By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board approved a tentative agreement with the custodians’ union after a series of executive sessions Monday night.

The board included the following revisions to the Service Employees International Union contract:

• a 3 percent wage increase

• removal of language that requires the district to provide the state insurance plan

• adding language to the vacation and sick leave policy regarding leave start date and proration

• adding shift differentials

The agreement would be for one year, and the board requested the union respond by noon Thursday.

The district hopes to leave the state insurance plan that is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield in favor of Aetna. Blue Cross Blue Shield has increased the district’s premiums by $1.4 million during the last two years. District officials hope by leaving the state plan the district can garner more competitive insurance bids and have more flexibility in the future.

The state plan makes it difficult for districts to receive bids from outside insurers, because it does not provide claims histories.

The Aetna plan would provide equal benefits and cost employees less out of pocket.

SEIU and Hays NEA raised concerns about the quality of services under Aetna, access to providers and the seven-year waiting period the district would have to get back into the state plan.

However, the SEIU and Hays NEA sent a letter to the district on Aug. 28 that said the district could be subject to legal action if it changed its provider. The SEIU contract specifically requires the district to provide the state plan.

Esau Freeman of SEIU said in an email today he planned to meet with member of the custodians’ union tonight.

Representatives of the custodians have met with Gallagher Group, which was hired to review the district’s insurance plan.

Freeman said he would take that information to the custodians tonight.

Freeman said in the email the union members are willing to consider the removal of the state insurance provision from the contract.

WICHITA – A federal grand jury Tuesday returned an indictment against a man accused of false citizenship, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said in a news release.

Luis Arturo Melendez-Vargas, 36, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with two counts of making a false claim of U.S. citizenship, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of misusing a Social Security number. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in May and June 2017 in Ford and Sedgwick counties.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
False claim of U.S. citizenship: Up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Aggravated identity theft: A mandatory two years (consecutive) and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Misusing a Social Security number: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS:

Mario Ailon-Ailon, 33, a citizen of Guatemala, is charged in a superseding indictment with one count of unlawful re-entry after deportation, one count of misusing a Social Security number, one count of making a false written statement on a W-4 withholding form and one count of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in 2015 and 2017 in Ford County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Unlawful re-entry: Up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Misusing a Social Security number: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.
Making a false written statement to the government: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

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Jose Antonio Sandoval-Nava, 38, who is not a citizen of the United States, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person who is not legally in the United States. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 14, 2017, in Ford County, Kan.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Department of Homeland Security’s Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

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Blanca Maria Torres, 31, Garden City, Kan., is charged with three counts of passing counterfeit checks, two counts of theft of tax refunds obtained by fraud, two counts of misusing a Social Security number and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in July and August 2016 in Finney County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Passing counterfeit checks: Up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Theft of tax refunds: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Misusing a Social Security number: Up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
Aggravated identity theft: Mandatory two years (consecutive) and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

The U.S. Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

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Regina Marie Razo, 42, Garden City, Kan., and Ramon Rascon-Mendoza, 59, Garden City, Kan. are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In addition, Razo is charged with four counts of distributing methamphetamine; and Rascon-Mendoza is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person not legally in the United States. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in May, June and July 2017 in Finney County, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:
Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison and a fine up to $5 million on each count.
Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million.
Unlawful possession of a firearm: Up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000.

The Garden City Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

ROOKS COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Tuesday in Rooks County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Peterbilt semi driven by Jerald L. Davis, 54, Beaver City, NE., was traveling northwest on Kansas 18 Highway fourteen miles west of U.S. 183 behind a Kubota RTV driven by Robert L. McClellan, 88, Palco.

The Kubota attempted to make a left hand turn from the right lane.

The semi made an avoidance maneuver, entered the south ditch and over turned coming to rest on the driver side of the vehicle.

McClellan and Davis were transported to the hospital in Plainville. Davis was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

KJLS

HUTCHINSON – The Kansas Junior Livestock Show (KJLS), proudly sponsored by Cargill, will celebrate its 85th year by hosting 812 youth from 95 counties who have entered 2,033 animals. This is the largest number of youth entered in more than 20 years. The livestock total includes 130 market steers, 334 breeding heifers, 262 market hogs, 275 breeding gilts, 325 market lambs, 316 breeding ewes, 220 meat goats and 171 commercial doe kids. The statewide event will be held September 29 through October 1 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.

For the fourth consecutive year, Douglas County leads the state with the most exhibitors, 34, and the largest number of total livestock entries, 97. Youth from Douglas County also have entered the most market lambs, 20, and tied with Reno County for the most breeding ewes, 19. Reno County entered the most steers at 6. The largest number of heifers, 27, was entered by Pottawatomie County for the second consecutive year. Montgomery County youth have entered the most market hogs at 18, with Leavenworth County bringing the largest number of breeding gilts, 15. Labette and Miami counties tie for the most market goats at 11. Allen County competitors have entered the most commercial doe kids, 10.

KJLS will award cash for the top five in both market and breeding shows in all four species. Direct cash payouts will range from $4,000 to $500 for steers; $1,000 to $300 for heifers; $2,000 to $500 for market hogs; $750 to $250 for breeding gilts; $2,000 to $300 for market lambs; $500 to $50 for registered breeding ewes; $500 to $100 for commercial ewes; $2,000 to $400 for market goats; and $750 to $200 for commercial doe kids.

Saturday evening, KJLS will present scholarships to exhibitors who have excelled academically, in community service and in 4-H/FFA. This is the 25th year for the scholarship program, which has awarded a total of $411,000 to 306 exhibitors since 1993. Last year, a total of $20,500 was awarded to 12 exhibitors.

Separate from the selection of species champions, a showmanship contest will be held. The top showman in both junior and senior divisions of each species will receive a silver belt buckle. Prizes also will be awarded for second through fifth place in each division.
KJLS will again be offering the LEAD Challenge, which is an educational and advocacy event that provides an opportunity for exhibitors to learn about current industry issues and apply that information in a competitive environment. Exhibitors will be divided into three age divisions: junior, intermediate and senior. All will participate in the LEAD Listen & Learn, showmanship and skills stations. There are 35 juniors, 68 intermediates and 32 seniors entered in this year’s challenge.

The Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF) will sponsor a club calf show and sale during KJLS. Steer and heifer prospects from some of the top club calf producers in the Midwest will be consigned. The event will take place September 30. Sale commission proceeds will go toward KLF Youth in Agriculture scholarships.

The Mid-America Classic Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest will be held September 29 in conjunction with KJLS. This event, which has been held for more than 30 years, provides competitors the opportunity to sharpen their livestock evaluation skills, develop their critical thinking and decision-making abilities and refine their public speaking skills.

The Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas State University and the Agri-Business Council of Wichita serve as major show sponsors. In addition to Cargill, other sponsors include Merck Animal Health, Seaboard Foods, Ag Choice/MFA, Kansas Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services, Friends of KJLS, Range Master Trailers, Syngenta and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Hundreds of volunteers from across the state also help organize and put on the show.

Ellis County
Dickinson, Abigail Gorham Market Steer
Dickinson, Abigail Gorham Market Lamb
Dickinson, Abigail Gorham Market Lamb
Dickinson, Abigail Gorham Commercial Ewe
Dickinson, Abigail Gorham Beef Showmanship
Dickinson, Abigail Gorham Sheep Showmanship
Neher, Ella Pfeifer Meat Goat
Neher, Ella Pfeifer Commercial Doe
Neher, Ella Pfeifer Goat Showmanship
Neher, Kaleb Pfeifer Meat Goat
Neher, Kaleb Pfeifer Commercial Doe
Neher, Kaleb Pfeifer Goat Showmanship
Neher, Karli Pfeifer Meat Goat
Neher, Karli Pfeifer Commercial Doe
Neher, Karli Pfeifer Commercial Doe
Neher, Karli Pfeifer Goat Showmanship
Pfeifer, Konnor Ellis Commercial Gilt
Pfeifer, Konnor Ellis Swine Showmanship
Pfeifer, Kylee Ellis Commercial Gilt
Pfeifer, Kylee Ellis Swine Showmanship
Schmeidler, Grace Anne Hays Angus Heifer
Schmeidler, Jacob Hays Market Steer
Schmeidler, Jacob Hays Angus Heifer
Schmeidler, Jacob Hays Beef Showmanship