WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas growers made some progress this past week planting winter wheat and harvesting corn.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that wheat planting is 20 percent done in Kansas, the same as last year at this time. About 3 percent has emerged.
Farmers in the state have also harvested about 29 percent of their corn and 10 percent of their sorghum crops. Just 2 percent of the soybeans have been cut.
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Polo Custom Products is expending its Winston County factory, investing $150,000 with plans to hire 30 people.
The Topeka, Kansas-based company makes things like harnesses and bags for medical, firefighting, military and industrial uses.
Mississippi Development Authority spokesman Jeff Rent said Monday the state will give Polo $68,000 to help pay for a new heating and air conditioning system. Louisville and Winston County own the building. The city of Louisville is also providing assistance, but Rent couldn’t immediately say what that is.
Polo Custom Products is pleased to help the local job market in Louisville. https://t.co/0CxuXRh1P3
— Polo Custom Products (@PoloCustomProd) September 26, 2016
Rent says the company expects to hire the additional 30 people within three months. He was unable to provide an average pay for workers.
Polo now has 160 workers in Louisville. It expanded by 10 workers in 2011 when it invested $525,000.
Click below to listen to Tiger Talk with “Voice of the Tigers” Gerard Wellbrock and Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown as they review Saturday’s win in Tahlequah, Okla. over Northeastern State and take a look ahead at this Saturday’s homecoming game against Lindenwood.
Tiger Talk airs on Monday evening at 6 p.m. on Tiger Radio Mix-103.
MERIDEN, Kan. (AP) — Authorities investigating the year-old disappearance of a 70-year-old northeast Kansas woman are seeking the public’s help.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Joan Rebar was last on Sept. 26, 2015, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Meriden. About 3.5 hours after Rebar was last seen, her phone transmitted its last ping, indicating it was south of Meriden. Her banking activity also ceased.
Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse describes the case as “disturbing” and “eerie.” He says that because Rebar’s disappearance was under “very questionable circumstances,” it is being investigated as a homicide.
A multi-jurisdictional task force has been involved in the search. The task force interviewed more than 100 people and searches were carried out on foot, horseback and ATV. Sonar and drone technology also was used.
https://youtu.be/i-FJbIMVD2s
Video courtesy of USD 489 News
Didn’t get a chance to make it to the Thomas More Prep-Marian Homecoming parade? Just want to relive the moment? Check out the video below or tune into Eagle Ch. 14 or 614 at the following times:
• Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 2 and 7 p.m.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A state agency says Larned State Hospital officials weren’t aware the man hired as the hospital’s chief financial officer in 2015 was the focus of an internal federal investigation.
David Fender joined the hospital in 2015, shortly after serving a year as chief financial officer for the Government National Mortgage Association.
Kansas announced Fender’s departure in August when it launched a hospital audit.
A federal inspector general’s report provided to The Wichita Eagle shows an investigation found Fender potentially committed criminal violations by using his public office for private gain and making false statements to the government. He wasn’t charged.
A state agency spokeswoman says Larned didn’t know about the federal investigation when Fender was hired. Fender didn’t return calls from the Eagle or The Associated Press.
By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post
During the board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Toepfer Board Room, 323 W. 12th, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education will evaluate a software that determines the life expectancy of the buildings systems.
The board will be looking at the possible purchase and use of software that would keeping a running tab on all district equipment. This will be a component of the long-range capital outlay plan.
The board will also hear an update on the Thomas More Prep-Marian/O’Loughlin traffic study, and a follow-up on the iPad purchases.
Also up for discussion for Monday’s meeting:
The meeting will be available live on Hays Post courtesy USD 489 News.
LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Army says it has fired the commander of Fort Riley and is continuing an investigation opened last week at the Kansas base. No details have been provided.
Army spokesman Col. Patrick R. Seiber says that Maj. Gen. Wayne Grigsby was relieved of command of the 1st Infantry Division due to loss of confidence in his ability to lead. Grigsby was initially suspended on Friday. Army officials have declined to disclose the nature of the investigation.
Seiber says a replacement will be named in the coming days.
About 17,000 troops are stationed at Fort Riley. Grigsby assumed command of the base in August 2015, after 31 years of military service that included a stint as commander of the Combined Joint Task Force in East Africa.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Stockholders have approved the $12.2 billion sale of Topeka-based electric company Westar Energy to Missouri-based Great Plains Energy.
Both companies reported Monday that participating shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal. Westar had a special meeting in Topeka and Great Plains had one in Kansas City, Missouri, to finish the voting.
Each firm said the holders of more than 60 percent of their shares participated, and the owners of 95 percent or more of that stock approved the sale.
Federal and state regulators also must sign off. The companies hope to complete the sale next spring.
The companies have said combining the two would create efficiencies and keep consumers’ rates in check. Westar stockholders would receive $51 in cash and $9 in Great Plains stock for each share.
SHERMAN COUNTY – A Sherman Co. woman was injured in an accident just before 1p.m. on Monday in Sherman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chrysler Sebring driven by Janeth Soto-Lara, 20, Goodland, was eastbound on Interstate 70 eighteen miles east of Goodland.
The driver was passing two semis when she lost control of the vehicle.
The Chrysler went between both semis, entered the driving lane, traveled into the south ditch and rolled.
Soto-Lara was transported to Goodland Regional Medical Center.
She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
FHSU University Relations
With an all-time high enrollment of 14,658, Fort Hays State University has become the third-largest university in Kansas, public and private.
The numbers announced by the Kansas Board of Regents today show FHSU increased by 448, or 3.15 percent, from the fall 2015 headcount of 14,210 on the 20th day of classes. The new record marks a 16th consecutive year of record enrollments.
“The official numbers are yet more proof of what I said almost two months ago,” FHSU President Mirta M. Martin said today. “What makes us unique, what makes us distinctive, is our concern for the welfare of our students.”
“We are here not just to attract students to Fort Hays State University. We are here to ensure they cross the stage at graduation with the knowledge and wisdom to obtain meaningful employment,” she continued. “Our distinctiveness at Fort Hays State lies in the strength of our resolve, in our values, and in our relationships with each other and with our students.”
“That kind of commitment to each other, combined with the excellence of our programs and our dedication to our mission to educate the next generation of leaders, is what makes us the destination of choice for students, faculty and staff. That is why we continue to defy the state and national trends. Onward and upward,” she said.
The 20th day, set by the Regents as the official enrollment day to provide a standard basis of comparison from year to year, was Sept. 19 for Fort Hays State. Regents policy is to hold any announcement of enrollments until numbers are in and verified for all Regents institutions.
FHSU delivers college courses through three modalities — on campus, through the FHSU Virtual College and to students at partner universities around the world, primarily in China.
This fall’s numbers reflect the reversal of a downward trend in enrollment at the university’s international partners. Enrollment at those schools totaled 3,252 this year, up 128 from 3,124, an increase of 4.10 percent.
“FHSU has positioned itself as the premiere forward-thinking, world-ready university in the Midwest,” said Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for student affairs.
“Having 16 consecutive years of record enrollments speaks for itself,” he said. “We congratulate the faculty and staff at this great institution for truly making a difference in hundreds of students’ lives each and every year.”
This fall’s enrollment in the FHSU Virtual College, 6,694, was an increase of 371, or 5.87 percent, from last year’s 6,323. On-campus enrollment this year is 4,712.
“The diversity of our offerings has been a major factor for our success over the past 16 years,” said Dennis King, assistant vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.
“When our international partners have been down, our on-campus and online (Virtual College) programs have grown. Other years, it may be the exact opposite, leading to our growth,” he said. “This year, our new freshmen, Virtual College graduate students and our international partners have all contributed to our growth.”
The freshman class for 2016 is 937, up 23 from last fall, and is the third largest in university history. Virtual College graduate students for the fall are at 2,200, up 225 from fall 2015.
WACO, Texas – Fort Hays State remains among the teams receiving votes in the latest AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Monday. The MIAA has three teams in the Top 25, while FHSU and Pittsburg State are among the teams receiving votes.
Northwest Missouri State, the only remaining unbeaten in the MIAA, continues its reign as the No. 1 team in the nation following its national championship season. Central Missouri fell from No. 13 to No. 22 this week after an overtime loss to Emporia State, which jumped into the top 25 this week at No. 23. Pittsburg State and Fort Hays State are among 15 schools receiving votes.
The Tigers, now 3-1 overall, host Lindenwood on Saturday for Homecoming. FHSU is in a five-way tie for second in the MIAA.
Below is the AFCA Division II Top 25 for September 26, 2016.
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Record | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. | Northwest Missouri St. (30) | 4-0 | 750 | 1 |
| 2. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 4-0 | 713 | 2 |
| 3. | West Georgia | 4-0 | 658 | 3 |
| 4. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 4-0 | 637 | 4 |
| 5. | Ashland (Ohio) | 4-0 | 622 | 5 |
| 6. | Texas A&M-Commerce | 3-0 | 586 | 6 |
| 7. | Henderson St. (Ark.) | 4-0 | 563 | 8 |
| 8. | Indiana (Pa.) | 3-0 | 533 | 9 |
| 9. | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 4-0 | 511 | 10 |
| 10. | Midwestern St. (Texas) | 3-0 | 458 | 11 |
| 11. | Tuskegee (Ala.) | 4-0 | 424 | 12 |
| 12. | Sioux Falls (S.D.) | 4-0 | 386 | 14 |
| 13. | Ferris St. (Mich.) | 3-1 | 374 | 7 |
| 14. | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | 4-0 | 365 | 15 |
| 15. | Assumption (Mass.) | 4-0 | 325 | 17 |
| 16. | Florida Tech | 4-0 | 302 | 19 |
| 17. | Colorado Mesa | 4-0 | 289 | 18 |
| 18. | North Alabama | 2-1 | 261 | 20 |
| 19. | Minnesota St. | 3-1 | 178 | 21 |
| 20. | Harding (Ark.) | 4-0 | 172 | 25 |
| 21. | North Carolina-Pembroke | 4-0 | 123 | NR |
| 22. | Central Missouri | 3-1 | 116 | 13 |
| 23. | Emporia St. (Kan.) | 3-1 | 97 | NR |
| 24. | California (Pa.) | 3-0 | 71 | NR |
| 25. | Augustana (S.D.) | 3-1 | 48 | 16 |
Others Receiving Votes: Bemidji St. (Minn.), 40; Southwest Baptist (Mo.), 37; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 32; West Texas A&M, 32; Wayne St. (Mich.), 20; LIU-Post (N.Y.), 8; Winston-Salem St. (N.C.), 6; Minnesota-Duluth, 3; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 2; McKendree (Ill.), 2; Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 2; Colorado School of Mines, 1; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 1; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 1; Western St. (Colo.), 1.
FHSU Sports Information
