Update: The severe thunderstorm warning initially set to expire has been extended to 6:00 p.m.
Ellis County is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 5:15 p.m. after a series of storms popped up late Friday afternoon.
There were reports of hail, lightning and strong winds northeast of Hays.
The National Weather Service said potential severe storms could inlcude large hail and wind gusts of up to 70 mph.
Stay tuned to your Eagle Radio stations for the latest on severe weather.
HUTCHINSON (AP) — Harris Enterprises has announced plans to sell its six newspapers.
John Montgomery, vice president of Harris Enterprises and publisher of the Hutchinson News, announced Friday that the company’s newspapers are up for sale. The Hutchinson-based company said it has hired a firm to sell the chain.
Bruce Buchanan, president of Harris Enterprises, said in a release that the owners hope to sell all six newspapers as a group, but that it may be necessary to deal with more than one buyer.
Harris family involvement in the newspaper business began in 1907 when Ralph Harris bought the Ottawa Herald.
In addition to the Herald and the Hutchinson News, the family-owned company also owns the Salina Journal, the Garden City Telegram, the Hays Daily News and the Burlington (Iowa) Hawk Eye.
Mont Lee Burton, age 61, of Hays passed away Thursday, June 16, 2016 at Hays Medical Center. He was born October 3, 1954 in Danville, ILL to Leon and Ileta (Morgeson) Burton. He married Robin Lynn Gay on July 8, 1977.
Mont had worked as a farmhand and was a US Army veteran serving in Korea. He enjoyed sprint car racing where he worked as a pit crew member.
He is survived by his wife, Robin; three sons, Shawn Burton of Illinois, Les Burton of Hays and Chris Burton (Melanie) of Victoria; three sisters, Donna Brazada of Hoisington, Kim Frank of LaCrosse and Betty Swartz of Great Bend; four grandchildren, Brandon Burton, Meghan Burton, Kylie Postalwait and Calib Bazil as well as two great grandchildren, Alex Ford and Ayriana Postalwait.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Brenda Jane Schuckman.
No services are planned at this time and cremation was chosen.
Arrangements in car of Brock’s Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Board of Regents has voted not to raise the salaries of five of the six state university CEOs for fiscal 2017.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the board also voted Thursday to raise the base salary of Pittsburg State University President Steve Scott by 2 percent. His raise will come in the form of deferred compensation.
Scott is the state’s most-senior university CEO.
All university CEOs received 2 percent increases to their salaries last year but they said at the time that they would donate their raises back to their universities, citing budgetary challenges.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a series of pool burglaries.
Police have responded to eight pool burglaries over the last week in the Wichita area, according to a social media report.
Seven of the burglaries occurred at City of Wichita pools, and one occurred at a YMCA pool.
The burglaries are taking place during overnight hours, and money and concessions are being stolen.
Damage is also being done to the pools.
Police asked the public to call 911 if you see any suspicious activity around pool areas, and if you have any additional information on these cases please contact Officer Steve Jerrell by email at [email protected] or at 316-350-3400.
Submitted
The Hays Public Library in will host “Children of the Promised Land,” a presentation and discussion by Angela Bates on June 18 at 1:00 p.m. in the gallery.
Nicodemus, a small unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town that was established by African Americans during the Reconstruction Period following the Civil War. The presentation will be a pictorial history that explores the unique experiences of the children of Nicodemus who were the first members of their families born free from the physical and psychological effects of slavery.
Angela Bates is the executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society. She presents educational programs across the nation covering Nicodemus, Exodusters and black towns in the West, Buffalo Soldiers, and black women in the West.
“My great uncle, Henry Williams, was the first baby born in Nicodemus just a month after my great-grandmother Emma arrived with the first group of settlers in 1877,” Bates said.
“He was one of the first in his generation born on the free soils of Kansas. He represents the many children of his generation that were reared by parents who were former slaves.”
“Children of the Promised Land” is part of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Kansas Stories Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and discussions that examine our shared human experience — our innovations, culture, heritage, and conflicts.
Members of the community are invited to attend the free program. The program is made possible by the Kansas Humanities Council.
The Kansas Humanities Council conducts and supports community-based programs, serves as a financial resource through an active grant-making program and encourages Kansans to engage in the civic and cultural life of their communities. For more information about KHC programs contact the Kansas Humanities Council at 785-357-0359 or visit online at www.kansashumanities.org.
For more information about “Children of the Promised Land” contact the Hays Public Library at (785) 625-9014 or visit www.hayspublib.org.
BARTON COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Barton County are investigating possible death related to the extreme heat.
Just before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, deputies were dispatched to a residence north of Great Bend in the Barton Hills subdivision to check the welfare of an individual at a residence, according to a media release.
Neighbors reported they had not seen the individual for a few days.
Sheriff’s deputies forced entry into the residence and discovered the body of a 49-year-old woman who had died.
Barton County Coroner, Dr. E. L. Jones, was called to the scene to assist with the investigation.
Initial investigation indicates the cause of death was hyperthermia combined with other health issues.
The Sheriff’s Office wishes to remind people to check on the elderly and people who have health issues that may not be able to tolerate the extreme temperatures expected for the next 10 days.
Anyone working outside is advised to drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activity during the extreme heat of the day.
Hyperthermia and dehydration can induce heat exhaustion or heatstroke, which may be debilitating or fatal. Persons with other medical issues are particularly susceptible to these conditions.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending notification of family.
By MEGAN HART
Kansas health centers will receive about $2.2 million in grants and Missouri health centers, including three in Kansas City, will receive about $7.5 million to improve access to oral health care.
The grants are part of $156 million in federal funding announced Thursday by the Health Resources and Services Administration for health centers in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
The grants will allow the health centers to boost their dental staffs by about 1,600 employees and treat 785,000 more patients. The health centers serve patients regardless of their ability to pay for services.
“Oral health is an important part of our overall physical health and well-being,” Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in a news release. “The funding we are awarding will reduce barriers to quality dental care for hundreds of thousands of Americans by bringing new oral health providers to health centers across the country.”
Kansas grant winners and amounts:
Megan Hart is a reporter for KHI News Service in Topeka, a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor team. You can reach her on Twitter @meganhartMC
The income tax cuts of 2012 that continue to wreak havoc on the Kansas budget did not actually yield a reduction in taxes for many Kansans. Lawmakers raised other taxes and fees to partially offset the loss of income tax revenue. The net result: Wealthy Kansans still benefited, but the overall tax burden for a wide range of working Kansans went up.
The newest shift cropped up at the end of the legislative session. As a result of income tax cuts, Kansas cannot afford enough highway patrol troopers, so legislators passed a bill to raise vehicle registration fees to cover the cost of hiring more.
But that’s a small example of the shift in progress. The following list shows the more consequential changes implemented in the attempt to compensate for income tax cuts:
• Sales tax raised from 5.7% to 6.15% and then raised further to 6.5%;
• Renters no longer eligible for homestead property tax refunds;
• Food sales tax rebates limited;
• Child care income tax credit, along with many other credits, eliminated (for those who still pay income tax);
• Cigarette tax raised; and
• Many income tax deductions limited (for those who still pay income tax).
The chart above estimates the average net effect of all the tax changes (the figures come from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, which has the best model for measuring these types of changes in any state).
Kansans with the lowest income have seen their tax burden go up. For middle-income Kansans, it’s been about a wash. Upper-income Kansans, especially those earning more than $500,000 annually, have come out well.
Of course, a sales tax hike takes a far bigger bite out of a small income than a large one. Lower-income Kansans spend a much higher proportion of their resources on food and other items subject to sales tax than wealthy Kansans do. Many states exempt food purchases from sales tax, or at least apply a lower rate. Not Kansas. We now have the highest sales tax rate on food in the nation.
The chart does not even count other kinds of shifts taking place. Property taxes push up as schools and local governments try to react to dwindling state resources. Tuition rises at universities when the state withdraws support. Future taxpayers get saddled with debt because the state borrows to pay for retirement system costs, and borrows through the highway fund to shore up the general fund.
However, even with all this shifting, Kansas remains broke. The hole created by the income tax cuts has been so significant that shifts to other tax sources have not come close to stabilizing the state’s finances.
Income tax cuts benefited the wealthiest Kansans, but without any obligation to create a job or even spend their tax savings in Kansas. In return, the state received financial turmoil. Many Kansans now pay more to fund state government at the same time that school class sizes go up and highway maintenance gets put aside.
If you are a Kansan and do not feel like you’ve had a tax cut, that’s because you probably did not get one.
Duane Goossen is a Senior Fellow at the Kansas Center for Economic Growth and formerly served 12 years as Kansas Budget Director.
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a woman for alleged aggravated battery on a child.
Christine Knipp, 51, Salina is alleged to have caused bruising around the neck of a preschool aged girl she was caring for at her daycare, according to Police Captain Mike Sweeney.
The mother contacted police on June 7, and the girl was taken to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of the bruising which was consistent with strangulation, according to police.
Knipp was arrested Thursday after police completed their investigation. She was booked into jail on a requested charge of aggravated battery and released after posting bonding.
The Ellis County Fair is right around the corner.
New this year is the fair entry system which is the process for entering projects.
All participants will need to enter their projects online through https://elliscountyfair.fairentry.com instead of completing the entry cards like in the past.
Online registration is open now until July 4. Current 4-H families can use their same ID and password that they used to enroll in 4-H, open class patrons will need to create an account. You will add entries for all areas you wish to enter a project and submit it. The entry tags will be created and printed by fairboard staff. They will be available to pick up at the fair.
Registration closes July 4. A help sheet is available at https://www.elliscountyfair.com/4H.html.
If you have any questions you can email [email protected] or contact the Extension Office at 785-628-9430. This process is new for everyone so your patience is greatly appreciated as we work through our first year. Fair dates are July 16 to 23. For a complete schedule go to www.elliscountyfair.com.
HARVEY COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident on Friday in Newton.
A train hit a man at First Street and Ash in Newton, according to a social media report from police.
The victim was transported to the hospital and died, according to police.
The train continues to block First Street as the investigation continues.
Name of the victim has not been released.
