A few days after her first husband died, Hays missionary Sarah (Breeden) Labriel met with the young people at North Oak Community Church with whom he had worked.
“I told them, God called me to be a missionary with or without a husband. I did not want to lose my calling at the same time I lost my husband.”
A month after her first husband’s death, Sarah returned with her two children to the Dominican Republic to resume their missionary work there. Her son, Mattias, was 2 ½; daughter Layla was 3 months old.
Labriel will be sharing her story about God’s grace and her life since then at the Hays After 5 Christian Women’s Spring Style Show & Brunch on Saturday, April 8. Models will be wearing fashions from Couture for Women, 1111 Main.
The event will run from 10 a.m.-noon at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2250 E. Eighth St. Cost is $12.50, payable at the door. Reservations are due by April 6 to [email protected] or by calling (785) 202-1036.
Labriel is preparing to leave Hays soon to begin mission work in Ecuador, along with her husband, Carlos, and her two children.
KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to tax evasion, according to Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney.
Steven Matthews, 48, was charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon Matthews’s arrest this morning and initial court appearance this afternoon.
The federal indictment charges Matthews with one count of tax evasion, one count of corruptly impeding the due administration of the internal revenue laws and three counts of failure to file tax returns.
From May 2011 to May 2015, the indictment says, Matthews attempted to evade payment of the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty assessed against him personally for withholding that wasn’t paid for the quarters ending December 2002 through June 2003 for the trust fund taxes of Winntech Digital Systems (where he served as the Chief Financial Officer). Matthews allegedly also attempted to evade payment of income tax owed by him for 2008.
According to the indictment, Matthews used corporate funds to pay his personal expenses, created a false deed of trust for a condominium he owned, placed money into an attorney trust account that was then used to pay his personal expenses, established a corporation (SLM Consultants, LLC) using his mother’s Social Security number and listing his mother as the sole member, and dealt in cash from 2011 through 2015, all in an effort to evade payment of taxes and to impede the due administration of the internal revenue laws.
The indictment also alleges that Matthews failed to file federal income tax returns on income earned during 2012, 2014 and 2015.
Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
“Giants, Dwarfs, and Pterosaurs” will be the subject for Dr. Chris Bennett, President’s Distinguished Scholar at Fort Hays State University, at his honors presentation at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 6, in the Memorial Union’s Stouffer Lounge.
Bennett, professor of biological sciences at FHSU, was named at the fall convocation in August 2016 as the President’s Distinguished Scholar for 2016-2017.
His primary research area is paleontology, especially on the biology of pterosaurs, flying reptiles from the Mesozoic Era, a span of roughly 180 million years that began about 225 million years ago. The specific focus of Bennett’s distinguished scholar presentation is a discussion of skull evolution in pteranodon.
Bennett joined the faculty in 2004 and was promoted to professor in 2015. His bachelor’s degree, a B.S. with a double major in biology and German, is from Tulane University, New Orleans. He holds two master’s degrees in ecology, one from Yale and one from the University of Kansas. His doctorate, in systematics and ecology, is also from KU.
He has published more than 40 scientific papers, mostly in such internationally renowned scientific journals as the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, and mainly as a single author. He has earned a reputation in the field as being among the most thorough, precise and accurate pterosaur anatomists in the world. His reconstruction of pterosaur muscle anatomy is now the worldwide standard.
Bennett also conducts about 10 manuscript reviews a year for professional publications and regularly contributes book reviews to various journals in his discipline.
The President’s Distinguished Scholar Award, first issued in 1989, is the highest faculty honor awarded by Fort Hays State. An evaluation committee chaired by the provost selects the honoree. Other members include past award recipients. The committee accepts nominations until March of each year and the award recipient is introduced at fall Convocation meeting.
The honoree also receives a check for $1,500, a certificate, and a medallion specially designed for the occasion by Jim Hinkhouse, former FHSU professor of art. The honoree is also recognized by a plaque in the Memorial Union.
Bennett is the 28th President’s Distinguished Scholar.
Ellis–The Ellis City Council will consider the 2018 Waterline Improvement Project at their meeting this evening.
Other agenda items include the March monthly activity report from the Ellis Police Department.
The complete Mon., April 3 agenda follows.
AGENDA
April 3, 2017
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on March 20, 2017
b) Bills Ordinance #2018
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
a) National Service Recognition Day Proclamation
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) Discuss Concerns with Code Violation Notice – Luke Karlin
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider 2018 Waterline Improvement Project
b) Consider Ordinance Amending Contractor Definition
c) Consider Ordinance Amending Lawn Sprinkler or Irrigation Contractors License Fees
d) Consider Ordinance Amending Tree Trimming License Period and Fees
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Change Order #1 and Pay Application #7 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project and Authorize Mayor to Sign Documents
b) Consider Spraying Bid from Ellis County Noxious Weed Department
c) Discuss City Attorney Contract
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Monthly Activity Report for March
(2) April Staff Calendar
(3) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Draft Minutes from City Committees
(2) February Health Insurance Savings Report
(3) Department Update
4) Attorney
(1) Update on Code Violation Cases
(2) Update on 21st Street and Walnut Drainage Issue
(3) Update on Letters to 14th Street Residents
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Summary of Water Meeting on March 14th
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT
Dr. Paul Adams, dean of the College of Education at Fort Hays State University, has been awarded the Faraday Science Communicator Award. The awards were presented at a special banquet and ceremony at the recent National Science Teachers Association national conference in Los Angeles.
The Faraday Award recognizes FHSU’s Science, Mathematics and Education Institute, which has inspired and elevated interest in and appreciation of science. It is named in honor of Michael Faraday, the English chemist and physicist who is known for his work in electricity and magnetism
Adams has also been elected to the NSTA Board of Directors as the division director for Preservice Teacher Preparation. He will begin his service on June 1.
Today
Areas of fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 37. South wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. North northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 42. North northwest wind 8 to 11 mph.
Tuesday
Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 48. North northeast wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
Rain likely, mainly before 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 39. Very windy. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of rain before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Very windy.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Breezy.
“Our Town” this week looks at the important topic of veteran suicide prevention. Let’s Promote Hope, a nonprofit group in Kansas, has teamed up with the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum to raise awareness of this topic. Find out more at their Facebook page, Let’s Promote Hope – Operation Veteran Suicide Outreach.
For more episodes of “Our Town” and other programs from Eagle TV’s Eastern region, click HERE.
Supporters of expanding Medicaid eligibility in Kansas are preparing to mount an intense lobbying campaign over the weekend to get the votes they need to override Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of an expansion bill.
The governor vetoed the bill on Thursday, citing concerns about the cost of expanding KanCare, the state’s privatized Medicaid program, to cover an estimated 180,000 additional low-income Kansans. He also objected to extending coverage to “able-bodied” adults as long as thousands of Kansans with disabilities remained on waiting lists for support services.
“Any attempt to expand this entitlement program should include a plan to eliminate the inherited waiting list for services to our disabled community … and have a neutral impact on the state budget,” Brownback said in his veto message. “This bill does not meet those requirements.”
I vetoed Medicaid expansion. It does not prioritize the vulnerable. It does not #DefundPP. It isn't responsible. It's bad for Kansas. #kslegpic.twitter.com/ydoooJK4fV
Reacting to the message, House Minority Leader Jim Ward, a Wichita Democrat, said the governor is unfairly pitting two groups of needy Kansans against one another.
“I’ve never heard a more dishonest statement than we just heard,” Ward said, fighting back his emotions during debate Thursday morning on the House floor after Brownback announced his veto. “The governor pits working poor against the disabled. He talks about cost without talking about benefits.”
Expansion supporters were able to delay a vote to override the governor’s veto by tabling the expansion bill Thursday. The vote is now expected to occur sometime next week.
That means groups belonging to the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a pro-expansion coalition, will be active over the weekend, lobbying a handful of legislators to switch their votes.
“At the end of the day, this is about the governor,” said David Jordan, director of the coalition. “Are the legislators going to do the right thing and expand KanCare, or are they going to side with the governor and deny access to health care and deny their hospitals and other providers the payments they need to stay financially whole?”
The Sumner Regional Medical Center in Wellington is one of several Kansas hospitals struggling financially in part because of the state’s refusal to expand KanCare, which the Kansas Hospital Association estimates has cost providers nearly $1.8 billion in additional federal funding.
“We are one of, I think, 31 (Kansas) hospitals that were listed at risk for closure at the beginning of the year,” said Terry Deschaine, a member of the medical center’s board.
Terry Deschaine of Sumner Regional Medical Center is one of several community leaders planning to meet Friday in Wellington with Sen. Larry Alley to discuss how KanCare expansion would help the hospital. CREDIT FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Recently, Deschaine said the hospital’s foundation and the city of Wellington helped administrators secure a $300,000 line of credit from a local bank so that they could cover operating expenses and meet the payroll.
“The financial challenges we’re facing are very significant,” Deschaine said, noting that expansion would generate an additional $750,000 a year in revenue for the medical center.
Deschaine is one of several community leaders planning to meet Friday in Wellington with Sen. Larry Alley, a first-term Republican from Winfield. They hope to persuade Alley, who voted against the expansion bill, to change his mind and vote to override the governor’s veto.
“At least we’ll be able to meet with him face-to-face and tell him our story and how critical it is that he sees the light,” Deschaine said.
Alley is open to the discussion but said the hospital’s continuing struggles aren’t reason enough to change his position on expansion.
“They’ve been in trouble for some time,” Alley said of the hospital. “And I don’t believe that this, right now, is the time to expand Medicaid because of the financial problems the state is having.”
Alley, like Brownback, doesn’t believe estimates compiled by the Kansas Hospital Association that show revenue and savings generated by expansion would more than cover the state’s share of the cost, 90 percent of which would be shouldered by the federal government. But he said he’s willing to be persuaded.
“I’m still open, but they’re going to have to do a good job providing that data,” he said.
“We’re hopeful that some of those legislators will change their minds,” he said. “I think we’re close, we’re three votes away in the House and two votes in the Senate.”
The House passed the expansion bill 81-44 in late February. It would take 84 votes to override the governor’s veto. In the Senate, where the bill passed 25-14 earlier this week, supporters will need 27 votes to override the veto.
Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of kcur.org, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics in Kansas. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Two-time NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady, Kansas coach Bill Self, former Chicago Bulls executive Jerry Krause and former UConn star Rebecca Lobo are part of this year’s Basketball Hall of Fame class.
The Hall announced the 11-person class Saturday on Twitter.
Others in the class include Notre Dame women’s coach Muffet McGraw and Texas high school coach Robert Hughes.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Offense was hard to come by for the Fort Hays State baseball team in a pair of losses Saturday afternoon (April 1) to Northeastern State. The RiverHawks outgunned FHSU 17-4 in game one before jumping in front early and adding on late to take game two 14-4.
The Tigers are now 8-22 this season and 1-16 in the MIAA, while NSU improves to 17-11 overall and 11-6 in conference action.
Game One: Northeastern State 17, Fort Hays State 4 (7 innings)
The Tigers struck first when Nick Hammeke clubbed a home run in the third at bat of the game, his third long ball of the season. But the lead wouldn’t last long as the RiverHawks tacked on three runs in the bottom of the first. NSU continued the offensive onslaught with one run in the second, one in the third, nine in the fifth and three in the sixth.
After NSU starter Nolan Sturgeon fooled the Tiger bats all afternoon, the RiverHawks went to the bullpen in the seventh. FHSU responded with six hits in the inning after collecting just two in the first six frames combined. Pinch hitter Jared Bogosian led off with a single to left before Ryan Imber reached on an infield single. Cody Starkel, the third pinch hitter of the inning, loaded the bases with a single to left, bringing up Jace Bowman. The first baseman singled to center, scoring a pair. Jake Lanferman drove in another run with a single later in the inning before a double play brought the game to a close.
Redington was the lone Tiger with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4. Ryan Ruder (2-1) took his first loss of the inning after giving up four runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work. The Tigers needed a total of five pitchers to finish the seven inning contest.
Game Two: Northeastern State 14, Fort Hays State 4 (8 innings)
The Tigers were once again unable to solve the NSU starter, with Zach Parish striking out 11 Tigers over six scoreless innings. The RiverHawk offense, meanwhile, kept the strong day going with four runs in the first, two in the second, two in the fourth, one in the seventh and five in the eighth.
Fort Hays State got things going against the NSU bullpen with four runs in the eighth, closing within 9-4. Jake Lanferman drew a leadoff walk before moving to third on a double from Nick Hammeke. Dayton Pomeroy and Clayton Basgall followed with back-to-back RBI singles before Jason Nicholson singled to load the bases. Marcus Altman drew a walk to score Pomeroy before Basgall came in to score on a double play. The RiverHawks responded with five runs to bring the game to a close in the home half of the eighth.
Ty Redington again collected a pair of hits, also reaching base on a walk. Hammeke doubled twice in the contest, moving him into second in the conference with 14 two-bag hits this season. Alex Ruxlow (3-6) took the loss after allowing six runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of work. Sam Capps righted the ship out of the pen, giving up three runs across five innings of work.
Fort Hays State will return home for four games at Larks Park, opening with the series finale with Washburn on Tuesday (April 4) at 4 p.m.
Traveling in the rain early Saturday-Photo courtesy Kartes Farms
WEST BRANCH, Mich. (AP) — Nearly two dozen semi-trailers and other trucks are delivering grain, hay, fencing and other supplies from Michigan’s Ogemaw County to ranches in Kansas that suffered damage from wildfires.
The convoy left the West Branch area Friday morning and was expected to reach Ashland, Kansas, Saturday.
Organizer Jock Kartes said the supplies were donated by farmers and businesses.
Grass fires in early March charred more than 1,000 square miles in Oklahoma and Kansas, destroying miles of fencing on ranches and farms.
A convoy of trucks carrying hay from Illinois set out Thursday to Kansas. Country music star and Oklahoma native Toby Keith partnered with the Ashland Community Foundation in southern Kansas to record a public service video asking for donations.
VALLEY CENTER, Kan. (AP) — Sedgwick County authorities say a man and woman were shot in what might have been an attempted robbery at a house in near Valley Center.
Sheriff’s Capt. Mark Pierce says the shooting occurred about 9 a.m. Saturday. One victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition and the other is in serious condition.
Authorities are looking for at least two suspects.
Pierce said he didn’t know whether the man and woman were tenants or owners at the house.
Today
