Fire crews on the scene of Monday’s fire in Manhattan-photo courtesy Manhattan Fire Department
MANHATTAN– Investigators on Tuesday afternoon concluded work at the scene Monday’s Founders Hill Apartment building fire at 1401 College Avenue Building G, in Manhattan.
Investigators determined improperly disposed of smoking materials were found in the area of origin and could not be ruled out as the cause, according to a media release.
The fire started on the second floor balcony in the southwest corner of the building.
It quickly spread up the building, pushed by strong southerly winds, by means of the balconies above and had reached the attic area prior to the fire department arrival.
The loss to the building is now estimated as $3.5 million dollars with an additional $500,000 loss to the contents.
There are 41 residents that continue to be displaced by the fire.
FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — The new leader of Fort Riley has taken command.
Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin was named commanding general of Fort Riley and the 1st Infantry Division last month after the Army fired Maj. Gen. Wayne Grigsby. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Grigsby’s dismissal is ongoing.
A change of command ceremony was held Tuesday morning.
Martin is set to deploy to Iraq in the coming weeks along with about 500 troops. While deployed, the troops will work to support Operation Inherent Resolve by helping train Iraqi forces fight the Islamic State group.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since having surgery in February to repair a poorly functioning ACL in his left knee.
The four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher was expected to do individual drills only as the Chiefs slowly get him back into playing shape, and coach Andy Reid did not say when he might be game-ready.
Reid did say it was a virtual certainty it won’t be Sunday against New Orleans.
Houston missed several weeks late last season with what the Chiefs thought was a hyperextension of his knee. He came back for the playoffs, but was limited in games against Houston and New England.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Researchers have found that the bond debt in Kansas has more than tripled in size since the late 1990s.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that legislative researchers created a chart showing the debt levels stands at more than $5 billion in the 2017 fiscal year. From fiscal year 1997 to 2017, the total amount of bond debt increased by 336.4 percent, or $3.8 billion.
The bond debt has increased under both Republican and Democratic governors.
Bond debt for general government has rocketed upward by 4368 percent over the past 20 years. General government includes the Department of Administration, Commerce, Insurance and pension bonds.
The debt of the Kansas Board of Regents, which oversees the state universities, rose by 1062 percent. Only public safety saw a debt load decline.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coming off its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Johnson, Fort Hays State Men’s Basketball has been picked third in the MIAA Preseason Poll. The poll is voted on by MIAA coaches.
Northwest Missouri State, the three-time defending conference champion, is picked No. 1 in the poll receiving all first-place votes possible for a total of 169. Coaches exclude their own team from their selections, so the first place vote from NWMSU went to Washburn.
Washburn is picked second in the poll with 147 points. Fort Hays State is third with 127 and Lincoln was close behind with 123.
Fort Hays State, Northwest Missouri State, and Nebraska-Kearney represented the MIAA in the NCAA Tournament last year. Nebraska-Kearney is picked sixth after finishing second last year. FHSU finished fourth in the regular season standings last year.
The Tigers have All-MIAA First Team selection Rob Davis returning for his senior year after averaging 16.7 points per game last year. He is the only regular starter returning from last year’s squad, but FHSU has several others returning that saw plenty of time as reserves. Hadley Gillum, Kyler Kinnamon, Trey O’Neil and Drew Kite all played in at least 28 games last season.
Below is the 2016-17 MIAA Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
2016-17 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (13) 169
2. Washburn (1) 147 3. Fort Hays State 129
4. Lincoln 123
5. Missouri Southern 111
6. Nebraska-Kearney 104
7. Central Oklahoma 94
8. Pittsburg State 93
9. Central Missouri 92
10. Lindenwood 72
11. Emporia State 55
12. Missouri Western 45
13. Northeastern State 22
14. Southwest Baptist 18
NetWork Kansas will have a new host next spring for its fourth Kansas’ Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge — Fort Hays State University.
The statewide competition will be Monday, April 24, 2017, in FHSU’s Memorial Union.
“We are thrilled to have found a partner in FHSU to host next year’s state championship,” said Anne Dewvall, E-Community Partnership manager for NetWork Kansas. “Fort Hays State is as dedicated to encouraging young entrepreneurs as we are.”
The competition gives Kansas high school students experience in the process of making a business proposal — students must research, write and submit an executive summary. If their business concept is chosen as a finalist, they will then have the opportunity to pitch their venture to a panel of judges that consists of local entrepreneurs, bankers, and investment experts.
Winners of the local challenges, sponsored by NetWork Kansas-designated E-Communities, will then compete in the statewide challenge at FHSU, an event that, in addition to the competition, will feature tradeshow displays, presentations and lunch for the participants.
“FHSU is excited to host the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in April 2017,” said Henry Schwaller, director of the FHSU Center for Entrepreneurship. “It is an honor to partner with NetWork Kansas on this prestigious program and welcome these creative and innovative young entrepreneurs to the FHSU campus.”
“The innovation and creativity of the students’ ideas is incredible, and it shows that programs like the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge ensure that Kansas will have a very bright future,” said Schwaller.
Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015
Dewvall said participation grew from four Kansas communities to 22 in the first three years. The third competition, held last spring, had 242 high school and middle school students representing 151 businesses in the local competitions.
“This year we expect even more communities to participate,” she said.
“We’re honored to have so many bright young minds on our campus and share our entrepreneurial Tiger spirit with them. Our goal is to make sure that every student has a wonderful experience and has an opportunity to learn more about our Entrepreneurship program,” said Schwaller. “We have a wide array of activities — from our state-of-the-art courses to Dane G. Hansen Scholarship Hall, the nation’s first residence hall for creative, innovative students — and we hope that every student has a chance to experience all we offer.”
“I am very proud that Fort Hays State has been chosen to be the host of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge,” said university President Mirta M. Martin. “Young entrepreneurs are critical to the future of western Kansas, our state and our nation, and Fort Hays State has become the destination of choice for all those bright minds who wish to translate dreams into businesses.”
She continued, “As I said when we dedicated at Homecoming the first-in-the-nation entrepreneurship residence hall, our faculty, our staff, our community are fully devoted to ensuring that students with an entrepreneurial drive turn their ideas into successful companies.
“The high school competitors of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge are coming to the right place. We are excited that they are joining a community where the entrepreneurial spirit is ingrained in our history, in our DNA. We’re glad they are coming to Fort Hays State! Welcome home.”
NetWork Kansas, (www.networkkansas.com) is a non-profit organization established by the Kansas Economic Growth Act of 2004 as the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship. Its primary focus is encouraging and promoting entrepreneurship in Kansas. Its sponsors are the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Small Business Development Center.
NetWork Kansas designates certain communities as E-Communities and works with them “to create local, sustainable funding programs as well as creating a virtual network of expertise and educational resources for entrepreneurs at the local level,” according to its website. The program has grown from six communities in 2007 to 55 today.
To date, E-Community partnerships have resulted in more than $7.7 million in loans to more than 285 businesses and $35.5 million and more in additional capital from other sources.
For more information, contact Anne Dewvall (email: [email protected]; phone: (316) 425-7059), visit the website, www.networkkansas.com, or call NetWork Kansas at (877) 521-8600.
Police on the scene of Wednesday incident in Kansas City- photo courtesy Fox 4 KC
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Police say a man is in custody after he allegedly tried to choke a 4-month-old baby he didn’t know at a Kansas City-area Walmart.
Overland Park police say the man walked up to a woman who was in a checkout lane early Wednesday and began choking her baby. The woman screamed and the man stopped.
Police say people in the store helped the woman and held the man until officers arrived. The baby was not injured.
Investigators say the man possibly was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded $283,597.28 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a program which serves to enhance opportunities for specialty crops. According to the USDA, specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” KDA has selected several recipients to further utilize the funds through specific projects.
“This grant program offers the outstanding opportunity to promote the growth of specialty crops in Kansas,” said Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey. “We have been granted these funds to help improve the education, innovation and availability of these agribusinesses in Kansas which will encourage economic growth of the agriculture industry.”
The following is a list of Kansas projects that will be funded by the grant:
· Kansas Rural Center, Enhancing Specialty Crop Production and Profitability, $47,337 — Provide research of best management and conservation practices for specialty crop production, as well as the dissemination of information, in order for producers to improve production and profitability of their operations.
· Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, Specialty Crop Incubator Program, $60,382 — KDA will continue its partnership with Seward County Community College, Liberal, to provide a specialty crop incubator program, allowing small specialty crop businesses to enter the industry. Conferences will be offered focusing on business management and specialty crop knowledge, while educational opportunities for area schoolchildren will be expanded.
· Highland Community College, Wine Business Incubator Project, $90,000 — Extend upon their previous efforts by creating and providing a wine incubator to be utilized by prospective Kansas enologists. Staff will be provided in order to assist with day-to-day activities of the incubator, as well as mentorship of clients.
· Kansas Department of Agriculture, Education Program for Great Plains Growers Conference, $34,090.81 — Provide conference registration reimbursement and stipend for specialty crop producers to attend the Great Plains Growers Conference located in St. Joseph, Mo.
· K-State Research and Extension, Strengthening Food Safety Education for Kansas Fruit and Vegetable Producers, $33,352 — Partner with K-State Research and Extension to provide training and resources for Kansas fruit and vegetable growers on produce safety, particularly related to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Personnel will undergo a train-the-trainer workshop, enabling them to provide training to producers within the state.
For more information about how the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is utilized in Kansas, visit KDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant webpage at agriculture.ks.gov/specialtycropblockgrant. For information about these specific projects, contact Kellen L. Liebsch, KDA economist, at (785) 564-6726 or [email protected].
The final Downtown Hays Market of the season is this Saturday, Oct. 22, 7:30-11 a.m. in the parking lot at 10th and Main.
To end our wonderful 2016 season we hope you’ll come out to enjoy live acoustic guitar from local talent, Blake Ruder.
Blake has opened for some great acts over the years such as The Marshall Tucker Band, Foghat, CCR, Little River Band, and The Ataris. He’s traveled around Kansas and has performed in numerous shows, including the Wild West Fest in Hays.
Thank you all for supporting the market and all of our vendors. We look forward to seeing you again in 2017.
Former Fort Hays State guard James Fleming is currently playing professional basketball in Italy. Fleming signed with Olympia Club Rutigliano and has seen great success in his first two games.
Fleming scored 45 points and had seven assists in his debut and then backed that with a 30-point performance in his second game. Fleming and another former NCAA Division II player, J.J. Mina from Sonoma (Calif.) State, have provided the majority of the offense for the team early in the season.
Fleming played two seasons at Fort Hays State from 2013-15. He averaged 10 points per game, while shooting 37 percent beyond the 3-point line and 83 percent at the free-throw line in his career with the Tigers.
Here is a link to the club’s website – https://olympiarutigliano.com/
Fleming joins a long list of players from Fort Hays State coached by Mark Johnson to go on and play professionally. Below is a list of former players under Johnson to play professionally. Years listed are years played at FHSU.
Dom Samac (2014-16)
Craig Nicholson (2012-16)
James Fleming (2013-15)
Tomislav Gabric (2012-15)
Ben Congiusta (2009-13)
KC Rodenburg (2011-12)
Moses Dayee (2010-12)
Karron McKenzie (2010-12)
Dominique Jones (2009-11)
Dijon Smith (2009-11)
Ken Bowman (2009-11)
Terry Jeffries (2007-09)
Rob Igbawua (2007-09)
Tyrone Shephard (2004-06)
Jonathan Raney (2001-03)
Melroy McKelvey (2001-03)
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas regulators are threatening to halt the $12.2 billion sale of Topeka-based Westar Energy to Great Plains Energy if they don’t get details on cost savings and other information.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Kansas Corporation Commission took no action at a Tuesday meeting. But an order warned that if merger standards aren’t met, possible action could include a request for dismissal of the merger application.
Regulatory staff said in multiple filings in September and October that the utilities failed to meet the agency’s merger standards. A spokesman for the utilities says the order is being evaluated.
Staff raised concerns about what departments or functions would remain in the Topeka headquarters and how long the commitment to Topeka would last.
New economic development in the city of Hays is at the top of a lengthy city commission work session agenda for Thursday.
In addition to two Community Improvement District requests by a group hoping to build an extended stay hotel near Home Depot, commissioners will also review a petition and application for a third 1% CID to incentivize a retail project in the same area of I-70 and Vine Street.
The project proposed by Hays Investors, LLC, differs however, in that the petition requests the district be created prior to the identification of a specific project, according to Hays Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood. “The CID would allow the developer to more aggressively market the property,” Wood explained.
The developer seeks incentives related to constructing approximately 73,000 square feet of retail space, to be located on approximately 9.1 acres at the northeast corner of I-70 and Vine Street and directly north of the Home Depot. The $13.6 million development is expected to consist of an approximately 50,000 square foot building to be used by a national retailer and another 23,000 square feet of retail space.
“At this point there hasn’t been any retailers that have been identified that would be going in the space,” Wood said, “so no big box store has been named but they are working to bring some stores in.”
If approved, the total sales tax within the CID would be 10.5%.
There will be a restriction in the development agreement that would dissolve the district if certificates of occupancy for 73,000 square feet of retail space are not issued within 36 months of approval of the CID. Also, the developer will not be allowed to request any other economic incentives as long as the CID is in place.
David Christie, manager of Hays Investors, is also a principal in Christie Development Associates, LLC, a Stilwell, Kansas based real estate development company.
The complete Oct. 20 city commission work session agenda may be seen here.
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
