HHS DECA

The annual Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat canned food drive is set for Tuesday, October 10, 2017 in Hays. Volunteers will be going door to door collecting non-perishable food items from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Food items such as canned meats, canned vegetables, canned fruit, and boxed meals are much needed at this time.

To assure residents that the items collected are for the Community Assistance Center, all volunteers will be wearing an identification badge with “Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat” clearly printed. Please leave items on the porch if you will not be home or do not want someone ringing the doorbell. Youth and adult volunteers from Hays give of their time to make this food drive a success.

Any house missed or those living in a rural area may take food items to the Community Assistance Center in Hays located at 12th and Oak until noon October 31, 2017.

Hays High DECA still needs groups and organizations to assist with this year’s collection. Please contact advisor Shaina Prough at Hays High School, 785-623-2600, if you are interested in helping or need further information.

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Soroptimist is a global women’s organization whose members volunteer to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. Soroptimist of Hays is currently taking applications for the Live Your Dream Awards.

The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards assist women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. Live Your Dream Awards recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.

In addition to providing the primary financial support for their families, eligible applicants must be enrolled in, or have been accepted to, a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program and must demonstrate financial need.

The Live Your Dream Awards involves three levels of cash awards. The program begins at the local Soroptimist club-level, where award amounts vary. Local-level award recipients become eligible for region-level awards of either $3,000 or $5,000. Region-level award recipients then become eligible to receive one of three international-level awards of $10,000.

The application period is open now through November 15, 2017. Once you have completed your responses to the application questions and your references have returned the completed reference forms to you, you are ready to submit your application. Begin your application at https://www.soroptimist.org/awards/apply.html.

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In order to give back to its Texas neighbors after the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, Sunflower Bank, First National 1870 and Guardian Mortgage are collecting gift cards for ongoing relief donations at all bank branches and mortgage offices across its seven-state footprint.

The gift card collection is in partnership with the Houston Food Bank that will be distributing the cards to those in need in Southeast Texas. 

 “Hurricane Harvey has been devastating for our neighbors in Houston. We are using our network of locations to help collect donations to meet the needs of those affected,” said Mollie Hale Carter, CEO of Sunflower Bank and First National 1870. “People in our communities are looking for ways to make a difference and this is one small way we can connect people and give back, fostering the distribution of impactful donations.”

 Gift cards are being collected until Sept. 27 at all Sunflower Bank and First National 1870 branches throughout Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas.

Guardian Mortgage, a division of Sunflower Bank, N.A., will also be accepting donated cards at its locations in Arizona, Michigan, and Texas. Any denomination cards to national retail and food service chains will be accepted, though smaller denominations are encouraged.

Sunflower Bank has locations at 1010 E 27th St. and 4720 Roth Ave. in Hays.

 For more information, contact a local Sunflower Bank, First National 1870, or Guardian Mortgage location. To learn more about the Houston Food Bank, visit HoustonFoodBank.org.

 

 

COLBY — Hailing from the Black Hills of South Dakota, Grand Magic is a full-scale illusion show, which is “Vegas-quality entertainment yet entirely suitable for family audiences of all ages.” Grand Magic is the opening act of the 2017-2018 Western Plains Arts Association season. The curtain opens at 3 p.m., CDT, Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Colby Community College Cultural Arts Center. Admission is by WPAA season ticket or at the gate $20 adults or $10 students.

The Grand Magic show came into reality when Duane and Mary Laflin teamed up with Lou Johnson to create a magic show that would be “Vegas quality” yet entirely family-friendly. Duane Laflin is an internationally awarded magician. Assisted by his wife Mary, they have performed on five continents, in 18 countries and in 47 states.

In South Africa, Duane was honored as a guest instructor at the Siegfried & Roy College of Magic, in Singapore he was recognized as a Star of Magic, in Mexico City he received the Illusionist Award.  The prestigious Magic Circle, located in London, England, honored Duane with the highest status a performing magician can receive: a gold star member of The Inner Magic Circle.

The Laflins performed for three seasons at the Magic Beyond Belief Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., before moving on to establish the Grand Magic Theater in Custer, S.D.

The dean of the Society of American Magicians has named Mary Laflin on his top list of ten magician’s assistants.  Now her primary role is that of general manager of Grand Magic, but she does yet use her expertise to train assistants who presently work with Duane on stage.

Lou Johnson is the “behind the scenes” producer of the Grand Magic Show.  He is a dear friend, a terrific performer and one who has been crucial to helping the “Grand Magic Show” become a reality. Lou lives in Long Island, New York, where he maintains a busy performing schedule both as a magician and specialist in circus arts.

This show, while lasts nearly 90 minutes, is made possible by the generous support of businesses and individuals throughout northwest Kansas. Again this season, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kan., is a major partner in bringing WPAA performing arts to our area.

Kansas Court of Appeals to mark Constitution Day with session at Kansas State University

Office of Judicial Administration

TOPEKA — A three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals will hear six cases September 19 at Kansas State University in Manhattan as part of the court’s observance of Constitution Day.

The court will hear cases in two sessions beginning at 9 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. in Forum Hall of the KSU Student Union.

Judges Melissa Taylor Standridge, Stephen D. Hill, and Kim R. Schroeder comprise the panel. Standridge is the presiding judge for the hearings.

“Most months, panels of Court of Appeals judges will hear cases in Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City,” Standridge said. “Intermittently, Court of Appeals panels will visit other parts of the state, places like Manhattan, to make our court more accessible to the people of Kansas.”

During the panel’s sessions, attorneys for each side will have an opportunity to present arguments to the judges, and the judges will have a chance to ask questions. After the hearings, the court will take each case under consideration and will issue a written decision at a later date, usually within 60 days.

When the oral arguments are complete, the judges will be available to talk with students.

These hearings are part of Constitution Day observance activities this year at Kansas State University, Friends University, and Washburn University. Congress directed federally funded educational institutions to host educational events about the U.S. Constitution on or about September 17 each year. The Constitution was signed September 17, 1787, by a majority of delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

Following are summaries of the cases to be heard by the Court of Appeals panel in Manhattan:

9 a.m.

Appeal No. 115,716: State of Kansas v. Larry Laverne Toothman

Saline County: Toothman was charged with three counts of rape, one count of distribution of a prescription sedative, two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy, and two counts of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy against his stepdaughter. The court admitted evidence of Toothman’s prior convictions for aggravated criminal sodomy, criminal sodomy, rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and aggravated incest against his niece. The jury convicted Toothman as charged, and he was sentenced to 653 months in prison. Issues on appeal include whether 1) admitting the prior sex offenses violated Toothman’s constitutional due process protections; 2) if such evidence was constitutionally allowed, was its value outweighed by the prejudicial effect of the evidence; 3) the jury should have been instructed that the evidence of the previous convictions was not sufficient to prove commission of the charges presented; 4) the jury could consider the prior evidence with regard to every charge; and 5) the cumulative effect of these errors merits a new trial.

Appeal No. 115,193: State of Kansas v. Michael Darnell

Saline County: Darnell was convicted of aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual battery, and battery after attacking a woman in her home. Issues on appeal include whether 1) there was sufficient evidence in each of two scenarios presented to convict Darnell; 2) the court erred by admitting prior criminal evidence and failed to properly instruct the jury; 3) comments by the prosecutor amounted to reversible error; 4) the errors amounted to cumulative error; and 5) the court had authority to order Darnell to pay restitution to the county attorney’s office for costs.

Appeal No. 116,764: David Wasinger, d/b/a Allegiant Construction & Design v. Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina

Russell County: Wasinger was hired by St. Mary Queen of Angels Parish in Russell to design and construct a rectory. In the contract, the parties agreed that if any dispute could not be resolved, they would participate in binding mediation. A dispute arose, the parties proceeded to mediation, and the mediator issued a decision. Wasinger did not agree and sued for breach of contract and defamation. The district court ruled in favor of the diocese, finding the mediator’s decision was binding based on the contract. Issues on appeal include 1) whether the contract required binding mediation or arbitration; and 2) whether the contract involved interstate commerce.

1:30 p.m.

Appeal No. 115,937: State of Kansas v. Jason L. Jeardoe
Ottawa County: Jeardoe was convicted of two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence and one count of driving left of center in a 2014 head-on accident that killed two people. At the scene, a Highway Patrol trooper asked Jeardoe for consent to test his blood for alcohol, adding that if he refused, he could face a greater penalty than driving under the influence. Jeardoe agreed to the test. Before his trial began, the Kansas Supreme Court struck down the statute imposing the greater criminal penalties. Jeardoe sought to suppress the blood test results, but the court ruled the trooper was following the statute in effect at the time and denied the motion. He was found guilty as charged and was sentenced to 195 months in prison with a post-release supervision term of 36 months. Issues on appeal include whether 1) the court erred in denying Jeardoe’s motion; and 2) whether the evidence was sufficient to convict him.

Appeal No. 117,355: New Century Bank f/k/a/ National Family Bank of Munden, Kansas v. Clifford C. McMillan

Dickinson County: In 1998, National Family Bank of Munden — now New Century Bank — loaned nearly $50,000 to McMillan in exchange for a mortgage on two tracts of land in Geary County. McMillan failed to make payments, and in 2001 the bank obtained a judgment in Geary County for $49,272.66. McMillan sold one tract, and the bank purchased the other at a sheriff’s sale, leaving a debt of about $24,772. The bank then sued in Dickinson County for a judgment lien against property McMillan owned there. In 2010, the bank sought an order to sell that land. The sheriff was unable to personally serve McMillan with the order. The bank published notice of the sale and received acknowledgment from McMillan’s attorney that he received a copy of the sale order and that a copy also had been delivered to McMillan’s adult daughter at his Junction City address. The land was sold for $25,000. Afterward, the bank agreed to sell three acres back to McMillan in exchange for McMillan releasing his redemption rights. In 2016, McMillan filed a motion in Dickinson County to set aside the sheriff’s sale. The court denied the action, finding that “reasonable time” to seek relief had lapsed. Issues on appeal include whether 1) the sheriff’s sale was void because the bank’s case originated in Geary County; 2) the sale was void because McMillan had not been personally served the notice of sale; and 3) the court erred in ruling reasonable time had lapsed.

Appeal No. 117,176: Great American Insurance Co. v. Ross Wahl

Riley County: Wahl purchased crop insurance through Great American Insurance Co. as a “new producer” and was paid for losses in 2009 and 2011. In 2012, GAIC determined Wahl had been overpaid because he was not a new producer. Wahl suffered another crop failure in 2012, but GAIC withheld payment and demanded repayment of the overpaid balance. GAIC notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture about the alleged overpayment, and USDA deemed Wahl ineligible for its programs. GAIC sued Wahl in 2015 to collect the $2,217 it overpaid. Wahl countersued for the $10,818 payment GAIC had withheld. GAIC claimed Wahl’s counterclaim was invalid because Wahl failed to initiate arbitration as required by his crop insurance policy. The court found both parties were bound by the agreement and that GAIC waived its enforcement by suing Wahl. At trial, GAIC alleged Wahl was not a new producer because he held a substantial business interest in R.W. Farms, which produced crops in 2000 through 2003. Wahl presented evidence that showed he ceased holding stock in R.W. Farms in May 2002, which meant he later could be designated as a new producer. The court ruled Wahl was entitled to $10,818 and ordered GAIC to notify the USDA that Wahl should be restored to eligibility for USDA programs. Issues on appeal include whether the court erred by 1) applying state law instead of federal law; 2) allowing the suit to continue without first requiring arbitration; and 3) interpreting the crop insurance policy without consulting the Federal Crop Insurance Corp.

FHSU University Relations

Dr. Shokhrukh Sadikov combines contemporary experience, changing emotions and classical style to create his new album, “Stozel, Schumnann, Brahms.”

Sadikov, assistant professor of music and theatre at Fort Hays State University and music director of the Hays Symphony Orchestra, found inspiration for the album while living in North Rhine-Wesphalia, Germany.

“My dream of visiting the country and embracing everything it could offer me finally came true,” said Sadikov. “There was everything that a young artist needed for inspiration, except for the sun I was used to in Kansas and grew up with in Uzbekistan.”

A bit of homesickness is what prompted Sadikov to play the work of German-American composer Ingrid Stolzel.

“I explained how inspired I was to be in Germany yet was longing for everything I had in the U.S. My experience resonated with her and she mentioned having written a piece about it, ‘Here There.’ ”

Originally written for violin, Sadikov and Stozel transformed the work into a viola piece. Sadikov’s album is its world premiere recording.

The second section of the album showcases Robert Schumann’s “Marchenbilder Op. 113.” The composition was inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales.

“While listening to or performing these pieces, one can visualize the heroes of the tales and hear the name of Schumann’s wife, Clara, encrypted in each movement,” said Sadikov.

Sadikov concludes his album with Brahm’s “F Minor Sonata Op. 120, No. 1.” The work is from the composer’s late period, after he came out of retirement. “Brahms is so emotional, so intimate,” said Sadikov. “The music touches you so deeply when you are in tune with it.”

Sadikov performs for the album on a viola made by Gaetano Gadda di Montova in 1929. Aside from teaching at FHSU and leading the Hays Symphony Orchestra, Sadikov is the founder, CEO and music director of Navo Inc., an arts organization comprised of internationally recognized artists.

The album also features Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, director of collaborative piano at Park University’s International Center for Music. Lisovaskaya-Sayevich has performed with orchestras and in festivals across the globe. She has received extensive recognition, including awards at the Chopin International Piano Competition, the Iowa Piano International Competition and the Nikolai Rubinstein International Piano Competition.

“Stozel, Schumnann, Brahms” is available on all online music platforms. A hard copy of the CD will be on sale at the Hays Symphony Orchestra’s opening gala concert starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. Half of the proceeds will benefit the Hays Symphony Orchestra.