WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Another influential agricultural group is backing the Republican primary challenger to U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the sprawling 1st District of western and central Kansas.
The Kansas Farm Bureau’s political arm, Voters Organized to Elect Farm Bureau Friends, announced Friday its endorsement of Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall.
The Kansas Livestock Association has also endorsed Marshall. The two groups did not endorse a candidate when Huelskamp ran for re-election in 2014.
Huelskamp’s campaign did not immediately return phone and email messages.
Huelskamp, a tea party favorite, has been losing support in his mostly rural district since he was removed from the House agricultural committee by his Republican colleagues.
Kansas Farm Bureau president Rich Felts says endorsements are based on county affiliates’ recommendations from across the state.
NORTON COUNTY – An inmate who escaped from the jail in Phillipsburg on Thursday is back in custody.
Just after 4p.m. on Friday Trent L. Ludwig 18, was arrested without incident at a residence in 300 block of East Waverly in Norton, according to Norton Police Chief Ron Ridley.
A tip from an anonymous source lead law enforcement to the residence and the occupants allowed officers from the Norton Police Department and the Norton County Sheriff’s Office to search the residence.
He was found hiding in a closet in the residence. He was wearing a ball cap, wig and makeup and was dressed as a woman to conceal his identity while moving around the community on foot.
Ludwig is currently being held in the Norton County Jail awaiting transfer back to Phillips County.
——
PHILLIPS COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Phillips County are asking the public to watch for a missing inmate. He escaped from the Phillips County Jail just before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, according to Sheriff Paul Wisinger.
Trent Ludwig, 18, Hayward, WI., was being held on misdemeanor drug and other local charges.
“We have a small jail,” said Wisinger.
“A deputy was supervising inmates cleaning the facility.”
The inmates were on a break, getting some fresh air and returning to the jail when Ludwig took off and ran around the side of the courthouse.
“We think he eventually got a ride from someone and may be out of Phillips County,” said Wisinger.
Members of the Kansas Highway Patrol were also involved in the search for Ludwig.
————
PHILLIPS COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Phillips County are asking the public to watch for a missing inmate. He escaped from the Phillips County Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
Few details were available about the escape early Friday morning.
Authorities advised the public to call 911 if they see the inmate and not to approach him.
Check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.
JASPER COUNTY, MO – Two people died in an accident just after 1a.m. on Friday in Jasper County, Missouri.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Ford Econoline van driven by Dennis L. Becker, 39, Arma, was eastbound on Interstate 44 two miles west of Carthage.
The van collided with a westbound 2013 GMC Sierra driven by William W. Hummingbird, 34, Buckeye, AZ.
Becker and Hummingbird were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Woodard Funeral Home in Webb City.
Passengers in the Sierra Michelle M. Hummingbird, 47, and Jasmine M. Mares, 23, both of Buckeye, AZ, were transported to the hospital in Joplin with moderate injuries, according to the MSHP.
Becker was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.
Storm damage in Greenwood County photo Westar Energy via National Weather Service
EUREKA, Kan. (AP) — The National Weather Service says two tornadoes ripped through southeast Kansas late Thursday, causing widespread damage in a small town.
No injuries have been reported.
The National Weather Service said Friday preliminary information shows that an EF2 tornado hit Eureka, a town of roughly 2,600 residents east of Wichita. The tornado damaged about 50 homes and businesses, including the Eureka Nursing Center.
The weather service also says the early data shows that another EF3 tornado hit northwest of Eureka late Thursday.
Levi Vinson, the Greenwood County emergency management director, said everyone has been accounted for, but crews were still “checking on some people.”
He says the weather service alerted Eureka’s residents to the incoming storm at least 15 minutes before the tornado hit.
SALINA -Two men convicted in the 2015 shooting death of a Salina teenager were sentenced to life in prison on Friday
Judge Rene Young sentenced 23-year-old Macio Palacio, 23, who shot 17-year-old Allie Saum, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years
For his role in the crime, 20-year-old Stephen Gentry was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years
According to previous court testimony, Gentry was the mastermind of a plot to seek revenge for an earlier fight in which he was punched.
He gathered a group of people together, and later misidentified a truck as one that had been involved in the fight, and instructed Palacio to shoot.
Saum was struck and killed by the shots as the truck she was riding in with her boyfriend passed through the 500 block of Russell Avenue. She died early the next morning as a result of her injuries.
Three defendants in the case is still have cases pending in Saline County District Court.
Daniel Sims, 20, testified against Palacio and Gentry in exchange for a reduction of his charges.
He is scheduled to plead to charges that include involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. That hearing is scheduled for August.
Andrew Woodring, 18, has already plead guilty to a felony 1st degree murder charge, but since has indicated that he wants to change that plea.
Jerome Forbes, 20, has yet to stand trial for his role in the crime.
Sunday accident scene in Pratt County-Photo courtesy KWCH
PRATT, Kan. (AP) — A federal workplace safety agency says it’s investigating two recent injuries at a southern Kansas wind farm.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a release Friday that it’s investigating injuries involving workers at the Ninnescah Wind Farm in Pratt County.
OSHA says a preliminary report shows a 26-year-old employee of Blattner Energy was struck in the head by a bolt while he was working on a wind turbine at the site near Pratt on Wednesday.
Blattner Energy Inc., which is based in Avon, Minnesota, didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking comment Friday.
Another man was also injured earlier this month when he fell 120 feet while working on a wind turbine at the site. OSHA says he was employed by another company working at the site.
DHDC members and FHSU representatives updated their proposal for a downtown pavilion at Thursday’s city commission work session.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
At the request of Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil, proponents of an open-air pavilion in downtown Hays returned to city commission chambers Thursday night to discuss revisions to the Downtown Hays Development Corporation (DHDC) proposal, and to further clarify the city’s expected participation, either financial or in-kind labor.
A major sticking point is a lease with Union Pacific Railroad for its property at the east end of Union Pacific Park, 10th and Main.
What was first proposed violates a city ordinance, according to Hays City Attorney John Bird.
“We have an ordinance that says certain provisions can’t be in our contracts in the city of Hays unless you have bid it or waived it ahead of time…not after the fact. In this case, UP is the vendor basically selling us the right to use their land,” Bird explained. “There are numerous provisions in it (the lease) that would violate that ordinance.”
DHDC Executive Director Sara Bloom
DHDC Executive Director Sara Bloom said her office is working with a new regional Union Pacific representative who is open to renegotiating the lease.
“He’s very open to the project and been very helpful so far. He has stated that he is willing to work with the city of Hays to revise the lease as long as he’s working with the city of Hays,” Bloom told commissioners. “If the DHDC were to be the ones to sign the lease–we’re small fries–he could care less. He’s not going to revise a darn thing. If the city of Hays agrees to this project and they say they want to take this on, the Union Pacific railroad is willing to renegotiate that lease–to what extent, we have no idea.”
“If we want this to move forward, we all need to agree (first) to the issues in the lease,” said Musil.
Hays Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil
DHDC has said the organization will pay the property lease, originally estimated at $5,244 annually. Musil is in full agreement, “no matter what the price would go up to.”
“I don’t want future commissions to have to pay for something that they didn’t have nothing to do with.”
The project total cost is estimated at $190,676 and would also include a public restroom, for which DHDC earlier said it would be gifting almost $50,000.
“The restroom facility I personally think it should be closer to UP Park. I think it would be more convenient for downtown (patrons),” Musil said. “Out of this whole project, I think this is the most needed thing in our community.
Musil wants DHDC to pay for the sidewalk construction–estimated at $10,400–with the city donating labor. “That’s similar to what we did with the Hays Dog Park,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty.
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty
Dougherty said he would probably recommend any costs to the city for the project be paid for with the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) transient guest tax.
“Transient tax dollars are used to promote the community, draw visitors to town, facilitate visitors while they’re in town, and provide amenities to visitors,” Dougherty explained. “Downtown Hays is promoted as a destination. Transient guest tax dollars can be spent on capital improvements like this. CVB has a decent contingency for something like this.”
Bloom informed commissioners DHDC has changed its timeline and decided “this will most likely be a two year project.” DHDC has been working with the Fort Hays State University Construction Management program to develop a plan for building the open-air metal roof pavilion.
Site plan for proposed downtown Hays pavilion in the east end of Union Pacific Park, 10th and Main
“So when the UPRR lease is signed and the project is approved, we would go ahead and do the smaller stuff on the property,” Bloom explained. “We would level the ground, remove the concrete pad. We can get the bathroom in right away. We could do the (safety) fence. We could do a lot of those little things that doesn’t require Fort Hays State University students to be there, so that when they do start the project in August 2017, everything is done except for them erecting the pavilion.”
No action can be taken during a city commission work session; the pavilion discussion will continue at next week’s regular commission meeting.
ELLSWORTH COUNTY – Due to a technicality, a judge in Ellsworth County has dismissed part of the lawsuit filed by the mother of a student assaulted on a Great Bend High School activity bus.
The attorney representing the family is expected re-file the lawsuit against USD 428.
The school district claimed that it should have received 120 days to respond after becoming aware of the lawsuit.
The Great Bend school district did not receive the 120 days so the case has been temporarily dropped.
The judge also made a motion to move the case to Barton County.
The lawsuit also names the USD 428 Superintendent, school board members, Great Bend High School principal, athletic director, swim coaches, bus driver and parents of the four swim members that reportedly assaulted the freshman victim.
Two Great Bend teenagers have already been sentenced to probation terms for convictions of misdemeanor battery for their role in the assault. The lawsuit asks for nearly $400,000 in claims.
The assault took place on a USD 428 activity bus on February 6, when the swim team was returning home from a meet in Manhattan.
Patrons of the TMP-Marian A.C.E. 2015 raised funds for improvements and repairs to Al Billinger Field House (ABFH).
Last summer the court floor was stripped, refurbished, and repainted.
Earlier this year new flat roofs were installed on the east, south, and west sides of the field house.
Commercial Builders of Hays began work in June after months of architectural planning, bids, and preparation on the costliest of the planned improvements, the addition on the southeast side of the building that will bring the public restrooms up to standard.
What most people won’t know is that part of this project also involved boring a new sewer line under the east hallway of ABFH all the way to the boiler room on the north end. This allows abandonment of the last of the original sewer lines in the building which have been failing.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The state attorney general says there was a recent “steep decline” in Kansas in the number of applications for concealed carry permits.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Thursday in a release that between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, the Concealed Carry Licensing Unit received 5,874 applications. The Kansas City Star reports that’s a decrease of more than 40 percent from the more than 9,800 applications filed the previous fiscal year.
The number of applications surged after a legislative change in 2015 that allowed eligible Kansans to carry concealed without a license. More than 93,000 Kansans have active concealed carry licenses.
Kansas licenses are currently recognized in 37 states.
The renovation work is complete — time to celebrate! And that’s just what the team from Dillons at 1902 Vine Street in Hays has planned for its grand re-opening celebrations, beginning on Wednesday, July 13. Here, customers will experience the very best Dillons has to offer with everyday favorites and a fresh look at one-stop shopping.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be hosted on Wed, July 13 at 10 a.m. with the Hays Chamber of Commerce. The store team will present a check to United Way of Ellis County for $27,500 in honor of the generous pledges of associates and a $1,100 corporate gift. First Call for Help and the Community Assistance Center will each receive a $500 donation for their efforts to support Ellis County residents.
In continuing community support efforts, Dillons will also host a school supply drive with First Call for Help for new school supplies and backpacks to help prepare local children for the school year. The collection drive will be hosted now through July 29 at both Hays Dillons locations. Dillons associates will also volunteer their time to help sort and stuff backpacks with donated supplies. Most needed items include:
Backpacks
Crayons
Markers
Rulers
Glue
Erasers
Spiral Notebooks
2-Pocket Folders
Pencils
Pens
Theme Paper
Hand Sanitizer
Reusable Water Bottles
Tissues
The Dillons on Vine Street plans to celebrate with sampling demonstrations and special “Grand Re-Opening” prices. The team at Dillons will also be roasting fresh summer sweet corn on the patio Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and grilling ribs Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 .m. to 7 p.m. Dillons’ customers will also earn double fuel points on groceries with the summer driving 2X Fuel Point Weekends, through July 31. The fuel points may then be redeemed at any Dillons Fuel Center or Kwik Shop for instant savings right at the fuel pump.
“It’s truly a brand new Dillons,” said Don Koerner, store manager. “Many of our guests are raving about how open and fresh the store looks with the renovation. Now, our customers can now find all their favorites, right here in Hays at Dillons. Our customers have been thrilled with the new sushi bar, Starbucks coffee, and gourmet cheeses. Our selections of natural and organic foods have also been expanded, along with garden-fresh produce, and fresh meat and seafood. These departments have been a huge hit with our customers.”
New features at the Dillons on Vine Street include:
Gourmet cheese shop offering imported and domestic specialty cheeses and an olive and antipasto bar
New sushi kiosk with fresh, hand-made sushi
Starbucks coffee kiosk
New café dining area… perfect for enjoying a meal away from home or a Starbucks coffee break
Enhanced offerings of fresh meat and seafood with added emphasis on selection and service
Additional selections of garden-fresh produce, including organic varieties and salad bar
Expanded offerings of natural and organic foods
New beverage center with fountain sodas and coffee
New Pharmacy with private counsel rooms
Updated sections of sports apparel and fan gear, including local and state teams
DUBLIN, Ohio – The Wendy’s Company updated its customers today regarding malicious cyber activity experienced at some Wendy’s restaurants. The Company first reported unusual payment card activity affecting some franchise-owned restaurants in February 2016. Subsequently, on June 9, 2016, the Company reported that an additional malware variant had been identified and disabled. Today, the Company, on behalf of affected franchise locations, is providing information about specific restaurant locations that may have been impacted by these attacks, all of which are located in the U.S., along with support for customers who may have been affected by the malware variants.
“We are committed to protecting our customers and keeping them informed. We sincerely apologize to anyone who has been inconvenienced as a result of these highly sophisticated, criminal cyberattacks involving some Wendy’s restaurants,” said Todd Penegor, president and chief executive officer. “We have conducted a rigorous investigation to understand what has occurred and apply those learnings to further strengthen our data security measures.”
Wendy’s customers are encouraged to learn more about this new information at the following address: www.wendys.com/notice. The update includes a list of restaurant locations that may have been involved in the incidents, as well as information on how customers can protect their credit and details regarding how potentially affected customers can receive one year of complimentary fraud consultation and identity restoration services. A link to the update can also be found on the Company’s homepage, www.wendys.com.
Working closely with third-party forensic experts, federal law enforcement and payment card industry contacts as part of its ongoing investigation, the Company has determined that specific payment card information was targeted by the additional malware variant. This information included cardholder name, credit or debit card number, expiration date, cardholder verification value, and service code.
Generally, individuals that report unauthorized charges in a timely manner to the bank or credit card company that issued their card are not responsible for those charges. As always, in line with prudent personal financial management, we encourage our customers to be diligent in watching for unauthorized charges on their payment cards.
The Company believes the criminal cyberattacks resulted from service providers’ remote access credentials being compromised, allowing access – and the ability to deploy malware – to some franchisees’ point-of-sale systems. To date, there has been no indication in the ongoing investigation that any Company-operated restaurants were impacted by this activity.
The Company worked with investigators to disable the malware involved in the first attack earlier this year. Soon after detecting the malware variant involved in the latest attack, the Company identified a method of disabling it and thereafter disabled it in all franchisee restaurants where it was discovered. The investigation has confirmed that criminals used malware believed to have been effectively deployed on some Wendy’s franchisee systems starting in late fall 2015.
The Company has continued to update customers on the progress of its investigation, most recently on June 9. Previous updates can be found on www.wendys.com.
Richard Jensen President Trego Wakeeney State Bank
Dale Winklepleck President Stockton National Bank
An open letter to all of our customers
On behalf of Stockton Bancshares, Inc., a multi-bank holding company that owns 100 percent of Stockton National Bank and Trego-Wakeeney State Bank, we are very excited to announce that our two strong banks are merging together. Stockton National Bank and Trego-Wakeeney State Bank have received approval from the Kansas Office of the State Bank Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to merge at the close of business Friday, August 19, 2016.
Our new combined bank will be called Solutions North Bank. This merger is an excellent opportunity to combine two well-respected community banks that share a deep commitment to our customers and local communities. This merger allows us to serve our customers with more resources, including diversified banking products and services while preserving the spirit of community banking in rural Kansas.
In addition, as the merger process continues, we will make sure we communicate the information we can through general public announcements and direct customer communications. In the meantime, you can continue to do your banking as you normally would as a customer of Stockton National Bank or Trego-Wakeeney State Bank. We will provide notice to you when you can expect changes to occur.
This is a time of excitement and optimism for the future of our two banks but we also understand that changing the name might be difficult for some. We want you to know that although we will have a new name, our unwavering commitment to providing superior customer service and our generosity to the communities we serve will only grow stronger through this merger.
As always, thank you for your loyalty to Stockton National Bank and Trego-Wakeeney State Bank.
TMP-Marian
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be hosted on Wed, July 13 at 10 a.m. with the Hays Chamber of Commerce. The store team will present a check to United Way of Ellis County for $27,500 in honor of the generous pledges of associates and a $1,100 corporate gift. First Call for Help and the Community Assistance Center will each receive a $500 donation for their efforts to support Ellis County residents.
DUBLIN, Ohio – The Wendy’s Company updated its customers today regarding malicious cyber activity experienced at some Wendy’s restaurants. The Company first reported unusual payment card activity affecting some franchise-owned restaurants in February 2016. Subsequently, on June 9, 2016, the Company reported that an additional malware variant had been identified and disabled. Today, the Company, on behalf of affected franchise locations, is providing information about specific restaurant locations that may have been impacted by these attacks, all of which are located in the U.S., along with support for customers who may have been affected by the malware variants.