By RANDY GONZALES
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Dr. Jim Rucker, a professor at Fort Hays State University for nearly 30 years, is remembered as a professional who cared about his students. Rucker died Oct. 21, 2010, after a battle with cancer at the age of 63, but his memory lives on.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, Rucker will be posthumously inducted into the Business Education National Hall of Fame at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Whitewater, Wis. Rucker’s wife, Jeanne, will be in attendance with their son, Jason Rucker, and their daughter, Jill Dilly. They will be joined at the ceremony by Scott Jones, instructor of management at FHSU, who nominated Rucker for the honor.

“He was the epitome of a professional in the way he carried himself and the things he did every day,” said Jones, who had known Rucker since 2004.

Jeanne Rucker was happy for her late husband being recognized.

“I thought it was a great honor for Jim,” said Jeanne, who moved to Overland Park after retiring from USD 489 to be near her children and grandchildren. “I thought it was pretty neat. The kids did, too.”

Rucker first came to FHSU in 1982 to teach in the College of Business. He won numerous awards while at Fort Hays State, including Faculty Member of the Year in 2003-04. He also received a regional Collegiate Business Teacher of the Year Award in 2000 and was the 2003 recipient of the Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award from the National Business Education Association.

“The students really liked him,” Jones said. “He had a dry wit, kept them on their toes in terms of his humor.”

Rucker battled cancer for more than two years. He was still in the classroom a week before he died.

“He said it was better to be around people than to sit around, think about what was to come,” his widow said. “He was positive up until the very end. We were grateful for that.”

Jones was excited upon learning Rucker was going to be inducted into the hall of fame.

“I thought it was really cool that it was kind of the last thing I could do for him,” Jones said. “He was a great guy.”

TOPEKA -Governor Sam Brownback is requesting a presidential declaration for the Public Assistance program for the incident period of September 2-12.

Counties named in the Oct. 10 request are Cheyenne, Cowley, Ellis, Graham, Greenwood, Kingman, Norton, Rooks, Russell, Sedgwick and Sumner. Brownback also requested activation of the Hazard Mitigation Program statewide.

The governor signed the initial State of Disaster Emergency for the incident period on Sept. 23.
According to the National Weather Service, prior to the incident period for this declaration request, south central Kansas received excessive rain.

On Aug. 18 and 19, 4-8 inches fell across parts of Sedgwick, Sumner, Butler and Cowley Counties. This initial rainfall event created saturated soils that were unable to tolerate the second excessive rainfall event of 6-10 inches that occurred on Sept 8-9. These flooding events happened over the same area in a short amount of time, resulting in record and near record river crests and significant flooding.

After completing preliminary damage assessments in coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency, KDEM believes these counties have met the criteria to qualify for a presidential disaster declaration, opening the way for the federal Public Assistance Program.
In the request letter, the governor noted the personal and economic effects on the counties and cited the extent of damage to infrastructure in several counties.

The Public Assistance Program provides grants to state, territorial, local, and federally recognized tribal governments and certain private non-profit entities to assist them with the response to and recovery from disasters. Specifically, the program provides assistance for debris removal, emergency protective measures, and permanent restoration of infrastructure. Individuals, homeowners, renters, and business owners are not eligible applicants under the program.

Just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Ellis County emergency responders were called to the scene of an accident on Old U.S. 40 at the junction with Eighth Street.

According to Ellis County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Walker, Crystal Wolf, 30, was traveling eastbound on Eighth Street in a 2010 Chevy Camaro when she failed to yield the right of way to a westbound 2012 Ford Explorer driven by Philip Vigil, 31, Hays.

“The two vehicles collided in the intersection,” Walker said, noting the collision was not head-on, but a T-bone situation.

The Explorer rolled into a ditch.

“Everybody was OK. No one was taken to the hospital with injuries,” Walker said.

CEP

Are you interested in integrating real world experience into your college curriculum? Have you been considering a career path that includes making a positive environmental change? Does the thought of contributing your time to reducing greenhouse gases sound exciting and rewarding? An internship at the Climate and Energy Project might be what you’re looking for!

The Climate + Energy Project is a statewide nonprofit, working diligently toward a sustainable energy future in Kansas. CEP interns play a vital role in this ambitious undertaking: from researching latest developments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, helping share important updates through social media and website, to being our boots on the ground at the statehouse.

CEP interns get a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge in areas of legislature, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

CEP interns connect theoretical knowledge to real life applications through meaningful
assignments. While internships are unpaid, we feel the exposure and knowledge you will gain to be invaluable. CEP is currently hiring interns for the 2016 fall semester and the 2017 spring semester. The following positions are available:

Clean Energy = Clean Air Intern
Clean Energy = Clean Air is a public health initiative that seeks to inform the public of the connection between air quality and our health. An intern would identify current research to support our messaging that a transition to more renewable-sourced energy generation will lead to improved health. This is a great opportunity for a student to perform focused research in air quality, environmental justice, public health and public outreach.
Public health, public administration, communications, and environmental science majors are welcome to apply.

Health Equity Intern
The Health Equity program is a public health initiative that is currently being developed, it will bring environmental leaders in Kansas together to collaborate on programs related to public health and energy efficiency. A Health Equity intern would identify current research to support our collaborated effort. This is a great opportunity for a student to engage with Kansas environmental leaders and perform focused work in public outreach, public health and, environmental justice as it relates to climate change.
Public health, communications, and environmental science majors are welcome to apply.

Clean Energy Business Council Intern
The Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) will bring business voices together to work towards greater clean energy access in KS and the greater KC area. CEBC will expand clean energy economic opportunities and investments through common sense solutions and a variety of networking and educational resources. The CEBC intern will assist in coordinating events, updating and creating website resources, and identifying creative ways to further CEBC’s mission.
Communication, marketing, economics, and business administration majors passionate about corporate social responsibility are welcome to apply.

Legislative Intern
The legislative intern will have an opportunity to attend Energy Committee meetings at the Kansas statehouse, write summaries of discussions for advocacy groups, blog, tweet, and post Facebook updates, research specific documents as needed, and help to further engage people in the renewable energy and energy efficiency discussion.
Political science, marketing, communications, environmental science majors and law students, are welcome to apply.

Communications Intern
The Communications intern would update and maintain CEP’s social media presence, assist in planning, writing, and managing of e-blasts and e-newsletters, draft and distribute news releases, media alerts and other stories, design flyers and other marketing materials, update the website regularly, and collaborate with staff on new ideas, directions, and tools for marketing and communications.
Marketing, communications, and environmental science majors are welcome to apply.

Event Management Intern
The Event Management Intern will play an integral role in the planning, executing, and evaluating CEP’s activities. An intern would plan, coordinate, and manage CEP events, coordinate with event partners and partner staff, manage a budget, work with a team to plan and execute all logistical items for CEP events, day of event management, and post event evaluation.
Marketing, communications and environmental science majors are welcome to apply.

To apply: please email your resume and cover letter to Jamie Hofling at [email protected].

See what previous interns have to say about their time with CEP:

Reflections on CEP Policy Internship
Getting Involved
CEP approach balanced and successful

The Climate + Energy Project (CEP) is a non-partisan 501c(3) organization working to reduce emissions through greater energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Located in Hutchinson, CEP collaborates with diverse partners across the nation to find practical solutions for a clean energy future that provides jobs, prosperity and energy security. 

The Hays Police Department responded to 19 traffic stops and 11 animal calls Mon., Oct. 10, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Criminal Threat–2500 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 2:38 AM
Criminal Trespass–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 2:42 AM
Civil Transport–300 block Mopar Dr, Hays; 2:59 AM
Animal At Large–1200 block E 30th St, Hays; 8:38 AM
Animal At Large–400 block E 18th St, Hays; 10:11 AM
Disturbance – General–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 10:37 AM
Battery – simple–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10/9 4:30 PM; 4:40 PM
Obstruction of Legal Process–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 12:29 PM
Animal At Large–1000 block E 15th St, Hays; 12:50 PM
Found/Lost Property–4400 block Vine St, Hays; 12:58 PM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Ash St, Hays; 1:11 PM
Animal At Large–2500 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 4:17 PM
Animal At Large–3200 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 4:35 PM
Theft (general)–2000 block Vine St, Hays; 5:17 PM
Suspicious Activity–1200 block 1205 E 22nd St, Hays; 5:45 PM; 6:30 PM
Theft (general)–1900 block Whittier Rd, Hays; 10:30 AM; 7 PM
Theft (general)–1200 block Allen St, Hays; 8:15 PM; 8:33 PM
Suspicious Activity–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 6:30 PM; 10:30 PM

City of Hays

The Hays Area Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Wed., Oct. 12, at 8:15 a.m. at Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

A public hearing will be held on a request from Eric Augustine for a variance to construct a 20’ X 26’ detached garage at 404 W. 20th Street.

The complete agenda can be seen here.