SALINE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a mother on child endangerment charges.
Just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, police were dispatched to a residence in 800 Block of University in Salina after a complaint of children crying for over 30-minutes, according to police Captain Paul Forrester.
Officers had to remove a window to gain access to the apartment and found two 2-year-old twin girls locked in a bedroom.
A 15-year-old female runaway from Kansas City Missouri was found asleep on a couch inside the apartment.
The mother of the young girls, 28-year-old Deliah Ross told police she left at 9pm to go to work.
She was charged with two counts of endangering a child.
Police placed the twin girls into protective custody.
Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th Dist.By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post
As state lawmakers prepare to head back to Topeka, there is no doubt the upcoming session is going to be full of difficult issues.
110th District Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, told the Ellis County Commission Tuesday that this upcoming session, which starts Monday, is not going to be an easy one.
Rahjes said when it comes to fixing the budget shortfall, “everything is on the table,” and that all entities must work together.
On Tuesday, the Kansas Department of Revenue said tax collections in December exceeded previous estimates by about $6 million at nearly $531 million. The new figures have the state’s budget shortfall for the current fiscal year at about $342 million.
“It took us a while to get there. It’s going to take us a while to get back,” Rahjes said. “As long as we all work together from a state, county, municipality partnership, we’ll get through this.”
But he also warned that, with the election of a new governor just two years away, politics might play a role.
“I hope we don’t get so mired in politics that we do nothing for two years because, honestly, you and I both know we can’t do nothing,” he said.
Rahjes, who is a member of the House Taxation Committee, said he expects to see a change in the structure of income taxes.
“I don’t like the word ‘repeal,’ ” Rahjes said. “I think what you’ll see is some sort of revision of the state tax plan.”
Rahjes said he considers himself “a conservative” but “one that wants to conserve the assets that we’re give and the resources that we’re given and be conservative with them, instead of simply continuing to spend and raise taxes and spend.”
One of the priorities of the upcoming session for Rahjes will be to maintain or decrease counties’ reliance on property taxes. He said it is important that they do not make changes in Topeka that have a negative effect on county budgets.
Among the changes is a tax lid on city and county governments signed into law in 2016. The law says local governments, starting with their 2017 budgets, must limit their spending increases to a modified consumer price index calculated by the state.
Rahjes said he is unsure if there will be a change to the tax cap, but said it has been discussed.
Ellis County Commissioner Barb Wasinger said she is concerned about the continued tax cuts at the state level that come “on the back of counties.”
“We had a lot of money taken out of our tax because the state eliminated taxes that they weren’t getting that we were,” Wasinger said. “But it was a feel-good for everyone else.”
Rahjes said he has already been in contact with 109th District Rep. and Appropriation Committee Chairman Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and 108th Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Assaria, who was selected chairman of the Taxation Committee. He said they are working toward future fixes.
“Governing by crisis is not fun, and it’s not really the Kansas way,” Rahjes said.
The Kansas Supreme Court is also expected to rule on school funding in the coming months, and the decision could force lawmakers to come up with close to $800 million.
Rahjes said a number of the incoming representatives ran on “fully funding education,” and he said he believes their goal is to replace any cut to education funding that has occurred over the last few years.
“I’m all for education, but we need to take a realistic look at where we move forward,” he said.
A recent idea brought by a group of Kansas citizens proposed raising the gas tax to 11 cents a gallon and reducing the sales tax on food.
Rahjes said he would be in favor of lowering the sales tax on food and called it a “great idea” but said “probably not now.”
He also questioned how the two moves – raising the gas tax and lowering sales tax on food – would boost the economy.
Wasinger also said she hopes lawmakers can look at the Kansas Department of Corrections.
“What I see is they’re fixing short-term budget problems and not thinking long-term,” Wasinger said “We’re putting juveniles in jail instead of dealing with them.”
Commissioners Dean Haselhorst and Marcy McClelland both urged Rahjes to consider the cuts they have been making for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas and other mental health programs.
Rahjes is the third state legislator to visit the county commission in recent weeks leading up to the annual session.
In other business, the commission appointed Janet Schmidt the Trustee of the Catharine Township. Schimdt is the third person appointed by the commission. The commission had a discussion on the problem of getting people to serve in township positions.
The commission also approved a grant application for Health Services Director Kerry McCue. McCue is applying for a grant to purchase new cardiac monitors.
The commission also met in two separate executive sessions. The first was for preliminary discussion for the purchase of real property. The second was for attorney-client privilege. No action was taken after either session.
Fake movie money that appeared in Central Kansas in May of 2016-photo Butler Co. CrimeStoppers
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Northeast Kansas are investigating a case of counterfeit money and have made an arrest.
On December 22, the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a business at 101 East Bluemont Avenue, Manhattan after a white male suspect had used counterfeit 100-dollar bills to purchase a flat screen TV, according to a media release.
Sometime after the transaction had occurred it was discovered the bills were counterfeit. The had marked on them “For Motion Picture Use Only.”
The loss in the matter was reported to be 500 dollars.
Detectives working the case identified a suspect and arrested Michael Andrew Baum. Baum, 30, Topeka, and he was booked into the Douglas County Jail. He is also on a hold for Pottawatomie County for Theft by Deception and Making False Information.
A bond of 10,000 has been set.
The Sheriff’s Office received information that some counterfeit bills have also surfaced at other businesses near Pottawatomie County and across Northeast Kansas.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new Kansas Congressman is dishing out discipline after his 17-year-old son pulled a dance move resembling a sneeze during a photo shoot with House Speaker Paul Ryan after the U.S. House of Representatives swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol.
U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall tweeted: “He’s grounded.”
During the photo shoot Tuesday, Cal Marshall held the Bible with his father and Ryan. As the photographer prepared to take photos, the son raised one arm in the move popularized by sports celebrities known as dabbing, hiding his face as if he was about to sneeze.
Ryan asked if he was OK. As the teen began laughing, Marshall said, “He’s sneezing.”
The move was featured on news around the nation including Wednesday’s opening of the TODAY show.
Marshall, an obstetrician from Great Bend, won the 1st District seat after beating incumbent tea party favorite Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary.
Mary Jane (Janie) Townsley, 95, passed away January 2, 2017, at Main Street Manor in Russell. She was born October 30, 1921, to Walburga (Riedl) and Emanuel “Monte” Krug in Hoisington. The family moved to Great Bend where she attended school, being named Homecoming Queen in 1939.
She married Russell T Townsley on August 21, 1942, in Great Bend where she worked at the high school and Phillips Petroleum. After stints in Campaign, IL., Boston, MA, and Boca Raton FL., while Russ was in the service, they returned to Great Bend and moved to Russell in 1948 when they acquired the Russell Daily News. With Russ attending lengthy school board and city council meetings, she became adept at cooking casseroles which frequently were cussed and discussed in her husband’s weekly column although universally acclaimed by often unexpected guests that included area and national journalists covering events in Russell. She played bridge and encouraged and supported activities of her children as well as those of her friends and family.
A child in the depression and dust bowl and a new wife and mother during World War II, Mary Jane possessed a positive, warm spirit that did not falter through her final days. Cherishing her spirit are a daughter, Alice Bair (Mike); grandson Trevor Bair (Sarah) and great grandsons Connor and Caleb Bair of Longmont, Colorado; and a son in Overland Park. Her parents and husband preceded her in death.
Celebration of Janie’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, January 9, 2017 at the First Congregational Church with Pastor Ron Wedel officiating. A private burial of ashes will follow at a later date. Visitation will be held Monday morning at First Congregational Church with the family present to greet friends from 9:30 AM to Service time. Memorials have been established with First Congregational Church or Artist Helping The Homeless. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary who is in charge of these arrangements.
Patrick “Pat” Lee Balthazor passed away Sunday, January 1, 2017 at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 64. He was born on December 23, 1952 in Plainville, Kansas to the late Philip Paul and Dorothy Ellen (Warren) Balthazor. He graduated from Palco High School in Palco, Kansas with the Class of 1970. He went on to graduate from Fort Hays State University in 1978 with a degree in Petroleum Geology. In 1978, he was united in marriage to Susie Reynolds in Hays, Kansas. They later divorced. In 1995 he married Kay Kelley in Enid, Oklahoma. They were blessed with a son, Beau Thomas.
Pat worked throughout his lifetime, in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas with a reputation for being one of the best geologists in the oilfield business. He enjoyed fishing, and having grown up with horses, he was an avid reader, especially of history novels and cowboy novels by author Zane Grey. He was very creative with an affinity for the arts and music. During his spare time, he helped build sets for the Cornerstone Studio Theatre at Friends University in Wichita. Whenever the oilfield was slow, he liked using his skills in cabinet building and carpentry work.
Pat is survived by his son Beau Balthazor and husband Cameron of Enid, OK; brothers Greg Balthazor and wife Karla of Stockton, and Terry Balthazor and wife Kay of Columbia, MO; sister Paula (Balthazor) Prochazka of Gold Canyon, AZ; granddaughter Kallen; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Philip Paul and Dorothy Balthazor.
Pat was a hardworking man who wasn’t afraid to get dirty, sometimes a little rough around the edges or stubborn, but always passionate, driven, and strong. His ambition and talent allowed him to put his heart into everything he did. Although he will be greatly missed, his love and memories will be with us forever.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Stockton. Burial will follow in St. Ann Catholic Cemetery in Zurich. There will be no visitation.
EUGENE, Ore. — College Choice, a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources, has published its 2017 ranking for the Best Online Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management.
This ranking comes at a time when an average of 27,000 jobs in hospitality have been created every month in the United States. Those looking for a relevant college education can find it in hospitality management, and that includes non-traditional college students who may have significant job and family responsibilities.
“There’s never been a better time for online education than now,” Christian Amondson, Managing Editor of College Choice said of the ranking. “So if you’re a prospective student interested in an online degree and you are open to hospitality management, then this list will be very helpful in determining which institution will give you the biggest bang for your tuition buck.”
Fort Hays State University ranked 12th on the list. For a complete listing, click HERE.
College Choice created the 2017 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management based on a program’s reputation alongside its average return on investment. The sources for this information come from a variety of publicly accessible records, including a nationwide survey published by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, U.S. News & World Report, the National Center for Education Statistics, and PayScale.com.
The College Choice 2017 ranking for the Best Online Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management finds the online hospitality program at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the top spot. Florida International University and California State University East Bay round out the top three.
The complete alphabetical rankings are as follows:
American Public University System, Charles Town, West Virginia
Bay State College, Boston, Massachusetts
California State University-East Bay, Hayward, California
Charleston Southern University, Charleston, South Carolina
East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
ECPI University, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Florida International University, Miami, Florida
Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas
Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona
Granite State College, Concord, New Hampshire
Lakeland College, Plymouth, Wisconsin
Lynn University , Boca Raton, Florida
Monroe College, Bronx, New York
National American University, Albuquerque, New Mexico
North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona
Saint Leo University, Saint Leo, Florida
San Ignacio College, Doral, Florida
Schiller International University, Largo, Florida
Sullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky
University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts
University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
University of the Potomac, Washington, District of Columbia
University of the Southwest, Hobbs, New Mexico
Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah
Please be advised that Oak Street is closed between 22nd Street and Highland Avenue for waterline improvements. This segment will be closed for an estimated 2 weeks. The project is scheduled to be completed by April 1st (pending weather conditions).
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. The traveling public should use caution and if at all possible avoid these areas.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Public Works Planning, Inspection, and Enforcement Division at (785) 628-7310 or the contractor, J-Corp, at (785) 628-8101.
Two familiar programs are returning to the Hays Public Library this January.
Family Bingo: Through February 28, the Hays Public Library will be running a “Family Bingo” program. To participate, pick up a bingo card at any of the library’s circulation desks. Only one card per household, please. Once your family/household completes all the items on the bingo card, redeem the card for passes to the movie theater OR passes to the Sternberg museum. Each member of the household should participate in the activities on the card to be eligible for the free passes.
KS Day Photo Contest: The Kansas Day Photo Contest returns this month with an opportunity for local photographers to showcase their work! The two age categories for participants is 17 and under and 18 and older. The four submission categories are Kansas People, Kansas Nature, This is Family, and Kansicana. Participants may enter one photo per category and all photos must be at least 5” X 7” and framed. All photos must be submitted by 5 PM on January 20. Judging will take place January 21-25 and there will be a closing awards reception on Kansas Day, January 29 at 3 PM. For submission guidelines and forms visit hayspublib.org or pick up a packet at the library anytime.
For more information on these and other programs, visit hayspublib.org or call (785) 625-9014.
Since 2001, Sunflower Bank has been raising money for local schools and students annually through its signature ABC program. Total donations since the program began are over $1,000,000.
The program runs January 3 through March 31 and supports over 300 schools across Colorado, Kansas and Missouri.
“Our mission at Sunflower Bank is to create possibility in our communities,” said Mollie Carter, President and CEO of Sunflower Bank. “We believe that by supporting and contributing to our local schools and students, we are helping provide unique programs and educational opportunities. The ABC program reflects the essence of our culture and our commitment to those we serve.”
During the campaign, money will be raised for the benefit of education through the following:
• $50 to a registered school for every Spend & Sign & Save checking and savings account package that is opened. Up to $50 will also be given to the new account owner if they meet specific criteria;
• 5¢ for each debit card swipe when ‘credit’ is selected and the card is registered to a participating school;
• $10 for every ‘A’ on a student’s report card if their card is one of five cards drawn at every local branch, plus a matching donation for their participating school. The drawing is open to all students in grades K-12, $100 maximum per report card.
Visit your local Sunflower Bank branch or SunflowerBank.com/ABC to learn more about the ABC program and to register your Sunflower Bank Debit Card to a specific participating school in support of education.
Today Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values as low as -6. North northeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -4. East wind 8 to 14 mph becoming north after midnight.
ThursdayA 30 percent chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -4. North wind 10 to 14 mph.
Thursday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 2. Wind chill values as low as -9. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.
FridayMostly sunny, with a high near 27. West wind 5 to 9 mph.
RENO COUNTY — A woman who at one time worked for the Kansas Department of Corrections faces a preliminary hearing on a felony charge for sexual contact with an inmate at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility.
Amy D. Hapner is charged with unlawful sexual relations for the encounter where she’s accused of consensual lewd fondling or touching of the inmate, Donell Williams.
The alleged crime occurred on May 7.
Williams is serving time for two counts of murder in the first degree for crimes out of Wyandotte County.
The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in front of Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen.
Tonight A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 8pm. Cloudy, with a low around 10. Wind chill values as low as -4. East wind 8 to 14 mph becoming north after midnight.
