GREAT BEND –Bison are going to return to the Great Bend zoo.
Thanks a sizable donation from the Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation, the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo will reintroduce two bison to the zoo and extend the grizzly bear exhibit and add amenities to their home.
Dorothy Moses Morrison and her husband Wayne Morrison were third and fourth generation native residents of Great Bend and Barton County.
She died in 2008, but set up the foundation in 1993 to give back to the small town culture.
Foundation Director Katherine Opie said a grant of $130,000 would give the four grizzly bears much more room.
A second grant for $100,000 was also given to the zoo to revamp the existing bison exhibit the state animal once roamed.
A training wall and spectators viewing wall will also be added for the bear exhibit. Great Bend City Administrator Howard Partington said work to upgrade the exhibits would begin immediately.
TOPEKA, Kan. – D.J. Carr allowed one run on eight hits, throwing his second complete game of the season as Fort Hays State ends their seven-game losing streak with an 8-1 win over Washburn Tuesday afternoon at Falley Field. Carr (2-3) gave up a second inning lead off home run to David Gaunt then only allowed three runners to reach scoring position the rest of the way. The Youngstown State transfer struck out four and walked none needing only 91 pitches for his second win of the season.
Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Tigers (10-14, 4-9 MIAA) scored four in fourth to take the lead for good. They added a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the eighth. Alex King’s single to center scored Jace Bowman to tie the game 1-1. Nick Hammeke followed with a double to put FHSU up 2-1. Ty Redington and Caleb Cherryholmes also drove in runs to put the Tigers up 4-1.
Connor Ross had three of the Tigers 15 hits including two doubles. Redington, Cherryholmes, Bowman and King all had two hits.
FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Officials say Fort Riley’s long-delayed new hospital is one step closer to opening and could do so by the end of July.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials told U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp’s office that since Wednesday, the Army has been able to begin using the facility while the remaining construction is completed.
The Corps says the following 120 days are allotted for initial outfitting and transition, including finishing touches, such as installing fixtures and equipment.
If all goes according to schedule, the building will likely open for patients in mid- to late July.
The Corps didn’t immediately respond to the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury’s (https://bit.ly/1XJTAky ) request for comment.
The new Irwin Army Community Hospital was most recently set to open in January, but officials held back the date after pre-final inspections revealed a list of deficiencies.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are moving to make permanent an annual budget policy that prevents the state from providing federal family planning dollars to Planned Parenthood.
The Senate approved a bill Tuesday on a 31-9 vote, sending the measure to the House.
The legislation deals with federal family planning dollars for non-abortion services.
Lawmakers have included a provision in the state’s annual budgets since 2011 saying that money must go first to public health departments and then to hospitals.
The goal was prevent any of the funds from going to Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri, which also provides abortions. Putting the policy into state law means lawmakers won’t have to keep renewing it.
A federal appeals court upheld the policy in 2014. Planned Parenthood lost about $370,000 a year.
MCPHERSON COUNTY – A small plane made an emergency landing just after 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday in McPherson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Hawker Beechraft G36 piloted by Ian D Barnhart, 22, Wichita, took off from Eisenhower Airport in Wichita for a routine flight check.
When they were flying over McPherson County, the pilot saw mechanical indicators that were concerning them enough to attempt an emergency landing.
As they were approaching a black top road they had full failure of the engine and the pilot put the aircraft down successfully on 21st Ave south of Overland Road.
During their emergency landing a power line was contacted damaging the landing gear on the right side of the plane.
The pilot and a passenger from Texas were not injured.
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MCPHERSON COUNTY – Deputies with the McPherson County Sheriff’s Department and troopers from the Kansas Highway Responded to report of a small plane down near 21st and Overland northeast of McPherson on Tuesday afternoon.
The non-injury, emergency landing is under investigation.
Check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed legislation allowing faith-based college groups to restrict membership to like-minded people, likely putting Kansas on a collision course with civil liberties groups.
The conservative Republican signed the bill Tuesday. The new law will take effect in July.
The Republican-dominated Legislature approved the bill this month, even though the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that universities could require such groups to open their memberships to all.
Supporters have said the bill was a victory for religious freedom. Opponents say it was a veiled attempt to legalize discrimination.
Kansas already has a religious objections law preventing state or local governments from limiting people’s freedom to express their religion. But the law doesn’t touch on organizations at universities.
Kansas joins Oklahoma in having a campus-specific law.
HUTCHINSON – Attorneys for two teens accused of conspiracy to capital murder at Hutchinson High School were before juvenile Judge Patty Macke-Dick on Tuesday over whether there should be a gag order, sealed files and closed hearings in the case.
Ayrton “Alex” Marroquin, 14, and Carson Cabral, 15, are accused of making threats against officials at the high school.
Attorneys for the teens, Stan Juhnke and Greg Bell asked that the gag order be granted saying they think it would be in the best interest of their clients because of the high profile nature of the charges.
Juhnke argued that there maybe mental evaluations done on the two teens. They asked that the judge at least look at sealing documents on a case-by-case basis.
Judge Macke-Dick denied the overall gag order, but took the others under advisement including whether to close future hearings to the media and the public.
The investigation began when a student came forward on March 8 and expressed concerns about a threat to students.
The school Resource Officer was notified and other Hutchinson Police Officers were called into investigate.
After search warrants were served, they recovered plans for making pipe bombs as well as sketches and plans identifying where certain teachers and staff would be so they could be targeted.
Police also confiscated items that could be used to build explosive devices.
SALINA – A Kansas man arrested early Monday for breaking into a downtown Salina restaurant now has an additional charge of aggravated escape from custody.
After being questioned by police for breaking into the Taco John’s at 303 S. Santa Fe, and falling from the ceiling, Nicholas Briggs, 32, Salina, ran from an officer as he was being taken to the Saline County Jail about 6 p.m.
Briggs never left the building. He did get as far as the administrative offices of the Saline County Sheriff.
Briggs will face a requested charge of battery of a law enforcement officer, after he slammed a door on the hand of a police office when he started to run.
Briggs was not in handcuffs at the time he began his brief flight to freedom.
He had complained of injuries from the fall and was treated at a hospital before being taken to the jail.
Zippy Duvall President American Farm Bureau Federation Rich Felts President Kansas Farm Bureau
MANHATTAN–Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas has been a tremendous leader in working to pass a uniform, national voluntary labeling standard for foods produced with agricultural biotechnology.
Last week his bill, which offered a common-sense solution to an urgent problem and would have secured the food industry for farmers, food manufacturers and consumers, was blocked in the Senate. Unfortunately, too many of Senator Roberts’ colleagues refused to stand up to anti-GMO extremists and stand with American farmers and families.
Chairman Roberts’ proposal represented a bipartisan national solution to the growing GMO labeling debate. It would have established clear labeling standards administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, giving consumers more ingredient information without unfairly targeting a technology deemed perfectly safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization, among many others.
Both Democrats and Republicans agree that a national patchwork of Vermont-style labeling is an unworkable situation that would lead to significantly higher prices for working families, farmers and small businesses—not to mention chaos in the food supply chain and grocery marketplace.
We applaud Sen. Roberts for his determination to protect farmers. More than 800 agriculture and food industry organizations, including over three dozen groups in Kansas alone, backed the Senator’s bill. This broad support—from individual farmers to large trade associations—shows the depth of opposition to mandatory GMO on-package labels. Congress must act to ensure a uniform, voluntary labeling standard that rejects fearmongering and falsehoods.
We know that Sen. Roberts will continue his fight in defense of our family farms and against this threat to modern agricultural technology.
By Diane Gasper-O’Brien University Relations and Marketing
Wally Minkler occasionally works weekends at his campus job, setting up for various special events in Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum.
There was a special event on campus this past weekend, and Wally — as usual, wearing a baseball cap — was easy to spot walking around GMC.
But he wasn’t on the clock this time. An FHSU custodian by day, Wally was wearing a hat of a different kind on this weekend.
As head coach of a basketball team for the Arc of Central Plains, Wally helped his Buffalo team place third in its division at the State Basketball Tournament for Special Olympics Kansas.
Special Olympics is a global organization that provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate in athletics.
What made this particular activity in GMC and the gyms in adjacent Cunningham Hall even more special for Wally was that his stepson, Tyler Powers, is one of the players on his team.
Coincidentally, it’s because of Tyler, a 21-year-old who was born with Down syndrome, that Wally wound up in Hays and eventually at Fort Hays State.
Wally — living in Phillipsburg with his wife, Trina, and her son, Tyler — remembered how much he enjoyed competing in Special Olympic events as a youngster growing up in Smith Center.
Phillipsburg doesn’t have a Special Olympics program, so when Tyler graduated from high school there in 2013, the Minklers started looking for employment in Hays.
“We knew they had a lot of things going on here with Special Olympics,” Trina said. “We thought Tyler would really enjoy that.”
Wally learned last year that Fort Hays State was looking for a night custodian in Cunningham Hall, and he successfully sought the job. Then a few months later a daytime custodial position in GMC opened up.
Now, Wally has time to coach Tyler in the evenings, something he said he enjoys whether they win or lose.
“I try to tell my team to go do your best and have fun,” Wally said. “Whatever place you get, I’m happy with it.”
Wally was active on the sidelines, giving his players hand signals where to stand on defense.
Sometimes a play would make Wally wince, but he was quick to give his players a handshake as they came out of the game.
“It takes a very special person to coach for Special Olympics,” said Beth Pfeifer, director of the Arc of Central Plains. “To be able to work with them and be patient with them is a gift.”
Part of that comes natural for Wally, who said he “likes all the kids, and I think they all like me.”
“Except my stepson,” he said, chuckling. “Sometimes he doesn’t like me to tell him what to do.”
Tyler was the ultimate picture of a good teammate though Friday, even when his team lost its second game. He nodded at teammates as they came off the floor, some hanging their heads.
Their spirits were lifted the next day, however, when they collected their medals.
Keith Bieker, Wally’s custodial supervisor, also showed up to offer support and following one of the games, he met Wally’s team just outside the upper-level concession stand where the Arc of Central Plains had set up camp for the tournament.
“Wally is a really good worker here,” Keith said, “but what he does with these kids is really something. It takes a special person to do that.”
We have been given the opportunity to help with a lifesaving mission. On Thursday, March 31st, Hays High Student Council is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive. The drive will be held at the Hays High Gym, 2300 E 13th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Red Cross depends on volunteer blood donors, such as the people in our community, to ensure a safe and adequate blood supply. Your blood donation could give life to friends and neighbors: a teenage accident victim who lives around the corner; a young mother experiencing childbirth complications; or an elementary school teacher battling cancer. People like this are urgently awaiting an act of kindness from you.
If you are in general good health, at least 16 years of age-with parent permission- and weigh at least 110 pounds, I hope you will consider taking time out of your busy schedule to donate blood. Your donation could help three different patients. By giving a small amount of your time, you will help to ensure there is life-giving blood on the shelves when it is needed.
An appointment for this Blood Drive is preferred. For more information on donating blood and scheduling an appointment at the Hays High Student Council Blood Drive, please call the Hays High Office at 623-2600 and they will answer any questions.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State senior Paxton Duran was named MIAA/AstroTurf Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week along with Emmie Robertson of Pittsburg State on Tuesday (Mar. 22) for her efforts this past week. Duran threw in six of eight games last week and made four starts for the Tigers, which included a complete game shutout performance.
Duran posted an ERA of 1.78 for the week in 35.1 innings. She had 29 strikeouts, but went 1-3 for the week taking a pair of losses in one-run games on the road (3-2 and 1-0) and then an 11-inning loss to Lindenwood. In her final start, she tossed a nine-strikeout shutout against Lincoln for her lone win of the week. At the plate, she slugged .800 for the week and hit two home runs in a game against Lindenwood, which tied the FHSU single-game record. She drove home five runs for the week and had three extra-base hits. She recorded a save in the 26-18 win over Lindenwood, a game that saw FHSU set a new school record for runs.
Robertson went 2-1 on the week with wins over Wayne State, 13-0 (5), and Augustana, 3-0. Her one loss was to Sioux Falls. Robertson pitched two shut outs in her three appearances and gave up only three total earned runs on the week. In 19.0 innings of work, Robertson struck out 25 batters, including 12 in the loss to Sioux Falls. Of the 11 hits she gave up on the week, only three were for extra bases. Robertson finished the week with a 1.11 ERA and held opponents to a .164 batting average.
Daisy Tackett’s lawsuit against KU seeks damages under the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. TRISTAN BOWERSOX / CREATIVE COMMONS-FLICKR
A former University of Kansas student whose parents sued KU for consumer fraud after they say she was raped on campus has now filed her own lawsuit against the university.
Daisy Tackett’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for violations of Title IX, the 1972 federal law that bars sex discrimination in education.
The suit, filed today in Douglas County District Court, says KU created a hostile environment by housing KU football players in a residence hall, Jayhawker Towers, that it had reason to know was unsafe.
Tackett alleges that at least four other sexual assaults had been reported at Jayhawker Towers before she was raped there by a football player in the fall of 2014 and at least two others after that.
She says she reported her rape to KU about a year after it allegedly happened, when she learned of another sexual assault involving the same football player, who is identified in the lawsuit only as John Doe G.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a spokeswoman for KU, responded in an email that the university doesn’t comment on individual sexual assault investigations.
“As we said in response to the Tacketts’ first lawsuit earlier this month, any suggestion that we do not support those who report sexual assault on our campuses is baseless,” Barcomb-Peterson said.
At a news conference in Kansas City, Tackett’s father, James Tackett, read a statement from his daughter.
“I reported my rape because I thought other KU students were at risk. I did not know that KU would treat me the way it did. I did not feel safe after my report,” the statement said. “My coaches did not care. I felt like I did every single thing KU asked of me, and I feel that they did not hold up their end of the bargain. KU did not protect me. And I was not able to be a student or an athlete there.”
The statement continued:
“I hope the KU community understands why I had to do this. KU cannot be allowed to operate under the status quo. Kansas has rich history of standing up for what is right. It’s why we are Jayhawks. This is my contribution to that proud tradition and I hope Kansans and Jayhawks will stand with me.”
Earlier this month, Tackett’s father and mother, Amanda Tackett, filed a class action lawsuit against KU under the Kansas consumer protection law. The novel legal case claims that KU falsely represented that its dorms are safe and secure, and seeks damages on behalf of anyone who enrolled a student at KU in the past three years.
One of the Kansas City law firms that represents the parents, Brown & Curry, also represents Daisy Tackett.
In response to that lawsuit, KU said that the allegations were “baseless” and it provides an array of services designed to keep students safe.
Suit says rowing coach retaliated
Daisy Tackett, a varsity rower and a member of the Student Senate, withdrew from KU in January, according to her lawsuit. She now lives with her parents in Florida.
She claims that sometime after her alleged rape, she encountered John Doe G a couple of times on campus and experienced anxiety and panic. KU finally expelled him only this month – four months after her report, the lawsuit alleges.
Tackett also claims the rowing team coach retaliated against her, telling her she couldn’t attend a training trip in December 2015 in Florida. When she told him about her rape, the university’s investigation and how much the trip meant to her, he told her she needed to pass a fitness test first, according to the lawsuit.
She says she passed it the very next day but was still prevented from going, although less experienced and slower rowers were allowed to go.
After she went home to Florida, she says, the coaches asked her to return her equipment, consisting of spandex sweatpants, t-shirts and sports bras. And KU told her it would be billing her for the semester and placed an administrative hold on her transcripts, according to the lawsuit.
Tackett’s petition cites KU’s 2015 Clery Act report – which requires universities to publish their crime statistics – to back up her claim that KU’s residence halls are unsafe. The report stated that in 2014 there were 14 rapes, 10 of them in the dorms. In 2013, there were 13 forcible sex offenses, nine of them in the dorms, according to Tackett’s petition.
By contrast, in 2012, only three forcible sex offenses were reported, two of them in the dorms.
A study last year of 31 large colleges and universities by a KU law professor, Corey Rayburn Yung, found that many schools understate the number of sexual assaults on campus. The study, which was published in a journal put out by the American Psychological Association, found that when the schools were audited by the U.S. Department of Education, they reported 44 percent more sexual assaults on average than they had previously.
Dan Margolies, editor of the Heartland Health Monitor team, is based at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.
MANHATTAN–Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas has been a tremendous leader in working to pass a uniform, national voluntary labeling standard for foods produced with agricultural biotechnology.
Wally Minkler occasionally works weekends at his campus job, setting up for various special events in Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum.
