GEARY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Geary County are investigating a suspect for alleged sexual exploitation of a child.
On Friday, following a three-week investigation, the Geary County Sheriff’s Office arrested Mark Snider, 26, Abilene on suspicion of Electronic Solicitation and five counts of Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child Under 16, according to Geary County Sheriff Tony Wolf.
Snider was a basketball and track coach for USD 473, Chapman School District, prior to his resignation at the April 2016 USD 473 School Board meeting.
Snider was taken into custody at the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office in Abilene and was transported to the Geary County Detention Center in Junction City where he is being held without bond, pending his first appearance.
The Geary County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate this matter to determine if there are any other victims involved.
Anyone with information regarding this case, is asked to contact the Geary County Sheriff’s Office, Investigations Division at 785-238-6621.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Newly released court documents allege that a Manhattan homicide suspect killed his 3-month-old daughter.
The Manhattan Mercury reports that 25-year-old Andrew Gibson is jailed on first-degree murder and child abuse charges in last week’s death of Serenity Nichole Reich. Bond is set at $500,000.
The affidavit says that a series of bruises and abrasions led a doctor to conclude that she was killed. The child’s name and relationship to Gibson wasn’t released previously. The affidavit says a doctor also found older injuries, such as partially healed broken bones.
She was rushed to a hospital May 5 after officers responded to a call about an infant who wasn’t breathing. Efforts to revive the infant weren’t successful, and the child was pronounced dead at the hospital.
ABILENE — The Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a “Lunch and Learn” session on Digital and Social Media Marketing.
Jeremy Coulter of Eagle Communications will be the presenter. He will discuss the value and process of digital marketing on platforms including from Google, Facebook and other social media outlets.
Eagle Communications is the only Google Partner in western Kansas and the only Google Partner All Star in a four-state region. Eagle’s Google marketing campaigns perform in the top 3 percent of all Google Partners in North America.
The Lunch and Learn is scheduled for noon Tuesday at the Abilene Civic Center, 201 NW Second.
The session if free of charge, and beverages will be provided. Bring your own lunch.
For more information, call (785) 263-1770.
For more information on Eagle’s array of digital marketing tools, call (785) 628-0467 or click HERE.
Funeral services for former Goodland, Kansas, resident Charlotte L. (Clark) Stasser Vaala, 80, will be held Monday, May 16, at 10:30 AM MT at Calvary Gospel Church in Goodland.
Interment will be at Goodland Cemetery.
Friends may share respects Sunday, May 15, from 6:00 until 8:00 PM MT at Koons Chapel in Goodland.
Memorials to Charlotte Vaala Memorial may be left at the services or mailed to Koons Funeral Home, 211 North Main, Goodland, KS 67735-1555.
Valencia Machree (Casey) Jones, 88, McCracken, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse. She was born Nov. 10, 1926, in Forsyth, Missouri, to Ralph and Pauline Casey. She married Thayne W. Jones, Jan. 31, 1952, in Forsyth, and soon after marriage she joined her husband, serving in the U.S. Army in occupied West Germany, where they completed their honeymoon in the Bavarian Alps.
After discharge, she lived with her husband in Columbia as he completed his degree in Journalism at Missouri University. She moved with her husband to St James, MO, where they published the weekly St James Journal for three years, until sale of the newspaper to the Rolla Daily News. (Today the paper is published from St. James as the Journal-Leader).
She moved with her husband in 1956 to Raymond, Washington, where he was employed as News Editor of the weekly Raymond Herald and Advertiser. In 1958 they returned to Rush County, joining the Jones family farm business.
Before marriage she had lived with her family in various communities in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. She became skilled as a Linotype operator in the days when newspapers were printed from hot cast metal type. She was a member of St. Michaels Episcopal Church in Hays where she had served one term on the church Vestry.
She is survived by her husband of McCracken, her son Thayne Christian, his wife Marites (Tess) and her grandson, Ethan Michael all of Wichita.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Patrick, her parents and two brothers who drowned before their teen years after falling through the ice in Lake Taneycomo, Missouri.
Memorial Services will be 10:00 AM Tuesday, May 17, at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 2900 Canal Blvd. in Hays. Private family inurnment will take place at a later date in the Casey family Cemetery in Forsyth, MO. Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Memorials in her memory may be donated to the McCracken Library or Museum.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].
Congratulations to:
Pauline Meis
Becky Kuhn
Sarah Beckner
Sherri Smith
LaVonne McGinness
*****
We are giving away the Chicken Soup for the Soul book “The Joy of Less.”
Send an email to [email protected] with your name to register to win. Please put “chicken soup” on the subject line.
–or–
Listen to Theresa Trapp for chances to call 785-628-2995 and register to win.
No age requirement to register. One registration per person.
Winners will be contacted May 13, 2016.
Winners will need to pick up their books at the KZ Country Studio, 2300 Hall, Hays, KS within 30 days of winning.
Remember, one win per person per contest in 30 days.
*****
In the Age of Disposables—fashion, phones, glasses, and even friends!—some people are finding joy by rediscovering the simple life. They’re cleaning house, both literally and figuratively, and finding themselves better for it. By getting rid of excess “stuff” and trimming down their over-filled schedules, they feel happier and more fulfilled than ever before. It’s really true that little can go a long way.
With Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Less, spring cleaning takes on a whole new meaning. You’ll read stories about people who found happiness in an unlikely way: by saying no. No to buying more stuff, no to taking on additional time-filling commitments, and no to trying to please everyone all of the time.
In this book you’ll also meet people who have found contentment in simplicity by spending time with their family during “staycations.” You’ll also read about people who cut out some of the everyday stressors in life by simply “unplugging” by turning off their smartphones and staying away from the Internet for a day. It’s amazing what a little break can do.
You’ll even meet people who lost almost everything, but found happiness rediscovering who they really are and turning catastrophe into opportunity. When forced to simplify because the going gets tough, the tough get creative and find ways to flourish.
Whether it’s cleaning out your closets and holding a yard sale or taking a stand for your wellbeing by keeping time to yourself, there are a hundred different ways to find joy in less.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is telling public schools that they must allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.
The directive is in formal guidance being sent to school districts Friday by the departments of Education and Justice.
The letter does not impose any new legal requirements, but federal officials say the guidance is meant to clarify school districts’ obligations to provide students with nondiscriminatory environments.
It comes amid a legal fight between the Justice Department and North Carolina over that state’s law on bathroom use by transgender people. The state and the federal government sued each other on Monday.
DETROIT (AP) — Subaru is telling owners of some newer Legacy and Outback vehicles not to drive them because the steering can fail.
The company is recalling about 52,000 of the cars and SUVs from the 2016 and 2017 model years. It also has told dealers to stop selling them until they’re repaired.
Subaru says in government documents that steering columns may have been manufactured improperly by a parts supplier. The columns may not engage, meaning the steering wheel could rotate freely and the driver could lose control.
The problem was discovered May 3 when the owner of a 2016 Outback reported trouble. It was unclear if there have been any crashes or injuries.
Subaru says dealers will check the steering columns. If they weren’t built properly, they’ll be replaced. That starts in mid-May.
City commissioners adopted changes to the city’s economic development policy Thursday night to make Hays more “business friendly.”
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The economic development policy of the city of Hays has been updated to reflect changes in its business recruitment techniques.
City commissioners discussed the proposed changes during last week’s work session and voted unanimously Thursday night to adopt the revised document.
There are two notable changes to the policy in seeking economic development incentives from the city, one new inclusion–“Statement of Process” and one removal–“Big Box” requirements for retail applicants.
“Big Box” requirements were removed from the Hays economic development policy.
No longer are there requirements that any retail applicant must meet the criteria of 50,000 square feet, $10 million a year in retail sales, and employ 25 or more employees.
“I think 25 to 30 years ago the economic development goals were to go for some heavy-hitters–big employers–and so I think that’s where that language came from,” said Mayor Eber Phelps, “to set up incentives for somebody to guarantee 100, 200, 300, 400 employees.
“In recent years, I think we’re looking more at quality companies coming here with maybe 10 or 20 employees. Those add a lot of benefit.
“Striking the language at the beginning of this policy on the square footage and $10 million (in annual revenue) opens up the possibilities where incentives are available to those (smaller businesses).”
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty and Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development (ECCED) Executive Director Aaron White both told commissioners last week that there is a business planning to submit a “Community Improvement District” (CID) application if the “Big Box” requirements were removed.
Commissioner Henry Schwaller, who was absent during last week’s work session, said Thursday “the changes we’re making are the best we’ve made in a long time. They make sense. They give more power to the Coalition to assist us, which is why it was created.”
The newly added “Statement of Process” requires a review by the ECCED and a prepared Term Sheet before the city commission considers a proposal.
The addition of a “Statement of Process” was requested by the commission after rejecting plans for a travel plaza at the west intersection of Interstate 70 in Hays by Colby-based NWK Investments LLC. It requires a review by White and a term sheet to be prepared before the commission will consider a proposal.
Schwaller also praised the added requirements in an applicant’s business plan to include more details as well as a cost/benefit analysis.
An applicant’s Business Plan must include more information as well as a cost/benefit analysis.
“The applicant should know the financial impact on both sides (Hays and the prospective business) and whether financial incentives are actually needed,” said Dougherty.
Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil liked the changes. “I think it makes it more business friendly to be able to work with developers. Hopefully, it makes it easier to come to Hays.”
However, Musil said he still has a different goal–“not to give any benefits, but I don’t think that’s possible any more,” he acknowledged.
“I know we’ve all heard that there’s people wanting to come out there by Walmart and Home Depot where we have infrastructure. It sure would be nice to see somebody breaking ground out there and bring some new business to maybe get our sales tax revenues turned around, ” Musil said.
Eight of the past ten months sales tax collections for Hays have been down as compared to the same time period in 2015, according to Finance Director Kim Rupp.
Sales tax revenues are a major revenue stream for the city’s General Operating Fund, a point that is emphasized more heavily in the new economic development policy.
Commissioners also redefined the TIF–Tax Increment Financing to make only property taxes eligible. Sales taxes are no longer part of a TIF incentive.
Click here to read the final draft changes in the Hays Economic Development Policy.
NEW YORK (AP) – Chase Headley, Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius hit early home runs and the New York Yankees beat Kansas City 7-3 Thursday night, sending the World Series champion Royals to their 12th loss in 16 games.
Kansas City dropped three of four at Yankee Stadium. Before the game, manager Ned Yost insisted he wasn’t worried about his team, saying “it’s a group that doesn’t panic.”
Nathan Eovaldi (3-2) worked around eight hits in five innings, and overcame getting struck on the leg by Lorenzo Cain’s hard one-hopper at the outset.
On Eovaldi’s last pitch, Salvador Perez nearly launched a go-ahead, three-run homer, but right fielder Carlos Beltran caught the ball at the top of the wall. Eovaldi wiped his brow as he walked off the mound while Perez put both hands on the top of his helmet.
HAYS, Kan. – Connor rule singled to right field and scored Drew Young with two down in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Hays High baseball team to a 2-1 win over Garden City in game two of their doubleheader Thursday at Hays High and fave the Indians a split in their regular season finale.
Brayden Delzeit’s sac fly in the bottom of the sixth scored Rule to tie the game 1-1. Palmer Hutchison allowed the one run on six hits and picks up the complete game victory.
Garden City exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh to rally for a 5-3 win in game one.
The Indians finish the regular season 12-8. They will play Buhler in their regional opener Tuesday at 4 pm in McPherson.
Valencia Machree (Casey) Jones, 88, McCracken, died Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at Locust Grove Village, LaCrosse. She was born Nov. 10, 1926, in Forsyth, Missouri, to Ralph and Pauline Casey. She married Thayne W. Jones, Jan. 31, 1952, in Forsyth, and soon after marriage she joined her husband, serving in the U.S. Army in occupied West Germany, where they completed their honeymoon in the Bavarian Alps.
