City of Hays
The Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, Hays city commission meeting has been canceled due to a lack of agenda items for review at that time.
Month: January 2016
Police continue search for suspect responsible for 16 Kansas burglaries
NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Newton police are urging residents to lock their doors as they search for a man suspected of at least 16 burglaries since mid-September.
Police Lt. Scott Powell says the burglar always enters homes through open garage or sliding glass doors. He generally steals only cash and has been seen inside homes only three times. He is about 5-foot-8, 200 pounds and in his 50s or 60s, with shaggy gray hair and a scruffy gray beard.
The Wichita Eagle reports the last burglary was Jan. 7.
During one burglary, the family was at home and confronted the man but he was able to get to a car and drive away.
Powell says despite publicity of the crimes, officers still find between six and 15 garage doors open every night.
Kan. man arrested after people in dorm room threatened
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man has been taken into custody after authorities say he threatened several people with a knife in a university residence hall in Lawrence.
Lawrence Police Department Sgt. Ted Bordman says the 23-year-old was arrested around 5 p.m. Sunday.
Bordman says several people were threatened with a knife in a dorm room in a Haskell Indian Nations University residence hall. No one was injured.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports the suspect was being held without bond in the Douglas County Jail on Sunday night.
The suspect doesn’t have any criminal history listed in Douglas County Court records or in the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Soup ‘r Bowl will be this weekend at Ellis Co. Fairgrounds
The 18th Annual Soup ‘r Bowl for Humane Society of the High Plains will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Unrein Building at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.
Admission is $5. Tickets are available at Hays Veterinary Hospital,1016 East 8th; Fur Is Flying, 2204 Vine Street; Back to Nature, 2707 Vine Street; Humane Society of the High Plains, or at the door.
There will be 17 tables: 15 soups and two dessert tables (Debbie Weber-cookies, cupcakes, etc. and Sheriff Ed Harbin-pie). A baggie with a small cup, large cup, spoon, napkin and voting tickets are given to each guest. The small cup is for tasting the soups, and the large cup is for eating the favorite.
Many door prizes and gift certificates are available, and new T-shirts are on sale.
The Golden Ladle will be awarded after votes are counted at 1 p.m.
Proceeds are dedicated for medical treatment for animals at the shelter.
Cannabis Community Split As Kansas Hemp Oil Bill Gains Momentum
By ANDY MARSO
Kiley Klug and Tiffanie Krentz had just finished giving emotional testimony about their children’s persistent seizures during Wednesday’s hearing on legalizing cannabis oil when Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer spoke up.
Ostmeyer, a veteran Republican legislator from a sprawling rural district in western Kansas, told the women he understood, because he has a 36-year-old daughter who was only expected to live to age 10.
“She’s missing part of the brain, our daughter is, that controls all motor (skills) and so on,” said Ostmeyer, of Grinnell. “We think that she’s looking out at us, trying to tell us something, but she can’t talk. So I understand what you went through. I see all the different medications. We’ve been there, done that.”
Ostmeyer did not say whether he’d support House Bill 2049, which last session became the first medical marijuana bill to pass the Kansas House.
But momentum appears to be building for the narrow bill, which allows only cannabis oil solutions with less than 3 percent THC — too little to produce the “high” associated with recreational marijuana — to treat seizure disorders.
ANDY MARSO / HEARTLAND HEALTH MONITOR
Advocacy groups pull support
The carrier of the bill, Rep. John Wilson, emphasized the bill’s differences from broader medical marijuana legislation that has never advanced in Kansas, where legislators fear legalization will increase drug abuse.
Those differences have split the medical marijuana community.
The state’s main advocacy groups supported an earlier version of Wilson’s bill that would have allowed Kansans to petition a state advisory board for higher THC marijuana compounds and permitted treatment of more medical conditions.
After that part was stripped from the bill, groups like Bleeding Kansas and the Kansas Association of Medical Cannabis Advocates pulled their support.
“We are just neutral on this whole issue at this point,” said Lisa Sublett, the leader of Bleeding Kansas.
Sublett said she believes her group has the same goals as many of those who support Wilson’s hemp oil legislation, but the current version of the bill leaves out too many people with other medical conditions.
Tracy Robles, who heads the Kansas Association of Medical Cannabis Advocates, said her daughter suffers from seizures but would not see any benefit from the oil allowed in HB 2049 unless more THC were permitted.
Wilson, a Democrat from Lawrence in a Legislature with overwhelming Republican majorities, said he’s trying to craft a bill that could provide some medical benefit but is narrow enough to have a chance of passing. He said dissatisfaction on both sides might signal the bill is reaching that tunnel.
“I recognize the bill may not go far enough for some,” Wilson said. “But I also recognize there’s only a certain type of bill that can pass right now in this political environment.”
Desperate to try
The benefits of treating seizures with cannabis oil high in cannabidoil, or CBD, but low in THC are still in dispute. Early studies showed improvement for as many as 80 percent of users, but sample sizes were extremely low and subsequent studies suggest only about 30 percent might benefit. More comprehensive study has been hamstrung by marijuana’s status as a Schedule I drug at the federal level.
Klug and Krentz acknowledged that the oil allowed by HB 2049 might not help their children but said they’re desperate to try.
Klug was accompanied at Wednesday’s Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee hearing by her husband and their young son Owen, who uses a wheelchair and occasionally blurted out involuntary noises.
She said traditional medications, a special diet and a nerve-block transplant have reduced Owen’s seizures from hundreds a day to about 20. But those 20 seem intractable.
“Epilepsy is simply a prison that Owen cannot escape,” Klug said.
Krentz also was accompanied by her husband. But her son, J.J., was not able to attend the hearing. He’s an adolescent whose persistent seizures have kept him at the developmental level of a 3 or 4 year old. Because of J.J.’s cognitive and physical needs, the family was no longer able to care for him at home. He lives at Parsons State Hospital.
“That was not a decision we took lightly,” Krentz said.
Krentz said the staff at Parsons has been amazing and her son is doing well there. Although J.J.’s doctors have tried 16 medications, his seizures persist. Krentz said she and her husband recently signed a medical order instructing doctors not to resuscitate J.J. if he suffers a catastrophic seizure that leaves him comatose.
Andy Marso is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach him on Twitter @andymarso
Obama wants to see Pell grant expansion
JENNIFER C. KERR, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration wants to expand the federal Pell grant program to help more students graduate from college — by providing them with more money to attend classes year-round and reward them for taking more credits.
Two new proposals announced by the Education Department would expand the $29 billion program by $2 billion in the new fiscal year. They’ll be part of President Barack Obama’s budget proposal next month.
One proposal would help low-income students earn Pell money for a third semester in an academic year. Many exhaust their eligibility after two semesters. The other proposal would give a $300 bonus to students taking at least 15 credits per semester in an academic year.
Pell grants are for low-income people. They don’t have to be repaid.
FHSU wrestling claims third straight Kansas Cup
Fort Hays State pulled away in the team scoring, winning the tournament with a score of 133.5. Newman was second with 112 points and Baker finished third with 107.5 points.
Inman, ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II, added another tournament title to his outstanding season for the Tigers going 3-0 on his way to first place. He generated 19 points, which tied for the team high on the day. Inman won by pin (0:47) over Benedictine’s Connor Kenyon in the quarterfinal and by pin (4:57) again in the semifinals over Newman’s Kyle Ryan. Inman took the championship bout with an 11-6 decision over Pratt Community College’s Micah Felton.
Gulley also generated 19 team points and went 3-0 on his way to the title at 285 pounds. Gulley defeated Pratt’s Tommy Vu by fall (1:44) and Colby Community College’s Zell Beiberle with a 5-1 decision. In the championship bout, Gulley scored another fall, this time over Ottawa University’s Armondo Contreas at the 6:04 mark.
Ludwin cruised through his first two matches, scoring a fall and a major decision, but dropped the championship bout to Newman’s Dustin Reed in a tight 3-1 decision.
Little won his first three matches of the day with a pair of pins and a technical fall shutout, but the championship match was a defensive battle with Baker’s Victor Hughes. No points were scored during the match, but Hughes came away with the 1-0 decision with a riding time point.
Homalon, like Little, started the day hot winning his first three matches. A pin and a tech fall before a 12-6 decision over Baker’s Colby Crank put him in the final against Newman’s Colton Duhr. Despite a good effort by Homalon, Duhr walked away with a 10-6 decision.
Dylan Wiesner went 2-1 on the day for his second-place finish. He posted back-to-back major decisions, but dropped the championship match to Newman’s Heath Gray 3-2 after suffering a late takedown in the third period.
Cash Drylie took third at 197 pounds and Matt Ziegler was fourth at 165 pounds. Noah Killip had to pull out of the tournament due to injury in his first match of the day.
Next up for the Tigers is an MIAA dual meet at Lindenwood on Friday (Jan. 29) at 7 pm. Below are the results from the Kansas Cup.
| Team Scores | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1. | Fort Hays State | 133.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2. | Newman | 112.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3. | Baker | 107.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4. | Ottawa | 94.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5. | Barton Community College | 74.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6. | Northwest Technical College | 61.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7. | Pratt | 52.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8. | Bethany (Kan.) | 43.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9. | Labette Community College | 42.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10. | Benedictine | 29.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11. | Neosho County Community College | 22.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12. | Colby | 18.5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kansas Cup Results for Fort Hays State
125 – Adam Ludwin (17-6) placed 2nd and scored 16.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) 17-6 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) 17-6 won by fall over Clay Bodenheimer (Pratt) 2-8 (Fall 5:18)
Semifinal – Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) 17-6 won by major decision over Levi Maes (Northwest Technical College) 30-14 (MD 11-2)
1st Place Match – Dustin Reed (Newman) 13-1 won by decision over Adam Ludwin (Fort Hays State) 17-6 (Dec 3-1)
141 – Noah Killip (10-4) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Shaquille Wright (Labette Community College) 2-4 won by injury default over Noah Killip (Fort Hays State) 10-4 (Inj. 0:18)
Cons. Round 1 – Noah Killip (Fort Hays State) 10-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Jaden McRoberts (Barton Community College) 9-13 won by forfeit over Noah Killip (Fort Hays State) 10-4 (For.)
149 – Bradley Little (15-6) placed 2nd and scored 18.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) 15-6 won by fall over Josh Romero (Benedictine) 0-2 (Fall 1:52)
Quarterfinal – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) 15-6 won by tech fall over Bryan Burnett (Labette Community College) 4-15 (TF-1.5 6:43 (16-0))
Semifinal – Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) 15-6 won by fall over John Risewick (Bethany (Kan.)) 3-2 (Fall 6:43)
1st Place Match – Victor Hughes (Baker) 21-5 won by decision over Bradley Little (Fort Hays State) 15-6 (Dec 1-0)
157 – William Homalon (12-4) placed 2nd and scored 16.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – William Homalon(Fort Hays State) 12-4 won by fall over Trent Robb (Bethany (Kan.)) 0-2 (Fall 2:36)
Quarterfinal – William Homalon (Fort Hays State) 12-4 won by tech fall over Victor Haro (Northwest Technical College) 25-13 (TF-1.5 3:42 (21-4))
Semifinal – William Homalon (Fort Hays State) 12-4 won by decision over Colby Crank (Baker) 18-2 (Dec 12-6)
1st Place Match – Colton Duhr (Newman) 10-4 won by decision over William Homalon (Fort Hays State) 12-4 (Dec 10-6)
165 – Matt Ziegler (3-10) placed 4th and scored 12.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Matt Ziegler (Fort Hays State) 3-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Matt Ziegler (Fort Hays State) 3-10 won by tech fall over CJ Garcia (Bethany (Kan.)) 0-2 (TF-1.5 1:13 (16-0))
Semifinal – Colton Looper (Neosho County Community College) 16-4 won by tech fall over Matt Ziegler (Fort Hays State) 3-10 (TF-1.5 4:25 (18-1))
Cons. Semi – Matt Ziegler (Fort Hays State) 3-10 won by major decision over Sean Taborsky (Barton Community College) 13-20 (MD 17-5)
3rd Place Match – Noel Torres (Newman) 9-5 won by tech fall over Matt Ziegler (Fort Hays State) 3-10 (TF-1.5 3:53 (16-0))
174 – Dylan Wiesner (10-10) placed 2nd and scored 15.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) 10-10 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) 10-10 won by major decision over Darick Jones (Neosho County Community College) 9-15 (MD 12-2)
Semifinal – Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) 10-10 won by major decision over Trevor Sutton (Baker) 13-15 (MD 16-2)
1st Place Match – Heath Gray (Newman) 18-5 won by decision over Dylan Wiesner (Fort Hays State) 10-10 (Dec 3-2)
184 – Jon Inman (24-1) placed 1st and scored 19.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) 24-1 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) 24-1 won by fall over Connor Kenyon (Benedictine) 0-2 (Fall 0:47)
Semifinal – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) 24-1 won by fall over Kyle Ryan (Newman) 2-2 (Fall 4:57)
1st Place Match – Jon Inman (Fort Hays State) 24-1 won by decision over Micah Felton (Pratt) 10-2 (Dec 11-6)
197 – Cash Drylie (9-7) placed 3rd and scored 17.50 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Cash Drylie (Fort Hays State) 9-7 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Cash Drylie(Fort Hays State) 9-7 won by fall over Travis Quarterman (Pratt) 3-4 (Fall 1:35)
Semifinal – Kasey Crump (Ottawa) 17-5 won by major decision over Cash Drylie (Fort Hays State) 9-7 (MD 11-2)
Cons. Semi – Cash Drylie (Fort Hays State) 9-7 won by fall over Jonathan Bowen (Barton Community College) 10-17 (Fall 2:15)
3rd Place Match – Cash Drylie (Fort Hays State) 9-7 won by fall over Travis Quarterman (Pratt) 3-4 (Fall 0:57)
285 – Dakota Gulley (15-15) placed 1st and scored 19.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Dakota Gulley (Fort Hays State) 15-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Dakota Gulley (Fort Hays State) 15-15 won by fall over Tommy Vu (Pratt) 5-14 (Fall 1:44)
Semifinal – Dakota Gulley (Fort Hays State) 15-15 won by decision over Zell Beiberle (Colby) 3-2 (Dec 5-1)
1st Place Match – Dakota Gulley(Fort Hays State) 15-15 won by fall over Armondo Contreas (Ottawa) 2-1 (Fall 6:04)
Kansas town upset with plans to close only grocery store
ST. JOHN, Kan. (AP) — A small central Kansas town is scrambling to find ways to respond when its only grocery store closes Feb. 6.
More than 200 people attended a town hall meeting Sunday to discuss the closing of a Dillon’s Market store.
KAKE-TV reports Mayor Juliann Owens says the store was closing for financial reasons and because the small store can’t be expanded.
When the store closes, St. John residents will have to drive more than 25 miles to Great Bend or Pratt, or 12 miles to a small grocery store in Stafford.
For now, residents are planning ways to help those who can’t drive to get groceries. The St. John city council will discuss funding a bus to take people to the other towns for groceries.
Cloudy, windy Monday
Today A slight chance of snow and freezing drizzle, mainly between 11am and noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Windy, with a north northwest wind 18 to 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Northwest wind 9 to 17 mph.
Cooler high pressure will push across the Central Plains today, then warming from midweek into Friday. #kswx pic.twitter.com/11sIFY1js4
— NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) January 25, 2016
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 40. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph.
Tuesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 20. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west after midnight.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 49.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 28.
ThursdaySunny, with a high near 54.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 31.
FridaySunny, with a high near 62.
Manning, Broncos headed back to Super Bowl
DENVER (AP) – The Denver Broncos captured the AFC championship game as Peyton Manning threw a pair of TD passes to Owen Daniels while in the first half of a 20-18 win over the New England Patriots. Manning completed 17 of his 32 passes for 176 yards and no interceptions.
Brian McManus hit two field goals, a 52-yarder with 33 seconds remaining in the first half and a 31-yard kick that gave Denver a 20-12 lead with about 10 minutes left. C.J. Anderson had 72 yards on 16 carries for the Broncos, who have tied Pittsburgh, Dallas and New England for most Super Bowl appearances.
It was the fifth time Manning and Tom Brady have locked horns in the AFC title game. Manning now has a 3-2 edge in those battles.
The Broncos’ defense hounded Brady all afternoon, recording four sacks and knocking him down 14 times. Denver linebacker Von Miller was one of the stars of the game, recording 2 1/2 sacks and one interception.
Brady completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes, hitting on 27 of 56 for 310 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
However, Brady converted a pair of fourth-down plays on the Patriots’ final drive, including a four-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski on fourth-and-goal with 12 seconds left. The Patriots would have tied the game with a successful two-point conversion, but Brady’s pass was tipped by Aqib Talib (ah-KEEB tah-LEEB’) and intercepted by Bradley Roby. The Pats had to go for two after Stephen Gostkowski missed an extra-point try following Steven Jackson’s one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Trial to begin for men accused of wounding Kansas deputy
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Jury selection is scheduled to get underway in the trial of two men charged with trying to kill a Wyandotte County deputy.
Deputy Scott Wood was shot seven times last March when three armed men tried to rob a convenience store where he had stopped after work.
The Kansas City Star reports jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in the trial of 25-year-old Dyron M. King, and 36-year-old Cecil D. Meggerson, who are charged with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer.
A third defendant, 19-year-old Charles Bowser, faces the same charge, but his trial’s delayed.
The sheriff’s office says Wood is still recovering from gunshot wounds to the jaw, shoulder, abdomen and lower chest.
Kansas bill aims to ban discrimination against gun dealers
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas Senate panel will consider a measure aimed at banning discrimination against gun dealers and manufacturers.
The measure would function like laws that prevent religious or racial discrimination and allow gun dealers to sue when they feel discriminated against.
The Wichita Eagle reports (https://bit.ly/1JvEUnq ) the bill will be heard Thursday by a Senate committee.
Sen. Jacob LaTurner says the measure was in response to a 2013 federal initiative aimed at preventing fraudulent businesses from using the banking system.
The National Rifle Association and others have said that initiative has encouraged banks to sever ties with businesses deemed high risk by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
But a recent FDIC audit found no instances where the FDIC pressured banks to decline services to a firearms or ammunition dealer.
Efforts to repeal Kansas death penalty may be stalled
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some lawmakers say efforts to repeal the Kansas death penalty may be stymied by the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding three Kansas death sentences.
A bill repealing the death penalty in Kansas was introduced Friday in the House. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the measure would prohibit death sentences for any crimes committed after July 1.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed a Kansas Supreme Court ruling and upheld the death sentences of three convicted Kansas murderers, including Jonathan and Reginald Carr, who killed five people in 2000. A third death sentence was also upheld.
Co-sponsors of the repeal say it may be hard for some to vote for repeal without appearing like they’re letting the Carr brothers off the hook. The measure, however, wouldn’t apply to the Carrs.