The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford F150 was northbound on Willard Road crossing the railroad tracks just north of Bouchey Road when his trailer become detached on the tracks.
David W. Miller, 58, Maple Hill exited the vehicle to try to re-hitch the trailer.
A Union Pacific train came around a curve and struck the Ford and Miller while he was attempting to get back into his vehicle.
Miller was pronounced dead at the scene.
The train engineer Ryan L. Idleman, 41, Manhattan, and train conductor Jonathon B. Sheppard II, 32, Herington, were not injured.
Rip Winkel
Sometime in the next couple of weeks, if not already, the adult ash-lilac borer will be laying eggs on ash trees, lilac bushes and occasionally even privet bushes. The ash-lilac borer (Podosesia syringae) can be a very destructive pest. So much so, that if you have an ash tree on your property, it is recommended to treat it even though the damage may not be noticeable at this time.
The Pest:
Ash-lilac borers overwinter as larvae in already infested host trees and shrubs. Then the pupation stage occurs in the spring. It’s the adult stage that displays Moth emergence from the infected plants, which begin in mid to late-April, peaking in May. By mid-to late-June this wave subsides, usually ending by the first week of July. Thankfully there is only one generation of these critters per year.
The moth has clear wings and resembles a wasp in appearance. It is about 1″ long and has a wing span of about 1½ inches. It likes to deposit its eggs in cracks and crevices of the bark. These eggs then hatch 10 to 14 days later. Larvae immediately bore into wood. Frass (insect excrement), which is a telltale sign, can be seen accumulating around the bore holes.
These pests often attack plants that have been under stress. Providing water during dry periods in the weather will help plants resist attack. Weakened trees may need protection until they are healthy enough to resist attack on their own. If there is swelling and cracking of the bark, it is because of repeated infestations. Branches may be severely weakened at these feeding sites. Also during dry periods late in the summer, terminal shoots of infested plants will wilt.
The Mitigation:
In order to address this problem, pesticide treatment should be applied within 10 days of egg laying to be effective. Among various insecticides that offer control for this insect, look for the chemical Permethrin for best control. Although this chemical can be found in a number of products, make sure the treatment for ash-lilac borers is detailed on the package before you purchase it.
Apply Permethrin when the VanHoute spiriea is in full bloom, which in most years, can range from the third or fourth week of April, to about May 1 in central Kansas area. However, with the fluctuating temperatures we have had this year, the bloom time will most likely be delayed somewhat.
Apply pesticide mostly on the lower two to three feet of the branches of lilacs and privets. On the trunk and larger branches of the ash, thoroughly treat the area where branches intersect with the trunk. Since most of the eggs will be laid within 10 feet of the ground, satisfactory control can usually be achieved by concentrating sprays in this area. Heavily infested ash should be cut and burned during the fall and winter. Infested stems of lilac or privet should be removed as well.
Rip Winkel is the Horticulture agent in the Cottonwood District (Barton and Ellis Counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at [email protected] or calling either 785-682-9430, or 620-793-1910.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families is opening up child protection services jobs to people who aren’t licensed social workers.
Child protection workers investigate reports of possible child abuse or neglect and make recommendations about whether or not children should be removed from their homes.
A third of child protection positions are vacant, and some have been for more than a year, according to DCF. Loosening the prerequisites, said DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel, will help fill in the gaps.
“We have been advertising and advertising positions for quite some time now, and we can’t get many of those positions filled,” Meier-Hummel said Monday in announcing the hiring policy change. Considering unlicensed job candidates, she said, is a must, “in order to have an adequate workforce.”
DCF will still require a bachelor’s degree for its child protection workers. And Meier-Hummel stressed that her agency will extensively train non-licensed workers, and intends to place them in offices with licensed supervisors and other licensed social workers.
Becky Fast, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers’ Kansas chapter, doesn’t think opening the child protection jobs up to unlicensed workers will solve the underlying issues that are keeping the positions unfilled.
“Worker turnover, recruitment, retention will not be solved unless there are higher salaries, adequate training, and lower caseloads,” Fast said.
Meier-Hummel said hiring college graduates for these child protection jobs, regardless of whether they have a license in social work, puts Kansas in line with many other states across the country that don’t require licenses for all child protection roles.
DCF is also planning pay raises. The agency is asking the state for an additional $5.4 million over three years to increase current staff salaries by 5 percent, to attract and retain the licensed workers it currently has.
“In order to make sure we can move to the unlicensed staff, we want to make sure we can take care of our current licensed staff,” Meier-Hummel said.
But the bulk of the new budget request announced Monday — $22 million — would go toward updating the old IT systems DCF uses to track children and cases.
That follows a request in January for a $16.5 million budget enhancement for this year and next to address other nagging problems, including providing a place for children awaiting placement to sleep, locating kids missing from their foster homes, and family preservation.
LOGAN – The Dane G. Hansen Foundation is pleased to announce a new grant opportunity for communities in the 26-county Hansen service area. The new NW Kansas Arts grants are designed to bring more arts events to Northwest Kansas by assisting with the artist fee/contract. Applicants are required to secure funding for expenses beyond the artist contract, such as facility rental, food, marketing, etc.
Applications are accepted at any time, following the Foundation’s regular monthly grant schedule.
A single application is available for the NW Kansas Arts Events Grant. The application includes events done in partnership with the Mid-America Arts Alliance or events featuring Kansas-based artists.
Grants in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance Regional Touring Program
For communities that wish to bring in an artist from outside of Kansas, the Foundation is partnering with the Mid-America Arts Alliance (M-AAA) Regional Touring Program (RTP). This program provides support for presenting organizations to showcase the work of artists from outside their home states.
The Mid-America Arts Alliance offers grants that cover 25-60% of the artist’s contract. The artist’s contract may include fee, travel and lodging expenses and per diem.
Presenting organizations may book artists in any discipline (music, theatre, literature, visual arts, etc.). Grants require an outreach arts activity, such as a class or workshop.
In order to qualify for the Hansen Funding for artists from outside Kansas, presenting organizations must first apply and be awarded the Mid-America Arts Alliance grant. The Hansen Foundation NW Kansas Arts Events Grant will cover the required match, up to 50% of the total artist fee.
Applications to M-AAA are accepted on a rolling deadline at any point during M-AAA’s fiscal year, which is July 1–June 30. Grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, until the allocation for each state is gone. Full grant criteria and application for projects happening between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 will be available in May and can be found at maaa.org.
The partnership with Mid-America Art Alliance provides NW Kansas communities a unique opportunity to bring in out of state artists that may not have been affordable without this support. M-AAA has an established program for this work and the Hansen Foundation is pleased to offer our communities access to it. The Foundation is particularly pleased that the grants include outreach activities which further enrich the arts in our communities.
Grants for Kansas-Based Artists
Because the M-AAA program requires presenting organizations to utilize out of state artists, the Trustees of the Hansen Foundation decided to extend the Events Grants to also allow support to communities that wanted to bring in Kansas-based artists.
Presenting organizations can apply for programs or events featuring Kansas-based artists in any discipline (music, theatre, literature, visual arts, etc.) using the same application. Applications can request up to 50% of the artist fee. Similar to the M-AAA program, grants require an outreach arts activity, such as a class or workshop in NW Kansas.
Following the event, grant recipients will be required to complete a grant report to the Hansen Foundation.
By Request: Increasing Arts Opportunities
The Foundation has been working with communities in Northwest Kansas to identify programs, projects and initiatives that provide opportunities and improve the quality of life. The process, Strategic Doing, is being conducted in each of the 26 counties we serve. Through Strategic Doing, the Hansen Foundation has identified issues that have been self-identified in multiple counties. One such issue is a desire for increased arts and cultural opportunities.
The NW Kansas Arts Events Grants are part of a larger effort to address arts opportunities. The Foundation is also offering unique summer theatre workshops for students exiting 8th grade through senior in high school in partnership with the Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts. In addition, the Foundation has partnered with the Creede Reparatory Theatre to bring an original children’s theatre production, “Seeds of Change,” to any NW Kansas elementary school at no cost to the school.
Learn more about these arts opportunities at danehansenfoundation.org, click on NW Kansas Arts.
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It was another busy week on the KAYS Eagle Morning Show. Here’s what you missed!
Monday
Bob Schwarz Financial: Cortney Dale
Cortney joined the show for her weekly visit to talk about the upcoming Medicare educational seminar on May 15th at the Center for Health improvement. You can choose between a 2pm or 6pm session. Each session is only an hour long. Here’s Cortney with more:
To RSVP (seats usually fill quick), call 785-301-2716. For more information on Bob Schwarz Financial, you can call the office or visit their website: www.bobschwarzfinancial.com
Catholic Schools Report: Race for Education committee: Tina Herrman & Taryn Crawford
Tina and Taryn joined C.D. and Mike to talk about the 14th annual Race for Education, which raises funds for essential education needs. The fundraiser makes up a large chunk of the school’s annual budget. The race took place on Friday, April 27th:
Tuesday
Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Coordinator Kara Berry joined the Eagle Morning Show on the phone to let us know what’s going on this week at the Chamber!
Apr 24 HAYP Happy Hour
Apr 25 Leadership Hays Session 4
Apr 25 HAYP Leadership/Professional Development Committee
Stacy made his monthly visit to the show to talk about the farm safety course taking place this weekend and wheat freeze assessments:
It’s a federal law for youth ages 14-15 to take a tractor and farm safety course if they’re going to be working on a farm in the summer:
Stacy held a wheat freeze assessment meetings on Thursday this week:
Protect & Serve: Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Hagans
Ryan Hagans joined C.D. & Mike on the show to talk about the new regional fire/rescue training center:
In 2016, the Hays Fire Department was given an area south of the waste water treatment facility to construct a training center. A Breathing Air Maze was constructed inside the old concession stand building. Electrical & plumbing work was provided by NCK Tech
Late 2017: HFD put plans together to apply for a grant through the Dane G. Hansen Foundation
March 2018: the City of Hays was awarded a $272,000 grant to construct the facility
Joint operation with the Ellis County Fire Department will improve local and area firefighter training. It will be available for use by all area fire departments and law enforcement agencies
The facility will include a 3 story drill tower, large concrete pad, live burn building and classroom with more room to expand.
Plans are underway to start construction
Thursday
Cottonwood Extension District Family & Consumer Sciences Agent Linda Beech and Childhood Development Specialist Dr. Bradford Wiles
Linda brought in Dr. Bradford Wiles to talk about what he does as a specialist:
Dr. Bradford also talked about how children become readers and writers through a continuous developmental process called “emergent literacy”
City Commission Report: City Commissioner Shaun Musil, City Manager Toby Dougherty & HaysPost.com’s Becky Kiser
Final meeting on development of hotel & convention center in North Hays. Here’s Toby Dougherty with more information on the financial incentives for the developer from the city:
Water line improvements at 2400 General Hays Road. Here’s Shaun Musil with more:
Diamond grinding on the Hays streets:
Proposal to re-stripe a section of Canterbury Drive from four lanes to three:
The new Downtown Hays Pavilion was dedicated Friday afternoon. FHSU and NCKTech students who provided labor for the project helped cut the ribbon.
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing Video/Photos by BECKY KISER Hays Post
The definition of collaboration in the Oxford Dictionary is “the action of working with someone to produce or create something.”
Performing in the true sense of the word, two pillars of the community collaborated with classes from two of the city’s post-secondary institutions to build a gathering space for the ages in downtown Hays.
The Downtown Hays Development Corporation planned a 46-by-86-foot outdoor pavilion on 10th Street, about a block east of Main. The planning and design class at Fort Hays State University designed the structure. FHSU’s building construction class built it with some guidance from Commercial Builders Superintendent Geoff Withington. And an electrical technology class from North Central Kansas Technical College installed the electrical wiring and lighting.
The dedication of the new Downtown Pavilion in Union Pacific Park on a warm, sunny afternoon Friday was a long time coming.
Sandy Jacobs, former DHDC board president, said the idea of a downtown pavilion had been tossed around for more than 15 years.
The project was boosted from a proposal in 2012 to a plan that came to fruition six years later with a $100,000 donation from the Bob and Pat Schmidt Foundation and a matching grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
Cornerstones and bricks in the north wall
The DHDC sold 50 bricks and 24 larger cornerstones to the public that were placed in a wall on the north side of the pavilion. The wall was finished with a cement cap for seating purposes. An additional thousand-plus bricks were available after being removed from the sidewalk area to the west when a public restroom was built in 2017.
“I think the bricks add a lot of history,” said Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director.
Dustin Roths, current DHDC board president, called the pavilion “a gift to the people of Hays, to all of western Kansas.”
Ellis Co. Commissioner Barb Wasinger with FHSU Building Construction instructor Kris Munsch and Gary Weatherbee, Commercial Builders president.
Kris Munsch, assistant professor of applied technology and instructor of FHSU’s building construction class, said he and his students enjoyed witnessing the public’s interest in construction. Several people drove and walked by to take a look at the progress of the project on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
“Oh my goodness, it’s a very visual project for the community,” Munsch said. “It’s a community investment.”
From the cathedral ceiling with a tongue-and-groove pine ceiling to the clay tile roof – and everything in between – FHSU senior Caden Schulz said the project was a learning experience.
“I’ve been really excited about getting it done and seeing what people think,” said Schulz, a construction management major from Wray, Colo. “I had never done a tile roof before, so I was glad to be able to be a part of that.”
The pavilion is available for use free to the public, and groups can reserve it by calling the Hays Parks Department at 785-628-7375.
Eight benches commemorating several partnerships that made the project possible surround the outside corridor of the pavilion. Four more benches have been placed near the public bathroom area.
In addition to the cement wall, more seating was provided with square limestone structures covering the 12 steel base plates of the column supports.
By design, the rest of the area is open space. Groups are able to bring their own seating if needed.
“We’ve had a lot of requests to keep it open,” Bloom said. “We already have musical performances and barbecue contests scheduled here. There are so many possibilities for this space. There can be dances and family gatherings. The possibilities are endless.”
The pavilion also features free internet access provided by Nex-Tech.
Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president, was unable to attend the dedication but sent her congratulations to all who were part of the project.
Brent Hirsch, current vice president of the Student Government Association, read remarks from Mason.
“Fort Hays State University is proud to have played an important role in the design and construction of the Downtown Pavilion,” Hirsch read. “This structure represents a strong partnership between Fort Hays State University and the Hays community, representing a downtown dream and the creativity and strength of approximately 80 FHSU students.”
“I can’t think of a better way to teach our students the importance of community,” Mason wrote. “Thank you for this opportunity for our students to learn, create and grow in their areas of study. We look forward to future partnerships and the development of new and exciting projects in the Hays community.”
Bloom agreed.
“Both Fort Hays State and NCK Tech are intricate parts of our community in so many ways,” she said. “A lot of time the partnerships are through the professors and instructors and not the students. This is the students getting excited about the community, investing in the community and maybe staying in the community even after they graduate.”
Munsch’s building construction class traditionally builds residential garages for its spring project. But he jumped at the chance for something different.
“This is by far more interesting than a garage, partly because of the scale of the project,” he said. “A garage is about 10 yards of concrete, and this was 90 yards.”
Allen Hill, chair of the electrical technology department at the Hays campus of NCK Tech, said the project also worked out really well for his students.
“They’ve had a good time with it,” he said, “and it was a great experience for them.”
The pavilion has a cathedral ceiling with tongue-and-groove pine with decorative metal corbels on the underside.
Other NCK Tech students also contributed to the project as the welding class provided decorative corbels on the underside of the roof.
Schulz said he was glad he had the opportunity to get to work with a professional construction superintendent.
“Geoff is a good instructor himself,” Schulz said. “He’s been really patient with us, and we learned a lot working with him.”
Withington expressed mutual feelings.
“I truly enjoyed it,” he said. “I told the students this is a real-life experience. I’d like to do something like this again.”
Some folks hung around after the dedication, proclaiming the beauty of both the pleasant spring weather and the new addition to downtown Hays.
Bloom glanced around and realized that the pavilion was now open to the public. In fact, the inaugural event was scheduled for just a few hours after the dedication. The FHSU Jazz Ensemble and Quartet were set to play there Friday night during the city’s Spring Art Walk.
“We want this to be the most utilized shelter in Hays,” Bloom said. “I’ve heard it’s beautiful in the dark, all lit up. I can hardly wait until tonight.”
Munsch hopes some of the folks utilizing the shelter are the young people who helped build it.
“The students can really take pride in this,” Munsch said. “It’s about leaving a legacy. They can come back here 20 years from now, take their family under it and say, ‘I helped build this.’ ”
Hays Mayor James Meier said he hopes this can just be the beginning of other similar projects.
“Let’s think what else we can do to make our city better,” he said. “Let’s look at more campus to core. Let’s look to the future.”
Today
Sunny, with a high near 71. Northeast wind 6 to 15 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. East southeast wind 13 to 16 mph.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Windy, with a south southeast wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 24 to 29 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Windy, with a south wind 22 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Windy, with a south wind 21 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Windy.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.
Tuesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77.
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped the series opener against Missouri Western Friday evening at Larks Park, 12-1 (April 27). The Tigers move to 13-32 on the year and 5-25 in MIAA play, while the Griffons are now 24-21 overall and 16-15 in conference action. A full house of 462 fans enjoyed a great evening for baseball during the annual Pack the Park event.
Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Tigers collected seven hits on the night, three of which came from senior Alex Weiss who extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Jordan Wilkerson added a pair of base knocks, including a towering home run to right center in the bottom of the fourth, his eighth long ball of the year.
A double from Jason Nicholson and a single from Clayton Basgall gave the Tigers a pair of baserunners in the final inning with no outs, but Griffon starter Nate Hunter got out of the jam to turn in a complete game.
The Griffons scored in each of the first five innings, compiling 12 hits. Both teams committed a pair of errors in the field.
Sam Capps (2-4) took the loss after allowing five runs in 1.1 innings as the starter. Easton Palmer tossed the final 2.2 innings of the game, striking out four while allowing just one baserunner on a walk.
The Tigers will look to even the series Saturday afternoon (April 28) when the teams battle in game two of the three-game set. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former teacher of the year for a northeast Kansas school district has admitted to having with a student.
Burd -photo Johnson Co.
Forty-five-year-old Todd Burd pleaded guilty Friday to amended charges of unlawful sexual relations.
He initially was charged with aggravated criminal sodomy after the 16-year-old boy reported being assaulted while sitting in Burd’s pickup truck.
Court documents say the victim told police that Burd sent photographs and messages that were “sexual in nature” beforehand. The victim said Burd had been pressuring him to meet after school hours.
Burd taught music and was the choir director at Gardner Edgerton High School in late 2016, when the incident happened. Burd received the Gardner-Edgerton district’s Teacher of the Year honor in 2015. His sentencing is set for June 29.
ARLINGTON, Texas – With the 72nd pick overall in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the New York Jets selected Fort Hays State defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd. He became the third Fort Hays State player in history selected in the NFL Draft.
Here is the video footage from the draft of Nathan Shepherd getting his name called at the podium on NFL Network.
Shepherd was the first NCAA Division II player taken in the 2018 NFL Draft. He joins Frankie Neal and Steve Crosby as players out of Fort Hays State selected in the NFL Draft. He is the first selection for FHSU in 31 years as Neal was the last in 1987.
Shepherd was a standout defensive tackle at Fort Hays State, a two-time All-America selection (2016 and 2017) and 2017 MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. He was a three-time All-MIAA selection. In his three years at Fort Hays State, Shepherd amassed 168 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Shepherd was an All-America First Team by three organizations in his senior year, including the American Football Coaches Association, D2Football.com, and the Don Hansen Football Committee. He tied for the most amount of votes given to a Division II player for the Cliff Harris Award, presented to the nation’s top small college defensive player representing NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA colleges. This year, the award went to a player from NCAA Division III.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The stepmother of a missing 5-year-old Wichita boy has lost custody of her 1-year-old daughter.
Glass-photo Sedgwick Co.
A judge’s ruling Friday puts Emily Glass’ daughter in state custody. Child welfare officials will decide where she’ll live. Glass is charged with child endangerment stemming from her care of the girl, who previously was placed in police protective custody.
The charge was filed after Glass reported her stepson, Lucas Hernandez, missing in February. Glass cared for her daughter and Lucas while the children’s father worked out of state for weeks at a time. Lucas’ biological mother didn’t live in the Wichita area when he disappeared.
Search crews have repeatedly combed Wichita parks and found no sign of Lucas. Police say they don’t think he was abducted or walked away.
Today
