The Hays High boys swimming team was in Manhattan for a meet on Wednesday. The Indians placed three individuals and two relays in the top five.
Isaac Smith dominated both the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard fly. Smith finished with a time of 23.73 seconds in the freestyle, second place was at 27.26. In the fly he recorded a time of 58:50 with second place finishing at 1:05:84.
Tanner Callis placed 4th in the 200 yard free style and Brett Bowels finishing 5th in the 100 yard free style.
Both the 200 yard freestyle relay and 400 yard freestyle relay placed fourth. Both teams were comprised of Tanner Callis, Brett Bowels, Scout Perryman, and Isaac Smith.
The swimming team is done with competition until January 5th when the attend the Salina South meet.
Tressa Becker’s journey to college soccer began at six years old when she started playing with the Hays Soccer Club. All the years of work came to pay off on Thursday when she signed a national letter of intent to play for Barton County Community College. Becker stepped into a leadership role both on and off the field during her junior season to go along with her soccer skills during practice and games. The package of skill and leadership is one of the reasons that former coach Jim Maska believes that Barton wanted Becker to be a part of their program.
Tressa Becker
Becker also found a comfort level with the head coach for the Cougars, which led to an easier decision when picking a school. Becker still has one more season though to complete for the Indians, one she knows will have a little less stress attached to it since her college decision has been made.
Gavin Wright, Curtis Allen and Patrick Stein are charged with domestic terrorism
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have added firearms charges against two of the Kansas men accused of plotting to bomb an apartment complex where Somali immigrants live in the meatpacking town of Garden City.
The superseding indictment filed Thursday in U.S. District Court again charges Patrick Stein, Gavin Wright, and Curtis Allen with conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction.
But the new indictment also charges Allen with illegally possessing firearms because of a misdemeanor domestic battery conviction. It adds two counts against Stein alleging gun violations in connection with the bomb conspiracy. It also seeks forfeiture of the weapons.
Attorneys for Allen and Stein did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Kari Schmidt, who represents Wright, says her client has no criminal history and is not prohibited from possessing firearms.
Trump met on Nov. 20 with Kobach at Trump’s New Jersey golf course. photo courtesy Fox
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has met with President-elect Donald Trump.
Kobach made no comment to reporters Thursday upon arriving for and leaving his meeting at Trump Tower in New York.
Kobach advised Trump’s campaign on immigration issues. Kobach is a former law professor who helped draft tough state and local laws cracking down on illegal immigration, including in Arizona and Alabama.
Since Kobach was elected Kansas secretary of state in 2010, he’s also been a champion of tough voter identification laws.
Kobach met with Trump in New Jersey before Thanksgiving and brought a list of immigration and national security proposals. Kobach previously was considered a potential candidate for attorney general and homeland security secretary.
Kobach spokeswoman Desiree Taliaferro said she has no details about Thursday’s meeting.
————
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.
Kobach arrived Thursday at Trump Tower in New York after Trump’s transition team confirmed the scheduled meeting.
Kobach advised Trump’s campaign on immigration issues. Kobach is a former law professor who helped draft tough state and local laws cracking down on illegal immigration, including in Arizona and Alabama.
Since Kobach was elected Kansas secretary of state in 2010, he’s also been a champion of tough voter identification laws.
Kobach met with Trump in New Jersey before Thanksgiving and brought with him a list of immigration and national security proposals. Kobach was previously considered a potential candidate for attorney general and homeland security secretary.
Kobach spokeswoman Desiree Taliaferro said she has no details about Thursday’s meeting with Trump.
High Plains Farm Credit board members (Photo by Mitch Weber)
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Farm Credit has been devoted to agricultural financing for 100 years.
High Plains Farm Credit, which covers 22 counties in central Kansas, celebrated its milestone anniversary in style with a $250,000 donation to Fort Hays State University.
The gift will be divided in half between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting.
One of four bronze relief plaques depicting the early history of Kansas agriculture adorning the High Plains Farm Credit Lobby in FHSU McCartney Hall. The artist is J.R. Hahn.
The donation was announced at a news conference Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the High Plains Farm Credit Lobby in McCartney Hall. The area, named in honor of High Plains Farm Credit, features large displays with the organization’s history on the north and south ends of the first-floor lobby, as well as four bronze reliefs depicting a Kansas farm through its first 100 years.
Members of the FHSU community gathered to thank High Plains Farm Credit for the donation, which will help provide scholarships and services for Fort Hays State students.
“This will be utilized to increase scholarship opportunities for our students and allow us to provide state of the art agriculture technology for our production and management students,” said Don Benjamin, interim chair of the Department of Agriculture. “It will be utilized greatly within our department.”
The majority of the gift will be used for scholarships — $80,000 to each department — with the remaining $90,000 ($45,000 each) supporting the departments’ unrestricted accounts.
(Video by Becky Kiser, Hays Post)
“Unrestricted funding is very valuable,” said Mark Bannister, dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
“It can be used to purchase equipment or fund new initiatives,” he said, adding that it is especially valuable with anticipated state budget cuts.
Marissa Bland, a senior agriculture student from Lucas, talked about how scholarships helped her make her way through college without any debt.
“That has been attainable because of generous donors like you,” she told the group of High Plains Farm Credit board members present at the news conference.
For years, High Plains Farm Credit has funded two scholarships for Fort Hays State students, but this is by far its largest one-time gift.
Doug Thurman from Larned, president and CEO of High Plains Farm Credit and an FHSU alum, is proud of the fact that “one-third of our employees are Fort Hays State graduates.”
“I’m proud that out of 36 employees, all were born in western Kansas, ” Thurman said. “Our roots are really deep in western Kansas. ”
“This will help solidify the bond between the Farm Credit and the university even more,” board member Tim Benoit from Damar said.
Benoit also is an FHSU graduate, as is his wife and daughter. His son, Alex, will graduate from Fort Hays State this week and return to the family farm.
Benjamin said there are 299 agriculture majors on campus and 19 online this year. That was an overall increase of about 25 from a year ago, and currently show about an 8 percent increase in applications for next year.
FHSU photographer Mitch Weber takes official photos of the High Plains Farm Credit donors.
He said the additional scholarship opportunities for agriculture majors will be invaluable to a growing program. Benjamin cites two major reasons for the increase: Price point and experience.
He used as an example one agriculture major from Colorado who “drives through Fort Collins, Colo., to attend Fort Hays State because it’s less expensive to go to school here. To her, it’s economics.”
He also said the experience on the university farm that students receive is priceless.
“We can teach them the theory behind the subject in the classroom,” Benjamin said, “but we can’t teach them the experience.”
Bland agreed.
“The college is blessed to have such a great college farm to work with and instructors who work tirelessly to help students learn and achieve their goals,” she said. “Your gift will allow the farm to improve some of the facilities and equipment.
“The agriculture department as well as the business department are very thankful of your donation and your confidence in Fort Hays State University to continue to grow and excel.”
TOPEKA–Kansans looking forward to a weekend of holiday shopping will have to contend with varying forms of precipitation accompanied by bitterly cold temperatures.
Although snowfall is expected to be minimal across much of the state, ranging from one to three inches, temperatures will plummet with potential wind chill values from five to 25 degrees below zero.
The National Weather Service in Dodge City is predicting a 35 degree temperature drop in Hays from Friday to Saturday.In far southwest Kansas, the temperature change will be as much as 55 degrees cooler.
Light freezing drizzle is also possible in some regions of the state. In light of such a forecast, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management is reminding Kansans to take stock of their home and car emergency kits and use caution when traveling or working outside.
“The main concern over the next five days is the bitterly cold temperatures,” said Jonathan York, Response and Recovery Branch director. “These temperatures and wind chills can be deadly if you’re inadequately prepared.”
Emergency kits should include a minimum three-day supply of water (one gallon per day per person), nonperishable high-energy foods, extra blankets, flashlights and extra batteries, a safe alternate heat source, extra medications and other essentials.
If you have to work outside, observe the following safety precautions:
· Do not work alone, if possible. Working with a partner allows you to keep an eye on each other
· When shoveling, be sure you are properly dressed with shoes or boots that give you good traction
· Work in short periods to avoid over-exertion
Outdoor pets are especially vulnerable to bitter cold and extreme wind chills. Bring outdoor pets inside if possible or ensure that they have a draft-free enclosure with straw-type bedding that is large enough for your pets to lie down, but small enough to hold in body heat if they must remain outside. Always make sure that your pets have access to food and non-frozen water.
For additional pet safety information, go to avma.org and for general winter preparedness information, go to www.ksready.gov.
If you must travel, make sure you and your vehicle are prepared. Check the fluid levels, ensuring that the radiator is winterized, the gas tank is over half-full, and there is plenty of windshield washing fluid. Check tire treads for adequate traction, and replace windshield wiper blades if they are worn.
Keep an emergency kit in the trunk that includes at least:
· An ice scraper and shovel
· Jumper cables
· Flashlights
· Sand or kitty litter for traction
· Extra blankets or clothing
· Non-perishable food
· A first aid kit
· Matches and candles or flares
· Tow rope or chain
On the road, allow extra time for delays and slower traffic speeds. Buckle up and properly secure children in safety seats. Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Ice and snow significantly increase your stopping distance.
Road conditions are available through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Check conditions before travel by going to www.kandrive.org. You may also call 5-1-1 from any phone.
For a complete list of items for a home or car emergency kit and for other helpful preparedness information, go to www.ksready.gov.
In the spirit of the season this retired professor offers Kansas state lawmakers and their newly elected leaders a resolution for starting down the path to fiscal sanity.
First, end the tax experiment as the first order of business. Move state finance in the direction of tax fairness by putting 300,000 businesses back on the income tax rolls. Over two-thirds of all Kansans now believe the experiment has failed, and hard economic data confirms their belief. Public-spirited business owners also want this inequity scrapped. This step will not solve the $350 million deficit in the current fiscal year but could help, if acted on quickly, and could restore $200 million or more next fiscal year.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.
Second, reclaim all state sales taxes for general purposes. Stop the shell game of putting one of every six sales tax dollars in the highway fund and then robbing that fund. This action would reinstate the historic purpose of applying sales tax revenues to the core obligations of the state—public schools, state colleges and universities, and assistance to vulnerable citizens. This step could send $425 million to the state general fund and allow lawmakers to determine the appropriate allocation of those funds.
Highway lobbyists will protest loudly, but state highways should be funded by highway users, not low-income Kansans who pay a disproportionate share of the nation’s highest sales tax rates on food and may not even own a vehicle. If lawmakers have the backbone to shut the door on sales taxes for roads, road funding will still be roughly $900 million a year. Creative minds will also find ways for highway users to fund expanded road improvements, if needed.
Third, plug the leaks. Halt tax subsidies to businesses for projects of questionable economic value. State sales and income tax subsidies estimated at $125 million per year have been granted by state executives to a few selected businesses through the High Performance Incentive Program, Promoting Employment Across Kansas Program, and STAR bonds. State lawmakers should place a moratorium on authorizing new subsidies. A suspension of new projects would allow lawmakers time to assess whether these business incentives and others adopted years ago have continuing economic value to the state.
Legislative leaders should also focus a laser beam on capturing the $100s of millions in lost revenues from internet sales that escape taxation to the detriment of Main Street businesses throughout Kansas.
Fourth, restore balance to the state and local tax structure. Balance and diversity in taxes assure lower tax rates overall, reduce competition with other states, and promote tax fairness based on income. Kansas achieved near-perfect balance in its tax structure at the start of the 21st century by deriving equal proportions of revenue from its primary tax sources—property, income, and sales taxes. Two recessions and a self-inflicted tax experiment have thrown that ideal out of kilter and aggravated inequities. Regressive property and sales taxes now carry over three-fourths of the tax burden, income taxes only one-fourth. Reestablishing balance in the three-legged stool of state and local should guide any action on tax policy.
Fifth, balance the budget. Balancing revenues and expenditures seems simple and obvious, but ideologically-driven lawmakers have repeatedly failed at this constitutional obligation for the last five years. Once the Kansas Supreme Court acts on school finance, the magnitude of the heavy lifting required here will be known. Lawmakers will be expected to find common ground on spending for schools and other state obligations in tandem with the revenues required to support that spending. The ill-conceived tax cuts of 2012 will have to be part of this discussion.
No step down this path will be easy. But a new crop of legislators and their leaders appear ready to face reality and exercise common sense in restoring fiscal sanity to the state.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.
Wanted murder suspect crashed into home after shoot-out with US Marshals in Wichita-photo courtesy KAKE
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a suspect in a Florida killing has shot and critically wounded himself after exchanging gunfire with U.S. Marshals and crashing a vehicle into a Wichita home.
The 26-year-old man shot at the marshals Wednesday after they approached him. Police spokesman Officer Charley Davidson says the marshals returned fire before the suspect drove off with a woman. They crashed after a brief chase and took off running. Davidson says the suspect shot himself in the head when authorities caught up with him.
He was rushed to a hospital, and the woman wasn’t immediately found.
The suspect’s name hasn’t been released. The Jacksonville County Sheriff’s Office in Florida said in a tweet that the man was suspected in a September 2015 killing at a hotel.
———————-
SEDGWICK COUNTY – A man wanted for murder in Florida was critically injured after a shoot-out with US Marshals in Wichita on Wednesday, according Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsey.
Marshals attempted to arrested the suspect at a home in the 1000 Block of Ellis Street.
He shot at the officers and fled in a car with two others.
The vehicle crashed into a home short distance away.
US Marshals attempted to arrest a male on a homicide warrant a short time ago in 1000 block of S. Ellis when they were shot at by suspect.
Bernadine Theresa Ritter, 85, of McKinney, Texas, and former Russell, Kansas, resident died on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at the Medical Center of McKinney, Texas.
Bernadine was born on May 14, 1931, in McCook, Nebraska, the daughter of Bernard and Helen (Kennedy) Colling. She grew up in McCook, attended local schools and graduated from McCook High School in the class of 1950. She met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Raymond B. Ritter on August 06, 1955 in McCook, Nebraska. From this union Bernadine and Raymond were blessed with five daughters Marie, Ramona, Delores, Rose Ann, and Cathy. The family moved to Russell in 1996, and worked most of her life as a homemaker taking care of her family. She was a member of St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society and the Oberlin, Kansas Community Farmers Market. She enjoyed growing vegetables, tending to her flowers, cooking and Royals Baseball. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Surviving family include her 5 daughters Marie Bloss (James) of McKinney, Texas, Ramona Cook (Greg) of Russell, Kansas, Delores Healey (Grant Jaquith) of Maple Hill, Kansas, Rose Ann Marconette (Sean) of Edwardsville, Kansas and Cathy Ritter of McKinney, Texas; brother Joseph Colling (Eileen) McCook, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband Raymond on July 22, 2005.
A celebration of the funeral mass for Bernadine will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, at the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas. Burial will follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Monday, December 19, 2016, with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. Monday evening at the mortuary in Russell. Memorials may be given to the St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Dorothy Jean (McGhghy) Marston passed away Saturday, December 10, 2016 in Rooks County, Kansas at the age of 90. She was born on November 24, 1926 in Plainville, Kansas to the late Thomas “Henry” and Ada Mae (Paris) McGhghy. She grew up in Plainville and graduated from Plainville High School with the Class of 1945. On May 20, 1949 she was united in marriage to Delmar Jay Marston at the First Christian Church in Plainville.
Dorothy was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker. An avid gardener and canner, she provided for her family by diligently hoeing, planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting an abundant garden. She was an excellent cook, enjoyed sewing, played piano, and helped on the farm. She worked in the Rooks County Treasurer’s Office, and even served as County Treasurer, before retiring in 1993.
To say Dorothy was a member of the First Christian Church in Plainville would be an understatement. She was involved in many church activities, from teaching Sunday school, to directing children’s church/ministries, to Vacation Bible School and cooking at church camps; an entire generation of boys and girls have grown to become men and women of strong faith and solid Biblical knowledge, all because of her love for God, His word, and her church family.
Dorothy is survived by her husband Delmar Marston of the home in Plainville; son Roger Marston and wife Kathy of Cheney; daughters Delma Miller and husband Ron of Great Bend, and Monica Eaton and husband Denis of Antioch, CA; sister Donna Kay Maggert of Broomfield, CO; six grandchildren, Stephanie Marston, Dan Miller, Tammie Fisher, Jeremy Miller and wife Lana, Hannah Laurin and husband Jason, and Joe Miller; thirteen great-grandchildren, Joshua Miller, Zach Miller, Chris Miller, Weslee Hutchison, Cody Hutchison, Ryan Fisher, Tyler Fisher, Hayley Osbment, Alexis Doonan, Austin Doonan, MeAnna Laurin, Jason Lauren, and Eden Miller; twelve great-great-grandchildren, including Kaiden, Copeland, Zayden, Max, MariAnna, and Jeremiah, along with six others; nieces Patricia Ryan, and Deborah Maggert; and nephews Tom Casey, Paul “Michael” McGhghy, David Marston, Wayne McGhghy, and Mark Marston.
She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Ada McGhghy, brother Richard Galen McGhghy, an infant son William Jay Marston, brother-in-law Don Casey, sister-in-law Louise Marston, and nephew Richard Dale McGhghy.
Frances Hodgson Burnett said, “If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden.” Dorothy lived her life not only tending her vegetable gardens, but the countless gardens of the hearts of her family, friends, neighbors, and church. Because of her love and faithfulness, it is those gardens that will bloom in every season of our lives and flourish into eternity.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at First Christian Church in Plainville. Burial will follow in the Plainville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00-8:00pm on Friday at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00pm.
PRATT – Winter weather – we’ll wait outside stores in it for great deals, drive around in it and view Christmas light displays, we’ll even cheer on our favorite teams in it, so why not bundle up and go birding in it?
Christmas Bird Count traditions provide a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family, learn about the birds of Kansas, and enjoy the camaraderie of other nature enthusiasts. All you need to participate is clothing appropriate for traipsing outdoors on a mid-winter day, a pair of binoculars, and a good field guide. Add in a little adventurous spirit and you’re ready to go.
The Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS) has compiled a comprehensive list of Christmas Bird Counts occurring throughout the state on their website, www.ksbirds.org. There you’ll find a list of events scheduled to date, along with locations and contact information.
The Hays KOS bird count is Saturday, Dec. 17. Meet at the south entrance of Albertson Hall, Fort Hays State University campus at 7:30 a.m. Contact Greg Farley for more information at [email protected] or (785) 656-3701.
The Wilson Lake KOS bird count is Sunday, Dec. 18. Meet at the Wilson State Park headquarters office at 7:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided. Contact Mike Rader for more information at [email protected] or (785) 658-2595.
So this Christmas, gear up, get out, and see what birds are out and about for the count.Birders of all skill levels are welcome to the events, where groups will spend time canvassing established circular census areas, recording species and numbers of birds observed. Information recorded at events is entered into regional and national databases and can show population and migration trends.
Norman Art Waymaster passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at Pinnacle Park Nursing and Rehabilitation in Salina, Kansas at the age of 47. He was born on March 6, 1969 in Wilson, Kansas to Arthur Leal and Denise Awn (Chegwidden) Waymaster. He grew up in Ellsworth County graduating from Ellsworth High School with the Class of 1988. He went on to attend Technical College.
Having grown up on the farm, Norman was not unaccustomed to hard work. He worked at the sale barn and also spent several years working in residential construction, helping to build houses. He was an avid collector of toys, many of which, having never been removed from the packages, will be donated to children in the greater Salina area. He loved his family and friends, and had a special place in his heart for animals, always taking care of his own cat and any strays in the neighborhood that needed a little extra food, shelter, or loving.
Norman is survived by his wife Lannis Haith of Saliina; mother Denise Waymaster of Ellsworth; brothers Alan Waymaster and wife Roberta of Ellsworth, Harold Waymaster and wife Darla of Wilson, and Melvin Waymaster and wife Shelby of Nashville, TN; and sisters Darlene Arnold and husband Bruce of Hays, and Caroline Mackey and husband Charles of Holyrood.
He was preceded in death by his father Arthur Waymaster, and sister Betty Waymaster.
It is said, “The toy collector lives for a short while in the toys he collects, but he lives forever in the toys he passes on to children.” Norman was a man of strong stature but gentle spirit. Although he will be greatly missed, he will live forever in our thoughts and memories; and the sparkling eyes of children who will be blessed with a toy, given with his love.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Foster Mortuary in Wilson. Inurnment will follow in the Wilson City Cemetery.
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are asking for help to locate a 19-year-old woman wanted on several active warrants.
Narianna Williams is fully aware of her warrants, according to a media release. In October she was charged with making false writing and possession of stolen property, according to RCPD arrest reports.
Police arrested her in December of 2015 on a Riley County District Court juvenile pick up order and booked on failure to appear.
She is not a danger to the public, but if located, do not attempt to apprehend her.
If you have any information, please contact the Riley County Police Department at 785-537-2112 and ask for Detective Dunn, or contact the Riley County Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or toll free at 1-800-222-8477
