USD 489
Children at Early Childhood Connections filled their rock garden outside of the school’s main entrance at the end of the first semester.
Students participated in the project by decorating a rock to be included in the rock garden.
Month: January 2018
Chief justice to give State of Kansas Judiciary address Jan. 17
KJC
TOPEKA—Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawton Nuss will deliver his 2018 State of the Kansas Judiciary address to a joint session of the Legislature at 3 p.m. Wednesday, January 17, in the House chamber of the Statehouse.
Nuss will update members of the House and Senate — as well as the public — on the current state of Kansas’ court system and its role providing important services to individuals and businesses in communities statewide.
Kansans who want to listen to the address may access a live audio stream on the Kansas Legislature website at http://kslegislature.org/li/. The link to the live audio stream is through the Audio/Video heading at the top of the Kansas Legislature home page. Listeners need to select House Proceedings Audio Stream to listen to live audio.
The written version of the 2018 State of the Kansas Judiciary address will be available after January 17 on the Kansas judicial branch website at www.kscourts.org under What’s New.
Kansas courts – including district courts in all 105 counties, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court – provide the people of Kansas a venue to resolve disputes through a legal process by interpreting and applying the law and by determining when laws are unconstitutional. Under the people’s Constitution, the Kansas Supreme Court has general administrative authority over all courts in the state.
Ellis High and Junior High School honor rolls
Ellis Junior High
2017-18
Semester 1 honor roll
Seventh graders all A’s
Harlie Bittel
Emily Eck
Kayla Julian
Trinity Kohlrus
Myah McCoy
Dakota Metzler
Madi Russell
Hannah Schiel
Quinton Shepard
Seventh grade As and Bs
Rylan Cass
Haley Cranwell
Liam Crawford
Rex Johnson
Makenna Kohl
Jarret Mader
Anna Moore
Carson North
Natalie Schumacher
Eighth grade all As
Elliott Cox
George Crawford
Lakyn Fischer
Sam Honas
Eighth grade As and Bs
Easton Burton
Daniel Crawford
Maja Crawford
Mali Crawford
Journey Eck
Emma Gilbert
Madison Gottschalk
Michelle Gottschalk
Maddy Guffey
Tyson Jimenez
Nathan Johnson
DJ Kinderknecht
Tanner Kohlrus
Haley Schmidt
Ellis High School Honor Roll
2017-18
Semester 1 honor roll
Senior all A
Abby Burton
Julia Cox
Emily Cranwell
Samantha Crawford
Joseph Eck
Kaylyn Foster
Aiden Johnson
McKenzy Jones
Jaylinn Pfeifer
Haley Reiter
Natalie Schoenberger
Dawson Sproul
Shelby Werth
Senior A-B
Blakely Bittel
Kelsey Brack
Taylor Honas
Drew Keller
Lane Kohl
Kinley Kuppetz
Sierra Schmidt
Geoffrey Soneson
Ali Weber
Brendon Zweifel
Junior all A
Kaden Armbruster
Megan Cranwell
Lane Fischer
Cameryn Kinderknecht
Logan Shaw
Cassie Waldschmidt
Junior A-B
Dylan Brown
Zachary Cox
John Groff
Holden Lyman
August Sinclair
Tara Woodworth
Sophomore all As
Clara Crawford
Zachary Eck
Sophomore As and Bs
Logan Armbrister
Lauryn Becker
Grace Beisner
Trinity Bollig
Cheyenne Born
Landis Fischer
John Gamez
Keaton Keller
Abigail Mattheyer
Breonna North
Logan North
Peyton Reese
Rylee Werth
Freshmen all As
Veronica Bieker
Isabella Bollig
Ashlynn Burgess
Grace Eck
Camryn Frickey
Lyndsy Hinman
Maggie James
Elena Johnson
Michaela Keller
Trace Patee
Samuel Pyle
Zach Schiel
Freshmen As and Bs
Matthew Bieker
Morgan Bittel
Tegan Cain
Donovan Colby
Daniel Eck
Caitlin Fisher
Brady Frickey
Austyn Jones
Brooklyn Julian
Maci Kohl
Colten Lewis
Austin McGuire
Clay North
Kaelyn Rohr
Clay Shaw
Jaryn Wildeman
Toby Woodworth
🎥 Sen. Moran highlights importance of trade, Farm Bill after AFBF convention
OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN
WASHINGTON – After speaking at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual convention in Nashville, Tenn. recently, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate floor last week in support of protecting trade and sending bipartisan disaster relief and farm bill legislation to the president’s desk.
“I appreciated the opportunity to hear from Farm Bureau members about what they hope to see in an upcoming farm bill, as well as to convey my priorities,” said Sen. Moran.
“When we talk about a farm bill, we must highlight that there are important components of the legislation – in addition to farm policy and crop insurance – that we must not forget, including rural development, conservation and global food aid, all of which must be prioritized in any reauthorization measures. Farmers and ranchers from across the country expressed their desire for Congress to work together in a bipartisan fashion to get a disaster relief bill, followed by a farm bill, to the president’s desk for signature, and I remain committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver on this request.”
“In addition to the farm bill, so much of what I heard about at the convention revolved around trade,” continued Sen. Moran. “The reality is many of our farmers and ranchers earn their living by feeding a hungry world. Exports matter to us, and farmers and ranchers conveyed their concerns to me about the potential of a NAFTA withdrawal. We must remember all of the jobs related and important to agriculture.
“In 2016, Kansas exported more than $4.5 billion worth of agricultural products, supporting more than 36,000 jobs and generating more than $5.7 billion in economic activity. These jobs are imperative to the economic success of our state. I will continue to insist that the administration keep trade a top priority and will continue to discuss the importance of trade to the ag economy with my colleagues.”
FHSU Virtual College receives four No. 1 rankings in December
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Programs offered through the Fort Hays State University Virtual College received four No. 1 recognitions in December 2017 among 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 created then evolved continuously with changing technology and culture until, in 1997, the Department of Continuing Education and Instructional Technology became the FHSU Virtual College.
Accounting-Degree.org
No. 1, Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Accounting Degrees 2018
Affordability and accreditation earned FHSU’s Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting earned the No. 1 spot on Accounting-Degree’s list of the most affordable online accounting degrees in the nation.
The 124-credit-hour program includes courses such as managerial finance, production and operations management, marketing principles, income tax procedures, ethics for accountants, risk management and commercial law.
“This program prepares students for a successful career path in accounting related fields in both the public and private sectors,” said Accounting-Degree.com. “Graduates of this program will walk away the credentials and experience to forge a path in the accounting industry in an entry level position.”
To view this ranking, visit http://bit.ly/2CTK5fA.
AffordableColleges.com
No. 1, 50 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Management
Based on its program quality and affordability, FHSU’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in management earned the No. 1 spot on AffordableColleges’ list.
The program requires 124 credit hours, including 18 credit hours of management core classes and 18 credit hours of management electives.
“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,” said the FHSU website.
To view this ranking, visit http://bit.ly/2CF8Yy3.
CollegeValuesOnline.com
No. 1, Master’s in History Online: Top 10 Values 2018
CollegeValuesOnline.com praised FHSU’s Master of Arts in history (non-thesis) for its affordability, research opportunities and faculty-to-student ratio.
The program prepares students for work in academia, government, private corporations, law and media. It consists of 30 to 33 credit hours including two research seminars, seven elective courses, and a course in historiography.
“FHSU’s high-quality master’s program in history will expose you to the breadth of American, European and World History,” said the FHSU website. “You’ll acquire keen research, writing and editing skills while pursuing your historical area of interest.”
To view this ranking, visit http://bit.ly/2lWvhWp.
GradLime.com
No. 1, Top 10 Online Bachelor in Human Resource Management Degrees
FHSU’s Bachelor of Business Administration in management also received recognition for its concentration in human resources. GradLime praised the program for the foundation that it provides students in marketing, communications, accounting and general business operations.
The 127-credit-hour degree offers the same academic rigor as FHSU’s on-campus program, with courses designed and taught by the same full-time on-campus faculty or off-campus faculty with expertise and experience in their specialized fields.
To view this ranking, visit http://bit.ly/2F61tPd.
GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com
No. 2, Top 20 Affordable Web Development Online Degree Programs 2018
FHSU’s Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in Web development studies was named the No. 2 Web development program in the nation by GraphicDesignDegreeHub.
The program consists of 120 credit hours, 21 of which come from concentration courses including interactive systems design, Web scripting languages, advanced Web development and introduction to Web-enabled databases.
To view this ranking, visit http://bit.ly/2CZ3FHF.
GreatValueColleges.net
No. 5, Top 20 Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degrees 2018
FHSU was ranked fifth on GreatValueColleges’ list of the most affordable online colleges offering bachelor’s degrees based on its affordability, accessibility and wide variety of degree options.
Students in the FHSU Virtual College can choose between 29 bachelor’s degree options, including accounting, elementary education, general studies, health studies, information networking and telecommunications, international business and economics, sociology and nursing.
To view this ranking, visit http://bit.ly/2Aroubx.
FHSU Science Cafe Jan. 16
‘Cowboys and Soiled Doves’ at Trego Co. Historical Society
By Dena Weigel Bell
WaKeeney Travel Blog
Old West lore is filled with wild and tragic stories of tough men and women looking for their version of the American Dream on the Western frontier. Their journeys often led them to saloons and bawdy houses populating the cowtowns that popped up on the unsettled prairie.
In celebration of Kansas Day, the Trego County Historical Society welcomes Marla Matkin, an independent scholar and living history performer, to entertain us with their stories in a living history presentation called “Cowboys and Soiled Doves.
Matkin’s love for history developed at an early age and she has spent her life studying the complex lives of legendary Western heroes brought to life in books and on-screen. She now shares these stories through a character she’s created named Contessa, engaging audiences with a “first-hand” account of what life was really like in the boomtowns and upon the range of America’s empty interior. With a twinkle in her eye and tantalizing sense of humor, she describes a world where grit and determination won the day.
Matkin traces her roots back to southwest Kansas, where in 1877 her great-grandparents claimed a homestead near Dodge City, a town notorious for hosting legendary characters, such as Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid. Today, Matkin calls WaKeeney’s northern neighbor, Hill City, her home and for twenty years she has performed as Contessa throughout the Midwest and further, including at the Smithsonian, Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and several National Park Service sites.
Matlin’s program will be the highlight of the Historical Society’s annual Kansas Day program. During your visit, you can also explore the museum’s large collection of Western artifacts. Many of the pieces come from local families, providing guests of the museum deeper insight into the history of Trego County through the stories of its citizens, past and present.
Please join us at the Trego County Historical Society on Sunday, January 21 at 2 p.m. for their annual Kansas Day celebration featuring living history performer Marla Matkin’s presentation on “Cowboys and Soiled Doves.”
With Gamers Swatting, SWAT Expert Says Cops Rarely Receive Training
By STEPHAN BISAHA
The Wichita Police Department says the fatal police shooting that killed a man in late December started with a prank phone call, commonly referred to as swatting.
In swatting cases, callers utilize technology to make 911 calls appear local—also known as spoofing—and then report a false emergency at a victim’s home to get a strong police and SWAT team response, which is where the term gets its name. The harassment is often associated with the dark corners of online gaming.
Tyler Barriss, 25, is being charged with making the false alarm call and has been extradited to Kansas to face the charges. Andrew Finch, 28, was killed shortly after police arrived at his house. It’s believed the incident started with an online video game dispute, though Finch’s address was targeted by mistake.
Police in Wichita received no training in dealing with swatting, or prank 911 calls, prior to the fatal shooting. The same is true in many police departments across the country, says Thor Eells, the executive director of the National Tactical Officers Association and the former head of Colorado Springs’ SWAT team.
He spoke with KMUW’s Stephan Bisaha about swatting and what goes through the mind of an officer when he or she responds to a hostage situation. The full interview is above.
Stephan Bisaha: There have been talks about this phenomenon of swatting growing lately with more technology, such as spoofing, and with the online gaming community. Is this something you’re seeing?
Thor Eells: We did for a period. I would say roughly two to three years ago we had a dramatic increase in swatting incidents. There was a much higher sense of awareness regarding swatting. And then, for unknown reasons, it seemed to slow down. We didn’t have the frequency of the incidents, but we’re now starting to see a resurgence of it again, and the tragedy that occurred in Wichita has drawn greater attention to the problem.
Is there a sense why this is so prevalent among the online gaming community?
I don’t think we have a really good answer to that. I think the speculative answer is just the technology in that respective community allows for that to take place. … It’s not that gamers are more prone to do this, but those that are prone to do this have that technological savviness, if you will.
Beyond a tragic situation like we had in Wichita, what are the costs associated with a case like swatting?
Well, it varies. It’s not inexpensive—it’s certainly not cheap—when an agency responds to a potential hostage situation such as what was portrayed there in the Wichita incident. You’re going to have a significant patrol response, which are the normal officers that are out handling the day-to-day. You’ll have a significant number of them responding to the scene to initially contain it and start to stabilize it. And then subsequently there will be an activation of other specialized units, which could be K-9, crisis negotiations, a SWAT team and other assets that a supervisor believes are necessary to resolve the situation as peacefully as possible. And given that most teams in America—SWAT teams—are not full-time teams there is a lot of overtime involved, a lot of expense. So it’s not inexpensive by any means.
Besides the monetary costs and the man-hour costs, are there any other costs for how this affects law enforcement and the communities?
I think the most obvious fallout from a swatting incident is the difficulty that it presents to the community and law enforcement—in what do you take seriously and what do you not and how do you handle that? And if you continue to respond to too many incidents, it’s the “Chicken Little” or the “boy crying wolf” kind of problem. At some point, do people become somewhat immune or anesthetized to the problem and the dynamics that are involved?
Swatting is a very, very dangerous phenomenon. You know, it’s the latest technological advancement of a 911 hangup where you call in something to see lights and sirens, and there is a tragic accident involving a fire truck or an ambulance or a police car. The same potential for tragedy exists. It’s just accomplished through a different medium.
So this was happening before the technology in swatting became a big phenomenon, these false emergencies?
Yes. I mean false alarms have been in existence probably, you know, since phones were developed. If you pull a fire alarm, fire department is going to respond. If you call in a hostage situation, the police department is going to respond. I mean there is no alternative. It’s going to generate a response because the potential for lives being at risk is too great to ignore.
In Wichita, we were told the police did not receive any training regarding how to deal with swatting. Is that common in police departments across the country?
Yes. Very common.
So most police departments don’t have much training with this?
No, and I don’t know that there’s really much training that can be provided to it other than an awareness that the phenomenon is occurring. But an officer in an agency that’s responding to this type of call because of the life safety issue has very little options other than to treat it as true until proven otherwise.
So if there’s not much that can be done besides making officers aware that the phenomenon does exist, what can be done about this, be it through laws or public awareness or anything?
I think it’s a combination of all that you just mentioned. I think there certainly does need to be a more concerted effort to educate communities—the public—that swatting is, one, occurring. And then secondarily, I think what needs to happen is a very aggressive and vigorous prosecution of the individual that created this incredibly tragic situation—completely unavoidable and for what? And there has to be some degree of personal responsibility attached to it and accountability for the action of the individual who created that scenario.
You have been in charge and led SWAT teams before, from my understanding. Can you put me in the mind of an officer who’s responding to a scenario like this where they’ve received a call that there’s someone with a weapon on the scene, there has been a fatality and there are hostages?
Yeah. That is the worst possible scenario. That is the scenario that, while officers train for it, they hope and pray they never respond to it because there is nothing more dangerous to the officer—but also to the innocent people—than a hostage rescue. There is no margin of error in that, and the officers know that. And the pressure and the stress that’s generated from that is tremendous.
Stephan Bisaha is the education reporter for KMUW, a partner with the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @SteveBisaha.
Sunny, warmer Sunday
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Light and variable wind becoming west 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight
A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 19. Wind chill values as low as 5. Blustery, with a west southwest wind 7 to 12 mph becoming north 15 to 20 mph after midnight.
M.L.King Day
A 20 percent chance of snow before noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 12 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -5. Blustery, with a north wind 17 to 21 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around -6. Wind chill values as low as -14. North northwest wind 6 to 15 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 18. North northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 3.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 34.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 17.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 44.
New administrator appointed for SBA Region VII
SBA
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the appointment of Tom Salisbury as the Regional Administrator for SBA’s Region VII states of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa.
Until his appointment, Salisbury worked in Kansas City, Missouri for seven years as the small business liaison for U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO.) He spent the majority of his career since 1983 in the lending industry, most recently as a Vice President and Manager of Correspondent Banking with UMB Bank, N.A.
“Tom Salisbury has been a tremendous asset to my office and the people we serve,” Blunt said. “Tom’s firsthand experience working at the nexus of government and Main Street, coupled with his business background, will greatly benefit the Small Business Administration. I appreciate all of Tom’s hard work and dedication to public service, and wish him the very best in his new role.”
In his new role, Salisbury will administer the delivery of SBA federal programs and services by Region VII’s five district offices. Region VII SBA offices provide program training and support to hundreds of SBA participating program lender institutions and SBA-financed microlenders, who loan federally guaranteed capital to small businesses. Additionally, SBA oversees more than 85 grantee resource partner sites within the region, which provide free or low cost small business counseling, training and mentoring services. These include the services of Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, a Veterans Business Resource Center and SCORE Mentor chapters. In addition, SBA district offices teach small businesses how to participate in federal contracting opportunities and administer the 8(a) federal contracting program.
Salisbury received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1974 and attended the American Banking Association School of Bankcard Management.
Sen. Moran announces new addition to defense and veterans staff
OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently welcomed U.S. Army Captain Mark Bedrin to serve as part of the United States Army Congressional Fellowship Program in his Washington, D.C. office.
“I am honored to have Captain Bedrin working with my staff to improve the lives of our servicemembers, both past and present,” said Sen. Moran. “Mark’s nearly nine years of service in the United States Army have developed his leadership capabilities and shaped his perspective on defense issues of national significance – making him a unique asset to my team as we work to serve the members of our armed forces and their families, as well as Kansas veterans.”
The United States Army Congressional Fellowship Program is a highly selective three-and-a-half year program open to just 25 U.S. Army officers or senior non-commissioned officers nationwide each year. The program includes a one-year fellowship in a congressional office to be completed while pursuing a master’s degree in legislative affairs at George Washington University (GWU). CPT Bedrin will complete his master’s in May 2018.
CPT Bedrin has served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army for eight years in positions from the platoon to brigade level. His assignments took him across the world to posts including Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Drum, New York; and Rose Barracks, Germany. He completed two combat deployments, encompassing more than 22 months in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan as both a rifle platoon leader during the Afghanistan surge, and as regimental battle captain overseeing most of Regional Command South. He also completed one peacekeeping deployment to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, where he commanded a rifle company supporting the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) maintaining the Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel. Mark planned and completed multiple small missions supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve in central and eastern Europe.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Pennsylvania State University. His military education includes the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course and Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Additionally, Mark earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Parachutist Badge. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
UPDATE: Fatal shooting near Washburn campus; police need help to identify woman
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have asked for help to identify a woman shown in security camera images.
Just after 12 a.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard in the area of 22nd Park and Mulvane near the Washburn University campus in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
Officers found a passenger car in the tree line with the driver deceased.
Late Sunday morning, police requested the public’s help in identifying a woman seen in security camera images. She is believed to have been in the SUV which is parked at the gas pumps in the photo.
Police did not indicate how she might be connected to the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding this attempt to identify is encouraged to call The Topeka Police Department Criminal Investigations Bureau at 785-368-9400
———–
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting.
Just after 12 a.m. Sunday, police officers responded to a report of a gunshot heard in the area of 22nd Park and Mulvane near the Washburn University campus in Topeka, according to Lt. Steve Roth.
Officers found a passenger car in the tree line with the driver deceased.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Topeka Police Criminal Investigations Bureau at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.
2018 Fishing Regs Summary now available
KDWPT
PRATT – Know the name of the reservoir you want to fish, but can’t remember the daily creel limit for channel catfish? Having a hard time remembering the difference between a bluegill and a green sunfish? Thanks to improvements made to the 2018 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary – online now at ksoutdoors.com and at license vendor locations soon – you can access the answers to these questions faster than ever before. When flipping through this year’s summary, you’ll notice three big improvements: a larger, bolder table of contents; color-coded sections for quick reference; and alphabetized fishing locations (as opposed locations organized by region).
To download a free copy of the newly-improved summary, visit ksoutdoors.com/Fishing or view the easy-to-use, full-color pamphlet right there online.
When you get your copy of the 2018 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, be sure to pay special attention to the “New For 2018” section, as well as the individual listings for your favorite spots, as length and creel changes may have occurred.