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Month: May 2018

Svaty Picks Ex-Army Pilot Running Mate To Balance Run For Kan. Governor

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BY JIM MCLEAN

The race to be the next governor of Kansas is beginning in earnest.
FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Josh Svaty picked a political no-name to team with in his run for governor.

But the pick is someone who checks off boxes that Svaty can’t with voters in the Democratic primary and, if things play out right for him, in the general election.

She’s not just a woman; her abortion rights beliefs mitigate his support of some abortion restrictions that don’t play well with many Democrats. He didn’t serve in the military; she brings U.S. Army credentials polished at West Point and honed as a Black Hawk helicopter platoon leader in Iraq.

Katrina Lewison is running for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Josh Svaty
CREDIT JIM MCLEAN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Katrina Lewison offers business experience in the tech world to balance his time as a member of the Kansas House and as the state’s agriculture secretary.

The pairing gives Svaty a chance to turn some heads as voters start tuning in to the crowded campaign.

“This is a change election,” Svaty said.

Gone, he said, are the days of “two white guys running at the top of the ticket.” That’s his shot at the all-male tickets of the two leading contenders for the Republican nomination, Gov. Jeff Colyer and Secretary of State Kris Kobach.

Colyer, who served for seven years as lieutenant governor before taking over in January when former Gov. Sam Brownback left to take an ambassador’s job in the Trump administration, installed Salina businessman Tracey Mann as his successor.

Mann, a former director for the National Student Leadership Forum on Faith and Values, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2010.

Kobach added former rival Wink Hartman to his ticket after the Wichita businessman dropped out of the race for the GOP nomination for governor.

Lewison, who’s five months into a term on the Manhattan school board, said her desire to put Kansas “back on the right path” motivated her to run for statewide office.

“I see this as a chance to step up when Kansas needs leaders the most,” Lewison said.

An abortion rights supporter, Lewison said she wouldn’t have joined the ticket if she and Svaty “weren’t aligned” on the issue.

“Josh has been very clear about his position that he would not further restrict a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices,” she said.

Svaty’s selection of a running mate is the first event in what promises to be a flurry of campaign activity between now and June 1, the date by which all major party candidates for statewide office and the Kansas House must file with the secretary of state’s office.

The campaign of state Sen. Laura Kelly, another perceived frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, says she will name her running mate “late next week” and file the following week.

Several other declared candidates for the Democratic nomination have yet to make their campaigns official. They include former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, Olathe physician Arden Andersen and former FBI agent Michael Tabman. Salina salesman Robert Klingenberg has named a running mate but hasn’t yet filed.

Wichita high school student Jack Bergeson is the only Democratic hopeful to have both chosen a running mate and filed his candidacy with the secretary of state’s office.

Two prominent Republican candidates — former state Sen. Jim Barnett and Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer — must also round out their tickets and file before the deadline.

Several teenage candidates running for the GOP nomination must do the same. They include, Tyler Ruzich, Dominic Scavuzzo and Joseph Tutera, Jr.

Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.

One person headed to hospital after three-car wreck on 27th in Hays

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

One person was taken to the hospital about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday after a three-vehicle accident on East 27th Street at about Plaza Avenue.

A truck appeared to have rear ended a white passenger car, causing a chain reaction and collision to a third vehicle, a black Dodge Charger.

27th Street westbound was temporarily blocked as emergency crews work to remove the vehicles.

See the Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.

 

Sheriff: Kan. man dies from injuries in motorcycle, FedEx truck crash

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas man injured in a weekend motorcycle accident has died.

First responders on the scene of the fatal accident. Photo courtesy WIBW TV

On Saturday, deputies, along with Shawnee Heights Fire Department and American Medical Response (AMR) personnel, were dispatched  to 3500 SE Croco Road for an injury accident, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.

The accident involved a motorcycle driven by Anthony J. Forshee, 28, Berryton, and a Fed Ex delivery truck.  The motorcycle was north in the 3500 block of SE Croco Road and the Fed Ex truck was south turning to go east on SE 35th when they collided.

AMR transported Forshee to Stormont Vail Hospital where he died.  The driver of the Fed Ex truck was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation, according to Stallbaumer.

Stepmom of missing Kan. boy not guilty of child endangerment

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The stepmother of a 5-year-old Wichita boy who has been missing since February has been acquitted of child endangerment in an unrelated case involving her own daughter.

Glass-photo Sedgwick Co.

A jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning the not guilty verdict Wednesday in the case of Emily Glass.

Glass has been on trial this week for reportedly smoking marijuana and then driving with her 1-year-old daughter.

Prosecutors argued Glass admitted smoking weed in law enforcement interviews. The defense argued there was no physical evidence proving she had smoked spot or that it affected her driving.

Glass has not been charged in the Feb. 17 disappearance of her stepson, Lucas Hernandez. Glass told police the boy was gone from his bedroom when she woke from a nap.

Sheriff: Sunday high school graduate dies in Kan. crash

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DICKINSON COUNTY — A Kansas teen died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Monday in Dickinson County.

A vehicle driven by Colin M. Henderson, 17, Chapman, was traveling in the 3200 Block of Rain Road, according to Sheriff Garreth Hoffman.

The vehicle left the road and hit a culvert for a field or driveway entrance. The vehicle overturned and Henderson was ejected, according to Hoffman.

The teenager had just graduated from Chapman High School on Sunday.

The sheriff confirmed that there was no indication of any alcohol or drugs at the scene of the accident.

Hipp named new special education director for Hays area

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Chris Hipp

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays West Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative has hired Chris Hipp as its new special education director.

Hipp will start the new position as of July 1. He replaces Raj Sharma whose contract for the upcoming school year was not renewed on the recommendation of the four superintendents in the co-op. This includes Hays, Ellis, Victoria and La Crosse.

Hipp, 44, lives in Hays and has been working as a corporate trainer for Aflac, but he has an extensive background in special education and school administration.

“I decided it was time to get back into school administration,” he said. “That is where my heart is.”

He is the former director of the North Central Kansas Special Education Co-op, which is based out of Phillipsburg. That co-op covered 13 school districts. Some of those districts included Norton, Plainville, Natoma and Smith Center. He worked as director for five years and assistant director for three years.

Hipp is a native of Claflin and received both his bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in EDS in school psychology at Fort Hays State University. He also has endorsements for building level administration and district leadership in special education.

Hipp’s first job out of college was working as a school psychologist for the Hays special education co-op. He spent a year in Winfield and worked in Smith Center for 14 years. There, he was a school psychologist and then worked as an assistant principal and athletics/activities director for the junior/senior high school.

The Hipps moved back to Hays from the Smith Center to be closer to family, but Hipp said he always wanted to get back into education.

Hipp said the co-op has an outstanding staff.

“My ultimate goal is to first, come in and get to know the system and get reacquainted with the Hays system. … get in and figure out all the things that are going really well and find out what the staff needs to do an even better job with kids with disabilities and to help them and their families,” he said.

The Hays school board, with the support of the co-op districts, voted to increase pay $2 per hour for all paras starting the next school year in an attempt to decrease turnover. Paras in the co-op work part-time and do not receive benefits. The co-op has discussed increasing hours and reinstating benefits, but the cost, which would be $600,000, is too high at this time, school officials said.

See related story: Hays school board votes to increase paraprofessional pay

“One of the pain points from what I can gather is definitely turnover at the paraeducator spot,” he said. “That is such a vital piece in education and special education specifically. Anything we can do to help provide those folks what they deserve to try to create as much tenure as possible — I think that raise is a great start.”

He said as the co-op moves forward, he would look at benefits and the compensation package as a whole as well as training and development for paras.

“Finances are always a challenge — trying to find the right mix and being able to meet students’ needs as efficiently as possible with the resources that are provided,” he said. “That challenge will never change. Beyond that it is keeping the great teachers and paras we have and continuing to find new as people retire and move on. That is always the No.1 key. If you can get and keep great teachers and paras, you are going to have a lot of success. Kids are going to do well and families are going to be successful and happy.”

Hays Superintendent John Thissen said, “I feel fortunate to have someone with experience. He worked for the co-op north of us. I am very pleased he has that experience and is able to come help us out at this point.”

Chris and his wife, Jody, have two daughters — a third grader and sixth grader who attend Holy Family Elementary School.

 

Downtown Dialogue May 17

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DHDC is very excited to see what 2018 has in store for Downtown and we hope you are too!

This year we want to continue to focus on opening up dialogue between DHDC, business owners, and the community.

In 2018 every third Thursday of the month Sara Bloom, executive director of DHDC, will be at Breathe Coffee House.

We’re inviting board members, business owners, community members… anyone who wants to bring ideas, suggestions, challenges, struggles, questions and more to DHDC.

We hope you’ll join us and let us buy you a cup of coffee! Let’s work together to better Downtown and our community.

Larry M. Clark

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Larry M. Clark, 59, of Russell, Kansas, died on Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at his home in Russell.

Larry was born on September 26, 1958, in Hays, Kansas, the son of Marvin Duane and Patricia Ann (Hogan) Clark. He grew up in Natoma, Kansas, and graduated from Natoma High School in the class of 1976. He worked in the oil field industry and oil pipeline. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, NASCAR racing and watching sports. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Surviving family include his brothers John Clark (Susie) and Robert “Bobby” Clark (Brenda); sisters Anita Clark Smith (Jim) and Mary Pacheco and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother James “Red” Clark.

A graveside memorial service to celebrate Larry’s life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the Natoma City Cemetery with Father Brian Lager officiating. Cremation has been selected by the family and inurnment of the ashes will immediately follow the graveside service. Memorials may be given to the Larry Clark Memorial Fund and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell and Natoma, Kansas, is in charge of the memorial service arrangements.

Bear cub found dead near southwest Kansas town

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ELKHART, Kan. (AP) — Wildlife experts say a male, juvenile bear found dead in southwest Kansas might have been driven into the state by drought conditions in surrounding states.

The bear died Monday in an accidental crash on Highway 56 near Elkhart in Morton County, about 1.5 miles from the Oklahoma border.

State biologist Kraig Schulz says spring wildfires in New Mexico and Colorado combined with a region-wide drought might be pushing bears toward Kansas.

He says even in those conditions, it’s rare to find a black bear in Kansas. The last confirmed black bear in Morton County was in 2011. Another one was seen in 2016 just across the Oklahoma line.

Almost the entire Oklahoma panhandle is in exceptional drought, along with parts of southwest Kansas and northeast New Mexico.

🎥 R9 Ranch: Long-term water supply for Hays/Russell closer to fruition

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

After nearly three years of work, the draft master order for the R9 Ranch change applications by the cities of Hays and Russell has been prepared and distributed for public review on the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources website.

“It’s a little bit anti-climactic. I’ve read through this application about 800 times,” joked Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty. “I think this the first time I’ve read through it without there being red lines and about 1,000 comments in the document,” he said with a wry smile.

The cities purchased the Edwards County R9 Ranch and its water rights in 1995 with the expectation of development as a long-term water supply for Hays and Russell. Russell owns 18 percent; Hays owns the remainder.

The ranch is within the boundaries of Groundwater Management District (GMD) No. 5.

Both cities have reached the effective limits of water conservation with low water use programs. Hays residents use an average 92 gallons of water per person per day. Statewide, the average is 130 gallons per person per day. In 2013, Russell’s total water consumption dropped by 22 percent over the previous five years.

According to Dougherty, “Hays officials have spent 60 years exploring many options for a long-term water supply, including Kanopolis, Wilson and Cedar Bluff reservoirs. Nothing has been found that is more viable, affordable and achievable than the R9.”

In June 2015, Hays and Russell submitted applications to KDA-DWR to change the water use from agricultural irrigation to municipal.

The proposed changes will move more than 2,000 acre-feet of water per year in excess of 35 miles. That will trigger the state’s Water Transfer Act, which has never been invoked. The change application must be completed and approved before the transfer can begin.

“In my estimation, we are on the downhill side of this process,” Dougherty said.

Still, it will be a lengthy process, he added, “because of the complexity of what we’re asking for.” There are 60 original or amended change applications listed on the DWR website.

There are more than 60 water rights on the R9 and about 40 points of diversion where the water is being pulled out of the ground, which will be combined into 12 municipal wells. The ranch’s irrigation water was previously was categorized as “non-consumptive use,” with some of the water percolating back down through the sandy soil into the Arkansas River basin.  It will change to “consumptive use” as a municipal water supply with no water going into the alluvial aquifer. Instead, it will be piped approximately 67 miles north into the Smoky Hill River Basin at Schoenchen, then to Hays and Russell.

The ranch gets about 22 inches of rain annually and the water is naturally sustainable, Dougherty explained. Hays and Russell own 7,647 acre feet of irrigation water rights and have voluntarily agreed to an annual municipal sustainable yield of 4,800 acre feet.  Extensive modeling by Burns and McDonnell engineers show the ranch water will be just as viable in year 50 as it is on day one.

The R9 Ranch is being turned back to native grass as agricultural irrigation water wells were shut down and equipment removed.

The agricultural irrigation water wells have been shut down and the land converted to native grass with a Walk In Hunting Area planned by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism.

The master order contingently approving change applications for the R9 water rights by DWR/KDA chief engineer David Barfield had to conform to state laws, groundwater management district regulations, and DWR regulations. Many of these rules were written for small, singular occurrences.

“We are transcending water basins, we are transcending boundaries, and we are transcending scale that a lot of the regulations and state laws are written for,” Dougherty said.

Groundwater Management Dist. #5

The draft proposed master order and exhibits were transmitted to GMD No. 5 for its review this month, along with the change applications and amendments.

The next step in the process is for the chief engineer to hold a public meeting for input and comment, including that from board members of GMD No. 5, as required by state statute and DWR regulations.

That will culminate in “draft” being removed from the order and it will be deemed complete. Then it’s on to the water transfer process, also spelled out by state statutes.

“The Water Transfer Act hasn’t been enacted since it was significantly modified back in the 1990s to create the process that we’re about to go through,” Dougherty noted, “so we don’t have any past history or previous cases to look at.”

The R9 Ranch will soon become a Walk In Hunting Area (WIHA).

He described the process as “very simplistic in nature” with a three-person panel to be convened. It will consist of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary or the KDHE Director of the Division of Environment,  the head of the Kansas Water Office, and the chief engineer of the KDA/DWR.

The panel is ultimately tasked with a thumbs up or thumbs down decision on the water transfer after more public hearings are held.

“In essence, according to state statue, what the three-person panel is trying to determine is if allowing the water transfer is a greater benefit to the state of Kansas than by not allowing the transfer.”

Dougherty said it comes down to economics.

Russell Mayor Curt Mader and other Russell officials during a recent R9 Ranch update with Hays officials.

“The Hays/Russell region represents a $2 billion/year gross economy, and it’s growing,” he said.

Part of the cities’ submissions for the water transfer application included a financial study from the Fort Hays State University Docking Institute of Public Affairs.

“There are no indications the economy would slow down unless something major happens, and one major thing would be lack of available water,” Dougherty said.

“Our argument is the R9 Ranch is being set up as a regional long-term water supply. It isn’t just Hays and Russell. It would include Ellis, Victoria, Trego County Rural Water District No. 2 and Ellis County 1C Rural Water District,” he added. “There are lots of people and entities around here that can benefit from the utilization of this water. We’re all tied together economically, and it’s a solid economy.”

Hays voters approved a half-cent sales tax in 1998 dedicated to financing the $80 million project.

Former Hays judge reappointed to Judicial Ethics Advisory Panel

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Larson

TOPEKA—The Kansas Supreme Court reappointed former Justice Edward Larson to a four-year term on the Judicial Ethics Advisory Panel.

Larson will serve until June 30, 2022. He was a justice on the Supreme Court from 1995 to 2002 and a senior judge from 2002 to 2014. He served on the Kansas Court of Appeals from 1987 to 1995 and previously was a municipal court judge and practicing lawyer in Hays.

The Judicial Ethics Advisory Panel provides advisory opinions to judges who ask whether a future course of action would violate the Code of Judicial Conduct. All members of the Judicial Ethics Advisory Panel are retired justices or judges.

Advisory opinions are public and are published by the Clerk of the Appellate Courts on the Kansas judicial branch website at kscourts.org.

— Office of Judicial Administration

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