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Harold E. “Gus” Augustine

harold augustine
Harold E. “Gus” Augustine

Harold E. “Gus” Augustine, age 87, died Thursday, March 17, 2016, at Hays Medical Center.

He was born November 29, 1928, in Hays, Kansas to Michael and Anna (Weaver) Augustine. He married Vera (Wolf) on August 18, 1953 in Hays, Kansas.

He was a lineman for Midwest Energy Inc. for forty years and retired in 1987. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving as a Senior Lineman and a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Hays, Kansas. After he retired he worked at R and A Electric for several years and he enjoyed spending time fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Vera Augustine, of the home; two sons, Tim Augustine, Terry Augustine and wife Christy, all of Hays, KS; one daughter, Carmen Fukasawa and husband Yoshi, Wichita Falls, TX; one brother, Kenneth Augustine and wife, Barbara, Grove, OK; two sisters-in-law, Mary Augustine, Shawnee, KS; Ann Augustine, Hays, KS; one brother-in-law, George Pfeifer, Omaha, NE; seven grandchildren, Ashley, Courtney, Aubrey, Chelsey Augustine; Yoshihisa Fukasawa and wife, Sarah; Asami Shook and husband, Brad; Kenji Fukasawa and wife, Leighe; four great grandchildren, Ava Fukasawa, Noah Fukasawa, Grace Fukasawa and Kinsley Shook.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Harold Augustine Jr.; one great grandson, Jacob Fukasawa; three brothers, Leroy “Dick” Augustine and wife, Wilma; Mike Augustine, Wayne Augustine; five sisters, Mary Ann Dreiling and husband Linus; Jeanie Pfeifer; Velma Harned and husband, Duane; Valeria Ader and husband Oran; Betty Flannery and husband, Charlie; one infant brother, Dale Augustine; and one infant sister, Marjorie Augustine.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, March 26, 2016, at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas, 67601. Inurnment will be at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Schoenchen, Kansas with military honors by the Hays V.F.W. Post #9076.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays.

Memorial to Alzheimer’s Association of Central & Western Kansas. Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Touch-up of failed bike lane markings, symbols underway by contractor

bike rider symbolBy JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Contractors will be working around Hays this week to fix failing bicycle route markings.

According to Assistant Director of Public Works John Braun, there were approximately 50 bike lane symbols and about 200 feet of the lines that make up the bike lanes that have failed.

A portion of the markings the contractor is touching up are ones with some pieces that are deteriorating or peeling off.

Braun said the markings had a six-month guarantee and after the Kansas Department of Transportation had inspected the markings, KDOT found some issues and the contractor was called back to fix the markings.

The project was completed by KDOT and they have certain standards each project must meet. There is a 180-day observation period, according to Braun, where the contractor will have to come in and replace deficiencies or failures.

According to the city, areas of work include, but may not be limited to: Elm Street from 2nd to 12th, Main Street from 13th to 21st, Allen from 8th to 13th, 22nd Street from Vine to Canterbury, General Custer from 13th to 22nd, and the 32nd and 33rd and Vine area.

Some of the work will take place in the evening and into the night to avoid times when traffic is heavy in those areas.

Questions remain as investigation of western Kan. Amtrak derailment continues

Train derailment on March 14 in Gray County-photo courtesy Daniel Szczerba
Train derailment on March 14 in Gray County-photo courtesy Daniel Szczerba

GRAY COUNTY- The National Transportation Safety Board and law enforcement officials continue to investigate the March 14, Amtrak accident in Gray County.

A feed truck from a nearby lot where cattle are fattened hit the track and shifted it before the train derailed.

Officials know who was driving the vehicle but not that the individual was driving at the time the truck hit the track, according to a media contact with the NTSB.

Officials with the Kansas Highway Patrol have turned the investigation on the truck over to the NTSB, according to Trooper Michael Racy in Garden City.

NTSB board member Earl Weener did not confirm the truck was the cause of the accident.

Feed truck that hit the train track prior to the derailment- photo NTSB
Feed truck that hit the train track prior to the derailment- photo NTSB

He did say the impact of the truck from the Cimarron Crossing Feeders shifted the train track 12 to 14 inches.

The feed company has not commented.

The derailment injured at least 32 people although most were treated and released from the hospital.

More than 140 people were on the train at the time of the accident.

USD 489 Board of Education approves HNEA contract, staff pay raises


                                      Video courtesy USD 489 News

By James Bell
Hays Post

The USD 489 Board of Education met Monday night to address several pressing issues, including the approval of the the HNEA negotiated teacher contract for the 2015-2106 school year.

The Board unanimously approved the contract that came out of mediation earlier this month.

“It was quite the journey,” said Lance Bickle, Board president, while thanking the HNEA for working through the process.

The Board also briefly discussed the $94 million bond issue resolution that would put the election in motion for June 7.

Hays City Commissioners will vote Thursday on the timing of a sales tax question that would help pay for the bond issue. Because the commission’s vote is pending the school board took no action Monday night, instead deciding to hold a special meeting at 7 a.m. Monday, March 28, after city commissioner have made their decision.

The Board’s March 28 meeting will decide the language for the bond ballot questions.

Summer school fees were also addressed by the Board Monday evening.

Anita Scheve, director of The Learning Center, asked the Board to consider a staggered fee schedule for the summer school program, that would make courses free for students eligible for the free school lunch program.

“I think there needs to be some skin in the game,” Bickle said, arguing that even a $10 fee would give students motivation to complete the courses.

In response, Board member Sarah Rankin said students have done the work to complete the course, but are now being held up by financial considerations. Course completions are not recorded on a student’s transcript until fees, if any, are paid.

She argued the $1,330 price to cover those students’ courses would be worth the investment.

“This is an at-risk intervention,” Scheve said, asking the board what would be accomplished in asking students to pay or solicit money for the course, noting that for many students summer school is required because of the need for more time with the subject matter.

The Board approved the motion 4-3 with Bickle, Josh Waddell and Paul Adams voting against.

The Board also discussed raising minimum pay for district supplemental staff.

“We’re simply paying too low,” said Mark Hauptman, assistant superintendent for special services. He said the measure is not about a classified staff pay increase, only a measure to help find and retain staff.

Across the board, staff would start at a rate of $9 per hour, with technical lab assistants starting at $10.

The raises, which would cost the district $21,840, was in the budget for this year, according to Tracy Kiser, executive director of finance and support services.

The raise will take effect on March 28, giving immediate raises to 170 full time staff and 70 subs, costing the district $3,700 this year.

The pay increase is an effort to retain staff within the district that can often find similar positions in the community at higher pay.

Hauptman said this raise should only be a start. “The 9 dollars is not where we should be; we should be higher than that,” he said.

The board passed the raises unanimously.

Other actions taken by the Board:

  • The Board unanimously approved the draft calendar for the 2016-2017 school year.
  • The Board approved administrative contracts for 12 positions.

Chiefs star LB had knee surgery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City Chiefs star pass rusher Justin Houston could miss much or all of next season after having surgery to repair an ACL in his knee.

The Chiefs said Tuesday that the ligament was not fully torn, but after a meeting with orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, the consensus was surgery was the best option for his long-term health.

The best-case scenario is a mid-August return, though it’s possible Houston could miss the entire season. The Chiefs didn’t specify which knee.

Houston hurt a knee last season, but at the time it was diagnosed a hyper-extension. He played with a brace in a playoff win over Houston and the Chiefs’ season-ending playoff loss to New England.

Commissioners tour county looking at infrastucture

By Jonathan Zweygardt
Hays Post

Ellis County LogoA group of Ellis County officials, including members of the county commission, got a chance to check out the current conditions of various roads and bridges throughout Ellis County Monday as part of a special commission meeting.

The group, led by interim Public Works Director Curt Hoffman got a tour some of the blacktop roads in the county and looked at approximately 12 different roads and/or bridges. Some are currently under construction, others need repair and may be candidates for future construction.

Among some of the roads and bridges the group reviewed Monday was the Highway 40 project, the bridge North of Ellis on 125th Avenue and Feedlot Road and the 230th and 55th Street Intersection.

Commission Chair Dean Haselhorst said there are a number of bridges throughout Ellis County that are in need of repair because they were build many decades ago.

“There are a lot of bridges in the county that were built in the ‘30’s that we’re going to have to look at ways to upgrade them,” Haselhorst said “They have served their live and now we are going to look at repair.”

He added that some of the bridges may need deck repairs, which he estimated will cost a couple of hundreds of thousands of dollars per bridge. The county may be forced to close others that are beyond repair. The have also used an epoxy repair, which is a cheaper option. Haselhorst estimated the epoxy repair on most of the bridges would cost around $100,000 or less and would last between 10 and 15 years.

Many blacktop roads in the county are in similar shape, according to Haselhorst. He said in they may look into shortening the blacktop surface and turn them back into a rock/sand surface.

Haselhorst said they are looking for different funding sources for repairing some of the bridges. He also said they will have to set priorities for the projects when the commission sets the county budget. But they will get with the engineers and the public works department before making any changes.

Camp Aldrich to host grand re-opening celebration March 31

By Brandon Steinert
BCCC Public Relations and Marketing

CampAldrichMedia (2)Construction on the new Camp Aldrich Dining and Events Center is in the final stages of construction and the public is invited to celebrate the facility’s completion at a Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 31. The after-hours event is in conjunction with the Great Bend, Hoisington and Ellinwood chambers of commerce and Claflin Area Pride.

The event will feature free hotdogs, hamburgers and side dishes provided by Great Western Dining catering service with drinks provided by the Barton Foundation.

A program and ribbon cutting will begin at 6:20 p.m., followed by a drawing for door prizes, including a day-long rental of the new facility, a $425 value.

The original building caught fire in April 2014. The storied local wedding and event venue was the setting for countless major life events for area residents, making the loss tragic for many. However, Barton Community College envisioned a bigger, better facility.

The new Dining and Events Center, which is constructed completely from fire-resistant materials, is 25 percent larger upstairs with a capacity of 300. The lower level is twice as large as before, and can seat 100. A large outdoor patio space was added. High-efficiency heating and cooling systems have been installed as well as ADA compliance upgrades like an elevator and ramp. It features an expanded, fully-equipped industrial kitchen.

CampAldrichMedia (3)Several individuals and organizations donated funds to allow Barton to go above and beyond what insurance would cover for the $2.5 million project. Bob Dole donated $20,000 and Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation, Inc. raised $317,000 by selling tax credits. Both donations were made with Camp Hope in mind, expanding the size of the facility and customizing amenities to accommodate the children’s needs.

Barton Foundation Sporting Clay Shoot to return in 2016

The annual Barton Foundation Sporting Clay Shoot fundraiser was delayed until April 17, 2016 after the fire. Many sponsors who planned to be a part of the event in 2014 elected not to receive a refund to sponsor the event when it returned.

In only seven years, the shoot had already become one of the premier clay shooting events in the state and also one of the largest, said Coleen Cape, Coordinator of Fundraising and Special Events at the Barton Foundation.

Cape said there were two reasons the Foundation chose Camp Aldrich as the venue: the Foundation wanted to show off the the camp to promote its many uses to the public, and the layout and rustic wooded geography of the camp make for a challenging and enjoyable shoot.

Following the fire, the Foundation scouted several other venues and locations. Each one was found lacking in some way to meet the event’s needs.

“So, instead of forging ahead and holding a sub-standard event, it was decided by the Foundation Board of Directors to hold off and plan the event at Camp Aldrich for April 17, 2016,” Cape said. “This event promises to be bigger and better than ever and we are thankful to all of our donors for hanging in there with us.”

Registration is $60 per person. The deadline for early bird registration is April 1, after which the price will increase by $10. More information can be found at clayshoot.bartonccfoundation.org.

Keep up with the latest Barton news here: news.bartonccc.edu.

Update: Americans among those injured in Brussels terror attack

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on explosions at Brussels airport and metro station (all times local):

 

The U.S. military says one American service member and his family were injured in the Brussels attacks. Earlier, Mormon church officials said three missionaries from Utah were seriously injured in the airport attack and have been hospitalized.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Tuesday identifying them as 66-year-old Richard Norby of Lehi, 20-year-old Joseph Empey of Santa Clara and 19-year-old Mason Wells of Sandy.

They were near the explosion when it occurred and have been hospitalized.

The three men were serving in Paris and were at the airport with a fourth missionary who was on her way to an assignment in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 20-year-old missionary, Fanny Rachel Clain, is from Montelimar, France.

It’s unclear if her U.S.-bound flight took off.

At least 31 people were killed and nearly 190 wounded Tuesday after bombs went off in the Brussels airport.

——–

 8:20 p.m.

Some of Europe’s best-known monuments have been illuminated with Belgium’snational colors in a show of solidarity after the attacks in Brussels.

At nightfall Tuesday, the Eiffel Tower in Paris lit up in the black, yellow and red colors of the Belgian flag.

Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate, which after the November attacks in Paris was illuminated with the French colors of red, white and blue, also was lit up in Belgian colors. A few blocks away, some people laid flowers and lit candles outside the Belgian Embassy.

And in Italy, Rome’s Trevi Fountain joined in the show of Belgium’s national colors.

___

7:30 p.m.

Belgian federal prosecutors say a house search in the Brussels neighborhood of Schaerbeek has “led to the discovery of an explosive device containing among other things nails.”

Investigators also found chemical products and an Islamic State flag.

Their statement said that IS had claimed responsibility for the attacks in Brussels via a press agency but that this information still needs to be verified.

Prosecutors say it’s not possible at this stage to establish any links between the attacks Tuesday in Brussels and those in Paris on Nov. 13 that left 130 people dead.

___

6:55 p.m.

A Belgian prosecutor says police raids are happening around the country after two men “probably” staged suicide bombings at the Brussels airport and a third fled.

Prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said Tuesday that the third suspect is actively being sought by police.

At least 31 people were killed and nearly 190 wounded in the two airport bombings and another in the Brussels subway system.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said the country will tighten security at its borders. He declared three days of national mourning after what he says were probably the most tragic attacks the country has seen in peacetime.

___

6:20 p.m.

Federal police in Belgium have issued a wanted notice for a suspect in the Brussels airport bombing that they are still trying to identify.

A man wearing a thick light-colored jacket with a black hat and glasses is suspected of committing an attack at Zaventem airport on Tuesday morning.

They are urging the public to call them if they recognize the man.

___

6:15 p.m.

Ralph Usbeck, 55, an electronics technician from Berlin, was checking his baggage for an American Airlines flight to Florida when the first blast struck in Brussels. He assumed it was a training exercise.

He says “seconds later, a much more heavy, heavy detonation happened, some more distance (away) but much more heavy. This was the moment I realized this was a terrorist act.”

He says few people appeared worried after the first bomb went off but the second did spark panic and crying amid billows of “dirty dust, like from concrete.”

He says “it took a very, very long time till the ambulances came” — maybe 30 minutes.

___

6 p.m.

The British government is warning Britons against all but essential travel to Brussels in the wake of the bomb attacks.

Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said the travel advice was being changed in line with the advice issued by Belgium authorities.

Belgium on Tuesday raised its terror threat to the highest level — denoting “a serious and imminent threat” — and told residents to stay where they were after Tuesday’s bomb attacks on the city’s main airport and a subway train. The city’s transit network was shut down for several hours.

Downing St. said a team of British police had been sent to Brussels to help with the investigation into the attacks that have killed at least 31 people and wounded nearly 190.

———

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged Belgium’s prime minister her country’s “full solidarity” following the Brussels attacks and says her Cabinet will discuss the bombings on Wednesday.

Merkel spoke with Prime Minister Charles Michel and promised that “we will work in every way with his government and the Belgian security forces to find those responsible for today’s crimes, detain and punish them.”

Merkel says “our strength lies in our unity, and our free societies will prove to be stronger than terrorism.”

___

5:45 p.m.

Airport security has been boosted across Europe — and even across the Atlantic Ocean following the attacks in Brussels.

Police and aviation officials in the Nordic countries boosted security at major airports in Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said security measures were increased at “critical infrastructure” in Germany and along its borders with France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Authorities also stepped up security around New York City even though there was no known link to the Brussels attacks that killed 31 people and left nearly 190 wounded.

The Port Authority Police Department increased security at New York City’s three area airports — John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty — and bridges, tunnels and the bus terminal. It placed anti-terrorist patrols throughout its trans-Hudson River system and the World Trade Center site. Additional bag checks also were being conducted at PATH stations.

___

5:35 p.m.

Florence Muls, a spokeswoman for the Brussels Airport, says a third bomb has been neutralized at the airport after two other bombs killed at least 10 people there Tuesday morning.

Muls told The Associated Press the third bomb was dispensed of “with a controlled action” once the chaos of the first explosives had eased somewhat.

Elsewhere in the Belgian capital, anti-bomb squads detonated suspicious objects in at least two locations — the Maelbeek subway station and close to Brussels University a few miles further away. Authorities said those two did not contain explosives.

A U.S. official has told the AP the explosives in Brussels appear sophisticated, and investigators will examine them to see if they bear the same characteristics to those used in the Paris attacks last year.

___

5:20 p.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the terror attacks in Brussels have underlined the need to pool global efforts for combating terrorism.

Putin spoke in televised remarks Tuesday as he met with visiting Finnish President President Sauli Niinisto.

Putin began by offering condolences to the families of the victims in Brussels. He added “we have repeatedly discussed the issues related to the fight against terrorism, and it’s possible to efficiently combat it only by united efforts.”

Some other Russian officials and lawmakers have criticized Western reluctance to cooperate with Moscow on fighting terrorism amid the strain in Russia-West ties over the Ukrainian crisis.

___

5:15 p.m.

The White House says President Barack Obama has expressed his condolences to Belgium and its people during a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Charles Michel following deadly terrorist attacks at the airport and a subway station.

Obama also offered assistance with the investigation and with bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The White House says the president reiterated U.S. support for the people of Belgium, NATO and the European Union. And he pledged the full cooperation by the U.S. in efforts to end terrorism.

Obama placed the call from Havana, where he was closing a historic three-day visit on Tuesday.

___

6:05 p.m.

The head of the Brussels Airport says the airport will remain closed at least through Wednesday.

Airport CEO Arnaud Feist says two bombs ripped through the airport’s departure hall, killing at least 10 people there and injuring scores. Feist said it was still too early to assess the damage to the terminal and indicated the airport could be closed even longer.

He said thousands of passengers and personnel were at the airport during the morning rush hour when the attacks hit Tuesday.

The exact number killed at the airport is still unclear. Regional governor Lodewijk De Witte says there are “more than 10 deaths” there.

___

5:55 p.m.

European Union leaders are pledging to tackle the terrorism threat with “all necessary means” after attacks on Brussels — the EU capital — that killed at least 31.

The heads of state and government of the 28-nation union said in a statement that Tuesday’s attack “only strengthens our resolve to defend European values and tolerance from the attacks of the intolerant.”

They pledged to be “united and firm in the fight against hatred, violent extremism and terrorism.”

The statement didn’t elaborate on possible EU measures in response to the attacks.

___

4:50 p.m.

The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office has made a new plea to the media not to spread any information about the investigation in the wake of the bombing attacks early Tuesday.

Belgian authorities had already made a similar plea during the days following the Nov. 13 Paris attacks when they were certain an attack in Brussels was imminent. It was largely followed by the media.

On Tuesday, the office again asked the media to immediately desist from spreading information from the ongoing investigation.

___

4:40 p.m.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks in Brussels, saying its extremists opened fire in the airport and “several of them” detonated suicide belts.

The posting in the group’s Amaq news agency said another suicide attacker detonated in the metro.

The posting claimed the attack was in response to Belgium’s support of the international coalition arrayed against it.

___

4:25 p.m.

People can start moving around Brussels once more after being told to stay in place for hours after bombing attacks Tuesday morning at the airport and on a subway station.

Peter Mertens of the Belgian crisis center says “the threat is still real and serious” of more attacks.

But he says air traffic at Brussels’ Zaventem airport “remains closed for the day under any circumstance” but people in the Belgian capital can start walking outside again and train stations are reopening.

At least 31 people were killed and nearly 190 wounded Tuesday after bombs went off in Brussels airport.

___

4:15 p.m.

Florence Muls, the Brussels airport communications manager, is defending the security at the airport.

She tells The Associated Press that the terminal zone is open. That means there are no checks on luggage or passengers at the entry to the terminal — and European rules do not require closing it off.

She says the airport is does not have the ability or the mandate to impose controls at the airport terminal entry.

___

4:05 p.m.

An Iraqi intelligence official says sources in the Syrian city of Raqqa have told them that the Islamic State group has been planning terrorist attacks in Europe for two months which would “target airports and train stations.”

The official tells The Associated Press on Tuesday that Iraqi officials told European countries about the plans “but Brussels was not part of the plans” at the time.

He says IS militants changed the operation and moved it to Brussels “because of the detention of Salah Abdeslam” — the Paris attacks suspect arrested Friday in Brussels.

Another senior Iraqi intelligence official said “Daesh (IS) was behind this operation and it was planned in Raqqa two months ago and there are three suicide attackers who will carry out another attack.”

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity since the investigation was ongoing.

— Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad

___

3:45 p.m.

A U.S. official says security officials believe at least one suitcase bomb was detonated at Brussels Airport on Tuesday morning.

The official, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the early investigations, confirmed a statement by a Brussels official that there is also concrete evidence of one suicide bombing at the airport Tuesday as well.

U.S. intelligence agencies had been on alert for possible attacks since Friday’s arrest in Belgium of accused Paris attacks conspirator Salah Abdeslam. But the official said it was unclear if Tuesday’s bombings were already planned and set in motion by his or another existing network, or if they were a direct response to Abdeslam’s arrest.

The official said the explosives seen in Brussels on Tuesday appear sophisticated. Investigators will examine them to see if they bear the same characteristics as those used in Paris last year.

— Bradley Klapper in Washington.

3:30 p.m.

Pres. Obama speaking on Tuesday in Cuba
Pres. Obama speaking on Tuesday in Cuba

President Barack Obama is pledging that the U.S. will “do whatever is necessary” to help Belgium bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist attacks that killed more than two dozen people at the airport and a subway station.

He says the U.S. stands “in solidarity” with Belgium in condemning “these outrageous attacks against innocent people.”

Belgian officials say 31 people were killed Tuesday and 187 wounded in two explosions at the Belgium airport and one at a city subway station.

Obama says the attacks are another reminder that “the world must unite” against the “scourge of terrorism.”

———–

Pope Francis has condemned the “blind violence” of the Brussels attacks and has offered prayers for the victims, their families and emergency responders.

Francis’ secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, sent a telegram of condolences Tuesday to the archbishop of Brussels, Mons. Jozef De Kesel.

In it, Francis said he “condemns once again the blind violence that breeds so much suffering and implores the gift of peace from God” for all Belgians.

___

3:20 p.m.

Nations around Europe are declaring with solidarity with Brussels after three bombing attacks left at least 31 people dead in the Belgian capital.

The French National Assembly opened its session on Tuesday with a minute of silence for the victims. Lawmakers in the Czech parliament in Prague and lawmakers in Spain also held a minute of silence.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Belgium’s ambassador plan a silent gathering Tuesday evening and the Eiffel Tower will be lit in the colors of the Belgian flag.

In London, the British prime minister’s office at Downing Street in London has also raised the Belgian flag in solidarity.

___

3:10 p.m.

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has expressed solidarity with the Belgian government and says: “The fight against terrorism is our common fight.”

Interior Minister Milan Chovanec says security has been boosted at Prague’s international airport, the capital’s subway network, at some foreign embassies, other airports and all across the country, including at the Temelin nuclear plant.

Czech President Milos Zeman, who is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, says “we underestimate the threat of terrorism linked to the wave of migrants.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the three bombings Tuesday morning that killed at least 31 people and wounded nearly 200 in Brussels.

___

3 p.m.

A Belgian TV station is reporting that at least one of the bombs at the Brussels airport contained nails.

Flemish language broadcaster VTM interviewed Marc Decramer of the Gasthuisberg hospital in Leuven, who says the hospital is treating 11 people with serious injuries, three of them in critical condition. Decramer says the wounded have fractures and deep cuts caused by flying glass and nails.

Belgian officials say 31 people were killed Tuesday and 187 wounded in two explosions at the Belgium airport and one at a city subway station.

___

2:45 p.m.

Passenger Cedric Vanderswalm says a late train and a full elevator at Brussels airport probably saved his life.

The 20-year-old from the coastal Belgian town of Knokke was at the Brussels airport on Tuesday planning to fly to London for his job as an animator.

He says was heading to the airport’s departures level but the elevator was full “so I didn’t get in. I waited and I was about to step into the elevator when there was a big explosion.” He says people started running, dropping their luggage.

He says “if I had taken the previous elevator, I would have been right in the explosion. My train also had a 5 minute delay, so I was lucky.”

The explosion coated the left side of his face with soot and dust.

___

2:30 p.m.

The mayor of Brussels is raising the toll of dead and injured from a subway bombing.

Mayor Yvan Majeur now says at least 20 people have died and 106 people were injured in the attack on the Maelbeek subway station, which is close to the European Union headquarters.

Earlier, another top Belgian official said 11 people were killed and 81 have wounded in twin explosions at the Brussels airport.

So in all, 31 people have been killed and 187 wounded in the three blasts.

___

2:25 p.m.

A minute of silence has been held outside the Spanish parliament and Madrid’s town hall at noon in memory of the victims in Brussels.

The Spanish government says the attacks Tuesday in Brussels show “the most brutal and inhumane side of those who know only the language of violence and terror.”

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo linked the attacks to the Islamic State armed group. He says previous attacks in Paris claimed by IS militants had shown the assailants acting “like well-coordinated and militarily well-structured commandos” instead of lone wolves.

Top Spanish officials were meeting later on the situation but the Interior Ministry said for now Spain is keeping its national security alert at one step below the maximum.

___

2:10 p.m.

A European security official in contact with Belgian police says least one and possibly two Kalashnikov rifles have been found in the departure lounge at the Brussels airport after the attacks.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation.

Shiraz Maher, a senior researcher at The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence in London, calls the presence of guns in these attacks “quite significant.”

Maher says this “presents an incredible challenge to continental Europe, where guns are much more freely available as opposed to here in the United Kingdom.”

Maher says guns make it “much more difficult to secure soft targets like transport sites.”

—Paisley Dodds, Europe correspondent

___

2 p.m.

London police are appealing for images and video footage from Britons who may have witnessed the attacks in Belgium.

The Metropolitan Police say they have “activated an online platform where images and videos can be uploaded which could provide important information for the investigating authorities.”

Earlier, British police stepped up security across the country, including transport hubs like London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

London Mayor Boris Johnson says the increased police is to reassure the public “rather than because of any intelligence of an attack.”

Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley says his agency is working closely with Belgium authorities on anti-terror efforts.

Britain’s threat level remains at “severe,” which means an attack is highly likely. It has been at that level since 2014.

___

1:50 p.m.

Police in the Netherlands say they have halted an international train from Brussels to Amsterdam at a station just one stop from the Dutch capital’s busy Schiphol Airport as a precaution and are searching the train and its passengers.

Local police said on Twitter that Hoofddorp station had been evacuated and will stay closed until the investigation is completed. Passengers were being put up in nearby hotels.

There was no immediate word of any arrests and police did not say what prompted them to stop the train. The incident came just hours after deadly attacks on the Brussels airport and a city subway station.

Photos spread on social media are showing armed police patrolling the Dutch train station.

___

1:35 p.m.

Hundreds of stranded passengers, some wheeling luggage carts from the Brussels airport, have gathered at a municipal sports hall in nearby town of Zaventem.

Henry Dewespelaere, a 22-year-old butcher, was one of the local volunteers in fluorescent yellow vests compiling lists of the passengers’ names and nationalities.

He says the travelers would have the option of being taken to a hotel in Leuven by train. If people elect to stay in Zaventem, he says “we don’t know yet what will happen, we’re waiting for further instructions.”

The Brussels airport was shut down Tuesday after it was hit by two explosions. Another explosion hit a city subway station. In all, 26 people have been killed and over 130 have been wounded in the attacks.

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1:25 p.m.

Belgian officials say the casualty toll from three explosions in the capital on Tuesday morning is 26 dead and at least 136 wounded.

Belgian Health Minister Maggie de Block says 11 people are dead and 81 have been injured in twin explosions at the Brussels airport.

A Brussels subway spokesman says 15 people have been killed and 55 were injured in an explosion at the Maelbeek train station.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which come after a top suspect in the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris was arrested Friday in a massive police raid in Brussels.

1:15 p.m.

The U.S. Embassy in Brussels is recommending that Americans in Belgium stay where they are and avoid public transportation.

The embassy noted Tuesday that with the threat rating in Brussels at its highest alert, attacks can take place with little or no notice. It urged U.S. citizens to monitor media reports, follow instructions from the authorities, and “take the appropriate steps to bolster your personal security.”

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1:10 p.m.

More than 200 flights to Brussels have been diverted or canceled after three explosions that authorities are calling terror attacks, according to the flight tracking service Flightradar24.

Scores of people are dead after two explosions hit Brussels airport Tuesday morning and a third hit the city’s Maelbeek metro station.

The Brussels airport has been shut down and airport security has been tightened across Europe.

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1 p.m.

The European Union’s top official says he’s appalled by the attacks on Brussels’ main airport and a metro near the EU’s institutions and has offered Europe’s support.

EU Council President Donald Tusk says Tuesday “these attacks mark another low by the terrorists in the service of hatred and violence.”

He says the EU “will fulfill its role to help Brussels, Belgium and Europe as a whole counter the terror threat which we are all facing.”

Staff at the EU institutions near the Maelbeek metro station — where at least 15 people have been killed by a blast — been warned to stay in their offices or at home.

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12:45 p.m.

French officials are condemning the Brussels attacks in the strongest terms.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls, speaking after a crisis meeting called by the French president, says “we are at war. We have been subjected for the last few months in Europe to acts of war.”

President Francois Hollande says “terrorists struck Brussels but it was Europe that was targeted — and all the world that is concerned.”

Hollande also warned that “this war will be long” so sang froid and lucidity are needed.

Paris says it will light the Eiffel Tower in the colors of the Belgian flag. The city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, described it in a tweet as a measure of “solidarity with Brussels.”

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12:35 p.m.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff has called for solidarity with Belgium following the Brussels attacks that left scores dead.

Peter Altmaier tweeted Tuesday: “Terrorists will never win.”

He added: “Our European values much stronger than hate, violence, terror!”

12:30 p.m.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says the West’s politics of “double standards” have led to terrorist attacks and that frozen diplomatic relations between NATO and Russia have slowed the fight with terrorism.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, has offered its condolences to Belgium and expressed solidarity after the attacks Tuesday that left scores dead.

While Russia and the United States have brokered a fragile peace agreement in Syria, the two countries still disagree on how to tackle terrorist threats posed by the Islamic State group.

Prominent Russian lawmaker Alexei Pushkov also had a jab at Europe and NATO following the Brussels attacks. Pushkov later offered his condolences, but said “it’s time for Europe to understand where the genuine threat is coming from and join efforts with Russia.”

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12:20 p.m.

Facebook has activated its “safety check” system to help people check on friends and loved ones in the aftermath of the attacks in Brussels.

The company says Tuesday the system was put in use within hours of the three explosions at the Brussels airport and a metro station.

It says the system can provide an easy way for people to mark themselves as “safe” after a major disaster or crisis so that people searching for them will know they are unharmed.

The system has been used recently to help people communicate after major floods and earthquakes as well as terrorist attacks.

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12:15 p.m.

A Belgian subway official says there are 15 dead, 55 injured in the subway station attack.

Spokesman Guy Sablon gave the toll to The Associated Press after two explosions hit the Brussels airport on Tuesday morning and a third hit the city’s Maelbeek metro station.

___

12:05 p.m.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, fighting back tears, has stopped short a news conference in Jordan after saying that “today is a difficult day,” in reference to the Brussels attacks.

Mogherini was wrapping up her opening statement Tuesday at a joint news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh when she was overcome by emotion. When Judeh resumed speaking, she walked over to him, said “sorry” and briefly embraced him. The two then walked off the stage.

Mogherini and Judeh had been speaking for about 16 minutes when the news conference ended abruptly. In her opening remarks, she had talked about the importance of her visit to Jordan, praising the kingdom’s stance against militant Islam.

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11:55 a.m.

Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw is calling all three explosions in Brussels “terrorist attacks.”

Two of the explosions on Tuesday morning hit Brussels’ Zavantem airport and the third struck in the city’s Maelbeek metro station. Belgian media report that at least 13 are dead, and authorities are saying there are dead at both sites.

Van Leeuw says “one attack was probably done by a suicide bomber.”

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11:50 a.m.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel says “what we feared has happened” and says authorities are worried there will be more attacks.

Speaking a news conference in Brussels, Michel says “there are many dead, many injured” from the attacks earlier Tuesday at the airport and a subway station. He says border controls have been reinforced.

Michel says “we realize we face a tragic moment. We have to be calm and show solidarity.”

11:30 a.m.

Brussels police spokesman Christian De Coninck says there were deaths at the Maelbeek police station near European Union headquarters.

He says: “There are victims, serious injury, people have died. I have no idea yet on the numbers of injured or dead.”

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___

 

 

11:25 a.m.

France’s top security official said the country is reinforcing security at airports, train stations and metros after Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said France immediately increased its vigilance after the attacks. France has been on highest alert since the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that left 130 dead.

___

11:05 a.m.

Anthony Deloos, an employee of services company Swissport, said the first explosion took place near a counter where customers pay for overweight baggage. He and colleague said second blast was near the Starbucks.

“Twenty meters (yards) from us we heard a big explosion,” and shredded paper was flying through the air, Deloos said. He first thought a billboard had fallen down, but a colleague told him to run.

“I jumped into a luggage chute to be safe,” he said.

___

11:00 a.m.

In a statement marked “aanslagen” — terror attacks in Dutch — the prosecutor’s office in Brussels has warned people to stay inside until the situation is cleared up.

After a few hours of uncertainty on the explosion during morning rush hour, it was the first official indication that indeed, they were expected to be terror attacks.

10:50 p.m.

Eurostar has suspended high-speed rail service to Brussels-Midi station following the attacks at the airport and a metro station in Belgium

The rail service links London with Brussels and Paris via the Channel Tunnel.

10:45 a.m.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says Belgium has “again been hit by cowardly and murderous attacks. Our hearts go out to the victims and next of kin. The Netherlands stands ready to help and support our southern neighbors in any possible way.”

Rutte says that “extra alertness is necessary, also in our country. We will take all necessary precautionary measures.” Rutte called a meeting Tuesday of his government’s Ministerial Crisis Committee to discuss the attacks.

The Dutch anti-terror authority said the country’s threat level was unchanged at “substantial.” It said extra security measures would be in place at the country’s airports and borders.

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10:40 a.m.

British airports are increasing security and Prime Minister David Cameron is convening the government’s emergency committee after the explosions at Brussels airport and on the city’s subway system.

Cameron said Britain would “do everything we can to help.”

Britain’s official terrorist threat level stands at “severe,” the second-highest level on a five-point scale, meaning an attack is highly likely.

Gatwick airport said that “as a result of the terrible incidents in Brussels we have increased our security presence and patrols around the airport.” Heathrow said it was working with police to provide a “high-visibility” presence on light of the attacks.

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10:35 a.m.

Germany’s justice minister says “today is a black day for Europe” following the attacks in Brussels.

Heiko Maas said Tuesday on Twitter that “the horrible events in Brussels affect us all.”

He added: “We are steadfastly at the Belgians’ side.”

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10:20 a.m.

French President Francois Hollande is holding an emergency meeting after explosions targeted Brussels airport and a metro station at morning rush hour.

The blasts came days after the arrest of the top suspect in last year’s Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, in Brussels.

Hollande is meeting with Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.

France remains in a state of emergency after the Nov. 13 attacks, which killed 130 people. Several attackers were also killed.

___

10:00 a.m.

Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov tells Russian news agencies that authorities will re-evaluate security at Russian airports. In 2011, a suicide bombing at a Moscow airport killed 37 and injured many more.

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9:50 a.m.

Zach Mouzoun, who arrived on a flight from Geneva about 10 minutes before the first blast, told France’s BFM television that the second louder explosion brought down ceilings and ruptured pipes, mixing water with blood from victims.

“It was atrocious. The ceilings collapsed,” he said. “There was blood everywhere, injured people, bags everywhere.”

“We were walking in the debris. It was a war scene,”

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9:40 a.m.

An Associated Press reporter saw several people with facial injuries following an explosion in a Brussels metro station near European Union headquarters. At least two people were seen being moved on stretchers

Alexandre Brans, 32, who was wiping blood from his face, said: “The metro was leaving Maelbeek station when there was a really loud explosion. It was panic everywhere. There were a lot of people in the metro.”

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8:55 a.m.

Police say that at least one person was killed when two explosions ripped through the departure hall at Brussels airport.

“One person has died and perhaps there are several more,” said a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the situation was developing.

The official urged people to stay away from the airport.

___

8:30 a.m.

Two explosions ripped through Brussels airport Tuesday during the morning rush hour as hundreds of passengers were trying to check in. Airport authorities said the explosions caused several injuries.

Airport spokeswoman Anke Fransen said: “There were two blasts in the departure hall. First aid team are in place for help.”

Passengers were led onto the tarmac and the crisis center urged people not to come to the airport.

The explosions happened only days after the prime suspect in the Paris attacks Salah Abdeslam was arrested in Brussels.

Hays wrestling club sends 21 to state tournament

Hays Wrestling Club competed in the District 4 Championships this past Saturday in Goodland. After qualifying 29 wrestlers from sub-districts the week before, 21 wrestlers have advanced to the state tournament.

The following top four placers at districts qualified for the Kansas State Folkstyle Championships this Friday and Saturday.

8 & Under 64 lbs- Ty Schmeidler-4th
8 & Under 73 lbs – Dalton Meyers-2nd
8 & Under 95 lbs- Jaxson Chartier-4th

10 & Under 61 lbs- Sarah Zimmerman- 3rd
10 & Under 73 lbs – Harley Zimmerman-4th
10 & Under 82 lbs- Jacob Taliaferro-3rd
10 & Under 110 lbs – Brandon Yauch-4th
10 & Under 120 lbs – Kendall Walker-3rd

12 & Under 120 lbs – Gavin Meyers- 2nd
12 & Under 130 lbs – Blayze Standley-3rd
12 & Under 140 lbs – Dalton Dale-1st
12 & Under 150 lbs – Gavin Nutting-4th
12 & Under 165 lbs – Colter Conger-2nd

14 & Under 80 lbs – Jordan Zimmerman-2nd
14 & Under 120 lbs – Creighton Newell-2nd
14 & Under 150 lbs – Kreighton Meyers-3rd
14 & Under 155 lbs- Jacob Schmeidler-4th
14 & Under 235 lbs – Conner Staabb-2nd

High School 113 lbs – Corey Hale-2nd
High School 145 lbs – Kyle Casper-3rd
High School 182 lbs – Cody Conger-3rd

10 & Under 67 lbs – Jarret Reidel-6th (alternate)
10 & Under 70 lbs – Jeston Conger-6th (alternate)

12 & Under 72 lbs – Gannon Winter-5th (alternate)
12 & Under 72 lbs – Cyrus Vajnar-6th (alternate)

14 & Under 110 lbs – Trystan Johnson-5th (alternate)
14 & Under 125 lbs – Colton Vajnar-5th (alternate)

High School 170 lbs – Jonathan Springer-5th (alternate)

Evelyn Mae Evans

obit_placeholder doveEvelyn Mae Evans, 87, of Russell, Kansas, died on Monday, March 21, 2016, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

A celebration of Evelyn’s life will be held at 2 PM on Friday, March 25, 2016, at the First Congregational Church in Russell, with Pastor Ron Wedel officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at the mortuary, with family present to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Thursday evening.

Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Margaret Louise Untereiner

stockdove-v2Margaret Louise Untereiner, 64, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, March 20, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Ellis, Kansas.

A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held at 2:30 P.M. on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas with John Dumler officiating. Burial will follow at St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell.

Visitation will be from 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at the mortuary. Family will greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Wednesday evening at the mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Margaret Untereiner Memorial Fund and sent in care of the mortuary.

Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

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