SHAWNEE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Jeep Wrangler driven by Donald Ray Heckman, 73, Park City, Montana, was eastbound on Interstate 70 at Valencia Road.
The Jeep changed lanes in front of a 2015 Kenworth Semi and then reduced speed. The semi driven by Norman Vincent Leach, 43, Colorado Springs, Colorado, rear ended the Jeep.
Heckman was pronounced dead at the scene. Leach was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
TOPEKA – The week of November 12-16 has been named Apprenticeship Week in the State of Kansas. This is being done to recognize the value and importance of the statewide Registered Apprenticeship Program in meeting the workforce needs of Kansas employers. The Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with job-related instruction leading to increasing levels of measurable skill attainment and wages.
There are presently 1928 registered apprentices in Kansas receiving both on-the-job training and paid employment from 257 employers, with the numbers growing weekly. Through this program, apprentices receive on-the-job training from an experienced mentor for at least a full year, providing a living wage while training for a career position. They also earn credentials which can be carried forward throughout their careers. At the same time, employers benefit by meeting their growing need for a trained workforce, experience lower turnover costs and higher productivity, and reduce their costs for recruiting personnel.
Apprenticeship Week will begin with a ceremony in Wichita, featuring a speech from the Mayor, on November 13. In early November, Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., will be on-hand to present the Governor’s proclamation and speak about the benefits of Registered Apprenticeships toward meeting the workforce needs of Kansas employers.
The city of Hays is anticipating a decrease in the 2019 premium for employees’ health insurance.
Erin Giebler, human resources director, told city commissioners Thursday night the high deductible plan is the most popular.
The city switched to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas in 2017 which offers three plans. “Really, it was our employees that came back to us saying ‘we want this high deductible plan back,'” Giebler said.
For the first time, employees were required to pay a portion of the premiums in order to keep health costs within the budget.
The city kept the same plan in 2018 and added up to a $700 match for employees’ Health Savings Accounts.
“We got our renewals and it’s working out for us. We’re actually seeing a 2.46% decrease compared to last year. If you take out the costs our employees will be paying, the cost to the city is $161,414,” reported Giebler.
Thanks to the premium decrease, Giebler said staff is recommending an increase to the 2019 Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution to $1,000 each, an estimated additional $120,000.
“I will point out the total cost of the premium plus the HSA contribution being recommended is still lower than the 2018 proposal,” Giebler added.
Commissioners thanked Giebler and the Employee Benefit Committee for their work on the renewal plan.
“We also have to thank our employees for keeping their health benefits in line,” added Commissioner Ron Mellick. “We want to take care of our employees but they’re helping themselves on this. That’s great.”
Mayor James Meier also noted the estimate for the Hays Public Library employee health plan is going down almost 20 percent.
“I think they had a different mixture of ages in their employees this year than they’ve had in the past,” Meier explained, “and that accounted for a lot of that decrease.
The commission will vote on the renewal at the Oct. 25 meeting.
Feast on savory samples from 16 Hays restaurants at Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County’s annual Vine & Dine fundraiser, Sunday, Oct. 28, 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine.
Win great raffle prizes donated by area restaurants and businesses and help Habitat raise funds to create more affordable housing.
Proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes for low-income working families.
Restaurants providing samples from their menus include:
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Gella’s
Golden Griddle
Hickok’s Steakhouse
Jalisco Restaurant
JD’s Chicken
Jimmy John’s
Old Chicago
Pasta Jay’s Hays
Pizza Hut
Professor’s
Starbucks
Taco Shop
Thirsty’s Brew Pub and Grill
Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill
Win raffles for dinners and merchandise from:
Cancun, Dillon’s, El Dos De Oros, G & L Tire and Automotive, GameStop, Gutierrez Mexican Restaurant, Osaki Japanese Restaurant, Pheasant Run, Popt!, Sake2Me, Vernie’s Hamburger House and more.
Habitat thanks our participating restaurants and merchants, Big Creek Crossing for generously providing space and our dedicated volunteers for making our work possible.
About Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County
Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County (HFHEC) began in 2003 and is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. HFHEC’s mission is to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, community and hope. HFHEC has built two homes in Hays and one each in Russell, Victoria and Ellis. Go to hfhec.org to learn more about HFHEC’s work, how to volunteer or how to qualify for a Habitat home.
KEARNEY, Neb. – Dante Brown tied a school record with five field goals including the game-winner from 26 yards in the second overtime as Fort Hays State escaped with a 29-26 win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday at Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
Brown has now kicked a nation’s best 20 field goals this season, breaking the FHSU single-season record of 16 held by his predecessor Brandon Brown.
Chris Brown Postgame Press Conference
D.J. Hickman Postgame Interview
Dante Brown Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Brown’s first field goal came from 22 yards on the final play of the second quarter to pull the Tigers (6-2) within 14-10 at halftime. His 47-yarder into the wind following UNK fumble gave FHSU a 20-17 lead with 11:15 to play in the fourth quarter.
After Loper freshman kicker Brian Covarrubias nailed a 42 yard field goal to tie the game 20-20 with 2:36 to play, the Tigers drove 46 yards in eight plays capped by a Brown 46-yard field goal that went through after hitting the crossbar with 0:42 left.
UNK (4-4) took advantage of a missed tackle on a fourth down play near mid-field to drive 39 yards in seven plays and forced overtime with a 39-yard field goal on the final play of regulation. The kick came after the Tigers dropped a potential game-ending interception in the endzone with 0:02 left.
Both teams exchanged field goals on their first overtime possessions. UNK missed from 36 yards on their second overtime possession. The Tigers handed the ball off six straight time to D.J. Hickman on their second possession, driving to the nine to set up Brown for a 26-yarder game-winner.
The Tigers drove 75 yards in seven plays on their first possession, using a 24-yard D.J. Hickman run and 33-yard pass from Jacob Mezera to Harley Hazlett on a reverse flea-flicker to set up a two-yard Hickman touchdown run.
Darrius Webb returned the ensuing kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown. Webb led the Lopers with 149 rushing yards.
Harley Hazlett’s four-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play, 83-yard drive and tied the game 17-17 with 11:15 to play in the game.
Hickman led the Tigers with 111 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. Hazlett hauled in nine passes for 93 yards while Layne Bieberle had six catches for 52 yards.
Jacob Mezera completed 20-of-34 passes for 194 and an interception.
Nebraska native Connor Shedeed led the defense with 12 tackles. Jose Delgado added 10 to break the FHSU career record for total tackles in the Division II era.
FHSU hosts Lindenwood at Lewis Field next Saturday. The Lions lost 38-17 at home to No. 11 Northwest Missouri State.
NEWTON, Kan. – The Hays High girls’ cross country team qualified for next week’s state meet after winning the Newton 5A Regional Saturday. The Indians placed five in the top-20 led by freshman Landri Dotts who finished sixth with a time of 21:27.15. Yesenia Maldonado (21:32/56) came in ninth place, Lainey Hardman 18th (22:20.62), Claire Shippy 19th (22:23.09) and Allison Shubert 20th (22:24.18).
Hays edged host Newton by three points in the team standings with Salina Central finishing in third place.
The Hays High boys finished in seventh place and were led by Grant Brungardt who finished 26th
Girls Team Results
1. Hays 63
2. Newton 66
3. Salina-Central 81
4. Salina-South 89
5. Andover 109
6. McPherson 116
7. Valley Center 130
Top-10 Individual Results
1.Cobb, Kayden – Salina-Central (20:41.25)
2. Stucky, Alaina – Newton (20:44.78)
3. Vetter, Elizabeth – Andover (20:50.18)
4. Schaar, Sarah – Valley Center (21:04.15)
5. Diaz, Emilia – Great Bend (21:21.03)
6. Dotts, Landri – Hays (21:27.15)
7. Esfeld, McKenna – Great Bend (21:30.81)
8. Fischer, Morgan – Salina-South (21:31.69)
9. Maldonado, Yesenia – Hays (21:32.56)
10. White, Cora – Salina-Central (21:33.62)
GYPSUM, Kan. – The TMP-Marian girls’ cross country team finished in third place at the Southeast of Saline 3A Regional and qualified for next Saturday’s 3A State meet. The Monarchs scored 93 points. Scott Community won the meet with 67 points. Clay Center was second with 72.
The had two runners finish in the top-20. Grace Pope was 11th (21:05.16) and Kyleigh Allen 15th (21:40.28 15).
Sheldon Weber led the boys team with a 27th place finish (18:38.00).
Girls Team Results
1. Scott Community 67
2. Clay Center Community 72
3. TMP-Marian 93
4. Norton Community 94
5. Colby 111
6. Lindsborg-Smoky Valley 131
7. Beloit 141
8. Council Grove 188
9. Southeast of Saline 219
Top-10 Individuals
1. Burks, Hannah – Beloit (19:19.55)
2. Kats, Lexi – Norton Community (19:26.45)
3. Murdock, Lara – Colby (19:29.55)
4. Giles, Caroline – Minneapolis (20:04.84)
5. Burks, Hayley – Beloit (20:34.89)
6. Hawkins, Clare – Scott Community (20:47.60)
7. Peterson, Ellise – Lindsb-Smoky Vly (20:54.54)
8. Bailey, Hannah – Norton Community (20:59.02)
9. Larson, Karrin – Clay Center Comm (21:01.11)
10. Ayala, Dulce – Scott Community (21:04.31)
ANDOVER, Kan.-The end comes too soon sometimes and that was the case Saturday afternoon for the Hays High Lady Indian Volleyball squad. The Lady Indians fell to Valley Center in the semi-finals of the Class 5A Sub-State Tournament in Andover.
Hays High started slow in both sets against the Lady Hornets trailing 1-6 in the first and second sets. In the first set the Lady Indians battled back to tie the set at 15-15 and again at 19-19 but were never able to take the lead and fell 19-25. The second set was the same song, different verse except Hays was able to take a lead, albeit brief, at 7-6. That would be the only lead of the day for the Lady Indians as they lost the second set 21-25.
Kallie Leiker led Hays with 11 digs and Tasiah Nunnery with 11 kills. Hannah McGuire paced the Lady Indians with 14 assists while Nunnery and Jaysa Wichers both finished with three solo blocks. The match was the final for a big group of seniors. Leiker, McGuire, Wichers, Savannah Schneider, Jaycee Dale, and Madyson Flax all played their final match of their high school volleyball careers. The Lady Indians finished their season at 24-12.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Alan Bowman threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns while playing for the first time since suffering a partially collapsed lung three weeks ago, and Texas Tech beat Kansas 48-16 on Saturday.
Bowman completed 36 of 47 passes while showing accuracy on short and deep passes, with only one interception. The true freshman was the nation’s leading passer when he got crushed between two West Virginia defenders in Texas Tech’s last home game Sept. 29, and was released from the hospital four days later.
Antoine Wesley had nine catches for 155 yards and a touchdown. T.J. Vasher and Seth Collins also had TD catches for the Red Raiders (5-2, 3-1 Big 12), who had 553 total yards despite three turnovers.
Kansas (2-5, 0-4) lost its 43rd consecutive true Big 12 road game, dating back to a 35-33 win at Iowa State on Oct. 4, 2008.
The Jayhawks played their first game since offensive coordinator Doug Meacham was fired. Peyton Bender threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns while freshman Pooka Williams had 16 carries for 70 yards to finish 38 yards below his rushing average that was second-best in the Big 12.
THE TAKEAWAY
Kansas: The Jayhawks have lost all four of their Big 12 games after finishing their nonconference schedule with consecutive victories games for the first time since 2009.
Texas Tech: Coach Kliff Kingsbury is back to .500 as coach of his alma mater — at 35-35 overall in his sixth season. The former Red Raiders quarterback was 7-0 in his coaching debut in 2013, and is 28-35 since. Tech is one win shy of bowl eligibility, a mark it didn’t reach until the regular-season finale last year.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in connection with a weapons charge.
McCulley -photo Shawnee Co.
Just before 11:30p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to the area of the 700 block of NE Kellam in Topeka on an unknown trouble call, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz. Dispatch advised that they could hear someone yelling, “Give me back my gun.”
Upon arrival, officers determined that the call was regarding a domestic disturbance. Further investigation determined that Jeremy McCulley, 34 years of age, was in possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Police transported McClulley to Shawnee County Department of Corrections under suspicion of crimes related to this incident.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Topeka Police.
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State volleyball team came up just short in the first two sets against Emporia State Saturday afternoon (Oct. 20) before falling in straight sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-17. The loss moves the Tigers to 8-18 overall and 2-12 in MIAA action, while the Hornets are now 12-15 this season and 6-8 against league opponents.
The teams went back and forth early on before the Tigers tried to pull away midway through the opening set, tallying four-straight points to take a 16-11 lead. Ashley Webb opened the run with a big kill at the middle of the net before combining with Azlyn Cassaday for a block two rallies later. Morgan West then dropped in a kill to give the Tigers a five-point advantage, the largest lead for either teams in the frame. Emporia State quickly rallied to tie things up at 18 after a 7-2 run. ESU took the lead for good at 20-19 before holding on to steal the opening set.
Fort Hays State again stretched out the largest lead in the second set, pulling in front 14-10 halfway through the frame. Back-to-back kills from Webb and Cassaday prompted a Hornet timeout before the Tigers went in front by four on a Hornet miscue. ESU later scored four-straight to tie things up at 16 before the teams traded points for the next several rallies. Another ESU error gave the Tigers a 21-20 lead, but the visitors grabbed five of the last six points to take a 2-0 lead into the locker room.
Two kills from Isabelle Reynolds and a service ace from Abbie Hayes gave the Tigers an 8-7 lead in the third set, but Emporia State responded by scoring the next four points to take the lead for good. The Tigers tied things up at 14 after an Abby Groth service ace and a kill from Webb before ESU went on a 10-0 run to reach set point.
Reynolds led the match with 13 kills, recording just one error on 30 swings to post a .400 attack percentage. Cassaday added 11 kills and eight digs. Groth (17 digs) and Hayes (13) paced the team with digs while each had a service ace, the only two of the match for either team. Bre Becker tossed up 36 assists and added seven digs defensively. Webb matched her career high with nine kills and four total blocks. Fort Hays State was outhit in the match, .301-.154.
Fort Hays State will head back out on the road next weekend, taking on Pittsburg State Friday (Oct. 26) at 6 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities and rescue personnel spent part of Friday night searching for a male victim who drove a vehicle into the Kansas River.
Police said that the incident happened around 6:50 p.m. Friday at the Kaw Point Park boat ramp in Kansas City, Kansas, at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers.
Wyandotte County Sheriff’s officials say someone reported seeing a vehicle go into the river. Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Terry Zeigler tweeted that a witness saw a man treading water before he went under and didn’t resurface.
Rescue boats were sent out Friday night, but crews did not report finding anyone in the water.
Officials had not released any more information on the incident by midday Saturday.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Jeep Wrangler driven by Donald Ray Heckman, 73, Park City, Montana, was eastbound on Interstate 70 at Valencia Road.
Today
Police said that the incident happened around 6:50 p.m. Friday at the Kaw Point Park boat ramp in Kansas City, Kansas, at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers.