Update 4:36 p.m.: I-70 has re-opened in both directions from Colorado to Hays.
Update: 2:34 p.m.: I-70 is closed from Colorado to Wakeeney eastbound only. I-70 still closed from Hays to Colby westbound.
Update 12:20 p.m.: Interstate 70 will be closing westbound between Hays and Goodland as of 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
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The Kansas Highway Patrol has reported that Interstate 70 is now closed between WaKeeney and Goodland due to hazardous winter weather conditions.
Hays Post
A warming shelter has been opened at the Trego County Fairgrounds Commercial Building by Tregp County Emergency Management for stranded motorists.
All motel rooms in WaKeeney are full, according Trego County Emergency Management.
“Our crews are doing their best as they continue fighting blowing snow on parts of I-70. Here’s a look at a few of our trouble spots. Be patient, we’ll get it reopened as soon as it’s safe to do so! Stay updated at kandrive.org. #kswx,” Emergency Management said just before 4 p.m. Thursday.
GEARY COUNTY —Bond has been set at $2 million for 33-year old Dorian Green, Junction City in a Geary County District Court murder case.
Green was arrested Christmas evening on suspicion of First Degree Murder in the Christmas Day shooting of Jenna Schafer, 31, Junction City. A status check / preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Geary County District Court for Green on January 8th, although it is not unusual after the status check for the initial preliminary hearing setting to be continued to a later date.
Police reported that they responded to 948 grant Avenue Number 154 on Christmas Day where they found Schafer dead from an apparent gunshot wound. Green was arrested several hours later.
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GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcemenbt authorities are investigating fatal Christmas Day shooting and have a suspect in custody.
Just before 9:30 a.m., police responded to 948 Grant Avenue #154 in Junction City after report of a woman who had died, according to a media release from police.
Upon arrival officers located Jenna Schafer, 31, Junction City dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
Detectives and officers worked throughout the day developing a suspect. At approximately 6:25 p.m., police arrested Dion Green, 33, Junction City, on suspicion of First Degree Murder in connection with the incident.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Crime Stoppers
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the following on its Facebook as of 12:56 p.m.
“We now have a confirmed fatality crash on I-70 by Oakley at mile post 75.
PLEASE avoid driving if you can, if you have to be out in this, SLOW DOWN!”
More information will be released on the Hays Post as it becomes available.
American Red Cross
Due to the deteriorating conditions of the winter storm and extreme temperatures, the American Red Cross is partnering with Finney County Emergency Management and Thomas County Emergency Management to open temporary warming centers. The warming centers locations are:
• Finney County 4-H Building, 409 Lake Ave., Garden City
• Holcomb City Hall, 200 N. Lynch St., Holcomb
• Thomas County Emergency Management, 1255 Country Club Dr., Colby
Several western Kansas roads are closed so residents are urged to shelter in place until it is safe to travel. The warming center is available for motorists who may be stranded or power outages that result in home temperatures dropping to dangerous levels.
“The center is safe place where folks can warm up and wait out the storm. We can provide food, water, comfort, and information without sleeping services” said Red Cross Executive director, Becky LaPolice.
“The situation remains fluid and we will provide updates to available services as they develop.” Current road conditions are available at www.kandrive.org. “We can’t stress enough, the importance of monitoring road conditions,” said LaPolice.
Preparing ahead of time can save lives in the event of extreme cold. Cars equipped with an emergency kit should contain at a minimum, water, food, blankets, first-aid kit, ice scraper, gloves, jumper cables, flashlight and extra batteries. Stay inside vehicles if your car becomes stranded and call 911 for help. People who need to utilize the warming center please make sure to bring the following:
• Prescriptions and emergency medications • Foods that meet unusual dietary requirements • Extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies and other comfort items • Supplies needed for children and infants, such as diapers, formula and toys • Special items for family members who are elderly or disabled
WEATHER ALERTS AND FIRST AID TIPS — Download the Red Cross Emergency App for instant access to winter storm tips and weather alerts for their area and where loved-ones live. Expert medical guidance and a hospital locator are included in the First Aid App in case travelers encounter any mishaps. Both apps are available to download for free in app stores or at redcross.org/apps.
VAN BUREN, Ark— An Arkansas judge has dismissed local charges against four carnival workers suspected in the deaths of a retired couple for the July deaths of 78-year-old Alfred Carpenter and 79-year-old Pauline Carpenter who were working at the Barton County Fair in Great Bend.
Investigators say one suspect texted the others posing as a carnival mafia boss and ordered them to kill the couple.
The suspects were originally charged in Arkansas with abuse of a corpse and other crimes after the couple’s bodies were found in Arkansas.
Prosecutors asked that the Arkansas charges be dropped because the suspects have been extradited to Great Bend. A Crawford County judge granted the motion last week.
The suspects are 52-year-old Kimberly Younger and 54-year-old Michael Fowler Jr., both of Florida; and 35-year-old Rusty Frasier and 38-year-old Christine Tenney of Texas.
Fowler Jr., is being held 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.
Frasier is being held on a Barton County District Court warrant for capital murder, two counts of murder in the first degree. Bond set at $1,000,000.
Younger is being held 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.
Tenney is being held on a Barton County District Court warrant for three counts of obstruction. Bond set at $300,000.
In addition, 31-year-old Thomas Drake of Van Buren, Arkansas is being held a Barton County District Court warrant for obstructing apprehension. Bond set at $300,000.
-The AP contributed to this report.
GEARY COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple charges after a Wednesday chase on Interstate 70.
The pursuit started at the Fort Riley exit on Interstate 70 after report of an alleged stolen license plate on a 1999 Jeep Cherokee, according to the Geary County Sheriff’s Department. The chase at speeds of 100-miles-per-hour continued to the Abilene exit in Dickinson County.
Just before 4p.m., authorities stopped the Jeep and arrested 38-year-old Scott Keady, of Kansas City, Missouri.
He is being held on suspicion of Fleeing and Eluding, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, two counts Possession of Stolen Property, Driving while License Revoked, Passing on the Left, Improper Driving on Laned Roadway, No Turn Signal, Speeding, Reckless Driving, Possession of Heroin and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
There were no injuries reported, according to the sheriff’s department.
Genevieve Katherine Bellerive, 98, of St. Peter, Kansas, passed away Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, at Logan Manor in Logan.
Schmitt Funeral Home, WaKeeney, is handling arrangements.
Prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28 at the funeral home.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 at St. Michael Catholic Church at 40 Ainslie Ave., Collyer, KS 67631.
Adding livestock into an annual cropping system and grazing cover crops that are planted between cash crops is one way to potentially increase profit to a farm enterprise. If done correctly it can also improve soil health.
The manure and urine left after the livestock graze a cover crop helps speed up the nutrient cycling because the forage has already been processed once. This waste also helps feed the soil microbes which contribute to building stable soil aggregates. Better soil aggregation means more pores spaces in the soil which increases water infiltration and water holding capacity. As the microbes die they add organic matter to the soil which also increases water holding capacity and releases additional nutrients to subsequent crops.
Based on university research in western Kansas cover crop forage production is highly variable and dependent on the weather conditions from year to year. Dry matter amounts can range from over 3,000 pounds in favorable years to less than 1,500 pounds in unfavorable years. Because of this there needs to be a lot of flexibility in the grazing system and alternative forage sources need to be available if the cover crop field does not yield as expected or fails completely. To maintain adequate soil cover and provide a carbon food source for the soil microbes only about 25-40% of the total forage should be eaten by the livestock.
The cover crop seed mix should be tailored to the nutritional needs of the class of livestock grazing it. Most actively growing cover crops will provide enough crude protein to meet the animals’ needs, but other feed sources and supplements may have to be provided to meet other nutrient requirements. A forage sample should be collected and analyzed determine if anything else is needed in the diet. The analysis will also show if there are any potential toxicity issues, like high nitrate levels.
Other considerations would include having an adequate water source at or near the cover crop field for the livestock. The cost of hauling water for any distance at all can reduce potential profit margins significantly. Field location and how easy it is to access needs to be also be considered. If the field is a good distance away from the headquarters or doesn’t have any decent roads to get to it may not be feasible to graze. What type of fencing and how the field will be fenced also needs to be determined.
One question I often get is how much soil compaction is created by livestock grazing on the field. If managed correctly and if cattle are removed, or confined to a sacrifice area, when the soil is saturated the compaction should be minimal and only in the upper couple of inches of the soil. This is especially true on long term no-till fields that already have good soil structure. The freezing and thawing of the soil in the winter should mitigate the shallow compaction left by the livestock.
Grazing cover crops can be profitable and should something to consider. Especially if you already have the livestock, facilities and equipment already in place. But every producer, field and situation is different. All costs and potential income must be considered. Fortunately, there are several universities and others that have cover crop grazing budget templates posted on the web that can help you determine if grazing cover crops is right for you.
For more information about this or other soil health practices you can contact me at [email protected] or any local NRCS office.
Dale Younker is a Soil Health Specialist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Jetmore.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – Departing Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer isn’t ruling out a future run for public office but says he will be looking at opportunities in both business and government service.
The Republican governor was not specific about his plans during a recent Associated Press interview, except to say he and wife Ruth will take “a little vacation” after leaving office Jan. 14 to Disney World.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) – The families of two Kansas sheriff’s deputies who were overpowered by an inmate and killed have hired legal counsel to help prosecutors.
The Kansas City Star reports that husband-and-wife law partners, Tom and Tricia Bath, were retained to assist the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office in the prosecution of 30-year-old Antoine Fielder. He is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Theresa King and Patrick Rohrer last June. In Kansas, the intentional, premeditated killing of a single law enforcement officer is eligible for the death penalty.
Attorneys for Fielder have indicated they will oppose the Baths’ participation in the case. Though rarely done, Kansas law allows for crime victims to pay private attorneys to assist county prosecutors, who are required to recognize them as associate counsel.
Hays Post
Sherry Dryden, United Way executive director, will be on air on Eagle’s Hays area radio stations, 101.9 FM The Bull, 1400 AM KAYS, 103.3 FM The Mix, 99.5 K2 Country, and Hull Broadcasting’s 96.9 FM KFIX throughout the day today through Sunday for a push to make the agency’s fundraising goal.
The agency is only 50 percent to its $400,000 goal. It has extended its annual fundraising drive, which typically ends on Dec. 31, into January.
The agency fears funding will have to be cut to its partner agencies, which may mean the number of people served in the community and the number of services provided may have to be reduced.
See related story: Shortfall in United Way campaign could mean cuts to community services
In 2018, United Way supported local programs at 15 partner agencies.
These included the American Red Cross, Big Brother Big Sisters, Cancer Council of Ellis County, Catholic Charities, Center for Life Experiences, Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Early Childhood Connections, First Call for Help, Hays Area Children’s Center, Options, Parents and Children Together, Salvation Army and Western Kansas Association on the Concerns for the Disabled.
There is still time to donate, and there are several ways to do so.
You can donate online, call United Way at 785-628-8281, send checks to P.O. Box 367, Hays, KS 67601 or make a donation or pledge in person at the United Way office at the Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh St., Suite 111, Hays.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
A winter storm is closing roads and knocking out power across parts of western Kansas.
The National Weather Service has issued a combination of blizzard warnings, winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories in about three dozen counties.
Forecasts are calling for ice and from 2 to 12 inches of snow Thursday. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph also are possible, creating whiteout conditions.
Ellis County is in a Winter Weather Advisory with 2-5 inches of snow predicted.
The Blizzard Warning includes Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Logan, Gove, Greeley and Wichita counties, where some businesses and government offices are closed for the day.
Soldiers from the Hays-based Army National Guard 997th Brigade Support Battalion left Wednesday night about 9 p.m. to stage in Sharon Springs as part of the state’s Stranded Motorist Assistance Teams after Gov. Jeff Colyer declared a disaster.
The Kansas Department of Transportation says Interstate 70 is completely snow covered west of Hays. At least two vehicle slide offs were reported this morning in the Hays area near Toulon. Another semi-truck was off the road blocking traffic at mile marker 151 between Hays and Ellis. At 8:45 a.m., I-70 remained open across the state.
Several highways in the southwest corner of the state are closed, including stretches of U.S. 50. About 2,500 Wheatland Electric Cooperative customers in southwest Kansas are without power.
For the latest road conditions, go online to www.kandrive.org or call 511.
For the latest local cancellations and postponements, check Hays Post.
