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Kan. man sentenced for shooting at police, assault of his daughter

Ryan-photo Saline County

SALINA, Kan. (AP) — A man in central Kansas who pleaded no contest to shooting at a police detective and assaulting two teenagers has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

The Salina Journal reports Judge Rene Young sentenced 36-year-old Michael Ryan Monday in Saline County District Court.

Ryan pleaded no contest to felony charges of attempted manslaughter of Salina detective Crystal Hornseth; aggravated assaults of his daughter Destiny Hunt and her friend Tyler Wolf; and criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied dwelling. He also pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.

According to a testimony, Ryan arrived at a house in June 2015 where Hunt was with her friends. He pointed an AR-15 rifle at Wolf, forced his daughter to come with him and later fired 10 shots as Salina police arrived.

Ten Tigers earn All-Region Track and Field honors

NEW ORLEANS – Ten student-athletes on the Fort Hays State track and field team earned a spot on the All-Region team, announced Tuesday (May 16) by the USTFCCCA. Six men and four women picked up the honor. The top five individuals in each event from each region earn the distinction.

Dillando Allotey was the lone Tiger to earn multiple All-Region honors, picking up three honors for the 100, 200 and 400 meter dash.

Below is the list of the Fort Hays State All-Region Honorees

Name Event Mark
Dillando Allotey 100 Meters 10.42
Dillando Allotey 200 Meters 20.91
Dillando Allotey 400 Meters 47.09
Derek Bixenman Decathlon 6642
Decano Cronin 800 Meters 1:49.74
TJ Dozier Discus 172-3
Brett Meyer 800 Meters 1:50.24
Kolt Newell High Jump 6-11
Alexcia Deutscher Javelin 156-11
Micki Krzesinski 10,000 Meters 35:02.67
Estefania Lopez Javelin 176-5
Kelly Wycoff 400 Meters 54.80

Allotey, Cronin, Deutscher, Dozier, Krzesinski, Meyer, Newell and Wycoff will wrap up the season next week when they represent FHSU in the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championships in Bradenton, Fla. (May 25-27).

DA considering charges in hit, run crash that hospitalized Kan. woman

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

RILEY COUNTY- The Riley County Attorney’s office is working to determine whether to file charges in a hit and run accident that critically injured a Kansas woman.

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 pickup driven by 21-year-old Nicholas Blaha of Manhattan. He left the scene of the accident.

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

Blaha came forward following the release of a video of the truck involved in the accident.

Detectives and patrol officers spent hundreds of hours investigating the case, interviewing dozens of people, looking at video pulled from a variety of sources throughout the city (including Fort Riley), and reconstructing the scene. At this point the investigation has concluded.  Although no arrests have been made or citations issued, the case has been forwarded to the Riley County District Attorney’s office for review to determine whether charges will be filed.

Police: Man questioned after wearing sword into Kansas bank

SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in a what may have been an attempted bank robbery on Tuesday.

Just after 9a.m., a suspect with a sword in a scabbard entered a bank in the 700 Block of SW Topeka Boulevard, according to police spokesperson Coleen Stuart.

Security staff asked for and the subject gave them the sword. The subject also mentioned wanting money.

Police transported the subject to the Law Enforcement Center for an interview.

Police have not reported an arrest.

Tuesday’s early morning weather shears several power poles in Ellis and Ness counties

Midwest Energy crews in Hays install a new light pole at 21st and Volga Drive to replace the one snapped off by high wind early Tuesday.
Midwest Energy crews in Hays install a new light pole at 21st and Volga Drive to replace the one snapped off by high wind early Tuesday.

MWE

Midwest Energy crews stayed busy today following a strong weather front early this morning from the south that moved through Hays shortly after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. Wind gusts in excess of 50 mph were reported.

Two light poles were sheared at ground level in Hays. There were also nine poles downed near Schoenchen and one in northeast Ellis County.

Seven poles were knocked over by the gusty winds near Bazine in Ness County. They were replaced by MWE crews from Great Bend.

Kan. lawmakers waste time, delay discussion on income tax increase

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators are delaying discussions about public school funding and raising taxes to fix the state budget.

House and Senate negotiators who had planned to convene Tuesday to discuss proposals for increasing income taxes never scheduled a meeting.

Lead House negotiator Steven Johnson said he doesn’t know when the group will convene again. The Assaria Republican said it’s an indication that lawmakers remain divided on tax issues.

The House postponed a debate until at least Thursday on a plan to phase in a $280 million increase in spending on public schools over two years. Leaders want to give House members more time to review the details.

Kansas faces projected budget shortfalls totaling $887 million through June 2019, and the state Supreme Court ruled in March that education funding is inadequate.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas legislators are floating the most aggressive plan yet to raise income taxes to fix the state budget.

The House and Senate resumed their negotiations over taxes Monday. Three House negotiators offered a proposal to raise $1.4 billion over two years through income tax increases.

The proposal would return Kansas to the income tax laws in place in 2012 before lawmakers began cutting income taxes at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging.

The negotiators planned further discussions Tuesday.

House negotiators said they were presenting another plan for lawmakers hoping to close projected budget shortfalls totaling $887 million through June 2019 and raising additional funds for public schools.

Their action came after the House advanced proposals on sales taxes and school funding that would allow lawmakers to avoid such large income tax hikes.

___

A Kansas House committee has approved a proposal to phase in a $280 million increase in spending on public schools over two years after whittling down a larger funding plan.

The special committee on school finance’s 10-6 vote sends the education funding bill to the House for debate. It’s a response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in March that education funding is inadequate.

The state spends about $4 billion a year on aid to its 286 local school districts. The court did not say how much more the state must spend.

The committee started Monday with a plan to phase in a $783 million increase over five years.

Some members questioned whether lawmakers would boost taxes enough to pay for it. Others said the committee’s plan is inadequate.

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Frances N. Bader

frances-bader-paper-pictureHays, Kansas – Frances N. Bader, age 92, died Monday, May 15, 2017, at the Brookdale Senior Living Solutions in Hays.

She was born April 12, 1925, in Jennings, Kansas to George T. and Helen Marie (Kasper) Coleman. She married Erwin E. Bader on September 25, 1945. He preceded her in death on February 12, 1994.

She was a farmer’s wife and a beautician, living on the farm for 65 years north of Allison, Kansas until moving in 2011, to the Centennial Towers in Hays. She attended the Jennings Schools and was a 1943 graduate of Jennings High School, she was a graduate of at cosmetology school in Topeka, Kansas. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Jennings and Allison. She was very active in her area, serving on the Jennings School Board, Township Board, served as records keeper for the Allison Township Cemetery, volunteer as a census worker and senior income taxes provider, was an organizer of the Jennings Kolache Festival. She enjoyed spending time with her family and community and became a resident of Brookdale in February of 2017.

Survivors include one daughter, Sharon Mathews and spouse, Diana Justice, Braggs, OK; four sisters, Marie Ellis, Salem, OR; Bonnie Urling, McCook, NE; Margaret Hoffman, Hot Springs Village, AR; Nancy Bristow and husband, David, Springdale, AR; four grandchildren, Thomas Mathews, Todd Mathews, Brian Bader, Allison Bader; and seven great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Dennis Bader, and brother, Ray George Coleman.
Graveside services will be at 11:00 A.M. Friday May 19, 2017 at the Allison Township Cemetery in Allison, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Memorial to Allison Township Cemetery and Jennings Fire Department.

Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or can be sent via e-mail to [email protected]

Kan. man accused of ripping off pet rabbit’s tail to face charges

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A man accused of ripping the tail off a classroom’s pet rabbit while working as a custodian for a University of Kansas child care will face two misdemeanors instead of a felony.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that a judge ruled Monday after a preliminary hearing for Shawn Zuehlsdorf.

A woman testified that she saw a man drop off the bleeding rabbit in March at a park and snapped a picture of his car.

Zuehlsdorf told a university police officer that the rabbit’s tail came off while “roughhousing” and described what happened as “an accident” in a note left at the school.

The rabbit was later euthanized. Zuehlsdorf no longer works for the university. He’s scheduled to be arraigned next month on misdemeanor cruelty to animals and theft charges.

Hays Police on the hunt for suspect in Sunday robbery

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Hays law enforcement officials are looking for a man who allegedly knocked down a woman and stole cash from her early Sunday morning.

According to Hays Police Lt. Brandon Wright, at approximately 12:52 a.m. Sunday, a 46-year-old Hays woman was walking in the 1800 block of Walnut Street when she was allegedly knocked down by white male.

The man then dug through the woman’s pockets and stole a small amount of cash before running away. He was last seen running south bound on Walnut.

Wright said the man was described as a tall, slim-built, white male wearing blue jeans and a gray hoodie.

If you have any information about this crime, officials ask that you contact the Hays Police Department at 785-625-1011.

Run For The Wall riders to go through Hays, stop in Bunker Hill Sunday

run-for-the-wall-logo-2017By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The mission statement of Run For The Wall® (RFTW) says it all with quiet dignity.

RTFW MISSION STATEMENT

To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over the world.

Run For The Wall was started in 1989 by James Gregory and Bill Evans, two Vietnam veterans who traveled across the heartland of America on motorcycles.

The trip now is a 10-day ride from Ontario, California, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, where The Run officially ends.

There are three routes available, each leaving California Wed., May 17 and arriving Fri., May 26 in D.C after 10 days and 2,872 miles on the road.

Bikers on the central route will come through Hays Sun., May 21, eastbound on Interstate 70 after leaving Goodland that morning and stop in Bunker Hill at approximately 2:30 p.m. for fuel, water and snacks.

abateABATE of Kansas District 6, which includes Ellis, Russell, Barton, Rush, Ness and Trego counties, will pay for the fuel pumped for the cross-country riders in Bunker Hill.

A donation fund, ABATE Dist. 6 RFTW Savings Account, has been set up at Equity Bank in Hays, according to Lou Ann Kibbee, a member of ABATE Dist. 6 in Ellis. The group has been asked to raise $2,500 to help pay for gasoline.

“The American Legion and Legion Auxiliary in Hays have already donated funds,” Kibbee said, “as well as the Ellis VFW and VFW Auxiliary. If the public donates more money than we need, it will stay in the savings account to be used for next year’s run.

“We found out recently the fuel stop in Bunker Hill is no longer sponsored and decided it would be a good project for ABATE,” she explained.

The regional ABATE chapter has already conducted another good project, an April 9 poker run which raised funds for victims of the devastating Kansas wildfires in early March. “We raised a little money for them and had a good time riding our counties out here,” Kibbee said.

ABATE of Kansas is a non-profit group which fosters, promotes and encourages safe motorcycling.

Local motorcyclists greet the RFTW on I-70 east of Hays in 2014.
Local motorcyclists wave to RFTW riders on I-70 east of Hays in 2014.

The Hays American Legion Riders have organized a local public greeting of the motorcyclists on the Commerce Parkway exit overpass as the caravan drives east on I-70, estimated to be shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday.

“It’s an open invitation to join us,” said Ray Palmer, Riders director. “We want to show our support of the RFTW.”

Palmer is planning for about 60 American flags to be spaced out and displayed on both sides of the bridge by the Legion riders who will be joined by motorcyclists from Norton, Larned and Kensington.

No public vehicle parking will be allowed on the overpass, Palmer emphasized. “We do what we need to to comply with the Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Department of Transportation so we can do keep doing this every year.”

This is the 28th year of the Run For The Wall.

Palmer and Kibbee encourage people to recognize the riders anywhere along the route.

“If you see them, wave them on by and give them the thumbs up,” Kibbee said. “They’re on the way to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C. in honor of all veterans. Their motto is ‘we ride for those that can’t.'”

RFTW will stay overnight in Junction City.

 

 

 

 

 

Police ask for help to find Kansas stabbing suspect

photos courtesy Derby Police

SEDGWICK COUNTY- Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County are investigating a stabbing and asking for help to identify a suspect.

Just after 12 a.m. Tuesday, there was an altercation between two adult men inside the Quik Trip, 1430 North Nelson Drive in Derby.

The incident resulted in one of the men being stabbed.

The suspect fled the scene on foot. He is described as a black male in his 30s, 5 foot 10inches to 6-foot-tall and weighs approximately 160-170 pounds.

He was wearing a white, red and blue button up shirt, light-colored jeans and black tennis shoes.

It is believed that the initial disturbance between the men started earlier at a local club and continued at QuikTrip. The suspect arrived at QuikTrip as a passenger in a 1990s white Mercury Cougar driven by a black female.

Anyone with information regarding this suspect should call the Derby Police Department at 788-1557,

Derby Crime Stoppers at 788- TIPS (8477) or 911. Do not approach or attempt to apprehend the suspect who is considered armed and dangerous.

Grainfield senior wins Big First Congressional Art Competition

The Office of Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., has announced the winners of the 2017 Congressional Art Competition for Kansas’ First Congressional District.

First place went to Brooke Bixenman, an outgoing senior at Wheatland High School in Grainfield, Kan. Bixenman’s artwork, Harvesting the High Plains, will hang for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and she will receive a trip to Washington, D.C. for a ceremony on June 29 honoring first place winners from around the country.

“One of the treats members of Congress get to experience every day is passing by the artwork of students from around the country,” Congressman Marshall said. “Brooke’s impressive work will not only add to the beauty of the display, but will uniquely represent the backbone of our district – agriculture. I am also excited to have my offices decorated with the work of other talented students from around the state.”

The runners-up to Bixenman’s Harvesting the High Plains are shown below. The second-place artwork will hang in the Congressman’s Washington, D.C., office for one year, the third-place artwork will hang in the Congressman’s Salina office for one year, and the fourth-place artwork will hang in the Congressman’s Garden City office for one year.

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