WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, is pleased to announce that former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was approved by the U.S. Senate Monday on a 87-11 vote to be the next Agriculture Secretary.
“I’m pleased that the U.S. Senate was able to work in a bipartisan fashion to confirm Governor Perdue,” Roberts said. “I have faith that Governor Perdue will put the needs of farmers and ranchers first, and I know that rural America is thankful to have such a qualified Agriculture Secretary on their side.”
First District Congressman Roger Marahall commented on the Senate confirmation vote.
“I want to congratulate Sonny Perdue on his long-overdue confirmation to Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture. His leadership is especially relevant as producers face record world surpluses and depressed farm prices.
Throughout this long process, one silver lining has been the broad, bipartisan support shown for Perdue, and support coming from all over the ag community. It shows that agriculture can still put partisanship aside for the good of our country, economy and our producers. I welcome the chance to work hand-in-hand with the Secretary as we help producers navigate existing programs and as we look toward the 2018 farm bill.
In addition to farm and nutrition policy, I expect Perdue to be a sound champion for trade, something I have heard time and again from Kansans concerned about our ability to open new markets for products made in Kansas. Secretary Perdue’s experience as an exporter and governor leading trade missions will be invaluable as this administration pursues trade policy.
As I have said before, Perdue’s background growing up on a farm, his service in the military as a veterinarian, as well as his career in agribusiness and successful tenure as governor, make him a good fit to lead the US Department of Agriculture at this critical time for our nation’s farmers and ranchers.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s golf team sits in eighth after round one of the 2017 MIAA Championship, played at Swope Memorial Golf Course Monday afternoon (April 24). The Tigers posted a team score of 357, six shots back of sixth place. The teams played the par-72 course at 5,893 yards.
With the help of a 39 on her first nine, Hannah Perkins led the team with an 11-over 83. The sophomore is in 11th place, six shots back of the leaders. Her 3-over was the fourth-best score on the back nine.
Taylor DeBoer and Hannah Karasiuk both signed for a 91, good for a 34th. Kelsey McCarthy is one shot back after carding a 92, with Madison Roether rounding out the scoring with a 95.
Northeastern State leads the way after posting a 321, nine shots in front of Central Oklahoma (330). The scoring average in round one was 89.6.
The Tigers will begin play in round two starting at 9:20 Tuesday morning (April 24), going off hole No. 1.
SPRING HILL, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team is tied for 10th after a blustery first round of the 2017 MIAA Championship Monday (April 24), held at Sycamore Ridge Golf Club on the south end of the Kansas City metro area. The Tigers posted a 36-over 324 through the first 18 holes of the 54-hole tournament.
“We were in great shape early on, but we just made too many mistakes coming in,” said head coach Seth Kincaid. “All in all it wasn’t our best day. We left a lot of shots out there.”
The Tigers were 5-over as a team through the first six holes, but finished the afternoon 31-over through the final two-thirds of the round.
Colton Bobek led the team with a 6-over 78, good for 22nd in the 55-man field. The freshman took advantage of the five par 3s on the course, finishing at even par with two birdies.
Skyler Tebo sits in 35th after an 8-over 80. The Ellis, Kan. native had 11 pars on the afternoon, 13th-most in the field. Jake Weller shot identical nines of 41 to finish with a 10-over 82, tying for 39th.
Cash Hobson recorded two birdies en route to an 84. After starting 3-over through his first 10 holes, Isaiah Grover struggled to an 86, good for 53rd.
“The wind wasn’t anything worse than what we practice in back home,” said Kincaid. “The course played very fair today, and we weren’t able to take advantage.”
Washburn leads the field after 18 holes with an 11-over 299, with Central Missouri and Central Oklahoma both three shots back at 14-over 302. The Tigers are tied with Lincoln, nine shots back of 9th-place Nebraska-Kearney.
The Tigers go off in the second wave for round two, with tee times beginning at 9:20 a.m. Tuesday (April 25).
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drive-by shooting and asking the public for help to locate possible suspects.
Just after 6:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 2900 Block of South Richmond in Wichita after report of a drive-by shooting, according to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Monday’s online media briefing.
Several people called 911 to report that the occupants in an unknown silver vehicle were shooting at occupants in an unknown dark-colored truck.
A short time later, a dark-colored truck pulled into Wichita Fire Station-4 on Meridian. A 60-year-old occupant reported injuries from broken glass. Two others, a 22-year-old and 57-year-old, in the truck were unable to provide any additional suspect information.
Police say gunshots hit the truck at least 3 times. Police are still looking for the silver vehicle.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact police or crimestoppers.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.As spring rolls around and field work picks up, so does the potential for farm accidents. Tractor overturns remain the leading cause of death for farmers, ranchers and workers.
Approximately 19 percent come from machinery and about 36 percent involve tractors. Another 5 percent of farm and ranch accidents are livestock related.
Stress has always been a major factor in farm and ranch accidents. This culprit shows up when farmers and ranchers try to do too much in too short a time.
If possible, farmers and ranchers should try to find additional help during their busy times. They should also take time to relax some during long days.
Head injuries are a common occurrence on the farm and tend to be serious. When doing work that might involve possible head injury, trade your familiar baseball cap or straw hat for a hard hat.
When spraying herbicides and insecticides overhead, wear a wide-brimmed hat that will not allow liquids to seep through. Make sure the brim is wide enough to keep chemical spray from drifting down over the back of the neck or face.
Eyes have been labeled the “windows to the soul,” but just like all windows they can break if something is hurled, splashed or sprayed into them.
Safety goggles and sunglasses should be just as much a part of your daily garb as a good pair of steel-toed shoes. Sunglasses are important because they lessen eye fatigue after long hours in the bright spring and summer sun.
While people often consider the farm a place of quiet tranquility, many farmers experience hearing loss.
As a rule of thumb, farmers should reach for ear protection whenever the noise level reaches 85 decibels. Farmers don’t carry testing equipment to measure decibel level, so they should wear protection when in doubt about the noise level.
Earmuffs are better than earplugs because the latter can cause compaction of earwax that is difficult to remove.
If you plan to stay in the sun most of the day, wear long-sleeved cotton clothing. Natural fibers allow the skin to breathe and offer protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
Loose-fitting clothes remain a health hazard. Avoid wearing sweats with long drawstrings that hang from the waist or around the neck.
These strings are made of extremely strong nylon or other artificial fibers. Such fibers don’t rip or tear as easily as clothing like cotton. It’s easy for dangling drawstrings to catch in augers or other moving parts.
Shoes and boots can provide foot protection and traction. Make certain your shoes are clean of mud and manure that can cause slipping and falls.
Proper fit is important for both day-long comfort and stability. When spraying chemicals, wear waterproof footwear that won’t absorb chemicals.
Rings hang up on bolts, sharp corners – just about anything you find around the farmstead. Always remove them and other loose-fitting jewelry. Failure to do so can result in injury to fingers or other limbs.
Without a doubt, safely dressed farmers and ranchers seldom make the fashion pages of GQ or even the local paper, but you won’t find them on the “obit” pages either.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The death of a colleague’s son has spurred lawmakers in the often anti-regulation Kansas to toughen the state’s inspection requirements for amusement parks.
Republican Gov. Sam Brownback said he plans to sign legislation on Monday that will strengthen amusement park regulations. The bill passed the House and Senate by wide margins.
The change comes after Republican Rep. Scott Schwab’s 10-year-old son, Caleb, died last summer on a waterslide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas.
An investigation into the death is ongoing, but the waterslide, which was dubbed the world’s highest when it opened, has been closed since the accident.
The Schwab family has settled with the park’s owner, the manufacturer of the raft that carried riders down the slide, a general contractor and a consulting company.
MariKate Crouch, Scott City, competes in breakaway roping at the 2017 FHSU Rodeo
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN University Relations and Marketing
Those involved with the rodeo club at Fort Hays State University often refer to their teammates as family.
It was a memorable family weekend for MariKate Crouch at the 2017 Fort Hays State University Rodeo, with something exciting happening each day of the three-day event for the Scott City junior.
Surrounded by her college rodeo family as well as her immediate family, Crouch made the short-go in Friday’s competition in breakaway roping, qualifying her for Sunday’s finals in that event for the first time this season.
Crouch was awarded two rodeo scholarships.
During Saturday night’s performance, with her younger sister KelsiJo looking on, it was announced that MariKate Crouch was the recipient of the Doc Brower Scholarship, awarded in honor of FHSU’s longtime rodeo coach, Dr. Garry “Doc” Brower, who died in 2012. Crouch also was the recipient of next year’s Floyd Rumford Scholarship, given in honor of the father of current rodeo coach Bronc Rumford.
Then in Sunday’s finals, Crouch appeared to make her goal of finishing in the top three when she roped her calf in a respectable time of 3.4 seconds. However, Crouch was whistled for leaving the barrier a fraction of a second early. The 10-point penalty dropped her into a tie for fifth in the average.
Nonetheless, Crouch was upbeat afterward.
“My horse worked really well,” she said. “I can’t complain.”
Learning how to cope with the ups and downs in rodeo has become a way of life for Crouch, who has been participating in rodeo since she was 14 years old.
“Rodeo is a very humbling sport; I will tell you that. It keeps you really grounded,” Crouch said. “You can be winning and be on top of your game one day, and the next day, you’re not. You have to take it one day at a time.”
Crouch’s performances weren’t the only excitement FHSU club members experienced at their own rodeo.
Five other Fort Hays State students participated in Sunday’s finals: two team roping duos of Tyrell Moffitt and Wyatt Livingston and Matt Rezac and Zeke Hall, as well as bull rider Coleman Kirby.
And for the first time in several years, FHSU Rodeo now has its own queen.
Following numerous competitions throughout the day Thursday, Palco junior Monica Towns was crowned the 2017 rodeo queen Friday night.
Towns, an animal science major, will spend the year promoting rodeo in the Hays community and the surrounding area.
“This is a real honor,” Towns said. “Rodeo queens aren’t just pretty girls on horseback, which is what some people think. It’s about being out in the public, educating people about rodeo. I’ll make a schedule and attend some summer rodeos and go into the schools. I’m really excited about it.”
It’s been a while since the FHSU Rodeo crowned a queen, and Rumford said the FHSU Rodeo Club decided to bring back that competition because “we want someone who will represent rodeo and represent Fort Hays State.”
This is the third rodeo contestant title for Towns, who was crowned Junior Miss Rodeo Plainville in 2012 and Triangle Rodeo Queen in Greensburg in 2015.
She said she wanted to concentrate on the queen competitions rather than participate in rodeo events because “I think it’s important to promote rodeo.”
Towns doesn’t have to convince those closest to her that rodeo is an important part of her life.
“Rodeo is a big family thing for us,” said Towns, one of nine siblings who all participate in rodeo in some form.
Even with all the excitement of the weekend fresh on her mind Sunday night, Crouch was looking forward to the season finale with her teammates. FHSU will travel to Oklahoma this weekend for the Panhandle State University Rodeo, the final event of the spring on the Central Plains Region circuit.
Crouch knows her season point total won’t be enough to place her in the top three in the region in either of her events — she also competes in team roping — and qualify for this summer’s College National Finals Rodeo in National Intercollegiate Rodeo in Casper, Wyo.
But she is well aware that participating in college rodeo is not so much about the end result, but the journey. She says she wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
“Rodeo is like a big family,” Crouch said. “Once you get to know somebody you get close and you can ask them for anything. With rodeo, you meet someone, and you’re going to know them forever. I’m so lucky to be able to experience all these opportunities.”
In addition to her rodeo family, Crouch also enjoyed being surrounded by her parents and sister this weekend.
KelsiJo, who has decided to follow her older sister to Fort Hays State, enrolled for the 2017-18 school year Saturday on campus. Her mom, Carol Crouch — an FHSU graduate who coincidentally was the 1991 Fort Hays State rodeo queen — was present to watch her oldest daughter compete. So, too, was MariKate’s dad, Lance, who participated in college rodeo at Pratt Community College.
“It’s always nice when they can come watch,” said Crouch, who added that she has learned a lot from being involved in rodeo at the college level.
“Being in rodeo teaches you to be responsible,” MariKate Crouch said. “You have to manage your time fairly well, going to class, going to work, going to practice. Then with being gone nearly every weekend. You have to get your classwork done before you go.”
Rumford agreed that there are a lot of life lessons learned while participating on the rodeo team.
“Part of it is being responsible for taking care of an animal every day, in addition to going to class, and getting all that work done,” he said. “Another area is how to get along with lots of different kind of people, learning how to travel together and deal with problems that can crop up along the way. It’s a great experience for them.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – The Chiefs waived Jaye Howard with a failed physical designation Monday after the veteran defensive tackle was limited to eight games by a hip injury last season.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said last week Howard was progressing with rehab work following hip surgery.
The 28-year-old Howard started 13 of the 16 games he played in two years ago, racking up 36 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks. He parlayed that into a $12 million, two-year contract prior to last season.
The Chiefs allowed defensive tackle Dontari Poe to leave in free agency, but they still have plenty of depth in the interior of the line. Along with Allen Bailey and Chris Jones returning, they also signed former Eagles defensive tackle Bennie Logan to a one-year deal.
Computing impacts the economy, industry, business, academia and daily life for everyone, and what this means for life now and in the future will be the topic of the next Science Café, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at Gella’s Diner, 117 E. 11th St., Hays.
“Futuristic Computing and its Impact on Society Today and Tomorrow” will be presented by Dr. Eduard Babulak, visiting professor of informatics at Fort Hays State University.
Babulak’s purpose is to make people aware of just how essential computer power has become to modern life and then look to the future by asking the question “What’s Beyond the Internet?”
Science Café in Hays is sponsored by FHSU’s Science and Mathematics Education Institute.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Authorities say a hunter accidentally shot his brother and a friend after mistaking them for wild turkeys in southeast Kansas.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism says the victims were shot in face and body on April 12.
Crawford County Sheriff Dean Peak says the shooting was ruled an accident. Peak says the victims were hit by shotgun pellets and are expected to survive. The victims are at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Fayetteville, which isn’t releasing their conditions.
The wildlife department’s game warden, Jim Bussone says three men were hiding behind preserved turkey tail fans, which are used to disguise hunters, but ended up hunting each other while making turkey calls to lure the animals.
Bussone says the shooter broke several hunting safety rules, including shooting at movement.
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating two teen suspects on theft charges after a crash into building.
Wichita police say two teens have been arrested after one of them crashed a stolen car into a building early Sunday morning.
Just after 3 a.m. Sunday, police identified a possible stolen Ford Taurus at near the intersection of Hillside and Lincoln in Wichita, according to Sgt. Nikki Woodrow during Monday’s online media briefing.
The vehicle was reported stolen from Haysville.
Police attempted to stop the car at the intersection of Chautauqua and Riviera. After a brief chase, the northbound Ford driven by a 16-year-old crashed into a building in a strip mall in the 900 Block of George Washington Boulevard.
The teen ran from the scene. He and a 17-year-old passenger were quickly arrested.
The driver was booked for alleged auto theft, destruction of property, possession of drug paraphernalia, hit-and-run, and other traffic-related charges.
The passenger was booked for alleged possession, consumption of alcohol by a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia.
TOPEKA — Kansas Farm Bureau CEO Terry Holdren has announced the membership of the Doctor of Osteopathy school taskforce. Holdren was asked to chair the taskforce by Kansas Governor Sam Brownback last December. Holdren and the taskforce were charged with exploring and establishing a D.O. school in order to address the rural health care needs across Kansas.
“Finding and keeping highly qualified doctors and other medical professionals is a critical need across Kansas,” said Holdren. “Our work will be focused on the opportunity for Kansas kids to receive high quality medical education and return home to practice.”
92 of Kansas’ 105 counties are classified as medically underserved. Governor Brownback called for the taskforce to address the unique health care needs of rural Kansas.
“The long-term sustainability of communities—particularly in our rural areas—depends on citizens’ access to local health care,” said Governor Brownback. “We must develop sustainable solutions. We must educate the doctors of tomorrow today. Terry has recruited an outstanding group of people to identify the way forward for this new D.O. school, taking the next steps towards ensuring a more healthy future for rural Kansas.”
Taskforce member Congressman Roger Marshall noted the importance of recruiting doctors for rural communities. “Anytime we can help bring attention to and solve challenges facing rural Kansas, we will,” said Congressman Marshall. “One of the greatest challenges facing Kansas is the recruitment of family practice doctors to rural communities. We believe this taskforce will help highlight this issue, and hopefully bring about exciting possibilities and solutions.”
The taskforce will hold its first meeting in early May.
Members of the taskforce include: Congressman Roger Marshall, Great Bend
Mayor Jeff Longwell, Wichita Sharon Cox, Rawlins Co Hospital, Atwood Scott Taylor, St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City
David Setchell, St. Francis, Topeka
Randy Peterson, Stormont Vail, Topeka
Dr. Bob Moser, KU Med, Kansas City
Dr. Marc Hahn, KCU, Kansas City
Dr. David Nill, Cerner, Kansas City
Dr. Steve Short, Manhattan
Dr. John McMaster, Via Christi, Wichita
Bob Williams, KS DO Assn, Topeka
Ron Stephen, Riverside Foundation, Wichita
Brenda Sharpe, REACH Foundation, Kansas City
Ashley Hutchinson, Cloud Corp, Concordia
Connie Hubbell, Topeka Shane Bangerter, Attorney, Dodge City
Taylor Green, Gypsum
Trent Armbrust, Manhattan Chamber, Manhattan
John McGivern, Washburn University, Topeka Ben Schears, Northwest Tech, Goodland
