WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Investigators are trying to determine what sparked a weekend blaze in a southern Kansas horse stable, killing a pregnant mare.
C-Arrow Stables owner Barry Cole reported that he managed to save eight of the nine horses from the barn in Maize near Wichita after finding the structure on fire about 6:30 a.m. Saturday.
But Cole says a mare named Midnight did not escape the fire that destroyed the barn, the tack inside and a tractor.
Saturday fire -photos courtesy C-Arrow Stables
The property offers riding lessons, training and horse rentals along with boarding services, as well as youth camps each spring and summer. Cole says a rodeo camp scheduled to take place later this month will go on.
I think overall wildlife have done a much better job of coexisting with man than we have done coexisting with them. If you think living in town excludes wildlife from our presence (other than the obvious resident squirrels and cottontails) think again. Possums, skunks, raccoons, beavers, foxes, coyotes and now in south central Kansas, even armadillos are right at home among us. I’m sure most Midwesterners, and residents of large western cities realize that fact, but I’ll bet many residents of huge eastern cities find that fact hard to swallow. Wildlife coexist with us in our towns incident-free for-the-most-part, even coyotes, but they all have their good, bad and ugly qualities.
Steve Gilliland
Possums eat about anything but they especially love dog and cat food, which is always available in dog and cat bowls somewhere around town. Opossums, as they are correctly called really have no good or bad side, but are just plain ugly looking with a mug only a mother possum could love. They can usually be kept from your yard by excluding them from living under porches and outbuildings, and by cleaning up leftover dog and cat food.
Skunks have lived among us for ages and I guess their one good quality could be their appetite for grubs which they will dig for greedily. When I was a kid in Ohio we had an invasion of June bugs one year, which begin life underground as grubs. Skunks were riddling the local golf course greens nightly digging for those grubs and preventing that many from ever becoming mature June bugs, but that appetite also got them in big trouble with the golf course crew. Obviously a skunks worst quality is the stench that results from any unfortunate encounter with them, but they awfully cute when their little.
Try as I might, I can’t come up with a good quality to assign to a raccoon. They are mischievous devils that can break into most anything and are infamous for turning over trash cans, they can squeeze through the tiniest opening to get into an attic or storage building, they make a mess wherever they go and are known rabies carriers. Once again, they are cute when they’re little, but like every other cute little critter, they grow-up!
Beavers are truly a mixed bag of the good, the bad and the ugly. Over time they have probably created more wildlife habitat than all human conservationists combined, as each time they dam up a wilderness stream or river, the resulting pools and ponds provide room and board for an endless variety of wildlife. The problem is the location of those dams. In the mountains and hills or even in a pasture off the beaten path, where those dams and resulting ponds are of no hindrance to man or agriculture, all is well. The problem is that all too often here in the Midwest, their dams flood valuable farm land or roads and streets around city park ponds, and then they become the bad and the ugly.
I always spend a day or two at the state trapper’s booth at the Kansas State fair, and last year a lady from Galva stopped to tell us that Galva was overrun with red foxes and people were losing house cats right and left. I already knew that Hutchinson was home to several red fox families, and our local conservation officer confirmed that Galva and a few other towns around also in fact have a more than healthy red fox population. I’ve since learned that we too in Inman are home to a red fox family. Red foxes and coyotes do not coexist well, so red foxes have adapted to live quite well in towns and cities. They help keep feral cat populations in check, as well as numbers of cottontails, pigeons, rats and mice. As far as I’m concerned, that is all good, except when someone’s pet house cat is in the wrong place at the wrong time.
An armadillo caught by the author at Highlands Golf Course near Hutchinson.
One of several beavers caught by the author and his trapping protégé Jared Austin on the Turkey Creek Golf Course in the city limits of McPherson.
A coyote caught by the author just a stone’s throw from the Inman city limits.
In 2012 the coyote population in the city of Chicago was estimated to be over 2000. Chris Nagy with a group called Gotham Coyote Project that studies New York Cities coyotes told me that the Bronx along sports a healthy population of around a dozen breeding pairs, and the coyote population of New York City and all its suburbs combined would be in the thousands. Every year I trap a handful of coyotes just a stone’s throw from the Inman city limits. The coyote has long been known as the most versatile carnivore in America, adapting quite well to life in suburbs and inner cities. Out in the county in the wild, the coyote definitely has a bad and ugly reputation because of the livestock and deer fawn numbers they kill. Coyotes are a tad more aggressive and intimidating than foxes and I suspect that reputation alone gets them labeled as bad and ugly in suburbia too despite the pest control service they provide.
For the past few years armadillos have been steadily creeping northward and are now fairly common in south central KS. They too are grub eaters and will make a mess of golf course greens and lawns. I caught one last year for a homeowner at Prairie Hills Golf Course north of Hutchinson; the critter was digging up her lawn in search of snacks. They are very interesting creatures, but like the possum, not much good can be said for them.
Like I said, God’s critters are much better at adapting to us than we are adapting to them. I guess in town, they can all be seen as good, bad or ugly depending on the scenario. One of the many questions I have for God, is “What did you feed all these varmints on the boat ride here? Did you keep grubs in stock? Did you have peanut butter and jelly for the coon’s sweet tooth? How in the world did you keep them all from eating each other?” It all begs the question “I wonder how critters would rate us, good, bad or ugly?” I don’t think I really want to know! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
Jonathan Patrick Ruda, 31, of Osage Beach, Missouri, passed away Friday, June 30, 2017 in Osage Beach.
Jonathan was born May 19, 1986 in Scott City, Kansas, the son of Donald and Susan (Wasserman) Ruda.
Jonathan is survived by his parents Donald and Susan Ruda of Ness City, Kansas; his fiance Jessica Stein and their daughter Jade Alexandria Ruda of Osage Beach, Missouri; his brother, Daniel Ruda and wife, Danielle, of Topeka, Kansas; his sisters, Danea Cramer and husband, Chad, of Wichita, Kansas and Maria Kane and husband, Tyson, of Dodge City, Kansas; nieces Ainsley and Elly Cramer of Wichita; and nephews Dominic and Lucas Ruda of Topeka, Kansas and Tristan and Ronan Kane of Dodge City, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe and Eilleen Ruda and Gilbert and Edith Wasserman.
Jonathan was a warm and caring gentleman who could win anyone over with his gracious heart and beautiful smile. He loved to crack jokes and enjoyed being around people and socializing. Living and enjoying the lake life at the Lake of the Ozarks was one of Jonathan’s favorite things, but more than anything, his greatest joy was spending time with his daughter Jade.
Visitation for Jonathan will be held Monday, July 3, 2017 from 3:00-4:00 pm at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Osage Beach, Missouri with a reception to follow at Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District Headquarters until 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend both or just one.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 5, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. with a Rosary beginning at 9:00 am at Sacred Heart Church in Ness City, Kansas. Interment will be at 3:30 pm at St. Cyril and Methodis Cemetery in Atwood, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Jonathan Ruda Memorial Fund in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home or www.gofundme.com/jonathan-ruda-memorial-fund.
Words of sympathy and support may be shared with the family by writing in the guest book below or at www.hedgessocttfuneralhomes.com.
At 10:51 PM, Sunday, July 2, 2017, city of Hays emergency dispatchers were alerted to a fire in the building at 303 West 37th Street. The city of Hays Fire Department, assisted by Ellis County Fire Department Company 5, the Hays Police Department and Ellis County EMS was immediately dispatched.
On arrival, firefighters found a small fire burning outside of an attached garage of a single family dwelling. Firefighters used two fire extinguishers to put out the fire. There were no injuries.
The most probable cause of the fire was the improper disposal of fireworks debris. The occupants reported they had been using fireworks during the evening. When finished, they brought the fireworks debris into the garage for disposal. Shortly after, they smelled smoke in the house and discovered a small fire burning in combustible contents in the garage. After promptly calling 911, the occupants removed the burning contents out of the garage and onto the driveway.
Six fire trucks and twenty-five firefighters responded.
The last fire crew left the scene at 11:15 PM.
Your city of Hays firefighters would like to remind everyone that fireworks debris should be thoroughly soaked in a bucket of water and then placed in a non-combustible container for disposal.
Fireworks use is permitted in the City of Hays from 10 AM to 11 PM on July 2, 3 and 4.
DERBY – Derby scored all 10 of their runs in the sixth inning as the Twins earn a 10-2 win over the Hays Larks Sunday in the series finale in Derby.
The Twins touched up Larks starter Alex Lopez for six runs, on eight hits in five plus innings as he suffered his first loss of the season. Reliever Peyton Battenfield also allowed three unearned runs in the inning.
Hays’ Trevor Boone finished two-for-four with a pair of RBI’s.
After splitting the four-game series in Derby Hays drops to 17-9 overall and 17-8 in the Jayhawk League.
They have Monday off before beginning a three-game series with Great Bend on Tuesday.
The Fort Hays State University Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2017 Tiger Alumni Honorary Family of the Year.
This new award, established by the FHSU Alumni Association, will recognize a multi-generational family with strong ties to the university. Applications, which require an essay of no more than 1,000 words and a list of names and graduation years of the family members being considered for the award, are being accepted until Aug. 1.
“Families who share the tradition of being FHSU graduates enjoy a unique bond which continues to enrich their lives and the spirit of the university forever,” said DeBra Prideaux, director of alumni and governmental relations. “The Alumni Association is pleased to be able to honor those families who have demonstrated their loyalty and support of FHSU across multiple generations.”
The family chosen for the award will be recognized during the 2017 Homecoming festivities. On Saturday, Oct. 7, the family will serve as marshals for the Homecoming parade and will be honored on the field during the FHSU vs. Pittsburg State University football game that evening.
For additional details or to nominate a deserving family, those interested should visit www.goforthaysstate.com/familyoftheyear or contact the FHSU Alumni Association at 785-628-4430, toll free at 1-888-351-3591 or by email at [email protected].
Established in 1916, the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association serves FHSU graduates by identifying needs and providing solutions. More than 63,500 graduates live throughout the United States and in approximately 77 countries.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Alcides Escobar had two hits and two RBIs and Scott Alexander picked up his first major league victory as the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Sunday.
The Royals have won 15 of 21 games to move a game above .500 and into a tie with the Twins for second place in the American League Central.
Escobar went 7-for-16 with four extra-base hits, including a home run, with seven RBIs and scored four runs in the four-game series. He has raised his average 50 points since June 13 from .180 to .230, going 27-for-71, .380, in that 19-game span.
Travis Wood, who was making his first start since Sept. 19, 2015 while with the Chicago Cubs and 108 relief appearances, was pulled after 81 pitches and four-plus innings. Wood was removed in the fifth after facing three batters and retiring none. Brian Dozier and Robbie Grossman had RBI-singles in the inning.
Alexander (1-2) replaced Wood and induced Eduardo Escobar to ground into an inning ending double play with the bases loaded.
Police on the scene of Sunday night shooting in Topeka-photo courtesy WIBW-TV
SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and searching for a suspect.
Just before 10:30 p.m. Sunday police responded to the 1200 Block of SW Lincoln in Topeka, according to a media release.
Upon arrival at the residence, officers found a man with multiple gunshot wounds on the porch of the home. EMS transported him to a local hospital. The circumstances of what led to the shooting are unclear, according to police.
The suspect is described as a black male with tan pants and a white shirt. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
Fort Hays State University has been named a Gold School of Distinction for programs offered online through its Virtual College. FHSU also received other rankings from various agencies as among the best and most affordable online programs offered by U.S. colleges and universities.
Distance education at Fort Hays State began in 1911 when faculty voted to offer correspondence courses free so that one-room school teachers across western Kansas could afford to gain the education required to teach. The Correspondence Department was created and evolved continuously with changing technology and culture until, in 1997, the Department of Continuing Education and Instructional Technology became the FHSU Virtual College.
BestColleges.com
Gold School of Distinction Award
BestColleges.com placed FHSU on its list of 15 universities to receive the Gold School of Distinction award, which highlights colleges and universities that are leading the way in online education through a diverse offering of accessible and rigorous academic programs.
FHSU was chosen out of more than 3,500 colleges and universities nationwide.
“Our Schools of Distinction appear across our academic rankings, delivering a breadth of quality online programs,” said Stephanie Snider, general manager of BestColleges.com. “These colleges and universities are spending time, energy and resources developing online programs with respectable student outcomes and we want to celebrate that.”
AffordableColleges.com
No. 2, Affordable Online Business Management Degrees
Based on its program quality and affordability, FHSU’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in management (operations management) earned the No. 2 spot on AffordableColleges.com’s list.
The program requires 124 credit hours, including courses on production and operations management, applied management skills and labor relations.
“The Virtual BBA in management offers the same academic rigor as our on-campus program, with courses designed and taught by the same on-campus, full-time, faculty or off-campus faculty with expertise and experience in their specialized field,” says the FHSU website.
BestMastersDegrees.com
No. 2, Top 30 Affordable Online Master’s in Nursing Education Degrees 2017-2018
FHSU was named the No. 2 affordable online nursing program for students seeking a master’s degree in nursing education.
The program requires 36 credit-hours, including courses on statistics for health professionals, developing nursing theories, informatics in health care systems and research in nursing.
The program is accredited by the Committee on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Hays Academy of Hair Design in Kansas has announce a Hays Academy student and an instructor have advanced to the final round of the prestigious Wella Professionals North American TrendVision Awards, to be held in Los Angeles on July 23.
Instructor Ashley Paulson of the Salina Campus will represent Hays Academy in the USA Creative Vision category, while Haley Vondracek of the Hays Campus is competing in the USA Student category. In addition, instructor Dana Simoneau placed first in the Chicago Regional, winning an all-expenses paid trip to watch Ashley and Haley compete in the finals.
About NATVA
The TrendVision Award competition is globally recognized as a true platform for creativity, casting a spotlight on the most masterful professionals and students in the industry. The Color Vision category focuses on color work, while the Creative Vision category focuses on cut and style. The Student category encompasses both. Grand prizes include participation in a global event, a magazine photo shoot, and a spot on a New York Fashion Week Team.
About Hays Academy
Hays Academy of Hair Design in Kansas offers cosmetology and nail technician courses to prepare students for a successful career in the beauty industry. The school also offers salon services including hair services, nail treatments, facials, and waxing services.
Hays Academy has two campuses in Kansas:
Hays Academy – Hays Campus
1214 E 27th St, Hays, KS 67601
(785) 628-6624
Hays Academy – Salina Campus
115 S 5th St, Salina, KS 67401
(785) 833-2280
NEW YORK (AP) – Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa and Nolan Arenado were among 12 first-time starters elected Sunday for the All-Star Game at Miami on July 11, the most since voting was returned to fans in 1970.
Just one player was picked from the World Series champion Cubs: reliever Wade Davis, who wasn’t even with Chicago when it ended a 108-year title drought last fall. The Cubs had seven All-Stars last season.
Two of the first-time starters are from the Houston Astros, who have the best record in the major leagues: shortstop Correa and outfielder George Springer. Second baseman Jose Altuve was elected to his third start.
Houston pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. were picked, as well, giving the Astros five All-Stars, tied for the most with the New York Yankees, Cleveland and Washington. Keuchel is hurt and won’t pitch.
Kansas City had two selections headlined by catcher Salvador Perez who will start at catcher for the American League, marking his fifth selection. Pitcher Jason Vargas was named to his first ever All-Star team.
Legislators who are still probably planning how to get from one Independence Day parade to another in their districts ought to have a good time this week and possibly next, before the constituents they toss candy to along the parades notice that their paychecks have shrunk.
That happy waving is because it may be a week or so before the effect of the biggest tax increase in state history starts coming out of those voters’ paychecks through higher withholding to pay their higher taxes for the current and next tax year.
Nope, nobody really said much about that during debates in the House or Senate or the debate preceding lawmakers’ override of Gov. Sam Brownback’s veto of the tax bill.
That rejection of the governor’s economic development plan, which never seemed to work as he envisioned, saw 27 senators and 88 House members vote to enact the bill notwithstanding the governor’s veto.
While it was an “us vs. Brownback” vote for most legislators who are now home and among us, those folks along the parade routes on the 4th of July won’t have seen what happens to them with passage of the bill that will raise about $600 million a year in increased state revenues.
Don’t look for a float in those Independence Day parades for those LLC owners and other non-wage income earners. Nope, they’ll be saving up their money for the first state income tax bill they’ve paid in four years.
But also don’t look for a float for the rest of Kansans, who in the days after the parade are going to see their paychecks shrink as their tax rate increases trigger higher withholding from their paychecks. Not much, mind you. Maybe $5 or $10 or a little more depending on just what you earn. But, the check that we’ve gotten used to will be smaller by the end of the month when employers have tallied up the increased withholding necessary for you to make your tax payment without having to sell your car.
If there’s a benefit to that higher-withholding/smaller take-home-pay business, it is that the Department of Revenue has decided to make that change in withholding all at once. That means that the small increase in taxes on your income since Jan. 1—which is that “retroactive” tax increase business you heard lawmakers wail against during the session—will likely be covered by withholding for the remainder of this tax year.
So that stutter-step partial income tax rate increase for the rest of this year likely will be covered by withholding at the level that will be needed for Tax Year 2018, when the new, higher permanent-until-changed-again rates click in on Jan. 1, 2018.
Yes, the LLCs got their due, but two-thirds of the new revenue for the state is from everyone else. Not much talk about that, was there?
So, while you’re watching the parades, you might try to spot your Senate or House members marching. They’ll probably be the ones looking over their shoulder as they try to keep up with the band. Depending on the political leanings of your town, those legislators (and at least House members who will be seeking re-election next year) might decide to not lead the parade, but maybe march behind the motorcycle club by which time interest will be waning.
***
Very practically, the tax increase was needed, especially with a new school finance bill and its increased costs waiting for Supreme Court consideration this month. But, you just gotta wonder whether some Kansans, relieved that the Legislature is out of session and our lifestyles not jeopardized by a mere majority of a quorum, are going to be surprised what happens to their paychecks…
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com
ELLIS–After hearing the presentation of the 2016 city audit, the Ellis city council will then consider approving the Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan goals and objectives during their meeting tonight.
Other business for July 3 include an update of the 2018 waterline improvement project from Driggs Design Group.
The complete agenda follows.
AGENDA
July 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 June 19, 2017
b) Bills Ordinance #2024
c) Manual Journal Entries for February 2017
(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)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) Presentation of 2016 Audit Report – Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chtd.
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Planning Commission Comprehensive Plan Goals and Objectives
b) Update on 2018 Waterline Improvement Project – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Change Order on Street Improvement Project – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
b) Consider Sale of City Ground – Ellis Golf Club
c) Discuss Drainage at Ellis Golf Club
d) Consider Bids for City Hall Janitorial Services
e) Consider Resolution Renaming the Senior Advisory Committee
f) Consider Ordinance Amending Seatbelt Violation Regulations
g) Consider Purchase of Hydrochloric Acid for Swimming Pool
h) Consider Repair to City Hall Access Door
i) Consider Purchase of Pickup for Public Works Department
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Comparative Water Reports
(2) Comments from Facility Inspection Tour
(3) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Monthly Activity Report for June
(2) July Staff Calendar
(3) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Minutes from City Committees
(2) Financial Statements for February 2017
(3) Dates for Budget Work Sessions
(4) Department Update
