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Month: November 2018

Thomas Michael Pruett

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Thomas Michael Pruett went to be with the Lord on October 25, 2018 in Colby, KS.

He was born on June 18, 1950 in Columbus, Indiana. He married Shelley Jean Brown on September 22, 2001 in Colby, Kansas

He is survived by Shelley and 2 children, Kelley Quintero of Colby, KS and Jason Pruett of Chicago, Illinois. He had 2 grandchildren, 4 step-children and 14 step-grandchildren.

Tom was a a United Methodist Minister for 18 years, serving in Illinois before moving to Kansas. He was a die-hard Chicago Cubs and Bears fan.

He is now resting with the Lord, no more suffering.

His Funeral Services were held on Thursday, November 1, 2018 at the Colby United Methodist Church

Both 111th House candidates hopeful of win after provisional ballots counted

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By CRISTINA JANNEY and JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT

Hays Post

Both candidates for the 111th Kansas House seat are hopeful they will come out on top once all the votes are counted.

According to the unofficial vote total Tuesday night, Republican Barb Wasinger leads incumbent Democratic Representative Eber Phelps by just 40 votes (4,259 to 4,219).

Wasinger gathered with family privately to wait for results to come in.

“I just want to thank everyone who voted, and I am waiting for the final count,” she told the Post by phone Tuesday night.

Phelps was surrounded by fellow Democrats at a public watch party Tuesday night. He was hopeful once all of the ballots are counted that he will retain his seat in the Kansas House.

“It is still pretty close, and I will wait until tomorrow morning to see how I feel about it,” he said.

Cheers went up several times through the night as national news stations projected Democratic candidate for governor Laura Kelly the winner in Kansas and when the Democrats were projected to regain control of the U.S. House.

Phelps, who has spent 18 years in the Legislature, said Tuesday night polls indicated he would retain his house seat. He said he had also been experiencing strong support as he campaigned door to door.

“Especially since the 22nd, feedback at the door, one after the other, was telling me they had already voted for me,” Phelps said.

There are still 196 provisional ballots and at least 39 advanced votes that have not been counted. The county clerk will also count advanced ballots that were postmarked by Election Day and are received by Friday.

Election staff will review the provisional ballots. A person may be given a provisional ballot if his or her voter eligibility is in question. The canvas board, which is officially the County Commission, will review records to determine if the voter was eligible. This sometimes includes people who did not produce proper ID when they voted.

The official canvass of the vote totals will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15 at the County Administrative Center. The public can observe that process.

After the votes are counted, they are certified by the county commission of which Wasinger is a member.

Phelps said he thought Wasinger should recuse herself from the canvas process.

“I think if you are going in there and having a real close race that the prudent thing to do would be to step back and a neutral person do that,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

Second K-State football player in 9 days arrested

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State cornerback Duke Shelley was arrested this week for failure to appear and released after paying a $500 bond, though his status for this weekend’s game against Kansas remains in question.

Shelley -photo KSU Athletics

A school spokesman said any punishment will be handled internally.

The Wildcats’ best cornerback, Shelley had a warrant issued by Manhattan Municipal Court after he was cited for driving without proof of insurance and having expired tags. He was arrested Tuesday.

The senior from Georgia has 33 tackles and three interceptions this season, even though he has missed the past two games with a leg injury. Wildcats coach Bill Snyder expected him to return at some point this season, possibly in time for the Sunflower Showdown against the Jayhawks.

Patton – photo KSU Athletics

In October police arrested K-State football player Daquan Patton, 21, for failure to appear, according to the Riley County Police Department arrest report.  He failed to pay an earlier speeding ticket, according to RCPD.

Patton is a red shirt junior linebacker from Cedar Park, Texas, according to the KSU football roster.

Investigation continues after fights force lockdown at Larned Correctional Facility

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PAWNEE COUNTY — Authorities are investigating after a series of fights broke out Tuesday at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility.

Two or three of the living pods remain on lockdown Wednesday following the incidents, according to Kansas Department Corrections spokesperson Samir Arif.

There were no serious injuries reported and all inmates were accounted for, according to Arif.

There was extensive property damage to all five (5) housing units, according to the Pawnee County Attorney’s office.

The facility houses “youthful offenders” 18-25 years of age, according to Arif. The facility provides programs to assist with preventing these individuals from going deeper into the criminal justice system.

Pawnee County Sheriff Deputies responded to the scene including their K-9 Unit, Noa, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Ford County K-9 Unit, Ford County Sheriff/Dodge City Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) and the Stafford County Undersheriff. Larned State Hospital Safety and Security were placed on standby.

Additionally, numerous EMS/Fire Department personnel were placed on standby at the University of Kansas Health System – Pawnee Valley Campus in Larned.

MASON: Regents visit provides opportunity to shine – and learn

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Dr. Tisa Mason

Recently Fort Hays State University had the opportunity to host the Kansas Board of Regents for a campus visit. I was very grateful to have time set aside for the Regents to focus on FHSU and for us to demonstrate our remarkable success and innovative, hands-on education. The visit included getting to know two new Regents – Hays’ very own Allen Schmidt and Mark Hutton (Wichita). I faced one major problem: Which of our many forward-thinking programs should we highlight?

The visit began with a dinner hosted in the Center for Applied Technology – a spectacular building and the new home for students studying industrial technology, technology and engineering education, and sculpture. Students can learn in engaging spaces such as computer CAD labs, instructional and graphic labs, STEM labs, woodworking labs, metalworking labs, plastic labs, power and energy labs, robotic labs, construction management labs, sculpture studios, and metal foundry studios.

The Center for Applied Technology was the perfect location for a theme of educational innovation. The Regents witnessed an aluminum pour and the demonstration of an in-progress recreational charging station. They had the opportunity to interact with students, who showed the Regents how to manipulate drones, 3-D printers, robots and more. Regents could also explore the FHSU Maker Van.

Experiences the next morning featured the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Department of Allied Health and the innovative learning technologies available.

Students in communication sciences and disorders gain practical, real-world experience with clients through the Herndon Clinic. The Regents observed a live demonstration of a tympanometry and otoacoustic emissions (OAE) procedure. Tympanometry tests how well the eardrum moves and the middle ear functions. The OAE test is used to find out how well the hair cells of the inner ear, specifically the cochlea, works. It measures otoacoustic emissions – the sounds given off by the inner ear when responding to a sound.

Regents were also able to watch a live demonstration of a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). The scope is introduced through the nasal cavity in order to view the laryngeal and pharyngeal structures (i.e., the throat) and function during swallowing. The state-of-the-art technology with which faculty teach and students learn here was truly impressive – and I sincerely hope the student who volunteered to be scoped received extra credit!

Staying with the theme of the healthcare industry, the Regents attended classes in the Allied Health Department. Imaging technologists operate sophisticated equipment to assist physicians in diagnosing and treating a range of health problems. As highly skilled employees in a growing field, imaging technologists often work in multiple specialty areas, including radiologic technology, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, sonography, cardiovascular-interventional technology, bone densitometry and mammography.

I loved how the students spent a lot time in the roles of both patient and practitioner. Students earning a degree from the Department of Allied Health have vast opportunities to align with many different medical providers and facilities – a message Regents, students, and parents love to hear.

At the intersection of culture, communication, and technology, the Institute for New Media Studies is developing a number of interactive projects that visualize, conceptualize or apply information. Here, Regents had the opportunity to visualize the human brain, fly through a virtual campus, experience augmented reality, play with a smart table and meet the students and faculty who make it all happen. Our leading edge on learning technologies and artificial intelligence is truly remarkable – and enviable.

We ended by helping the Regents to a better understanding of how we approach online course development and why FHSU Virtual College faculty and students are so successful. Faculty and instructional designers provided interactive simulations enabling the Regents to experience what it is like “inside” an online course. I also had some fun exploring.

In health and human performance classes, for example, online students attach headphones to their computers where they can hear a heartbeat and practice blood pressure readings. Somewhat similar to playing an online version of the child’s game “Operation,” I learned how to attach specific electrodes to the correct area of the human body in order to perform a 12-lead ECG.

Experiencing these activities and others demonstrates that, at FHSU, online learning is much, much more than reading and responding to static information on a computer screen.

While any of our academic programs could have been highlighted with equal positive impact, I am extremely grateful for the faculty, staff and students who took the time a few weeks ago to highlight why we are so successful in unlocking untapped potential and preparing students for an exciting and rewarding future!

Dr. Tisa Mason is the president of Fort Hays State University.

FHSU men’s soccer lands 12 All-MIAA selections; Agudelo, Lopez, Parker earn special honors

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The No. 11 ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team had 12 players named to the 2018 All-MIAA Team, released on Wednesday (Nov. 7). The Tigers have seven first team selections, four second team selections and one honorable mention selection. Brett Parker was named Coach of the Year, Agudelo was named MIAA Player of the Year and Rogelio Lopez was named MIAA Freshman of the Year.

First-Team Selections for the Tigers were forwards Santiago Agudelo and Abdoulaye Cisse, midfielders Tobias Patino and Moritz Walther, defenders Raul Fierro and Luis Torres and goalkeeper Fernando Pina.

Second team selections went to forward Arsenio Chamorro, midfielders Rogelio Lopez and Alonso Rodriguez and defender Sergio Villalba. Caesar Jones earned Honorable Mention honors as a defender.

Agudelo, a junior, earns All-MIAA First Team honors for the first time, while earning MIAA Player of the Year. He leads the Tigers in goals (26), points (58), shots (99), shots on goal (56) and game-winning goals (eight). He leads the nation in points per match (3.41), total points (58), goals per match (1.53), total goals (26), game-winning goals (eight), shots per match (5.82) and shots on goal per match (3.29).

Cisse, a senior, makes his second-consecutive All-MIAA First Team list. He has put up solid numbers again this year as he ranks second on the squad in points (38), shots (38) and shots on goal (16). Cisse was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region First Team last year.

Patino, a senior, earns his third All-MIAA honor after a first-team selection this year. Patino leads the team in assists (nine).

Walther, a sophomore, makes debut on the All-MIAA First Team list. Walther ranks second on the squad in assists (seven) and third in shots (28). Walther provided the game-winning penalty kick goal against Northeastern State to seal the second-consecutive MIAA title for the Tigers.

Fierro, a senior, makes his second-consecutive All-MIAA team. Fierro ranks fourth on the team in minutes played on the pitch (1,423). Fierro was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region Second Team last season.

Torres, a senior, makes his third All-MIAA First Team honor as a defender. Torres has accumulated five goals and two assists while playing the most minutes on the pitch for the Tigers (1,510). Torres was the lone All-America selection in 2016. He was named to the D2CCA All-Central Region team two-consecutive seasons.

Pina, a senior, earns his first All-MIAA First Team selection as a goalkeeper. Pina has recorded a .63 goals against average and a .829 save percentage on his way to a 9-0-1 overall record in goal for the Tigers. He ranks 12th in the country in goals against average and save percentage.

Chamorro, a sophomore, earned All-MIAA Second Team honors as a forward. Chamorro was named an All-MIAA honorable mention selection as a redshirt-freshman in 2016. Chamorro scored four goals while tallying two assists on 25 total shots this season.

Lopez, a true freshman, earned All-MIAA Second Team honors as a midfielder. Lopez was also named MIAA Freshman of the Year. Lopez scored five goals and produced one assist.

Rodriguez, a freshman, makes his debut on the All-MIAA Second Team as a midfielder. Rodriguez connected on four goals and two assists in 2018.

Villalba, a junior, earned his second honor on the All-MIAA team as a defender in his Tiger career. Villalba provided a hat trick against Rockhurst in the 4-1 upset earlier this season.

Jones, a senior, makes his second-consecutive All-MIAA team, with honorable mention honors this season. Jones recorded two goals and one assist as a defender in 2018.

Coach Brett Parker was named the Coach of the Year in the MIAA for the second-consecutive season. He helped the Tigers to a program-record 15 victories this season, as well as a program-record 12-match winning streak.

Below is the 2018 All-MIAA Men’s Soccer Team

Player of the Year
Santiago Agudelo, Jr., Fort Hays State
Freshman of the Year
Rogelio Lopez, MF., Fort Hays State
Coach of the Year:
Brett Parker, Fort Hays State

First Team
GK: Fernando Pina, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: James Doyle, So., Northeastern State
D: Luis Torres, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: Raul Fierro, Sr., Fort Hays State
D: Ben Watson, Jr., Northeastern State
MF: Joe Garcia, Sr., Northeastern State
MF: Tobias Patino, Sr., Fort Hays State
MF: Fernando Cordero, Sr., Lindenwood
MF: Trevor Reed, Sr., Northeastern State
MF: Moritz Walther, So., Fort Hays State
F: Santiago Agudelo, Jr., Fort Hays State
F: Flynn Semmerling, Fr., Northeastern State
F: Thomas Hutcheson, Jr., Lindenwood
F: Abdoulaye Cisse, Sr., Fort Hays State

Second Team
GK: Thomas Salenbien, Jr., Northeastern State
D: Sergio Villalba, Jr., Fort Hays State
D: Seth Russell, Jr., Upper Iowa
D: Luke McBeth, Fr., Lindenwood
MF: Marko Cirko, Jr., Upper Iowa
MF: Rogelio Lopez, Fr., Fort Hays State
MF: Alonso Rodriguez, Fr., Fort Hays State
MF: Leon Silva, So., Lindenwood
F: Gaspar Alvarez, Jr., Lindenwood
F: Italo Martins-Soarez, So., Upper Iowa
F: Arsenio Chamorro, So., Fort Hays State
F: Aaron Ugbah, Jr., Northeastern State
F: Josh Peloquin, Jr., Southwest Baptist

Honorable Mention
Fort Hays State: Caesar Jones, D
Lindenwood: Aleksa Nenadic, GK
Northeastern State: Bailey Weeks, D
Upper Iowa: Robin Stoffels, D, Efrain Gonzalez, MF

Leona (Herrman) Vsetecka

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Leona (Herrman) Vsetecka

Leona (Herrman) Vsetecka, age 82, of Victoria, KS, passed away on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at Via Christi Village of Hays. She was born January 28, 1936. 

Funeral services are pending with Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary, 412 Main Street, Victoria, KS 67671.

Winter Weather Advisory issued for Ellis County

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NWS

UPDATE at 10:15 a.m. from Trego County Emergency Management following a phone call with NWS meteorologists in Dodge City:

WAKEENEY – Update from National Weather Service: A winter weather advisory is currently in effect. This is not a strong winter weather system, however they do expect snow north of a line from Garden City to Larned. Trego and Ellis counties are to expect 3-4 inches. The winds will be out of the East at 10-15 mph so that should not be a factor. Temperatures are expected to start out in the 30s and drop into the 20s. The snow is expected to begin about midnight tonight and taper off throughout the day on Thursday. Temperatures are expected to get above freezing on Thursday. There could be accumulating snow on roadways Wednesday night into Thursday, so drive carefully.

DODGE CITY – A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service in Dodge City from midnight tonight (Wed.) through 6 p.m. Thursday for Trego, Ellis, Scott, Lane, Ness and Rush counties.

This includes the cities of WaKeeney, Pfeifer, Hays, Scott City, Dighton, Ness City, and La Crosse.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY…

* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches expected. Localized amounts to near 4 inches are possible.

* WHERE…Portions of central and west central Kansas.

* WHEN…From midnight Wednesday night to 6 PM CST Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions. Hazardous conditions are expected to impact the morning commute to work and school Thursday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Weather Advisory for snow means periods of snow will cause primarily travel difficulties. Expect snow covered roads and limited visibilities, and use caution while driving.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.

HPD Activity Log Nov. 5 & 6

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The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and conducted 13 traffic stops Mon., Nov. 5, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Criminal Trespass–3900 block E 8th St, Hays; 11/4 10:30 PM; 11/5 5:30 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 9:41 AM
Welfare Check–100 block E 15th St, Hays; 10:16 AM
Animal At Large–100 block W 15th St, Hays; 11:37 AM
Civil Dispute–100 block W 4th St, Hays; 12:37 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1700 block Haney Dr, Hays; 1:08 PM
Suspicious Activity–1200 block Main St, Hays; 11/4 3 PM; 5 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1700 block Haney Dr, Hays; 2:40 PM
Animal At Large–100 block E 11th St, Hays; 3:28 PM
Animal At Large–1100 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 4:39 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 11/4 2:20 PM; 2:35 PM
Disturbance – General–26th and Indian Trail, Hays; 5:32 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1200 block E 27th St, Hays; 5:53 PM
Civil Dispute–100 block E 15th St, Hays; 6 PM; 6:10 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–500 block W 19th St, Hays; 6:36 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–200 block E 15th St, Hays; 7:24 PM
Drug Offenses–1400 block US 183 Alt Hwy, Hays; 10:05 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and conducted 19 traffic stops Tue., Nov. 6, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Criminal Threat–500 block 15th St, Hays; 5:15 AM
Theft (general)–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 8:15 AM; 8:30 AM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–500 block W 16th St, Hays; 11:04 AM; 11:06 AM
Parking Complaint–600 block Elm St, Hays; 11:05 AM
Parking Complaint–4500 block Vista Dr, Hays; 11/1 12 AM; 11/6 11:35 AM
Dead Animal Call–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 11:51 AM
Suspicious Activity–1900 block 29th St, Hays; 1:28 PM
Animal At Large–1300 block Western Plains Dr, Hays; 1:37 PM
Welfare Check–2700 block Colonial St, Hays; 3:02 PM; 3:20 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–1200 block Pine St, Hays; 3:23 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–1500 block Montgomery St, Hays; 4:33 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–200 block E 15th St, Hays; 4:47 PM
Found/Lost Property–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 4:50 PM; 5:11 PM
Dead Animal Call–2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 5:17 PM
Suspicious Activity–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 5:15 PM; 5:35 PM
Drug Offenses–3700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 7:14 PM
Mental Health Call–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:06 PM

Ken Rahjes wins re-election

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Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra) 110th Dist.

 

Republican Ken Rahjes of Agra has won re-election to the Kansas House in the 110th district.

That district covers parts of Ellis County.

He won over Democratic rival Kim Thomas, the mayor of Stockton, 6,287 to 1,994 votes.

 

Jury: K-State student guilty of killing ex-girlfriend

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas State University student has been convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend in Wichita.

Dane Owens -photo Sedgwick County
Rowena Irani-photo courtesy Downing&Lahey

Jurors found 29-year-old Dane Owens guilty Tuesday of first-degree felony murder and aggravated burglary in the October 2016 killing of 22-year-old Rowena Irani. She was studying psychology at Wichita State University.

Prosecutors say Owens parked his truck several houses away from her home, walked through an unlocked door and fired at her when she walked around a corner. He then left the home without helping her, throwing her cellphone in one pond and his gun in another

Her mother found her several hours later suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, and Irani died the next day. The defense said the shooting wasn’t intentional.

Owens was Sophomore social work major at Kansas State when the shooting happened.

Sentencing is set for Dec. 20.

UPDATE: Leak addressed; HMS reopened: Officials investigating possible gas leak at Hays Middle School

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Students exit Hays Middle School as a possible natural gas leak is investigated. (Courtesy photo)

UPDATE at 8:42 a.m.

A minor gas leak was detected at Hays Middle School Wed. morning, confirmed Hays USD 489 in a voicemail to parents. Midwest Energy crews addressed the problem and the building has been cleared for reentry.

Students and staff are returning to HMS at this time.

All scheduled activities for HMS students will go on as scheduled.

UPDATE at 8:20 a.m.

Hays USD 489 has sent a voice mail update to parents saying Hays Middle School students and staff have been relocated to nearby Wilson School as the reported odor of natural gas is investigated by emergency personnel and Midwest Energy,

First responders and Midwest Energy are on site at Hays Middle School, 201 W. 29th,  this morning at about 8 a.m. investigating a possible gas leak.

Emergency scanner traffic reports indicate someone in the building smelled what they thought was a natural gas odor.

Students were evacuated and taken across the street.

Stay with Hays Post and Eagle Radio for updates as they become available.

 

 

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