mazda says the problem doesn’t affect the cars’ operation or safety devices. It says there haven’t been any crashes or injuries.

The recall will start in December.