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Month: June 2016

Heartland Community Foundation makes grant awards totaling over $250,000

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heartland USEHeartland Community Foundation

The Heartland Community Foundation, serving Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties, announced Wednesday the issuance of $250,000 in grant checks to recipients representing nonprofit organizations in all three counties served.

“We received 73 applications for grants from the Heartland Area Action Fund, Healthy Living Fund and the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund for over $1,100,000.00,” said Susan Bowles, grant committee chair and newly elected president of the Heartland Community Foundation Board of Directors. “At the Heartland Community Foundation, we highly value our partnership with the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and the trust they place in us to select the various grant recipients. We look forward to the completion of the various projects and know they will help make West Central Kansas a better place for all our citizens to live.”

Ellis County grant recipients from the Heartland Area Action Fund were: The Ellis Baptist Church for Kitchen Renovation and Ellis County Extension Master Gardeners for Backyard Family Garden Demonstration.

Rooks County grant recipients from the Heartland Area Action Fund were: Fusion Youth Center for the Endless Summer Fun Project.

“This year we were able to award over 59 grants to very worthy organizations in our service area of Trego, Rooks and Ellis County,” said Sandy Jacobs, Executive Director of the Heartland Community Foundation. “This is significantly greater numbers than in previous years. Without our generous donors, including the Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan, none of this would be possible. We will likely consider another grant cycle in the fall of this year. Grant applicants can find more information on our website heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.”

Ellis County’s 26 grant recipients from the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund include: Jana’s Campaign Inc.’s Model of Gender Violence Prevention; Holy Family Elementary School Interactive Science Equipment; Nex-Generation Roundup for Youth, Inc. W8T 2 TXT (Wait to Text) Distracted Driving; Lincoln Elementary School for Ready Writing Workshop- Special Education; Society of Friends of Historic Fort Hays’s Saluting Historic Fort Hays: 150 Years Guarding the Plains; United Way of Ellis County for Community Partnership Awareness; Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland for the Reality U Program; Downtown Hays Development Corporation for Event Fencing; Lincoln Elementary School – Innovation and STEM Lab; First Care Clinic, Inc, Enhanced Services for FCC Satellite Clinic; Learning Cross Preschool for Planting a Purpose project; Hays Recreation Commission for HRC Leisure Center; CASA of the High Plains for Our Safe Place; Hays Community Theater’s Table and Chair project; Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters for Fitness Friendzy; Hays Arts Council, Inc for HAC Professional theater for Children and Families. Smoky Hill Public Television Literacy Leadership for Children; USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence for the Visitor Management Database and Scanner Hardware; USD 489 Early Childhood Connections for Preschool Connections Preschool Security project; City of Victoria Fire Department Protective Gear; Ellis County Fair for Ag-Education Night; Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas Mobile Outreach; Ellis County Historical Society’s Artifact and Document Preservation project; First Call for Help Homelessness Solutions; Hays Lions Club for Spot Vision Screener.

Trego County had 13 recipients of the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund: Nex-Generation Round Up for W8T 2 TXT project; Trego Co. Rural Fire and Rescue for High Angle Rescue Equipment; USD 208 for AED (Automated External Defibrillator); WaKeeney Housing Authority Health and Human Services Needs; Trego County Historical Society’s Wall Mural Enhancement Project; Smoky Hill Public Television Literacy Leadership for Children; Jana’s Campaign Inc for the Model of Gender Violence Prevention; Prairie Faith Shared Ministry Concert in the Park; Catholic Charities for Northern Kansas Mobile Outreach; WaKeeney Lions Club Scout Building; Western KS Veteran’s Center for WaKeeney Pride project; American Legion Auxiliary Letters from Home; Prairie Faith Shared Ministry’s Get Up, Get Out, Get Fit 2016 event.

20 Rooks County Recipients were: Plainville Memorial Library for the Community Art Mural; Stockton Grade School’s Tinkering Tigers; Rooks County Healthcare Foundation for Radiology Patient Care program; Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth Inc. W8T 2 TXT project; Jana’s Campaign Inc for the Model of Gender Violence Prevention; USD 270 Elementary Science Lab; Rooks County Healthcare Foundation CPR Training Project; City of Stockton Pocket Park; Rooks County Health Department Upgrade Monitors; Plainville Senior Center/Township Hall Furnishing of Senior Center; Smoky Hill Public Television Literacy Leadership for Children; Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce Peony Festival Project; Rooks County Healthcare Foundation Airborne Disease Precaution Project; USD 270 Marching and Concert Band Percussion; Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas Mobile Outreach; Plainville Rescue Squad Equipment; Damar Community Historical Foundation Technology Improvement; Stockton Ambulance Service Power Load Cot Upgrade, Plainville Wrestling Club Competition Wrestling Mat and Scale; City of Plainville Paradise Creek Festival.

The Heartland Community Foundation was established in 2007 as an affiliate of the Greater Salina Community Foundation. Heartland serves communities and their residents in Ellis, Rooks and Trego counties.

Patriotic performance at DCC kicks of July 4 weekend

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heartland mens chorus logoDCC

RUSSELL–On Friday, July 1, 2016, the Deines Cultural Center is pleased to present a very special free concert featuring members of the Heartland Men’s Chorus of Kansas City.

As one of three stops on their road trip across Kansas, the singers will arrive at the center for a Pop-up performance starting at 5:00 p.m. The performance will be approximately 15 minutes long and include patriotic favorites to kick off the holiday weekend.

The Heartland Men’s Chorus and the Deines will provide light refreshments during the performance.

This event is free and everyone is welcome. The Deines Cultural Center is located at 820 North Main Street in Russell.
Call (785) 483-3742 for details.

Larks rally past Dodge City; wrap up first half league title

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HAYS – The Hays Larks wrapped up a spot in both the Jayhawk League championship series as well as the NBC World Series championship week with a come-from-behind 6-5 win over Dodge City Wednesday night at Larks Park. The Larks (20-3, 16-3 JL) rallied for three runs in the eighth inning then held on as the A’s (14-7, 12-7 JL) loaded the bases in the ninth. Chad Smith got a ground ball to second to end the game and gave the Larks the Jayhawk League first half title.

Manager Frank Leo discusses Wednesday’s win over Dodge City

 

Austin O’Brien hit two home runs. His two-run shot in the fifth tied the game 3-3 then his solo shot in the eighth started the comeback rally.

Garrett McKinzie drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a two-out single to center which scored Ty Redington and Devlin Granberg.

Shane Browning (2-0) threw two shutout innings for the win.

Smith gave up a single and hit two batters but gets his sixth save.

The Larks close out first half play in Dodge City Thursday night. They then begin second half play in El Dorado Saturday.

Escobar’s second go-ahead hit leads Royals over Cards in 12

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By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Alcides Escobar hit a go-ahead RBI double just inside the right-field line in the 12th inning and the Kansas City Royals outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Escobar drove in the first run of the game with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the eighth. His fly to shallow right off Seth Maness (0-2) fell just in front of Stephen Piscotty, whose homer leading off the 10th tied it at 2.

Chien-Ming Wang (5-0) worked two scoreless innings for Kansas City, which survived blown saves by Wade Davis and Joakim Soria, stranded 19 runners and used all of its bench players. The Royals are 39-50 in the I-70 interleague series but 14-12 at 11-year-old Busch Stadium.

Whit Merrifield put Kansas City ahead in the 10th when a potential double-play grounder was booted by second baseman Matt Carpenter and Merrifield got an RBI. He also doubled with one out in the 12th.

Monarchs sweep Dodge City

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DODGE CITY – The Hays Monarchs Jr. American Legion baseball team ran their their win streak to five games with a doubleheader sweep in Dodge City Wednesday night. Luke Ruder allowed only two hits in an 11-0 four inning run-rule win in the opener. The Monarchs then built an 10-1 lead in the second game and had to hold on for a 12-8 victory.

The Monarchs (18-4) scored four runs in the first inning and three in the second to grab th early lead in the first game. Chase Werth and Eston Brown both drove in three runs and Gavin Schumacher hit a solo home run.

Ruder struck out three and walked none. He got on base three times and scored three runs in the second game.

Chase Werth, Eston Brown and Adam Gottschalk all drove in three runs in the second contest.

The Monarchs are off until Wednesday when they travel to Smith Center.

Partly sunny Thursday, chance for Thunderstorms

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Thunderstorms can be expected to develop near a weak stationary front from eastern Kansas to the northern Texas Panhandle and near a reinforcing cold front that will move into northern Kansas this afternoon. Some of the thunderstorms will be severe and may produce hail up to the size of golfballs and winds to 60-70 mph.

Screen Shot 2016-06-30 at 5.54.34 AMToday A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. North northeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming east in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. East wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

FridayA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 79. East wind 8 to 14 mph.

Friday NightShowers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

SaturdayShowers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday NightShowers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

SundayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.

Kansas man trapped under running lawn mower dies

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fatal crash accidentWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 63-year-old man has died in Wichita after being trapped under a running lawn mower.

Lt. Chris McAuliffe of the Wichita Police Department tells The Wichita Eagle that family members found the man in the backyard of his home around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday.

Responding firefighters had to turn off the running mower when they arrived. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

McAuliffe says the man owned a lawn care business and was repairing the mower when it somehow fell on top of him. Police are calling the incident an accident.

No other details have been released.

Home of Air Force One on lockdown; no active shooter found UPDATE

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JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) — The Latest on reports of an active shooter at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington (all times local):

10:35 a.m.

A law enforcement official says no active shooter was found at a military post outside Washington.

The law enforcement official was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Joint Base Andrews had been placed on lockdown Thursday morning after an active shooter was reported. The base is home to Air Force One and is about 20 miles from Washington.

An active shooter exercise had also been planned at the base, but officials said the situation became “real world.”

The situation unfolded at a medical facility on the post. Joint Base Andrews issued a tweet telling all personnel at the base in Washington’s Maryland suburbs to shelter in place.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says there is an “unfolding situation” at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland but is providing no further details.

 

 

The base tweeted Thursday it is on lockdown due to a report of an active shooter. Joint Base Andrews is home to Air Force One.

The tweet instructs all personnel at the base in Washington’s Maryland suburbs to shelter in place and says more information will be released as it comes.

Johnson is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He says he may have to take a break from the hearing as the situation at Andrews develops.

 

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JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) — Joint Base Andrews tweets that the base is on lockdown due to a report of an active shooter.

 

The tweet sent Thursday morning instructs all personnel at the base in Washington’s Maryland suburbs to shelter in place and says more information will be released as it comes.

A second tweet from the base says the incident is ongoing at the Malcolm Grow Medical Facility and first responders are on the scene. It instructs everyone to continue to shelter in place, a precaution meant to keep people safe while remaining indoors.

Chapman can’t brush off attention: FHSU Foundation unveils portrait of retiring CEO

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FHSU's Tim Chapman and Joel Dugan shake hands following the unveiling of Chapman's portrait, which was painted by Dugan.
FHSU’s Tim Chapman and Joel Dugan shake hands following the unveiling of Chapman’s portrait, which was painted by Dugan.

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations

Tim Chapman isn’t accustomed to being on this side of the canvas, and he admits it felt a bit strange.

So when entrepreneur/philanthropist Steve Shields from Manhattan finally convinced Chapman to commission his portrait, Chapman said “It was so humbling.” Now, Chapman calls it an extreme honor.

Chapman, stepping aside this month after 10 years as president and CEO of the Fort Hays State University Foundation, will be keeping an eye on his co-workers even in retirement.

A large painting of Chapman was unveiled at a private retirement reception last week in commemoration of his successful career.

Chapman — a world-renowned artist himself, who specializes in 2-D and 3-D mediums — said that Shields had been after him for a while to commission his portrait to hang in the Robbins Center, home of the FHSU Foundation.

“I kind of battled him on it,” Chapman said, “but when he found I was going to retire, he said he was going ahead with it with or without my consent.”

Shields, an FHSU student in the mid-1970s and long-time donor to Fort Hays State, said he thinks the portrait is a good way to continue to draw on Chapman’s leadership and that “we need to be better in our society about honoring successful leadership.”

During his tenure at Fort Hays State, Chapman launched the most ambitious fundraising effort in FHSU history — the Cornerstone Campaign, which raised more than $68 million.

“Tim is a focused, yet personable leader who transformed the organization from an Endowment Association into a robust university foundation,” Shields said. “I love to see leadership in action and have very much enjoyed watching the seeds of Tim’s leadership bear fruit during his tenure. Commissioning a portrait of Tim to be hung in the foundation building is my small way of honoring his leadership.”

Shields approached Joel Dugan, assistant professor of painting in FHSU’s Department of Art and Design, to “capture the energy of our foundation leader,” Dugan said.

Dugan said he was honored and nervous at the same time.

While this was a new role for Chapman, it was an unusual situation for Dugan as well.

“Tim is one of the few sculptors in our region who works so often from the human form,” Dugan said, “so he’s not just an everyday client. The hardest thing is ‘How often do you do portraits of artists?’ I wanted to do it justice and meet the approval of some of that skill level.”

Dugan also said he wanted to portray the entire embodiment of the man that makes up Tim Chapman.

“When executing this portrait, it was essential to me to show the multifaceted sides of Tim,” Dugan said. “A talented sculpture, academic and family man, Tim is a true embodiment of the modern Renaissance man.”

So Dugan asked Chapman to bring along some things close to him. Dugan chose one of his bronze statues in memory of his family and a photo of him and his wife, Mona.

Dugan also felt that painting Chapman’s portrait was a way of thanking him for his concern for the arts.

“As a fellow artist, Tim has been integral in highlighting the needs and achievements of our students and faculty members at large,” Dugan said.

Chapman’s last full day at the foundation is Thursday, but he will remain as a consultant to his successor, Jason Williby, and his staff, as the foundation embarks on its next campaign, “The Journey,” later this summer.

Plans are to hang Chapman’s portrait in the art gallery of the Robbins Center, so his presence will be felt long after he walks out the door for the final time.

“It is often said that some people enter our lives and leave quietly while others stay forever,” said Dr. Mirta M. Martin, Fort Hays State president. “Tim will be forever part of the fabric of Fort Hays State University, and I am very grateful he is part of my life. His portrait will bear witness to the determined, insightful and forward-thinking legacy that we have achieved under Tim’s leadership.”

Dugan agreed.

“I hope that my painting can help to capture Tim,” he said, “and highlight the dynamic individual we all know — for years to come.”

Judge OKs voter registration rules in Kansas, 2 other states

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4-7 vote signWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A judge says residents of Kansas, Georgia and Alabama will have to prove they are U.S. citizens when registering to vote for federal elections using a national form.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon sided Wednesday with a U.S. elections official who changed the proof-of-citizenship requirements on the form at the request of the three states without public notice. Residents of other states need only to swear that they are citizens, not show proof.

The judge refused to issue the temporary injunction sought by a coalition of voting rights groups to overturn the unilateral move by Brian Newby, the executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

The groups argue the requirements hurt their ability to conduct voter registration drives and deprive eligible voters of the right to vote in federal elections.

Carl Aubrey Pinney

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Carl Aubrey Pinney, age 91, of WaKeeney, passed away May 26, 2016 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital, WaKeeney. He was born April 10, 1925, in Ellis, Kansas, to Charles L. and Esther (Nelson) Pinney.

Carl was a graduate of Ellis High School. He was a farmer and rancher most of his working life. He was known for growing Christmas trees on his farm. He also had a passion for photography. He was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Ogallah, served on the local Soil and Water Conservation Board, and was a former county commissioner for Trego County. He loved to sing, as he was a former member of the Hays Barber Shop Quartet Chapter. He resided most of his life on Wheatland Farms in rural Ogallah.

Carl is survived by his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jack; and a sister, Martha Nell Kingry.

Private services will take place at a later date. Cremation was chosen.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Contributions may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th, WaKeeney, KS 67672.

www.schmittfuneral.com

Delmer Lynd

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Delmer Lynd, age 81, of WaKeeney, passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Trego County Lemke Long Term Care, WaKeeney.

Services are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney.

Guests evacuated after sprinkler pipe fails at Hays hotel

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HFD

At 5:29 PM on Wednesday, June 29, the City of Hays Fire Department, assisted by the Hays Police Department was dispatched to an automatic fire alarm at the Best Western Butterfield Inn, 1010 East 41st Street. On arrival, firefighters found that a fire sprinkler pipe in the attic of the hotel had failed causing a large volume of water flow into the hotel.

Firefighters immediately began work to stop the loss to the property and control the hazards caused by the uncontrolled flow of water. The fire sprinkler system was shut down and efforts were made to reduce the weight of the water on the upper floor to prevent collapse. Guests were evacuated and electrical power was shut down to reduce the danger. A room by room search was conducted to make sure all persons were safe and no one needed assistance. The damage extended through large areas of the building.

All available off-duty firefighters were called back to staff additional fire trucks to assist at the scene and maintain protection throughout the city. Assistance was also requested from the Ellis County Fire Department to help with this work. During this emergency, firefighters responded to one other coincident emergency call.

The City of Hays Police Department maintained traffic control and a safe perimeter. Police officers worked with the hotel staff to provide security for unprotected personal property until the owners could be located. An inspector from the City of Hays Planning, Inspection and Enforcement Division also responded to help assess the damage and coordinate necessary follow-up action to make sure the building was safe.

Fire crews left the scene at 7:35 PM.

The City of Hays Fire Department thanks the staff and guests of the Best Western Butterfield Inn for their calm cooperation.

The cause of the fire sprinkler pipe failure was not immediately apparent. Fire sprinkler systems have a record of high reliability and such failures are rare. Automatic fire sprinkler systems are necessary to protect life and property in large buildings where manual firefighting is not practical or large numbers of people gather. Individual fire sprinklers are activated by the high heat of a fire in the immediate area. Typically only one or two fire sprinklers activate to control a fire. When activated, fire sprinkler systems also sound an alarm to alert building occupants to the danger and call the fire department to respond without delay. With the exception of explosions and similar catastrophic events, there has never been a large loss of life fire in a building protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system.

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