Office of Sen. Moran

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), member of the Senate Commerce Committee, received unanimous support Wednesday of an amendment he offered during a Senate Commerce Committee Hearing markup of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill to require TSA screening at small airports.

Moran talked about the situation at the Salina Regional Airport as an example of the need.

The Moran amendment reflects the text of the TSA Fairness Act (S. 2549) – bipartisan Senate legislation introduced last month. This amendment would require the TSA to provide security screening services – one of the agency’s core responsibilities – at any U.S. airport that has been without commercial service since 2013 but has since received a commitment from a commercial air carrier to resume service.

On April 1, 2016, Great Lakes Airlines will begin 12 weekly nonstop round trips from Salina Regional Airport (KSLN) to Denver International Airport (DIA). However, last month TSA rejected the Salina Airport Authority’s written request for federalized security screening. Based on the 30-seat aircraft Great Lakes will use to service this route, among other factors, KSLN estimates between 18,000 to 20,000 passengers will fly this route annually, often connecting in Denver to flights around the country. But without TSA screening services at KSLN, passengers from Salina would not enjoy secure and efficient access to DIA’s main terminal, where after finally passing through TSA’s security checkpoint many would fail to reach their connections in time.

The FAA Reauthorization bill (S. 2658) is expected to be brought to the full Senate for consideration in April and reauthorizes the FAA through September 2017.

Highlights from Sen. Moran’s remarks may be found below, along with links to the video:

“In recent times, a number of airlines have reduced their service in many instances claiming a pilot shortage, an inability to maintain satisfactory service and from time to time, as has happened in…Salina, that air carrier has withdrawn service, leaving the community without air service.

“Here’s the new challenge: the TSA that was there previously screening passengers for the service that was commercially available has declined to return to the community to provide passenger screening because of the gap in service. So this amendment…would require the TSA to provide screening services so that…commercial service can occur, so that passengers who fly on regional aircraft originating from small communities across the country still have the benefit of the safety that is provided by passenger screening.

“As…rural America… struggle[s] to maintain commercial service, if we are successful in returning commercial service only to find the TSA no longer is willing to provide the service, it will have been a false victory and that commercial service will once again disappear.”

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and 17 traffic stops Wed., March 16, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Civil Transport–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 1:25 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–100 block E 8th St, Hays; 3/15 5 PM; 3/16 8:58 AM
Obstruction of Legal Process–1000 block Fort St, Hays; 10:42 AM
Animal Bite Investigation–400 block E 17th St, Hays; 11:02 AM
Welfare Check–Hays; 11:53 AM
Welfare Check–200 block E 17th St, Hays; 12:14 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block E 6th St, Hays; 1:09 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–100 block W 13th St, Hays; 12 AM; 2:10 PM
Animal At Large–200 block E 14th St, Hays; 2:20 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–800 block Ash St, Hays; 3:30 PM
Animal Call–1500 block Highway 40 Bypass Hwy, Hays; 4:06 PM
Driving Under the Influence–1500 block Vine St, Hays; 11:49 PM

Submitted

This is the final week of the Girl Scout Cookie Sale, so there is still time to help local Girl Scouts reach their goals and get your favorite Girl Scout Cookies before the annual sale ends.

The 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Sale ends Sunday, March 20 across the 80 Kansas counties served by Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. Those who haven’t been contacted by a local Girl Scout can find cookies by entering their zip code at girlscoutcookies.org, calling the council’s Cookie Hotline at 888-686-MINT, or downloading the free, official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app for iPhones, Android phones, and mobile devices.

A package of Girl Scout Cookies costs $4 and so does a Girl Scout Cookie Share, a great option for those who can’t consume the cookies and want to share the sweetness with a soldier or charity. Customers who purchase Cookie Shares can choose whether to donate the cookies to military members and their families, or to local charities like the Kansas Food Bank and Catholic Charities.

Proceeds from the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale – every penny after paying the baker – stay in Kansas to support local Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts and their troops also use Cookie Sale proceeds to give back to the community as they complete service projects and participate in programs designed to build leadership skills, financial literacy, and self-esteem.

Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland serves more than 15,000 girls and adults in 80 Kansas counties through its operational headquarters in Wichita, Kan., and regional offices in Salina, Hays, Emporia and Garden City.

By RANDY GONZALES
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

The VIP Student Ambassadors represent the best of the best at Fort Hays State University. FHSU recently released the names of 22 students who will represent the school in this select organization for the 2016-17 school year.

“I really want to represent the excellence of Fort Hays State and to show what I can offer,” said Ottawa junior Carlie Snethen, an organizational leadership major who will be a first-time ambassador starting with the fall semester. “I really do take it as an honor to be selected.”

There were 22 slots to be filled for the upcoming academic year for the organization, whose members work at official university functions.

“They have to prove they are the best of the best,” said the group’s advisor, Lisa Karlin, assistant to the president and director of marketing. “That being said, it’s very difficult to make the selections, because they are all superstars.

“Just because we didn’t have enough slots for everyone doesn’t mean that we don’t think they are great,” said Karlin, a student ambassador at Fort Hays State herself in the 1990s.

A student can be an ambassador for two years but must re-apply for the second year. Shelby Dinkel, a senior accounting major from Hays, is an ambassador this school year. She applied for next year and was accepted. She is one of three returnees.

“It’s been very interesting,” Dinkel said. “I’ve learned a lot of things about how sporting events work on campus, as far as how the president goes about participating in them.”

Shelby Stewart, a senior organizational leadership major from Hill City, also returns to the ambassador program next year. She said this year’s involvement has been fulfilling.

“So many good experiences and interactions with people,” Stewart said. “It was a lot of fun and so rewarding.”

A student ambassador will work about 10 events per school year. Karlin said the events provide the ambassadors an opportunity to hone their interpersonal skills. She added the students also put their leadership abilities to work in representing the university while giving back through volunteer service.

“That was a huge reason I re-applied,” Stewart said. “I love the honor of representing the university.”

Dinkel said as an ambassador she has been able to see President Mirta M. Martin’s deep involvement with everything Fort Hays State.

“It’s been a good way to see a different type of Fort Hays State,” Dinkel said. “I’ve gained a huge amount of respect for President Martin through this process, and how much she does, and how much she tries to be at every event she can on campus.”

Dinkel’s favorite event to work this school year was the Hays High School homecoming game at Lewis Field Stadium.

“I am an alumni of Hays High,” said Dinkel, who worked in the press box for that event. “I got to see a lot of teachers I had when I was there, and I got to watch the game.”

Stewart said one of her favorite events was a reception for international students at the president’s house before the spring semester. Stewart was called on to relate her FHSU experience.

“Just working side-by-side with President Martin has been such a blessing for me this year,” Stewart said. “Getting to know her and form a relationship with her has been really awesome.”

Snethen was beyond thrilled when she learned she was selected to be an ambassador.

“I was very excited,” she said. “I called my parents. I texted my friends. I told everybody (that) I went kind of nuts.”

The complete list of FHSU’s Student Ambassadors for 2016-17, listed with their current classifications and their majors:
Lorenzo (Trey) Basa, Saint George senior, English.
Amy Bergkamp, Cheney junior, nursing.
Derek Bixenman, Hays senior, health and human performance.
Wade Buck, Grinnell senior, technology studies.
Alyssa Danler, Hutchinson senior, tourism and hospitality management.
Kylee Davis, Haven junior, nursing (returning VIP).
Shelby Dinkel, Hays senior, accounting (returning VIP).
Brock Elgin, Topeka senior, chemistry.
Renee Elpers, Cheney junior, agriculture.
Hannah Heinz, Fowler sophomore, biology.
Jessica Herber, Fort Wayne, Ind., junior, health and human performance.
Peter Marston, Great Bend senior, accounting.
Drew O’Brien, Hays senior, marketing.
Marisol Regaldo, Liberal junior, organizational leadership.
Haydee Reyes, Olathe junior, organizational leadership.
Brianna Schuck, Harvard, Neb., senior, biology.
Whitney Schultz, Brewster senior, general studies.
Carlie Snethen, Ottawa junior, organizational leadership.
Shelby Stewart, Hill City senior, organizational leadership (returning VIP).
Zoe Walsh, Concordia junior, management.
Dusty Watkins, Montezuma senior, information networking and telecommunications.
Lauren Solzman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. senior, tourism and hospitality management.

A cool down, along with a rain, snow mix, is headed for parts of central and southwest Kansas on Friday.

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Light west wind becoming west southwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

Tonight tRain showers likely after 9pm, mixing with snow after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

FridaySnow likely, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 40. North northeast wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Friday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 25. North wind 7 to 13 mph.

SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 48. North northwest wind 7 to 16 mph.

Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 23.

SundaySunny, with a high near 57.

Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 32.

HFD

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting fire hydrants and flushing water mains on Thu., March 17, in the area east of Vine Street to Barclay, between 27th Street and 32nd Street. This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes. The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.

Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public. Drivers are asked to avoid driving through water discharging from a fire hydrant during the short flushing period.

For more information, contact the Hays Fire Department at (785) 628-7330.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are close to putting a measure designed to protect hunting, fishing and trapping on the ballot for a statewide vote in November.

The Senate gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday on a voice vote and take final action on the bill Thursday. It would add a new provision to the state constitution’s Bill of Rights declaring that people have a right to hunt, fish and trap.

It would also declare public hunting and fishing are “a preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife.”

Senators expected to take a final vote Thursday. The House overwhelmingly approved the measure last month.

Democratic Sen. Pat Pettey of Kansas City questioned the need for such a constitutional amendment.

But Republican Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer of Grinnell said he wants to protect hunting as an activity to pass onto his grandchildren.