KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State middle hitter Rebekah Spainhour and setter Hannah Wagy were named the MIAA Volleyball Athletes of the Week on Monday. Spainhour was named the Hitter of the Week, while Wagy earned Specialist of the Week honors.
Spainhour helped the Tigers to a 2-1 record last week (2-0 in MIAA play), beating No. 6 Central Missouri for just the second time in program history on Friday then Lindenwood on Saturday. The senior let the team with a .405 attack percentage for the week, picking up 35 kills to just five errors. Spainhour led the team with 14 total blocks, five of which were solo swats. The middle hitter is the only student-athlete in the MIAA ranked in the top four in both attack percentage and blocks per set. For the season, she is hitting .360, averaging 3.27 kills and 1.03 blocks per set.
Wagy orchestrated the Tiger offense in going 2-0 in MIAA play, while producing a double-double of 39 assists and 10 digs in the upset of No. 6 ranked Central Missouri. The setter tossed up an average of 11.1 assists per set over three matches, adding 11 kills, 25 digs and five blocks (one solo). The senior continues to lead the conference in both total assists and assists per set. This is the second time this year Wagy has earned the Specialist of the Week honor.
HARVEY COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. on Monday in Harvey County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Dodge passenger car driven by Frank T. Haas, 55, Hutchinson, was northbound on Ridge Road approaching U.S. 50 three miles west of Newton.
The driver ran the stop sign at U.S. 50.
A westbound 2010 Freightliner truck driven by Jose A. Valdivia Navarro, 25, Newton, hit the Dodge in the intersection.
Both vehicles traveled northwest through the intersection, went through the guardrail and came to rest in the creek.
Valdivia Navarro was transported to the hospital in Newton.
Haas was not injured.
Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a suspect for a weekend attack on a woman her home.
Just after 3a.m. on Saturday, Sawyer Reinert, 25, Salina, is alleged to have gone to the south Salina home of a woman in her 20’s and entered the residence through an unlocked door, according to Salina Police Captain Mike Sweeney.
Once inside, Reinert allegedly assaulted the woman and strangled her.
Police say she had red marks on her neck, as well as cuts and bruising to her face, a bite mark on the back her of neck and a small fracture in the eye socket area of her face.
She was treated at Salina Regional Health Center and later released.
Sweeney said a toddler in the home was also battered during the incident. He had bruising to his face near his ear that did not require treatment.
Officers also found damage inside the home that apparently occurred during the struggle.
A television valued at $400 and a flower vase valued at $30 were also damaged during the assault.
Reinert fled the home after the incident and was later located by authorities in Ellsworth County and returned to Salina and booked into jail late Sunday night.
He now faces several charges including attempted second-degree murder, aggravated burglary, child abuse, child endangerment and criminal damage to property, according to Sweeney.
BARTON COUNTY – A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday in Barton County.
A 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup driven by Chantz Clawson, 23, Ellinwood, was southbound on Southeast 105 Avenue just south of Ellinwood, according to a media release.
The driver failed to negotiate the curve onto Southeast 20 Road.
The pickup left the roadway, traveled into the south ditch, struck a field drive, became airborne and rolled approximately 2 ½ times.
Clawson was transported by Ellinwood EMS to Great Bend Regional Hospital.
FHSU Sports Information
WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State remains among the teams receiving votes in the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Monday (Oct. 3). The Tigers are now the fourth-highest receiving votes team, gaining seven votes in the poll this week.
The MIAA boasts two top 25 teams and three among the receiving votes section. Northwest Missouri State continues its reign as the No. 1 team in the nation, while Emporia State moved up five spots to No. 18. Pittsburg State is the highest receiving votes team from the MIAA, with the Tigers right behind. FHSU travels to Pittsburg State this week. Central Missouri fell from the top 25 and sits behind the Tigers in the receiving votes section.
Fort Hays State looks for its second straight win in Pittsburg. The Tigers shocked a then No. 8 ranked Gorilla team in Pittsburg by a score of 7-6. The last time FHSU won consecutive games in Pittsburg was in 1970 and 1972. The Gorillas won last year’s meeting in Hays by a score of 31-24.
Below is the AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll for October 3, 2016.
Rank School (1st votes) Record Pts. Prev.
1. Northwest Missouri St. (30) 5-0 750 1
2. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 5-0 717 2
3. Shepherd (W.Va.) 4-0 684 4
4. Texas A&M-Commerce 4-0 655 6
5. Henderson St. (Ark.) 5-0 623 7
6. Indiana (Pa.) 4-0 574 8
7. Midwestern St. (Texas) 4-0 564 10
8. Tuskegee (Ala.) 5-0 528 11
9. Sioux Falls (S.D.) 5-0 474 12
10. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 5-0 436 14
11. North Alabama 3-1 421 18
12. West Georgia 4-1 387 3
13. Colorado Mesa 5-0 380 17
14. Ferris St. (Mich.) 4-1 352 13
15. California (Pa.) 4-0 315 24
16. Harding (Ark.) 5-0 312 20
17. Ashland (Ohio) 4-1 305 5
18. Emporia St. (Kan.) 4-1 208 23
19. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 4-1 185 9
20. Southwest Baptist (Mo.) 5-0 148 NR
21. LIU-Post (N.Y.) 5-0 134 NR
22. Assumption (Mass.) 4-1 94 15
23. Florida Tech 4-1 90 16
24. North Carolina-Pembroke 4-1 81 21
25t. Bemidji St. (Minn.) 4-1 73 NR
25t. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 3-1 73 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Wayne St. (Mich.), 64; Minnesota-Duluth, 55; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 39; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 8; Central Missouri, 5; Notre Dame (Ohio), 5; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 4; Newberry (S.C.), 4; Southern Arkansas, 2; Colorado School of Mines, 1.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a juvenile for an alleged clown threat made on social media.
On Sunday, USD 259 reported they observed and received reports of several “creepy clown” messages on social media.
A juvenile was arrested as a suspect in connection with the case, according to Wichita Police Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Monday’s online media briefing.
The juvenile was booked for criminal threat.
Several online messages have gone so far as to reference specific schools in Wichita including some high schools and a middle school, according to Executive Director of safety services for Wichita Public Schools Terry Moses.
The school district has shared all messages with local law enforcement.
We have received reports of several “creepy clown” messages on social media. Law enforcement is investigating.https://t.co/FDArw0EWSq
School officials believe the messages to be a hoax but they are being extra-vigilant and have asked police for additional patrols, according to Moses. ———————- SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities and school officials in Sedgwick County are investigating after USD 259 reported they observed and received reports of several “creepy clown” messages on social media. Several have gone so far as to reference specific schools in Wichita. The school district has shared all messages with local law enforcement. School officials believe the messages to be a hoax but they will be extra-vigilant on Monday as students and staff return to school.
We have received reports of several “creepy clown” messages on social media. Law enforcement is investigating.https://t.co/FDArw0EWSq
The district encouraged students and parents to send any posts of concern to the Wichita Public Schools (@wichitausd259), and those will be shared with law enforcement as well.
There have been similar clown reports to school districts across the country.
Last month, a suburban Cincinnati school district closed schools after a woman reported being grabbed around the neck by a male dressed as a clown who she said made a threat against students.
In Colorado, an 11-year-old boy brought a BB gun to Franklin Middle School in a backpack with an image of a clown on it. Police say the boy planned to wear clown gloves while using the weapon.
The Pennsylvania State Police and others are encouraging caution amid a rash of public complaints and social media reports in a number of states of people dressed like clowns acting suspiciously, even if they think many are knucklehead pranksters or downright bogus.
Kansas beef producers (from left) Russ Smith-Dodge City, Galen Fink-Randolph, and Jason Pratt-Dwight, meet with an Uruguayan beef producer (second from left) on a recent agricultural trade mission.
KDA
MANHATTAN–In September 2016, a Kansas beef producer took his first steps across international borders to take part in an agricultural trade mission to Uruguay. With the goal of exploring opportunities for U.S. and Kansas beef genetics abroad, Jason Pratt of Dwight, Kan., was interested in learning more. “I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Pratt. “You read publications, magazines and online articles, making you believe you have a picture of what international agriculture looks like, but it’s really hard to grasp until you see it in person.”
The trade mission was sponsored by the Kansas Department of Agriculture with assistance from funds from the U.S. Livestock Genetic Export, Inc. Pratt chose to submit an application to participate in the trade mission, was selected, and traveled along with three other Kansans: Russ Smith of RS Angus, Dodge City, Kan.; Galen Fink of Fink Beef Genetics, Randolph, Kan.; and Billy Brown, KDA agribusiness development coordinator.
During the three-day trade mission, the Kansas breeders attended Uruguay’s largest livestock exposition, Expo Prado, where they were able to interact with breeders and genetics companies to promote the use of U.S. beef genetics.
Smith said that these meetings were invaluable. “It was an opportunity to get a feel for the wants, needs and desires that Uruguay has for U.S. beef semen and genetics,” he said.
Kansas trade mission participants also fostered relationships with Uruguay producers by participating in field tours. Smith said he was surprised by the advanced use of artificial insemination in the average commercial cow operation. “This provides a great opportunity for semen sales and/or selling bulls for semen collection,” he said. “We’d really like to get a foothold in that market.”
KDA strives to encourage and enhance economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy by exploring and expanding both domestic and international marketing opportunities.
“The trade mission gave me and the other participants a firsthand grasp on the differences between the United States and Uruguay. We were given a better understanding of how cattle are sent to market, their selection criteria based on market demands, and even production management,” said Pratt. “This program provided by KDA was a great opportunity for beef producers to gain exposure and develop tools necessary to access markets around the world.”
For more information on this or other international trade missions, please contact Suzanne Ryan-Numrich, KDA international trade director, at [email protected] or (785) 564-6704.
Ayano Takeuchi and her brother at the Grand Canyon.
By RANDY GONZALES FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Fort Hays State University offered Ayano Takeuchi what she was looking for more than a decade ago. Takeuchi was back on campus recently, making a stop in Hays while she is figuring out what she is looking for now.
Takeuchi, who graduated from Fort Hays State in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture animal science, took a job with Japan Livestock Trading Corp., an importer which is the exclusive Japanese agent of ABS Global, Inc. Takeuchi recently left ABS Global, a world-leading provider of bovine genetics, reproduction services and technologies, after nearly 10 years.
“I wanted to have time for myself,” Takeuchi said. “I traveled around Japan every week.”
Takeuchi, 34, is not sure what is in store next career-wise, but for now she and her younger brother, Eisaku, just finished spending 13 days traveling around the United States to see friends and visit tourist attractions. Hays was first on the list. After visiting the U.S., Takeuchi is looking at traveling to see friends in New Zealand.
“I want to go around the world,” she said. “I have some friends who are global.”
While going to school in Japan, Takeuchi was looking for a college in the United States. FHSU became her destination of choice after she saw a picture of the school in a book.
“I went to school in Japan; that school had many sister schools in the U.S. Fort Hays State was one of those schools,” she said. “I knew this school had animal science, and I chose this school.”
Takeuchi said attending college at Fort Hays State helped in her career after graduation. She improved her English while studying at FHSU. At ABS, she spoke English and translated into Japanese for farmers she worked with in her homeland.
“I got a chance to speak English in Japan related to cows,” Takeuchi said. “I studied animal science, so I know many terminologies related to dairy and livestock. I can translate English to Japanese, and back and forth.”
Takeuchi said going to school at Fort Hays State was different from Japan.
“The atmosphere in the classroom is very different from Japan,” she said. “Classes are small. In Japan, most of the classes are bigger than here.”
So was the fashion. That took a little getting used to, Takeuchi said.
“Classmates are very different, the style,” she said. “The fashion is very different. Here, the classmates wear cowboy hats. No Japanese wear cowboy hats in the classroom — or big belt buckles.”
Dr. Brittany Howell, associate professor of agriculture, had Takeuchi in several of her classes. Once Howell found out Takeuchi’s father had a herd of 750 dairy cows, she had her student give a presentation.
“In Japan, they don’t have presentations like seminars, just a little bit,” Takeuchi said. “Here, we got a chance to speak many times.”
Takeuchi said she was “very nervous” before the presentation in Howell’s class.
“I rehearsed many times,” she said.
Howell remembered Takeuchi as a student.
“Very enjoyable,” Howell said. “She was very interested. She was very polite. She very much wanted to learn.”
Takeuchi liked the small-town atmosphere of Hays, and she has recommended FHSU to other Japanese students.
“Hays is very quiet. We can concentrate on studying,” Takeuchi said. “It’s a good atmosphere and environment to study.”
After a few days in Hays to visit friends and former teachers, Takeuchi and her brother traveled to Dallas to see a friend, then were off to New Mexico, first to see White Sands National Monument then visit Santa Fe. From there, the siblings went to see the Grand Canyon. After a quick trip to Las Vegas, they headed back home to Japan.
Takeuchi might have returned home, half a world away, but she will have lasting memories of her time at Fort Hays State and Hays, America. She will remember the friends she made. She will remember going to Taco Shop as one of the first things she did in town. She will remember trying German food at Oktoberfest. She will remember developing a taste for Burger King hamburgers. She will remember it all.
Robert J. “Bobby” Braun, 80, Hays, died Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the Locust Grove Village in LaCrosse, Kansas.
He was born August 27, 1936 in Hays the youngest child of Frank J. and Helen M. (Brungardt) Braun. He was raised on the dairy farm just outside of Hays and graduated from Hays High School in 1955. He was a dairy farmer, cattleman, and farmer. On June 13, 1959 he married Benita A. Dreiling in Victoria. He later married Janice M. (Horinek) Hopkins on August 27, 2005 in Hays. He was very hard working, was a good mechanic who could rebuild machinery to suit his needs, and was very generous and faithful. He was very active in 4-H with his children for many years. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, of the home, three sons; Larry Braun of Hays, Richard “Rick” Braun and wife Debra of Alan, TX, and Kent Braun of Hays, three daughters; Bobbi Jo Braun of Hays, Nicole Zeeman and husband Richard of Carmel, Indiana, and Jodi Martinez of Montrose, CO, seven grandchildren; Terri Polifka, Dylon Braun, Daniel Braun, Taylor Braun, Dalton Braun, Kristeny Davis and husband Taryn, and Austin Martinez, a great granddaughter; Paige Denson-Polifka, four step children; Monique Pfannenstiel and husband Scott of Marquez, TX, Craig Hopkins of Independence, MO, LaDonna Taylor of Omaha, NE, and Jacqueline Hopkins-Walton and husband Phillip of Independence, MO, eight step grandchildren; Afton Berger and husband Brandon, Serene Pfannenstiel, Terence Pfannenstiel and wife Amy, Layne Pfannentstiel, Abigail Hopkins, Cheyanne Taylor and husband Derrick Staley, Brynn Taylor, and Karmen Hopkins-Walton, three step great grandchildren; Kaydence Berger, Tessa Pfannenstiel, and Zlayde Taylor-Staley, a brother Francis F. Braun and wife Jackie of Schoenchen, two sisters; LaVerna M. Younger of Hays, and Helen F. Werth and husband Clifford of Hays, and a sister-in-law Mary Jo Braun of Hays.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Marvin F. Braun, a brother-in-law Bernie Younger, and a nephew, Tom Braun.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine Street. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St. An Adorer’s rosary will be at 5:00 pm with a parish vigil service at 6:30 pm, both on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Buckeye Jr. Farmers 4-H, Hospice of Hays Medical Center, or to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com or via email at [email protected].
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to referee a dispute between Delaware, Kansas and 22 states over more than $150 million in uncashed money orders.
The justices on Monday stepped into the dispute involving uncashed money orders from Dallas-based MoneyGram, which has been submitting unclaimed money to Delaware.
The other states say the MoneyGram checks should be sent back to the state of purchase.
MoneyGram is incorporated in Delaware, as are many other publicly traded companies in the U.S. Delaware says state law requires that MoneyGram send unclaimed property to the company’s state of incorporation instead of the state of origin.
Abandoned property is a major source of general fund revenue for Delaware.
The other states are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
A noisy thunderstorm rumbled through Hays about 7 a.m. Monday morning.
According to the official report from the KSU Ag Research Center south of town, Hays received an even half-inch of rain, the first precipitation for the month of October.
So far in 2016, Hays has recorded 25.69 inches of precipitation. The yearly average precipitation is 22.75 inches.
There was a report of 0.9 inches south of Hays. The Eagle Media Center, 2700 Hall Street, received 0.42.inches of rain.
The weather forecast calls for a continued chance of rain through Tuesday.
TOPEKA– Representatives of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs will be in northwest Kansas this week and next week to provide free assistance to veterans and their families in obtaining VA benefits.
The early October schedule is below.
Wednesday 10/5/2016 WaKeeney State Veterans Cemetery 9-10:00 AM Ness City Veteran’s Building 11-12:00 PM
LaCrosse Rush Co Courthouse 1-2:30 PM
Thursday 10/6/2016
Beloit City Hall 10-11:30 AM
Mankato City Hall 1-2:30 PM
Monday 10/10/2016 Osborne Veterans Building 10-11:30 AM Russell City hall 1-2:30 PM
Tuesday 10/11/2016 Stockton Rooks Co Courthouse 10-11:30 AM Plainville Veterans Building 1-2:30 PM
For more information contact Douglas Storie, VSR, in the Hays KCVA office at (785) 625-8352 or [email protected].
KCVA