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Month: July 2016

‘Just Breathe’ tourney to honor Ellis teen is Sunday

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ELLIS STROPES tshirtcrowdcalendarCITY OF ELLIS

ELLIS–It was six years ago, July 22, 2010, that we lost 14-year-old Bryce Stropes and to many, it still feels just like yesterday.

Stropes drowned in the Ellis City Swimming Pool as a result of shallow water blackout. A permanent memorial to Stropes was unveiled a year later.

Next week is the annual ‘Just Breathe’ Disc Golf Tournament in honor of Bryce and we encourage everyone to go out and make it special. Participate, give a hug, or cheer someone on; kindness is all that matters.

bryce stropes disc golf tourney 2016 posterThe ‘Just Breathe’ Disc Golf Tournament is Sun., July 31. Registration is $20 for teams of two. Participants may sign up for the tournament the day of but will not receive t-shirts.

All proceeds go to the swimming pool Safety and Training Equipment Fund.

If you have any questions please contact the Ellis swimming pool at (785) 726.3130.

Please keep the family of Bryce Stropes in your thoughts and prayers.

Partly sunny, hot Thursday with a chance for storms

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Thunderstorms are expected to develop in northwestern Kansas Thursday afternoon and then progress southeastward across southwestern Kansas Thursday evening while becoming more widespread. In addition to very heavy localized rainfall, these storms could contain wind gusts to 70 mph and hail as large as golf balls.

Screen Shot 2016-07-28 at 4.59.06 AMToday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. North northwest wind 7 to 13 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 7pm and 2am. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Cloudy, with a low around 65. East northeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

FridayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. North northeast wind around 8 mph.

Friday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind 5 to 9 mph.

SaturdayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Saturday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

SundaySunny, with a high near 95.

Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 72.

MondayMostly sunny, with a high near 98.

LETTER: Huelskamp ‘the very epitome of Washington outsider’

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email2 - letter

I’ve been around more years than I want to admit, and like everyone else, I would call this the craziest political season I’ve ever seen. It starts at the top with a Republican presidential candidate who has no government experience and is given to, ahem, impulsive comments, and a Democratic presidential candidate with no accomplishments and an amazing record of lying to the American people.

U.S. House of Representatives candidate Roger Marshall’s behavior may be craziest of all, though. With his oh-too-clever “Washing-Tim” slur for Congressman Tim Huelskamp and various other bogus assertions, Marshall is trying to portray his opponent as a Washington insider. Republican primary voters are not that stupid. This strategy is so absurd that it, alone, disqualifies Marshall from serious consideration.

Huelskamp is the very epitome of the Washington outsider. He is one of the very few in Washington who understands that our $19-trillion federal debt is the greatest threat to our future as a nation. We are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and once that happens, everything else collapses. Our president does not understand, or certainly won’t admit, this reality. In nearly eight years, not only has Obama done nothing about the federal debt, he does not even mention it. Of the 535 members of Congress, Huelskamp is one of only a handful who recognize the threat our national debt poses, and he acts accordingly with his vote. No wonder he is unpopular among his colleagues and therefore an outsider. You could count on both hands the number of Representatives and Senators who act with fiscal responsibility, and you would not need either thumb.

If you want to be represented by one more lemming marching toward the abyss, vote for Marshall. If you want to be represented by a realist who knows the emperor has no clothes and is not afraid to say so, re-elect Congressman Tim Huelskamp.

Kent Steward
Hays

Kansas firefighter dies, 1 hospitalized after truck blows tire, overturns

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Photo by Nick Viviani courtesy WIBW TV
Photos by Nick Viviani courtesy WIBW TV

JACKSON COUNTY – A Kansas firefighter died in an accident just before 5p.m. on Wednesday in Jackson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Peterbilt tanker truck from the Hoyt Fire Department traveling to the Jackson County Fair and driven by Michael L. Schultz, 47, Hoyt, was northbound on U.S.75 just south of 174th Road.

Screen Shot 2016-07-28 at 5.51.27 AMThe truck blew a tire, left the roadway to the left and crossed the median, traveled across the southbound lanes of traffic, struck the embankment and overturned.

Schultz and a passenger Randy Rae Smith, 36, Mayetta, were transported to Stormont Vail where Schultz died.

They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas man sentenced for child sex crimes

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Umphenhour-photo Atchison County
Umphenhour-photo Atchison County

TROY, Kan. (AP) — A northeast Kansas man faces more than 30 years in prison after being convicted of sex crimes against children.

The state attorney general’s office said in a release Wednesday that 42-year-old Heath Umphenour was found guilty in May in Doniphan County court of charges including aggravated indecent liberties with a child, aggravated criminal sodomy and sexual exploitation of a child.

The office says the crimes occurred between April 2011 and November 2012.

The attorney general’s office says Umphenour was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without a chance for parole for more than 30 years.

Hearing set for Kansas inmate on battery of corrections officer

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Nunez
Nunez

HUTCHINSON — An August 15, preliminary hearing date is scheduled for a Kansas Department of Corrections inmate accused of battering a corrections officer.

Eddie Nunez, 28, is accused of battering and causing injury to a female officer at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility on January 13.

The crime is a level five-person felony with a maximum sentence of over 11 years in prison.

Nunez is currently serving time for second-degree murder for a case in Seward County in 2005.

Candle believed to be the cause of Wednesday house fire

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HFD

At 5:50 p.m. Wednesday, City of Hays emergency dispatchers received a 911 call reporting a building fire at 1605 East 27th Street. They immediately dispatched the City of Hays Fire Department, assisted by Ellis County EMS and the City of Hays Police Department.

On arrival firefighters found a small fire in the bathroom of a single family dwelling. Firefighters used a fire extinguisher to control the fire. A fire hydrant water supply was established and one fire hose was advanced as a precaution while firefighters checked for hidden fire spread in the ceiling and walls.

The most probable cause of the fire was the careless use of a candle. The building suffered some fire and smoke damage. There were no injuries.

While firefighters were operating at this alarm, a second building fire was dispatched and some fire crews were released to respond to the second fire.

Fifteen firefighters staffing four fire trucks responded. The last fire crew left the scene at 6:57 PM.

Moran Recognizes Kansas Athletes Competing in Summer Olympics

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Andrea Geubelle- photo Univ. of Kansas Athletics
Andrea Geubelle- photo Univ. of Kansas Athletics

MANHATTAN, Kan. – In response to the United States Olympic Committee this week announcing the completed list of athletes who will compete for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) released the following statement:

“Congratulations to all the outstanding Kansas athletes who qualified for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team. Kansas has a long history of athletic excellence, and I look forward to cheering on these men and women as they continue that legacy next month in Brazil. These athletes have put in countless hours of training and preparation, and now they have the chance to display their talents in front of the entire nation and the world. Best of luck each of them in their respective events. Go Team USA!”

Kansas’ Team USA Athletes:

Amy Cragg, Track and Field
Leavenworth

Nico Hernandez, Boxing
Wichita

Lydia Paterson, Shooting
Kansas City

Jack Sock, Tennis
Kansas City

Kyle Clemons, Track and Field
University of Kansas

Mason Finley, Track and Field
University of Kansas

Tyson Gay, Track and Field
Barton County Community College

Andrea Geubelle, Track and Field
University of Kansas

Erik Kynard, Track and Field
Kansas State University

Hays Fire Department responds to fire at Pasta Jay’s

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HFD responded to reports of a fire at Pasta Jay's restaurant under construction in the 4300 block of Vine.
HFD responded Wed. evening to reports of a fire at Pasta Jay’s restaurant under construction in the 4300 block of Vine.

By James Bell
Hays Post

Around 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, the Hays Fire Department responded to a fire inside the east wall at the construction site of Pasta Jay’s in the 4300 block of Vine.

According to scanner traffic, embers from welding on the outside of the building caught fire inside the exterior wall.

Construction workers used a hose to get water inside the wall and no flames or smoke was visible as fire fighters arrived.

After arriving, members of the HFD ran a water line and checked outside and inside the wall for fire and continued spraying water into an opening on the exterior wall.

By around 6:30 p.m., no remaining signs of a fire were detected either inside or outside of the building.

HFD was already on the scene of a structure fire at 1605 E. 27th which was called in about 5:53 p.m.  No flames or smoke were seen upon the crew’s arrival. Early reports indicate there was a fire in a bathroom and all occupants were out of the building. The last fire crew left the scene at 7:04 p.m.

How did disgraced Kan. physician assistant pass background check?

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Wisner- photo Leavenworth Co.
Wisner- photo Leavenworth Co.

WASHINGTON, D.C.– A former physician assistant, Mark Wisner, at the Leavenworth VA Medical Center had a police record prior to his hire date yet he passed his initial background check and was not given any subsequent background checks.

In response, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (KS-02) and Congressman Kevin Yoder (KS-03) sent a letter to Deputy Inspector General Linda Halliday at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to request more information on the initial background check and the VA’s screening process.

“The fact that a physician assistant, who takes care of our veterans on a personal level, had a police record of this nature and still passed the initial background check is astounding,” said Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins.

“Whether this is a lapse in leadership or negligence, we need to do more to ensure those with disturbing police records are not employed by the VA. Our veterans deserve the best quality healthcare.”

“This can never happen again, period,” said Congressman Kevin Yoder. “Our veterans sacrifice so much to defend our freedoms, and in return we must defend them from ever having to face abuse like this when they come home seeking care. I look forward to the VA’s response to our request and their thorough explanation of who will be held accountable and what specific steps can be taken to ensure no veteran will ever be subjected to this kind of pain again.”

Chiefs Charles on PUP list as camp begins

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs placed running back Jamaal Charles on the physically unable to perform list Wednesday, though coach Andy Reid said it should not be considered a setback in his return from a knee injury.

Charles tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 5 last season. He had surgery soon afterward and was far enough along in his recovery that he participated in some drills during mandatory minicamp.

The Chiefs can take Charles off the PUP list whenever he is medically cleared, but that likely will not happen soon. Veterans do not report for the start of training camp until Friday, and even then Reid said he plans to take it slowly with his star running back.

Kansas to seek partial recertification of state mental hospital

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top social services official says Kansas expects to ask the federal government soon to partially recertify its state mental hospital in Osawatomie.

Interim Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Tim Keck said Wednesday that the agency will seek recertification of 60 of Osawatomie State Hospital’s 146 beds.

Federal officials decertified Osawatomie in December over an employee’s rape and other safety issues. A legislative committee reviewed an audit that said the state is losing about $1 million a month in federal funds.

Keck said renovation on a 60-bed unit is almost complete and staffing at the hospital has improved. He would not say exactly when his department would apply for recertification.

Auditors said the state still would continue to lose some federal funds even with 60 beds certified.

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