ST. CHARLES, Mo. (AP) — The president of Lindenwood University’s flagship campus in suburban St. Louis has been placed on paid administrative leave but says he’s been given “no reason why.”
Michael Shonrock -photo courtesy Lindenwood
Michael Shonrock says he expects to be fired Friday, when Lindenwood’s Board of Trustees meets. There’s no published agenda.
Shonrock was the president of Emporia State University in Kansas before coming to the St. Charles-based Lindenwood in June 2015. Shonrock says he has received favorable reviews each year. He was placed on leave Tuesday in a letter that he said “doesn’t describe any rationale at all.”
A university spokeswoman says the school doesn’t comment on personnel matters. The president of Lindenwood’s Belleville, Illinois, campus was placed on administrative leave in November and is no longer at the university.
Shonrock holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the University of Kansas, an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) from Pittsburg State University, and a Master of Science (M.S.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from Western Illinois University, according to his bio on the Lindenwood website.
The Center for Entrepreneurship at Fort Hays State University will host the Faulkner Challenge on March 30 at the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Fort Hays State students and residents of a 26-county area of northwest Kansas are eligible to compete for $10,000 in prizes.
The event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 30, in McCartney Hall, home of the Robbins College, on the Fort Hays State campus. Admission is free for participants and the public.
“It will be an exciting event on our campus to showcase the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of our students and the Kansans of this region,” said Dr. David Snow, director of Entrepreneurship for FHSU.
“This is meant not only to be a fun event for all involved, but a contribution to economic development in northwest Kansas and a boost for those early-stage entrepreneurs.”
The Faulkner Challenge is made possible by the generosity of alumnus, Kevin Faulkner. It is a business plan competition for new, independent proposed ventures in the conceptual, seed or startup stages.
Entries will be accepted until the March 20 deadline.
The eight best business plans will be selected as finalists to present on the Fort Hays State campus. Finalists will deliver 10 minute presentations to a panel of judges and the top three business projects will split the $10,000 in prize money into awards of $6,000, $3,000, and $1,000, to first, second, and third places, respectively.
The eligibility area comprises the 26 northwest Kansas counties stretching from Cheyenne down to Wallace County, east through the top three tiers of counties and then into the eight-county block from Jewell and Republic down through Ellsworth and Saline.
Plan presentations begin at 9 a.m. and run through 12:15 p.m. Luncheon will go from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. The judges feedback session will run from 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Awards presentations begin at 1:15 p.m. and end at 1:30 p.m.
The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered (ABBB) is pleased to announce the promotion of Jami Benyshek, CPA to manager.
Benyshek joined ABBB as an intern in 2012. She joined the team full-time as a staff accountant in 2013 and works primarily in the firm’s Audit and Assurance (A&A) Department.
“Congratulations to Jami on her recent promotion,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of ABBB. “Jami’s dedication to the firm, our clients, and her career has been impressive. We look forward to witnessing her continued success and development in her new role!”
A graduate of Fort Hays State University, Benyshek holds Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Accounting and Finance. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Kansas Society of CPAs (KSCPA), and Hays Area Young Professionals. She currently lives in Hays.
Donna KrugWith freezing drizzle predicted and wind chills in the single digits as I write this column, it sounds a bit crazy to talk about going for a walk, but that is just what I’m going to do.
Walk Kansas is a signature program for K-State Research and Extension that has been around since 2000. Each year this fitness challenge motivates people from all walks of life to get moving. The dates for the 2019 campaign are March 17th through May 11th.
To participate in Walk KS you will need to start by recruiting a team of six people. Many times teams consist of family members, friends or co-workers. Come up with a fun name, register your team, and report the minutes that team members exercise each week, beginning March 17th. All of the registration details can be accomplished on line. There is a fee of $8 per team member or $17 per person if all team members wish to order a t-shirt. Payment by check or cash will need to be made at either the Hays or Great Bend offices. Brenda and Theresa, our office professionals in the Great Bend and Hays offices can answer specific questions you may have as you register your teams.
On-line registration will open for residents of the Cottonwood Extension District the week of February 18th. We would like to complete team registration by Monday, March 11th if possible.
Several interesting activities that support this fitness challenge are planned for the next few months. Mark your calendar for Thursday, February 21st, and join me at noon at the Great Bend Activity Center for the program “Let’s Live a Little: Physical Activity for Fun and Fitness.” March programs focus on “Healthy Choices When Eating Out.” I helped update a K-State Research and Extension publication by the same title and am excited to share the information with everyone. Join me Wednesday, March 6th at noon at the Great Bend Activity Center, or Friday, March 22nd at 1:00 p.m. at the Great Bend Senior Center. My visit to Hays to present “Healthy Choices When Eating Out” is Thursday, March 14th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Extension office meeting room at 601 Main in Hays.
A wrap up celebration for the Walk KS program is scheduled for Wednesday, May 15th, at noon at the Great Bend Activity Center. A free healthy luncheon will be provided for any Walk KS team member. The public may pre-register by May 3rd for lunch by paying $5.
So get your walking shoes ready and your team pulled together and join the 2019 Walk KS program in your community!
Donna Krug is the Family & Consumer Science Agent and District Director for the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or [email protected]
The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered (ABBB) is pleased to announce that Matthew Frank has earned his license as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Kansas.
Frank currently serves as a staff accountant. In this role, he works in the firm’s Hays and Ness City offices, preparing tax returns, completing compilations, and working on audits. Frank specializes in working with clients in the agriculture industry.
“Congratulations to Matt for reaching this important career milestone,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of ABBB. “We are confident Matt will use his CPA license to continue delivering value to our clients.”
Frank joined the ABBB team full-time in 2018 after working as an intern and student worker with the firm. He graduated summa cum laude with his Bachelor of Business Administration from Fort Hays State University in 2017. Originally from Ness City, Frank resides in Hays. – SUBMITTED –
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a case of vandalism and asking the public for help to identify a vehicle.
According to a social media report from Topeka police, just after 12:30a.m. February 2, a driver struck vehicles in the lot of John Hoffer Chrysler Jeep, 3220 SW Topeka Boulevard.
The suspect vehicle appears to be a blue truck, possibly with an extended cab.
If you were in the area and witnessed this, or know any information contact police. The dealership is also offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kansas State Treasurer Jake LaTurner and attorneys representing his office will appear before the U.S. Court of Federal Appeals in Washington, D.C., Thursday, February 7 to continue his fight to recover the proceeds of lost, abandoned, unclaimed, and/or stolen United States Savings Bonds for Kansas citizens.
“The men and women of the Greatest Generation purchased these bonds during a time when people put trust in their government’s pursuit of the greater good. Their sacrifices helped finance the war against Hitler, build the interstate highway system, and put a man on the moon,” said LaTurner. “Now it is time for that same government to honor its commitments and repay its debt to those who built it.”
The Court of Federal Claims, in a strongly worded opinion, ruled on August 8, 2017 that Kansas was entitled to the information from the United States Treasury on the bonds sold in Kansas. This information would give the State Treasurer’s Office the tools they need for researching the rightful owners of these bonds and connecting them with their unclaimed money. The United States Treasury has appealed that ruling. The ruling was a first of its kind with respect to U.S. savings bonds and a positive first step in the fight to return the bonds proceeds to Kansas and other states as well.
It is estimated that there are $26-billion in matured but unclaimed bonds nation-wide with more than $200-million belonging to Kansans. In many cases, bonds remain unclaimed because the rightful owners or heirs are unaware they exist. J. Brett Milbourn, lead attorney on the Kansas State Treasurer’s appeal of this case believes the best vehicle for returning this money exists at the state, rather than the federal level.
“State Treasurers around the country already have a number of resources at their disposal to reunite citizens with their missing or unclaimed property,” said Milbourn. “Although the U.S. Department of the Treasury has a responsibility to notify and pay these mature bonds, the government has no plan – nor any real incentive — for keeping the promises it made when these patriots loaned it the money.”
In addition to Kansas, South Dakota, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Indiana, Arkansas and Florida have cases pending in the Court of Federal Claims seeking the same relief. A total of 20 states have followed Kansas’ lead and passed laws to allow the Unclaimed Property Administrator of the state to seek recovery of lost, stolen, or abandoned bonds.
On September 7, 2018, 20 senators, including Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging him to work with Kansas and other states to resolve their claims and help the states reunite original bond owners with their proceeds of unclaimed U.S. Savings Bonds.
MEADE COUNTY – A California man pleaded guilty Monday to driving more than 29 pounds of methamphetamine to Kansas, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Delgado-Lopez- photo Meade Co. Sheriff
Christian Delgado-Lopez, 30, Dana Point, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Kansas Highway Patrol stopped Delgado-Lopez for a traffic violation in Meade County. Troopers found 14 packages of methamphetamine weighing 13.6 kilos (29.9 pounds) in his vehicle.
Sentencing is set for April 12. He faces a penalty of not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million. McAllister commended the Kansas Highway Patrol and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh for their work on the case.
COWLEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run injury accident and asking the public for help to locate a vehicle.
Just after 1a.m. Wednesday, police responded to an accident, which occurred in the 1800 block of South Summit Street in Arkansas City, according to a media release.
Police found a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser with substantial damage.
Police suspect, based on evidence gathered at the scene, that the PT Cruiser was struck by a northbound 2012 or 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pickup truck on the South Summit Street bridge.
The truck apparently was northbound on U.S. 77 when it struck the rear of the PT Cruiser, driving it into the east guardrail. The Silverado then crossed the median, struck the west guardrail and returned across the median to the southbound lanes, again striking the PT Cruiser.
T
he driver of the Silverado fled the scene northbound into Arkansas City, but left behind vehicle parts that helped to identify the make and model of the truck.
The victim of the hit-and-run was transported to South Central Kansas Medical Center with head and facial injuries. The PT Cruiser has substantial front-end, front fender and rear-end damage.
The suspect’s Silverado should have substantial damage to its front end, right front fender and left front fender. The vehicle could be missing one or both headlight assemblies, as well.
Anyone who has any information about this crime, or who spots this Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pickup truck or the suspect, is asked to call the Arkansas City Police Department at (620) 441-4444.
PAWNEE COUNTY – The Special Agent Supervisor Nicholas Yeager with the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) has submitted Probable Cause Affidavits to the Pawnee County Attorney’s Office for review regarding the disturbance on November 6, 2018 at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility (LCMHF), according to a media release.
Damage done during the disturbance at the Larned Correctional Facility in 2018-photos courtesy Cheryl Cadue Kansas Department of Corrections
“Based on a review of the affidavits, I believe there is sufficient evidence to charge the twenty individuals identified by Department of Corrections staff as being primarily responsible for the riots and damage at LCMHF,” stated Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.
“There is no evidence to support any breach of the individual housing units in the Central Unit. Accordingly, my office is legally treating this as four self-contained riots occurring contemporaneously within the Central Unit.”
The following individuals have been charged and warrants issued: Curtis Core, 26; Manuel Acevedo, 27; Richard Peterson, 40; Joey Terrazas-Garcia, 23; Jacob Bagby, 20; Lance Sutton, 22; Alexis Banuelos, 21; Caesar Hermosillo, 25; Nathaniel Dipman, 20; Anthony Reed, 22; Kab Issa, 20; Jesse Bellamy, 25; Leo, Wells, 22; Joshua Tucker, 22, Joshuah Blake, 21; Nicholas Aldridge, 19; Darrell Pettus, 23; Marcel Wamser, 22; and Aaron McDonald. Each identified inmate was charged with (1) Incitement to Riot; (2) Criminal Damage to Property in excess of $1,000, but less than $24,999; and (3) Rioting.
First Appearances have not yet been scheduled.
The crime of Incitement to Riot is a Severity Level 8 person felony and carries a sentence between 7 and 23 months depending on a defendant’s criminal history.
It should be noted that despite still having “mental health” in the facilities name, on May 23, 2017, KDOC announced a change in the mission of LCMHF to young adult male offenders who have identified needs for educational and/or substance abuse services.
A teardrop partial roundabout has been added to the eastbound I-70 off ramp for the North Vine Street corridor traffic improvements. (Click to enlarge)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
A fourth major traffic element has been added to the plan for improvements to the Hays North Vine Street corridor between 32nd and 41st Streets.
The project has been in development the past 12 months by the city’s consultant, WSP Engineers of Lenexa, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and city staff.
“Our engineers [WSP] hired another engineering firm to do an independent review of the whole plan just to make sure we got another set of eyes on it,” said Jacob Wood, assistant city manager.
The nationwide firm Kittelson & Associates specializes in transportation projects.
“One of the things that they recommended was that we put in what we’re calling the ‘teardrop’ on the south side of I-70.
“It’s not a full roundabout but what it will allow is traffic going eastbound to pull off of the interstate, go through the tear drop, and go directly north,” Wood explained.
“The old plan would have had them going south, and coming around the roundabout and then going north. This will make it a bit easier to come off the interstate and go north, if they want to do that.”
Traffic studies and modeling determined the teardrop would alleviate some of the congestion at the 37th Street roundabout.
“We looked at doing [a teardrop] on the north side of I-70 but there’s really not enough room to do it between the interstate and the intersection. So [westbound traffic] will still have to pull off the interstate and go north through the roundabout to then head south on Vine.”
Plans are to build two-lane traffic roundabouts at 32nd/33rd, 37th, and 41st Streets, plus the teardrop at the eastbound I-70 exit ramp.
Adding the teardrop increases the total project cost from an estimated $7.6 million to approximately $9 million.
In early December the city was awarded a $6 million federal grant from the Department of Transportation for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant program for the North Vine Street Corridor Project construction.
The remainder of the project cost will be paid through a two percent increase in the Transient Guest Tax (TGT). It went into effect Oct. 1 and is projected to raise $6.2 million over 20 years.
On January 9 city staff attended a meeting in Topeka with representatives from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and KDOT to discuss how the project is to be administered. KDOT will act as the pass-through agency in letting the bids and managing the project.
“We’ve had conference calls with them, both KDOT and Federal Highways, and will continue to do that as part of the process as it goes forward.
“Anytime you do a project of this magnitude on a state highway at the intersection of an interstate, you’re going to have those players involved anyway. But they’ll probably be a little bit more involved this go around [due to] the federal money.
Wood says the concept plan is now “pretty well refined.”
The city has been meeting with business owners along Vine Street throughout the corridor.
“We’ve been having conversations and, actually, some of those have resulted in changes to the plan. Those guys that work on Vine have the operator-level kind of knowledge that maybe city staff and engineers don’t see.
“For the most part, the meetings have been positive.”
The city will host a public meeting and open house Tue., Feb. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at The Venue at Thirsty’s Brew Pub & Grill, 2704 Vine. Information will be presented about Vine Street corridor improvements, including the proposed roundabout solutions. Detailed models of proposed changes will be on display to show the capabilities of roundabouts and how they improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians.
“We’ll see if there’s any feedback that may require adjusting or tweaking the plan, and we’ll still be able to do that. But we’ll really start kicking on the design pretty heavy after next week.”
Utilizing the federal funds required a slight shift in the work timeline.
Design will continue until October or November. Once the design plan is finalized and approved, bids will be let with a construction start expected in the summer of 2020.
“It’s a long road and there are a lot of regulatory requirements, which we would have to deal with regardless of whether we got the federal dollars,” Wood added.
