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🎥 State insurance dept. has fire prevention video available

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KID

TOPEKA—The Kansas Insurance Department (KID) can provide personal insurance assistance and information to Kansans affected by recent fires throughout the state, according to Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. The department also has a new fire prevention video available.

“The aftermath of the recent western Kansas wildfires and the major fire event in Overland Park is emotional for property owners, so we suggest that they work through their insurance companies’ claims process as best as they can,” said Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. “But representatives on our Consumer Assistance Hotline, 800-432-2484, are ready to assist those who have questions or concerns about their insurance coverage. We believe that the insurance companies have responded well to their policyholders’ concerns, but we also stand ready to assist if needed.”

To help prevent loss from future fires, the Commissioner said, KID produced a video discussing fire zone defensible areas around housing.

Additionally, approximately 800 informational packets were mailed to insurance agencies and related entities in the western half of Kansas. The packets contained a “Wildland Fire Action Guide” distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, the KID “Auto and Homeowners Insurance” booklet, and a KID “Personal Inventory” booklet.

“All of those booklets are available to Kansans through our website, www.ksinsurance.org,” Commissioner Selzer said. “They contain valuable tips on acquiring and maintaining auto and homeowners insurance, how to inventory your belongings, and how to provide a barrier to encroaching fire through preventive landscaping.”

Also available through the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website are Disaster Prep Guides. To access them, go to https://www.insureuonline.org/insureu_special_disaster.htm.

Fort Hays State football holds annual spring scrimmage

The Fort Hays State football team held their annual spring scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Lewis Field Stadium as spring practices begin to come to an end.

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Tiger coach Chris Brown addressing the team after Saturday’s scrimmage

The one hour scrimmage pitted the offense against the defense with the defense forcing a pair of interceptions including one by Connor Shedeed in the end zone on the offense’s first drive of the day.

Reserve quarterbacks Jacoby Williams and Brad Schencker split time leading the offenses with starter Jacob Mezera seeing limited action this spring as he recovers from a shoulder injury suffered last season.

Williams led the Tiger offense on three scoring drives including completing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Monterrio Burchfield who made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone. Kicker Brandon Brown was two-for-three on field goal attempts.

Drew Kite, who has been a member of the Tiger basketball team the past three seasons made a good first impression hauling in four receptions.

Tiger coach Chris Brown talks quarterbacks, Kite and Saturday’s spring scrimmage…

Senior Tyler Bacon led the team in receptions last season and talks about the spring and expectations for next fall…

The Tigers are coming off of back-to-back postseason appearances and will open the season on Thursday, August 31st against Missouri Southern at Joplin Missouri.

Wit, charm and smart: Qualities sought in the next Big Man on Campus

Delta Zeta FHSU University Relations and Marketing

The women of Delta Zeta, the Delta Omega chapter at Fort Hays State University, will host their annual philanthropy event Big Man on Campus, a male beauty pageant, to raise money for the Starkey Hearing Foundation at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 11, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

Admission is $1 or a canned food item. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to win prizes.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation is one of Delta Zeta’s national philanthropies. Funds will provide free hearing aids for people in more than 100 countries.

Murder charge dropped in 1989 stabbing death of Kan. teen

Heckert- photo Wyandotte County

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors in Kansas’ Wyandotte County have dropped a murder charge against a woman who had been accused of killing a teenager nearly 30 years ago.

The Kansas City Star reports that prosecutors announced the dismissal of the case involving 48-year-old Carolyn Heckert of Smithville, Missouri, in a statement but didn’t elaborate.

Heckert had been jailed since her arrest last October in connection with the 1989 stabbing death of 18-year-old Sarah DeLeon. DeLeon’s body was found along railroad tracks near Interstate 435 in Kansas City, Kansas.

New DNA collection and testing technology prompted police to reopen the case in July 2014.

A Heckert attorney, John P. O’Connor, said Friday that Heckert was elated that the murder charge has been dropped.

WaKeeney Easter Egg Hunt April 15

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The hunt begins Saturday, April 15th at 10:30 a.m. at the Trego County Courthouse Square with five different age groups taking turns searching the grounds for those colorful, candy-filled eggs our kids crave.

The event is open to all kids, with groups of toddlers to two year olds, threes and fours, five and six year olds, ages seven and eight and nine and ten year olds taking turns searching the grounds.

Bring your own basket or bag and stick around after the eggs have all been found to receive additional prizes, including a gift certificate for a free ice cream cone from our local McDonalds.

Ganstrom named a Fellow of National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts

Linda Ganstrom
Linda Ganstrom
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Linda Ganstrom, professor of art at Fort Hays State University, was named a Fellow by the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts at the organization’s recent national conference in Portland, Ore.

NCECA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ceramic arts and ceramic arts education. Its mission is to foster global education and appreciation for the ceramic arts.

Russell Co. Relay For Life is May 19

rfl-russell-coRUSSELL–The Russell County Relay For Life will be held Friday, May 19 at 5 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. in downtown Russell at 6th and Main.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. This year’s theme is “Paint Your World Purple,” according to volunteer Melissa Dreher. Teams and individuals are currently accepting donations.

Activities include:

Community BBQ 5:00 p.m
Opening Ceremonies 5:30 p.m.
Survivor lap, Caregiver lap
On site Fundraiser by Teams
Live Auction, Silent Auction
Games
Balloon release
Luminary Ceremony 9:00 p.m.
Memory Tent
Free movie 10:30 p.m.

Fire destroys Kansas apartment building

Saturday fire in Junction City-photo courtesy JC Police

GEARY COUNTY- Officials are working to determine the cause of a major fire at an apartment complex early Saturday.

Just after 1a.m., firefighters and law enforcement from multiple agencies responded to the blaze at 1810 Carolina Avenue in Junction City.

Junction City Fire Chief Terry Johnson confirmed Building B, containing 26 apartment units, is a loss.

“Our first arriving units came in. We had heavy fire on the south side of the building and fire was through the roof, we started operations.  We went through several evolutions of operations at this point. The building is a loss at this time, unfortunately,” according to Johnson.

By five a.m. the fire had been mostly contained, but there were still a lot of hot spots in the building, and ladder fire trucks were being utilized to provide firefighters a better view of the top of the structure.

Johnson confirmed all residents of the apartment building got out safely. He estimated approximately 40 to 50 residents were displaced. “Red Cross is on scene. They’re helping out with providing food for the firefighters and support needs for the residents.” Johnson expressed gratitude for all the communities that came in to provide assistance in dealing with the fire.

Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said they will help coordinate with the agencies. “We helped provide communication between the surrounding county agencies that came in…the Manhattan Fire, Fort Riley Fire, we made sure everybody could talk so everybody knew what was going on. We’ll be here to support. We made sure the Red Cross was available to help, not only the firefighters, but also the displaced residents.”

This is the second time there has been a major fire at the Bluffs Apartment Complex. In April of 2016 an apartment building at that complex was destroyed by fire.

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