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Month: February 2018

SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest underway

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SHPTV

BUNKER HILL – Children have incredible imaginations and what better way to foster that imagination, than for them to write their own stories. We would like to invite you to join Smoky Hills Public Television as we encourage children in central and western Kansas to build critical literacy skills by creating their own stories and taking part in the SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest.

Smoky Hills Public Television is looking for stories from kids throughout the viewing area. The SHPTV PBS Kids Writers Contest is designed to be a valuable, hands-on, active learning tool. The contest is for children in grades K-3.

The contest is currently underway, and entries can be submitted to SHPTV through March 30, 2018. Smoky Hills Public Television will select local winners and award prizes in April or May. The rules and entry form are available at www.smokyhillstv.org.

Federal charges filed against Kan. man arrested after boat chase

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Skibo-photo Labette Co. Sheriff

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man has been indicted on federal drug and firearm charges, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Scott Joseph Skibo, 54, Chetopa, Kan., was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The indictment alleges that on Sept. 18, 2017, Skibo possessed fifty or more marijuana plants and a .40 caliber Glock 22 handgun.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced in September that agents arrested Skibo for cultivating marijuana on an island in Elmore Park within the city limits of Chetopa, Kan. He attempted to flee law enforcement in a boat before he was arrested.

Clifford the Big Red Dog is heading to Hays

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Join Smoky Hills Public Television for Family Fun Day in Hays on February 10, 2018!

Meet and take pictures with Clifford the Big Red Dog and enjoy music from Jammin’ Randy. The Hays Lions Club will be on hand to conduct vision screenings. The event is free and the first 500 kids will receive a gift bag!

Family Fun Day in Hays is brought to you by these generous sponsors:
Walmart, Hays

Victoria native Scheck earns CPA designation

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Scheck
The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered announce last week that Cody Scheck has received his Certified Public Accountant license.

“Congratulations to Cody on this major accomplishment in the accounting profession,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of ABBB. “Earning his CPA will help him grow as a professional and is a huge benefit to our clients.”

Scheck joined ABBB as a staff accountant in 2017 after interning with the firm. He graduated summa cum laude from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2015 and earned his Master of Business Administration in 2017. While in college, he was selected as the 2015 recipient of the Torch Award which recognizes one outstanding graduating senior. Originally from Victoria, Scheck currently resides in Hays.

Kansas Telemedicine Push Dragged Into Abortion Debate

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By MADELINE FOX

Legislation under consideration in the Kansas Legislature to promote telemedicine has been tangled with abortion disputes.

A telemedicine bill aimed at improving health care access for Kansans, particularly in rural areas, may get bogged down in abortion politics.

The legislation would mean insurance companies can’t refuse to pay for services provided long-distance that they would cover at an in-person office visit.

More controversially, the bill would not allow drug-induced abortion or other abortion procedures through telemedicine.

Kansas law already requires that women receiving a drug-induced abortion take the drug in the physical presence of the doctor who provided it.

Attaching a provision to explicitly prohibit abortion, rather than allowing that to be presumed because of the existing law, injects controversy into a proposal that has broad backing from key players in health.

A special committee with representatives from the Kansas House and Senate met in October 2017 to hash out the details of the bill with input from insurance companies, medical and hospital groups, and telemedicine providers. The drafted bill reflects the consensus of those talks, with a few additions — notably the abortion provision.

Dr. Brian Hunt sits at the computer he uses to interact with patients. photo by BRYAN THOMPSON / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Rachelle Columbo, lobbyist for the Kansas Medical Society and part of the group that worked together to lay out the bill’s provisions, said the abortion provision was added later.

“This was a surprise thrown in there,” said Rep. Susan Concannon, a member of the special committee. “The overall consensus during the interim committee was that we were patients-first, and anything that was legal to do in person could be done through telemed.”

Members of the House Health and Human Services Committee will hear from opponents of the telemedicine bill on Monday.

Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox.

DOCTOR’S NOTE: Feb. 4

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Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.

Friend,

Laina and I this week had the privilege to bare witness to one of the biggest spectacles of the political calendar, the State of the Union Address (shown below). Every since I was a young boy, growing up in rural Kansas, I can remember my family gathering around to hear our President address Congress.

President Trump points at 1st Dist. Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend) prior to the State of the Union address Jan. 30 (Photos courtesy Rep. Marshall)

President Trump delivered a composed and professional speech, reporting the Stat of our Union as better than ever. We celebrated great victories such as the Passage of the GOP Tax Plan, we focused our attentions on battles to come such as infrastructure reform, but we also celebrated our military, our veterans and our emergency service workers and thanked them for their service and dedication to protect our nation.

Laina and I collected our favorite parts of the State of the Union and created a Twitter Moment!

Events such as this remind me just how lucky I am to be able to work for Kansas to improve the lives of Americans all across the world.

As always, if my team can be of any assistance to you, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us.

In the House

Wind Energy

In Kansas, 30 percent of our energy comes from wind power making it incredibly valuable to our state.

This week, the Science, Space and Technology Committee held a hearing to examine the priorities of the Department of Energy, providing me with an opportunity to encourage prioritizing wind energy and the technological research needed to strengthen the industry.

Off to the GOP Retreat!

I spent the latter half of this week in West Virginia at the Annual GOP Retreat. As I am sure many of you know, this trip started in a deeply tragic way.  This accident  reminded me how precious life is. Laina and I have been praying for the families of the victims involved with the accident and their families.  Many of you have called in sending your prayers and my wife and I are so thankful to be in your thoughts and prayers as well.

Throughout this retreat, the GOP discussed its strategy for the upcoming legislative year and outlined our top priorities. It was a very productive retreat and I believe as we head back to D.C. today that our team is energized and focused on impactful solutions.

Happy Birthday, Kansas!

On Monday, we celebrated the 157th Birthday of Kansas! Ad astra per aspera, there’s no place like home. Today Kansas is known for more than its wheat production but our agriculture industry is growing and becoming more diverse than ever.

It is important to remember our states long history leaders and innovators like Walter Chrysler, Amelia Earhart, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Bob Dole.

As I travel through the state I see optimism and hope despite some of the economic hardships that our farmers and producers face. I really enjoyed watching and seeing all of the celebrations via social media – Please check out our twitter moment that we made to celebrate!

Application period to open for spring turkey special hunts

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KDWPT

PRATT – Hunters searching for a good turkey hunting spot this spring, especially those with a young hunter in tow, are encouraged to apply for one of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism’s (KDWPT) Special Hunts. Through the Special Hunts program, successful applicants can gain temporary hunting access to select department lands, including state parks, wildlife areas, and refuges; Walk-in Hunting Areas; national wildlife refuges; city and county properties; and other locations where access is restricted. Because the hunts are limited to a certain number of participants, hunters who draw can expect high-quality experiences.

Last spring, 84 Special Hunts for spring turkeys were available to 165 hunters. Of those hunts, 25 were Mentor Hunts, 29 were Open Hunts and 30 were Youth Hunts. Similar numbers can be expected for 2018, and beginning Feb. 1, hunters can view and apply for 2018 spring turkey special hunts at www.ksoutdoors.com, click “Hunting” then “Special Hunts.” Applications must be submitted before 9 a.m., March 5, 2018. There is no fee to apply, and the draw is open to residents and nonresidents.

Open Hunts are open to all persons with no age or experience restrictions. Youth Hunts are open to youth 16 and younger, who must be accompanied by adult mentors 18 or older (adults may not hunt). Mentor Hunts are open to youth and/or inexperienced (novice) hunters who are each supervised by a licensed adult mentor. Both the novice and mentor may hunt. Several hunts allow for additional hunters to accompany a permit holder.

Successful applicants will be notified by email shortly after the computer-generated drawing has occurred. Special Hunt permits only provide access, so hunters must purchase all necessary licenses, permits and have hunter education certification, unless exempt.

For information on permits, season dates, and regulations, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting,” then “Turkey Information.”

Cloudy, cold Sunday, chance of light snow

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Today
Chance of snow, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 15 by noon. Wind chill values as low as -3. Blustery, with a north northeast wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight
Increasing clouds, with a low around 16. Wind chill values as low as 5. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming south southwest 16 to 21 mph in the evening.

Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. South wind 13 to 16 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Monday Night
A chance of snow and freezing rain between midnight and 3am, then a chance of snow after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. North northeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday
Snow likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 23. East northeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.

Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 41.

Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 22.

Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 53.

Hot shooting Ichabods too much for Fort Hays State

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By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Washburn came into their game against Fort Hays State as the worst 3-point and free throw shooting team in the MIAA. Both proved to be the difference in the Ichabods 76-60 win in front of 2,975 at Gross Coliseum.

Washburn (17-5, 11-2 MIAA) went 9-for-20 from beyond the arc including 6-of-11 in the second half and knocked in 23 of their 28 free throw attempts as they remain tied with Northwest Missouri State atop the MIAA standings.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Brady Werth Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Washburn used 22-4 run to go up 16 with 5:35 to play in the first half. The Tigers (13-9, 6-7 MIAA) answered with a 15-2 run to pull within three with 2:25 to play in the half and trailed by five at halftime.

The Ichabods scored the first seven points of the second half to build their lead up to 12 and were up as many as 19 with just over seven minutes to play.

Brady Werth was the only Tiger to reach double-figures with 16 points.

Tyas Martin hit all four of his 3-point shots and led the Ichabods with a career-high 18 points. Javion Blake scored 16, David Salach 13 and Brady Skeens 11 points and 11 rebounds.

No. 15 West Virginia ends skid with win over K-State

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Even with several players recuperating from the flu bug, West Virginia’s defense can still frustrate the tar out of opponents.

One game after allowing the most points in a Big 12 game since joining the league in 2012, No. 15 West Virginia overwhelmed Kansas State with its pressure, and the Mountaineers ended a three-game losing streak with an 89-51 victory Saturday.

“We’re still ‘Press Virginia,'” Mountaineers guard James “Beetle” Bolden said. “We’ve just got to come and play with the same energy every single night.”

West Virginia (17-6, 6-5 Big 12) got a rare win after holding a double-digit lead over the past month. The Mountaineers have had such leads in five of its last seven games but have won just twice.

The illnesses took a toll on the Mountaineers in the past week and coach Bob Huggins was concerned about having enough available bodies to execute any type of defense Saturday, especially after a 93-77 loss Wednesday at Iowa State.

Five players have been sick, and guards Daxter Miles Jr. and Bolden required hospital trips. Bolden recovered enough to make his first career start in Miles’ place, while Miles saw his first action of any kind in a week.

The Wildcats (16-7, 5-5) never led, were held to their lowest scoring output of the season and had more turnovers (15) than field goals (14).

“Our pressure really was pretty good,” Huggins said. “We kind of backed it off at the end — I was just trying to save people’s legs.”

Knowing West Virginia’s recent tendencies to relinquish big leads, especially in the second half, Kansas State coach Bruce Weber thought his team had a chance down 39-30 at halftime.

“But they just kept pushing it and we got a little frustrated, couldn’t make some shots and it was like a snowball going down the hill and we couldn’t stop it,” Weber said.

Forward Sagaba Konate, who led West Virginia with 19 points and nine rebounds, took advantage of the Big 12’s worst rebounding team. Over a 1:15 stretch late in the game, the 6-foot-8 sophomore scored off a rebound, made two free throws and threw down a dunk as part of a 13-0 run.

Bolden added 13 points, Teddy Allen had 12 points off the bench and Wes Harris had 10 for West Virginia.

Dean Wade scored 17 points and Xavier Sneed had 16 for Kansas State.

BIG PICTURE

West Virginia: The Mountaineers shot 61 percent (14 of 23) from the floor after halftime in beating Kansas State for the eighth time in their last nine meetings. They didn’t look like the stumbling squad that struggled to a 3-5 record in January after rising to the No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 on Jan. 8.

Kansas State: The Wildcats made one basket over a 13-minute stretch spanning both halves, allowing West Virginia to take command. Kansas State has lost two straight after winning four in a row.

STRUGGLING BROWN

Kansas State leading scorer Barry Brown was held to just one point after scoring nine against No. 7 Kansas on Monday. Over his last two games Brown is 4 of 19 from the floor.

“He lost a little bit of confidence,” Weber said. “No one works harder than he does. I think he’ll come back. I don’t have any doubt about that.”

POLL IMPLICATIONS

West Virginia will likely fall several spots after the double-digit loss at Iowa State.

STOKES RETURNS

Kansas State point guard Kamau Stokes had two points in 10 minutes in his return from a six-game absence with a broken foot.

UP NEXT

Kansas State: Plays at Texas on Wednesday

West Virginia: Looks for its first regular-season sweep of Oklahoma after beating the Sooners 89-76 on Jan. 6 in Morgantown. The game at No. 12 Oklahoma is Monday night.

Kansas man charged in crash death of 6-year-old son

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First responders on the scene of the fatal crash photo courtesy KAKE

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police have arrested the father of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in the August crash of a vehicle the father was driving.

Daniel Juares-Lopez, of Wichita, was arrested Friday on charges of driving without a valid license and involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence.

Police say Juares-Lopez was driving the sport utility vehicle the night of Aug. 10 when the SUV crossed the center line, overcorrected and hit a curb. The SUV then crossed to the opposite side of the road, hit another curb and rolled several times. Six-year-old Daniel Ware was thrown from the vehicle in the crash and died.

Juarez-Lopez was also critically injured.

Tiger softball splits with Mountain Lions to open season

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In their first outing for the 2018 season, the Fort Hays State softball team went 1-1 in a doubleheader against UC-Colorado Springs on Saturday (Feb. 3). The Tigers rallied late in the first contest, but ultimately fell 8-7, but followed with a late-inning 14-11 win in the second game for the split.

UC-Colorado Springs 8, Fort Hays State 7
The Tigers never held the lead in the first contest as the Mountain Lions took an early lead and barely held on late. UCCS got on the board first in the opening inning, going up 2-0 quickly after two sacrifice flies brought in runners. The Tigers were scoreless until the third inning when Grace Philop doubled down the left field line to bring in Lily Sale for FHSU’s first run of the contest. In the fourth, Sara Breckbill also sent a double down the left field line to score Candace Bollig, tying up the game 2-2.

UC-Colorado Springs took control once again in the bottom of the fourth. Melissa Martinek drew a bases-loaded walk, then Whitney Weber sent a bases-clearing triple to center, giving UCCS a 6-2 lead. The Tigers got one run back in the fifth on another RBI from Philop, this time a single up the middle, scoring Terran Caldwell. The Mountain Lions got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Kylie Bernard.

The Tigers scored twice in the sixth as Sale singled up the middle to bring in Sydney Harsh and Philop produced her third RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to send Sara Kay home. UCCS scored its decisive run in the bottom of the sixth when Lexi Belligan singled home a run to make it 8-5.

The Tigers nearly completed a comeback in the seventh when Tess Gray led off the inning with a double. After a Bailey Kennedy walk and the first out of the inning, Breckbill doubled down the left field line to make the score 8-6. Kay followed with an RBI single to right field and made it 8-7. With just one out the Tigers had runners at first and third, but a pop up and a fly out ended the game to cut the rally just short.

Cami Duffy earned her first win of the season for the Mountain Lions, pitching all seven innings. For the Tigers, Hailey Chapman took the loss in four innings pitched, while Carrie Clarke took over the final three innings.

Fort Hays State 14, UC-Colorado Springs 11
The second contest of the day saw the bats continue to thrive as the Tigers ousted the Mountain Lions in a high-scoring, 14-11 affair. Tess Gray got the scoring frenzy started with a three-run homer in the first. The lead lasted until the third after UCCS plated a run in the second on an RBI single and two in the third with a two-run homer.

The fourth inning looked pivotal for the Mountain Lions once again when they scored five to take an 8-3 lead. A three-run home run and a two-RBI single did the damage. However, the Tigers were not denied the comeback victory in this contest when they had an outburst of nine runs in the top of the fifth.

Bailey Kennedy started the comeback with a solo homer to lead off the inning. Lily Sale came around to score on a bunt single by Terran Caldwell. With the bases loaded, Tess Gray knocked home two with a single, making the score 8-7. Then, with the bags juiced again, all three runners scored on an error off the bat of Candace Bollig, swinging the lead in favor of the Tigers 10-8. Another error and a walk loaded the bases for a third time, then Sale produced a sacrifice fly to bring home Bollig. The lead grew to 12-8 on an RBI ground out by Caldwell, capping the nine-run inning for the Tigers.

A Tiger error in the sixth led to a three-run inning for the Mountain Lions, but the Tigers escaped into the seventh with a 12-11 lead. After one run scored on an error, a pair of doubles were key to bringing home two more for UCCS.

The Tigers got two of the runs back in the seventh, thanks to a passed ball and an RBI groundout by Sale. Hailey Chapman came on to record the final two outs after starter Sierra Rodriguez went 6.1 innings. Chapman earned her first collegiate save after UCCS had one runner on base when she entered the circle.

For the Cougars, Meghan Waidler notched the loss in relief after giving up first seven (four earned) of nine runs in the fifth. She did not record an out.

The Tigers and Mountain Lions meet in the final game of the series Sunday at 11 am MT / 12 pm CT.

Tiger baseball rallies for win over UT-Permian Basin

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ODESSA, Texas – The Fort Hays State baseball team took care of business for the second straight day with a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday (Feb. 3). The Tigers improved to 2-0 with the win, while UTPB dropped to 0-2 to begin the season.

Cody Rottinghaus (1-0) earned the win, pitching one inning in relief. Sam Capps picked up the save in his first appearance of the season, his second save as a Tiger. The duo combined for three innings of hitless relief, each striking out one batter.

Fort Hays State produced 12 hits and five doubles on the day as Texas-Permian Basin managed to manufacture three runs on nine hits, while making two errors in the field.

Junior Ryan Grasser had a big day at the plate, driving in one run on four hits in five at-bats. The second-baseman picked up two doubles and scored two critical runs for the Tigers in the comeback effort.

UT-Permian Basin scored first with a solo home run in the home half of the third inning before extended the lead to 3-0 in the sixth.

The Tigers started their rally in the seventh inning when Jordan Wilkerson worked a walk to lead off. Grasser delivered a big hit in the next at-bat, doubling to left to score Wilkerson from first base. Addison Kaasch came in to pinch hit and reached base with an infield single to shortstop. Jason Nicholson then reached on a throwing error, scoring Grasser to cut the Falcon lead to one, 3-2. Kaasch scored on a sac fly two batters later when Alex Weiss lifted a fly ball to left, knotting the game at three runs apiece.

The Tigers were not finished, however, as they led off the eighth inning with three-straight hits. Wilkerson clubbed a double to left before heading for third on a bunt single from Grasser. Marcus Altman then continued his sizzling start to the season, dropping a two-RBI double in the gap in left center, plating Grasser and Wilkerson. Altman later scored on a wild pitch to give the Tigers the 6-3 edge that would ultimately give the Tigers the win.

Ryan Ruder began the game on the hill for the Tigers, giving up one run on seven hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Ruder left the game in the fifth inning striking out three batters in his first appearance of the year.

The Tigers continued to showcase strong plate discipline, working seven walks after picking up six on Friday.

The Tigers look for the series sweep on Sunday (Feb. 4) when they battle the Falcons at Roden Field. First pitch is set for noon.

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