HOOVER, Ala. (AP) – The College Football Playoff will consider moving future semifinals off New Year’s Eve if it can help increase viewership.
The TV ratings dropped 36 percent last year, when the games were moved from New Year’s Day to the night before.
Executive director Bill Hancock says conference commissioners who make up the playoff management committee are open to changing future schedules, starting in 2019 when the semifinals are scheduled for New Year’s Eve.
Hancock says alternatives to New Year’s Eve are beginning to be explored.
SMITH CENTER -Two men and a woman were arrested in connection with the abduction of 2-year-old Walker Erickson. He was found safe and taken into protective custody, according to a social media report.
The suspects were found on Nebraska Interstate 80 near the Overton exit.
The driver of Dodge Neon involved in the Amber Alert returned to Smith Center and reported that she had dropped Barrett and Walker Erickson at an address in Kearney, Nebraska.
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The missing 2-year-old boy is has been located and is safe, according to the Smith County Sheriff. No additional details were available Wednesday evening.
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SMITH COUNTY -On Wednesday afternoon, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert for a two-year-old boy in Smith Center.
Walker Erickson, described as 2’ tall, weighing 30 pounds with blonde hair and wearing a lime-green shirt and a diaper, was last seen just after 2p.m. on Wednesday at 406 East 4th in Smith Center, according to a media release.
Marissa Mae Barrett, according to the KBI, may have taken the child.
Barrett is 26 years old; 5’3 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. with blonde hair and blue eyes.
She could be driving a white Dodge Neon with a Florida license plate, heading toward Hastings, Nebraska.
Anyone with information to help find Erickson and Barrett are asked to call local law enforcement or 1-800-KS-CRIME.
Barrett- photo KBI
07-13-2016 05:31 PM
2 yr old Walker Erikson last seen by grandmother at 2:17 PM Mother observed in area prior and suspected of abducting child possibly to Hastings, NE area with another unknown subject in white Dodge Neon with Florida license plates
07-13-2016 06:20 PM
If you have information call 1-800-KS-Crime or the Smith Center Sheriff’s Office, 785-282-1580.
07-13-2016 06:54 PM
Driver of Dodge Neon returned to Smith Center and reported that she had dropped Barrett and Walker Erickson at an address in Kearney Nebraska
07-13-2016 06:55 PM
Kearney Police department notified and are checking possible address as described by driver
07-13-2016 07:18 PM
Barrett and Walker Erickson may be with William “Billy” Smith in Kearney, Nebraska. No confirmed identifying information regarding Smith.
07-13-2016 07:47 PM
Barrett and Walker Erickson were reported traveling west from Kearney NE in a beige or tan unknown make 4dr with Colorado tags driven by David Bowers w/m 1/3/1958 and Billy Smith possibly headed to Holdridge NE.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Court records show that a Kansas agency has reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit over the case of a 4-year-old boy fatally beaten by his father in 2013.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Kansas Department for Children and Families has reached the deal with the Naomi Boone, mother of the late Mekhi Boone.
The settlement’s terms weren’t disclosed. The deal must be approved by the State Finance Council, comprised of legislative leaders and the governor.
The boy’s father, Lee Davis, is serving nearly 20 years for second-degree murder.
Naomi Boone has contended the boy shouldn’t have been placed with his father, and that one of the state’s foster care contractors placed the child with Davis while aware that he had a history of domestic violence.
Thumbs up for the restored power in Victoria Wed. evening. (Photos courtesy MWE)
UPDATE AT 9:40 P.M.
Midwest Energy will be back at it Thursday morning bright and early:
“Final post of the night… Crews are wrapping up and for safety reasons, are starting a rest period but will be back on the job first thing in the morning. There are still pockets of homes in Hays without power, as well as in rural areas of Ellis and Russell Counties. Please check with friends or neighbors who may be without power tonight and if you’re able to help with a generator or freezer space, please do. Thanks to all the crews from other MWE cities who came to help; we hope to have more restoration tomorrow. Stay safe out there!”
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By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Midwest Energy reports the power was restored to Victoria at 7:24 p.m. Wed. night.
They estimated it will be “some time still” for Catherine to be restored because a few power poles are still down on Toulon Ave. north and south of Interstate 70.
There are some homes just north of I-70 back on the grid that are back on the grid. MWE crews are still setting replacement power poles and will continue working into the evening.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A report says rural and urban schools in Kansas area are struggling to fill teaching positions as applicants opt for jobs in suburban locations and fewer college students major in education.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the report was issued by a task force of academics and educators and was presented to the Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday. Areas that are having a particularly difficult time include southwest Kansas, Wichita and Kansas City.
The report says 40 percent of the 277 teaching vacancies were in southwest Kansas. Vacancies were clustered in Wichita Unified School District 259 and Kansas City Unified School District 500, which are the state’s two largest, high-poverty urban districts.
According to the report, northeast and northwest Kansas is attracting teachers from other parts of the state.
Wednesday’s storm caused some minor damage at the Hays Regional Airport. (Photos courtesy Nathan Marcucci)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Wednesday morning’s storm with 80-plus-mph wind caused widespread damage across Hays, including the Hays Regional Airport south of town.
Construction materials from the HaysMed building on south Commerce Parkway (the former NEW call center) was blown east onto the nearby airport runways, according to Airport Manager Nathan Marcucci.
“Most of it was Styrofoam, but it still blew all over the airport,” Marcucci said.
Problems were compounded as other heavier debris “broke out a lot of the airport runway lights” and the airport was also without power early Wednesday morning.
“That turned off the navigation information for pilots so commercial flights had to be canceled,” Marcucci said.
By late afternoon, the airport’s automatic weather communication was back online, and planes were able to fly in and out of Hays. Most of the broken runway lights had also been replaced or the work was “in progress” by then.
Aerial view of floodwaters in North Topeka. Cloverleaf on U.S. Hwy. 24 and Jayhawk Junior Motel in upper right -photo courtesy Kansas State Historical Society
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Flooding that began 65 years ago this week cost 40 Kansas residents their lives.
The National Weather Service says the Kansas River reached its highest level on record in Topeka on July 13, 1951. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that high waters caused the river to break through a dike to flood the city’s North Topeka business district.
Topeka was among 186 cities and towns in Kansas and Missouri damaged by the flooding. The flooding came after storms that began in late April dumped 28 inches of rain over the Kansas River basin by July 13.
Afterward, sturdier dikes were built to protect Topeka. Also, the number of reservoirs built to hold water on the lower Kansas River basin expanded from five to 18.
Saturday, July 9, was a busy day for the contestants in the 2016 Ellis Co. Rodeo Pageant. Winners will be announced Tue., July 19, during the first of two nights of KPRA Rodeo action at the Ellis County Fair.
(L to R) Cadence Dickey-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess, Leigh-Anne Poe-2015 El-Kan Western Riders Princess, Lauren Rumbaugh-2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas (with black hat), Callie Betts-2016 LIttle Miss Ambassador, Jaylinn Pfeifer-Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen contestant, Codmee Wertj-2016 Little Miss Ambassador, Jaelyn Himmelberg-Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess contestant, Payton Welsh-2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, Kelli Buxton-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen holding Ava Cunningham-2016 Little Miss Ambassador
Judges Bronc Barrows and Dixie Balman talk to contestant Jaylinn Pfeifer, Ellis.
Kelli Buxton–2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen
Every rodeo queen should know her horsemanship, of course, and the young women and their horses performed early in the morning before the day’s heat kicked in. The Queen and Princess candidates were required to take their horses through a specific pattern, the Queen’s Run and the Flag Run in the Ellis County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena.
The remainder of the pageant, Talent/Speech/Modeling and Impromptu Question, Personal Interview, and Written Test on Rodeo Knowledge, took place in the the air-conditioned auditorium at the K-State Agricultural Research Center. Taking on the tough job as judges were Dixie Balman and Brenda Meder, Hays, and Scott “Bronc” Barrows, WaKeeney.
(L to R) Cadence Dickey-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess, Leigh-Anne Poe-2015 El-Kan Western Riders Princess, Lauren Rumbaugh-2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas (with black hat), Callie Betts-2016 LIttle Miss Ambassador, Jaylinn Pfeifer-Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen contestant, Codmee Wertj-2016 Little Miss Ambassador, Jaelyn Himmelberg-Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess contestant, Payton Welsh-2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, Kelli Buxton-2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen holding Ava Cunningham-2016 Little Miss Ambassador
Competing this year were Rodeo Queen contestants Hailey Fisher – Plainville, 15, and Jaylinn Pfeifer – Ellis, 15, and Rodeo Princess candidate Jaelyn Himmelberg – Lawrence, Neb., 10. Little Miss participants were Callie Betts – Ellis,7, Ava Cunningham – Ellis, 2, and Cidnee Werth – Munjor, 5.
The Rodeo Queen will be awarded prizes including her choice of a $500 scholarship or a trophy saddle, the Queen tiara and sash, belt buckle, trailer decal and publicity photos. The Queen Runner-up will receive a trophy bridle bag. A trophy halter will be awarded for Queen Horsemanship with a leather padfolio for Queen Public Performance.
The Rodeo Princess will get a trophy breast collar for her horse, the Princess tiara and sash, belt buckle, trailer decal and publicity photos.
Awards will also be given as determined by contestants, judges and the pageant committee for Most Photogenic, Miss Best Hair, Miss Best Horse, Miss Best Boots, Miss Congeniality, and Miss Best Dressed. Each contest received an event participation package.
The outgoing rodeo royalty are 2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Queen Kelli Buxton and 2015 Ellis Co. Rodeo Princess Cadence Dickey, who were at Saturday’s pageant.
Also in attendance at the pageant were Lauren Rumbaugh, 2016 Miss Rodeo Kansas, and Payton Welsh, 2016 Miss Rodeo Teen Kansas, both who will also be at the July 19 rodeo performance.
The 2016 Ellis Co. Rodeo Pageant committee members are Becky Pokorny, Stephanie Eckroat, Chantelle Arnold, Chelsea Dickey, Edna Hansen, Michele Springer, Kelli Buxton, Lakin Eckroat, and Cadence Dickey.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Kansas lawmaker is questioning an arrangement that has seen a state agency’s interim leader in the position for more than six months.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Tim Keck has served as interim secretary for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability since Jan. 1.
Democratic state Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley says a state law appears to prohibit acting secretaries from serving more than six months.
Gov. Sam Brownback’s office said the six-month limit doesn’t apply in this case because Keck in an “interim” secretary, not an “acting” secretary.
Keck began serving as the interim secretary before the legislative session and hasn’t been confirmed by the Senate. He also hasn’t been nominated by Brownback.
Keck took over as secretary after Kari Bruffett resigned to become the Kansas Health Institute’s policy director.
At 2:12 p.m., Wednesday, July 13, 2016, City of Hays 911 Dispatchers received a report of an automatic fire alarm at the HaysMed Center for Sleep Disorders, 2500 Canterbury Drive. The City of Hays Fire Department, supported by the City of Hays Police Department, was immediately alerted to respond.
While firefighters were responding, HaysMed staff telephoned 911 reporting a fire in the building. With this information, the HFD shift commander called for all available off-duty firefighters to respond, as well as the dispatch of an Ellis County EMS ambulance to reinforce the on-duty force.
On arrival, firefighters found that a motor in the building heating, ventilating and air conditioning system had burned out causing smoke in the building to activate the automatic fire alarm. HaysMed staff had evacuated the building and cut electric power to the motor to eliminate the hazard. Fire crews assisted by using ventilation fans to remove the smoke from the building. Normal building operations resumed shortly thereafter.
Twenty firefighters staffing four fire trucks responded. The last fire crew left the scene at 2:46 p.m.
HaysMed has well-maintained, state-of-the-art fire safety systems in its various facilities. HaysMed staff continuously trains in the proper response to fire emergencies. City of Hays firefighters train regularly for a fire emergency on the HaysMed campus. In this situation, HaysMed systems and staff responded and coordinated with the HFD to effectively bring this incident to a quick end.
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect for identity theft.
On Tuesday, Gary Ingram, Jr., 33, was arrested for allegedly using his father’s identity to make purchases from Sears in the Salina Central Mall, according to police.
He was completing a credit card application, using the information of Gary Ingram, 64, Johnstone, Rhode Island, when police found him.
Ingram Jr. was arrested on request charges of ID theft, forgery, criminal use of a financial card, and felony theft.
As a result of the July 13 wind storm, Hays residents are encouraged to haul tree branches to the Ellis County Transfer station, 1515 W 55th Street. There is no cost for City residents to dispose of tree branches at Ellis County.
No tree branches may be taken to the compost site.
Branches may be placed along the edge of the street for collection by City Crews. Do not block sidewalks and keep at least a 3-foot clear space around fire hydrants and utility pedestals. Crews will not go onto private property.
Hanging limbs and large trees will not be collected as the City does not have equipment to provide such service. A list of Licensed Tree Trimmers to provide these services is attached.
City crews will only make one pass through each area and will not collect branches from alleys. Make sure to have any branches to the curb by 7 a.m. of the scheduled day.
City crews will begin picking up tree branches according to the following schedule:
• Friday, July 15 – area east of Vine Street (Zone 1).
• Monday, July 18 – area west of Vine and north of 27th Street (Zone 2)
• Tuesday, July 19 – areas west of Vine and south of 27th Street (Zone 3)
will continue working into the evening.
Problems were compounded as other heavier debris “broke out a lot of the airport runway lights” and the airport was also without power early Wednesday morning.
By BECKY KISER
At 2:12 p.m., Wednesday, July 13, 2016, City of Hays 911 Dispatchers received a report of an automatic fire alarm at the HaysMed Center for Sleep Disorders, 2500 Canterbury Drive. The City of Hays Fire Department, supported by the City of Hays Police Department, was immediately alerted to respond.
