WICHITA – Two Kansas men were charged Thursday with shooting and killing a golden eagle, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said in a news release Friday.

Michael Dusin, 22, Phillipsburg, and Elijah J. Kuhlman, 22, Sharon Springs, are charged with violating the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. According to court documents, it is alleged the two defendants were driving around in Wallace County when they saw what they later described as a large, black bird. Dusin told Kuhlman to back up so he could take a shot at the bird. Dusin shot the bird and it fell to the ground.

On Dec. 12, a natural resource officer with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism investigating a report of a dead Eagle found the eagle’s remains in a field and two spent shotgun shells in the road. With the help of the Wallace County Sheriff, investigators identified a Ford F-150 pickup belonging to Kuhlman that had been seen in the area. An autopsy performed at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Ore., confirmed the Eagle’s remains contained 41 metal pellets.

If convicted, the defendants face up to a year in federal prison and a fine up to $100,000. The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, he Wallace County Sheriff and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and 19 traffic stops Wed., April 5, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Intoxicated Subject–300 block W 17th St, Hays; 2:41 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–900 block Commerce Pkwy, Hays; 7:37 AM; 7:40 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–17th and Canterbury, Hays; 7:56 AM
Civil Dispute–100 block E 23rd St, Hays; 8:27 AM
Child in Need of Care–1000 block E 41st St, Hays; 3 AM; 5 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–1200 block Felten Dr, Hays; 10:07 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–2300 block E 13th St, Hays; 1:12 PM; 1:15 PM
Animal At Large–2900 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 1:24 PM
Animal At Large–1800 block Fort St, Hays; 3:49 PM
Shoplifting–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 5:02 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–200 block E 20th St, Hays; 6:39 PM
Suspicious Activity–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 9:36 PM
Drug Offenses–1800 block Vine St, Hays; 10:17 PM
Suspicious Activity–4600 block Roth Ave, Hays; 11:18 PM
Overdose–400 block W 15th St, Hays; 11:51 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 11 animal calls and 11 traffic stops Thu., April 6, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Disturbance – Noise–500 block W 17th St, Hays; 1:15 AM; 1:28 AM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–2100 block Vine St, Hays; 4/5 6:45 PM; 9 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–500 block E 17th St, Hays; 8:52 AM; 8:54 AM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–300 block W 16th St, Hays; 4/5 12 AM; 4/6 9 AM
Found/Lost Property–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 9:45 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 3:13 PM; 3:15 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–2700 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 3:38 PM
Animal Bite Investigation–19th and Fort St, Hays; 4:25 PM
Animal At Large–200 block Circle Dr, Hays; 5:06 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–500 block W 6th St, Hays; 5:40 PM; 5:53 PM
Animal Call–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 5:54 PM
Credit Card Violations–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 8:45 PM
Fireworks Violation–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 12:13 AM; 12:23 AM
Theft (general)–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 10:26 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block E 15th St, Hays; 10:36 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 11:38 PM

City of Hays Public Works Director Greg Sund was one of five finalists for a management position in Illinois, but is not on the list of three still in consideration.

According to the Freeport (Ill.) Journal Standard, Sund — who was hired as the Hays public works director in July 2015 and served as the first county administrator for Ellis County from 2010 to 2015 — interviewed for the position of Freeport city manager on Thursday.

City officials narrowed the list, which did not include Sund, of finalists to three. Freeport is a community of about 25,000 in northern Illinois.

Earlier this year, Sund was among the three finalists for a city administration position in Minnesota.

Click HERE to read more from the Freeport Journal Standard.

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, the Fort Hays State University Student Government Association, in partnership with the American Democracy Project will host a Gun Policy Town Hall for the university and community. The event will be at Memorial Union’s Black and Gold Room on the FHSU campus.

There will be a panel to discuss the law and FHSU policy. The panel is comprised of General Counsel Kerry Wasinger; Director of Residential Life Christina Hurtado; University Police Chief Ed Howell; Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Kenton Olliff; Assistant Professor of Political Science Bryan Bennett; Student Body President Emily Brandt; and Student Government Legislative Affairs Director Brent Hirsch.

This will be an open, educational event about the changes coming to campus regarding the new weapons policy that takes effect on July 1.

FHSU University Relations

Digital media production and journalism students form the Department of Informatics at Fort Hays State University earned six first-place, six second-place, and four honorable mention awards at the recent Kansas Association of Broadcasters competition.

In addition, the department earned a first-place award and an honorable mention from the National Association of Broadcasters/Broadcast Education Association, which Ron Rohlf, assistant professor of informatics, said is a first for FHSU.

“Our students have a proud history of performing well in the annual KAB competition,” said Todd Elsen, executive producer of Tiger Media Network. “The program continues to grow by leaps and bounds and our students’ dedication to their craft is continually recognized by industry professionals.”

“I am so excited for these students,” said Dr. Melissa Hunsicker-Walburn, chair of the Department of Informatics. “It’s powerful to have your quality validated as you build your portfolio of work. Being able to produce what is recognized by the industry and judged to be quality work is critical to the students in this field.”

Students are listed alphabetically by hometown with their entry titles and the contest categories. All are informatics majors.

DERBY: Tim Abrams, senior:
First place: “Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism in Video Games,” research paper.
Second place: “Protest Coverage,” hard news package.
Honorable mention: “The Battlefield,” DJ personality for radio or news anchor for TV.
Honorable mention: “The Wave, No Host, No Problem; Season 2, Episode 3,” entertainment program.

GARFIELD: Paul Kirkwood, senior, will be recognized at the NAB/BEA conference this month.
First place: “#FailCampusCarry,” opinion documentary.

GOODLAND: Cooper Slough, senior:
First place: “Local Spice, Episode 3: Breathe Coffee House,” entertainment program.
First place: “The Joy of Simplicity,” enterprise news package.
Second place: “Kansas City Coffee Culture,” documentary.
Honorable mention: “Handcrafted Hays, Popt! Gourmet Popcorn,” promotional audio or video.

MULVANE: Kadrae Smith, senior:
First place: “Traditional College Experience,” documentary, opinion documentary.
First place: #CollegeRadioDay Concert with KFHS Radio,” promotion event/activity.
Second place: “Anime Podcast,” entertainment program.

WICHITA: Richard Kerr, senior, will be recognized at the NAB/BEA conference this month.
First place: “One on One with Ulises Gonzalez,” public affairs program.
Second place: “Public and Private Influences on the First Amendment and Independent Journalism,” research paper.
Honorable mention: “FHSU Learning Communities Promo,” promotional audio or visual.
Honorable mention: “#LegendsNeverDie Teaser,” promotional spot (less than :90).