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Year: 2016

Morales smacks 2-run walk-off homer, KC beats Braves in 13 innings

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Danny Duffy flips the ball to Eric Hosmer for an out in the 2nd inning of the Royals home game vs. Atlanta. (Courtesy Kansas City Royals/Chris Vleisides)
Danny Duffy flips the ball to Eric Hosmer for an out in the 2nd inning of the Royals home game vs. Atlanta. (Courtesy Kansas City Royals/Chris Vleisides)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kendrys Morales hit a walk-off two-run homer with two out in the 13th inning and the Kansas City Royals overcame a rare blown save by Wade Davis to defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 on Sunday.

The Royals took two of three from the last-place Braves after losing their five previous series. The Braves lost for the 18th time in 23 games and have won only one series this season.

Alcides Escobar, who had four hits to match his career high, singled before Morales’ blast off Jason Grilli.

The Royals used nine pitchers, tying a club record for one game, with Chien-Ming Wang (2-0) picking up the victory. Lefthander Eric O’Flaherty (0-3), the sixth of seven Braves pitchers, took the loss.

The Braves rallied to tie it with two runs in the ninth off Davis, who blew his first save since July 12 against Toronto.

Great Bend man dies in pickup rollover accident

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Screen-Shot-2016-04-04-at-5.16.17-AM.pngBARTON COUNTY -A Kansas man died in an accident just after 2:30a.m. on Sunday in Barton County.

The Barton County Sheriff reported a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup driven by Jakob Dakota Kinney, 20, Great Bend, was northbound on Southeast 70th Road approaching the Stafford County line.

The driver missed a turn and the pickup went into a skid. It left the roadway, rolled about three-and-one-half times and ejected the driver.

Kinney was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger Dakota Wade James, 20, Hutchinson refused treatment at the scene.

Hays Area Young Professionals’ adult prom delights goers

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Submitted

The Hays Area Young Professionals hosted its annual adult prom on May 7.

Sixty adult prom-goers were entertained by the DJ services of Cameron Shoemaker. The VFW was decked out in red, white, and blue in honor of the theme inspired by the political elections that will take place in November.

Attendees voted on the prom king and queen. Hays natives Errol and Elma Wuertz were crowned king and queen. Guests enjoyed the cash bar, snacks, and the once-again popular photo booth.

HAYP hosted the first annual prom in September 2015. HAYP will continue this annual tradition.

Stay in touch with what is going on in HAYP by liking them on facebook at HAYP Hays Area Young Professionals.

Mental health advocates question Kansas drug bill

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drug pills medicineTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Mental health advocates are raising concerns about a bill passed by Kansas lawmakers that would require doctors to try cheaper drugs before more expensive ones for Medicaid recipients.

The process, called step therapy, is common in many private and public health insurance plans. It was key to resolving budget issues because it would reduce the state’s cost of providing health care for poor residents by nearly $11 million a year. Gov. Sam Brownback is expected to sign the bill Monday.

Mental health advocates asked that drugs used to treat mental illnesses be exempt because prescribing the wrong drug would have severe consequences. Lawmakers who supported the bill say adequate safeguards are in place and that mental health advocates want an unfair exemption from a common practice that many insured patients face.

Kandango 2016 event to start in Hays

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kandango 2016 logoSubmitted

Kandango 2016, Thursday, June 9 through Sunday, June 12,  is a 3 ½ day road bicycle ride on the back roads of Kansas. It originated in 2013, as a tour through the Flint and Smoky Hills regions of Kansas. Its central themes are to ride the road less traveled (but far more interesting), take the time to explore the pass-through communities and see the local attractions during the ride.

Each day’s ride is unique, and has its own name. Friday’s ride is named “Coolio Iglesias”. The ride passes many historic churches (iglesia) in Ellis and Russell counties, on the way to Russell. Saturday’s ride is called “Roller Coas2r”, because of the hills south of Wilson Lake. The locals call the scenic highway between Lucas and the lake “nature’s roller coasters”. We named Sunday’s ride “Sandstone Stampede”, because the ride returns to end in Brookville, and the Sandstone Saloon. The Sandstone Saloon has become a favorite of the Kandango Nation, and a regular fixture on the ride.

One of the things that makes Kandango unique is the community participation. Kandango works with the towns and businesses to create events and activities, incorporating the riders and the communities.

Bike Hays and Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing Company host the 2nd Annual Half Pint Block Party on Thursday. The Hays community is invited to join the riders on the first ride of the tour, on Thursday. On Friday, the Russell community is invited to attend the BBQ Extravaganza and join the riders touring the town on bikes.

On Saturday, the Sandstone Saloon hosts a party to honor the teams participating in Kandango, and the public is invited to ride to Brookville and join the fun. Our buses will transport the locals and Kandango participants back to Salina, after the party.

The ride selects back roads not normally ridden on conventional tours. This year’s ride features two secondary roads on Friday – an out and back to Pfeifer, and another one to Fairport. On Saturday, the ride turns north to put riders into the scenic hills, south of Wilson Lake. Riders can get to the end, much faster and more direct, but they would miss the entire purpose of the tour – the beautiful back roads.

The ride features a novel ride support system that uses motor coaches and trucks to pick up riders and bikes along the route, and provides in-ride support.

Our one of a kind “Area 52” allows riders to pack coolers and lunches, and send them ahead for them when they arrive at the designated stop on our buses. Riders are encouraged to use the buses to sag ahead, or to stow or retrieve provisions or food during the ride. The system provides a great safety and comfort net for our riders.

Kandango also can transport riders to and from the ride. This year, the ride features three buses – Overland Park, KS, Des Moines, IA, and Brookville, KS.

The Overland Park bus transports riders and gear to and from the ride, and can stop in Lawrence and Topeka. The Des Moines/Omaha bus brings our RAGBRAI friends down to Kandango and back home on Sunday.

The Brookville bus (new this year), starts from the end town, and carries riders and bikes to the start town. Riders of the Brookville bus enjoy the luxury of returning to their car twice during the ride – once on Saturday (on the way to Salina), and again on Sunday (when the ride ends). The buses add fun and convenience to the ride.

The Iowa/Nebraska bus is already near capacity and the Overland Park and Brookville buses are quickly filling.

For more information call Shannon Corley at (913) 908-2830.

Police: Officers shoot, wound man in Kansas City

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Police shootingKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police say officers have shot and wounded a man in Kansas City, Kansas, after he pointed a shotgun at the officers.

Police said in a news release that the shooting happened early Sunday when a man called about a disturbance and told officers his brother was breaking things inside a home.

The release says officers talked to the man, but when the officers left the house, the man came to the front door with a gun. Police say the suspect, who is white, then went back inside before returning to the front door and pointing the weapon. The release says that’s when the officers fired, striking the man in the leg.

Police say the suspect was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. None of the officers were hurt.

FHSU designates Nationally Competitive Scholarship coach

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Dr. Lexey Bartlett
Dr. Lexey Bartlett
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Dr. Lexey Bartlett, associate professor of English at Fort Hays State University, has been named FHSU’s new Nationally Competitive Scholarships coach.

“I am looking forward to working with students to find programs that match their interests and to help them compile the best applications possible,” said Bartlett. “We have so many high-achieving students at Fort Hays State University, and applying for a nationally competitive scholarship is a great way for them to take a major step forward toward their academic and personal goals.”

“Dr. Bartlett has a long history of working with nationally competitive scholarships, especially the Fulbright program, and has accumulated a distinctive record in her time at FHSU as a professor, chapter advisor of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society and as a member of several campus committees,” said Matt Means, director of the university’s Honors College.

“We are excited that she will be assisting FHSU students interested in applying for prestigious awards such as the Rhodes, Truman, Marshall and Gates-Cambridge scholarships in a volunteer, service capacity,” said Means.

She will chair the Honors College Nationally Competitive Scholarships Committee.

KDA to host free egg grading workshop in Hays

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egg gradingKDA

MANHATTAN–The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) will host three egg grading workshops in Kansas this June, to train the state’s poultry producers in egg grading and share other important poultry care information. Grading eggs provides additional market opportunities for poultry farmers. The workshops will take place in Hays, Lawrence and Wichita, but are available to all Kansas egg producers at no charge.

The workshops are funded through the Federal State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) Grant which the KDA received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grant award totals nearly $25,000 and in addition to the egg grading workshops will make available for poultry producers an egg grading resource manual, egg cell gauges, and an egg candling unit cost-share program.

Producers can choose from among three egg grading workshops: Hays, Kan., at the Ellis County extension office on Tuesday, June 7; Lawrence, Kan., at the Douglas County extension office on Tuesday, June 14; or Wichita, Kan., at the Sedgwick County extension office on Tuesday, June 21. All workshops run from 5:30–7:30 p.m. and are free, but participants are encouraged to RSVP to [email protected].

Workshops will provide training on egg grading and other important information for poultry producers. Dr. Scott Beyer, associate professor in the K-State Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, will offer training on proper egg grading and poultry disease screening for maintaining healthy flocks. Adam Inman, assistant program manager for Food Safety and Lodging at KDA, will review Kansas rules and regulations for grading and selling eggs in Kansas.

The poultry industry, including egg production, contributes $112 million annually to the Kansas economy. These workshops will help fulfill KDA’s mission of providing educational resources and support to help expand markets for agricultural products while encouraging economic growth of the agriculture industry.

The FSMIP grant provides matching funds to state departments of agriculture, state agricultural experiment stations, and other appropriate state agencies to assist in exploring new market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products, and to encourage research and innovation aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of the marketing system.

For more information about the egg grading workshops and how to obtain egg cell gauges or the egg candling unit cost-share provided by the KDA, contact Julie Roller at (785) 564-6755 or [email protected] or go to the KDA website at agriculture.ks.gov/egg-grading.

Indictment: 2 Used Stolen Identities To Buy iPhones at a Discount in Kansas

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phone iphoneKANSAS CITY – Two people were charged Wednesday with using stolen identities to sign phone service contracts qualifying them to buy iPhones at a deep discount, Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Ashley K. Lavallee, 29, Candia, N.H., and Jay Leon, 22, Englewood, N.J., were charged in separate indictments with one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

One indictment alleges Lavallee used a stolen identity to sign up for phone service at an AT&T store in Overland Park, Kan. The other indictment alleges Leon used a stolen identity to sign up for phone service at a Best Buy in Overland Park.

If convicted, each of them faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the wire fraud count, and two years consecutive to other counts and a fine up to $250,000 on the aggravated identity theft charge. The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.

Daniel J. Pfannenstiel Jr.

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Screen Shot 2016-05-20 at 8.52.26 AMDaniel J. Pfannenstiel Jr. age 53, of Hays passed away Friday, May 13, 2016 at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Funeral services will be 10 AM Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, KS with burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be Tuesday 4 PM – 8 PM and Wednesday 9 AM – 9:30 AM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

A combined parish vigil and rosary service will be 7 PM Tuesday at the funeral chapel.

Larry L. Ventsam

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Screen Shot 2016-05-15 at 10.49.18 AMLarry L. Ventsam, age 82, passed away on Friday, May 13, 2016 at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas. Larry was born May 17, 1933 in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Herman William & Mildred Frances (Phillips) Ventsam. Larry was a Farmer and Rancher and had been a Wichita County resident since the 1930’s. Larry proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1952 through 1956.

Larry was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas. He also held memberships in the V.F.W., American Legion and the NRA.

On September 14, 1956 he married Joan A. Benson at Lordsburg, New Mexico.

Larry’s surviving family includes-

His Wife-

Joan A. Ventsam- Leoti, Kansas

Five Children-

Mark & Judy Ventsam- Odessa, Florida

Linda & Rick Loffredo- Fairfax Station, Virginia

Carol & Russell Molz- Kiowa, Kansas

Steve & Sherri Ventsam- Naperville, Illinois

Tom Ventsam- Deadwood, South Dakota

Thirteen Grandchildren-

Lacey, Mallory & Chase Ventsam- Odessa, Florida

Nicholas Loffredo- Seattle, Washington

Lauren& R.J. Santucci- Charlottesville, Virginia

Jeremy Loffredo- Fairfax Station, Virginia

Blake Molz- Kiowa, Kansas

Kendall Molz- Plano, Texas

Dylon Molz- Kiowa, Kansas

Victoria, Luke & Cody Ventsam- Naperville, Illinois

Hallie Rose Ventsam- Deadwood, South Dakota.

One Great Grandchild-

Mason Molz- Plano, Texas

His parents and a brother, Carl Ventsam, preceded him in death.

Vigil Services will be held at 7:00 pm Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marienthal, Kansas.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marienthal, Kansas with Father Benjamin Martin officiating.

Burial will be in Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas with military honors.

Friends may call from Noon until 8:00 pm Monday and from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm Tuesday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Building Fund or the Leoti EMT’s in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at priceandsons.com

Chief Judge Bouker to step into senior judge position

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By James Bell and Becky Kiser
Hays Post

Chief Judge Edward Bouker, 23rd Judicial District
Chief Judge Edward Bouker, 23rd Judicial District

After 23 years of serving as a District Judge, Edward Bouker has announced his resignation from the 23rd Judicial District to serve as a Kansas Senior Judge.

Bouker had previously announced his he would not seek re-election for another term for his current seat, but due to the timing required to become a Senior Judge, he will have to resign a bit earlier than expected.

“I had expressed interest in becoming a Senior Judge in the State of Kansas and heard … that I had been asked to do that,” Bouker said. “And because the senior contracts run from June 4 I had to resign the day before that to take that contract.”

While the position will allow Bouker to take on cases from around the state, he said cases he would be assigned would likely be very similar to his current case load.

“I think it would be an extremely broad type of case load as it is with a District Judge. you handle virtually everything from traffic matters up through murder,” he said.

Requests for a senior judge are assigned by the Supreme Court on an as-needed basis.

“There is someone from the office of Judicial Administration – which is the business arm of the Kansas Supreme Court – will call and say ‘we need a judge here for this type of case involving these parties and these attorneys and we would like you to take it,’ ” Bouker said.

Cases are assigned to Senior Judges in areas where sitting judges may have a conflict of interest or a high case load creates a need.

“I think I would be likely to be assigned to almost anywhere in the state where I was needed, so I expect to travel quite a bit,” Bouker said.

But even with travel, Bouker expects a lighter caseload, allowing for more personal time with family, while at the same time allowing him to continue contributing to the judicial system.

Senior Judges have a case load about 40 percent lower than District Court Judges.

With Bouker approaching 65 years old next April, he said he could take judicial retirement, but becoming a Senior Judge will open more options.

“This will allow me to have some more options about not taking social security right away,” he said.

But more importantly, Bouker wants to continue being an active member of the Kansas Judiciary.

“The biggest thing is simply being young enough that I feel like I can contribute, and I’d like to continue to do that,” he said.

The lower case load will also allow him to pursue other activities that a full-time judge would struggle to find time for.

“I would like some more time to do what I like to do. I have two granddaughters I’d like to spend time with them. I’d like to travel to see my children that are spread out across the United States,” Bouker said. “I have some home projects and some hobbies that I would like to spend time with, but I don’t want to be totally disconnected from everything.”

Leaving, however, means losing something special – a close relationship with associates in the district.

“I have been very, very proud and happy to be a district judge in this area. I have enjoyed it very much and it is very much of an honor. I feel like I work with some very amazing people who have done an outstanding job in the face of some very difficult challenges,” Bouker said. “I don’t have a better word for it than remarkable. I’ll miss being with them every day, but it’s time to see what else is out there.”

 

 

 

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