Month: July 2017
KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 7/27/17
A Chilly Job
A mother’s four-year-old daughter was attending her first performance of
the Ice Capades. She was so mesmerized that she wouldn’t budge from her
seat even during intermission, watching the activity while the ice was
cleaned.
At the end of the show, she exclaimed, “I know what I want to be when I
grow up!”
The mother envisioned her on the ice in another 15 years, starring in
the Ice Capades.
She was brought back to earth when the daughter continued, “I want to be
a Zamboni driver!”
Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry
Norton Co. Community Foundation raises nearly $40K in first match day
The Norton County Community Foundation hosted its first Norton County Match Day on July 20.
There were a total of 16 organizations from around Norton County that participated, and collectively they raised $29,267 plus a $10,000 match from the Norton County Community Foundation. Overall, the day brought in $39,267 to be distributed amongst the organizations for various projects and programs around the county.
The 16 participating organizations were: The Compassionate Friends of Norton, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK), Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc., Norton County Health Dept. & Home Health, Norton County Horse Council, Norton Eagles #3288 Aerie & Auxiliary, Norton Flower Fund, Norton Pride, Norton Public Library, Norton Regional Health Foundation, Norton Veterans Memorial, Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Second Chance Homeless Pet Society, Star Spangled Quilters, Sunshine Learning Center, and the United Parish of Lenora. All 16 of these organizations work hard to better the quality of life in Norton County.
For the 2017 Match Day, all organizations set up a table in Heaton Building in Downtown Norton which allowed donors the opportunity to talk with them and learn more about the organizations. There was also time for the different organizations to talk with each other, and many commented on how much they learned about what was going on in our county. Those who wished to donate money had the choice of donating to one or as many organizations as they wished. There were also many remarks made about how hard it was to choose where to donate their money because there were so many great causes represented. The building was open from 7 am – 7 pm for donations, and in that time there were 118 donors who came and visited.
“I was very pleased with the turnout from Match Day. Since this was the first time we had done something like this, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we had a great day. The support from the community was overwhelming and I hope to make our Match Day an annual event,” states Tara Vance, Executive Director of the Norton County Community Foundation.
The Norton County Community Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission of making Norton County a better place in which to live. The foundation was established in 1994 and has increased in size in recent years thanks to visionary donors and a proactive community in which to operate. For more information on the Norton County Community Foundation, visit www.nortonccf.org.
— Submitted
Hays Police will host second annual Community Night Out
On Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hays Aquatic Park, the Hays Police Department will be hosting its second annual Community Night Out with free admission to swim. Free hot dogs and hamburgers will also be served for the first 1,000 people in attendance.
“The Hays Police Department Community Night Out is an annual event that promotes a police-community partnership in an effort to make our community a safer and better place to live,” stated an HPD news release. “It also gives us the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ for the community’s support of the Hays Police Department. We know that by working together we can make a difference.”
The Hays Police Department would like to thank our sponsors that helped make this event possible: Fraternal Order of Police Hays Lodge 48, Pepsi, Phaze 2, Walmart, Nex-Tech and the Hays Recreation Commission.
Now That’s Rural: Glen Fountain, Pluto flyby
By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development
July 14, 2015. An amazing scientific moment occurs, as a satellite from earth flies directly by the dwarf planet Pluto. Just like the man who originally discovered Pluto 85 years ago, the man who helped lead this mission to Pluto came from rural Kansas.
During the last two weeks, we have learned about the discoverer of Pluto, Clyde Tombaugh, and his boyhood home of Burdett, Kansas. Today, in the third and final profile in this series, we will learn about the man who was the project manager for the modern-day exploration of Pluto.
Glen Fountain is the recently-retired project manager for NASA’s New Horizons Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Glen grew up in western Reno County, Kansas. As a child, he was interested in science, and he found that his involvement in Boy Scouts broadened his horizons and encouraged his work ethic.
Glen went to Hutchinson Community College and then on to Kansas State where he earned advanced degrees in electrical engineering. “It was an excellent education and provided a foundation for a good career,” he said.
Glen’s family often vacationed in Colorado so he thought he would look for a job there, but a friend told him about the Applied Physics Lab in Maryland. “I figured I’d come east for five years and then go to Colorado. I still haven’t made it out there,” Glen said with a smile. He and his wife Sharon make their home in Maryland.
“I’ve had a great career doing interesting things,” Glen said. At the Applied Physics Lab, he worked on navigation satellites and other projects.
After Voyager flew by Neptune in 1989, the scientific community noted that NASA had gone to every one of our solar system’s planets at the time except Pluto. However, the estimated cost of going to Pluto was, um, astronomical. In fact, the agency even announced, “The Pluto mission is dead.” This generated strong pushback from the scientific community and the public, and eventually the project was reinstated.
In 2001, the Applied Physics Lab was selected to lead the project. Glen Fountain became the project manager in 2003.
The scope of the project was massive. “Many people didn’t think we could do it,” Glen said.
NASA called the project the New Horizons Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission, or New Horizons for short. The New Horizons spacecraft was launched in 2006. New Horizons was the fastest spacecraft ever to leave earth. Even so, it took 9.5 years and three billion miles to get to Pluto.
“We hit the target within 40 miles and arrived within 90 seconds of when we wanted to arrive,” Glen said. That’s like a person on Earth shooting a BB and hitting the exact pebble they were aiming for at the bottom of a crater on the moon. What’s more, it enabled the spacecraft to capture amazing images and the most close-up pictures of Pluto in history.
“We’ve found Pluto to be a much more fascinating place than any of us expected,” he said. “It’s a fantastic place and we’ve learned a lot.” The mission continues as New Horizons will fly into the Kuiper Belt in 2019.
This mission also showed an appreciation for history. The New Horizons spacecraft carried some of the ashes of Clyde Tombaugh, the man who found Pluto first. Glen Fountain invited Clyde Tombaugh’s family to come to the headquarters for the flyby.
This was a wonderful way to close the circle of discovery. It was especially fitting because Glen Fountain, like Tombaugh, grew up in rural Kansas. Glen Fountain was originally from Arlington, Kansas, population 473. Now, that’s rural.
For more information on the Pluto flyby, go to www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main.
On July 14, 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft flew directly by Pluto, some three billion miles away from Earth, and is continuing into the Kuiper Belt. We commend Glen Fountain and all those involved in the New Horizons project for making a difference with their deep space, scientific expedition. It is exciting to hear that this project is still exploring new horizons.
Police report series of armed robberies over 8-hours in Topeka
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of armed robberies.
Just before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a business at 4220 SW 21 Street in Topeka, according to a media release.
The victim told police a black male wearing a plaid shirt over a dark, hooded sweatshirt and red shoes robbed the store. The suspect left in a silver vehicle.
Just after 10p.m. Wednesday police responded to a robbery to a business at 3335 SW Gage in Topeka. The store employee told police a dark-skinned man wearing a dark hoodie, red ski mask and carrying a knife entered the business.
He demanded cash and fled on foot.
Just before 10:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to SW 18th and SW Clay in Topeka after report of a robbery, according to a media release.
A victim told police an unknown black, male suspect wearing a hoodie and carrying a handgun approached him and demanded items from him. The suspect fled the area on foot. Police used a K9 team to search the area but did not locate the suspect.
Police reported no injuries during these robberies and the suspects remain at large.
Social media reacts to Trump’s nomination of Brownback for ambassador
TOPEKA – Members of the Kansas congressional delegation and many others used social media Wednesday evening to react to the news that President Donald Trump plans to nominate Governor Sam Brownback for an ambassadorship. Brownback also tweeted that religious freedom is “the first freedom”
Religious Freedom is the first freedom. The choice of what you do with your own soul. I am honored to serve such an important cause. -SDB
— Sam Brownback (@govsambrownback) July 27, 2017
happy 4 @govsambrownback . Sam has always been called to fight for those of faith.Glad he has been given an opportunity to answer this call
— Pat Roberts (@SenPatRoberts) July 27, 2017
.@GovSamBrownback has long been a fighter for the persecuted – will be tireless, effective Ambassador for International Religious Freedom.
— Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) July 27, 2017
Congrats, @govsambrownback. A long-time advocate for those of faith, and well-suited for this role. Very happy for you and Mary. Best wishes https://t.co/ZLloUJYMtD
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) July 27, 2017
Congratulations to @govsambrownback on your nomination. I wish you, Mary and your family all the best! https://t.co/U92lLnvjvw
— Lynn Jenkins (@RepLynnJenkins) July 27, 2017
Driver intentionally ran over Kan. woman; 7 charged with murder
PAOLA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged seven people with felony murder after they say a woman was intentionally hit by a car in a drug-related death.
The Kansas City Star reports 23-year-old Heather Briggs, of Baldwin City, Kansas, died early Friday on a road 2 miles west of Paola.
Police found her body underneath the vehicle.
Prosecutors say Briggs was run over during a felony drug deal involving the distribution of methamphetamine.
The suspected driver, 21-year-old Nichole Razo, of Parker, was charged Tuesday with first-degree felony murder.
Six people — two from Paola and four from Osawatomie — were charged Wednesday with the same crime. They are each being held in Miami County on $1 million bond.
Sunny, warm Thursday
Today Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 86. North northeast wind 11 to 13 mph.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 7 mph.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 6 to 9 mph.
Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.
Saturday NightA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
SundayA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
Sunday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
MondayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.
Police: Naked man found near Kansas shopping mall
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspicious Wednesday evening incident.
Just before 8p.m. police responded to the intersection of 21st and Arvonia in Topeka near West Ridge Mall after report of a naked person in the street, according to a media release.
Police reported they found the person without clothes and unresponsive. He was transported to a local hospital. Police released no additional details.
Hays Eagles advance out of first round of state
OTTAWA, Kan. – One big inning of offense pushed the Hays Eagles to a first round win at the American Legion AAA State Tournament on Wednesday evening. The big inning was the top of the fourth when Hays turned a 4-1 deficit into a 6-4 lead. They added an insurance run in the top of the sixth for a 7-4 win over the host team, Ottawa Arrows.
Ottawa struck first by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Hays got one run back on a Jace Armstrong single in the top of the second. Ottawa again scored two more runs in the bottom of the third inning to push their lead up to 4-1. Trey Riggs then settled in on the mound and the defense came up with big plays behind him.
Hays sent all nine batters to the plate in the fourth inning. Trey Riggs sent a ground ball up the third base line that struck the bag and ricocheted into left field for two runs. After Palmer Hutchison was hit by a pitch, Grant Coffman slammed a double up the left field line to score two more runs. A potential third run was cut down at the plate, but Coffman moved to an unoccupied third base. The extra base proved to be important as Coffman scored on error during the following at-bat and a 6-4 lead.
Highlights
Hays added another run in the sixth on a RBI single from Palmer Hutchison.
Riggs and the Hays defense posted four straight shutout innings to finish of the 7-4 win. The Eagles got out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth on a deep fly ball to left field and then turned double plays in each the sixth and seventh innings.
Trey Riggs pitched all seven inning, just coming in under the 120 pitch limit, throwing 116. He is now 4-5 on the season. Each Brady Kreutzer, Palmer Hutchison, and Jace Armstrong had two hit games.
Coach Dustin Schumacher
Hays improves to 20-13 overall and will play Oskaloosa in the championship semi-finals Thursday evening. Ottawa (31-9) who is the two-time defending state champion will play the second elimination game of the day when the face off against Arkansas City. Oskaloosa used two pitchers in a 1-0 no-hit victory over Arkansas City. The winning run came on a throwing error in the bottom of the second inning.
Earlier in the day, Nickerson run-ruled Leavenworth 14-6 in five innings. Nickerson will play Great Bend, who beat Chanute 2-0, in the other championship semi-final at 6:00. The first game of the day in will see Leavenworth and Chanute in an elimination game at 10:00.
Hosmer’s five hits, slam help Royals to 8th straight win
DETROIT (AP) – Eric Hosmer matched his career high with five hits, including his first major league grand slam, and the Kansas City Royals extended their winning streak to a season-high eight games with a 16-2 rout of the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.
Hosmer entered with 117 homers but had not hit one with the bases loaded until he connected off Warwick Saupold in a nine-run seventh inning. Hosmer had six RBIs and scored four runs.
Bruce Rondon was ejected with one out in the ninth after hitting Mike Moustakas on the back with a pitch, which caused both benches to empty. Utilityman Andrew Romine entered in his third big league pitching appearance and faced five batters, allowing a walk, RBI single, sacrifice fly, hit batter and flyout.
Larks hold off Sox; head to NBC World Series
GOLDEN, Colo. – The Hays Larks avoid their first three-game losing streak of the summer, holding off the Colorado Sox 4-3 last night in Golden. Jacob Boston hit a two-run homer in the second to put the Larks up 2-1. Jace Selsor’s single scored two more in the fifth to make it 4-1. The Sox got two in the seventh before Chad Smith got a strike out to end the game. Dylan Schneider, who was the first of seven pitchers used in the seven inning game, gets the win as the Larks move to 31-5. They now head to Wichita for Championship Week of the NBC World Series where they open with the San Antonio Angels at 11am Sunday. You can hear all of the Larks action from the NBC on KJLS, Mix-103.