Dr. Paul Adams, dean of the College of Education at Fort Hays State University, along with Dr. Richard Duschl, Penn State University, presented at the recent National Science Teachers Association Area Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.
Their presentation, titled “Designing and Using Equitable 3-D Formative Assessments to Support Meaningful NGSS Investigations,” was a hands-on workshop on designing evaluation and assessment for the Next Generation Science Standards.
Ellie Bollig, Roosevelt second grader, receives her Best of the Best Award from the Hays USD 489 school board.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Ellie Bollig, a Roosevelt second-grader, was honored with the student USD 489 Best of the Best Award for her companionship and compassion toward a STAR student in her class.
She was nominated by Jan Burkholder, Roosevelt second-grade teacher.
“Many times our society selects individuals to receive awards based on what is visible or brightly proclaimed through different social media. While many of those individuals are very deserving of the recognition, I have chosen a young leader, a quiet student, for the caring assistance that she shows each day to one of our Roosevelt STAR students,” Burkholder read from her nomination.
The STAR program is a special education program at Roosevelt. All of its students have some level of disability.
“Without needing or getting any instruction from me her teacher, without waiting for an earned award, without expecting any recognition for being there, this student, Ellie, has initiated on her own to touch the life of another. Ellie gently leads her classmate to any place the student needs to go without needing to be first in line. She holds back and makes sure her buddy has the necessary supplies, zips up a coat to face that wintry outdoors or simply lends a gentle hand to walk to our next location
“Most of the time a loving arm is wrapped around the shoulder of her friend as they walk side by side down the hallway. During a quite reading time, Ellie’s lap becomes the cozy spot were her friend wants to sit.”
Burkholder noted the student has even fallen asleep in Ellie’s lap.
“Ellie gives of her time and gives of her energy and her love to show kindness and compassion to her STAR companion and friend. She leads by example, always calm, caring, kind and willing to help others.”
Burkholder said Ellie also excels in her academics and has a large group of other supportive friends.
“If I were to ask Ellie why she looks forward to each day, it won’t be those two accomplishments,” Burkholder said. “I know she looks forward to being there for her STAR student. That is where she places her heart and devotion. Ellie is a leader of tomorrow. We the parents, community and school are raising a generation of generous hearts for giving to others.”
Burkholder turned to Ellie and said through tears, “Ellie, as your teacher, I am very proud of you. Please continue to be the Best of the Best.”
Toni Lohrmeyer
Hays USD 489 school board member Luke Oborny tells the school board why he nominated Toni Lohrmeyer for the Best of the Best Award.
Toni Lohrmeyer was nominated by school board member Luke Oborny for December’s staff Best of the Best Award.
Lohrmeyer is a library secretary for both O’Loughlin and Wilson elementary schools. She checks in and out books, catalogs new books, shelves books, creates displays, maintains records and assists with the O’Loughlin book fair. She also supervises 20 classes as they use the library. Oborny’s wife is the librarian at O’Loughlin.
She said, “I can’t do my job without her knowledge, organization and help.”
However, her work in the school libraries is not why Oborny nominated her for the award.
During the summer, Lohrmeyer works in the Rockwell copy center. This summer the district made a change in its copier contract.
She noticed the district was starting to pay for staples out of the copy center. The cost of the staples in the new contract was going to be as much as $2,000 per year. She brought the cost to Luke Oborny’s attention.
Oborny sent a question to the district finance director, who addressed the issue in the contract with the district’s sales rep.
After the company reviewed the contract, they agreed the staples were to be included in the contract cost.
Oborny said $2,000 can make a big difference when the district is dealing with tight budgets. He encouraged other employees to look at their day-in-and-day-out expenses in the same way.
“She could have done nothing with this information,” Oborny said. “She could have could have complained about it.”
Oborny said instead Lohrmeyer had detailed notes about what the district should review.
“I look at this as a case of her persistence and her strive for excellence that just added up to a big saving for our district,” he said. “That attitude and concern for organization is why I nominated Toni for Best of the Best and why I am honored to be the first to congratulate her.”
At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, police responded to an armed robbery call at the Kwik Shop, 710 W. 29th Street South in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. A 27-year-old female employee reported an unknown suspect entered the store, pointed a handgun at her and demanded money. Money was given to the suspect who fled on foot.
Jermaine Baker-photo Sedgwick Co.
Police responded to similar robberies at at the Kwik Shop, 3959 S. Hydraulic at 8:15p.m. and another at the Kwik Shop, 3601 E. 47th Street South at 8:25p.m. and the Quick Trip, 2821 E. 31st Street South at 8:35p.m.
Through an investigation, police identified and three suspects and have arrested 32-year-old Jermaine Baker, 25-year-old Shaiquille Harris and 27-year-old Brelen Vonfange all of of Wichita on three counts of aggravated robbery and warrants.
The case will be presented to the United States Attorney’s Office, according to Davidson.
LAWRENCE (AP) — An affidavit alleges University of Kansas football player Pooka Williams punched a woman in the stomach and grabbed her by the throat earlier this month.
The Lawrence Journal-World reported the 18-year-old woman showed the officer text messages from Williams admitting to punching her in the arms during the Dec. 5 incident. The document says the officer also found the victim had bruises on her arms and side.
Williams reportedly told police that he pushed the woman when he saw her in a room with other men at an apartment building. Both have said they were in an intimate relationship.
His attorney entered a not guilty on his behalf to a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery during a Dec. 7 court hearing.
Coach Les Miles says Pooka is suspended pending investigation.
GOODLAND – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating a homicide that occurred in Goodland.
The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Thursday and special agents and the crime scene response team responded, the KBI said in a news release Thursday.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. Thursday, the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that a male victim had been shot. As sheriff’s deputies arrived at 5490 County Road 23 in Goodland, they discovered Zachary Chavez, 21, Tribune, suffering from a gunshot wound.
EMS transported Chavez to the Goodland Regional Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at approximately 2 a.m.
A person of interest connected to the case has been identified, and is currently in police custody.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time, the KBI said.
District Judge Blake Bittel on Wednesday set Dec. 31 as the date for a hearing on a lawsuit that contests the race for the 111th Kansas House District seat.
Democrat Eber Phelps lost to Republican Barb Wasinger by 35 votes after a recount was conducted. The Board of Canvassers voted 2-1 to certify the results a second time.
A group of seven Hays residents filed a lawsuit against Wasinger alleging voting irregularities led to Wasinger improperly being named the winner of the election. The group most notably included former Kansas State Sen. Janis Lee. Lee currently serves as vice president of the Ellis County Democratic Party.
Arguments for Phelps
The suit levels a number of allegations against County Clerk and Election Officer Donna Maskus. They range from not properly maintaining and testing the county’s electronic voting machines to improperly handling the recount.
But in new allegations, the filers of the suit claim that because Maskus failed to do her job properly that “some voters were deprived of the right of voting for the candidate they intended and such deprival could change the result of the election.”
Barb Wasinger
The suit goes on to claim that illegal votes were counted while legal votes were not and errors in counting the votes could change the outcome of the election.
Motion to dismiss
Attorneys for Wasinger filed a motion to dismiss the case on Monday.
In the motion, attorney Joshua Ney alleged the Phelps’ supporters provide no specific proof any of Maskus’ actions or any other of the alleged voting irregularities, including failing to test the voting machines, changed the outcome of the election.
Citing a Supreme Court case, Ney said in his motion, “the courts should go to extreme lengths to preserve the validity of all elections, and be slow and reluctant to override the clear intent and purpose of the voters.”
Ney said any objections regarding provisional ballots should have been made during the canvas. He also noted the Phelps supporters have not pointed to any specific improperly counted ballots.
The Phelps supporters also alleged long lines at the polls caused by problems with the voting machines could have dissuaded voters from casting ballots. However, Ney noted if a voter chooses not to vote, that is not grounds to contest an election. He also noted the lawsuit did not specify any specific voters who were unable to vote because of long lines at the polls.
The judge will consider the motion to dismiss before the case proceeds to trial on Dec. 31.
Protection of information, inspection
During a conference on Wednesday, the judge agreed to put a protective order in place to secure the names and personal information of voters in the case.
The judge also agreed to allow the ballots and voting machines to be inspected per state statute. This provides for a three-person inspection team appointed by the judge.
State statute requires a hearing on a contested election to be heard 20 days from the date the case was filed. Dec. 31 is the last day the case could be heard per that requirement. However, the statue does not specify how long the judge has to rule in the case.
Another conference call in the case is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 27.
The Kansas 2019 Legislative session is set to start Monday, Jan. 14.
Hays Post reporter Jonathan Zweygardt contributed to this story.
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TOPEKA (AP) — A new report by a coalition of legislators and advocates says Kansas must fix its troubled child welfare system now or more vulnerable children will suffer.
The Kansas City Star reported Thursday’s document details problems ranging from racial disparities in children removed from their homes to children lingering in state custody too long. The group spent the past year hosting town halls.
A recent review of the Kansas Department for Children and Families also exposed high caseloads, alarming turnover and lack of timely training. At the same time, a record number of children have been in foster care.
Among the coalition’s recommendations is to improve funding for food stamp benefits and other programs targeting needy families. It advocates for keeping more children in their homes and addressing the racial disparity.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With the fall sports season complete, Fort Hays State ranks first in the initial release of the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup presented by McCownGordon Construction standings. Fort Hays State produced an average score of 10.9 for the fall, nearly a point higher than second place.
Fort Hays State had another strong fall season in 2018, finishing in the top five of the MIAA standings in five different sports. The men’s soccer team (15 points) captured its second-straight conference title while the football team (14 points) also finished atop the MIAA for the second year in a row, finishing in a tie for first. The men’s cross country team (12 points) turned in a third-place finish at the MIAA Championships while the women’s soccer team (11.5 points) tied for third in the regular season. The women’s cross country squad (10 points) placed fifth at the MIAA Championships and the volleyball team (3 points) finished 11th in the regular season standings.
Thanks to a women’s soccer crown and a women’s cross country title, respectively, Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State currently sit in a tie for second with an average score of 10.1 points.
The MIAA Commissioner’s Cup standings are based on points earned for regular season finishes in the 20 championship sports of the MIAA. The points awarded for each sport are based on the number of the MIAA institutions that participate in that sport. Each institution’s points are totaled and divided by the number of MIAA sports it sponsors, giving an overall finish for the school.
An all-sports trophy returned to the MIAA two years ago for the first time since 2003, now called the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup with a new scoring system. McCownGordon Construction came on as a presenting sponsor last season. The conference awarded the MIAA All-Sports Trophy from 1999 to 2003.
Below is the entire list of standings based on the results of the fall sports:
2018-19 Commissioner’s Cup Standings Presented By McCownGordon Construction
1. Fort Hays State – 10.9 average (65.5 points)
T-2. Central Oklahoma – 10.1 average (40.5 points)
T-2. Pittsburg State – 10.1 average (40.5 points)
4. Nebraska Kearney – 9.8 average (49 points)
T-5. Central Missouri – 8.1 average (40.5 points)
T-5. Washburn – 8.1 average (40.5 points)
7. Missouri Southern – 7.9 average (39.5 points)
T-8. Emporia State – 7.4 average (37 points)
T-8. Northwest Missouri – 7.4 average (37 points)
10. Northeastern State – 7.0 average (21 points)
11. Lindenwood – 6.8 average (40.5 points)
12. Missouri Western – 6.5 average (32.5 points)
13. Southwest Baptist – 5.8 average (29 points)
14. Lincoln – 1.0 average (1 point)
Alfred “Sonny” Carpenter and Pauline CarpenterGreat Bend Post
GREAT BEND — Five people previously charged in Arkansas in connection to the murder of a Wichita couple at the Barton County Fair in July have been booked and are now in custody in Barton County.
Michael Fowler Jr., 54, Sarasota, Florida; Rusty Fraiser, 35, Aransas, Texas; and Kimberly Younger, 52, McIntosh, Florida, were charged Wednesday in Barton County District Court for capital murder, first degree murder and theft.
The trio were extradited back to Kansas from Arkansas where they also face capital murder charges in connection to the deaths of Alfred “Sonny” Carpenter and Pauline Carpenter of Wichita who were killed and their bodies transported back to Arkansas during the Barton County Fair in July.
Investigators believe the carnival workers used the couple’s recreational vehicle to drive the bodies 320 miles to Van Buren, Arkansas where the bodies were buried in a shallow grave in a national forest. The three are being held in the Barton County Jail in Lieu of a 1,000,000 bond.
Two other individuals, Christine Tenney, 38, Santa Fe, Texas, and Thomas Drake, 31, Van Buren, Arkansas, were also charged in Barton County District Court and are charged with obstructing apprehension. Both Tenney and Drake are being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $300.000 bond.
Here are the charges that have been filed:
Michael Fowler Jr., of Sarasota, Florida on a Barton County District Court warrant for capital murder, two counts of murder in the first degree and theft. Bond set at $1,000,000.
Rusty Fraiser of Aransas, Texas on a Barton County District Court warrant for capital murder, two counts of murder in the first degree. Bond set at $1,000,000.
Kimberly Younger of of McIntosh, Florida Aransas, Texas for capital murder, two counts of murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, solicitation to commit first degree murder and theft. Bond set at $1,000,000.
Christine Tenney of Santa Fe, Texas, on a Barton County District Court warrant for three counts of obstruction. Bond set at $300,000.
Thomas Drake of Van Buren, Arkansas, on a Barton County District Court warrant for obstructing apprehension. Bond set at $300,000.
John Clifford Burnside, 84, died November 15, 2018, at home in Katy, Texas. He was born on October 31, 1934, in Garden City, Kansas, the son of John Ralph and Imogene (Hill) Burnside.
John spent his formative years in Garden City, spending much time working on his grandfather, John Homer Burnside’s ranch. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1952. He married Barbara LaVerne Baker August 29, 1954. He received a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Oklahoma in 1958. After graduation, John went to work for Pan American Petroleum Company, which later became Amoco Oil Company before it’s current acquisition by British Petroleum (BP). John established himself within the oil industry and he and his family spent 14 years living overseas in England, Iran and Egypt. Upon return to the United States, he lived and worked in Denver, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. John retired after 35 years in 1993 as Senior Vice President of Drilling and Manager of Special Operations. He was a longtime member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and several other domestic and international petroleum related organizations. John remained actively involved with his family even as his health declined. He thoroughly enjoyed his grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife Barbara of Katy, Texas; 3 children, John M. Burnside and wife Samantha of Vancouver, Washington, Jeffrey Burnside and wife Angelique of Houston, Texas, Julie Burnside Sullivan of Houston, Texas; sisters Judy Henderson of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jane Alsop of Salina, Kansas; brother Joe Burnside of Garden City, Kansas; and nine grandchildren, Aundra Zimburean, John B., Alec, Blake, Alyssa, Riley and Brent Burnside, and Jack and Scott Sullivan; great-grandchildren Alexa and Jonas Zimburean. He is preceded in death by his parent and brother James H. Burnside.
Funeral service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Garden City, Kansas on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. with Mike Collins presiding. Interment will follow at Valley View Cemetery, Garden City, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to Make A Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana and Dementia Society of America in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home; 620 N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.
