TCSO
WAKEENEY–The Trego County Sheriff’s Department will host a Drug Take-Back Day, Sat., April 29.
Please bring your expired, unused or unwanted medications to the Sheriff’s Office, 525 Warren Ave., WaKeeney, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. for proper disposal.
SALINA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have dismissed charges against one of three Kansas men accused in an Illinois contract-killing plot.
The conspiracy to commit capital murder case was dropped Tuesday against 23-year-old Alex Karcher.
Assistant Saline County attorney Amy Norton says a decision about whether to refile the case will be made after he returns to Illinois to face drug charges.
The Illinois indictment says Karcher and four others stored marijuana at a rental home and intended to distribute it.
Meanwhile, two men remain charged in the contract-killing plot. Carbondale, Illinois, officer Trey Harris was wounded during the same time frame in which the men are accused in a criminal complaint of agreeing to travel to the state to kill three other men. No one was killed.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s tax overhaul (all times EDT):
1:40 p.m.
President Donald Trump wants to simplify the personal tax code by cutting rates and eliminating deductions used by more affluent Americans.
White House economic adviser Gary Cohn says the plan would cut the top income tax rate from 39.6 percent to 35 percent. It also would reduce the number of personal income tax brackets to three from seven. The new tax rates would be 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent.
The plan would double the standard deduction for married couples to $24,000, while keeping deductions for charitable giving and mortgage interest payments. The plan would trim other deductions used by high-income Americans, including state and local tax payments.
It would also repeal the estate tax, the catch-all alternative minimum tax and the 3.8 percent tax on investment income from President Barack Obama’s health care law.
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WICHITA -A Kansas man was sentenced Wednesday to 41 months in federal prison for two commercial robberies in Wichita, according to U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.
Austan Kinnaird, 26, Goddard, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery. In his plea he admitted that on Dec. 24, 2015, he robbed Golf Headquarters at 848 N. Webb Road in Wichita. He entered the store wearing a wig and a cap. He showed the clerk what looked like a firearm and demanded money before he fled the store with the stolen cash.
In his plea, he further admitted that on April 29, 2016, he robbed a branch of Intrust Bank in a Dillons grocery store at 9450 E. Harry in Wichita. He gave the teller a note demanding money and fled the bank with the cash. He was identified after surveillance photos were made public.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 Community Vision Team worked Tuesday to refine a bond issue in the constraints of what community members say they are willing to pay in taxes
The team focused on elementary school improvements at its meeting Tuesday.
The group heard the results of a phone survey conducted Friday, which asked questions about bond options.
Forty-eight percent of those surveyed said elementary schools improvements should be the district’s priority. Sixty percent of respondents said they would prefer to have smaller, more frequent bond issues.
The survey also asked how much of a tax increase voters would support for school facilities. Eighty-three percent said they would support a tax increase of $10 or less on a $150,000 home.
The team had discussed two options previously. One was to build a new high school, renovate the high school into a middle school, renovate the middle school into an elementary, renovate Wilson and Roosevelt elementary schools, and close O’Loughlin and Lincoln elementary schools.
The second was to build a new elementary school, renovate Wilson and Roosevelt elementary schools, close O’Loughlin and Lincoln elementary schools, and renovate the middle school and high school.
The team Tuesday focused on variations of option two as the members expressed concerns the new high school option would cost more than voters would be willing to support. In June, USD 489 voters soundly rejected a proposed $94 million bond issue for improvements throughout the district.
Many different options were discussed at Tuesday’s meeting with varying price tags. No decisions were made as to scope of a possible bond project, and dollar amounts have not been set, said Troy Wade, bond consensus expert, DLR Group, the district’s architectural firm.
The team discussed both including the high school and middle school renovations in this bond and an option only including construction and renovation of the elementary schools.
Wade noted if the district would come back for a second bond for the middle school and high school in another 10 years, cost would likely increase.
One goal at the elementary schools includes building new gyms that could be used for storm shelters. This would free up the current gym/cafeterias to be used for dining and other activities.
Valerie Wente, a parent of a fifth- and seventh-grader, said gyms at both the elementaries and the middle school were inadequate.
Students at O’Laughlin have to use the 12th Street Auditorium, which is run down, because the gym is not large enough for concerts and programs.
Gyms are not just for sports, she said, they are used for classes and presentations. The middle school gym is booked solid between 5:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
“You can’t get all kids and activities in the gym,” she said. “Events have to be moved to the (Hays Recreation Commission) and other facilities. The school gym does not having seating for parents. It is an overused space.”
Other goals include increasing security, creating classrooms that are the best size for current and future needs, expanding the schools to handle four sections of each grade, and meeting accessibility requirements.
The middle school is the only building in the district that has a storm shelter up to current code.
Superintendent John Thissen expressed concerns at the school board meeting Monday night the layout of the elementary schools does not allow staff to monitor school visitors adequately.
Team members also suggested not building a new school, but renovating all the existing schools.
Chris Nichol, team member, balked at this idea, saying the cost of renovating Lincoln would be greater than building a new school.
Wade concurred, “Do you really think the voters would go for putting $10 million into a 100-year-old-building?”
Justin Dempsey, member of the public, expressed concern about the elimination of neighborhood schools.
Wade said an earlier analysis of student demographics indicated students were already crisscrossing the city to attend schools.
The Vision Team will discuss possible options for renovations at the high school and middle school at its next meeting, which will be May 16.
For more information on the bond planning process, follow the district on Facebook at Hays Unified School District 489, on Twitter @USD489 or go to the district’s website at www.usd489.com.
Jana’s Campaign
On Friday, Jana’s Campaign will host one of many exhibits at the Hays Arts Council Spring Art Walk. This show will begin one hour early (5:30 p.m.) at Styles Dance Centre, 1501 Main, and include artwork from area high school and college students as well as locally recognized artists. Aligned with the mission of Jana’s Campaign, the show will provide quality educational programming that prevents gender and relationship violence. The purpose of the exhibit is to raise awareness and educate the community. Co-founder of Jana’s Campaign, Christie Brungardt, provided high schools with resources that included both direct and video presentations of the topic.
All of the art presented will reflect on the topic of dating and relationship violence. The program this year includes live music, dramatic interpretations, solo and duo dance performances in addition to a wide variety of visual 2D and 3D pieces and multi-media advocacy. Contributors include students from Hays High School, Ellis High School, La Crosse High School, and FHSU’s art and music departments, Styles Dance Centre dancers, Linda Ganstrom, Gordon Sherman, Amy Normandin, Ruth Mortiz, Jeremy Martinson, Avery Normandin, Noël Servais-Leach, Avid Visual Imagery, Eric Stumon, Tara Spresser, Jennifer Younger, Tristan Lindo, and Joel Dugan. Live music includes performances by FHSU Trombone Quartet at 6:15 p.m.
Drs. Christie and Curt Brungardt, founders of Jana’s Campaign and Jana’s mother and step-father, will attend the event to greet guests. Representatives from Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services will also have an informational table.
Click HERE for a complete list of Art Walk locations and participants.
The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and 17 traffic stops Fri., April 21, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Lost Animals ONLY–2700 block Hickory St, Hays; 12:25 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 12:34 AM
Driving Under the Influence–500 block W 27th St, Hays; 1:55 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 4:36 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–2100 block E 21st St, Hays; 8:12 AM
Suspicious Activity–2400 Fort St, Hays–10:04 AM
Document Service–1000 block Vine St, Hays; 10:33 AM
Disturbance – Noise–1300 block Lawrence Dr, Hays; 12:16 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–4800 General Hays Rd Rd, Hays; 12:15 PM
Theft (general)–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 2:58 PM
911 Hangup Call–400 block Linda Ln, Hays; 3:09 PM
Driving Under the Influence–2500 block E 21st St, Hays; 3:17 PM; 3:48 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–200 W 29th St, Hays; 3:40 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–1200 block E 22nd St, Hays; 4:14 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–4100 block Smoky Hill Dr, Hays; 5:22 PM
Dead Animal Call–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 5:37 PM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 4/14 8 PM
Criminal Trespass–1700 block Felten Dr, Hays; 7:36 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–3500 block Chaumont Dr, Hays; 9:07 PM
Disturbance – Noise–200 block W 4th St, Hays; 11:20 PM
Drug Offenses–600 block Fort St, Hays; 11:43 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and 19 traffic stops Sat., April 22, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Driving Under the Influence–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 1:23 AM
Disturbance – Noise–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 2:08 AM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1400 block Hall St, Hays; 2:13 AM
Disorderly Conduct–600 block E 13th St, Hays; 3:47 AM
Animal Call–2800 block US 183 Alternate Hwy, Ellis County; 8:40 AM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–300 block W 20th St, Hays; 1:30 AM
Civil Dispute–2000 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 9:39 AM
Theft (general)–600 block Park St, Hays; 4/21 11:15 PM; 4/22 12 AM
Civil Dispute–500 block Mission Mt, Hays; 11:58 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12:23 PM
Criminal Threat–1700 block Vine St, Hays; 12:49 PM
Criminal Trespass–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 3:21 PM
Animal At Large–3900 block Fairway Dr, Hays; 4:43 PM
Mental Health Call–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 5:19 PM
Juvenile Complaint–2200 block Virginia Dr, Hays; 5:37 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 3/3 8 AM
Assist – Other (not MV)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 6:59 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–500 block W 21st St, Hays; 7:56 PM
Obstruction of Legal Process–8th and Vine, Hays; 8:21 PM
Drug Offenses–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 11:21 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and 11 traffic stops Sun., April 23, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Battery – simple–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:21 AM
Disturbance – General–100 block W 11th St, Hays; 1:46 AM
Battery – simple–400 block W 6th St, Hays; 2:02 AM; 2:04 AM
Drug Offenses–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 2:30 AM
Intoxicated Subject–5th and Fort, Hays; 2:39 AM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–400 block Oak St, Hays; 1 AM; 3:17 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–3500 block Vine St, Hays; 11:29 AM
Theft (general)–600 block E 15th St, Hays; 4/22 5:30 PM; 12:20 PM
Dead Animal Call–100 block Main St, Hays; 1:03 PM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 3:04 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–500 block W 37th St, Hays; 6:06 PM; 6:30 PM
Welfare Check–100 block E 22nd St, Hays; 9:27 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 11 animal calls and 14 traffic stops Mon., April 24, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Disturbance – General–100 block W 20th St, Hays; 1:02 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–2800 block Grant Ave, Hays; 8:53 AM
Theft of Services–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 10:31 AM
Suicidal Subject–1400 block US 183 Alt Hwy, Hays; 12:49 PM
Animal At Large–2900 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 12:56 PM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 1:52 PM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–2100 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 2:22 PM
Animal At Large–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 3:21 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 4/23 11:30 PM; 4/24 3 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–1000 block E 15th St, Hays; 5:03 PM
Animal At Large–1200 block Steven Dr, Hays; 5:48 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–400 block W 8th St, Hays; 6:16 PM
Disorderly Conduct–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 10:56 PM
Longtime Kanorado, Kansas, resident Sara Jane Veselik, 72, passed away on Friday, April 21, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society-Sherman County in Goodland, KS.
Sara was born on July 1, 1944 in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Floyd G. and Anna K. (Sweigart) Lorah. She was one of four children. She graduated from Calico High School in 1962 in Denver, Pennsylvania. She then went on and got her nursing degree from Reding Nursing School graduating in 1965.
On March 20, 1970, she married John Marshall Veselik in Sterling, Colorado. To this union, one daughter Valerie was born. In 1970, Sara and John moved to Kanorado. It was at this time that she began working as a Registered Nurse for the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital in Burlington, Colorado for 3 years. After that time, she began working for the Sherman County Health Department, as well as for NWKS Hospice. She also worked for the Kansas Highway Patrol as an inspections officer at the Port of Entry in Kanorado for 12 years, retiring in 2012.
After retirement she enjoyed fishing, going gambling in Black Hawk, kaleidoscopes, reading, traveling and spending time with her family. She was also a member of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland.
Preceding her in death were her parents, and one nephew Mark Lorah.
She is survived by her husband John of Kanorado, her daughter Valerie (Robert) Jones of Broomfield, Colorado; two grandchildren Brittany and Katherine Veselik-Jones; two brothers George (Jean) Lorah in Denver, Pennsylvania and Richard (Edith) Lorah of Vienna, Virginia; and one sister Mary (Bill) Hammond of Davis, Michigan. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, April 28, 2017 at 10:30 AM MT at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church with Father Norbert Dlabal and Father Randy Weber officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Goodland Cemetery.
A Rosary and Vigil service will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 6:oo PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
Memorials may be made to NWKS Hospice Services or to the Kanorado Senior Citizens Center and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Service arrangements were entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
Mollie Marie Babcock, youngest child of Frank Arthur & Effie G. (Bugbee) Babcock, was born August 1, 1929 in Phillips County, Kansas, and passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Logan Manor Nursing Home in Logan, Kansas at the age of 87.
She was raised on a farm north of Phillipsburg, attending country schools and then graduating from Phillipsburg High School in 1947.
On June 27, 1948, Mollie was united in marriage to Milo Iman in Fort Morgan, CO. To this union five children were born: John, Juanita, Daniel, Sara and Timothy. The family made their home in Glade, Kansas.
Mollie worked for several years as a telephone operator but soon realized that raising their growing family was a full-time job. She was a member of the Phillipsburg Wesleyan Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and also as President of the Women’s Missionary Society for eight years. She loved flowers, playing the piano and singing, taking walks, visiting with people and sharing the gospel.
Milo passed away in 1983 and several years later Mollie married Leland Goracke on February 2, 1986 in Loveland, CO. The couple enjoyed traveling together, making a trip to the Holy Land and other places of interest. Leland preceded her in death in 2009.
In addition to her husbands she was preceded in death by her parents; brothers & sisters, Wayne in 2003, Bonnie in 2001, Alice Mae in 1999, Eldon in 1990, Dean in 2001 and William “Bill” in 2012; and her daughter, Sara N. Iman-Hill in 1996.
Survivors include her son, John Iman & wife, Muriel of Agra, KS; daughter, Juanita Nonhoff & husband, Wayne of Phillipsburg, KS; son, Daniel Iman & wife, Linda of Tempe, AZ; son, Timothy Iman & wife, Dawn of Salina, KS; son-in-law, Herman Hill of Corvallis, Montana; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017 in the Phillipsburg Wesleyan Church, Phillipsburg, KS, with Pastor Randy Garner officiating. Burial will follow in the Marvin Cemetery, Glade, KS.
Mrs. Iman Goracke will lie in state from noon until 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Phillipsburg Wesleyan Church or Hospice Services.
NAMI-Hays is offering an educational meeting for the public Mon., May 1 about mindfulness. Instructors and students from the FHSU Dept. of Psychology will discuss what mindfulness is and its powerful impact on mental illness.
The meeting will be held at the Center For Life Experiences, 2900 Hall, from 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
For more information contact Ann Leiker at the NAMI-Hays Resource Center by calling (785) 259-6859.
JOHNSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man after a struggle with a police officer over a gun.
Just before 1a.m. Tuesday, a police sergeant stopped a vehicle in the 10400 block of Marty Street in Overland Park for driving without headlights, traveling the wrong way on 103rd Street and suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a media release.
The vehicle stopped in a parking lot in the 10400 block of Marty Street.
As the sergeant exited his vehicle the driver sped off screeching the vehicle’s tires. The sergeant got back into his vehicle, turned around to head out to Marty Street and called in the vehicle had fled from him.
The sergeant then realized the vehicle has crashed across Marty Street, notified dispatch and observed the driver was walking in the street and stopped at the curb, across from where he crashed and appeared to be getting sick.
The sergeant approached the driver and when he was within a couple of feet of him, noticed he was holding his left arm behind his back. The sergeant asked him to show his hands.
When the subject showed his hands, he was holding a pistol in his left hand.
The sergeant immediately grabbed the man’s arm to control the gun.
A struggle ensued over the gun and the subject refused to let go of it.
Eventually, the sergeant was able to obtain control of the gun from the subject.
The sergeant then told the subject to put his hands behind his back twice, but the subject refused and started to pull and move away from the sergeant struggling again to escape.
The sergeant was able to control the subject and took him to the ground and held him until backup arrived to assist.
Deputy Chief Happer said, “He took control of the dangerous situation, did his job professionally and never let his emotions get the best of him. He arrested a dangerous armed individual without anyone getting seriously injured”.
The subject, Bradley Poland, 34, has been charged through the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office with Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.
Submitted
Mid-America Financial Corp., parent company of Golden Belt Bank, and Morgan Financial Corp., the holding company for Morgan Federal Bank, announced Wednesday the signing of an agreement and plan of merger between Golden Belt Bank and Morgan Federal Bank. Morgan Federal Bank will be merged into Golden Belt Bank and operate as a branch office of Golden Belt Bank following the merger. The merger, subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close later this year.
“We are excited to welcome Morgan Federal Bank into our organization. Morgan Federal Bank is a community bank with the same core values that we possess, which makes them a natural addition to our business,” said Ronald Wente, president of Golden Belt Bank.
Golden Belt Bank is a $143 million bank with locations in Ellis and Hays. Established in 1920, Golden Belt Bank offers a full range of consumer and business financial products.
Morgan Federal Bank is a $113 million community bank located in Fort Morgan, Colo. They offer a full line of consumer and small business banking products and services. The merger will include Morgan Federal’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Northern Colorado Title Services Company Inc., which provides real estate related financial and information services, including title insurance and real estate closing services.
The combined institution will have over $230 million in assets and three locations.
“We believe this merger is a rare opportunity to keep Morgan Federal Bank’s missions, culture and proud heritage intact for the long-term benefit of our employees, customers and community,” stated Michael Berryhill, president of Morgan Federal Bank.
“We live by the philosophy that, ‘What’s good for the community is good for Golden Belt Bank.’ We are excited to add Morgan Federal Bank and the community of Fort Morgan to that mission,” Wente said.
By C.D. DESALVO
Hays Post
For fans of disc golf, or anyone looking to do something different on their Saturday afternoon, a team from Fort Hays University’s Leadership 310 class, along with Lexi Pfannenstiel and Ashley Moore, will be putting on the “Drive Away Diabetes” charity disc golf scramble to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
“The class is connecting what we have learned in previous leadership courses and it connects us with the Hays community to try and do different service projects,” said Leadership 310 student Dalton Steinert. “Everything we raise is going directly to the JDRF.”
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is committed to accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes) and its complications. With type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops producing insulin, which is a hormone that that the body uses to get energy from food.
For most people, the body does this automatically, but for people with type 1 diabetes, they must constantly monitor their blood-sugar levels and balance insulin doses with diet and activity throughout the day and night. The fluctuation of blood-sugar levels can cause potentially life-threatening hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes for these people.
“Essentially what they (JDRF) do is they help raise money and focus on finding a cure for diabetes. They also help with medical expenses because diabetes is a very costly disease with medical equipment, medication and insulin and everything, so JDRF really works on funding cure research efforts and then also providing some sort of compensation for people that have the disease in any way that they can,” Steinert said.
The disc golf scramble will be a tournament-style event featuring 2-person and 4-person teams. A scramble focuses the rules on having fun and not keeping individual scores. The rules apply to both the 2-person teams and the 4-person teams with all team members starting each hole by shooting from the same starting spot. The team’s next shot will be from the disc that lands closest to the hole on the previous attempt.
The disc golf scramble will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the large shelterhouse in Frontier Park, which is located at the start of the disc golf course. Two-person teams will be $30, and 4-person teams will be $50 for registration. Day-of registration is available, cash or check are acceptable forms of payment, and all proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected].
More information is also available on the group’s Facebook page.
