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Month: April 2017

🎥 Jones will not run for city commissioner again; filing deadline June 1

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Hays City Commissioner Lance Jones will not run for a second term.
Hays City Commissioner Lance Jones (right) will not run for a second term.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

First-term Hays City Commissioner Lance Jones will not run for a second term.

Jones made the public announcement at the end of Thursday night’s commission work session. Jones did not give any reason for his decision. He noted the June 1 filing deadline for municipal office candidates and encouraged residents to “get out there and file.”

“We had a lot of applications put in for Eber Phelps’ open seat and I’d like to see voters have the amount (of candidates) to select from that we had to pick Commissioner Sandy Jacobs,” Jones said.

Three seats will be open on the Hays City Commission. Those are Jones, Jacobs and Shaun Musil.

As Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood explains, the Kansas legislature passed a bill in 2015 that moved local elections to Nov. Local elections were previously held in April.

“In order to account for the move to Nov. elections, the city extended the terms of current commissioners that were scheduled to expire in April 2017. There are three commission seats that are up for election in Nov. The three candidates who receive the most votes in the Nov. 7 general election will take office in Jan. 2018,” Wood said.

All candidates for municipal office are required to file with County Election Officer Donna Maskus. There are two ways to file for election.

Candidates must submit a declaration of intent to become a candidate, accompanied by a $20 fee, or submit a nomination petition signed by 50 qualified electors, or one percent of the qualified electors of the city of Hays, whichever is less.

The primary election is Aug. 1. There must be more than three times the number of candidates as there are open positions to hold a primary. In this case, 10 candidates would trigger a primary.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Kobach catches a non-citizen, while costing Trump votes

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Kris Kobach finally found a non-citizen voter.

On the hunt since the “SAFE” Act passed in 2011, Kobach recently secured a guilty plea from Victor David Garcia Bebek, a Peruvian national who voted in three different elections, in Sedgwick County. This brings Kobach’s total number of prosecutions up to eight—Bebek, plus seven people each caught voting in two different states. Kobach is the only Secretary of State in America with the power to prosecute voter fraud, as opposed to referring it to federal or other state authorities.

Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.
Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.

Unfortunately, there are a few difficulties.

First, Bebek recently became an American citizen. While millions of Americans are too apathetic to vote, Bebek was so eager to participate that he had already registered and voted before completing the naturalization process. For this, he gets three years of probation and a $5000 fine. Welcome to America, Mr. Bebek!

Bebek’s case may be typical. For example, political scientist Jesse Richman is often mentioned by President Trump and by Kobach, because Richman says he found cases of non-citizen voting. Yet Richman recently issued a statement asking President Trump, Secretary Kobach, and other politicians to stop citing his research. Richman never claimed that undocumented immigrants are the ones casting ballots, and he does not want his name associated with it.

The problems only get worse from there. Over 30,000 “suspense voters” have had their registrations canceled by Kobach under the SAFE Act, while he has only found these eight fraud cases: less than 0.003% the voters purged from the rolls. Furthermore, all eight cases could have been identified before the SAFE Act

Next comes my own research. My county-by-county analysis indicates that voters were more likely to shift toward Trump in states which did not have these new voting laws. That’s right: the new voting laws may have actually hurt Trump. Not only that, but in some states, there is evidence of a backlash—Democrats capitalize on the anger of those who feel targeted, and campaign on themes like, “don’t let them take your vote away!”

In several states, the voter turnout and Hillary Clinton’s performance were actually higher where restrictive laws were in place. This is true even when accounting for other factors like the state of the local economy, the percentage of white residents, and urban/rural differences.

The results make sense, since reporters for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution discovered that Trump’s vote totals surged in rural counties with a lot of new and infrequent voters. Having gotten out of the habit of voting, or having never been in that habit in the first place, these voters are likely to be the most befuddled by the new laws. After all, new requirements make voting harder than they had remembered. Without the new laws, Trump may have won several states by larger margins, including Kansas.

Kobach talks a lot about undocumented immigrant voters, but where are they? What he has actually accomplished is to shrink voting rolls, prosecute a new American citizen for voting, and find hardly any voter fraud. Now we can add holding down Donald Trump’s vote totals to these achievements. Things just are not going well for Kobach and the SAFE Act.

Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.

FHSU Alumni Association announces nominees for 2017 Torch Award

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FHSU University Relations

Forty-five graduating seniors at Fort Hays State University have been nominated for the 2017 Torch Award, highest student honor given at FHSU.

The FHSU Alumni Association instituted the Torch Awards in 1974 to emphasize the importance of excellence in learning. It is presented every year at the Graduate and Faculty Luncheon in advance of Commencement.

The Torch Award candidates are nominated by members of the faculty on the basis of classroom excellence, participation in professional organizations and involvement in student or civic activities.

Nominees are listed alphabetically by hometown with their majors.

ASHLAND: Giles Fox is a double major in physics and mathematics, with a concentration in industrial and academic mathematics.

ATCHISON: Chad Simon is majoring in general studies, with a concentration in communication.

BURLINGTON, Colo.: Kristin Allacher is majoring in English, with a concentration in writing.

CHAPMAN: Matthew Spurlock is a double major in English and secondary education.

CLAFLIN: Katie Hipp is majoring in communication sciences and disorders.
Aubrey Kempke is majoring in accounting, with a concentration in public accounting.

COLLYER: Macy Ziegler is majoring in medical diagnostic imaging, with a concentration in ultrasound.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.: Chelsea (Wheeler) Marcotte is a double major in justice studies and psychology.

DOWNS: Kristin Wagner is majoring in medical diagnostic imaging, with a concentration in ultrasound.

DWIGHT, Neb.: Beth Bohuslavsky is majoring in elementary education, with a special education minor.

EL DORADO: Kaylie Towles is majoring in organizational leadership.

ELLSWORTH: Anna Hand is majoring in political science, with a business administration minor.

GARDEN CITY: Ulises Gonzalez is a double major in management and in tourism and hospitality management.
Luke Rijfkogel is majoring in geosciences, with a concentration in geology.

GLADSTONE, Mo.: Haley Corkill is majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

GREAT BEND: Jordan Klima is majoring in finance, with a concentration in financial planning.

HARVARD, Neb.: Brianna Schuck is a double major in biology and organizational leadership.

HASTINGS, Neb.: Alaethea Remmers is majoring in communication sciences and disorders, with a psychology minor.

HAYS: Brett Chrisler is majoring in physics, with a mathematics minor.
Meagan Englert is a double major in English and secondary education.
Megan Gottschalk is majoring in medical diagnostic imaging, with a concentration in ultrasound.
Sarah Holzmeister is majoring in English, with a concentration in writing.
Madison Kaus is majoring in communication sciences and disorders.
Austin Knoll is majoring in accounting.
Kevin Rounkles is majoring in justice studies.
Courtney Storer is majoring in radiologic technology for her associate degree and in medical diagnostic imaging for her bachelor’s.

HAYSVILLE: Vivian Agnew is majoring in political science.

HILL CITY: Shelby Stewart is majoring in organizational leadership.

HOISINGTON: Matraca Ochs is majoring in English, with a concentration in literature.

HOLDREGE, Neb.: Reinette Strydom is majoring in radiologic technology for her associate degree and in medical diagnostic imaging for her bachelor’s.

HUTCHINSON: Jared Ridder is majoring in biology.

KANSAS CITY: Taylor Hunt is a double major in philosophy and sociology.
Samantha Morrissey is majoring in accounting.
Vilma Maldonado is majoring in management.

LAKIN: Melissa Williams is a double major in art, with a concentration in studio art, and in secondary education, with a special education minor.

LAWRENCE: Kaitlyn “Kat” Goetting is majoring in English, with a concentration in writing, and a minor in art.

MANHATTAN: Jensen Scheele is majoring in athletic training.

NESS CITY: Matthew Frank is majoring in accounting, with a concentration in public accounting.

SHANYANG, China: Keyi “Cathy” Liu is majoring in organizational leadership.
Xinyue “Sunny” Zhang is majoring in organizational leadership.

VALLEY CENTER: Sierra Archer is majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

WAMEGO: Kelsey Peterson is majoring in medical diagnostic imaging, with a concentration in ultrasound.

WESKAN: Kelsey Hale is majoring in nursing.

WILSON: Ashley Templeton is majoring in organizational leadership, with a sociology minor.

XINZHENG, China: Xiaotian Chu is majoring in organizational leadership.

Click HERE to see a list of past Torch Award winners.

Happy Birthday, Hays! Library schedules sesquicentennial celebration April 25

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Hays Public LibraryHPL

The Hays Public Library wants to wish Hays a happy 150th birthday with an all-day, all-ages celebration on April 25.

10 AM: The children’s department will offer a special edition “Birthday Story Time” for early childhood, infant to 5 years old.

11 AM: All ages are invited to have birthday cake in the gallery. Cake will be available all day until it’s gone.

1 PM: There will be a screening of Paper Moon in the gallery. Paper Moon was filmed in Hays and other locations in Ellis, Rush and Russell counties in 1972. The film starred Ryan O’Neal and his daughter Tatum O’Neal, who took home an Academy Award for her role in the film.

3:30 PM & 4 PM: There will be birthday games in the young adult and children’s departments.

6:30 PM: Adults are invited to take part in a night of Kansas trivia! Teams of up to four will compete to see who can boast the most knowledge of the Sunflower State. There will be a prize for the winning team.

For more information on these and other programs, visit hayspublib.org or call 785.625.9014.

Poppy Patch Craft & Gift Fair will be Saturday at Big Creek Crossing

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poppy-patch-2017The Casper J Middlekauff, American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 173, Hays will be hosting the Poppy Patch Craft & Gift Fair on Saturday, April 22, at Big Creek Crossing.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the former Fashion Bug location and will feature 25 different craftsmen and companies.

The American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. Its purpose is to provide support to active military servicemen, their families, veterans and the communities that support them. The proceeds from this event will go to projects such as: Scholarships, Girls State, Action Alerts asking for home comforts that are sent overseas, the Fort Dodge Old Soldiers Home Christmas Shop, and art programs at veteran centers across Kansas.

Grand Lodge of Kansas Masons to formally dedicate FHSU’s Herndon Clinic

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kansas-masonsFHSU University Relations and Marketing

A 300-year-old tradition will be re-enacted on Saturday, April 22, at Fort Hays State University, when the Grand Lodge of Kansas Masons formally dedicates the Herndon Clinic.

The 4 p.m. ceremony will be conducted on the first floor of Albertson Hall on FHSU’s campus. A small reception, Herndon Clinic tours and short demonstrations will follow.

The public is invited to attend and be witness to this historic event. Past Mason dedication ceremonies include the U.S. Capitol and the Kansas Capitol.

The Hays Masonic Lodge No. 195, with other Kansas Masonic Lodges, have made a $250,000 multi-year grant to the adult speech, language and hearing services of FHSU’s Herndon Speech-Language Pathology Clinic, operated by the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

In addition, an exhibit of Masonic history in Kansas, “150 Years of Kansas Freemasonry,” is currently on display in the Robbins Center on the FHSU campus through Friday, May 12.

Hays BOE to take up laptop purchases, repave of Victory Road

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usd489 rockwellThe Hays Board of Education will vote on K-8 teacher device purchase at 6:30 p.m. Monday during its regular meeting in the Toepfer Board Room.

Classroom teachers are using iPads, but some teachers have said content is hard to create on the devices and the iPads have limited memory capacity.

Rusty Lindsay, director of Buildings and Grounds, will present the Victory Road concrete bid. Victory Road is adjacent to O’Loughlin Elementary School, 1401 Hall St. The school used to be owned by Thomas Moore Prep-Merian, and Victory Road is on property still owned by The Catholic Church. However, John Thissen, USD 489 superintendent, said the road is heavily used by Hays students, and repairs will greatly benefit the district and its families.

Discussion on the budget will include major items, such as raises, new positions, reduction of fees, and addressing wage deficiencies throughout the district.

The administration will discuss the cost savings realized by the LED lighting project and vote on the bid for the Indian Call yearbook and the Edgenuity license renewal.

Presentations from the staff will include reports by Gay Flax, elementary physical education teacher, on the PE program and Dr. Raj Sharma, director of Special Education, on autism awareness. The district is asking those attending the meeting Monday night to wear blue in honor of autism awareness.

An executive session will follow the regular board meeting.

Hays church will launch new series, ‘A Case for Christ’

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screen-shot-2017-04-20-at-8-16-42-am
Starting this weekend, Celebration Community Church is hosting a four-week message series called “A Case For Christ.” The series aligns with the book and new release movie about Chicago Tribune investigative journalist Lee Strobel’s journey from being an atheist to a believer. Using Scriptures and video clips from the movie, the series will explore some of the issues people have with the Christian faith.

“This series will address many questions spiritual seekers may have as well as helping other people grow more established in their faith and understanding why they believe what they do,” said Pastor Brant Rice, one of the teaching pastors at the church.

“I just saw the movie,” said Senior Pastor Kyle Ermoian, “and I am excited to share about the authenticity, reliability and transformational power that comes through God’s word, the Bible.”

Celebration Community Church has four weekend services, Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m.
For more information, visit celebratejesus.org or download the c3hays app.

Cold, wet Friday

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car-zone-enjoy-the-drive

Today A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers after 11am. Temperature falling to around 44 by 5pm. East northeast wind 9 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight Showers, mainly before 10pm. Low around 40. North northeast wind 11 to 16 mph. Chance of screen-shot-2017-04-21-at-5-26-57-amprecipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. North northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.

Saturday NightAreas of frost after 5am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 37. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

SundayAreas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 70.

Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 50.

MondayMostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Monday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 50.

UPDATE: Police identify driver who hit 21-year-old Kan. woman

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The white truck is the vehicle police believe hit Wilhelm- Image courtesy RCPD

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County continue to investigate a hit and run accident that sent a Manhattan woman to the hospital April 17, in critical condition.

Following Thursday’s  release of a video of the truck believed involved, a suspect has been identified, according to a media release.

A man identified himself to police as the driver of the vehicle that struck Amber Wilhelm.

Police did not arrest the suspect and his name was not released.

Amber’s family has been notified of the development.

Police and the Wilhelm family want to thank the thousands of people that shared this story from the beginning.

—————

Just before 2a.m. April 13, police responded to a report of a hit and run injury accident that at the intersection of 12th Street and Bluemont Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release.

First responders found a pedestrian identified as Amber Wilhelm, 21, Manhattan, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

Witnesses on scene described a light in color 2011 to 2016 Chevrolet or GMC extended cab pickup truck that hit her and then fled the scene headed westbound on Anderson Avenue.

Wilhelm was transported to Via Christi and then flown to Stormont Vail where she remains in critical condition.

 

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Riley County continue to investigate a hit and run accident and asking the public to help find a vehicle.

Just before 2a.m. April 13, police responded to a report of a hit and run injury accident that at the intersection of 12th Street and Bluemont Avenue in Manhattan, according to a media release.
First responders found a pedestrian identified as Amber Wilhelm, 21, Manhattan, suffering from severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

On Thursday Riley County Police released security camera video of the truck believed to be responsible for the accident.

Witnesses on scene described a light in color 2011 to 2016 Chevrolet or GMC extended cab pickup truck that hit her and then fled the scene headed westbound on Anderson Avenue.

Interviews with witnesses lead officers to believe there is a chance that the suspect vehicle will only have slight damage to its front end.

Wilhelm was transported to Via Christi and then flown to Stormont Vail where she remains in critical condition.

Anyone with information on a vehicle matching the description is encouraged to call police at 785-537-2112.

Jurors acquit Kansas man in sexual assault of 13-year-old

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Ewing-photo Jackson Co.

 

HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Jurors have acquitted a northeast Kansas man of charges that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in a rural cemetery.

Jurors in Kansas’ Jackson County on Thursday found 22-year-old Jacob Ewing not guilty of charges of aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated criminal sodomy with a child under 14 years old.

Ewing still faces trials on charges alleging that he sexually assaulted five women. Ewing has entered not guilty pleas in those cases.

During the trial that ended Thursday, the teenager testified that Ewing sodomized her in 2014 while she pleaded for him to stop. A defense witness testified that the girl later bragged about the experience.

———

HOLTON, Kan. (AP) — Jurors are deliberating the case against a northeast Kansas man charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in a rural cemetery.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that 22-year-old Jacob Ewing also is charged with sexually assaulting five women, with the allegations dividing the small Kansas town of Holton. Ewing has entered not guilty pleas in all the cases.

The first case to go to trial involves the teen, who testified that Ewing sodomized her in 2014 while she pleaded for him to stop. A defense witness testified that the girl later bragged about the experience.

Jurors began their deliberations Thursday after hearing closing arguments. Ewing faces charges of aggravated indecent liberties and aggravated criminal sodomy with a child under 14 years old.

Report: Kansas budget picture sees slight improvement

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the new fiscal forecast for Kansas state government (all times local):

5:12 p.m.

Kansas has seen its budget picture improve slightly after officials and university economists issued a new fiscal forecast that was a little more optimistic than the previous one.

The state’s forecasting group on Thursday increased projections for tax collections by a total of $156 million through June 2019.

The new forecast is the first positive one in three years and some good news for Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the GOP-controlled Legislature.

The new forecast replaces a pessimistic one from November assuming that economic slumps in agriculture and energy production would continue through 2018. The state had been left with budget shortfalls totaling about $1 billion through June 2019.

But tax collections since then have been better than expected.

With the new forecast, the budget gaps now total $889 million.

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