KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State fell behind 11-0 over the first 3 1/2 minutes and could never catch up as they lost their MIAA Tournament quarterfinal round game with Missouri Southern 76-67 Thursday night at Municipal Auditorium.
FHSU Postgame Press Conference
Game Highlights
MSSU (18-11) shot 61-percent in the first half including 8-of-13 from beyond the arc in building a 15-point halftime lead. The Tigers (18-11) scored the first eight points of the second half to pull within seven, but would get no closer as they shot 33-percent for the game and only 2-of-13 from beyond the arc in the second half.
Rob Davis finished with 20 points to lead the Tigers who lost for the first time to the Lions in the MIAA Tournament in five tries. Kyler Kinnamon scored nine points and dished out seven assists with three steals and no turnovers. Hadley Gillum, who fouled out with over seven minutes to play, finished with nine points. Brady Werth had a team best seven rebounds.
MIAA Freshman of the Year Elyjah Clark led MSSU with 20 points, 16 of them in the first half on 5-of-6 three-point shooting.
For a third straight season, Hays and Buhler matched up in the first round of sub-state play. Hays won the previous two meetings first in Hays then in Ulysses. Thursdays game took place on Buhler’s home floor. As in the previous two years both teams entered with double digit wins.
Hays doubled up Buhler in the first quarter. However that amounted to just a 4-2 lead after the first eight minutes. There weren’t many more points scored in the second quarter. Buhler outscored Hays 10-2 to build their biggest first half lead at 12-8. Hays scored the final five points of the second quarter. The final three points came as time expired when Xander Swayne scored a put-back basket and was fouled as the horn sounded. Swayne knocked down the free throw to give the Indians a 13-12 halftime lead. That Swayne field goal was the only one of the quarter for Hays, but they hit all seven of their free throws.
Highlights
Buhler hit a three pointer to open up the second half to take a brief lead, when Hays went on a 8-0 run to build their biggest lead of the game at 21-15. From the end of second quarter and midway through the third quarter, the Indians outscored 13-3 to build that six point lead. Buhler answered back with a 11-2 run that ended third quarter lasted midway through the fourth quarter. The Crusaders built their lead up to six at 33-27 with two minutes remaining. Hays outscored Buhler 7-1 in the final ninety seconds on two baskets from Tyrese Hill and a conventional three point play by Claiborne Kyles. Buhler missed an alley-oop attempt at the buzzer, leaving the score at 34 a piece.
Hays and Buhler swapped the lead back and forth in the early stages of overtime, with Hays taking the lead at 38-36 with 2:25 remaining. Hays would not score rest of the way. Buhler knocked down five of six free throws, mixed in with a three point basket for the final difference of 44-38.
Coach Rick Keltner
Tyrese Hill led Hays with 12, Claiborne Kyles added 10. Hays finishes the season at 13-8. Buhler improves to 15-6 and plays McPherson for the sub-state title on Saturday.
Hays High’s Shane Berens collected five rebounds in the game, which ties him for 10th all time with 401 boards. He ties 1951 graduate Gene McCurdy.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — An Army veteran has been indicted for pretending to be blind to collect $63,000 in benefits.
A federal indictment unsealed Thursday charges 61-year-old Billy J. Alumbaugh and his ex-wife, Debra K. Alumbaugh, both of Turon, with conspiracy to defraud the government and theft of government funds.
Court records do not show they have attorneys.
Prosecutors allege he fraudulently obtained a supplemental monthly pension of $700 between June 2009 and January 2017 by claiming he was legally blind.
The indictment says that in October 2016 his wife drove him to the VA hospital in Wichita and drove away with him after his appointment. But after a few blocks, the couple stopped the car and switched seats so he could drive.
He held a driver’s license that did not require corrective lenses.
RUSSELL, Kan-The TMP Lady Monarchs used an 18-0 run that started midway through the second quarter and spanned into the third quarter. That run moved TMP from down 18-15 to up 33-18. TMP controlled the rest of the game and picked up the 49-30 victory.
It was the inside game that was really working for the Lady Monarchs led by Kayla Vitztum who finished with a game high 14 points and was the only player for both teams in double figures. Beloit was able to have some success early with 6-2 Junior Sydney Johnson who scored six first half points. TMP adjusted their defense about the time they started to make their run in the second quarter and Johnson scored only two points the rest of the way.
The Lady Monarchs have now won 19 games in a row and improve to 21-1 on the season. They will face the winner of Russell and Ellsworth in the Sub-State Championship game on Saturday at 6pm in Russell.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man who was sentenced to 60 days in jail for leaving the scene after hitting a pedestrian, who later died, has been released from jail after serving two days.
District Judge Terry Pullman released 55-year-old Cary Whitlock, of Clearwater, on Monday and sent him to work release for the rest of his 60-day sentence.
Whitlock pleaded no contest in January to leaving the scene of an accident. The September 2014 accident resulted in the death of 43-year-old Jeremy Napier, of Clearwater. Prosecutors say Napier was walking near Clearwater when he was hit by a vehicle, which drove away. He was run over by a second vehicle.
The Wichita Eagle reports coroners couldn’t determine which blow caused Napier’s death, so Whitlock wasn’t charged with a more serious crime.
Alex Deaton courtesy of Ellsworth County Sheriff’s Office
PRATT − A Mississippi man has been charged with attempted first degree murder and related charges, according to a media release from Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
He filed criminal charges against Alex Bridges Deaton, 28, in connection with an incident that occurred Wednesday in Pratt.
The charges are one count of attempted first degree murder, one count of aggravated robbery, one count of theft and one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. Bond has been set at $5 million.
Deaton is scheduled for a first appearance March 6 at 11a.m. in Pratt County District Court.
Criminal charges are merely accusations. Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COLWICH, Kan. (AP) — Ethanol producer ICM says it is planning a $175 million bio-refinery in Colwich.
The company said in a news release Thursday that the plant, ICM Element, will create 50 new permanent jobs, as well as construction jobs.
At full production, the plant will buy more than 22 million bushels of corn and sorghum. ICM says the planning is in its final stages.
The new plant would be on 80 acres just ICM’s main plant in Colwich.
Colwich Mayor Terry Spexarth says the city council is considering providing 10 years of tax abatements. He says after 10 years, the plant could provide about $1.8 million to the community.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge wants to hear oral arguments on a newspaper’s request to disclose the federal government’s reasons for putting wiretaps on the phone communications of a former state legislator, a Wichita businessman and others.
U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren set a hearing for Tuesday in federal court on the motion filed by The Wichita Eagle. Five of the paper’s current or former employees were notified their calls with Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell and businessman Brandon Steven had been intercepted.
The U.S. attorney’s office says disclosing the information would jeopardize its investigation. The government contends no one has been charged and no evidence has been introduced in any civil or criminal proceedings. It calls the request a “thinly veiled First Amendment argument” to obtain access to sealed documents.
A national retailer located in Hays has declared bankruptcy and will be going out of business.
North Dakota-based Vanity, located at Big Creek Crossing, announced Thursday it has filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of North Dakota.
The apparel and accessory chain has been in operation since the late 1950s, the company said in a news release.
“The commitment and adaptability of Vanity and its employees has been a key to Vanity’s success throughout its many years,” said James Bennett, Vanity’s chairman of the board. “We would like to thank our employees for their service and loyalty. We also sincerely appreciate all of our customers — both past and present.”
Vanity’s plan is to conduct store closing sales at all of its retail locations during the month of March and possibly into April. Vanity anticipates it will continue to honor Vanity gift cards during the store closing process.
Vanity also operates Kansas stores in Salina, Garden City, Manhattan and Topeka. Vanity operates 140 stores in 27 states.
Plane involved in Thursday crash -photo Courtesy Shawn Anderson
MCPHERSON COUNTY -A small plane made a rough landing in McPherson County on Thursday afternoon.
The aircraft went down in a field in the 200 Block of Church Street near Gypsum, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. The pilot was not seriously injured and intended to seek medical attention.
Cause of the incident or other details were not immediately available.
Check Hays Post for more information as it is released.
Kansans with years of experience watching the weather know that when March rolls around, it’s time to turn our attention to the skies — and to the weather reports.
March is the month when many state residents begin preparing for potential severe weather problems. That includes checking your insurance policies on personal property to make sure you have the coverage and information you need.
Recent weather data from the National Weather Service (NWS) supports the continuing need for preparation. The NWS, in its Severe Weather Awareness Week packet, says there were 102 tornadoes in the state in 2016, one above the 10-year average. The month of May last year had the most tornadoes, 63, with 34 occurring on one day, May 24.
But twisters are only part of our potential weather problems. Kansas Insurance Department (KID) statistics, through the years, indicate that during the spring and summer there is hardly a day when hail damage is not reported somewhere in the state. Factor in the ever-present wind, and our citizens contend with weather issues almost daily from March through August — and sometimes beyond.
According to company estimates compiled for KID, Kansans submitted a total of 51,708 property insurance claims in 2016 because of severe weather activity. Although the total estimated storm loss was at a 10-year low–$107.26 million—that is still a significant number of damaged homes, farms and outbuildings. Thank goodness only 12 injuries were reported, and, more importantly, no deaths occurred.
For video presentations of storm preparation and recovery topics, watch these KID Presentations:
Before and after a storm
Personal home inventory
Our KID staff has also compiled the following checklist of questions and statements that consumers and their insurance agents can review. These can help determine whether your insurance is ready for the Kansas spring and summer.
Ask yourself these questions
Do you have the right homeowners or renters insurance? Do you know what your policy covers? Is the amount of coverage adequate? Does it cover new additions or recent remodeling?
Check all limits, including coverage for contents. Keep your agent’s name and number available and easy to find, and periodically discuss coverage options with him or her.
Know your policy coverage exclusions
Not all policies cover the following: Water damage, including flood and surface damage, whether driven by wind or not; backup of sewer or drains; and sump pump failure. These are the most common exclusions. Riders for these problems may be available to add to your existing policy. Also, check your auto policy. Comprehensive coverage (other than collision) usually pays if damage is caused by wind, hail and/or flood.
Inventory your personal property
KID can provide you with a “Personal Home Inventory” booklet to help you list the contents of your home. Go online at www.ksinsurance.org, under “Finding a Publication,” to print a personal copy. Keep a hard copy of your inventory, sales receipts and video or photographs of your personal property in a secure place outside your home.
You can also download the MyHomeScr.APP.book application for your smartphone from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Get help if you need it
KID has formed a department Catastrophe Team to visit affected locations following very severe weather events. But for assistance at any time, call the KID Consumer Assistance Hotline (in Kansas), 800-432-2484.
WAKEENEY–The borders of a town may be defined by its streets, and its economy is found in the fields that surround it, but if you’re looking for its civic heart you’ll find it beating inside the walls of its county courthouse.
It was 1888 when the Trego County Courthouse was plotted in the center of WaKeeney’s city square. George R. Ropes, an architect from Topeka, had drawn up plans for a Queen Anne style Victorian building with an Elizabethan frontage. Upon completion the most prominent feature was a cupola imported from Europe that sat 100-feet high atop a tin roof. The main part of the building was ringed by a row of paired windows and peaked false fronts over the entryways, providing a grand look to the overall design.
Inside, the original staircase pairs still flank the east and west doors. The rich, dark wood used for the construction of the stairs was continued throughout the building, including in the courtroom on the top floor where you’ll find the original judge’s bench still in use today. Downstairs in the basement, the now retired jail still sports the unique flat bars and specially designed lock that were installed at the time of construction.
The courthouse went through a transformation in 1951 and 1952, when it was decided to remove the roof after it had suffered irreparable damage and update the building’s look, turning it into a mid-century style building with a profile of straight lines and ninety-degree angles. The prominent window positioned over the doors were also bricked over with a large stone mural of an eagle in flight with the words “Trego County Courthouse” above and below.
In 1974, our beautiful courthouse became the setting of a Hollywood movie, when Peter Bogdanovich, Ryan O’Neil and Tatum O’Neil filmed Paper Moon in several rooms of the courthouse. Some say those scenes didn’t make the final cut, but look closely at the point in which the father/daughter bunko team escapes the jail and you might see them fall down what appears to be a very familiar staircase.
The current look of the Trego County Courthouse came to be in 2012 when a new roof was added. It was decided to pay homage to Ropes’s Victorian design and bring back a version of the original peaked roof. Inside the building, the Courthouse’s layout has remained the unchanged since its construction, which makes it one of the oldest buildings still in operation in Kansas today.
Today, the courthouse continues to be the center of civic activity in Trego County. Next time you’re in WaKeeney explore the beautiful craftsmanship of prairie architecture at the Trego County Courthouse!
