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Month: August 2018

Montgomery, Bote lead Cubs to 5-0 victory over Royals

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Mike Montgomery continues to dominate the club that drafted him out of high school.

Montgomery allowed five hits over six-plus innings, David Bote drove in a career-high three runs and the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 5-0 Tuesday night.

The Cubs upped their NL Central lead to 2 1/2 games over second-place Milwaukee, which lost in San Diego.

Montgomery (4-4), who the Royals drafted in the first round in 2008, picked up his first win since June 29. Montgomery is 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA in four appearances against the Royals.

“I’ve heard the numbers of what I’ve got against them throughout my career,” Montgomery said. “I think it’s a coincidence. Sometimes you just have a team that you do well against. It happens to be them. They’ve had some good teams over the last couple of years. The team that drafts you, you always want to pitch good against them.”

Bote’s first career triple with two out in the first scored Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward. His fifth inning single scored Javier Baez.

“It’s kind of just morphed in over the years,” said Bote, who is in his fifth stint with the Cubs this season after six-plus years in the minors. “The nerves are always there. The adrenalin’s there. Being able to use those emotions into a good avenue, being able to think ‘I’m going to attack this baseball’ or ‘I’m ready for this pitch.’ Put a positive spin on it and just executing.”

Victor Caratini, who led off the inning with a single, scored on Zobrist’s sacrifice fly. Zobrist left in the bottom of the inning with left hip tightness, but will likely play Wednesday.

“That fifth inning just kind of snowballed on me,” losing pitcher Brad Keller said.

Ian Happ’s sacrifice fly in the eighth scored Bote with the final run.

Keller (4-5) was removed after six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks.

“He kept us in the game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He made pitches and limited the damage when he needed to. I thought he was going to get out of the first inning scoreless, but he threw a slider that Bote hit off the wall in the right field for two runs.”

The Royals had only one runner past second base, when Adalberto Mondesi swiped third in the seventh.

“We just couldn’t do anything against Montgomery,” Yost said. “He did a nice job of mixing up his pitches. He was ahead in the count for the most part and did a good job of keeping us off balance.”

The Royals have lost six straight and are 14-43 since May 30. They are tied with Baltimore for the worst record, 34-79, in the majors.

BRYANT UPDATE

Cubs 3B Kris Bryant took grounders and played catch, but has not picked up a bat since going on the disabled list on July 24 for the second time with left shoulder inflammation. “I’m really bored, not fun at all,” Bryant said. “But you gotta do what you gotta do to get healthy and hopefully it never happens again. It’s frustrating. It’s not fun to go in the trainer’s room every day. I feel like I’m normal but it’s only when I’m swinging the bat.” No timetable has been set on when the 2016 NL MVP player will return. “I’m not going to get ahead of myself,” he said.

HEYWARD BATS FOURTH

RF Jason Heyward batted cleanup for the first time this season for the Cubs.

ROYALS MAKE TRADE

The Royals acquired RHP Jon Perrin from the Brewers in a minor league trade. Perrin, 25, went to Olathe East, a suburban Kansas City high school, and Oklahoma State. He was assigned to their Double-A Northwest Arkansas club. The Royals sent Lexington RHP Sal Biasi to the Brewers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: RHP Anthony Bass (right mid-thoracic strain) tossed a flawless inning Tuesday for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs against Las Vegas. Bass threw eight pitches, all strikes, in his second rehab appearance since going on the DL on July 21.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (left oblique strain) threw a bullpen session for the first time since going on the DL on July 11. . OF Brian Goodwin (left groin strain) is eligible to come off the disabled list Wednesday, but manager Ned Yost said he would not. “I’m not sure what their timeline is,” Goodwin said. “I just keep getting better every day.”

UP NEXT

Cubs: LHP Jose Quintana, who is 3-9 versus the Royals, will start the series finale.

Royals: RHP Heath Fillmyer is looking for his first big league victory.

Kellers buy Regeena’s Flowers, move to Main

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Norman and Sandy Keller have embarked on a new adventure.

They purchased Regeena’s Flowers as of June 1 and recently opened at a new location at 1013 Main St.

Norman and Sandy Keller outside of Regeena’s Flowers’ new location at 1013 Main St. in Hays.

Norman Keller has more than 30 years of floral experience. He is one of 21 people in the state who is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers.

Norman studied art at Fort Hays State University. He started at his first floral shop as a delivery driver, but was soon moved to the design floor to help during holidays.

Norman said he will continue to deliver top-quality arrangements as he and Sandy move from being employees to owners.

Norman said it is hard to put a finger on his style.

“Everybody I talk to even at the hospital, they are like, ‘When we see flowers come in, we know that one had to be from Regeena’s.’ For some reason, I don’t know what we do different,” he said. “Something we do has a definite visual stamp of our own that we have created. I don’t know if it’s my combination of attention to the detail and texture and color or combinations of types of flowers. It was a God-given thing. I just kind of do what I love.”

Norman said his favorite aspect of floral arranging is giving back.

Regeena’s Flowers now carries pre-made arrangements in its flower cooler.

“My favorite part is probably the fact that no matter what I am doing the end result is that it is going to brighten or make a difference in someone’s day whether it be a simple birthday bouquet or a just because or to brighten your day. I love my brides. There is nothing like seeing their faces when you walk in the room and bring their bouquets to them. Sometimes I make them cry … but it is a good cry.”

“Even the sympathy part of it—the words that I have coming from clients after the funeral. We have lots of people come in and they are like, ‘The flowers were beautiful, and it was so comforting. What you created was perfect.’ It spoke to them, and it said exactly in flowers who that person was.”

Norman said he also enjoys working with a quality product. The store orders flowers from all over the world, including Holland, Ecuador and Kansas.

Sandy and Norman said they were excited to be downtown with more space to showcase their wares. Sandy said they have had a warm welcome to The Bricks. They were open during the recent Bazaar on The Bricks and look forward to participating in more downtown events.

Regeena’s Flowers also carries gift items, such as candles, fragrances, and home decor.

The business has added a flower cooler, so customers can pick up last-minute, pre-made floral arrangements for special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or get well gifts. Norman said the arrangements cover different price ranges.

The business also takes orders for special events including weddings and funerals.

“Basically anybody who needs anything floral-related, we can make it,” Sandy said. “If they have a picture or some idea of what they want, somehow we will make a way to make it.”

Flower crowns for senior pictures and baby and pregnancy photo shoots are a new trend the business has been taking orders for.

Regeena’s also offers faux flower arrangements, and Norman said faux flowers for funerals is another trend.

The family can have something they can take home and have with them as long as they like, he said.

Regeena’s also carries other gift items, such as candles, fragrances and home decor.

“We want it to be ever-evolving, ever-changing as far as that part of the business goes, so people always have to come in to see ‘What the heck do they have in now,’ in addition to the flowers,” Norman said. “We think that is a necessary part of retail and always wanting your customers to come back to see what we are offering.”

Customers may also be greeted by the store’s mascots. The Kellers sometimes bring their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Sophie and Jackson to the store.

Regeena’s is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays or by special appointment for weddings and funerals.

 

Kansas man accused of home invasion assault

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SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated assault and have a suspect in custody.

Taylor -photo KDOC

Just before 10.pm Tuesday, officers were sent to the 900 block of SW Jewell in Topeka on a report of a disturbance involving someone armed with a gun, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

Several witnesses reported Daniel Taylor II, 24, barged in to their residence brandishing a gun and allegedly threatened to shoot them.

Taylor fled before officers arrived. TPD officers were able to locate him a short time later at Wal-Mart, 1301 SW 37th Street and took him into custody without incident.

He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for aggravated assault, aggravated child endangerment, and felon in possession of a firearm, according to Ekis.

Taylor has previous convictions for aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Larks can’t dig out of big early hole, lose to Stars

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WICHITA, Kan. – The Hays Larks couldn’t dig out of an early 6-0 deficit and lost 9-6 to the San Diego Stars in their final pool play game at the NBC World Series. The loss marked the first time the Larks (35-12) dropped back-to-back games all season and eliminated them from the 84th and final tournament at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Larks pitchers walked 11 batters, five of which scored. Stater Fabian Muniz (5-2) walked four before giving up a first inning grand slam to Tristan Salinas. He left the game following a leadoff homer by Henry Gonzales in the second.

Walter Pennington walked three and left after recording only one out. Shane Browning pitched a season-high 3 2/3 innings and left after walking three and striking out five. Wyatt Divis pitched the final three innings and allowed two runs with a walk.

The Larks (35-12) scored two in the fourth on a groundout from John Rensel and single from Clayton Rasbeary to close the gap to 6-2.

The Stars (28-6) answered with three in the sixth to build the lead to 9-2 before the Larks would rally with a run in the seventh and two in the eighth. They had runners and second and third but Stars starters Noah Quintana struck out Matt Munoz to keep their lead at five.

A two-out walk in the ninth to Wyatt Divis kept the Larks alive. Divis later scored on a wild pitch following a dropped popup at third. John Rensel walked bringing the tying run to the plate but Clayton Rasbeary grounded to second to end the game and the season.

Sunny, hot Wednesday with a chance for thunderstorms

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Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southwest in the morning.

Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind around 7 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

ThursdaySunny, with a high near 91. West wind around 6 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.

Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 66. East wind around 6 mph becoming west after midnight.

FridayA 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.

Friday NightA 20 percent chance of showers before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Schlyer defeats McClelland in Ellis County Commission race

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Longtime Ellis County Health Administrator Butch Schlyer defeated incumbent Marcy McClelland in the Republican race for District 1 County Commissioner in Tuesday’s primary election.

Schlyer received 69.25 percent of the vote (635 votes) while McClelland totaled 30.75 percent (282 votes).

The final canvass of the Primary Election will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 16 in the Ellis County Commission Chambers.

Schlyer will now face Democrat Chris Rorabaugh and independent John Walz in the November General Election.

Kelly wins Democratic nomination for Kan. governor

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the primary election in Kansas (all times local):

9:20 p.m.

A veteran Kansas legislator has won the Democratic primary for governor after stressing her Statehouse experience and fending off questions about her voting record.

State Sen. Laura Kelly of Topeka defeated former Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, former Kansas Agriculture Secretary Joshua Svaty and two other candidates Tuesday.

The 68-year-old Kelly has served 14 years in the Senate and is the top Democrat on the budget committee. She stressed those credentials in running and suggested that she was best able to fix problems created by Republican policies.

She faced criticism from Svaty and Brewer for votes she made in representing a GOP-leaning district for looser gun laws and for some of the nation’s toughest voter identification requirements.

But she also had the backing of former two-term Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

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Incumbent Estes wins GOP primary in Kan. 4th District

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the primary election in Kansas (all times local):

9 p.m.

Rep. Ron Estes has won the GOP nomination for a congressional seat he first won in a tougher-than-expected special election last year for the Wichita-area seat formerly held by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The Kansas congressman complained during this year’s GOP primary race that he was the target of a political trick after a candidate who shares his name and hometown filed to run against him in the Republican primary.

The other Ron M. Estes from Wichita on the August ballot describes himself on his website as a first-time candidate and father of two.

Rep. Ron Estes was the former two-term state treasurer.

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8:50 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall has won the Republican primary in the sprawling rural 1st District of western and central Kansas.

He advances for a November matchup against Democrat Alan LaPolice of Clyde in the heavily Republican agricultural district.

Marshall, a Great Bend physician, first gained national attention in 2016 for knocking off then Rep. Tim Huelskamp in the Republican primary for the seat.

Democrats did not have a candidate in 2016, but LaPolice launched a long-shot bid as an independent. LaPolice, an educator, is taking another shot at it this year running as a Democrat.

While the district strongly supported President Donald Trump in 2016, some worry tougher immigration policies make it harder to fill agricultural jobs. Marshall wants to couple border-security measures with changes in visas for guest farm workers.

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Rep. Yoder wins GOP primary in Kansas 3rd

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the primary election in Kansas (all times local):

10:30 p.m.

Rep. Kevin Yoder has won an easy victory in the Republican primary in Kansas and heads into a competitive race in his swing congressional district in the Kansas City area.

Yoder defeated two underfunded rivals Tuesday in the 3rd District. Lenexa information technology consultant Trevor Keegan ran as a moderate but raised little money. Joe Myers of Overland Park didn’t mount a campaign.

The four-term congressman’s big battle will be in November. Six Democrats sought to challenge him.

Yoder has been targeted since fall 2016, when Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly carried the district over Donald Trump in the presidential race. Yoder won a closer-than-expected race against an unknown Democrat.

Trump tweeted his “full and total endorsement” of Yoder last month.

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9:30 p.m.

James Thompson has won the Democratic nomination for a congressional seat in Kansas that he first sought last year in a special election after now Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined the Trump administration.

The Wichita Democrat advances to a November matchup with Republican Rep. Ron Estes.

Thompson, a Wichita civil rights attorney, held Estes to a single-digit victory in the nation’s first congressional special election last year after President Donald Trump took office. Thompson defeated Laura Lombard in the Democratic primary.

Democratic socialist rising star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez traveled to Wichita during the race to join Sen. Bernie Sanders at a campaign event for Thompson as Democrats look to flip a congressional seat once considered safely Republican.

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Kansas woman admits stealing 7 handguns from display case

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WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to prying open a display case and stealing guns from a local store, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Aaron-photo Butler Co.

Chaelyn Nichole Aaron, 28, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty of one count of theft of firearms. In her plea, she admitted the crime occurred March 28, 2018, at an Atwoods store at 6235 N. Broadway in Wichita.

Aaron went into the store and used a small red crowbar to pry open a display case. She took seven handguns from the case and left the store.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 24. She faces a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Ellis Co. Commission approves 2019 budget without mill levy increase

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By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission approved the 2019 budget at Monday’s commission meeting but stressed that more needs to be done to cut potential budget deficits.

The commission approved the $22.35 million general fund budget on a 2-1 vote with Commissioner Barb Wasinger voting against the budget.

Wasinger has been the driving force on the commission for cutting spending and said projections that show the a nearly $9.9 million shortfall by 2024 are “scary.”

“While I appreciate that everyone’s trying to find ways to generate revenue and find small cuts to cut spending, unfortunately what’s been done to date is superficial and mostly symbolic and it doesn’t attack the core problem, overspending,” said Wasinger.

According to Wasinger the county would have to impose a $6.6 million tax increase over the next four years to continue operating at its current levels.

Wasinger called on departments to find more places to cut in the 2019 budget and the commission instructed staff to begin working on the 2020 budget in November.

The 2019 budget will be the third in-a-row without a mill levy increase. The mill levy for 2019 is 36.918.

In past years the commission has used carry over cash, money that is left over from the previous year to cover up the budget deficits. County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said the county had $6 million in carry over cash just three years ago but that has dwindled to about $2 million for 2019.

They have also used money received from the state for the oil and gas depletion fund, money from the wind farm and money that was slated for saving as ways to avoiding an increase in the mill levy and pay down the deficit.

Commissioners Dean Haselhorst and Marcy McClelland also expressed concern with the current budget situation.

“Nobody likes to raise taxes,” Haselhorst said. “Nobody likes to raise the mill levy.”

“Going forward we’re probably have to make so more cuts that people are not going to like (and) that will probably amount to laying off personnel, that’s the only place we have left to cut.”

Haselhorst called for a hiring freeze. He said if someone retires they should not fill that position but said, “that’s a start, it don’t fix the problem.”

“It’s not popular, we’ve been talking about it for a long time and the day of reckoning is getting very close,” said Haselhorst.

Haselhorst again brought up the idea of cutting the commission’s salary. After calling for a 2 percent cut earlier in the budget process he called for a 5 percent cut starting September 1. The commission would also forgo a 1 percent pay increase scheduled for September.

The combined commission salary was $59,343 in 2018. But another $64,674 goes to benefits for the three commissioners.

Administrator Smith-Hanes reminded the commission that they are already working to cut the future deficits.

“You have already started fixing the problem,” Smith-Hanes.

“It’s going to just take time,” said Haselhorst. “It’s a process that didn’t happen in a year.”

The commission also approved an amendment to the pay and classification plan that allows the county to identify positions within the county that are having a difficult time finding and maintaining employees and then offer premium pay, for a limited time to fill those positions.

The commission also approved the creation of a Drug Court Grant Fund which will collected and hold any funds received for the Ellis County Drug Court. The commission also transferred $10,000 into the fund.

Kansas man pleads guilty to buying tiger pelts

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WICHITA – A Kansas man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to making a deal to buy two tiger pelts in violation of the federal Lacey Act, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Ret Thach -photo Sedgwick County

Ret Thach, 38, Wichita, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate sale or purchase of animals that are covered by the Endangered Species Act.

In his plea, Thach admitted he made an agreement to pay $8,000 for two tiger pelts to be delivered to him in Wichita. Thach also agreed to pay traveling expenses for a seller from Wisconsin to drive to Wichita to deliver the pelts. Thach did not know that the seller was an agent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working undercover.

According to court records, the agent informed Thach that selling the pelts across state lines was “absolutely illegal.” Thach told the agent he already owned “a lion and a lot of bears” and wanted to go ahead with the deal to buy the tiger pelts. Thach said he wanted the pelts for his home office.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 26. Thach faces a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

TMP, Holy Family enrollment Wednesday

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Enrollment for Thomas More Prep-Marian will continue Wednesday.

Times are as follows:

Ninth grade 8–9:30 a.m.

Eighth grade 10-11:30 a.m.

Seventh grade noon – 1:30 p.m.

Holy Family Elementary School students will also enroll Wednesday. Enrollment times are 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the cafeteria (Little Theater).

This year for enrollment at Holy Family, the school has linked each enrollment form as a fillable PDF format at https://hfehays.org/?page_id=2349.

Instead of picking up your family folder at enrollment and filling out several forms at school before paying, the school asks that you fill these out at your convenience on your computer this summer, print off one of each form for each child, and bring with you to enrollment day. You will still stop by the first table to pick up your family’s packet, which will now simply include your child’s new classroom and school fliers for you to take home.

Click here for a school supply list.

The first day for Holy Family is Thursday, Aug. 16. School will dismiss at 11 a.m. that day.

The first day of school for TMP will be Friday, Aug. 17.

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