KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Jason Vargas tied for the major league lead with his 18th victory, lifting the Kansas City Royals over the struggling Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Vargas (18-10) went six innings to match Cleveland’s Corey Kluber and the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw for most wins in the majors. He gave up a run and five hits, inducing groundball double plays in the second, fourth and fifth innings.
In his first two starts against Detroit, Vargas was 0-2 while allowing 13 runs, including four home runs, in 4 2/3 innings. Vargas had Tommy John surgery in 2015 and only made three starts last year, but he’s now the first Royals pitcher to win 18 games since Kevin Appier in 1993.
The Tigers have lost eight straight and dropped to 4-21 in September. Anibal Sanchez (3-6) allowed two runs in six innings.
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball gave fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers all they could handle Tuesday evening (Sept. 26) inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, but the visitors bounced back from a second-set defeat to take the match, 3-1 (19-25, 25-23, 15-25, 18-25). The Tigers fall to 8-9 overall and 0-3 in the MIAA, while the Lopers are now 13-1 this season and 3-0 in league play.
Interim head coach Brandi Fairbank
The Tigers hit .124 in the match, better than UNK’s opponent average of .111 for the season. The perennial powers countered with a .230 attack percentage, including three sets with swing rates better than .260. Fort Hays State picked up two more blocks than UNK, 10-8, but the Lopers had a strong edge in digs, picking up a season-high 92 compared to 79 for the home team.
Tatum Bartels had a strong night for the Tigers, totaling nine kills and six blocks while making just two errors to compile a .292 attack percentage. Logan Wallick picked up a team-high 11 kills after playing just three sets, swinging at a .182 clip. Kylie Rollman also reached double-figures in kills, chipping in 10 kills and six blocks. Libero Taylor White totaled a team-best 23 digs while adding the lone service ace in the match for either team. Amiriah Bentley tossed up 38 assists, also adding nine digs, three kills and one block.
UNK’s Tara Ziegelbein picked up a match-high 17 kills and a .469 attack percentage while chipping in four blocks on defense. Lindsey Smith tossed up 52 assists for the Lopers, adding four kills, seven digs and two blocks.
Fort Hays State kept things close to open the first set, never trailing by more than two until UNK went on a 5-1 run to stretch the advantage to 14-10. A kill from Magan Alexander triggered a three-point run for the Tigers, culminated by White’s service ace to narrow the gap to 14-13. UNK proceeded to score the next six points, taking a commanding seven-point lead. The Tigers were unable to get any closer than five points for the remainder of the set, ultimately dropping the frame 25-19.
The Lopers jumped out to an early lead in the second frame, quickly leading 6-3. Multiple kills from Sydney Dixon and a block from Dixon and Bartels helped the Tigers respond with a 5-2 run, tying things up at eight. Another big block from Bartels and Rollman put FHSU in front 12-10 later in the set, prompting a UNK timeout. After the Tigers stretched the lead to 15-12, the visitors put together a four-point run to take back the lead, 16-15. Trailing 18-16 three points later, the Tigers muscled together three-straight points to regain the advantage, 19-18. Callie Christensen dropped in one of her five kills on the night before Bartels and Bentley combined on a block to tie things up. The Lopers bounced back to take four of the next six rallies, retaking the lead 22-21. A UNK service error tied things up at 22 and opened the door for the Tigers, who took full advantage after a block from Wallick and Christensen put FHSU in front 23-22. A Loper attack sailed wide to help FHSU reach set point before Rollman and Christensen teamed up for the set-winning block two serves later, tying the match at one.
Nebraska-Kearney proved why it is one of the top teams in the country coming out of the locker room, totaling just eight errors in the final two sets and swinging at a .264 clip after intermission. The Lopers scored the first six points in both the third and fourth sets, putting all the pressure on the Tigers. FHSU was unable to respond in the third set, falling 25-15, but managed to bounce back in the fourth set and take the lead.
After the visitors went up 6-0 to open the fourth, Fort Hays State responded with a 9-3 run to tie things up at nine. The Tigers later took a momentary lead after scoring three-straight points, giving them a 12-11 advantage. Nebraska-Kearney regained the momentum after that three-point spurt, scoring 11 of the final 14 points to secure the win, 25-18.
The Tigers head back out on the road this weekend, first traveling to Edmond, Okla. for a date with ninth-ranked Central Oklahoma Friday (Sept. 29) at 6 p.m. FHSU will wrap up the quick road trip with a Saturday (Sept. 30) evening contest at Pittsburg State, with first serve also set for 6 p.m.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. North wind 3 to 6 mph.
Friday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast around 6 mph in the morning.
Friday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.
SaturdayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Breezy.
Saturday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
TOPEKA — The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating an incident allegedly involving a trooper and asking the public to help with information.
On social media, the KHP reported they had been made aware of a recent incident at a local restaurant possibly involving a KHP officer asking a breastfeeding mother to go to the restroom to feed her child.
At this time, the Kansas Highway Patrol is working to gather information on the incident, and to determine when and where it occurred.
We would like to ask the mom who this involved to please contact us by calling 785-296-6800 or private message us on Facebook so we can get more details. We would appreciate hearing from you.
SHAWNEE COUNTY – Authorities are investigating an alleged arson fire at a home in Kansas.
Just before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, fire crews responded to a fire at a home at 1507 NW Eugene Street in Topeka. Fire crews found the single story wood frame residential structure with heavy smoke and fire coming from the rear.
Firefighters began an offensive fire attack, keeping it confined to the structure of fire origin. A search of the structure was performed and no occupants were located.
A Topeka Fire Department Investigation’s Unit responded to this incident and determined the fire was intentionally set.
Estimated dollar loss was Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars.
Hudson -photo Jackson Co.McClane -photo Jackson Co.
JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made an arrest.
Just after 3a.m. Monday, sheriff’s deputies were able to follow two men allegedly involved in a burglary to a vehicle in the city of Hoyt. Just outside of Mayetta deputies arrested John Bradley Hudson 42, and Jason Michael McClane, 43, both of Hoyt were for burglary and felony theft from the vehicle.
In addition, both men were charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Deputies impounded a passenger car and a semi-tractor that were believed to be involved in the incident. Bond on both men was set at $7,500.00. Hudson has previous conviction for drugs and forgery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Thirsty Coconut Director of Sales and Marketing Paula Proud and President Luke Einsel hold stainless steel parts made by KCI to secure drink machines.
KDOC
TOPEKA – Offenders are helping a Kansas business develop by taking advantage of a federal certification that allows inmates to work with private enterprises through Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI).
Thirsty Coconut, a family-owned producer of healthy drinks based in Louisburg, needed assistance with their beverage dispensing machines, and had nowhere in Kansas to turn to for help, until they found KCI.
KCI, a subsidiary of the Kansas Department of Corrections, teaches offenders new skills, and allows them to earn wages in preparation for life outside of a correctional facility. One valuable component of KCI is the Private Industry Program. The program involves partnerships between the KDOC/KCI and private business for prison based and non-prison based operations. KCI ensures that new private industry programs do not negatively impact workers employed by interested private companies or available workers in the locality of the host correctional facility.
A new federal certification of KCI shops has expanded its ability to assist Kansas businesses.
Since the establishment of the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) as created by Congress in 1979, Kansas has been involved with the “employer model” by working in partnership with privately operated companies. KCI factories have served State Agencies since 1958, but recently some KCI shops, like the metal shop, have been certified through a Federal Program Prison Industries Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP) for “customer based” work allowing KCI to assist Kansas businesses with the manufacturing of products. KCI recently certified not only the metal factory, but the furniture factory, textiles factory and the dental lab have completed the process as well.
Because of the certification, fabrication of a new product by KCI is helping a new Kansas business develop.
Luke Einsel, President of Thirsty Coconut, Inc., met representatives of KCI at a vendor fair, and found a partner who could create the stainless steel parts needed for their machines.
“The only place I could find that would do what I needed was in China,” said Einsel, “I was just about to sign a contract that would have sent this work to the other side of the world, when fortunately I found out KCI might be able to help.”
Brad Jurgensen, KCI Director of Operations, said the recent expansion in certification of some KCI shops has allowed them to take on new projects such as that of Thirsty Coconut.
“This way the offenders learn to work with several different customers, learn a broad range of skills and flexibility to work on different products,” Jurgensen said.
Jurgensen said he noticed in recent years a shortage of metal fabricators and welders within the state of Kansas. He said KCI is always in need of projects for offenders to work on, and transitioning to customer-based service has opened up new opportunities. These work environments found within correctional facilities pay market wages to offenders who stay free of discipline issues and prove themselves reliable. Often the training they gain within KCI programs translates directly to employment opportunities upon release.
KCI recently produced the parts to satisfy Thirsty Coconut’s order – enough to secure 480 machines.
“It’s really good for our company that we can get these products made right here in Kansas,” said Einsel. “I’m really glad it turned into a win-win for us and the Department of Corrections.”
NORTON, Kan. – The TMP-Marian volleyball team picked up two more wins Tuesday night at the Norton triangular. The Monarchs swept the Bluejays (25-7, 25-8) then knocked off previously unbeaten and state ranked Plainville in three sets (25-16, 14-25, 25-11).
Kayla Vitztum had 34 kills and Savannah Yost led the way with 15 digs.
GREAT BEND, Kan. – The TMP-Marian girls’ golf team finished second at the Hoisington Invitational Tuesday held at the Lake Barton Golf Course. The Monarchs shot a 206 and finished 22 shots behind the host Cardinals.
Individually, Shannen Chin took first place with 41. Also getting medals for the Monarchs were Haleigh Spray who finished sixth with a 50, Avin Inlow was eighth with a 56 and Jenna Romme ninth with a 59. Rounding out the scores were Aubrey Koenigsman 70 and Michaela Dreher 74.
Next tourney for TMP is Thursday September 28 at Clay Center.
TEAM
1. Hoisington 184
2. TMP-Marian 206
3. Larned 258
4. Hays JV 262
5. Great Bend JV 291
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A man who used Facebook to try and lure girls into prostitution has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison.
Sedgwick County authorities say Jesse Duckens was arrested after a 16-year-old girl’s mother went to police when she found Facebook messages from Duckens telling her daughter how she could make money through prostitution and asking the girl for nude photos.
A detective with the Exploited and Missing Child Unit pretended to be the girl and set up a meeting with Duckens, who was arrested when he arrived at the meeting spot.
Court records show the detectives found posts advertising the girl as an escort on Daddyslist.com and Backpage.com.
Duckens pleaded guilty in July to commercial sexual exploitation of a child. He was sentenced on Friday. He has a previous conviction for robbery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
HAYS, Kan.-Ethan Nunnery and Trey McCrae both had hat tricks as the Hays High Indian soccer team picked up their fourth win in a row with a convincing 9-1 victory over Junction City on Tuesday. Nunnery scored two of his three goals in the first half while McCrae scored two of his three in the second half. Zach Wagner also chipped in two and Dennis Hordijk scored his first goal of the season.
Hays High improves to 8-3 on the season and will host Liberal on Thursday.
SALINE COUNTY —A Kansas man recently evicted was arrested Sunday for allegedly attempting to burn down the rental property while his dog was still inside.
At 11:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a possible burglary at a residence in the 1400 Block of Arapahoe in Salina, according to Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester. Officers arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the residence.
Fire crews were dispatched and began clearing the building. They made contact with 41-year-old Billy Dean Martin who took refuge in a room, holding the door shut so firefighters could not get in.
Martin told them that he started the fire because he wanted to kill himself and burn the place down, according to Forrester.
The firefighters forced their way into the room and removed Martin and his dog.
Capt. Forrester said that Martin had put paper on the stove to start the fire. It caused about $5,200 in damage before fire crews extinguished it.
Martin had been evicted from the residence on Sept. 16 and was supposed to remove his belongs by Sept. 20.
Police arrested Martin for felony aggravated arson, burglary, animal cruelty, possession of marijuana and interference with fire crews.
WACO, Texas (AP) — The husband and wife team behind HGTV remodeling show “Fixer Upper” (Eagle Cable TV 51 or 651 in HD) have announced that the popular series will end after its upcoming fifth season.
In a blog post Tuesday announcing the decision, Joanna and Chip Gaines write that they need to catch their breath for a moment.
The couple says their family is healthy and their marriage “has honestly never been stronger.” They say they plan “to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
Launched in 2013, “Fixer Upper” follows the couple as they redo houses near their Waco home. Its final season premieres in November.
