RUSH COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas teen on stolen property and other charges after a chase and crash Monday.

Just before 10p.m. police attempted to stop a vehicle in the City of Great Bend. The vehicle driven by Ryan Hardey, 18, Newton, fled from the police officer at which time the city terminated their pursuit. The vehicle proceeded westbound on W. Barton County Rd. into a rural area of the county. Sheriff’s deputies were in the 1100 block of Southwest 20 Road when they located a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect vehicle. D

eputies attempted to stop the vehicle at which time it fled. Sheriff’s Officers pursued the vehicle for approximately 20 minutes. The driver entered into Rush County, at which point the driver lost control near the intersection of County Road 350 and Avenue X.  The vehicle slid into the South ditch and was unable to move. Three occupants then fled from the vehicle. It was at this point the vehicle was confirmed stolen from Marion County Kansas.

Sheriff’s officers from Barton, Pawnee and Rush Counties searched the area and located the driver as well as one  passenger Adam Alvin Isiaha Trostle, 18, Wichita. He was transported to Great Bend Regional Hospital.

Just after 9am. Tuesday, deputies located a second passenger Ryan D. Spence, 18, Hutchinson.  Both passengers were wanted as runaways from juvenile facilities in Wichita.

Deputies transported Ryan Hardey to the Barton County Jail. He was booked on charges of possession of stolen property, attempt to flee and elude, reckless driving, child endangerment as well as numerous traffic violations.

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RUSH COUNTY —Authorities continue the search for a Kansas teen involved in a Monday night crash during a law enforcement chase in Rush County.

Just after 10p.m. law enforcement began a chase in Great Bend on a stolen 2001 Buick Lesabre driven by Ryan Alexander Hardey, 18, Newton, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

In addition to the stolen vehicle, two runaway juveniles were believed to be in the car, according to Bellendir.

The Kansas Highway  Patrol reported the chase continued from Great Bend and then westbound on Road X eight miles southeast of Timken.

The driver lost control on the sandy gravel road, slid into the south ditch and struck a utility pole. Three subjects fled from the vehicle on foot after the vehicle came to rest facing northwest.

A passenger Adam Alvin Isiaha Trostle, 18, Wichita, was transported to Great Bend Regional Hospital.

Hardey was not injured. Authorities arrested him, according to Bellendir.

Law enforcement continue to search for another passenger Ryan D. Spence, 18, Hutchinson, according to the Rush County Sheriff’s Department.

The occupants of the vehicle were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

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RUSH COUNTY — A Kansas teen was injured in an accident during a chase by law enforcement just after 10p.m. Monday in Rush County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Buick Lesabre driven by Ryan Alexander Hardey, 18, Newton, was fleeing from authorities in Great Bend and westbound on Road X eight miles southeast of Timken.

The driver lost control on the sandy gravel road, slid into the south ditch and struck a utility pole. Three subjects fled from the vehicle on foot after the vehicle came to rest facing north west.

A passenger Adam Alvin Isiaha Trostle, 18, Wichita, was transported to Great Bend Regional Hospital.

Hardey was not injured.

Law enforcement continue to search for another passenger Ryan D. Spence, 18, Hutchinson.

They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP. Authorities did not release details on what prompted the chase.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board made a decision Monday night on what insurance plan to offer teachers.

The district voted Sept. 15 to drop the state insurance plan that is administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield in favor of an Aetna plan.

The district decided to move away from the state plan after Blue Cross Blue Shield increased the district’s premiums by $1.4 million over two years.

The district was able to provide a plan with equal benefits to the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan  with less out-of-pocket expenses to plan participants. Retirees will pay much less next year.

“If they really do study it, they can save,” Superintendent John Thissen said. “There really can  be a year-to-year process where they can make some good decisions that can save them money.”

The district will offer four plans through Aetna — one, two, three and four, with plan one intended for people with those with greatest medical expenses and plan four for those who are healthier.

The board voted to offer the plan two-single as the one fully covered by the district.

The district and the teachers union have agreed on all other aspects of the teachers’ contract, but reopened the negotiations on health insurance when the decision was made to move to Aetna.

The teachers’ and custodians’ unions sent a letter to the district earlier in negotiations saying the district would be legally liable if it changed providers.

Superintendent John Thissen said negotiations lead to improvements in the plan offerings, including better drug benefits without additional costs, the ability to use Quest Diagnostics for lab tests and inclusion of High Plains Mental Health as a provider.

Thissen said Aetna made the adjustments without protest. If the district would have stayed with the state plan, they would not have had this flexibility.

The teachers’ union had wanted plan one to be provided by the district.

Kathy Rome, representative of the teachers’ union, issued the following statement via email Tuesday morning, “The USD 489 Board of Education made the unilateral decision to offer these health insurance benefits without an agreement with the teachers. The teachers’ bargaining team had shared several concerns that had been discussed but were not addressed in a satisfactory manner. The board promoted this change stating several times that the coverage would be as good as or better than the previous insurance plan benefits. The plan the board is offering will raise the deductible from $1,000 to $3,500 resulting in a much higher up front cost for the employees.”

The new plan will also have revisions to the wellness plan. Instead of being points based, plan participants will have to submit proof of annual doctor’s visit or biometrics exam and a form indicating their smoking status. Spouses will not have to participate in the wellness program.

The district hopes to combine the teachers’ and students’ wellness committees.

An insurance committee to look at future benefits plans will also be created per the teachers’ and custodians’ contract agreements.

Thissen said the district needs to move quickly to complete insurance enrollment. Education sessions and enrollment will likely be completed before the end of the month.

In other business: the board:

• Heard a report on vehicle purchases. The board will vote on the purchases at its next meeting.

• Heard a report and received training from Donna Hudson-Hamilton, director of Early Childhood Connection, on the ECC program.

• Heard an update on board goals.

• Heard an update on presentations Thissen and other staff have been giving on the proposed $78.5 million bond issue. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 17. The general election is Nov. 7.

Story updated 9:22 a.m. Oct. 10 with comments from Hays NEA.

By MIRIAM BUCKLEY
Luray

LURAY – On Sat., October 21st, the small town of Luray will host their now annual Luray Craftique.

This year, they are expecting more than 170 vendors to attend. In addition to the normal arts and craft vendors, the Luray Craftique has also had the incredible fortune to be able to partner with the Vesper Vintage event. The Vesper event experienced a loss of venue for their antique market, and instead of closing, they are just moving over to the city of Luray for that day.

The Luray Craftique is one of the largest craft fairs in the state of Kansas, and possibly the largest mostly indoor market. The town and citizens of Luray has offered up many of their vacant buildings and lots for use at the Craftique, thus giving the vendors over 100 indoor spaces to choose from and tons of outdoor space. The event will be in more than six buildings throughout town, all within walking distance of Main Street Luray.

The Craftique is a non-profit event, where shoppers can come and shop with the entrance fee of a canned good. All proceeds from the event benefit the Luray Food Pantry and the Luray Senior Center.

Luray is a small community located about 1 hour from both Hays and Salina, and about 25 miles north of Russell. If you would like more information about how you could be a vendor/guest at the Luray Craftique, please email the event hosts at [email protected].

By C.D. DESALVO
Hays Post

The Global Leadership Project and Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority of Fort Hays State University will be hosting the sixth annual SWIPE Out Hunger event at FHSU. The event will be held in Forsyth Library beginning at noon Saturday. This year, the 30,000 meals packaged will be sent to Puerto Rico, allowing students to directly help those affected by natural disaster.

Reilly Franek, coordinator of the event for the Global Leadership Project, has been involved with SWIPE Out Hunger for three years and knows the challenges that come with coordinating the project.

“I have been involved for two years as the coordinator of the event but I participated one year before that,” Franek said. “The main challenges are finding the funding source, working with Numana and finding volunteers. We are really fortunate in that this year we were allocated money through the Student Government Association to cover the cost of this event.”

Numana is a nonprofit public charity based in El Dorado that has packaged over 37 million meals across the United States since 2009.

“Numana brings in a big truck with all the things we could possibly need to package these meals,” Franek said. “As a volunteer, you join a team and that team will package all the meals, box them up and put them back on the truck and send them on their way.”

At the event, over 100 volunteers from FHSU and the community will assemble complete meal packets that will be sent abroad. This event is a fun way to make a difference and is free and open to all.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Global Leadership Project at [email protected].

HPL

The Friends of the Hays Public Library will host its autumn book sale Oct. 12 to15 in the Schmidt Gallery.

The book sale kicks off Thursday at 5 PM with a “members only” preview sale. Friends of the Library members will have the opportunity to shop the sale early, including half off all items in the Friends of the Library Book Store. Memberships are $5 and will be sold at the door.

The regular sale is open to the public on Friday and Saturday from 10 AM until 4 PM. On Sunday, the sale will run from 1 PM to 4 PM. Books will be $4 per bag, and the Friends provide the bags.

Along with books, several craft vendors will be selling their wares.

For more information on this and other events, visit hayspublib.org or call 785.625.9014.