Kansas certainly has its share of quirky attractions. The website OnlyInYourState.com has created a tour of the state’s most unique roadside attractions — several right here in northwest Kansas.
Click HERE to take a look at the list. How many have you been to?
By JIM MCLEAN & MADELINE FOX
Kansas Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids hoped to spend her first day in Congress helping to end a partial shutdown of the federal government.
Instead, she got a first-hand look at the gridlock that has characterized the nation’s politics and frustrated voters in recent years.
Shortly after being sworn in as one of the first two Native American women to ever serve in Congress, Davids voted for a compromise funding package to end the budget stalemate.
“This package has previously received bipartisan support and I’m hopeful it is the path forward to ending this shutdown,” Davids said on Twitter.
President Donald Trump initially supported a similar package when it passed the Senate two weeks ago. But he changed his mind when conservative pundits criticized him for backing away from his demands for $5 billion for a southern border wall.
All three House Republicans from Kansas — Roger Marshall, Ron Estes and Steve Watkins — voted against the funding package. They also opposed Nancy Pelosi’s election as speaker.
“As I crisscrossed Kansas’ Second Congressional District over the past year, there was a reoccurring theme among both Republicans and Democrats: they did not want to see Nancy Pelosi serving as Speaker of the House again,” Watkins said in a statement.
A political newcomer from Topeka, Watkins emerged from a crowded primary to narrowly defeat Democrat Paul Davis in the 2nd District, which covers roughly the eastern third of the state.
In an interview with Topeka television station KSNT, Watkins said he wants a quick resolution to the budget fight but is committed to making “the government more efficient.”
He has also asked to have his congressional salary withheld until federal workers are back on the payroll.
The shutdown — now approaching its third week — affects thousands of federal workers across Kansas, from Coast Guard payroll clerks in Topeka to more than 400 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office in Lenexa.
“We’re all kind of in a standstill,” said Sara Watterson, president of the American Federation of Government Employees chapter that represents some of the furloughed EPA workers.
Furloughs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs have leaders of some Kansas tribes concerned about programs that provide important services.
Joseph Rupnick, chairman of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, fears the shutdown will halt the delivery of food to about 100 low-income families on the reservation.
“The neediest population is the one that’s affected the most,” Rupnick said.
Furloughs have also forced the closure of one of Kansas’ most famous landmarks: The Brown v. Board of Education historic site in Topeka.
Rob Varnum of Oklahoma City hoped to tour the site established to commemorate the desegregation of the nation’s schools with his wife earlier this week while passing through on his way home from Kansas City.
“Here we are, but the sign says we can’t visit today because of the government shutdown,” Varnum said while peering in through a locked door. “That’s unfortunate.”
Reporter Brian Grimmett contributed to this story.
Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox.
Today
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
ELLIS — A new restaurant has opened in downtown Ellis, the Riverside Espresso & Cafe, 814 Washington.
Owner Jade Baalman said she tries to focus on dinner-style home cooking in addition to all-day breakfast.
The cafe also offer wraps, burgers, sandwiches, homemade bierocks and salads. Baalman offers regular comfort food specials on Thursdays and Fridays, such as meatloaf, casseroles, Salisbury steak and cordon bleu. Every other Saturday night, the cafe is open from 5 to 8 p.m. for a prime rib special.
Baalman, who opened Riverside in September, bills her cafe as family friendly. She will even make your kids pancakes in fun shapes on request.
The cafe has an espresso bar and also offers smoothies.
If you are in a hurry in the morning, you can grab already-prepared 12-ounce breakfast burritos or sausage and cream cheese bagels. Baalman offers homemade cinnamon rolls, scones and breakfast cookies and hopes to eventually offer made-from-scratch pie.
Baalman managed Oscar’s Cafe in Hoxie before opening the cafe in Ellis. She also has a background in catering and gourmet food.
Baalman, 34, became interested in cooking when she became a mother. She has four children, a 14-year-old son, 10-year-old daughter, 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son.
“I love food,” she said.
At home, she focuses on paleo and whole 30, which is a diet free of dairy that focuses on whole foods rather than processed foods. Initially, she introduced some of these concepts at the cafe, but found many of her diners preferred more traditional American foods.
Baalman chose to open the restaurant in Ellis to be closer to her family. She believed the community needed another dining option.
Baalman is renting the space on Washington, which is the former home of the All in a Day’s Grind. The space is available for rent for parties.
She says she hopes the restaurant can be a community gathering place.
“That is one of the things that I had hoped for this place — that it is small enough and in a small town that people would feel they could come in here and drink their coffee with their groups. We definitely have the mom-and-pop, small-town feel that you could just come in and sit down and enjoy,” Baalman said.
The restaurant is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
You can follow the cafe on Facebook.
KDHE
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is looking forward to 2019 and looking back at some of its accomplishments in 2018.
“We made great strides in a number of areas,” said Secretary Jeff Andersen. “KDHE’s Divisions of Public Health, Environment and Health Care Finance all had great achievements of which the citizens of Kansas can be proud. We look forward to continuing that work in the coming year.”
Some of the achievements at KDHE included:
Public Health
Environment
Health Care Finance
“These are only a few of our accomplishments during 2018,” said Secretary Andersen. “In 2019 we look forward to building on these and all of the areas KDHE addresses to follow our mission to protect and improve the health and environment of all Kansans.”
The TMP-Marian Monarchs boys and girls basketball team split a doubleheader in Ellis Friday night.
Girls: TMP 63, Ellis 38
The TMP girls used runs of 8-0 and 14-4 to build a double digit lead in the first half on their way to the fourth win in their last five games, 63-38 Friday in Ellis.
After the two teams traded leads in the first quarter Ellis took a 9-7 lead with 3:40 left in the first quarter but the Monarchs took the lead for good using an 8-0 run to lead 15-9 at the end of the first quarter.
Kyleigh Allen scored the first four points of the second quarter and sparked a 14-4 run that gave the Monarchs a 29-15 lead as the Monarchs cruised the win.
Adell Riedel led the Monarchs with 13 points and Sasha Wasinger chipped in 12.
The Monarchs at 4-3 and 3-0 in the MCL.
Rose McFarland postgame interview
Game highlights
Boys: Ellis 53, TMP 49
The Ellis Railroaders rallied from down 15 in the first-half to upend the TMP boys 53-49 Friday in Ellis.
TMP had first quarter runs of 10-2 and 12-4 to build a 22-10 first quarter lead.
Early in the second quarter the Monarchs opened their largest lead of the game at 15 following a pair of Ryan Karlin free throws at 27-12.
Despite the large deficit the Railroaders never faded and outscored the Monarchs 41-22 over the final two and a half quarters as they rallied for the win, their first MCL win of the season.
The Monarchs shot 10-14 in the first quarter but made just 9-of-35 field goals in the final three quarters.
Jackson Schulte led three Monarchs in double figures with 13. Zachary Eck finished with a career-high 26 for the Railroaders.
Bill Meagher postgame interview
Game highlights
The TMP boys fall to 4-3 on the season and 2-1 in the MCL.
The Monarchs travel to Salina Sacred Heart on Saturday.
Girls
Western Athletic Conference
Hays 42 Liberal 61
Garden City 47 Great Bend 29
Cimarron 40 Dodge City 54
Mid-Continent League
TMP 63 Ellis 38
Phillipsburg 45 Plainville 43
Norton 67 Stockton 36
Smith Center 26 Oakley 31
Central Prairie League
Otis-Bison 50 Victoria 25
Ellinwood 58 Fairfield 57
Macksville 25 Central Plains 98
Ness City 20 St. John 42
Northern Plains League
Hill City 12 St. Johns/Tipton 47
Lincoln 21 Osborne 34
Northwest Kansas League
Greeley Co. 22 Hoxie 59
Western Kansas Liberty League
Palco 26 Weskan 54
Golden Plains 47 Logan 25
Great Western Activities Conference
Scott City 41 Colby 26
Goodland 47 Hugoton 52
Ulysses 48 Holcomb 36
Central Kansas League
Hoisington 31 Hesston 51
Larned 36 Lakin 37
Pratt 23 Haven 57
Boys
Western Athletic Conference
Hays 68 Liberal 56
Cimarron 44 Dodge City 85
Mid-Continent League
TMP 49 Ellis 53
Phillipsburg 73 Plainville 62
Norton 58 Stockton 55
Smith Center 46 Oakley 65
Central Prairie League
Otis-Bison 48 Victoria 51
Ellinwood 68 Fairfield 21
Macksville 27 Central Plains 59
Ness City 56 St. John 64
Northern Plains League
Hill City 39 St. Johns/Tipton 49
Lincoln 36 Osborne 62
Northwest Kansas League
Greeley Co. 42 Hoxie 67
Western Kansas Liberty League
Palco 35 Weskan 59
Golden Plains 48 Logan 47
Great Western Activities Conference
Scott City 49 Colby 43
Goodland 35 Hugoton 72
Central Kansas League
Hoisington 22 Hesston 21
Pratt 42 Haven 52
The Hays High Indians opened the 2019 portion of their schedule in Liberal on Friday prior to returning to school.
Girls
#5-6A Liberal 61 – Hays 42
Hays held Liberal scoreless for the first 4:30 minutes of the game but could only build a 4-0 advantage. The Redskins first scored at the 3:25 mark of the first quarter and sparked a 9-0 run. The Indians cut the deficit down to two at 9-7 early in the second quarter and had the ball twice with a chance to tie or take the lead. Liberal held off Hays on those two possessions and another Indian threat at 12-10. The Redskins closed the second quarter on a 12-3 run to build their largest lead of the half at 24-13.
Highlights
Liberal powered out to a 16 point lead early in the third quarter before the Indians’ best run of the night at 11-4 closed the game down to nine 36-27. Hays trailed one more time by nine at 38-29 but would pull no closer the rest of the night losing 61-42.
Liberal made 17 of 19 free throw attempts and 8 of 21 three pointers while moving to 7-0 on the year and opening Western Athletic Conference play at 1-0. Hays falls to 3-3 and 0-1 in league play.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Hays was led in scoring by Brooke Denning with 11. Savannah Schneider made all eight of her free throw attempts and scored 10 in the game.
Boys
Hays 68 – Liberal 56
Liberal made four of their first six shots in the game as Hays missed each of their first six shots and the Redskins jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first four minutes. Hays finally broke the ice and made four consecutive shots to close the game down to 13-8 after one quarter.
Liberal led by nine with four minutes to go in the second quarter when the Indians started to play their best basketball of the game. Over the next 5:40 that led into the third quarter Hays went on a 24-3 run to grab a 36-24 advantage. The Indians pushed their advantage to 15 midway through the third and led 47-35 to the fourth quarter.
Highlights
Liberal continued to shoot well behind the arc and pulled within eight at 55-47. The Redskins had the ball and launched a right wing three that was tipped by Dalyn Schwarz, rebounded by Cade Swayne who passed out to Tradgon McCrae, who found Schwarz for a layup and foul for a three point play. The play sparked a game decisive 12-0 run as Hays won 68-56.
Coach Rick Keltner
Hays was led by Tradgon McCrae who scored 20 and hit the 20 point mark for a third straight game. Cade Swayne had career highs with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Dalyn Schwarz also added a career high 13 in the victory.
The defending WAC champs Hays High is now 4-2 on the year and 1-0 in the conference. Liberal falls to 5-2 and 0-1.
Hays is on the road to Great Bend next Tuesday.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 32-year-old former massage therapist who is on the Kansas Sex Offender registry has been sentenced to 16 months in jail for secretly recording a woman while she undressed.
Daniel Justin Gorski was sentenced Friday in Johnson County for the incident at a chiropractic clinic in Gardner. He pleaded guilty in November to breach of privacy.
Gorski was at one time charged with recording several women. All but one charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement.
Police began investigating Gorski in 2016 after his girlfriend reported finding a flash drive containing images of women undressing or nude.
Gorski had previously pleaded guilty in Jefferson County, Kansas, to possession of child pornography.
SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a felony suspect on multiple charges.
Just after 6p.m. Thursday, officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of 1600 SW Harrison in Topeka for traffic infractions, according to Lt. Jerry Monasmith.
Police arrested the driver Devontair Jackson, 26, for an outstanding Parole Violation. He was also found to be a felon in possession of a firearm.
Jackson has previous convictions for aggravated battery and aggravated robbery.
Police transported Jackson to the Shawnee County Department of Correction where he is being held on requested charges of Felon in Possession of Marijuana, with the Intent, Aggravated Battery, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm and Aggravated Assault, according to Monasmith.
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts’ future (all times local):
A spokesman says Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall is seriously considering running for the U.S. Senate in 2020 now that Sen. Pat Roberts does not plan to seek re-election.
There is no way to describe Senator Roberts other than a Statesman whose achievements for Kansas are amongst the greatest. He’s been a resilient voice advocating on behalf of Kansans for decades and we will greatly miss his leadership here in Washington. (1/2)
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) January 4, 2019
Marshall spokesman Brent Robertson said Friday that the Republican congressman will not make a formal decision until Congress approves border security funding. The federal government is partially shut down since over President Donald Trump’s demand for funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Marshall represents the 1st Congressional District of western Kansas and won his second term in November. It is the same seat Roberts held for 16 years before being elected to the Senate in 1996.
Other potential Republican candidates include departing Gov. Jeff Colyer and outgoing Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who lost the governor’s race last year.
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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate the death of 19-year-old Jacob Bouck.
The Wamego resident and 2017 graduate of Wamego High School was last seen in the Wamego area on December 21st, 2018, according to Sheriff Greg Riat. He was missing until his body was located on December 24, approximately mile west of Wamego on the Kansas River.
Bouck was reported to be wearing a dark colored jacket, black shirt, gray thermal longjohns, (long underwear) and black shoes.
A forensic autopsy was conducted on Bouck and the medical examiner has determined that the death of Jacob Bouck is believed to be a homicide.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the case to contact the Pottawatomie County Sheriff at 785-457-3533, www.ptsheriff.com, or 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can be anonymous. An unspecified cash reward is being offered at this time for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime.
