MANHATTAN, Kansas (AP) — D.J. Johnson scored eight of his 14 points during a 19-2 run in the second half, and Kansas State held off Ole Miss 69-64 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday.
Wesley Iwundu finished with 11 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Wildcats. Justin Edwards and Stephen Hurt added 10 points apiece.
Barry Brown missed the second of two free-throw attempts following a foul with 8:49 left, but grabbed his own rebound and scurried to the corner where he sunk a 3-pointer. The bucket bookended a 17-point swing for Kansas State that proved insurmountable.
Rebels star Stefan Moody entered leading the SEC in scoring averaging 24.3 points, including 14-straight games with 20-plus points. But after a 10-point first half, Moody was held scoreless in the final period.
HUTCHINSON – A Kansas man arrested in Reno County on four felony charges including burglary of a vehicle and felony flee and elude entered guilty pleas to those two charges on Friday.
Judge Tim Chambers then sentenced Gilford Sherley Jr., 51, Maize, to 1-year and three months in jail.
In addition to the burglary and flee and elude crimes, Sherley was also charged with interference with law enforcement and criminal possession of a firearm. The state dropped those charges as part of a plea agreement.
On Jan. 16, 2012, a Reno County Sheriff deputy was dispatched to Arlington and Victory Roads in Reno County for the report of an auto burglary.
Two men had entered the vehicle and taken a shotgun. They then left northbound on Victory Road in a blue and gray suburban.
A Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper had located a vehicle that matched the suspect vehicle and tried to stop it.
The vehicle fled from the trooper and entering a field. The chase continued into Sedgwick County and ended in the area of 37th Street North and Maize Road, in the city of Maize.
The two occupants then fled on foot and were later found hiding nearby.
Sherley was driving the vehicle and Donald Cook was the passenger.
Cook was sentenced for this case and is currently serving time on these charges and for others in Sedgwick County.
Sherley also has convictions for robbery, kidnapping and drugs in Wyandotte County.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Insurance providers have asked Kansas lawmakers to approve a measure that would allow them to offer health plans requiring customers to only use the insurers’ network.
The plans are called Exclusive Provider Organization, or EPOs. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the current legislation would also mandate referrals from primary care physicians before covering specialty care.
Aetna, UnitedHealth Group and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City have supported the proposal, which they say would help keep down the cost of insurance.
Rep. Willie Dove, R-Bonner Springs, has expressed concern, saying the proposal could limit customer choice.
The Kansas legislation remains in the House Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee.
Kevin D. Anderson, 47, Great Bend, formerly of Hays, died Thursday, January 28, 2016 from a brief but aggressive illness at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
He was born August 23, 1968 in Hays the son of Richard G. and Judy Irene (Gaschler) Anderson. He graduated from Hays High School, attended Fort Hays State University, and got his degree from North Central Kansas Technical College in Beloit. He was a welder at RANS in Hays for many years and was a machinist and toolmaker at KMW, Kansas Machine Works in Great Bend, Kansas.
If man in measured by his open armed approach to the joy and fun of life, as well as to know how sincerely that man will be missed by so many whose lives he touched, then Kevin has earned excellent measure. His large smile, his wonderful sense of fun and humor, his big heart, his outgoingness and perceptiveness, all represent the gratitude he felt for all that was given to him, especially the nine extra years to enjoy all the life that he treasured.
His children were his pride above all other things. His first real love, his oldest daughter, Brooke, and he were best friends. Tatum, his second daughter and next real love, and then Keelon, his young son of whom he was so proud, treasured the many hours they spent with “Daddy” each week. Tatum and her dad always sang songs together as he accompanied their singing on his other great love, his guitar. Last summer they discovered a way to have a frugal night out by going to the car races in Great Bend. What nights out that proved to be for all of them! Kevin’s antennae were always keen to a good day for walleye or anything else biting, or friendship with his longtime and best friend, Patrick Toepfer. His AA friends in Great Bend helped him over many, many rough patches that no others could understand. Thank God for them.
Survivors include his parents, of the home in Hays, two daughters; Brooke Gilkerson of Hays and Tatum Anderson of Great Bend, a son Keelon Anderson of Great Bend, two sisters; Jennifer Anderson of Hays and Adrienne Nusser of Salina, and numerous Aunts and Uncles.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Henry and Winifred Gaschler and Jennie and Einar Anderson, two uncles Donnie Gaschler and Robert Riney, and an aunt, Jean Gaschler.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to an education fund for Kevin’s children, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, Kansas 67601. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
Jerry Lee Inman, age 85, of Hays, Kansas passed away Friday, January 29, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society, Hays. He was born August 15, 1930 in St. Joseph, MO to William Arthur and Daisy Marie (Stoffer) Inman. He married Clara B. Leaverton on November 25, 1950 in St. Joseph, MO.
Jerry worked for Union Pacific Railroad and Leaverton Auto Parts in St. Joseph, MO before relocating to Hays, KS in 1964.Jerry and Clara purchased Hays Auto Parts, Inc. in 1964 and operated it until they sold the business in 2008. Jerry was a 50-year member of the Isis Shriners.
In 1999 Jerry suffered a severe stroke that left him permanently disabled and unable to speak. Even with his disability he kept his great personality. He loved people and people loved him.
He is survived by the love of his life, Clara of the home; daughters, Debra K. Schumacher and husband Tom of Hays and Sherry L. Gottschalk and husband Jim of Norman, OK; grandsons, Chris Schumacher and wife Dana of Hays, Chandler Schumacher and wife Jackie of Hays, Scott Hertel and wife Angela of Frisco, TX, and Ryan Gottschalk and wife Anne of Norman, OK; great grandchildren, Gavin and Griffin Schumacher, Giana and Mia Schumacher, Kenzie and Brinklee Hertel and Grace and Jake Gottschalk.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Wayne and Dale Inman.
Funeral services will be 5:30 PM Monday, February 1, 2016 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Cremation will follow services with private family inurnment at Mt. Allen Cemetery, Hays.
Visitation will be Monday 3:30 PM until service time at the funeral chapel.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Shriners Hospital for Children (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org) and may be sent in care of the funeral chapel
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].
photo courtesy Joplin Globe Robert Troxel, U.S. Postal Service Maintenance Tech begins removal of the banner on Wednesday
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Residents in a southeast Kansas community are responding to a post office’s removal of a “God Bless America” banner by putting up similar banners.
The Pittsburg post office took the banner down Wednesday after hearing complaints about it from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation. The organization said hanging the banner at the post office violated the principle of separation of church and state.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Post Office said the postal service removed the banner because postal policy prohibits the placement of notices on postal property unless they’re official government notices.
The Pittsburg Morning Sun reports that a similar banner appeared at a couple local businesses by Thursday, and a local sign company says requests for more signs have been pouring in.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 29-year-old man has been convicted of fatally shooting his girlfriend in the parking lot of a home improvement store in Kansas City, Kansas.
The Wyandotte County prosecutor’s office announced Friday that George Lingenfelser, of Bonner Springs, was found guilty of second degree murder in the December 2014 killing of 29-year-old Janet Billings.
Lingenfelser was originally charged with first-degree murder for shooting Billings in the parking lot of a Lowe’s Home Improvement store. Other customers were present at the time of the shooting.
Listen to Mike Cooper interviewing Mary Braden, Teams Chair; and Kirsten Bruce, Executive Director of the Kansas Affiliate for the Susan G. Komen Foundation; with the topic of “The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure” by clicking the link above and then clicking the play button
GEARY COUNTY- Drug and alcohol related charges against 25 Fort Riley soldiers have been dropped.
The city attorney had dismissed all the charges, according to Grandview Plaza Police Chief Shawn Serrano.
The arrests involved 27 people at a loud party on Cannon View Lane on January 8.
The individuals were arrested on different charges ranging from misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana to Criminal Use of a Weapon, Hosting Minors Consuming Alcohol, and Unlawful Noise.
Twenty-one of those arrested were listed as Fort Riley residents, two from Grandview Plaza, and four from Junction City.
A check with authorities revealed when police responded to the scene there was an alleged lack of cooperation from those attending the party, and marijuana was in plain view on a table.
All of those in the general location of the marijuana were arrested. A small number of people at the party who were not in that immediate vicinity were not arrested.
Some students among the 1,279 named by Fort Hays State University to the Deans Honor Roll for the fall 2015 semester were inadvertently omitted from an earlier listing of recipients. A computer programming error left out all students who had not declared a major. Those students are listed here.
The list includes undergraduate students only. To be eligible, students must have enrolled in 12 or more credit hours and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60 for the semester. Full-time on-campus and FHSU Virtual College students are eligible.
Students are listed alphabetically by county and city with their classifications and, for those who have declared them, majors. Students without a classification are students seeking a second degree or are students who, though full time, are not seeking a degree.
BUTLER
Whitewater: Braden Ray Allmond is a freshman.
DOUGLAS
Lawrence: Prerona Kundu is a sophomore.
ELLIS
Ellis: Sarah Rosalee Henman is a freshman.
Hays: McKenna Ann Duffy is a freshman.
Heidi Marie Gottschalk is a freshman.
Amber E. Klaus is a freshman.
Liliane Vallee-Stremel is a freshman.
Victoria: Alexyss Jayne Lambert is a freshman.
FRANKLIN
Ottawa: Lia Irene Boese is a freshman.
JACKSON
Holton: Jacob Andrews is a freshman.
JOHNSON
Prairie Village: Patrick Michael Andries is a freshman.
LEAVENWORTH
Basehor: Jacob David Lutgen is a freshman.
REPUBLIC
Republic: Brianne M. Little is a sophomore.
SCOTT
Scott City: Kelly A. Wycoff is a sophomore.
SEDGWICK
Derby: Zachary Dayne Reece is a freshman.
Wichita: Collin G. Harrison is a sophomore.
SHERMAN
Goodland: Norelia M. Ordonez-Castillo is a junior.
SUMNER
Mulvane: Samantha M. Schmitz is a freshman.
WABAUNSEE
Maple Hill: Madeline Jane Muller is a freshman.
WALLACE
Sharon Springs: Ivan Gonzalez Montes is a sophomore.
WASHINGTON
Washington: Rebecca Lyn Holsch is a sophomore.
NATIONAL
COLORADO
Arvada: Haley Ann Weidemann is a freshman.
Colorado Springs: Lucille Grace Partlow-Loyall is a sophomore.
NEBRASKA
North Platte: Delaney Shay Green is a freshman.
PUERTO RICO
Bayamon: Christian A. Gonzalez-Martinez is a freshman.
Governor’s Rescission Bill for Fiscal Year 2016
This past Wednesday, Legislative Research presented the Governor’s Rescission Bill for fiscal year 2016, House Bill 2530, to the House Appropriations Committee. The Governor’s revised fiscal year 2016 budget is a recommendation of total spending, state and federal dollars, of almost $15.6 billion, $6.4 billion from the state general fund. Governor Brownback has increased total expenditures by $238 million from the amount approved by the 2015 Legislature, however, he reduced the amount of state general fund spending by $22.7 million.
The Governor is suggesting an increase of $95.3 million for the Board of Regents and institutions. Some of his other suggestions are increases of $46.8 million in human services caseloads, $28.9 million for the Department of Aging and Disability Services in funding shifts for caseloads, $27 million in the Department of Transportation for increased fees and federal dollars, $15.9 in the Department of Labor for increased unemployment benefits, and $11 million in the Department of Corrections and Institutions for Kansas Correctional Industries.
The Governor’s state general fund spending reductions include $17.7 million for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, $13.8 million in school finance adjustments, $2.9 million in unspent funds from the Extraordinary Needs Fund, and $1.4 million in assessed valuation for the Department of Education, which is partially offset by an increase of $16.6 million in human services caseloads.
The Governor’s Rescission Bill also stipulates that some transfer adjustments are to be made. Those adjustments to the State General Fund, totaling $27.7 million, which includes $5.6 million from the Department of Commerce, $4.7 million from the Economic Development Initiatives Fund, $3.5 million from the Department of Revenue, $2.1 million from the State Highway Fund, a reduction of $5 million for the transfer to the Kansas Bioscience Authority, and elimination of $3.5 million which is a transfer to the Job Creation Program Fund. There is also an increase of $7.5 million in revenue due to additional debt collections for Fiscal Year 2016.
The Appropriations Committee will have hearings next Tuesday and Wednesday on this bill.
Kansas Lottery Legislative Post Audit
On Tuesday, January 26, the General Government Budget Committee heard a briefing by the Legislative Post Audit that was conducted for fiscal year 2015. Legislative Post Audit found that there were no deficiencies in the Kansas Lottery’s reporting and that there were no actions on noncompliance regarding the lottery’s financial statements. We continued our hearing on the disbursement of funds from the Kansas Lottery to the Kansas State General Fund.
When the Kansas Lottery was created in 1987, the dispersion of funds was specifically stated in statute. The first $50 million is divided by the first $80,000 directed to the Problem Gambling and Addiction Fund, the remaining 85% to the Economic Development Initiatives Fund, 10% to the Correctional Institutions Building Fund, and the remaining 5% to the Juvenile Detention Fund. Any amount of over $50 million goes to the State General Fund. For fiscal year 2015, that amount was over $25 million.
Judicial Branch Funding
The 2015 Legislature passed House Bill 2005 which appropriated funding for the Judicial Branch through fiscal year 2017, although it included a provision of non-severability. The non-severability clause specified that if any of the 2014 legislation passed within Senate Substitute for HB 2338 is held invalid or unconstitutional, then all legislation in HB 2005 is deemed invalid, including the appropriated funds for the Judiciary.
Following the passage of Senate Substitute for HB 2338, District Judge Larry Solomon sued in the view that one provision within the bill was unconstitutional. The provision allowed district judges in each judicial district to elect a chief judge of such district court.
In September of last year, the Shawnee County District Court ruled in the case Solomon v. State that the legislation passed within Senate Substitute for HB 2338 was unconstitutional. The ruling considered the provision a violation of the general administrative authority of the Supreme Court over the courts of the State granted under Article 3, Sec. 1 of the Kansas Constitution.
After an appeal from the state, in December 2015 the Kansas Supreme Court upheld the Shawnee County District Court’s decision. The court’s ruling considered parts of the 2014 legislation unconstitutional and in conjunction with the non-severability clause passed in HB 2005, Kansas was presented with the risk of defunding the Judicial branch.
Last week, the House passed HB 2449 in an effort to repeal the non-severability clause and preserve the Judicial Branch funding. HB 2449 repealed the non-severability and enacts a severability clause declaring that, if any provision of HB 2005 is held invalid or unconstitutional, then the remainder of the provisions of HB 2005 shall remain in effect. With the passage of HB 2449 the House made certain the Judicial Branch remains funded.
The House passed HB 2449 on Thursday, January 21st, by a vote of 119-0.
Visitors and Contact Information
This past week I had many visitors to either my office or to Topeka. On Monday, Michael Quade with Smoky Hills Public Television was in Topeka. Also that evening, I met with representatives from Midwest Energy, Rolling Hills, and Western Electric Cooperatives.
On Tuesday, the Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance had meetings in Topeka and I met with Janae Talbott, Russell County, Alicia Straub, Barton County, and Kara Jecha, Rush County.
I also met with Barbara Esfeld with the Barton County Appraisers, Sharon Wolters, Smith County Clerk, Fred Whitman, Russell County Sheriff, John Fletcher, Russell County Administrator, James Jirak, Kensington, and Ray Debey, Cawker City.
The honor to serve you in the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas is one I do not take lightly. Do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns and questions. I appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas.
Rep. Troy L. Waymaster,
109th Kansas House
300 SW 10th
Topeka, KS 66612
