TREGO COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Monday Trego County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Ford F250 driven by Ramos, Victor Leeandrew Ramos, 28, Plainview, TX., was southbound on U.S. 283 nine miles south of WaKeeney.
The driver fell asleep. The truck entered the east ditch and vaulted over a field entrance road.
The trailer disconnected and rolled in the ditch. The truck remained upright and came to rest in the east ditch.
A passenger Jose Edwardo Cedillo, 39, Plainview, TX, was transported to the Trego County Hospital. Ramos and another passenger were not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Thanks to the nearly 1,000 Hays Post readers who took part in the first Ultimate 4th of July Giveaway.
And the winner is …
Kenny Raudis of Hays is our Ultimate 4th of July Giveaway winner. He will get to experience Wild West Festival VIP style with four passes for each night.
Other prizes include:
• A Jägermeister cooler and drink accessories, courtesy of 8th Street Liquor.
• The ultimate firework package from Jamie Day Fireworks, located in the parking lot of Big Creek Crossing, where sales benefit Immaculate Heart of Mary CYO group.
• 25 bratwursts from Rick’s Food Store of Lacrosse and Wilson Food Store of Wilson.
TOPEKA—Fiscal year-end tax receipts came in $1.21 billion above last year, and $317.81 million over fiscal year predictions, according to the latest revenue report released Monday and reported from the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Year-end tax receipts were bolstered by a more than 20 percent increase in June collections, with $133.02 million over last year, which was $143.79 million more than expected for the month.
“With tax receipts coming in above expectations every month during the last year, there’s optimism that this trend will continue,” Secretary Sam Williams said.
“The increase in sales tax collections indicate more retail spending precipitated by wage gains from the federal tax cuts passed in to law six months ago.”
Fiscal year retail sales tax collections took in $55.82 million more than last year. For the month, sales tax collections came in $6.98 million more than last June, which was $10.76 million more than expectations for the month.
Individual income tax continues to demonstrate strong performance above expectations, with fiscal year collections at $229.42 million more than predicted for the year, and $1.07 billion above last year. Individual income tax collections for the month came in $114.03 million more than last June’s receipts.
Robert A. Veselik-Jones, 47, passed away on May 25, 2018 at his home in Broomfield, Colorado.
Robert was born on September 16, 1970 to Robert L. and Patricia (Bastian) Jones in Peoria, Illinois. He was one of four children.
He was an avid bowler, and played the trombone. He was a Restaurant Manager. On December 19, 1992, he married Valerie Veselik in Goodland, Kansas at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. To this union, two children Brittny and Katherine were born.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his mother-in-law Sara Veselik, and one brother Lonnie Brancecum.
He is survived by his wife Valerie, his two daughters Brittny and Katherine Veselik-Jones, and two brothers David Jones and Tom Brancecum of Illinois.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, July 6, 2018 at 10:30 AM MT at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Goodland with Father Andrew Rockers officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Goodland Cemetery, Goodland, Kansas.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be designated to the American Kidney Association and may be left at the services of mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.
Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.
Service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.
BUTLER COUNTY — The Kansas Department of Corrections is investigating an incident that required local law enforcement assistance on Sunday afternoon at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
First responders on the scene at the El Dorado Correctional Facility Sunday afternoon -photo courtesy KWCH
Officials say inmates broke dozens of windows and set fires during a weekend disturbance at the maximum-security prison in south-central Kansas.
Kansas Department of Corrections spokesman Samir Arif said Monday that nobody was hurt. The disturbance started Sunday afternoon in the recreation yard at the prison in El Dorado and lasted about 4 ½ hours. Between 75 and 150 inmates were involved.
State union president Sarah LaFrenz says a corrections officer who witnessed what happened told her around 40 windows were broken. She said two classrooms had fire and smoke damage. The officer also told LaFrenz that inmates took over radio communication devices.
She says the disturbance began after an inmate on the yard who had refused to comply with instructions was restrained and moved.
Arif confirmed there was damage but provided no specifics.
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BUTLER COUNTY— The Kansas Department of Corrections is investigating an incident that required local law enforcement assistance on Sunday afternoon at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
First responders on the scene at the El Dorado Correctional Facility Sunday afternoon -photo courtesy KWCH
At approximately 4:30 pm, inmates began to surrender to security staff, according to KDOC spokesman Samir Arif.
The fires that were started by inmates were promptly extinguished, and a team from the Department of Corrections is examining damage.
The perimeter of the facility was secure for the entire duration of the incident, and at no point was the surrounding community in any danger.
All inmates and staff have been accounted for. There were no reported injuries.
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BUTLER COUNTY — Officials with the Kansas Department of Corrections are working with local law enforcement to calm an ongoing situation at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
On Sunday afternoon, a group of inmates refused to return from the yard to the living area and started small fires within a secure perimeter, according to KDOC spokesman Samir Arif.
There are no injuries reported and all staff accounted for, according to Arif.
The KDOC released no additional details Sunday afternoon.
SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities have identified the victims who died in a weekend crash in south-central Kansas.
First responders on the scene of the fatal crash-photo courtesy KAKE
Just after 10p.m. Saturday, a Nissan Murano driven by Michelle Lacey, 42, Wichita, was westbound on 79th Street in Haysville, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s office.
The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at Meridian and struck a northbound Jeep.
As a result of the impact of the collision, the Jeep rolled over into a Chevy SUV that was southbound on Meridian.
Lacey and a passenger in the Nissan, Kayla Heim, 23, Wichita, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Another passenger in the Nissan, Austin Pelkey, 23, Wichita, a 5-year-old and a toddler were also hospitalized. Pelkey was released from the hospital late Sunday.
The Jeep’s driver sustained minor injuries, while the driver of the SUV wasn’t hurt.
The sheriff’s department had no update on the condition of the children.
Jeff Boyle, Director of Parks, discusses Elevations, the new HAP water feature to be installed this fall.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The Hays Aquatic Park (HAP) will have a new play feature installed for use next summer.
City commissioners approved the recommendation of city staff last week to purchase the “Elevations” aquatic feature from RJR Enterprises for $185,000 from the Pool Reserve Funds. The multi-play piece will replace the deteriorated “Starburst” in the zero-depth entry area.
Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller was the sole vote against the proposal.
He said the Pool Reserve monies are primarily for repairs, and anticipates some big needs. He’s also like to see the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) do more promotion of the pool to increase attendance.
“It’s just there. We just expect people to go there,” Schwaller said. “The first thing that is lacking is a marketing plan.”
“We have the right staff in place now at CVB and I think a marketing plant would definitely help,” agreed Commissioner Shaun Musil. “I don’t think this new feature is going to increase attendance but I think it’s going to keep it relevant.”
Musil also advocated raising admission prices “a little bit.”
As HAP approaches its 20th year, Schwaller is more concerned about upkeep.
“The pool reserve funds we have on hand, $321,000, are meant to repair the pool. We’ve been diligent about it but at some point, we’re going to have a lot to replace,” Schwaller pointed out. “And when we use 57% of that money to buy a feature, it concerns me.”
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs said she would vote in favor of the new play feature because the pool represents “quality of life” in Hays, and is not expected to be a “money-maker.”
Jacobs quoted from an email sent to commissioners by a local business owner who wrote “if families from Hays and other communities begin patronizing other water attractions…we will lose their dollars spend on eateries, shopping, etc….money and sales tax revenue that would have benefited Hays if we had not allowed our community to lose its sizzle.”
The city’s General Fund is funded primarily by a local sales tax.
The four commissioners agreed the pool does provide “quality of life” in Hays.
According to Jeff Boyle, Director of Parks, construction of the new water play feature will begin August 21, 2018 and should be completed by December 21, 2018.
Boyle noted there were already two 1,000 attendance days at HAP. There were only two 1,000 attendance days in all of 2017. “I hope we continue that trend,” he added.
RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a reported sexual assault.
On Sunday, police filed a report for rape in Manhattan involving an 11-year old girl as the victim, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.
A-15-year-old and a 14-year old boy known to the victim are listed as the suspects, according to police.
Due to the nature of the crime, police released no additional details early Monday.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Friends,
Immigration will continue to be a major point of national concern until Congress takes the needed steps to create a positive change. I’m frustrated that we failed to pass our immigration bills. I’m tired of kicking the can down the road; and for those of us that are here to accomplish real work, it’s extremely frustrating. The legislation that failed in the House prioritized border security, included the critical agriculture guest worker program, a legislative fix for DACA recipients, and finally ended family separation at the border. While disappointed, we cannot sulk. I will continue to try to push action on this issue.
I hope you all have a safe Fourth of July holiday.
Recap: My Visit to the US-Mexico border
There is no easy fix to the current problems at the border. Recently I went to the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, TX to see firsthand regarding family separation and border security as a whole. I traveled to an Health and Human Services Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) shelter in Tornillo, Texas with a bipartisan group of members from D.C. to gain a better understanding of the most urgent issues and to speak with young immigrant children and border patrol officials alike.
The number of family units entering the country illegally has quadrupled from last year, while unaccompanied children crossing the border has tripled. The bigger problem, it seems, is that 83 percent of immigrant children that illegally cross the border are doing so alone. We need to come together and pass laws that will better equip us to deal with an issue like this and handle it appropriately.
Sit Down With the US Trade Representative
About a year ago, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and I led a letter, with our Freshmen GOP members to the United States Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer. In that letter, my colleagues and I made it clear how crucial our current trade agreements, like NAFTA, are to farmers, ranchers, manufacturers and businesses across our country.
Last Wednesday morning, I had the opportunity to join Republican freshman members in a meeting with Ambassador Lighthizer to keep this conversation going. Helping farmers, ranchers and small businesses in our district attain access to new markets is a priority to me, and I have continued to stress that to President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer.
Fixing our Broken Budget System
I decided to run for Congress after a discussion with my wife Laina about the country we were leaving for our kids and grandkids. However, in my year and a half in Congress we have made little progress in our quest for fiscal discipline. The only budgets we have enacted have been to set-up reconciliation instructions and the only funding we have passed came either as a continuing resolution, or unwieldy omnibus. It is also far from a new problem as we have completed a budget in only half of our last 10 federal fiscal years, and we have finished less than 3% of our appropriations bills on time.
I addressed the House Budget Committee last week to propose ways to fix our broken budget system by separating the budget from appropriations process, staggering fiscal years for appropriations bills, increasing involvement of the authorizing committees, and developing a method for working on entitlement programs.
To learn more about this Joint Select Committee click HERE.
Moving Health Care Forward
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, constituents have faced crippling increases in the cost of healthcare. The increase in insurance premiums and the rising cost of healthcare continue to be a concern for people in my district and all over the United States. Last Wednesday afternoon, I led a conversation regarding healthcare with members and staffers of the Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP).
This discussion delved into various proposals on how to move forward with a united front. Every day I work towards finding solutions to fix our flawed health care system and close the loopholes. It’s discussions like these, coupled with weekly doc caucus meetings, and much more that you don’t hear about in the media, that are moving the ball on fixing our health care system.
Big Win for Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers
This past Tuesday the Supreme Court released a decision in the case of National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) v. Becerra. The state of California had instituted a law that required pro-life pregnancy centers like NILFA to advertise abortions. No one should be forced by the government to say things they don’t believe.
I am proud to have signed, along with 144 members of Congress, an amicus brief presented to the Supreme Court supporting the pro-life pregnancy centers. The 5-4 decision, striking down the law as unconstitutional, was a huge win in the fight to protect life!
Small Businesses Take Heed
Cybersecurity continues to be an important part of the conversation on Capitol Hill. On Wednesday the Small Business Committee examined the cyber and national security threats posed by the Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE.
Small businesses are a critical part of our national infrastructure and it is important that we make sure that they have the tools and resources they need to protect sensitive intellectual property and consumer data from illicit enterprises, both foreign and domestic.
Many small business owners mistakenly think that their companies are not targets of a data breach. According to a Harvard Business Review survey, 86 percent of smaller organizations feel unprepared for a cyberattack or breach. Recently, I published an op-ed in the Kansas City Star that addressed cyber security risks on cybersecurity and small businesses here.
You can read my Kansas City Star op-ed on cybersecurity and small businesses here.
To view the full hearing on Cyber Security, click here.
The Future of Artificial Intelligence
The Science, Space and Technology Committee held a hearing last week to discuss the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). We had experts in discovery, development and application of new AI technologies testify before the committee to brief members on the strides our country is making in this field.
It was important for these speakers to relay the message on the ways Congress can help spur America’s AI capabilities. While at the forefront of global competition we must achieve this success responsibly and prioritize data privacy.
On Wednesday, I met with Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and discussed Hours of Service concerns for transporting livestock. The current law does not allow for flexibility for haulers, resulting in extended stops which can be dangerous for livestock, especially during summer and winter months. I enjoyed discussing this important topic with the Secretary and look forward to continuing to work with her on this issue!
ELLIS – Ellis city council members will consider approving the recent 2017 audit report during their July 2 meeting. In new business, they’ll also consider approving a budget consultation contract.
Other agenda items for tonight’s meeting include discussion of street repairs on North Madison.
The complete agenda follows.
AGENDA
July 2, 2018
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes from Regular Meeting on June 18, 2018
Bills Ordinance #2048
May Manual Journal Entries
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
The Ellis County Commission will continue 2019 budget talks at Monday’s commission meeting.
Following a pair of special budget work sessions, the commission has closed the gap in the 2019 budget to $285,785, according to Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes.
Chief Judge Glenn Braun of the 23rd Judicial District will also present the commission with information regarding Drug Court.
Monday’s commission meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the County Administrative Center at 718 Main.
