April 2017 – Page 35 – Hays Post Archive

MIAA, several institutions tabbed to host national championships

Posted on April 19, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It was announced Tuesday that the MIAA and Kansas City Sports Commission have once again been selected to host the NCAA Division II Football Championship as the term extends by four more years.

Kansas City and Sporting Park will now host the game through the 2021 season after hosting the event since the 2014 campaign.

“Today is a great day for Kansas City and the MIAA. The NCAA understands that Kansas City is the perfect site for the football national championship game,” MIAA Comissioner Mike Racy said. “We are a great football conference and our fans appreciate having this championship close to all of our member schools. In addition, MIAA schools have great facilities and the NCAA has recognized that with today’s announcement of multiple championship sites.”

Several MIAA institutions were also selected to host regional or national championship events. Missouri Southern was selected to host the Regional Cross Country Championship following the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Just down the road Pittsburg State was selected to host the NCAA Division II National Indoor Track and Field Championship during the 2019 and 2022 seasons.

Lindenwood was selected by the NCAA to host the 2020 National Championship in Men’s and Women’s Tennis. The Lions will also host the 2020 National Title in Division II Women’s Golf following the 2020 season as well as the 2020 and 2022 Lacrosse national Championship. As part of the 2020 Spring Festival they will also host the 2020 Softball national Championship.

Central Missouri, along with the Kansas City Sports Commission has also been chosen to host the 2021 National Championship in women’s bowling.

MIAA

FHSU golf in seventh place entering final round of Tiger Classic

Posted on April 19, 2017

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Men’s Golf sits in seventh place out of 11 teams after two rounds at the MIAA mandated Tiger Classic, held at Smoky Hill Country Club. FHSU shot rounds of 305 and 297 as a team.

Individually, Skyler Tebo is tied for seventh after rounds of 73 and 71 and sits 4-over par. Tebo, along with Isaiah Grover (73, 76) and Colton Bobek (79, 75), were the three Tigers to shoot under 80 in both rounds. Cash Hobson improved five strokes in the second round with a 75 after opening with an 80.

Central Missouri gained major separation from the field after shooting 7-under as a team in the second round. The Mules are at even par overall with a two-round team score of 560. Lindenwood is 20 strokes back in second at 580 as a team.

Alex Springer of Central Missouri had a huge turnaround after a first-round 76. Springer set a new Smoky Hill Country Club course record in the second round by shooting 61 (9-under par). He is now 3-under par overall for the tournament, leading by four strokes. After an even-par 70 was the best score in the first round, five players in the field shot under par in the second round.

The tournament concludes on Wednesday with the final round starting at 8:30 am.

FHSU Sports Information

🎥 Extras from the Extension: Holly Dickman – Tree Planting

Posted on April 19, 2017April 19, 2017

April is the perfect time of year to plant trees. Holly Dickman has a few ideas on how to do it correctly.

CLINKSCALES: Staying educated

Posted on April 19, 2017April 18, 2017

Recently, I overheard two men my senior, espousing some pretty harsh political views. I am more apt to not say anything, but rather just excuse myself from these types of situations.

However, I was about to inject some reality into their conversation when they shifted to the topic of “shingles” (as in the illness). One of them said, “Well, I have had chicken pox, so I don’t need to worry about the vaccine for shingles.” (In fact, the opposite is true. If you have had chicken pox, you are more likely to develop shingles.)

There is a lot of talk about law, politics, and medicine in coffee shops. Even worse is the poor state of information that we are now fed before we go into the coffee shop.

Technology has exploded. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to exploit it. Even I have a “smart” phone, which requires the assistance of my son. I have come to the conclusion that it is called a “smart phone,” because you have to be technologically “smart” to use it.

Unfortunately, our information is now provided in as little as 140 characters, or headlines, or agendas. Most of the information is misleading, if not false, and many people rely on those tidbits to form their opinions.
Most of us were brought up in an age where we studied and read and challenged the information that was given to us. While we still had coffee shops, those that participated had opinions based on, in large part, facts and beliefs—not 140 characters.

While the world may choose to get its information from those snippets, we can choose to go beyond that.
I have a friend (and I sometimes have coffee with him) who has very different political and economic beliefs than I. He can drive me crazy, but I know that his beliefs are backed by some real research and valid information. Frankly, after a debate with my friend, I feel challenged, better informed, and a little wiser.
My experience with my older clients is that they are wise. They do not let today’s shortcuts dumb them down.
Do not let today’s shortcuts dumb you down. Use your accumulated wisdom to ask the right questions, do your own research, and make better-informed opinions.

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

Hydrant inspections Wed. in northwest Hays

Posted on April 19, 2017April 18, 2017

CITY OF HAYS

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Wed., April 19, 2017 in the area from Thunderbird Dr. to Vine St. between 27th St. and 33rd St. This is part of a coordinated effort by the City of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes. The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.

Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public. Drivers are asked to avoid driving through water discharging from a fire hydrant during the short flushing period.

For more information please contact the Hays Fire Department at (785) 628-7330.

Pride of the Prairie Orchestra’s final performance of 2016-17 will be April 30

Posted on April 19, 2017April 17, 2017

GOODLAND — Western Plains Arts Association will present its final program of the 2016-17 season, on Sunday, April 30. The Pride of the Prairie Orchestra will perform at 3 p.m. CDT (2 p.m. MDT) at the Goodland High School Auditorium, located at 12th and Cherry.

The Pride of the Prairie Orchestra is a community orchestra that has been making music for over 25 years. Conducted by Beverly Rucker, the group presently includes 30 musicians from western Kansas and eastern Colorado, including the towns of Burlington, Colby, Goodland, Grainfield, Grinnell, Hoxie, Oakley, Wallace, and Weskan.

They will be presenting “Myths, Legends and Tales”. The concert will be entirely composed of program music – music that paints a picture or tells a story. The concert will include John Henry by Copland, Great Locomotive Chase by Smith, Mars and Jupiter by Holst, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Dukas, along with many other wonderful musical stories.

Admission is by displaying either WPAA or Pride of the Prairie season tickets. General admission is just $5 at the door. The Dane Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kansas, has been a special contributor to WPAA this season, along with businesses and individual donors from throughout the region.

The mission of the orchestra is to provide a rehearsal and performance group for area musicians and to provide live classical orchestra concerts for area audiences. Since area schools do not offer an orchestra program, this has group has also met a need for students who play stringed, reed, and other common orchestra instruments.

Organized originally as The Colby Community Orchestra in 1979 by Bill Beck, a retired school music director, the name was changed to Pride of the Prairie Orchestra in 1998 after a contest. The orchestra offers a cultural outlet often lacking in small communities for musicians and audiences. Area musicians wanting to become a member of the orchestra may join at anytime. From fall through spring, weekly rehearsals are in the Colby Community College Band Room on Monday nights, 7:30-9 p.m. Central time.

🎥 Concrete paving to be used in 8th St. reconstruction from Milner to Vine

Posted on April 19, 2017April 19, 2017

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

After reviewing the pros and cons of using asphalt or concrete to reconstruct a portion of 8th St. during their April 6 work session, Hays city commissioners last week went against staff’s recommendation of asphalt, and instead, voted for concrete paving from Milner to Vine.

It was also the low bid, coming from Morgan Brothers Construction of LaCrosse for $1,497,225.69. APAC-Kansas, Inc., Hays, submitted a bid for the asphalt paving option of $1,516,288.61.

Assistant Public Works Dir. John Braun pointed out the asphalt option would be completed in 20 fewer days than the concrete option and 25 fewer days during the phase that would most impact access to businesses.

John Braun, Asst. Hays Public Works Dir., explains the benefits and disadvantages of asphalt and concrete paving.

“Because of the shorter project timeline and the lack of a definitive answer to why some new concrete pavement in Hays has been warping and prematurely failing, staff is recommending the asphalt pavement option,” Braun said, repeating the same explanation he had given in the earlier work session.

Research is underway by an outside entity to determine why 43rd and 45th near Walmart are deteriorating and a short section of 27th east of Vine is warping.

The city has predominantly built concrete collector and arterial streets for the past 15 years.

When comparing total lifecycle costs, the long lifespan of concrete streets typically makes it the more affordable option when prices are similar to asphalt as they are now. However, when the lifespan of a concrete street is shortened, those lifecycle costs tip toward asphalt, Dougherty explained in an earlier memo.

Both Braun and City Manager Toby Dougherty were quick to say either option would be acceptable. “It’s pretty much a 50/50 proposition,” Braun said.

Eighth Street was constructed in 1947 out of concrete pavement and today endures more than 7,000 vehicles a day, many of which are heavy trucks.

“I was a little upset by this presentation because I think it focuses on elements with a very low probability,” said Commissioner Henry Schwaller.

“We’ve installed a lot of concrete streets–8th, 13th, 22nd, 27th, 41st, Hall, residential streets–none of them failed. Some of them are more than 20 years old.

“We also had to redo Vine Street. One of the business owners on Vine reminded me that they were shut down twice because we did a mill and overlay with asphalt, before Toby’s tenure, and then we had to come back and do it again in concrete.

“There is a probability of concrete failing and Toby wanted us to be aware of that,” which Schwaller said he appreciated.

“You were right by giving us that option,” Mayor Shaun Musil said to Dougherty. “We’ve complained about 27th Street and we haven’t been able to solve it yet.

“I think we should keep 8th Street concrete. I think it looks great,” Musil said.

Vice-Mayor James Meier said he had two major concerns, “the taxpayer getting the most bang for their buck and the accesses to the businesses. But a perfect example is Vine Street with an asphalt overlay, and then concrete and getting shut down twice.”

“Some of the businesses I talked to on the north side of 8th Street preferred concrete. Some businesses didn’t care,” Meier reported. “One business really wanted asphalt due to the shortened project timeline. So, again it was kind of a toss-up.”

The project will include removing and replacing the three driving lanes, curb and gutter, sidewalk, ADA ramps, driveways, replacing storm sewer inlet tops, resurfacing the sidewalk along the Montgomery ditch bridge and waterline replacement at Riley.

A public information meeting about the reconstruction will be held Mon., April 24, at 5:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

NW Kansas students among those earning Farm Bureau scholarships

Posted on April 19, 2017April 18, 2017

MANHATTAN — Each year, the Kansas Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture awards scholarships to college students studying in fields that benefit agriculture and rural Kansas. Thirty-six recipients have received $21,500 in scholarships for the 2017-18 school year.

Over the past decade, the foundation has awarded more than $275,000 in scholarships.

“Developing leaders for tomorrow requires an investment in today’s youth,” says KFB Foundation Director Harry A. Watts.

Wade Niermeier, Ellis County, is the winner of the $500 Godfrey and Emma Bahr Miller Agriculture Scholarship, a permanent, privately endowed scholarship fund for students attending a college in Kansas and majoring in a subject related to agronomy and conservation.

Another permanent, privately endowed fund known as the Lester Crandall Memorial Scholarship awarded $500 to Janae Schulte, Ellsworth County.

Tyler Marr, Jewell County, was awarded $1,000 for the Frank & Helen Bernasek Memorial Scholarship.

Jennifer Boley, Cloud County, was awarded $500 for the DeWitt Ahlerich Memorial Scholarship.

Two students were awarded scholarships to Kansas technical colleges. They include Bailey Bixenman, Sheridan County, and Kaleb Schartz, Barton County.

Four $1,000 KFB scholarships were awarded to juniors and seniors enrolled in Kansas State University’s college of agriculture and majoring in a subject related to agriculture. They include: Shaylee Arpin, Riley County; Sam Davis, Greenwood County; Quentin Haas, Allen County; and Leah Parsons, Finney County.

Two $1,000 KFB scholarships were awarded to juniors and seniors enrolled at Fort Hays State University. Recipients are Nickalous Baxa, Cloud County, and Jacob Brubaker, Cheyenne County.

Twenty-four recipients received $500 scholarships. These students are attending a Kansas college with a Kansas Farm Bureau Collegiate chapter. Students must be a Farm Bureau Collegiate member.

Recipients include:

Allen Community College
· Caleb Powelson, Anderson County

Butler Community College
· Addison Gauthier, Butler County
· Leah Metzger, Butler County
· Tara Varner, Butler County

Fort Hays State University
· Rebecca Butler, Sheridan County
· Brianna Stefan, Clark County

Fort Scott Community College
· Hannah Craun, Bourbon County
· Miles Hamilton, Benton County, Ark.
· Jessie Hobbs, Miami County
· Trenton Jahay, Barber County
· Adam Lattin, Montgomery County
· Allie Martin, Bourbon County
· Matthew Schick, Bourbon County

Hutchinson Community College
· Caitlin Dreher, Allen County

Kansas State University
· Janet Attanasio, Riley County
· Rachel Bellar, Elk County
· Taylor Brenner, Kit Carson County, Colo.
· Taylor DeWeese, Pratt County
· Trent Frye, Republic County
· Andrew Phipps, Chase County
· Leah Scholz, Atchison County
· Kristin Stiebe, Pawnee County

Pratt Community College
· Savannah Pryor, Harvey County

Seward County Community College
· Andrea Wagner, Haskell County

Volunteers sought for annual Operation Christmas Child project

Posted on April 19, 2017April 18, 2017

Samaritan’s Purse

As Americans all across the country join forces for National Volunteer Week April 23 – 29, there are many opportunities right here in Hays to support a cause, serve the community and make a difference.

One volunteer effort making an impact here in Hays and around the world is Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. The project collects shoeboxes—filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys—and delivers them to children in need around the world. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received.

“The purpose of Operation Christmas Child is to send a message to children that they are loved and not forgotten,” said Regional Director Joe Christian. “Our volunteers can make an eternal impact on a child in need by giving their time and talents to this simple project.”

Rachel Albin heads up the Northwest Kansas Area Team for Operation Christmas Child.

“I find it a privilege to do all I can to inspire my community to get involved in this project,” said Albin. “We know that for many of these children, this shoebox gift is the only gift they have ever received. There is a lot of hurt and darkness in the world, and these gifts bring light and hope.”

Each year, millions of children in need in more than 100 countries find hope in a simple shoebox gift, many of whom are affected by war, disease, disaster, poverty and famine. In 2016, Operation Christmas Child volunteers made it possible for nearly 11.5 million children to receive a shoebox gift. This year, Operation Christmas Child hopes to send enough gift-filled shoeboxes to reach another 12 million children, a feat unattainable without the more than nine thousand local volunteers who serve year-round across the country.

Last year, Hays volunteers, families and groups paved the way as part of the Northwest Kansas to collect shoebox gifts for another 5,838 children.

As the project gears up for another year of gift collections, Albin and Operation Christmas Child are seeking new year-round volunteers. To learn more about the volunteer opportunities available in the Hays area or to apply, visit samaritanspurse.org/volunteerwithOCC or call 816-622-8316.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization headed by Franklin Graham. The mission of Operation Christmas Child is to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 146 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 150 countries and territories.

Warm, windy Wednesday with a chance for thunderstorms

Posted on April 19, 2017

Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Sunny, with a high near 85. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 13 to 15 mph.

ThursdaySunny, with a high near 69. North wind 9 to 13 mph.

Thursday NightA 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. East wind 6 to 9 mph.

FridayA chance of showers before 1pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 1pm and 4pm, then showers after 4pm. High near 54. East wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday NightShowers likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

SaturdayPartly sunny, with a high near 62.

Police look for discarded boots in connection with McPherson murder

Posted on April 19, 2017

Investigators on the scene of Friday’s murder in McPherson-photo courtesy KWCH

MCPHERSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities including the KBI are investigating a murder in McPherson.

They are asking the public’s assistance to locate a pair of discarded tan colored hiking type boots, according to a social media report from police.

Authorities want these clothing items in association with the ongoing investigation into the death of Steven Carlson, which occurred on Friday April 14.

On Friday, police responded to the report of a man on the floor of his home in the city of McPherson, according to a media release.
When first responders arrived, the man identified as 58-year-old Steven Carlson of McPherson was dead.

Police believe the victim was targeted and knew he the suspects.
Through the course of the investigation, officers identified 25-year-old Travis Ryan Belt as a suspect in the homicide. Just after 12:20 a.m. Saturday, police arrested Travis Belt on the requested charge of Murder in

the First Degree and booked him into the McPherson County Jail.
Belt has previous drug, theft and weapons convictions in Reno and McPherson County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Brownback signs budget fix to get state through June

Posted on April 19, 2017

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas will use $291 million in internal government borrowing to avoid a deficit in its current budget and pay bills on time through June.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed the budget bill into law Tuesday. The measure allows the state to avoid short-term cuts in aid to public schools, social services and other programs.

The state plans to liquidate a special investment fund and loan most of the proceeds to its main bank account to cover general spending before the fiscal year ends on June 30. The loan would be paid back over seven years.

Kansas would still face projected budget shortfalls totaling $989 million for the two years starting in July. However, the gaps could shrink Thursday after state officials and university economists issue new revenue projections.

Tuesday was deadly on Kansas Highways

Posted on April 19, 2017

MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Three people died in separate accidents Tuesday on Kansas highways.
Just after 8 a.m., the Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Honda Civic driven by, Caleb McKay Lind, 23, Provo, UT., was eastbound on U.S. 400 just east of 5300 Road in Montgomery County. The vehicle crossed the center line and side-swiped a westbound semi.

Lind was pronounced dead at the scene. The semi driver Felter, Glenn E. Felter, 56, Severy, was not injured.

Just after 11 a.m., the Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1989 Chevy pickup driven by Rolland Dwayne Guder, 65, Bronson, was west bound on U.S. 54 three miles east of Moran in Allen County.
The pickup crossed the center line and entered the south ditch. The driver lost control of the pickup. It reentered the highway, rolled and ejected the driver and passenger.
Guder and a passenger Shawn Wade Pulliam, 50, Yates Center, were transported to the Allen County Hospital where Guder died.
Pulliam was transferred later to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Just after 5 p.m. in Crawford County, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Freightliner semi driven by Edgar B. Romero, 43, Houston, TN., was southbound on K7 highway 6 miles west of Pittsburg.

The semi driver failed to stop at stop sign at Kansas 126 and struck the passenger side of a westbound 2014 Nissan Sentra driven by Steven W. Wilhoft, 58, Pittsburg.

Wilhoft was transported to Via Christi in Pittsburg where he died.

Romero was not injured.