Stan Christopher, HDR Engineering, presented three options to Hays city commissioners for the wastewater treatment process design.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
A short work session for Hays City Commissioners Thursday night involved just one agenda topic for discussion–the wastewater treatment process design selection.
City staff and CDM Smith, the project design-builder, evaluated three options and recommended one for the rebuilding of the wastewater treatment plant.
“This has been a good process,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty. “There’s been a lot of people busting their butts the last month in the background. The meeting we had Thursday afternoon had 15 to 20 people in the room and another 12 to 15 on the conference call.
The Hays WWTP was built in 1953. The $27.6 million upgrade, which must meet stricter effluent discharge requirements by July 2018, is being financed by the city’s State Revolving Fund loan from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The first two options are more of a traditional biological process; the third option is a membrane bioreactor process. After significant evaluation, the 5-stage oxidation ditch with final clarifiers and denitrification filters is the recommended process.
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Stan Christopher, HDR Engineering, explained the process is slightly more expensive than the other two, but has much lower operating costs and is a simpler unit to operate.
Following Christopher’s review, commissioners agreed to move the item to next week’s commission meeting for a vote.
Commissioners also called for a 20 minute executive session, for the commission only, to discuss personnel issues. No action was taken.
On Super Bowl Sunday, Celebration Community Church will celebrate football’s biggest day by featuring NFL greats, Drew Brees, Trent Dilfer, Thomas Davis and other players from both the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers championship teams.
All of these men will be sharing stories of their faith journeys. There will be special music, videos and all who attend are invited to wear their favorite team’s colors. Celebration services are at 8:30 & 10am with next generation EDGE services at 10, 11:30 and 6pm.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Wyandotte County authorities say a suspect in a robbery with a large knife has been shot by police, resulting in injuries police described as life-threatening.
Lt. Kelli Bailiff said that police were called to a Dollar Tree store around 1:30 p.m. Thursday and a Westwood police officer confronted a man down the street from the store. Bailiff said that police ordered the man to drop his knife, but he refused.
According to authorities, the Westwood officer deployed his stun gun but it had no effect and a deputy then shot the man. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to a hospital.
Weak upper disturbance this morning will not produce any measurable precip. Highs today mid 30s to upper 40s
Today Cloudy, with a high near 35. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 17. Northwest wind around 9 mph.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 41. West southwest wind around 9 mph.
Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 28. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph becoming northwest after midnight.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 42. Windy, with a northwest wind 14 to 19 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 24. Blustery.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas health officials have confirmed the first flu cases in the state for the current flu season.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says the four cases were reported by a south central Kansas hospital.
Health department secretary Susan Mosier reminds Kansas residents it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine. The vaccines are recommended for nearly everyone 6 months or older.
The department says this season’s flu vaccine appears to be a good match to the circulating influenza viruses.
Flu or pneumonia contributed to or was the direct cause of 1,153 deaths in Kansas during the 2014-2015 flu season. Influenza and pneumonia were the eighth leading cause of death in Kansas in 2014.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two men charged in a fatal shooting at a 2014 house party in Wichita have been sentenced.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Dametrius Williams was sentenced Thursday to about 17 years in prison for second-degree reckless murder and criminal discharge of a firearm in the death of 20-year-old Juan Orona. Christopher Cooper was sentenced to 18 months of probation on a count of obstructing apprehension of prosecution. Both men were initially charged with first-degree murder.
Authorities say Orona was shot in the head as he sat in a parked car.
Prosecutors say Williams and Cooper were part of a group of men who arrived at a house on June 21, 2014, and caused an argument that led to Orona’s death.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama wants oil companies to pay a $10 tax for every barrel of oil to help fund investments in clean transportation.
Obama will formalize the proposal Tuesday when he releases his final budget request to Congress. The $10-per-barrel fee is expected to be dead-on-arrival among Republicans who control Congress and oppose new taxes and Obama’s energy policies.
Still, the White House hopes the proposal will drive a debate about the need to get energy producers to help fund efforts to fight climate change.
The White House says the fees would be used to increase funding by $20 billion per year for traffic reduction and new modes of transportation like high-speed rail. Other funds would help cut carbon dioxide emissions within regional transportation systems and integrate self-driving cars.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State tied a season-high with 15 three-pointers, including nine in the second half, as they knock off Central Missouri 81-54 in front of 3,355 Thursday night at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers (14-7, 8-7 MIAA) led by 10 at halftime then outscored the Mules (13-8, 7-8 MIAA) 25-9 over the final seven and a half minutes to put the game away.
Mark Johnson Postgame Interview
Craig Nicholson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Rob Davis went 6-of-12 from 3-point range and led three Tigers on double-figures with 22 points. Craig Nicholson hit 4-of-6 beyond the arc and scored 14 and dished out 10 assists. He had two steals to keyed a 10-0 run with 7 1/2 minutes to play that saw FHSU push their lead to 21. Jake Stoppel scored 10.
Central Missouri was led by freshman Jakob Lowrance who scored 14 points. Marquiez Lawrence and D’Marnier Cunningham added 10.
Delayed by two days, Hays High and Salina South finally got onto the hardwood after mother nature nature dropped seven plus inches of snow on Hays.
Girls Hays 46 – Salina South 38
The Lady Indians smothered South defensively over the first twelve minutes of the game holding the Cougars to just 2 of 18 shooting. Hays used their defense to create a 10-6 lead after one quarter. The Lady Indians then boosted their lead to nine at 17-8 following a 7-2 run over the first four minutes of the second quarter. South owned the final four minutes of the second quarter though making three field goals and hitting two of three free throws to cut the Hays lead down to 20-16.
Highlights
Hays pushed their lead up to twelve twice in the second half including the third quarter break of 42-30. South like they did in the second quarter made a push. The Cougars hit their first five shots of the fourth quarter to cut the Hays lead down to three at 36-33 with just under two and half minutes remaining. Hays solved the Cougars full court pressure in time to make three layups and four of eight free throws to secure the 46-38 win.
Coach Kirk Maska
Savannah Schneider came off the bench to score a game high 12. Nicole Dinkel added 11. Hays improves to 6-8, matching last year’s win total. South falls to 5-8. The Cougars were led by Allie Valdez with 12.
Hays 52 – Salina South 46
Hays High couldn’t buy a field goal in the first half making just 2 of their first 19 attempts before making their last three to close the first half. On the flip side South made four of their first five and built their lead as high as nine on two occasions. With South leading 20-11, Hays scored the final four points of the first half to trail 20-15.
Highlights
The Indians used those last four points of the second half combined with the first seven of the second half to take their first lead of the game 22-20. The two teams traded baskets over the next five minutes before Hays built at three point lead with four seconds left in the third quarter. South’s Jacob Marcotte nailed a half court shot to tie the game at 31 through three.
South the scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to grab a 36-31 lead. Hays tied the game at 36 and 38 all before South took a two possession lead 42-38 with 3:30 remaining. Hays scored the next five points to regain the lead at 43-42 on a Drew Young three pointer. Jacob Marcotte gave the Cougars their final lead at 44-43 with 1:42 remaining on a pair of free throws. Hays used a 9-2 run to close the game hitting their final four free throws and win 52-46.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays was lead in scoring by Drew Young with 16. Trace Kochevar matched him with 16 for Salina South and Dylan Becker added 10.
Hays improves to 12-2 on the season and is ranked #5 in class 4A-1. Salina South drops to 9-4 and is ranked #5 in 5A.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The two state mental hospitals in Kansas would receive an additional $3 million total in their current budgets under a proposal approved by a legislative committee.
The House Appropriations Committee added the money Thursday to budget legislation to help Larned and Osawtomie state hospitals fill staff vacancies and address other issues.
A total of more than 350 positions are vacant at the two hospitals, or about 38 percent.
Republican Rep. Will Carpenter of El Dorado said his proposal would let the Department on Aging and Disability Services determine how the extra money would be spent at the hospitals.
A critical survey of the Osawatomie hospital in November prompted the federal government to decertify it, costing the state between $500,000 and $1 million a month in federal funds.
JUNCTION CITY – A Kansas man was given two life prison sentences on Thursday.
James Henning, 39, Junction City, was sentenced in Geary County District Court on earlier convictions on multiple charges including two counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child, three counts of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, four counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, and one charge of Rape.
The charges from September 2014. The victim was his eight-year old daughter.
In court a tearful Henning apologized for his actions. As to why he committed the crime, he said if he knew he didn’t think he would be here ( in court ) now.
“I do not believe I am a bad person,” he said. “Regardless of my sentence I will pay for the crimes for the rest of my life. Words cannot describe my sorrow and regret.
Prosecutor Michelle Brown opposed any type of departure in sentencing, noting that life was the presumptive sentence on each count. She added letters written by Henning since his arrest showed no remorse, that he had blamed his eight-year old child for sexually provoking him, and still maintained he did nothing wrong.
Brown said there was nothing to justify a departure. The court did not grant s departure request.
Henning does have a right to appeal in his case.
Junction City police at his East 12th Street residence in Junction City arrested Henning on November 25, 2014.
The Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art at Fort Hays State University will host the Interior Design IIDA Student Chapter Exhibition from Friday, Feb. 5, to Friday, Feb. 19.
The exhibit features the work of six Fort Hays State students who are members of FHSU’s International Interior Design Association chapter.
An opening reception for the exhibition will be held Friday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. The art can be viewed during normal gallery hours Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Feb. 19.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State used a 26-5 run which spanned the second and third quarters to build a 20-point lead then held on the rest of the way for a 70-57 win over Central Missouri Thursday in front of 2,775 at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers (19-2, 13-2 MIAA) closed the second quarter on a 16-1 run and led by 14 at the half.
The Jennies (8-12, 7-8 MIAA) closed the third quarter on a 10-2 run to pull within 12 and cut the Tigers lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter.
Tony Hobson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Nikola Kacperska led the Tigers balanced scoring attack with 11 points. Paige Lunsford, Jill Faxon and Beth Bohuslavsky all added 10.
The Jennies were led by Shelby Winkleman’s 14 points while Paige Redmond and Danielle Barry both added 11.
FHSU shot 44-percent from the floor including 5-of-18 from beyond the arc. They were 17-of-27 from the free throw line where they outscored the Mules by 10.
