BUTLER COUNTY – One person died in an accident just after 2a.m. on Friday in Butler County.
The Kansas Turnpike Authority reported a 2007 Toyota RAV 4 driven by Charles Addison Shoenhair, 31, College Station, TX, was northbound on the Kansas Turnpike just north of the Andover exit.
The vehicle hit horses in the road.
Shoenhair was pronounced dead at the scene.
Travel on the turnpike was re-opened just after 5 a.m. The accident remains under investigation.
Following in the footsteps of fellow British rock legend Keith Richards,Paul McCartney has landed a cameo role in the fifth installment of thePirates of the Caribbean movie series.
According to Deadline, sources close to the production report that the former Beatles star will appear in a “big set-piece scene” that’s being added to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
The sources tell Deadline that production on Dead Men Tell No Taleshad already finished when directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, decided to add the scene.
No further details about McCartney’s role have been revealed. The movie, of course, stars Johnny Depp as the swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow, while Geoffrey Rush will once again portray the ghostly pirate Barbossa, and Javier Bardem will be featured as a new character, the villainous Captain Salazar.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is scheduled to open May 26, 2017.
Richards played Captain Teague, Sparrow’s father, in the third and fourth installments of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — 2007’s At World’s End and 2011’s On Stranger Tides. Depp has revealed in numerous interviews that he based his characterization of Sparrow on the Rolling Stones guitarist.
McCartney’s previous acting appearances on films include the Beatles movies A Hard Day’s Night, Help! andYellow Submarine, and the 1984 flick Give My Regards to Broad Street.
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Downtown Hays Development Corporation
Downtown Hays Development Corporation together with Eagle Communications invites you to Downtown Hays for Brews on The Bricks, April 2 from 11:30 to 5 p.m.
Thirteen brewers are coming in from all over Kansas, Colorado, Missouri and Nebraska but because it’s just not right to have a good beer without great food check out this year’s vendors and some of what they are serving.
Cathy’s Breads has created a special beer themed menu just for this event. It features Oatmeal Stout Rye, Amber Ale Pretzel Sticks, Chocolate Stout Cake, American Wheat Hazelnut Miche and more.
The Hot Dog Dude is traveling in from Topeka, Kansas and brings with him Premium Hot Dogs, Brats, Polish Sausages, Frito Chili Pies and more. Slater’s Pizza Wings N’ Things is a local favorite you can’t miss in his neon green truck. Enjoy Pizza, Wings, Fries, and Knots.
The Paisley Pear Cafe is stepping out to join the fun. Look for their food cart and warm buttery fresh baked pretzels. Plus grab a pretzel necklace inside the sampling tents to balance your beer intake with your salt intake. Remember vendors will be open to the public, no ticket needed, from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and located directly on Main St.
We look forward to seeing you Downtown on April 2.
WICHITA –According to the website of the Islamic Society of Wichita (ISW), the ISW has scheduled a fundraising event featuring Sheik Monzer Talib. The fundraiser is to be held at the Muslim Community Center. It is sponsored by the Islamic Society of Wichita and scheduled from 8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m, according to a media release from the office of Congressman Mike Pompeo.
In response to this scheduled event, Pompeo issued the following statement:
“I am profoundly disappointed and disturbed by both the content and the timing of the Islamic Society of Wichita’s decision to bring Sheik Monzer Talib to Wichita, Kansas. On one of the most holy days on the Christian calendar, and only days after radical Islamic extremists murdered dozens of innocents of many faiths in Brussels, Belgium, they chose to bring a Hamas-connected sheik to their community center here in Wichita. They should cancel his appearance.
In response to Pompeo, the Islamic Society’s School issued an alert to parents of students on Thursday. “Due to the concerning media statement regarding planned protest and the potential for security concerns and a possibility of a protest tomorrow during Friday prayers, we will dismiss school at 11:00am to err on the side of caution.
At AIS we put student safety first and it’s our top priority. We rely on Allah and He is the best of protectors.”
“I have, for years and continuously, implored leaders of the Islamic faith here in Kansas and around the world to stand with leaders of all faiths in condemning terrorist attacks by radical Islamic groups,” said Pompeo. “I can find not a mention of the Brussels murders on ISW’s website, facebook page or twitter account. This is unconscionable. ISW and its leaders should use this time to condemn this attack instead of celebrating Sheik Taleb.”
“But worse, now, in my own community, rather than make clear that violence in the name of Allah is always wrong, the Islamic Society of Wichita has chosen the day, when millions of Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross, to bring a cleric who has claimed his commitment to Hamas, to lead their services. Hamas is a designated terrorist organization that has the destruction of Israel as its core tenet and terror and murder as its core operating principle. This decision by ISW is horribly misguided and puts at risk much work that has been done to improve relations among members of all faiths here in Kansas.
“I am a passionate believer in the First Amendment. I acknowledge and support ISW’s right to hold this service with Sheik Talib. But having this right to do so does not mitigate the harm that will be done to our community if the ISW leaders move forward with this event on Holy Friday. They will be responsible for the damage among religious faiths that is sure to follow.
“Mr. Talib has a long history of association with radical Islam. He was named as a co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism finance case in which millions of American dollars were funneled to the terrorist organization Hamas. He was also a member of an organization that advocated for the destruction of Israel and is on videotape affirming his allegiance to Hamas that has killed thousands of Westerners.
“The leaders of the ISW surely know what they are doing in bringing this hateful man to help them raise money on this day so important to Christians. While I do not know their motives, I do know that they should reconsider. The ISW can help everyone focus on uniting all faiths against such barbarism – this scheduled event does exactly the opposite.
“I call on the Islamic Society of Wichita to show its commitment to uniting believers of all faiths and to cancel the appearance of Sheik Monzer Talib.”
Pompeo serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Select Committee on Benghazi. He is a graduate of West Point and an Army veteran.
Submitted
Lifetime Dental Care will be sponsoring their annual Give Kids A Smile event on Friday, April 1 to provide underserved children with free dental services.
Nearly one in four children aged two to 11 years old has untreated cavities in their baby teeth, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many children enrolled in Medicaid receive no dental services throughout the year.
Give Kids A Smile is held annually to:
• Provide free, easily accessible dental services to qualifying individuals.
• Raise awareness of the epidemic of untreated dental disease occurring locally and nationally and create local public and private partnerships to increase access to oral health care to solve this crisis.
Space is limited and children are seen by appointment only. To get more information or schedule an appointment for your child, please call Lifetime Dental Care at 785-625-7969.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
It was a full house for Thursday night’s Hays City Commission meeting.
Proponents of the USD 489 $94 million bond issue and an associated one-half cent special purpose retail sales tax sported bright yellow stickers that read “Support Our Future First. Vote Yes.” Several adults brought along their young children. Also in the audience were teachers, administrators, and current and former school board members.
Hays City Attorney John Bird again reviewed the consequences of a successful sales tax petition by supporters after the city rejected the request earlier this year.
“The state statute requires the city…to now notify the county clerk to conduct a sales tax election. The city commission has to formally select the date for the city sales tax election. The school board does that for its own bond election.
“The question requires both elections to take place at the same time…otherwise, the sales tax would not be levied and would not be used to pay the school district bonds,” Bird explained, adding that a special purpose retail sales tax can be in effect up to 10 years.
June 7, 2016, is the date the school board wants to hold its bond election. City commissioners voted two-one to approve a resolution calling for the city sales tax election on the same date–June 7.
Commissioner Lance Jones voted against the measure. His earlier motion to set the election date for Nov. 8, 2016, died for lack of a second. Commissioners Henry Schwaller and James Meier were absent.
All three commissioners expressed their support of the school district’s plan to take care of deferred maintenance, and safety and space issues. “I don’t think any of us are against the school’s,” said Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil, noting he has “three kids soon to be in your school district.”
“But our sales taxes are down–six of the past seven months–and that’s a concern for us.” He explained that Hays residents voted in 1995 for a sales tax to finance the city’s general fund.
Earlier in the meeting, City Attorney Bird clarified the current county-wide one-half cent sales tax will expire no later than October, 2018. The city’s new one-half cent sales tax, if passed , would not go into effect until the county sales tax has expired.
“From the city’s side, I think that’s why we all voted against your request in January. Using the sales tax could hurt us in the future, especially for 10-years,” said Musil.
“What I do like…is it’s going to the voters and they’re going to make the decision, and to me, that’s the most important part of it.”
Hays school board members have scheduled a special meeting for 7 a.m. Monday, March 28, to vote on the USD 489 resolution for a June 7 bond election.
HFD
The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting fire hydrants and flushing water mains Friday, March 25, in the area of Hall Street east to Country Lane, between 33rd Street and 41st Street. This is part of a coordinated effort by the City of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.
Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes. The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.
Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public. Drivers are asked to avoid driving through water discharging from a fire hydrant during the short flushing period.
For more information please contact the Hays Fire Department at (785) 628-7330.
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on the suicide bombings this week in Brussels (all times local):
12 p.m.
A U.S. official says at least two American citizens have been confirmed killed in this week’s attacks in Brussels.
The announcement comes as Secretary of State John Kerry is visiting the city to express his condolences to the Belgian people.
Speaking after meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, Kerry said the “United States is praying and grieving with you for the loved ones of those cruelly taken from us, including Americans, and for the many who were injured in these despicable attacks.”
He did not give a specific number but a senior official said the families of two Americans had been informed of their deaths in Tuesday’s attacks. The official, who was not authorized to speak to the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not have further details.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have started their annual spring break and will be out of session for nearly five weeks.
The House and Senate adjourned Thursday afternoon after both approved a Republican education funding plan. The measure avoids increasing state spending while attempting to meet a state Supreme Court order to improve aid to poor school districts.
Lawmakers plan to resume their session April 27.
They’ll reconvene after state officials and economists issue revised projections for state tax collections through June 2017.
With monthly tax collections regularly falling short of expectations, legislators are likely to consider budget adjustments. They’ll also be awaiting word from the Supreme Court on whether the school funding plan is acceptable.
Thursday was the 67th day of the annual legislative session, with 90 days traditionally scheduled.
Today Partly sunny, with a high near 65. South wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight A slight chance of rain between 9pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. North northwest wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
SaturdayMostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a north wind 13 to 21 mph.
Saturday NightA slight chance of rain and snow between 10pm and 1am, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind 8 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 59. North northwest wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Sunday NightClear, with a low around 33.
MondaySunny, with a high near 69. Breezy.
HUTCHINSON— A Kansas man arrested for the alleged crime involving the installing a new electric meter by a utility company employee was before a judge Thursday for the formal reading of charges.
Kerry Getz, 62, has been charged by the state with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery causing reckless bodily harm and criminal damage to property.
Just after 11:30 on Thursday, Reno County Sheriff Deputies were called to the area of 5000 West Nickerson Blvd. northwest of Hutchinson for the report of an aggravated assault.
When deputies arrived, they found a wrecked Ford Ranger pick-up with Westar Energy signage on the sides.
As they investigated, they discovered that a sub-contracted employee of Westar Energy was in the area replacing electrical meters on the houses in the area. This is a project that has been going on for quite some time.
As the employee changed out the meter at one house, the resident, 62-year-old Kerry Getz became outraged that the meter had been changed. A verbal assault of the employee also occurred, according to deputies.
As the employee tried to explain the reasons for doing this, Getz became more outraged.
The man who was distinctly marked as a Westar employee fled the residence in his truck for safety.
As the employee was calling his supervisor, Getz allegedly followed him in his own vehicle and blocked Westar vehicle from leaving.
Another confrontation occurred and Getz allegedly damaged the Westar vehicle and attempted to take property from the truck.
In one of the verbal exchanges, he made the comment to the Westar employee that had a weapon and may have to use it.
At some point, Getz attempted to use his vehicle in an effort to run over the Westar employee, however the employee was able to escape with no injuries.
Eventually, the Westar employee attempted to flee again in his truck and the resident chased him down in his vehicle and forced him off of the road by ramming into him, according to deputies.
After hearing the account of what had happened and speaking with Getz, he was arrested on charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal damage to property.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey-based Gerber Products Co. says it’s recalling two types of organic baby food because of a packaging defect that could make them susceptible to spoilage while being transported and handled.
The Florham Park company says the voluntary recall involves two batches of Gerber Organic 2nd Foods Pouches – Pears, Carrots & Peas and two batches of Gerber Organic 2nd Foods Pouches – Carrots, Apples & Mangoes. It says the products have best by dates of July 12, 13 and 14. It says those pouches may be bloated or the product inside may have an off taste or odor.
Gerber said Thursday consumers who have the food pouches shouldn’t use them.
The food pouches are being removed from the company’s retail and online stores.
By GARY B. GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Perry Ellis scored 27 points, Wayne Selden Jr. added 19 and and top-seeded Kansas topped No. 5 Maryland for a 79-63 NCAA Tournament South Region semifinal victory Thursday night. The win put the Jayhawks back into the Elite 8 for the first time since 2012.
It took time for the Jayhawks (33-4) to get going, but once they finally seized the lead late in the first half everything else fell into place for their 17th straight victory. They emerged from the break to make their first six shots and steadily take control behind senior forward Ellis, who made 10 of 17 from the field.
Selden was right there with 7-of-16 shooting to help Kansas earn a berth in Saturday’s regional final against Villanova.
The Terrapins (27-9) dictated the early tempo and briefly engaged in a back-and-forth game with the Jayhawks before eventually falling behind the tournament favorite. Rasheed Sulaimon led Maryland with 18 points.
