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Month: June 2018

100-mile-per-hour wind gusts from Sunday storm

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GOVE COUNTY — Sunday’s storm brought heavy rain and damaging winds to western Kansas. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of 95 and over 100-miles-per-hour in Gove and Logan County.

The winds toppled trees in the area and brought down power lines in Winona, according to the Gove County sheriff’s department.

Gusts of over 70-miles-per-hour were reported in Seward and Kearny County.  Many areas of western Kansas reported wind gusts over 60 miles-per-hour.

Power was reported out for a time in Gray County, according to the sheriff’s department. A parked semi was blown over one mile west of Cimarron.

The National Weather Service reported street flooding in Oberlin and Norton. Water was reported two-feed deep in some intersections in Bird City.

There are no reports of injury from Sunday’s storm.

Now That’s Rural: Pat Happer, Meriden, Part 2

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Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

When I’m tired and need some coffee, I know it’s time to go to the farmhouse. But if I lived at Meriden, I might go to a different type of farmhouse – spelled Pharm House, with a PH as in pharmacy. This Pharm House is a specialty coffee shop that the Farrant family created next to the pharmacy in Meriden. It’s another example of the Farrant family’s community spirit, which is helping the local school district and the broader community.

Last week we learned about Jake Farrant and Kansas Turf, his family-owned sports construction company in Meriden. Pat Happer, the school superintendent at Jefferson West High School in Meriden, provided additional information on this company’s benefit to the community.

Pat Happer grew up in Overland Park. He studied education at Emporia State and began his teaching career in western Kansas. He then became a school administrator in eastern Kansas. After serving as a principal in the Jefferson West School District, he became district superintendent in 2011. Pat lives in the rural community of Ozawkie, population 645 people. Now, that’s rural.

Pat knew Jake when Jake was a student and then as Jake became a local businessman. Jake was growing his turf installation business and also served as an assistant football coach at Jeff West High School. Unfortunately, the school’s natural grass football field had seen better days. Jake envisioned artificial turf on that field.

“When Jake started talking to me about artificial turf for the school, I thought, `Oh my, we just don’t have that kind of budget,’” Pat Happer said. “But Jake suggested that the school allocate to this project the same amount of money that was already going to be spent on the natural grass field, and he would work on private funding for the rest.”

The school board considered the idea, held an open forum to gather community input, and decided to proceed with the project. Jake contacted other businesses to donate to the project. He committed to install turf at a discount. The community stepped forward to make it happen.

Then a remarkable breakthrough occurred. Jake’s company was replacing turf for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. “I asked what they were going to do with the old turf, which was only a year old, and they said, `Oh, just store it somewhere,’” Jake said.

Jake contacted Pat Happer back at Jeff West to see if the school would be interested in that turf. In partnership with the school, he acquired the Saint’s year-old turf and installed it on the Jeff West High School field at a discounted rate. “It took 27 semis to transport all that turf,” Jake said. Of course, the NFL logo had to be cut out and removed and the Jeff West school logo installed.

Jake was thrilled to see the new turf on the field, but he also noticed a benefit to the community. “When we had a grass field, we had to lock it up to try to preserve the grass for the season,” Jake said. “Now it can be open for the community to use.”

“We were able to host our school’s community wellness night at the stadium,” Pat Happer said. “If it rained, it didn’t matter. We didn’t have to worry about mud.” Other sports can use it as well.

“They’ve done a lot of good things in the community, such as their day care,” Pat said of the Farrants. “After our local pharmacist passed away, they partnered with the hospital in Winchester to reopen the pharmacy. They purchased and remodeled a vacant building for the pharmacy and added a specialty coffee shop called the Pharm House. Bryce Farrant’s wife Chrissy manages the Pharm House and pharmacy.

“We are working to make our school district and community more attractive,” Pat said.

We commend Jake and Kysa Farrant, Pat Happer, and all those who are making a difference by working to make their community better. When you need coffee in this community, you can go to the Pharm House – and get your prescriptions right next door.

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Fire damages century-old Kansas church

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — A fire Sunday did extensive damage to a 100-year-old church in Andale.

Due to the demand for water needed to fight the fire, city officials asked residents to limit water use.

Church fire early Sunday -photo courtesy St. Joseph Church

According to a social media report from Andale Police. “We are asking that you please limit your water use today in the city of Andale.

Due to the large amount of water needed to fight the fire at the St. Joseph Church.”

Fire crews from Sedgwick County, the Wichita fire department, Newton, Colwich. Valley Center, Mount Hope, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the fire just after 5:30 a.m. Sunday. Two firefighters were transported for treatment of minor injuries, according to officials.

Parishioners gather Sunday evening-photo courtesy St. Joseph Church

The church held a Mass Sunday morning at the Andale High School Auditorium. Parishioners also met outside the damaged church on Sunday evening, according to their social media account.

Authorities have not released details on what caused the fire. Lightning is a possibility.

Gurriel hits grand slam, Astros rout Royals

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HOUSTON (AP) – Yuli Gurriel hit a grand slam in Houston’s eight-run second inning, helping Gerrit Cole and the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 11-3 on Sunday.

Gurriel finished with three hits as the AL West-leading Astros won for the 15th time in 17 games. Jose Altuve drove in two runs and scored twice, and Evan Gattis connected for a pinch-hit homer.

Cole (9-1) struck out eight while pitching five innings of one-run ball. The right-hander has struck out at least eight in 12 of his 16 starts.

Houston loaded the bases with one out in the second, and Tony Kemp brought home the first run when he reached on catcher’s interference on Drew Butera. George Springer then lined out, but Alex Bregman walked, Altuve hit a two-run single and Carlos Correa walked before Gurriel connected against Jason Hammel (2-9) for his second career grand slam.

Gurriel also hit a solo drive in Saturday’s 4-3 win in 12 innings. It’s the first time since July 21-22, 2017, that Gurriel has homered in back-to-back games.

Kansas City dropped to 3-18 in June. Hammel was tagged for nine runs, matching his season high, and walked five in four innings.

Lucas Duda hit his fifth homer for the Royals, and Rosell Herrera singled in a run.

TIME TO SHAVE

Bregman had been working on a mustache the last few days, but it disappeared during the game. A split-screen picture of Bregman during his at-bat in the second inning and next plate appearance in the fourth showed he had shaved at some point between the two at-bats.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Joe Smith (elbow discomfort) threw his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list. Smith threw about 30 pitches. He said he felt good and will know more of where he is at depending on how he feels on Monday.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Brad Keller (1-2, 2.63 ERA) faces the Angels on Monday in a make-up game. Last time out, Keller got a no-decision against Houston in a 7-4 loss on June 17. Keller allowed three runs in six innings against the Astros.

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (9-2, 1.60 ERA) faces the Blue Jays on Monday. Verlander leads the American League in ERA, WHIP, opponent OPS and opponent batting average.

Eagles drop bracket opener in Omaha

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OMAHA, Neb. – Skutt Catholic scored five runs in the first inning and beat the Hays Eagles Senior American Legion baseball team 10-2 in the opening round of bracket play Sunday at the Battle of Omaha Tournament.

Carson Jacobs recorded only one out and was roughed up for three earned runs on three hits and suffered the loss. Palmer Hutchison had two hits including a double and drove in both of the Eagles runs.

The Eagles won their first three pool play games before have their 14-game win streak snapped in a 3-2 loss to Effingham, Illinois Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles are now 18-3-1 on the season. They travel to Norton for a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Summer camps program a recruiting tool for Fort Hays State’s KAMS

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By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Changes will abound for the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science at Fort Hays State University when students begin classes for the 2018-19 school year in August.

Until then, Dr. Jeanne Sumrall and Sherri Matlock can be assured the summer portion of the KAMS operation is being well taken care of.

Sumrall is taking over as interim director of KAMS for the departing Dr. Roger Schieferecke, and Matlock will be the assistant director in charge of the international piece of KAMS. Several international students have attended the premier high school program on the FHSU campus each year. From now on, they will have their own identity and be known as IAMS.

Sumrall

Before those 100-plus students converge on campus, the focus this summer is giving prospective KAMS students a taste of life on a university campus.

Several of the six different sessions normally reach the maximum number of 30 students entering grades 9 and 10.

While his year’s “Windmills and Gases and Coal: Oh My!” camp featured a small group of six, those half dozen students said they learned a lot while spending four days with Dr. Hendratta Ali, associate professor of geosciences, and Dr. Gary Andersen, assistant professor of advanced education programs.

 

Activities in the windmills, gases and coal camp included visiting Greensburg, a small town in south central Kansas that totally rebuilt green after a tornado demolished virtually the entire town in 2007; an ethanol plant, Western Plains Energy, in Oakley; and FHSU’s wind turbine farm and the Akers Energy Center on campus.

The two teams of three each reached a competitive level as they gave presentations on the last day of a project where they designed a city energy plan. They took turns asking and answering tough questions from the opposing team members.

Ali squelched any hard feelings among the students, encouraging healthy competition.

“It’s not about winning, but about learning,” she said. “You have all done a good job of thinking on your feet.”

The students were all ears the day before when Keith Dreher, director of energy management at FHSU, threw out huge numbers such as 130 feet long (each blade of the wind turbine), 250 feet (height of the turbine tower) and 160,000 pounds (the weight of the box at the top of the turbine that houses the electrical and mechanical components of the turbine).

One of the most popular camps this summer was the “VEX Robotics and Engineering Design” session in early June.

Ellie Bultena attended the robotics camp and also returned for the windmills, gases and coal camp, which she said she enjoyed as well.

Bultena will be a freshman at Sublette High School this fall and said she already is “interested in attending KAMS” in two years.

“I am definitely looking at KAMS as an option,” said Bultena, who learned about KAMS in middle school.

One of Bultena’s teammates on the city energy plan project was Maya Dorantes, a freshman-to-be at Wichita County High School in Leoti. Dorantes is a returnee to the FHSU campus after two years of attending the university’s music camp annually held the third week of July.

Dorantes, who plays the French horn, said she plans to be back on campus next month for the 2018 music camp.

“I really like the campus,” she said. “I’ve liked both the music and (KAMS) camps.”

Each fall semester, KAMS administrators reach out to faculty members in the Peter Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics, asking them to submit proposals if they want to teach a camp the following summer. A selection committee goes through the proposals and chooses a variety of six subjects.

“One of the greatest things about these camps is that the students get to work with Ph.D. faculty, and that’s not very common for summer camps,” said Ann Noble, financial administrator for KAMS. “The professors who choose to teach at these camps get to teach something they are passionate about. It’s fun for them, and it’s fun for the students.”

Noble was part of the administrative team that helped bring KAMS to Fort Hays State in 2009. The summer camps are in their fourth year.

“President Hammond thought the camps would be a great recruiting tool for KAMS,” Noble said of Dr. Edward Hammond, then president of FHSU. “It’s a way to bring the students onto campus and let them enjoy campus life during the summer. Give them a taste of what it would be like to come back to KAMS their junior year.”

Hays Senior Monarchs go 3-0 in Great Bend

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GREAT BEND, Kan. – The Hays Monarchs Senior American Legion went 3-0 in Great Bend over the weekend. Friday night they rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie then scored a run in the eighth to beat Larned 11-10.

Saturday they jumped out to a 5-2 lead then held on to beat Hoisington 5-4 then knocked off Great Bend 5-1.

The Monarchs are now 9-2-1 on the season. They are off until Friday when they travel to Hoisington for a doubleheader.

Tractor-trailer tumbles off Kansas highway overpass

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a tractor-truck driver has survived after his rig went off the side of a Kansas City, Kansas, highway overpass and fell about 60 feet to the ground below.

First responders on the scene of the crash – photos courtesy Fox4Kansas City

The Kansas Highway Patrol says the driver is in serious condition after failing to negotiate a curve around 4 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 670 near Interstate 70.

KHP spokeswoman Tiffany Bush says the truck was carrying produce.

A witness, Bill Newcamp of Atchison, said he was waiting for a work crew near the overpass when he saw the truck fall. He says it’s a “miracle” the driver is alive.

2 Kansas men jailed after late-night traffic stop

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JACKSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects

Castle-photo Jackson Co.

Just after 11:30p.m. Saturday, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Ford passenger car near 158th Road on U.S. 75 in Jackson County for a traffic infraction, according to sheriff Tim Morse.

The encounter resulted in two men being arrested on drug charges. The driver, Jason Floyd Castle, 48, of Topeka, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and transporting an open container.

Santos-photo Jackson Co.

The passenger, John Daniel Santos, 49, of Topeka, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. The two men are being held in the Jackson County Jail.

Sunny, dry Monday

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Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 65. West wind 6 to 9 mph becoming south in the evening.

Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind around 8 mph.

Tuesday Night Clear, with a low around 67. West northwest wind around 7 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.

Wednesday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.

Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 73.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 99. Breezy.

Kan. man, teens caught with counterfeit cash and fake IDs

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MCPHERSON COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating 3 suspects on a variety of allegations.

During a search of a home in the 500 block of Hancock by McPherson Police on Thursday, officers found 46 grams of marijuana, counterfeit bills, checks, and altered identification cards.

Johnson – photo Saline Co.

Officers arrested 26-year-old Zachary Johnson on a warrant and 18-year-old Caitlyn Finley for interference with a law enforcement officer. A 17-year-old who was not identified was arrested for distribution of marijuana.

McPherson Police say the United States Secret Service assisted in a follow-up investigation and will be pursuing federal charges of counterfeiting corporate securities, counterfeiting money and aggravated identity theft against Johnson and Finley.

Kobach campaign has fundraiser with rocker Ted Nugent

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LENEXA, Kan (AP) —About 175 people attended a fundraiser for conservative Republican Kris Kobach’s campaign for Kansas governor with rocker and gun-rights provocateur Ted Nugent as dozens of people protested outside.

Kobach and Nugent raffled off an AR-15 rifle during their event at a Kansas City-area community center. A similar weapon was used in a deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school in February.

Kobach said Nugent is the nation’s best-known gun rights advocate. Kobach, the Kansas secretary of state, is trying to unseat Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Aug. 7 primary.

Kobach rides in parades in a jeep with a replica machine gun on the back despite ongoing criticism.

He told a crowd in Salina earlier: “I don’t back down. I double down.”

Area students are Spring ’18 graduates of University of Kansas

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KU

LAWRENCE — More than 5,400 undergraduate students at the University of Kansas earned honor roll distinction for the spring 2018 semester.

The students, from KU’s Lawrence and Edwards campuses and the schools of Health Professions and Nursing in Kansas City, Kansas, represent 87 of 105 Kansas counties, 40 other states and territories, and 45 other countries.

The honor roll comprises undergraduates who meet requirements in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and in the schools of Architecture & Design; Business; Education; Engineering; Health Professions; Journalism; Music; Nursing; Pharmacy; and Social Welfare. Honor roll criteria vary among the university’s academic units. Some schools honor the top 10 percent of students enrolled, some establish a minimum grade-point average, and others raise the minimum GPA for each year students are in school. Students must complete a minimum number of credit hours to be considered for the honor roll.

Regional county graduates are listed below.

Ellis

Brandon Bollig, Ellis, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Alesha Brenner, Ellis, School of Health Professions

Raina Basso, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Raegan Billinger, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Brianna Brin, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Lucas Brull, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Sana Cheema, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Madison Crees, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Brandon Davidson, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Taylor Dinkel, Hays, School of the Arts

Alex Feyerherm, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Zachary Hopp, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Kelly Koenigsman, Hays, School of Education

Mikayla Linn, Hays, School of Pharmacy

Mark Loftus, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

John Lowry, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Jordyn Manhart, Hays, School of the Arts

Payton Markley, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Morgan Mathews, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Matthew Moeder, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Aaron Moore, Hays, School of Business

Tanner Moore, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Graydon Olson, Hays, School of Engineering

Gage Phillips, Hays, School of Engineering

Cassandra Quinby, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Scott Ring, Hays, School of Engineering

Nathan Romme, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Roy Schmeidler, Hays, School of Music

Owen Toepfer, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Jodi Veach, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Nikki Vuong, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Ethan Waddell, Hays, School of Business

Ryan Wooldridge, Hays, School of Pharmacy

Fengxue Zhang, Hays, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Madisyn Gerhardt, Victoria, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences 

Graham

Tara Brachtenbach, Hill City, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences 

Norton

Layton Miller, Norton, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Phillips

Alex Atchison, Agra, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Bailey Imm, Agra, School of Pharmacy

Faith Hofaker, Logan, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Kayla Hofaker, Logan, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Logan Kiser, Logan, School of Pharmacy

Brant Cox, Long Island, School of Education

Mark Coomes, Phillipsburg, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Stephen Sage, Phillipsburg, School of Pharmacy

Macye Witmer, Phillipsburg, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Rooks

Jaclyn Benoit, Damar, School of Business

Hannah Berland, Damar, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Jacob Brull, Plainville, School of Music

Alexis Winklepleck, Stockton, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences 

Russell

Taelyr Blehm, Russell, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Sheila Gulick, Russell, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences 

Smith

Aleah Seemann, Kensington, School of Health Professions

Jordan Baxter, Smith Center, School of Education

Taylor Zabel, Smith Center, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

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