WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say two inmates were treated for minor smoke inhalation after a fire was started inside of a cell at the Sedgwick County Jail.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that an inmate started the fire early Thursday. The release says deputies extinguished the fire, and the other inmates in the pod were moved because of the smoke.
Authorities are investigating and plan to present the case to prosecutors for charges.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Mitch Moreland’s second home run of the game broke a tie in the eighth inning and Cole Hamels earned his 12th win of the season as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday night.
Hamels (12-2) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings, matching his longest start of the season. His 123 pitches were 10 more than his previous high for the year. He didn’t allow an earned run in his previous two starts, totaling 13 1/3 innings.
Sam Dyson earned his 21st save in 23 opportunities, stranding the tying run at third base.
Both homers by the left-handed hitting Moreland were to the opposite field and came off Yordano Ventura (6-9). It was Moreland’s 10th career multi-homer game and second of the season. He has five homers in his last 11 hits.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Kansas City Royals reliever Luke Hochevar has been placed on the 15-day disabled list.
The Royals made the move before Thursday night’s game at Texas, and said the right-hander has symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome. That is a condition when blood vessels or nerves between the collarbone and first rib become compressed, and can cause pain in the shoulder and neck.
Kansas City recalled right-hander Brooks Pounders from Triple-A Omaha.
The DL move was retroactive to Monday, the day after Hochevar took the loss in a 2-1 home defeat to the Rangers. He gave up a tiebreaking homer to the first batter he faced, Delino DeShields leading off the seventh.
Hochevar is 2-3 with a 3.86 ERA in 40 appearances this season.
MILBERGER — United Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger is hosting a homemade ice cream social and bake sale Sunday, July 31, from 5 to 8 PM at the church.
A freewill offering will be taken for ice cream. Bake sale items also will be sold.
Proceeds to benefit the Dru Miller Medical Fund as he recovers from brain surgery.
An account for donations has been set up at Southwind Bank in Russell, and there is a Go Fund Me account online.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
You may not want to think about it, but it’s here.
Hays USD 489 has issued its enrollment schedule for the 2016-2017 school year.
Online enrollment begins Mon., Aug. 1, for Hays High School, Hays Middle School and the elementary schools. Parents and guardians of students new to the district or kindergartners are urged to contact their respective school offices as soon as possible.
On location enrollment will be held Wed. and Thu., Aug. 3 and 4. HHS Freshmen and New Student Orientation is scheduled for Fri., Aug. 12. USD 489 classes start Wed. Aug. 17, with a half-day session. The HHS web site lists a full day of classes.
Enrollment for The Learning Center is always available online. Early Childhood Connection is now enrolling students Monday through Friday by calling (785) 623-2430.
If there are conflicts families cannot avoid on the enrollment dates, they should contact the HHS office at (785) 623-2600 to make other arrangements.
FHSU University Relations
Fort Hays State University’s Department of Applied Business Studies has recently received two No. 1 rankings in the nation in online education. The Tourism and Hospitality Management program was ranked first in the nation for best value by ONLINEU, while “Best Degree Programs” ranked FHSU No. 1 for best online Bachelor’s of Marketing program in 2016.
ONLINEU ranked the top 25 programs in the nation in online hospitality management. Fort Hays State offered the lowest tuition, with degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and certificate levels available.
The Tourism and Hospitality Management program started in 2008 with five students. About 100 students are enrolled today.
“It’s been a nice, steady growth,” said Stacey Smith, chair of the Department of Applied Business Studies. “I think a lot of the growth comes from the success of our students and the passion that they have. There’s no better marketing than having successful graduates waving your flag.
“The program is fully online as well as fully on campus, which is helping our growth,” she added. “We’re really connecting with students at all levels.”
“Best Degree Programs” released the top 30 colleges in the nation for online undergraduate degree programs in marketing, with FHSU’s Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing ranked No. 1. The ranking was created by reviewing school rankings by Forbes Magazine, the Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report. An important component was undergraduate tuition cost.
“I’m excited and thrilled about their recognition as well,” Smith said. “They’ve got some exciting things going on in that program. I think this recognition helps validate the things they’re doing, moving the program forward.”
Smith said faculty members work hard to provide the same quality education online that is taught on campus.
“It’s a true testament to our faculty,” Smith said. “Teaching online is not easy. You really need to communicate with students, and our faculty work really hard to be interactive in that online environment. We work really hard to create a very valuable experience for the student, and I think these recognitions are a testament to that.”
By DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore
This week, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) had the opportunity to share with the public the tremendous safety record in the child welfare system. Kansas can proudly say, we’re second in the nation when it comes to protecting children from abuse and neglect. This information was shared at a Legislative Post Audit (LPA) committee meeting in Topeka on Wednesday, July 27, where the LPA released its own audit of the foster care system.
The LPA audit suggests that some of DCF’s processes are inadequate within the child welfare system. We want to assure the public that, although the LPA report criticizes these processes, it does not measure safety outcomes and never demonstrates the system is unsafe. More importantly, the Child & Family Service Review (CFSR), conducted by the federal government shows Kansas leads the way in keeping kids safe.
We appreciate the work of LPA staff members who had limited time to delve into such a complex system that takes extensive experience and knowledge to fully understand. And we did receive some helpful insight that will allow us to improve in some areas as we serve the vulnerable families of Kansas. However, we know the federal findings regarding safety are based on years of review, evaluations, and input from a wide range of stakeholders. And the thorough and valid reviews are conducted by individuals whose exclusive focus is to ensure superior child welfare service delivery and compliance with federal regulations.
We are often forced to defend the agency with two hands tied behind our back, because laws prevent us from disclosing the full details of the cases for which we are blamed. If the public knew all there is to know, the blame would justly fall on the shoulders of those who inflict harm on innocent children. Our workers’ morale is low because they don’t have support from the public. They face heavy caseloads and never-ending scrutiny, but they keep coming back because they know, as I know, their work is important. It’s life-saving. They are heroes. And our safety record makes that clear. This audit, although insightful, does not provide a complete picture of the child welfare system in Kansas. It’s an indictment of the process, not the outcomes. And we will continue every day to improve the process, even as Kansas children benefit from a safe child welfare system.
DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore
By RANDY GONZALES
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Karl Pratt had been asked a couple times before to be music director for a Hays Community Theatre production. New on the job at the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association, Pratt wanted to concentrate on that.
Asked again this spring, Pratt agreed to be music director for the Hays Community Theatre’s production of “Shrek the Musical.”
“It was just finally time to do it,” Pratt said Thursday afternoon, hours before the show opened at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall on the FHSU campus. “The first two years of my professional life I kind of devoted my life to that. If I keep putting them off, they’re not going to ask me again.”
This is the first time Hays Community Theatre will have a production in Beach/Schmidt. In the past, plays were either at the Thomas More Prep-Marian theatre or at the Fox Pavilion downtown. However, Pratt said for the last production at each site, the air conditioning broke down. Beach/Schmidt was found to be a viable alternative, and Pratt hopes future productions will continue to be at the FHSU venue.
“We’re very, very excited to be at Beach/Schmidt,” Pratt said.
Pratt is also pleased to be part of a musical featuring the popular film “Shrek.”
“It’s great because it attracts audiences of all ages,” Pratt said. “Then there’s the message that beauty comes from within. It’s not the outside that matters, it’s the heart inside. The overall message can strike a chord with anyone.”
Pratt, who graduated from Fort Hays State in 2014 with a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance, is glad he said yes to be the production’s music director. He will be in the orchestra pit for each performance, but he won’t have a live orchestra. Instead, Pratt will be conducting a person using an orchestration software program.
“This is my first time ever conducting,” he said.
Pratt, the Alumni Association’s program coordinator for communication, felt a desire to give back.
“Fort Hays State, they kind of instill that into you,” Pratt said. “It took a while for me to finally get going, but it was always there, that idea of service, giving back.
“I finally agreed to do it, took a chance,” he added. “I’m really pleased that I did.”
The musical will have 7 p.m. show times again Friday and Saturday at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. Tickets $15 for adults and $10 for children age 10 or younger and for seniors age 65 and older, can be purchased at hctks.com or at the door.
Hays Post
In a short meeting Thursday night, Hays city commissioners set Aug. 11 as the date for a public hearing of the 2017 budget.
It was one of the final opportunities for commissioners to review the proposed budget of $38,972,262. The mill levy will remain at 25.000 where it has been for many years.
City staff started work on their department budgets in late March. No new employees will be hired next year and there will be no pay raises for current employees.
The public hearing will be held during the regular city commission meeting Thu., Aug. 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall. The approved 2017 budget must be submitted to the Ellis County Clerk by Aug. 25.
Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the July 28 meeting.
Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Northeast wind around 8 mph.
Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 9pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.
SaturdayA slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Southeast wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind 9 to 14 mph.
SundaySunny, with a high near 96.
Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 72.
MondaySunny, with a high near 98.
Monday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 72.
HARVEY COUNTY – Thursday storms brought heavy rain, hail and strong winds to many areas of the state.
The National Weather Service reported wind damage in Norton, Phillips, Cloud, Harvey, Kingman, Reno, Sedgwick and Wallace, Stevens and Shawnee Counties. Tree branches were down in many areas of Phillips County, according to the sheriff’s office.
Hail up to golf ball size fell in many areas of western Kansas.
Storm moving in. Southern McPherson county. #kswx pic.twitter.com/9svQF7QfBc
— Stephanie (@AltaontheFarm) July 29, 2016
A tornado was reported west of Kingman but there was no significant damage and no injuries.
Check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.
LINDSBORG, Kan. (AP) — Work is underway to repair a national historic site that marks a spot where Spanish explorers stopped centuries ago in central Kansas.
Project manager Bill Shipley says a new concrete deck and wood timbers, columns and beams have been put in at the castle at Coronado Heights near Lindsborg. It was built more than 80 years ago by Depression-era Works Progress Administration crews.
The Salina Journal reports that the $150,000 project is funded by more than 200 individuals, businesses and foundations and a grant from the Kansas State Historical Preservation Trust Fund.
Coronado Heights has remained open throughout the renovations.
Shipley says he anticipates that the project will be completed by mid- to late-August.
RAWLINS COUNTY – A teen from Atwood was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. on Thursday in Rawlins County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge Intrepid driven by Lidia E. Hurst, 16, Atwood, was westbound on U.S. 36 eight miles southeast of Herndon.
The vehicle left the north side of the highway and came to rest facing southbound.
Hurst was transported to the hospital in Atwood. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
