JORDAN -The Fifth Squadron, Fourth Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, headquartered at Fort Riley received a visit from Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday.
This unit is currently deployed in the Middle East.
The unit also has a partnership with Chapman USD 473, who received photos of the Vice President signing a USD 473 flag.
Gregory James Lambrecht, age 54, of Hays, passed away Thursday, March 10, 2016 in Hays. He was born April 12, 1961 in Denver, CO to Earl James and Luella May (Begler) Lambrecht. He graduated from Ellis High School in 1979. He married Kimberly Ann Turner February 12, 1983 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis.
Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Monday, March 14, 2016 with a rosary service at 10:00 AM all at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Inurnment will follow services at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Ellis.
Services in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel of Ellis.
Memorials in Greg’s memory are suggested to be used for his grandchildren’s education fund established as the Noah and Ella Ricke Education Fund.
JIM SUHR, Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s attorney general says a Mexican national accused of killing one man in that state and four others in Kansas will be prosecuted first in Missouri.
Attorney General Chris Koster said Thursday that his office has been asked by Montgomery County’s district attorney to assist in Pablo Antonio Serrano-Vitorino’s prosecution on a first-degree murder count related to the killing Tuesday of 49-year-old Randy Nordman.
Serrano-Vitorino is also charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the Monday killing of his neighbor and three other men at his neighbor’s home in Kansas City, Kansas. A spokesman for that county’s prosecutor says he’s unaware of any arrangement between the two states involving Serrano-Vitorino’s prosecution.
But a Koster spokeswoman, Nanci Goder, tells The Associated Press that “we intend to keep him in the state of Missouri through the trial.”
NEWTON — It’s been two weeks since the shootings at the Excel plant in Hesston. The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office released some of the 911 calls Thursday.
The two calls coming from callers at the plant as it was happening. The first is from man in the front office.
(audio) Excel 911 call A.
Then another call came in to a different dispatcher, this time the caller was upstairs in the plant.
(audio) Excel 911 call B.
These are just two of many that released and some were also of the initial reports of shots fired in the city of Newton.
Because these may be traumatic for some to hear, we are providing some numbers if you need assistance.
The EMPAC number for Excel employees is – 800-234-0630.
Prairie View regular hours for citizens line is the 800-992-6292.
Prairie View’s Crisis Line for immediate mental health crisis is the
800-362-0180.
the shooter as we now know was Cedric Ford. Four people, including Ford, were killed and 14 others were injured.
Take note of how calm and professional the dispatchers were during these calls. That’s true of dispatchers everywhere who are trained to keep the emotions in check.
Hansen Foundation
The Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan has named 260 high school seniors from 59 Northwest Kansas schools as winners in its 41st annual scholarship competition. In addition, fifteen scholarships have been awarded to Kansas Community or Technical College Transfer students who are planning to continue their education at a Kansas four-year college or university.
In selecting award winners, the Scholarship Committee considered proficiency in verbal and writing skills. Other important factors are academic records, test scores, and community service in which the student may have participated.
Ten students have won Hansen Leader of Tomorrow scholarships. These awards are for $10,000 and may be renewable for three additional years. Renewal of scholarships is based upon continued regard for the principles, which guided the success of the late Dane G. Hansen, a 3.00 or better GPA at the college level and a letter describing progress towards educational goals. This year’s winners are:
Fifty Hansen Scholar winners were selected. The stipend of $6,500 was granted for one year and may be renewed for one additional year under the same general conditions as set forth in the Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship. This year’s winners include:
One hundred Hansen Student winners were selected. These awards are for $4,000 and may be renewed for one additional year provided the student has maintained a satisfactory academic record. This year’s winners are:
Twenty Community or Technical College Transfer scholarships were made available to Kansas Community or Technical College students of the current school year who plan to continue their education at a four-year Kansas college or university. These awards are for $4,000 and may be renewed for one year upon completion of satisfactory work as evaluated by the Scholarship Committee. This year we had fifteen qualified applicants. The winners are:
For students interested in a Career and Technical Education scholarship, the Foundation offered one hundred. These awards are for $4,000 and may be renewed for one additional year provided the student has maintained a satisfactory academic record. Winners of Career and Technical Education scholarships are:
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A scheduled hearing on a measure that would give the governor more control over school finance has been cancelled after educators across the state flooded lawmakers with emails opposing the bill.
The Wichita Eagle reports Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, on Thursday blamed education interest groups for stirring controversy about the measure.
Senate Bill 311 would take control of school finance away from the Kansas Department of Education and give it to the Department of Education. Masterson says the bill would increase transparency of the school finance process.
Opponents such as Sen. Laura Kelly, a Topeka Democrat, call the bill an unconstitutional power grab.
Masterson said he doesn’t plan to revisit the issue this year.
Submitted
ATWOOD–For the second year in a row, a Girl Scout alumna has purchased Girl Scout Cookies from every Girl Scout in Atwood, the county seat of Rawlins County in northwest Kansas.
Judy Sweeney, who now lives in Jacksonville, Florida, cherishes her memories as a Girl Scout in Atwood, so she wanted to do something to help both Girl Scouts and her hometown. She recently purchased 64 packages of Girl Scout Cookies – two from each of the 32 Atwood Girl Scouts participating in Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland’s Cookie Program this year.
“I’m very proud of my hometown. It’s a small, growing community that keeps going in Scouting, and the people there work together to keep the community alive,” Sweeney said. “This is just one way I could come back and say ‘thank you’ for the strength I got in my circle of life.”
Growing up in Atwood, Sweeney earned the Curved Bar as a Girl Scout Cadette – the highest level of Girl Scouting there at the time.
“One of my best memories of the Girl Scout House in Atwood was learning square-dancing,” she recalled. “My first camping experience on the rich, Kansas soil – that’s a very vivid memory.”
She credits Girl Scouts for helping her transition from her hometown of about 1,200 people in northwestern Kansas to the big city of Baltimore, Maryland, where she moved with her husband in 1965. Sweeney said she discovered “the need was the same in Baltimore: helping girls develop confidence and leadership skills.” She started volunteering for Girl Scouts and then worked for the Girl Scout council in Baltimore, eventually becoming director of Girl Scout programming for the entire council.
Sweeney said she’s proud to give back to the town and the organization that mean so much to her. Some of the Girl Scout Cookies that Sweeney purchased will be donated to the Atwood Senior Citizens Center and the Atwood Bridge Club, according to Vicky Chessmore, a Girl Scout troop leader and Cookie Manager for the Girl Scout troops in Atwood.
“It’s helping the girls reach their goals, and it’s also helping the community,” Chessmore said of Sweeney’s cookie purchase. “I think it’s awesome that we have alumni who come and support our girls in Rawlins County. She’s spreading the joy, and we thank her very much.”
The 2016 Girl Scout Cookie Sale ends March 20, so there is still time to help Kansas Girl Scouts reach their goals. All proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie Sale – every penny after paying the baker – stay in Kansas to support local girls, helping pay for Girl Scout troop activities, camp, uniforms, financial aid, and community service projects across the state. To find Girl Scout Cookies, enter your zip code at girlscoutcookies.org or call the Cookie Hotline at 888-686-MINT (6468) for assistance connecting with local Girl Scouts.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has approved a measure that would prohibit minors from using tanning devices such as sun lamps and tanning beds.
Representatives voted 77-44 Thursday in favor of the bill, sending it to the Senate for further consideration. Salon owners could be fined up to $250 and incur disciplinary action for allowing people under 18 to use tanning devices.
Supporters of the measure say it would protect young people from ultraviolet lights that can cause the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. The American Academy of Dermatology says people under 35 who use tanning devices are nearly 60 percent more likely to develop melanoma.
Critics argue the bill prevents parents from deciding what is best for their children.
Submitted
Are you ready for some (spring) football? The Fort Hays State University football team’s annual spring game will have a new look this year.
A group of students from the university’s Leadership 310 class has chosen as its community project revitalizing FHSU’s student alumni association, Tigers 4 Ever. As part of its membership drive for the organization, the leadership team chose to increase awareness of the group at a spring event on campus. The event chosen was the spring football game.
The Tiger football team, coming off a season in which it played in a postseason game for the first time in 20 years, will hold its spring game on Saturday, April 16, at Lewis Field Stadium. Gates open at 9 a.m. and kickoff is at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free for the game, which has been named Spring Kickoff 2016.
The leadership team has planned a morning full of activities for the game to boost attendance as well as bring awareness and sign up members for Tigers 4 Ever. There will be fun activities for those who are young and young at heart.
“The leadership team is excited for the opportunity to bring awareness to Tigers 4 Ever through the spring football game,” said the group’s media liaison, Callie Christensen. “We look to boost attendance for the game through all the activities we have planned.”
Planned activities include a tug-of-war between student groups and/or athletic teams. There also will be a football skills competition after the game. How far can you kick a field goal? How long can you punt a football? How fast are you in the 40-yard dash? How accurate are you throwing a football at a moving target? Here is your chance to find out.
FHSU announcer Ken Windholz will be on hand to announce the scrimmage. After the game current Tigers will sign autographs at Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility. As well, select members from last year’s record-setting team also will be available to sign.
Activities will conclude with a free meal, limited to a set number of fans, to be determined at a later date.
Check the FHSU Facebook page and FHSU University Relations and Marketing’s twitter feed @fhsunews for updates on the game.
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a plea agreement that called for a five- to seven-year prison sentence for an 80-year-old man who ran a multistate marijuana-dealing operation.
Marshall Dion was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court.
The hearing was canceled after Judge Denise Casper rejected the plea agreement and the joint sentencing recommendation by Dion’s lawyers and prosecutors.
Casper had postponed the hearing last month after she questioned both sides about why the proposed sentence was so much lower than the 30-yer sentence called for under federal sentencing guidelines.
Casper gave Dion’s lawyers until March 18 to inform the court whether he will withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial, or agree to be sentenced without a plea agreement. She scheduled a status conference for March 22.
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BOSTON (AP) — An 80-year-old man who ran a multistate marijuana-dealing operation faces sentencing in a plea agreement that calls for up to seven years in prison.
Marshall Dion has a sentencing hearing scheduled for Thursday in U.S. District Court. Judge Denise Casper postponed the hearing last month after she questioned prosecutors and Dion’s lawyers about why the proposed sentence in the plea agreement is only five to seven years when federal sentencing guidelines call for 30 years.
When police stopped Dion for speeding in Junction City in 2013, they found about $828,000 in cash in his beat-up pickup truck. A federal investigation led authorities to Massachusetts and Arizona, where they found about $15 million in cash, nearly 400 pounds of marijuana and ledgers detailing drug deals going back to 1992.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors are seeking to try a 17-year-old boy as an adult in the stabbing death of his grandmother.
When the teen appeared in court Wednesday, a judge scheduled a hearing for March 22 to consider the issue. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the teen was 16 in December when police found his 67-year-old grandmother, Deborah Bretthauer, dead in the apartment they shared.
The teen has been charged with first-degree murder in juvenile court. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is in juvenile custody in Douglas County.
If Long is convicted of the juvenile first-degree murder charge, he could face up to 60 months in prison, or to the age of 22. In adult court, he could face more than 40 years in prison.
Submitted
Twenty-seven Hays High DECA students competed in the 2016 State Career Development Conference in Overland Park, March 5-8, 2016. Competition results are listed below:
*Maddie Keller and Brianna Brin – 1st Place, Business Services Operations Research
**Madison Prough and Brooke Forinash – 3rd Place, Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research
Gage Fischer and Flaubert Toulaboe – 8th Place, Entrepreneurship Innovation Plan
*Hannah Norris – 1st Place, Start-Up Business Plan
*Jonathan Springer – 2nd Place, Start-Up Business Plan
Jacob Alexander – 4th Place, Start-Up Business Plan
*Isys Bearley and Kaely McKinney – 1st Place – Independent Business Plan
*Emily Prine and Sylina Zhang – 1st Place – International Business Plan
*Jodi Veach, Payton Markley, and Sage Markley – 2nd Place – International Business Plan
*Brenden Koenigsman – 2nd Place – Franchise Business Plan
Adam O’Connor – 3rd Place – Advertising Campaign
*Kristen Nease and Marissa Dinkel – 1st Place – Community Service Project
Brooks Barber and Payton Ruder – 4th Place – Creative Marketing Project
*Caitlyn Scheck and Courtney Molleker – 1st Place – Public Relations Project
**Freddy Haines – Ignite Leadership Academy
*Denotes qualification for competition at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville, TN, April 22-27, 2016
**Denotes Leadership Academy selection at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville, TN, April 22-27, 2016
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Another Hays USD 489 bond issue information session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Wilson Elementary School, 101 E. 28th.
The sessions detail the scope of the bond and the impact it would have on taxation to district residents.
On Wednesday, the administration announced signatures collected had been verified that would allow a sales tax question to be included with bond election. The petition will be presented to the Hays City Commission at its next work session.
If passed, a half-cent sales tax would be used to pay a portion of the bond.
The $94 million bond would update facilities throughout the district, including secure entrances at each of the district’s schools, tornado shelters, increased classroom space and multi-purpose rooms. The bond would also address deferred maintenance.
Two more information sessions are planned before the bond election, currently being proposed for June 7.
