Traffic map Topeka -KDOT image 9:45 a.m. on Friday
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have removed a suspicious package with a hazardous material sticker from the grounds of the Kansas Statehouse after determining it wasn’t dangerous.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the Kansas Statehouse remained open but several surrounding streets were closed Friday while authorities investigated the 18-inch tall brown canister. It was placed by a statue of a pioneer woman on the southwest corner of the Statehouse grounds.
The investigation began after a person reported the package to law enforcement around 6:20 a.m. Friday. Kansas Highway Patrol Capitol Police spokesman Patrick Saleh said the person told authorities a friend was responsible.
The person didn’t believe the canister contained explosives and was worried it would cause alarm. A bomb squad robot was used to view the package before it was deemed safe.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some streets around the Kansas Statehouse are closed after a suspicious package was found on the lawn on the southwest side of the building.
Capt. Andy Dean says the Capitol remains open Friday amid the investigation. Dean is the supervisor of the Capitol Police division within the Kansas Highway Patrol.
He says the investigation began after a man walked came into the police department around 6:30 a.m. Friday and reported that another person had left the package on the Capitol grounds. Dean says the package appears to be a barrel with a hazardous material decal.
The Topeka Police Department’s bomb squad has responded and is determining how to proceed.
Robert O. “Bob” Ream was born July 10, 1939, in Smith County, Kansas, to Chas. H. and Lona E. (Allen) Ream. He passed away October 10, 2016, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska, at the age of 77.
Bob was raised in Lebanon, Kansas, along with his sister, Charlene, and brother, Glenn. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1957.
On August 24, 1958, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Myers, at the Womer Country Church in Smith County. They just celebrated their 58th Wedding Anniversary. Bob and Sharon were blessed with three children, Pam, Debbie and Terry, in addition to nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Bob deeply loved his family and felt the greatest legacy he could leave behind was his children and grandchildren.
Bob and Sharon lived their first six months together in Kimball, Nebraska, where he worked in the oilfields. After being burned in an oilfield accident, they moved back to Lebanon, where Bob worked as an automobile mechanic at the local Ford dealership. He was a talented and skilled mechanic who later worked in Atwood, Kansas, and Oberlin, Kansas, eventually owning his own repair shop, R & S Repair. They were members of Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin.
Bob had a passion for doing things the right way, and a lot of that fueled the desire to make things go fast. His racing passion started while helping one of his best friends during a rough time. That propelled him into a lifetime of working on many types of racing cars, helping anyone that needed or wanted to get better. Bob and Sharon owned many cars in that time with sprint cars the priority. That lead them to three IMCA National Sprint Car Owner Championships and many numerous other awards covering many years. But most importantly, were the relationships he developed from all he touched, from drivers, to crews, to competitors, to sponsors and to all the fans.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon; three children, Pam and Brian Simonsson of Oberlin, Debbie Leitner and Doug Wilson of Gem, and Terry and Peggy Ream of Oberlin; brother, Glenn Ream of Alabama; brother-in-law, Dean Myers and wife Donna of Smith Center; nine grandchildren: Travis Castle (Brad Dixon), Krista Gutchewsky (Brian), Breck Simonsson (Bre), Nathan Simonsson, Haley Kingery (Drew), Kaydee Helus (Brandon), Andy Leitner (Kyle Huntley), Abby Ream (Jason Black), and Lacey Tally (Jebb); 10 great-grandchildren: Gavin, Jena and Jillian Gutchewsky; Braden, Harper, and John Clayton Kingery; Haydin, Joslyn and Gunner Helus; and Tenley Tally.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Charlene and James Barrett; grandson, Jason Leitner; and father and mother-in-law, Everett and Ila Myers.
Funeral Service: Friday, October 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home in Oberlin with Pastor Shelly Holle officiating
Visitation: Thursday 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Friday after 8:00 a.m. at the funeral home
Peggy Jo Pfannenstiel, 54, died October 11, 2016 surrounded by family at her home in Lawrence after a brief but bitter battle with cancer.
She was born February 14, 1962 in Scott City, Kan., to Todd and Donita Steele. The youngest of four children and the only girl, Peggy was doted upon by her father and mother. She was simultaneously cherished by her older brothers and terrorized by their antics. She loved and admired them each dearly.
Peggy graduated from Scott County High School and later moved to Hays where she went to college and fell in love. Within six months of meeting Pat L. Pfannenstiel, the two were engaged. They married July 21, 1984. Through all of life’s challenges and blessings, they loved each other fiercely and without reservation.
In 1988, Peggy gave birth to their first child, Brianne. Jake followed in 1991.
Peggy was the kind of wife and mother who, in many ways, knew her husband and kids better than they knew themselves. She had a way of understanding each of them, building bridges and ladders for them so they could safely navigate through life.
Peggy was also a thoughtful and selfless friend, and she made friends everywhere she went: through her work at Sallie Mae and the KU Endowment Association, through her church choir, at KU gameday tailgates, and at countless piano lessons, soccer games and band concerts.
Peggy was special. And she was loved beyond measure.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Todd and Donita Steele. Survivors include Pat Pfannenstiel, her husband of 32 years; one daughter, Brianne Pfannenstiel and Joe Preiner of Des Moines, Iowa; one son, Jake Pfannenstiel and Jessie Davidson, of Lawrence; three brothers, Mike and Sharri Steele of Scott City, Kan., Pat and Joanne Steele of Lowell, Mich., Keith and Linda Steele of Ulysses, Kan.; six nieces; seven nephews; and four grandpuppies.
A rosary recitation will be held at noon with a visitation to follow until 4 p.m. Sunday, October 16th at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 6001 Bob Billings Parkway. A memorial mass will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, October 17th at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to support the Corpus Christi Catholic Church Choir, for which Peggy loved to sing, or to support neuro intensive care nursing at The University of Kansas Hospital and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
Scarlett “You Pay Me” Deutscher, and Scott Boomer, KAYS Radio, wave during Friday’s Eagle Radio Auction along with Todd Haskell, Y102 Radio, and Elizabeth Jaeger, Eagle Marketing.
For more details, listen to KAYS 1400 AM or 94.3 FM and KKQY 101.9 FM
More information with the above links when active.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the auction and how long is it?
The Radio Auction is 18 excitement-packed hours running 8 am to 5 pm on Thursday and again on Friday.
The Radio Auction will be broadcast live and can be heard through the listen live links on each auction page.
How do I bid on an auction item?
We encourage you to view the Radio Auction items on this website for the most up-to-date information. It will have the day and time each item will be introduced for bid. Simply call 785-301-2211 or 800-569-0144 and place your bid on the items you want to purchase. Our bid takers will record your bid along with your name and (very important) a phone number where you may be reached approximately one hour after the auction item has been “closed out.”
Can I bid on an auction item if I’ll be out of town?
If you’d like to bid on an item, but you’ll be out of town or otherwise unavailable during the auction, you may call 785-301-2211 prior to the auction to submit your maximum bid. We will contact you to confirm the high bid. You may even win your item at less than your maximum bid!
How do I know if my bid is the highest?
As in any auction items will be sold to the highest bidder. First the item will be introduced on the air. After the item has received a number of bids we will announce that the item will now be “closed out”. The announcers will indicate the current bid on the item at the time it is “closed out”. IMPORTANT: when an item is “closed out” it simply means our announcers will no longer be talking about the item on the air. LISTENERS MAY STILL BID ON THE ITEM AFTER IT HAS BEEN CLOSED OUT.
Our Confirming Department will attempt of contact the THREE HIGHEST bidders. This is why it is so important to provide the Bid Takers the correct phone number where you may be reached approximately one hour after the item has been closed out. If you are one of the three highest bidders, our Bid Confirmer will make every effort to contact you to inform you of the current bid and will give you the opportunity to enter the highest bid.
This process will continue (by phone) until there is the highest bidder is determined.
CAUTION: Please do not assume if you place a single bid on an item that our Confirmation Department will contact you after the item has been closed out. You may not be one of the TOP THREE HIGHEST BIDDERS. To maximize your chances of winning an auction item we recommend placing your HIGHEST bid during the live Auction or immediately after the item has been “closed out”. When placing your bid you may request that our Confirmation Department contact you prior to selling the item.
How do I pay for my items?
The most convenient way for our winning bidders to pay for their items is by credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card and Discover. This allows you to pay for your items without having to leave your home, place of business or car phone. Listeners preferring to pay by cash or check may do so by stopping by Eagle Radio at 2300 Hall Street in Hays. ITEMS MUST BE PAID FOR THE DAY OF THE AUCTION. Each item purchased during the Eagle Radio Auction will have a 2% processing fee added to the total.
If I am the high bidder, how may I claim my items?
Within 7-10 days of receiving payment, our Accounting Department will mail your gift certificate which contains the description and price of the item. Simply take your receipt to the business to claim your item. Please pay close attention to any Expiration Dates listed on the gift certificates.
Can I return my item if I am not satisfied?
All Radio Auction items are sold AS IS. PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS PRIOR TO BIDDING ON THE ITEM. All items may be viewed at participating businesses prior to the Auction. Eagle Communications, Inc. is not liable for any warranty or representation not expressly set forth in the item description. Descriptions are provided by the businesses providing the item. Some restrictions or exclusions may apply. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO RETURNS , REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES. Items sold have NO CASH VALUE and may NOT be used to pay any Accounts Receivable.
In the summer, Eagle Radio of Hays conducts an online auction. By submitting a bid, you commit to buy the item from Eagle Radio if you have the winning bid. After winning a bid, you will have 48 hours to contact the radio station at 785-301-2211 or 800-569-0144. A 2% of retail processing charge will be added to all winning bids. Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, Eagle Radio takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the function of the website and technical issues beyond Eagle Radio’s control.
Vicky Sue Mader, 71, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.
A funeral mass to celebrate Vicky’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell with Father Michael Elan officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Monday, October 17, 2016 at the mortuary. A Vigil and Rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Monday, October 17, 2016, at the church. Memorials may be given to the High Plains Humane Society and may be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Eulah F. Robbins, 96, of Osborne, Kansas, and former Paradise, Kansas, resident died on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, at the Parkview Car Center in Osborne, Kansas.
Services are pending at this time. Please check back later for funeral service date and time. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Ronald Dean Headley, 87, of Russell, Kansas and formerly of Ellsworth, Kansas, passed away on October 09, 2016, at his home in Russell.
Ron was born in Carneiro, Kansas on November 24, 1928, the son of Lowell and Mary (Sneath) Headley. He grew up in Ellsworth county and attended local schools. He enlisted in the United States Army on December 06, 1946, in Ft. Riley, Kansas. He recived the WWII victory medal and Army of occupation medal. After serving his country he came back to Ellsworth, Kansas, and worked most of his adult life farming and ranching. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Mary Ann Evans in 1976. He loved being on the farm and in the fields and enjoyed spending most of his time outdoors doing chores around the farm and tending his crops and cattle. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his wife and family.
Surviving family include his sisters Shirley Kempke of Ellsworth, Kansas and Dolores Headley of Nicoma Park, Oklahoma; step daughters Billie Beck and husband Rodger of Russell, Kansas and Deborah Proseus and husband James of Salina, Kansas and step son Dennis Zimmerman and wife Myrlene of Bella Vista, Arkansas; step grandchildren Tamara Harris of Russell, Joel Cleavenger and wife Marcia of Salina and Janet Daniels of Columbus, Georgia and Michael Clark of Salina and many nieces and nephews and great grandchildren and close friend Art Miska of Russell.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife on March 15, 2012, parents, brother Rance Headley, brother-in-law and friend Floyd Kempke.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation has been selected by the family and there will be no public ceremony or visitation. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the arrangements.
The City of Hays Utilities Department has contracted ProPipe to conduct sewer line cleaning and inspections at the locations described below and shown on the attached maps. Cleaning began Thursday, October 13, 2016 and will continue through November 22, 2016. The date may change due to breakdowns, weather, or other problems.
On Friday, October 14, 2016, crews will be finishing up the area of 32nd & Skyline Drive and then moving east of Vine from 37th St. to 33rd St .
Kansas’s hardline opposition to Medicaid expansion has to change, if healthcare and health outcomes are going to grow in rural Kansas. Given the governor’s position, and a bill (HB2552) passed in 2014 that change will have to begin in the Kansas Legislature.
A change in the Republican moderate-conservative power distribution coupled with some pick-ups in Democratic seats this November could provide the legislative majority required by HB 2552. A harbinger of that change is the serious challenge being given to Republican State Representative Ron Highland of Wabaunsee County who is facing a young, well-funded, and skillfully organized challenge from Rossville, Democrat Adrienne Olejnik. Similar changes in Johnson County and other districts around the state also seem more likely come Nov. 8.
Dr. Mark Peterson
The Medicaid problem got a pretty good airing through announcements made recently by Stormont-Vail, a big healthcare provider in northeast Kansas. Stormont-Vail and its Cotton-O’Neil division announced the closing of two clinics open for less than 18 months. The Stormont CEO, Randy Peterson, attributed the closings of the Cotton–O’Neil Clinics in Alma (Wabaunsee County) and Lyndon (Osage County) to two things. First, the state’s recent decision to cut Medicaid reimbursements by 4%. Second, the unsparing determination of the governor, endorsed by earlier legislative resolutions, not to accept additional Medicaid money to serve 150,000 Kansans who earn more than the state’s stingy 38% of poverty Medicaid benefit qualification, but less than $30,000 a year for a family of four.
The reimbursement reduction alone cut $3 million from Stormont’s revenue, and the closings negatively impact 2700 clients in northeast Kansas. Not all of that now unserved clientele uses Medicaid. Many are simply average townspeople and farm families, or elderly residents who will now have to find alternatives. State action (and inaction) has made service for all by the healthcare provider economically impossible. Representative Highland has been a supporter of the hardline anti-Medicaid position.
Since the purge of moderate Republican legislators began in earnest in 2012, the legislature has gone on record several times to make clear its solidarity with the governor in opposing Medicaid. In 2014, the legislature attempted to take away any existing or subsequent executive authority to expand Medicaid by enacting HB 2552. The bill explicitly required a legislative enactment before any expansion of Medicaid beyond the current stingy limits can occur. HB 2552 passed the Kansas House 68 to 54 and the Senate 33 to 7. It was signed by the governor in the last days of the 2014 session
The tea leaves do not foretell a veto-proof legislature’s election. If that doesn’t happen, then Kansas can continue to deny expanded Medicaid supported healthcare for 150,000 uncovered Kansans. Whether that proves to be the case or not, it should provide a valuable civics lesson to an electorate that may be turned off by the ugliness of the national electoral scene this year.
It is important to remember that races like the Highland – Olejnik contest actually matter far more to the daily lives of Kansans. Do not forget that voting will determine government’s actions which will affect the lives of real people in real ways.
Dr. Mark Peterson teaches political science at the college level in Topeka.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare is unveiling a far-reaching overhaul of how it pays doctors and other clinicians. Compensation for medical professionals will start taking into account the quality of service — not just quantity.
The massive regulation published Friday is known as MACRA. It’s meant to carry out bipartisan legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama last year. See more details here.
MACRA creates two payment systems, or tracks, for clinicians. Medical practices can earn higher reimbursements if they learn new ways of doing business. That includes being willing to accept financial risk and reward for performance, reporting quality measures to the government, and using electronic medical records.
Advocates say the new system will improve quality and help check costs.
But critics say the new requirements are overwhelming and will drive out solo practitioners.
The old rugged looking tennis courts by the Hays USD 489 Administration Building, 323 W.12th, have been unused for many years, but now a Fort Hays State University student organization is taking on the project to turn those old tennis courts into two usable basketball basketball courts for community use.
“One of our executive members noticed the state of the tennis courts out at the old high school, and he thought it would be a good idea to do something with it and put it to good use,” KeShawn Sewell, chair of Tiger Pals said.
Sewell set up a meeting with the USD 489 Superintendent John Thissen to first get his permission to do something with the tennis courts.
“He was completely on board with it,” Sewell said.
Tiger Pals eventually rested on basketball courts as their project.
“When you look at Hays, there really are not many places to play basketball in the community and that’s what college kids love to do,” Sewell said.
Mock up illustration of the basketball courts being designed
The plan drawn up is for two basketball courts complete with four basketball goals, four benches (two on each side), installing lights, and two sets of bleachers (one on each side).
Length-wise the courts are regulation, but are a bit more narrow, according to Sewell.
They will start with just two basketball goals first and, as the process goes on, they will add two more to complete the project.
The original plan for the project was to raise funds in the fall and begin construction in the spring, but after talking with Thissen and noting how well fundraising already has gone, Sewell said they can get it done before the winter months arrive.
“We’re kind of in scramble mode right now as far trying to get it done before it gets cold,” Sewell said. “You probably won’t be able to see the full effects until spring.”
Even though the organization has only been in existence for a few months, Tigers Pal decided to tackle the $10,000 project.
“It’s kind of crazy for a new organization, but we’re pretty excited for the challenge,” Sewell said.
Tiger Pals has already done fundraising to raise money for their project. The organization put on a 5K run in August, which was also held in conjunction with a pancake feed.
KeShawn Sewell, Chair Tiger Pals
“That was pretty awesome with it being our first event,” Sewell said.
Sewell and the rest of Tiger Pals also went around Hays to local businesses and spoke to them about sponsorship opportunities in an attempt to raise money for their project.
“Through businesses, we have been able to put together quite a few funds,” Sewell said.
Without the businesses involved, the project would not be able to happen, he added.
The Hays Recreation Commission donated money to help paint the court, Commerce Bank made donations for backboards, and Midwest Energy made donations to install lights.
“We’re going at it like this if you donate money, we’ll put you on the backboard to get you some advertising,” Sewell said.
Additional funding has came in for the benches and the other necessities needed such as repairing the fencing around the property.
Tiger Pals also has a Gofundme page where people can make donations.
Tiger Pals is a volunteer organization that assists individuals with special needs and disabilities by enhancing their physical, social and mental well being through engaging activities. Tiger Pals promotes disability awareness with unique mentorship opportunities and community involvement. They provide a matching system that fosters mentorship between FHSU college students and individuals.
Affiliated partners with Tiger Pals are Arc of the Central Plains and Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas.
“We’re kind of like a Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. We try to match college students up with kids with special needs in Hays,” Sewell said.
When deciding to make the basketball goals, it was also taken into consideration that the Reed Center, DSNWK was right across the street.
“When we talked to the superintendent, he mentioned that there were at-risk individuals who attend school there and they really don’t have a place to play say for like recess,” Sewell said. “We took it as a great opportunity for them to go shoot some hoops.”
Tiger Pals also works with Wilson Elementary School, and volunteers will go to the elementary school and spend an hour the kids there once or twice a week, according to Sewell.
Right now, the group has 40 members counting the executive members and its affiliates. Currently 25 people are signed up for the Wilson Elementary matching program and the rest are signed up to be matched up around the community.
“It’s a pretty good number for it just being in our first year,” Sewell said.
The student athlete teamed up with two fellow track teammates to get the student-funded organization started.
“We did something like this in high school and just wanted to see if there was any way to implement it at the college level,” Sewell said. “We just went for it, and it’s been going pretty well so far.”
For more information on Tiger Pals or help with the project, click here.
Mike Cooper visits with Dr. Grady Dixon, chair and associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at Fort Hays State University, about a recently acquired $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.
