ROSE HILL, Kan. (AP) — Federal health inspectors are investigating after a 38-year-old Sedgwick County man died when a trailer backed over him.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office said 38-year-old Stephen Farmer, of Sedgwick County, died early Wednesday in Rose Hill.
Emergency crews found Farmer on the ground behind a truck, which had a flatbed trailer carrying a piece of loading equipment.
The sheriff’s office says a man driving the truck was turning around in a parking lot when the trailer hit Farmer. He fell and the right tires of the trailer ran over him. He died at the scene.
Detectives determined the death was an accident and no charges are being pursued.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent investigators to the scene.
Haynes-Jones scored 17 points and hit a dramatic layup with a second remaining to lift Wichita State over SMU
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – Samajae Haynes-Jones scored 17 points and hit a dramatic layup with a second remaining to lift Wichita State to an 85-83 victory over SMU on Wednesday night.
SMU’s Jimmy Whitt Jr. hit a step-back 10-footer to tie the game at 83 with 19 seconds to go. After a Wichita State timeout, the Shockers got the ball to Haynes-Jones who worked the clock down then drove the lane. He crossed over from the right side to the left and made a scooping left-handed layup for the go-ahead bucket with one second left. After an SMU timeout, the Shockers knocked a long inbound pass out of bounds as time ran out.
Jahmal McMurray scored nine consecutive SMU points as the score moved from 69-all to 78-all with 1:59 remaining. At that point Jaime Echenique scored for WSU, Isiaha Mike hit a 3-pointer for an SMU 1-point lead, and Echenique made two free throws to put the Shockers back ahead 82-81 with a minute left. SMU finally missed but Feron Hunt got the rebound and was fouled. He missed both, then Echenique made 1 of 2 before Whitt tied it one last time.
Erik Stevenson scored 17 points and Echenique added 12 points. They both had six rebounds for the Shockers (9-11, 2-6 American Conference).
Mike scored 25 points, McMurray added 19 and Ethan Chargois had 16 points and 12 rebounds for SMU (12-8, 4-4).
Neither team led by more than four points in the final 12 minutes, a period with seven ties and five lead changes.
Hays USD 489 candidate Keith Hall said he hopes to facilitate the board’s work on a bond and help bring unity to the school board.
Hall is one of four candidates that will interview for the Hays USD 489 superintendent position in the next two weeks. Hall interviewed with the board Wednesday night. The second candidate will be announced Thursday morning and will interview Thursday night. Two more candidates will interview Wednesday, Feb. 6 and Thursday, Feb. 7.
Each day the candidates will meet with parents and other members of the public from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Toepfer Room of Rockwell Administration Center.
Hall, 61, came to Hays USD 489 in December to serve as the interim director of finance and support services. He previously worked as the superintendent in Osborne. He graduated from high school in Connecticut. His farther is from Gorham and went to junior high in the Rockwell basement. He followed his family to Kansas after his father retired from the Navy. Hall graduated from Fort Hays State University.
He worked as a shop teacher in Sabetha and Stockton and later was named the principal at Stockton High School. He was honored with the Milken National Educator Award in 1997.
“I have always had great loyalty to the folks that I worked for, because I worked for kids and you love them,” Hall said. “I felt it immediately when I walked in the door here.”
Hall toured several schools Wednesday as well as met with staff. Teachers shared with Hall what they do for students and what some of their building needs are.
“[The district] has fulfilled its reputation that I anticipated when I got here,” he said. “It’s a great district. It has a great community supporting it, and it has teachers who really care about kids.
“I am really pleased with the experience since I have been here. I think people are striving for excellence. I am excited and delighted.”
Despite the larger enrollment, Hall said the processes here in Hays are very similar to what he experienced in Osborne.
“I just thought that maybe I could help this district move forward,” he said. “It really wasn’t on my radar when I came over here, but as I watched it and in my new position, I think I can help them, and I am excited to talk to them about that.”
The district is looking at a third bond attempt after bond issues failed in 2016 and 2017. Hall said he thought becuase he is serving in the finance position, he could provide I seamless transition for any bond work.
The district has worked on developing another bond question, but on a split vote tabled those plans in June. The board heard a $29.4 milli0n bond proposal from its architect and construction manager on Monday night.
“In my mind, we are restarting the conversation,” Hall said, “so what I would defer to is the board processing that again and deciding how they are going to move forward.”
He said he facilitate whatever the board maps out.
Getting building projects completed, Hall said would be among his goals if he was chosen as superintendent. Trying to build board unity is another.
Several major votes in recent months, most notably the purchase of the Oak Park Medical Complex, which will be renovated for Early Childhood Connections, have been split. Current Superintendent John Thissen said upon his resignation that he wished he could have better united the board during his tenure.
Hall said developing trust is not a simple nor a linear process.
“I think I have enough experience to understand what needs to be put in place to move that along,” Hall said of the board. “You don’t control all of that. Some of that has to do with personalities. Some of that has to do with what is on the table as far as what you are talking about, but I think I know what the components are. The first component is board unity.”
The board of education reached an impasse with teachers during negotiations last year.
Because resources are tighter, conversations with teachers are more difficult, Hall said. He said he would work through the processes that are in place to reach the best outcome for teachers and the community.
Supporting teachers in their accreditation and education redesign work would be yet another of Hall’s goals, he said.
Hall said he thought the move to the Hays district from Osborne was a positive one for his family.
“I love the Hays community,” he said. … “College towns are always the best. I knew whether it was my work life or my retired life, I would be in Hays for sure. There has never been any doubt in my mind.”
Hall said if he is not chosen as superintendent, he said he would like to continue working in the finance position.
HAYS, Kan. – The No. 12 ranked Fort Hays State wrestling sent out the seniors on a high note with a 35-5 drubbing of Central Missouri 35-5 Wednesday inside Gross Memorial Coliseum. The Tigers improved to 2-8 in overall duals and 1-2 in conference action, while the Mules dipped to 0-5 in duals and 0-4 in MIAA play.
Fort Hays State began the dual in a 6-0 deficit after Broderick Green dropped his match to Justin Mitchell by decision (7-3) and Payton Sadowski fell behind early and couldn’t quite get anything going to fall to John Feeney by decision (8-2).
The Tigers then rambled off eight straight victories to close out the match on top, 35-5. No. 2 ranked Brandon Ball got things going to the black and gold with a dominating 16-0 technical fall victory in the third period over Dakota Thevel. Senior Ryne Cokeley then earned a forfeit victory with the Mules leaving the 149-pound bout open.
No. 4 ranked Efe Osaghae added another technical fall to his collection with a 15-0 stomp over Austin Morgan at 157 pounds. The crowd noise would not be bothered when Conrad Vajnar stepped on the mat and earned a fall in the first period (2:10) of the 165-pound match over Cole Hatfield. The Tigers lead 22-6 at this point in the dual.
No. 9 ranked Marty Verhaeghe bounced back in a good way with a decision over Benjamin Gadbois, holding the Mules senior to one point in the 8-1 win. Senior Micquille Robinson went out with a bang in front of the home crowd after defeating Dominique Hampton, 12-0, and earning his 21st career major decision.
In his season debut, redshirt-freshman Ryan Tiers overcame a 2-0 deficit to Martin Brunnert to end up with an 11-4 decision and his first victory in over a year. A.J. Cooper capped the evening off with an easy 9-3 decision over Chase Miller in the 285-pound bout.
The Tigers will take a week off before resuming wrestling as they travel up north to Kearney, Neb. to take on No. 2 ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday (Feb. 10). The dual between conference rivals is slated to commence at 3 p.m.
DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 31-year-old Dodge City man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in a 2015 shooting death.
Fraire -photo Ford Co. Sheriff
Julio Fraire was convicted Tuesday after a five-day trial. Prosecutors say 32-year-old Ramiro Nicolas Bernal was shot to death on July 25, 2015 in the parking lot of the Dodge City Daily Globe .
Fraire was arrested and charged in October 2016. Besides the murder charge, Fraire also was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.
The newspaper’s parking lot was being used as overflow parking for a concert Bernal attended.
Prosecutors say Fraire shot Bernal six times before fleeing the scene.
A sentencing date has not been scheduled. Fraire has previous convictions for Burglary and Aggravated Assault, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was indicted Wednesday on federal charges of making calls to the office of Operation Rescue in which he threatened to injure employees and their families, according to the United States Attorney.
Christopher M. Thompson, 22, Wichita, is charged with four counts of making threats to injure a person. The crimes are alleged to have occurred Aug. 14, 2018, in Wichita, Kan.
The indictment alleges Thompson made calls threatening to kill Operation Rescue employees and rape their daughters.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI and the Wichita Police Department investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan McCarty is prosecuting.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have released security camera images of the suspect.
Photos courtesy Topeka Police
Just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a robbery at a convenience store 1414 SW 17th Street in Topeka, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.
The clerk told police a skinny white male in his mid-20s, wearing a black hoodie, black stocking cap and a blue bandana covering his face came in and demanded money. The suspect was armed with a handgun and was last seen running north between the businesses with an undisclosed amount of money.
Police are attempting to identify the suspect in the the security camera images released Wednesday morning. Anyone with details on the crime are asked to contact police.
BROOKFIELD, Ill. – Fort Hays State had four players named to the Don Hansen Football Committee All-America Team for the 2018 season. Dante Brown is the Special Teams Player of the Year for all of NCAA Division II, while earning first team honors as a kicker and an honorable mention nod as a punter. Linebacker Jose Delgado also earned a first-team selection, while Doyin Jibowu earned third-team honors and Wyatt Parker received an honorable mention selection.
Brown adds to his list of honors for the 2018 season. Already tabbed the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year and Don Hansen Football Committee Super Region 3 Special Teams Player of the Year, Brown adds Special Teams Player of the Year for all of Division II to his collection. Brown has already earned All-America status from the D2CCA and D2Football.com. Along with his kicking role, Brown was also one of the top punters nationally. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection at both kicker and punter this year. He led the nation in field goals made with 28 and averaged an NCAA-best 2.33 field goals per game, breaking the MIAA record for field goals in a season by three and coming just two shy of the NCAA Division II single-season record. He converted 84.8 percent of his field goal attempts, going 28-of-33 for the season, to rank fifth in NCAA Division II. Brown also shattered the Fort Hays State single-season record for points with 123. Brown had 67 punts for 2,772 yards, averaging 41.4 yards per attempt.
Delgado earns All-America status from a third organization after a tremendous senior season. He was the D2CCA Super Region 3 Defensive Player of the Year and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. Like Brown, Delgado was an All-America selection by both the D2CCA and D2Football.com. He finished the year with 117 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble. He reached double figures in tackles eight times in the 12 games played in 2018, reaching 14 twice. Delgado reached double figures in a game 20 times throughout his 44-game career with the Tigers, earning All-MIAA honors three times and first-team honors the last two years. With 402 career tackles, he became the all-time tackles leader in Fort Hays State’s NCAA Division II era.
Jibowu gives the Tigers three repeat All-America selections this year after receiving honorable mention status from the Don Hansen Football Committee last year. Brown and Delgado are also repeat All-America selections by the Don Hansen Football Committee. He finished the year with 57 tackles, including 6 for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 sack, and 11 pass breakups. Jibowu wrapped his impressive four-year career at FHSU with 276 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 9 interceptions, and 26 pass breakups. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection at defensive back for the second straight year and three-time selection overall.
Parker earns the first All-America honor of his career. He finished fourth on the team in tackles with 71 from his defensive tackle position, while leading the Tigers in sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (4). He also collected 11.5 tackles for loss and one interception for the season. Parker was a two-time All-MIAA selection for the Tigers.
Below is the Don Hansen All-America Team for 2018.
Offensive Player of the Year: Jayru Campbell, JR, QB, Ferris State
Defensive Player of the Year: Markus Jones, DE, Angelo State
Special Teams Player of the Year: Dante Brown, JR, PK/P, Fort Hays State
Freshman of the Year: Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Notre Dame (Ohio)
Co-Coaches of the Year: Kerwin Bell, Valdosta State & Mike Jacobs, Notre Dame (Ohio)
First Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Jayru Campbell 6-5 215 JR Ferris State Detroit, Mich.
FB Cole Chancey 5-10 200 SO Harding Commerce, Ga.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin 5-9 173 FR Notre Dame (Ohio) Marshville, N.C.
RB Gabriel Watson 6-1 221 JR Sioux Falls (S.D.) Piedmont, Calif.
WR Chad Hovasse 6-1 215 SR Adams State Colorado Springs, Colo.
WR Brody Oliver 6-3 210 SR Colorado Mines Elizabeth, Colo.
WR Craig Rucker 5-7 165 JR Mars Hill Orlando, Fla.
TE DeAndre Washington 6-2 185 JR Arkansas-Monticello Shreveport, La.
AP Tabyus Taylor 6-0 250 SO Virginia Union Hopewell, Va.
C Bryce Bray 6-0 260 SR Harding Rogers, Ark.
OG Tyler Drob 6-2 297 GR West Chester Cherry Hill, N.J.
OG Nic Sawyer 6-5 300 SR Ferris State Ann Arbor, Mich.
OT Evan Heim 6-4 305 JR Minnesota State DePere, Wis.
OT Deon Sheppard 6-4 295 SR Tarleton State San Antonio, Texas
PK Dante Brown 5-10 185 JR Fort Hays State Mississauga, Ontario
First Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE Markus Jones 6-3 260 SR Angelo State Fort Worth, Texas
DE Cardell Rawlings 6-2 240 SR Wingate Smithfield, N.C.
DT Heath Williams 6-2 291 JR Saginaw Valley State East Lansing, Mich.
DT Sha’Haun Williams 6-3 260 JR Notre Dame (Ohio) Youngstown, Ohio
LB Jose Delgado 5-11 205 SR Fort Hays State Derby, Kan.
LB J.T. Hassell 6-0 199 SR Florida Tech Titusville, Fla.
LB Alex Helmer 6-2 220 SR Minnesota Duluth Prescott, Wis.
S Lamont McPhatter 5-11 190 JR California (Pa.) New Castle, Pa.
S Daryus Skinner 5-11 175 JR Winston-Salem State Rockingham, N.C.
CB Corey Ballentine 6-0 204 SR Washburn Topeka, Kan.
CB Marcus Haskins 6-0 180 FR Concordia-St. Paul Cottage Grove, Minn.
RS Lyrics Klugh 5-10 170 SR Fairmont State Lyman, S.C.
P Cody Mills 5-7 190 SR Delta State Oxford, Miss.
Second Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Rogan Wells 6-3 220 SO Valdosta State Fort Mill, S.C.
FB Paul Terry 5-9 200 JR Eastern New Mexico Canyon, Texas
RB Walter Fletcher 5-10 192 JR Edinboro Columbia, Md.
RB Wes Hills 6-2 218 SR Slippery Rock Wildwood, N.J.
WR James Brania-Hopp 6-0 200 SR Washburn Montville, N.J.
WR Trey Brock 6-3 218 JR Hillsdale Missouri City, Texas
WR Juwan Johnson 5-10 175 SO Midwestern State Springfield, Mo.
TE Erik Henneman 6-3 228 SR Lindenwood Gretna, La.
AP Ashton Dulin 6-2 210 SR Malone Reynoldsburg, Ohio
C Jeremy King 6-1 315 SR Valdosta State Macon, Ga.
OG Jason Poe 6-2 250 SO Lenoir-Rhyne Fitzgerald, Ga.
OG Hunter Toppel 6-4 300 SO Minnesota State DeForest, Wis.
OT Devon Johnson 6-7 310 SR Ferris State Aurora, Ill.
OT Ben Walling 6-5 295 SR Grand Valley State Independence, Ky.
PK Kristov Martinez 5-6 135 SR Texas A&M-Commerce Edinburg, Texas
Second Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE James Prater, Jr. 6-0 244 SR Ashland Columbus, Ohio
DE T.J. Winslow 6-4 250 SR Harding Houston, Texas
DT Derek Dorr 6-3 297 SR Edinboro Blasdell, N.Y.
DT Simanu’a Thomas 6-0 278 JR Pittsburg State Independence, Mo.
LB Kailen Abrams 6-2 235 SO Central State (Ohio) Detroit, Mich.
LB Michael Alexander 6-0 235 SR Saginaw Valley State Midland, Mich.
LB Sam Heyboer 6-5 240 SO Ferris State Grand Rapids, Mich.
S Gunner Olszewski 5-10 180 SR Bemidji State Alvin, Texas
S Brian Williams 6-1 190 SR Davenport Detroit, Mich.
CB Antonio Clark 5-9 160 SR Colorado Mesa Denver, Colo.
CB Zuril Hendrick 6-1 188 SR Edinboro Rochester, N.Y.
RS Reggie Kincade 5-11 170 SR Texas A&M-Commerce Everman, Texas
P Josh Carlson 6-0 165 FR Dixie State Gilbert, Ariz.
Third Team Offense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
QB Amir Hall 6-4 195 SR Bowie State Bowie, Md.
QB Chance Stewart 6-6 263 SR Hillsdale Sturgis, Mich.
FB Chris Eastburn 6-0 244 SR Arkansas Tech Pearcy, Ark.
RB Marcus Jones 5-11 225 SR Gannon Painesville, Ohio
RB Cameron Mayberry 5-11 215 JR Colorado Mines Stillwater, Okla.
WR Peter Anderson 5-10 155 JR Colorado Mesa Centennial, Colo.
WR Ardell Brown 5-11 180 JR Seton Hill Rochester, N.Y.
WR Daniel Davis 5-11 170 JR Southwest Minnesota Tarpon Springs, Fla.
TE Qua Boyd 6-5 245 SR West Alabama Lafayette, Ala.
AP Jake Wenzlick 5-9 183 JR Michigan Tech Meridian, Mich.
C A.J. Roland 6-1 280 SR Midwestern State Sachese, Texas
OG LaVonne Gauthney 6-3 315 SR Valdosta State Reynoldsburg, Ohio
OG Keith Pledger 6-1 270 SR Harding Lonoke, Ark.
OT Chris Coles 6-3 280 SR LIU-Post Hackensack, N.J.
OT Quentin Stanford 6-4 312 SR West Georgia Warner Robins, Ga.
PK Jefferson Souza 6-1 185 SO Virginia Union Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Third Team Defense
POS NAME HT WT YR SCHOOL HOMETOWN
DE Austen Eskew 6-4 248 SR Northwest Missouri Lawson, Mo.
DE Chris Garrett 6-4 230 SO Concordia-St. Paul Milwaukee, Wis.
DT John Cominsky 6-5 275 SR Charleston (W.Va.) Barberton, Ohio
DT Tyrell Thompson 6-4 290 SR Tarleton State Copperas Cove, Texas
LB Chris Hoad 6-0 228 JR Texas-Permian Basin Leander, Texas
LB Austin Stephens 5-11 210 JR Miles Munford, Ala.
LB Tyler Thomsen 6-1 225 JR Wayne State (Neb.) Fremont, Neb.
S Doyin Jibowu 6-2 200 SR Fort Hays State Denver, Colo.
S Delon Stephenson 5-11 205 JR Ferris State Sayreville, N.J.
CB Roderick Chapman 5-9 175 SR Missouri S&T Los Angeles, Calif.
CB Aaron Watson 5-11 165 SO North Greenville (S.C.) Duncan, S.C.
RS LaPerion Perry 5-6 155 FR West Georgia LaGrange, Ga.
P Jacob Hall 6-2 195 SR Azusa Pacific Greenville, Ill.
Honorable Mention
ALPHABETICAL, BY SCHOOL — Adams State: Marquese Surrell, AP; Assumption: Deonte Harris, RS; Augustana: Joey Newman, DE; Azusa Pacific: Aaron Berry, LB; Benedict: Traviontae Brown, CB; Rickym Holmes, DT; Bentley: Pete Thorbahn, CB; Bowie State: Joshua Pryor, DT; Lansana Sesay, WR; California (Pa.): Nelson Brown, RB; Carson-Newman: Phil McDowell, OG; Antonio Wimbush, RB; Catawba: Jourdan Osinskie, TE; Quinzavious Sands, OG; Central Missouri: Kyrion Parker, WR; Derrick Puni, OT; Central Oklahoma: Noah Hammons, OG; O’Shay Harris, CB; Central State (Ohio): Kevin Greenhow, WR; Terraris Saffold, AP; Central Washington: Ryan Hennessey, QB; James Moore, OT; Chowan: Donald Boone, OT; Tyrell Freeman, RB; Clarion: Brandon Vocco, DT; Clark Atlanta: Kameron Rogers, DE; Colorado Mines: Grant Stewart, C; Colorado State-Pueblo: Mitchell Carter, PK; Preston Guerra, TE; Brayton Medina, OT; Darius Williams, CB: Michael Wristen, DE; Delta State: Darren Gardenhire, CB; Dixie State: Tevia Tolutau, OG; East Central (Okla.): Jack Preston, P; East Stroudsburg: Mike Fleming, OT; Edinboro: Brandon Anderson, S; Emporia State: Braxton Marstall, QB; Findlay: Brian Benson, RB; Fairmont State: Chandler Zavala, OG; Fayetteville State: Brandon Smith, RS; Florida Tech: Romell Guerrier, WR; Fort Hays State: Dante Brown, P; Wyatt Parker, DT; Harding: Sam Blankenship, LB; Hillsdale: Wyatt Batdorff, S; Drew Callahan, C; Indiana (Pa.): Jeff Arnold, C; Indianapolis: Dan McHale, C; Al McKeller, RB; Robert Williams, CB; Kentucky State: Marcus Campbell, Jr., OT; Kutztown: Craig Reynolds, AP; Lenoir-Rhyne: Kyle Dugger, RS; Dan Louba, DT; Limestone: Joshua Simmons, S; Lock Haven: Jalen Jackson, TE; LIU-Post: Jake Carlock, LB; Kevin Petit-Frere, DE; Nazir Streeter, CB; McKendree: Josh Larazo, PK; Mercyhurst: Theo Blackston, FB; Brendan Cole, P; Midwestern State: Kevin Fisher, Jr., OG; Sir’Vell Ford, S; Vincent Johnson, RB; Jayton Rabb, QB; Minnesota Duluth: Jason Anderson, C; Trapper Ward, OT; Minnesota State: Zach Dodge, DT; Minnesota State-Moorhead: Jake Richter, WR; Mississippi College: Tiberias Lampkin, FB; Detric Hawthorn, RB; Missouri S&T: Bo Brooks, LB; Braxton Graham, WR; Tershawn Wharton, DE; Missouri Western: Tyler Basch, PK; Brandin Dandridge, RS; Morehouse: Jean Cyriaque, OG; Newberry: Jamarcus Henderson, DE; Shea Rodgers, P; New Haven: Dan Iannone, OT; Ju’an Williams, WR; New Mexico Highlands: Israel Farfan, PK; North Carolina-Pembroke: Tyler Hinton, DE; Northern Michigan: Jake Mayon, RB; Northern State: Jacob Streit, TE; Northwest Missouri: Zach Flott, OT; Anthony Lane, S; Sam Roberts, DT; Notre Dame (Ohio): Jimmy Burchett, OG; Brandon Nicholson, OT; Marvelle Ross, WR; Ohio Dominican: Cory Contini, WR; Logen Neidhardt, P; Ouachita Baptist: Keandre Evans, CB; Kris Oliver, RB; Pittsburg State: Ryan Dodd, OT; Morgan Selemaea, S; Quincy: Cody Leonard, LB; Saginaw Valley State: Chad Gailliard, WR; St. Cloud State: Sam Hartman, TE; Shepherd (W.Va.): Jaime Colon, C; D.J. Cornish, TE; Shippensburg: Luke Durkin, FB; Josh Gontarek, WR; Dakota Thompson, DE; Sioux Falls (S.D.): Hakeem Johnson, CB; Slippery Rock: Jake Chapla, PK; Steve Gaviglia, OT; Colten Raabe, OG; Brad Zaffram, LB; South Dakota Mines: Isaiah Manley, AP; Jake Sullivan, QB; Southern Arkansas: KaRonce Higgins, WR; Davondrick Lison, DE; Barrett Renner, QB; Tarleton State: Jai Edwards, S; Devin Hafford, CB; Jovan Pruitt, OG; Xavier Turner, RB; Texas A&M-Commerce: Michael Onuoha, DE; Amon Simon, OT; Texas A&M-Kingsville: Brent Hertel, FB; Tiffin: Daijohn Isbell, S; Truman: Lawrence Woods, RS; Valdosta State: Jamar Thompkins, RB; Virginia State: Frank Ball, OT; Wayne State (Mich.): Tommy Richardson, OG; West Alabama: Brandon Anderson, OT; West Chester: Jerry Elder, S; Diquan Gilbert, DE; Tyler Morrissey, LB; West Florida: Marvin Conley, S; West Georgia: Omar Cervantes, PK; Devontae Jackson, RB; Montrell Pardue, S; West Liberty: Josh Ojo, CB; West Texas A&M: John Cummings, P; Wingate: Chris Birozes, P; Davion Washington, CB; Winona State: Isaiah Hall, RS.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State was tabbed 12th in the 2019 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday (Jan. 30). The Tigers were picked where they finished in the standings last year.
Fort Hays State enters its fifth season under the guidance of head coach Adrian Pilkington. The Tigers will be in search of their first MIAA Tournament appearance since 2016 after finishing 12th in the standings each of the last two years. FHSU finished 13-37 overall last year and 8-18 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State is still a youthful team in 2019 with no seniors on the roster. However, eight of the 15 members of the roster are entering their junior season. With the seasoning of several underclassmen coupled with a few key transfers, the Tigers are looking to find another gear this year and improve their MIAA standing after being stuck in neutral last year in regards to position in the standings.
Fort Hays State saw three freshmen lead the way in batting average last year as Grace Philop, Sara Breckbill, and Terran Caldwell all hit over .300 for the season. Philop was the team leader in batting average at .333, while Breckbill tied for the team lead in home runs with five. Both were All-MIAA selections in their first collegiate season. Bailey Boxberger, who enters her junior season in 2019, led the team in RBIs last year with 27 and tied Breckbill for the team lead in home runs with five.The Tigers return six of the nine players from their regular starting lineup last year, while four newcomers (two juniors, two freshmen) look to work into the mix for hitting and fielding.
Pitching will need to improve in 2018 for the Tigers to see more success. The team had a 5.22 ERA compared to opponents posting 2.84 ERA against the Tigers. Hailey Chapman was the team leader in ERA (4.52), innings pitched (164), complete games (15) and strikeouts (124) last year. Junior transfer Michaelanne Nelson from Connors State (Okla.) looks to make an immediate impact in the circle after earning all-region honors at the NJCAA level last year.
Fort Hays State opens the season with four games in Bentonville, Arkansas, February 9-10. The Tigers are slated to play 10 doubleheaders in Hays this year, with the first on March 5 against Kansas Wesleyan University.
SEDGWICK COUNTY—— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a second deputy-involved shooting this week in Wichita.
Sanford -photo Sedgwick County
Over the past two weeks through Intelligence Led Policing, deputies have identified a ring of people committing burglaries according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.
On Tuesday night, a deputy was observing a location where these individuals have been living or seen, according to Easter. A white Ford F250 which had been seen at the location before came into the area. The deputy observed the driver of the vehicle commit a traffic violation.
Just after 11:22 p.m., a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop the truck for a traffic violation near the intersection of Hydraulic and Scott. The vehicle did not stop, and the deputy advised he was in pursuit of the vehicle.
Police on the scene of the deputy shooting investigation-image courtesy KWCH
At 11:31p.m., the suspect vehicle ran over a tire deflation device at the intersection of Hydraulic and Clark. The tire deflation device was deployed by an officer of the Wichita Police Department.
The tire deflation was successful on two of the vehicle’s four tires.
At 11:32p.m. another Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Deputy performed a TVI (Tactical Vehicle Intervention), tactic in an attempt to end the pursuit. The TVI brought the pursuit to a temporary stop. However, the suspect drove the opposite direction, according to Easter.
A deputy performed a second TVI tactic to stop the suspect but he continued to flee.
At 11:33p.m., the suspect vehicle drove towards a deputy who was on foot.
At 11:34p.m., another Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Deputy performed a TVI tactic to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped and a deputy positioned his patrol vehicle directly in front of the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect vehicle proceeded to reverse direction and crashed into another deputy’s occupied patrol vehicle that had taken a position behind him. After the suspect vehicle crashed into the patrol vehicle, it continued to attempt to flee.
In an effort to prevent the suspect from continuing to use deadly force, the deputy fired five shots at truck’s windshield.
The suspect identified as 35-year-old Jeremy E. Sanford was taken into custody and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of wounds to his head and shoulder, according to Easter.
Illicit drugs were a factor in this pursuit based upon evidence gathered at the scene.
No injuries were reported by any of the deputies involved. The deputy who fired the shots is 43-years-old and has been a patrol deputy with the sheriff’s office for 10 ½ years. He has a total of 19-years of law enforcement experience.
Sanford has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Driving While Suspended, Aggravated Battery LEO intent with motor vehicle, Aggravated Battery LEO, Reckless Driving, Flee and Elude and a Warrant for Fail to Appear.
Sanford has previous convictions felony flee and attempt to elude law enforcement, driving at maximum speeds and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
