SEWARD COUNTY — Country music star Reba McEntire made a brief stop in Kansas Tuesday. The city of Liberal shared a post from the singer, songwriter actress’ facebook page.
McEntire was at the airport in Liberal and commented on the wind, “Just a little windy here in Liberal, KS!!!! Thanks for the super hospitality! #justflyingthrough”
She is a native of McAlester, Oklahoma
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GARDEN CITY — Gubernatorial candidate Greg Orman today announced state Sen. John Doll of Garden City as his running mate on an Independent ticket that will bypass the party primaries and qualify directly for the general election ballot in November.
Doll, 60, was to switch his voter registration from Republican to Independent following a speech to supporters in Garden City Wed. morning, and he’s notified Senate Republican Leadership of his decision to leave the party. Orman formally launched his campaign for governor Jan. 24.
“I’m running with Greg Orman because I believe he is the best possible Governor that Kansas could have,” said Sen. John Doll. “He places the people first, he’s not about party politics and the only master he will serve is the people of the state of Kansas.”
A former two-term city commissioner and mayor of Garden City, Doll spent two decades in Kansas schools as a teacher and coach. In 1961, Doll’s father and grandfather, alongside the Irsik brothers, co-founded Irsik & Doll, a successful grain and cattle operation in western Kansas.
Doll was elected to two terms in the state House serving District 123 and in 2016 won a seat in the state Senate representing District 39, which includes all of 10 counties in the southwest corner of the state. Senate Republican leaders last year named Doll as vice chairman of the committees on Education and Transportation in recognition of his long-standing commitment to those issues.
“John Doll is a true son of southwest Kansas. His dedication to the people and communities he’s served over the last 30 years is a testament to his deep roots there,” said Greg Orman, Independent candidate for governor. “While John and I won’t agree on every issue, we’ll work together to find the best ideas regardless of where they come from to address this state’s most challenging issues.”
As an Independent ticket, Orman and Doll will qualify for the general election ballot by collecting the signatures of 5,000 registered voters by Aug. 6, as required by state law. The campaign will begin that ballot petition process in the next few weeks.
For more information go to ormanforkansas.com or contact the campaign at [email protected].
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Texas EquuSearch has temporarily suspended its search for a 5-year-old Kansas boy.
According to the organization’s web site they plan to return in the near future. The organization reported they had been given some credible information on another case and needed to act to try and bring another family closure.
Members of the volunteer horse mounted search and recovery team from Texas joined the search for 5-year-old Lucas Hernandez on March 2.
The boy was last seen in Wichita, on February 17. Lucas was wearing a gray t-shirt with a bear on it, black sweat pants and socks. Lucas is missing his top / front teeth, and he has silver caps on his remaining teeth.
He also has a small scar on his upper / left abdomen from a prior medical procedure. If you have seen Lucas Hernandez since his disappearance, if you know of his current whereabouts or if you have any information whatsoever concerning his disappearance; please call the Wichita, Kansas Police Department at (316) 268-4111
KDA
MANHATTAN — Kansas Agriculture Month kicked off on March 5 with the Neighbor to Neighbor statewide food drive in support of our neighbors in need and to reduce hunger in Kansas communities. Harvesters–The Community Food Bank in Topeka, Kansas, hosted state leaders, including Governor Jeff Colyer and representatives of the food banks of Kansas, Dillons Food Stores, and the Kansas agriculture community.
The food drive is a collaborative effort by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Dillons Food Stores, Harvesters–The Community Food Network, Kansas Food Bank, Second Harvest Community Food Bank and the Kansas agriculture community. The goal is to raise 90,000 meals for Kansas families during the food drive throughout the month of March. Dillons made an initial donation of 2,500 pounds of non-perishable food items. Kansans can contribute to the campaign at Dillons Food Stores statewide, at other community locations across the state or through the virtual donation portal, https://ksn2n.harvestersvfd.org.
Governor Colyer stressed the importance of serving our neighbors in need. “This spirit of service is the very best of Kansas,” he said. “It is in the DNA of Kansans to help our neighbors in need, and this event is a perfect place to show how Kansans can make a difference in people’s lives.”
Staff from the three food banks, representatives from Dillons Food Stores, the Kansas Department of Agriculture, and other state agencies and agriculture organizations then joined together to sort produce to be distributed to Kansans in need.
“Hunger is everywhere in the state — in rural counties, suburban communities and urban neighborhoods,” said Valerie Nicholson-Watson, president and CEO of Harvesters. “Community efforts like this food drive are an important way we can help feed hungry families, children and seniors across Kansas.”
The Governor also signed a proclamation declaring March as Kansas Agriculture Month and March 20 as Kansas Agriculture Day. To learn more about the Neighbor to Neighbor statewide food drive and ways to participate in Kansas Agriculture Month, visitwww.agriculture.ks.gov/ksagday.
ELLIS COUNTY – One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Tuesday in Ellis County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by Shawn Summers, 44, Hays, was northbound on Toulon Road two miles north of Interstate responding to a call with his lights and siren activated.
The SUV was beginning to pass a 2015 Chevy Trax driven by Diana Ruth Clay, 52, Victoria. The driver of the Trax suddenly turned left in front of the SUV, according to KHP reports. The Explorer struck the Trax.
Summers and Clay were transported to Hays Medical Center. Summers was not injured, according to the KHP. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Edited 3/7/18 to correct the age of the driver of the Trax. Hays Post apologizes for the error.
KANSAS CITY-(AP) – Friends and family are rallying in support of a Kansas City bar manager who was deported amid a legal effort to keep her in the U.S.
Dozens showed up Wednesday in front of the bar where Leticia Stegall worked. Her husband, Steve Stegall, said it’s a “travesty” that she was flown to Mexico on Friday.
Leticia Stegall’s troubles stem from a driving while intoxicated arrest six years ago. She was arrested last week as part of a four-day enforcement operation in the Kansas City metro area. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the operation targeted people in the country illegally who had prior criminal histories.
KSHB-TV reports that a judge ordered a hearing next week in the case. But ICE said Stegall already was in Mexico.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — A 19-year-old Kansas man who was shot in February during a drug deal in the parking lot of a Wichita grocery store has died.
Just before 3a.m.February 19, Chris Coley was found with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died Monday, according to Officer Paul Cruz.
The case is the eighth homicide of the year.
Police say Coley was at Dillon’s with a woman to sell marijuana to a 21-year-old man. The man allegedly shot Coley in the head during the transaction and then drove away from the scene.
The suspect was arrested Feb. 20 on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder and other potential charges.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A man charged with fatally shooting an Indian immigrant last year at a suburban Kansas City bar pleaded guilty Tuesday to murder in the slaying that fanned fears of anti-immigrant violence following President Donald Trump’s election.
Witnesses said Adam Purinton, who is white, yelled “Get out of my country!” before firing at two men who had stopped for an after-work drink at Austin’s Bar and Grill in Olathe, Kansas.
Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed in the Feb. 22, 2017, attack. His friend Alok Madasani was wounded. The men, both 32, had come from India to the U.S. as students and worked as engineers at nearby GPS-maker Garmin.
Another man, Ian Grillot, was wounded when he tried to intervene.
Purinton faces life in prison with no chance of parole for 50 years when he is sentenced May 4 for premeditated first-degree murder.
At the time of the shooting, officials in India expressed concern about their citizens’ safety in the United States.
Kuchibhotla’s widow, who was not present at the hearing, issued a statement saying she hoped the guilty plea would “send a strong message that hate is never acceptable.”
“We must understand and love one another,” Sunayana Dumala said.
According to court documents, Purinton was asked to leave the bar when he made derogatory comments. He returned a short time later with a gun.
Madasani told detectives that the gunman asked the men if their “status was legal” before he opened fire, according to an affidavit released last year.
After the shooting, Purinton drove 70 miles (110 kilometers) east to Clinton, Missouri, and stopped at a restaurant, where he allegedly confessed to the killings to a bartender, who called police.
Purinton, a 52-year-old Navy veteran, was a regular customer at Austin’s. Neighbors in the Olathe cul-de-sac where he lived told The Associated Press after the shooting that he became “a drunken mess” following his father’s death about two years before the shooting and had physically and mentally deteriorated.
He still faces federal hate crime charges in the slaying. Federal prosecutors have not determined whether they will seek the death penalty.
Ellis County
UPDATE – 9:05 p.m.
The fires this evening in Ellis County are still working fires and the Ellis County Fire Department continues to have multiple fire crews working two fires. The first fire at the approximate location of Interstate 70 Mile Marker 160 is 99% contained, however fire crews are monitoring hot spots. The second, and larger fire located at Toulon Avenue and Homestead is about 90% contained.
Controlled fires will be monitored throughout the evening hours into tomorrow morning to ensure the fires do not spread. At this time, the fire has looked to have burned approximately 8,000-10,000 acres. Firefighters will remain on scene to monitor flare-ups from safe locations throughout the night hours to maintain safety levels in the dangerous terrain.
Preliminary reports show that all residential structures have been saved, however some may have received damage. Throughout the incident one firefighter was treated by Ellis County EMS and is being treated at Hays Medical Center for smoke inhalation.
The Ellis County Fire Department greatly appreciates the help of all the local volunteers, local businesses, and farmers who have generously donated food, water, and support to all the firefighters working the scene. The help from the Kansas Highway Patrol, Ellis County Sheriff’s deputies, Ellis County Public Works, Ellis County EMS, Hays Fire Department, Kansas Forestry Service, multiple surrounding county fire departments, and the Kansas National Guard has had a profound effect on the outcome of this fire.
Donations of water, sports drinks and non-perishable snack foods to support fire crews will be accepted at the Emergency Services Building, 1105 E. 22nd Street in Hays starting again tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM. No cash donations are being accepted.
Ellis County residents are reminded that a burn ban is in place for unincorporated portions of the county.
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An estimated 100 firefighters from Ellis, Rooks, Russell and Trego counties – with helicopter support from the Kansas National Guard – are battling a blaze that stretches for approximately five miles across the northeastern section of Ellis County. Ellis County Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers estimates the blaze is currently only 25 percent contained.
“Every time I think we’ve got the upper hand, the wind shifts again,” said Myers.
At least one of those wind shifts has been positive for area residents. Emergency officials earlier considered evacuating the community of Catharine, but have no plans to do so at present.
“The smoke is blowing away from Catharine at this point,” said Myers.
Myers anticipates that fire crews will be on scene most of the night. Donations of water, sports drinks and non-perishable snack foods to support fire crews are being accepted at the Emergency Services Building, 1105 E. 22nd Street in Hays. No cash donations are being accepted at this time.
Ellis County residents are reminded that a burn ban is in place for unincorporated portions of the county.
A pair of high-scoring guards who also share the ball with their teammates highlight The Associated Press All-Big 12 men’s basketball team.
Kansas senior Devonte’ Graham and Oklahoma freshman sensation Trae Young, the league’s top two in both scoring and assists, were the only unanimous picks on the AP All-Big 12 first team released Tuesday. They also took the top individual awards.
Graham was named the Big 12 player of the year with his 17.6 points and 7.2 assists per game while helping lead the Jayhawks win their record 14th consecutive conference title this season. He ranked second in the league in both categories behind top Big 12 newcomer Young, the national leader with 27.5 points and 8.9 assists per game .
Kansas’ Bill Self took his fourth consecutive coach of the year honor, and seventh in 13 seasons.
Texas Tech senior Keenan Evans, West Virginia senior Jevon Carter and Texas freshman post player Mohamed Bamba were the other first-team picks in voting by a panel of 18 journalists who regularly cover the Big 12 in the league’s five states. Bamba is the Big 12 rebounding leader with 10.6 per game.
Graham got nine of 18 votes for player of the year, while Young got seven and Evans two. Young was listed as top newcomer on 14 ballots, including five that also had him as the top overall player.
Self got 10 votes for top coach, while Chris Beard of Big 12 runner-up Texas Tech got seven. The remaining vote went to first-year Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton after the Cowboys became the first team with a regular season sweep of a Self-coached Kansas team.
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The 2018 AP All-Big 12 team, with players listed with school, classification, height, weight, class and hometown (“u-” denotes unanimous selections):
FIRST TEAM
u-Devonte’ Graham, Kansas, Sr., 6-2, 185, Raleigh, North Carolina.
u-Trae Young, Oklahoma, Fr., 6-2, 180, Norman, Oklahoma.
Mohamed Bamba, Texas, Fr., 6-11, 225, Harlem, New York.
Jevon Carter, West Virginia, Sr., 6-2, 205, Maywood, Illinois.
Keenan Evans, Texas Tech, Sr., 6-3, 190, Richardson, Texas.
SECOND TEAM
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas, So., 7-0, 280, Delta, Nigeria.
Barry Brown Jr., Kansas State, 6-3, 195, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Kansas, Sr., 6-8, 205, Cherkasy, Ukraine.
Dean Wade, Kansas State, Jr., 6-10, 228, St. John, Kansas.
Kenrich Williams, TCU, Sr., 6-7, 210, Waco, Texas.
HONORABLE MENTION
Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU; Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State; Sagaba Konate, West Virginia; Manu Lecomte, Baylor; Jo Lual-Acuil Jr., Baylor; Malik Newman, Kansas; Zhaire Smith, Texas Tech; Mitchell Solomon, Oklahoma State; Lindell Wigginton, Iowa State.
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Coach of the year – Bill Self, Kansas.
Player of the year – Devonte’ Graham, Kansas.
Newcomer of the year – Trae Young, Oklahoma.
Jimmie L. Jeffery, age 82, passed away on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas.
He was born on October 28, 1935 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, the son of Roy & Beth Hein Jeffery. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1960 moving from Wisconsin, he was a Paint Contractor and Roofer.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Scott City, Kansas.
On March 24, 1956 he married Nathella McLaughlin in Merrillan, Wisconsin. She survives.
Survivors include his Wife – Nathella Jeffery of Scott City, Kansas, One Son – Wade & Shawn Jeffery of Hays, Kansas, Two Daughters – Jimalene & Randy Haddon Of Ellinwood, Kansas, Nathella & Calvin Humburg of Ness City, Kansas, Six Grandchildren and Three Great Grandchildren
He was preceded in death by his Parents.
Memorial Services will be held at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, 2018 with the Rev. Robert Nuckolls presiding.
Memorials may be given to the Park Lane Nursing Home or Scott County Hospital in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
There will be no calling times.
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission approved a rebuild of a 30-year-old Caterpillar scraper at Monday’s commission meeting.
The scraper, which has been used at the landfill for moving dirt for the sports complex and for work on the Hays Airport runways, has more than 15,000 hours on it and was used for 385 hours in 2017, according to Public Works Director Bill Ring.
According to a quote from Foley Caterpillar of Great Bend, a 2018 scraper would cost $743,505. To have Cat complete a certified rebuild of the scraper will cost $346,728.
The rebuild will be a complete overhaul of the piece of equipment. According to Ring, it will include a remanufactured engine and transmission, a new paint job, new cab interior and more.
Keith Backman with Foley said, “When you get it back it will be like a new machine.”
He also said that because the cost of equipment continues to go up, more governmental entities are having the rebuilds done to save money.
The commission also gave the Public Works Department approval to work with the city of Hays on its 2018 chip seal project. County crews have worked with Ellis and Victoria on similar chip seal projects in the past.
In other business, the commission approved a payment from the Courthouse Preservation Committee to Kansas Granite for exterior granite.
Fire Chief Darin Myers presented the commission with the 2017 Annual Fire Report.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
ELLIS COUNTY — The Kansas National Guard deployed two Black Hawk helicopters from Salina earlier Tuesday afternoon to help fight today’s second major wildfire, according to the Kansas Division of Emergency Management.
This fire, originally located near Homestead and Toulon Roads northeast of Hays, has been pushed by gusty northwest winds up to 49 mph and is currently north of Catharine.
Fire officials are asking people to stay away from the area to allow emergency responders to work the scene.
Mindy Juenemann has been watching the large helicopters being piloted down to collect water from a pond near her house on 320th Avenue, Victoria, and shared her video.
(Video courtesy Mindy Juenemann)
The helicopters are filling attached water scoops in a farm pond near 300th and Golf Course Road, Victoria.
(Video courtesy Ashley Brozek)
Brozek watched the action from her home, and provided this video from her phone, explaining that “one helicopter has landed and the second is in the air” after collecting water to help fight the fire. The second Black Hawk can be seen in the upper left of the video flying to the left.
Reports indicate the water is being dumped on the north end of the fire.
According to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman, the fire was north of Catharine about five miles as of late Tuesday afternoon.
“Fire departments are set up north of Catharine to try to keep it from getting into town, but if you live in or around Catharine, be prepared,” Hileman wrote on his Facebook page. Hileman said KHP is “going from farm to farm evacuating residents in the fire’s path.”
Courtesy Matt McCune
