February 2019 – Page 83 – Hays Post Archive

Lawson leads No. 11 Kansas past No. 16 Texas Tech

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self had been waiting most of this season for a moment to galvanize his team.

He may have gotten it during practice on Friday.

First, the Jayhawks lost starting guard Marcus Garrett to a sprained ankle, robbing them of their defensive stopper. Then, they learned that sophomore forward Silvio De Sousa would be ineligible for this season and next after the NCAA determined his guardian had accepted impermissible benefits.

With everything going against them, the No. 11 Jayhawks responded Saturday by throwing haymakers from the opening bell in their showdown with No. 16 Texas Tech. Dedric Lawson piled up 25 points and 10 rebounds, Devon Dotson added 20 points and Kansas cruised to a 79-63 victory over the Red Raiders.

“There comes a point in every season when a team becomes a team,” Self said, “and we’ve been given an opportunity — and maybe fortunately so — that we’ve dealt with some crap, and you can become a team off that, and I hope today is a step toward it.”

Lagerald Vick added 13 points and Ochai Agbaji had 10 for the Jayhawks (17-5, 6-3 Big 12), who came into the showdown of Big 12 title contenders having lost two straight and three of four.

Yet suddenly and unexpectedly, they looked every bit the program that has won 14 straight crowns.

The Jayhawks roared to a 20-point halftime lead against the Red Raiders (17-5, 5-4), the league’s dominant defensive team, then weathered a shaky start to the second half before pulling away again.

It left a stark change in mood in Lawrence from 24 hours earlier.

“You’d have to be an idiot not to understand what we were walking into,” Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. “Their backs were against the wall. This is how good Coach Self is. There’s too much pride in that locker room. And for whatever reason, we didn’t hear that message.”

Davide Moretti led the Red Raiders with 14 points, but nobody really got on track. Leading scorer Jarrett Culver was held to 10 points on 5-for-17 shooting, the Red Raiders were 6 of 28 from beyond the arc and they continually gave up easy opportunities on the fast break.

“We really came together. That’s what I think our statement was,” Agbaji said. “We had a lot of pressure coming into this game. We didn’t have a really good week, so we had a lot of pressure.”

Lawson got the Jayhawks off to a hot start, draining an early 3-pointer on his way to 16 points and seven boards by the break. Vick also got into the act, knocking down a trio of first-half 3s and at one point gesturing to the Texas Tech bench to bring it on.

The Red Raiders never really did.

Only three times in the first half did Texas Tech score on consecutive trips down the floor, and a team that relies on defense to dictate tempo could not contain the Jayhawks at the other end.

By the time Lawson buried two more 3s, the Jayhawks had a 46-26 lead headed into halftime.

To put its offensive efficiency into perspective, Texas Tech had been holding opponents to an average of 56.8 points. Four times the Red Raiders have allowed 46 points or fewer.

Texas Tech began to pound the paint with Norense Odiase in the second half, but misfires from the foul line prevented the Red Raiders from trimming their deficit. And when they managed to get within 15 points, the Jayhawks would answer with a driving layup or crucial putback.

Or they’d make a key defensive stop a la their opponents.

The lead swelled to 25 down the stretch, and Self was able to empty his bench with a couple of minutes remaining against a team that topped Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse last season.

“Victory favors the team that was more aggressive,” Beard said. “They were more aggressive than us the whole game, every possession, offense and defense.”

6th-ranked Tiger women rally past Nebraska-Kearney

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019

KEARNEY, Neb. – For the first 25 minutes Saturday it looks as if Fort Hays State was well on their way to their worst offensive game of the season but a 28-6 run over a 10 minute stretch of the third and fourth quarters helped them rally past Nebraska-Kearney 74-64 in overtime.

It’s the biggest comeback win for the Tigers under coach Tony Hobson as they move into sole possession of first place in the MIAA following Washburn’s loss at home to Lindenwood.

The Tigers (19-1, 10-1 MIAA) struggled offensively, hitting only one of their 13 three-point shots in the first half and scored only 25 points in the first 25 minutes of the game but Kacey Kennett and Taylor Rolfs combined to hit four threes during a 16-4 run to close out the third quarter which pulled them within eight. They then scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to take their first lead on a Carly Heim layup with 6:05 to play.

Kennett hit one of two free throws with 16 seconds to play in regulation to tie the game. UNK’s Elisa Backes missed a three in the closing seconds to force the extra period.

Tatyana Legette scored 11 of her career-tying 25 points in the overtime.

Kennett added 20 points and Carly Heim added seven but left the game with an apparent serious knee injury one minute into the overtime.

McDuffie scores 27, Wichita State rallies to beat Tulsa

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Markis McDuffie had 27 points and Wichita State controlled the final 10 minutes as the Shockers defeated Tulsa 79-68 on Saturday.

After trailing 44-40 at halftime, Tulsa built a 60-52 lead with 10:55 remaining in the second half. Wichita State rallied and Tulsa went cold, scoring eight points the rest of the game. Wichita State’s winning stretch began with a 10-0 run for a 62-60 lead with 8:16 to go. Tulsa briefly regained the lead but Jaime Echenique’s layup at 3:58 gave the Shockers a 10-point lead.

Echenique had 16 points and three blocks for Wichita State (10-11, 3-6 American Athletic Conference). Dexter Dennis added 11 points and Jamarius Burton distributed seven assists.

Jeriah Horne had 16 points for the Golden Hurricane (13-10, 3-7). Curran Scott added 11 points and Darien Jackson 10. Tulsa shot 53 percent overall, 58 percent in the second half, but missed eight free throws in the second half for 11 of 21 from the line overall.

Tigers In Service volunteer in Kansas City over break

Posted on February 2, 2019January 30, 2019

FHSU University Relations

Nine students from Fort Hays State University’s Tigers In Service recently participated in a winter break service trip with Habitat for Humanity in Kansas City, Mo.

Tigers In Service is an initiative created by FHSU’s Center for Civic Leadership to help students gain volunteer hours and participate in community service events.

While working with Habitat for Humanity, students were able to meet the family that would be receiving the house. They also learned more about the process for homeowners working with the organization.

“It was a very rewarding time for the volunteers to work so closely with Habitat for Humanity and learn more about their great cause,” said Kaitlyn Pell, project student coordinator for Tigers In Service.

Students who participated are listed in alphabetical order:

Drew Blaylock, Halstead freshman majoring in applied technology.
Audra Boerger, McPherson sophomore majoring in marketing.
Skyler Clark, Salina freshman majoring in biology.
Marisa Carman, Ottawa senior majoring in biology.
Kailee Gibson, Ozawkie senior majoring in chemistry.
Skyler Jones, Overland Park sophomore majoring in social work.
Kaitlyn Pell, Haven junior majoring in English education.
Alex Rea, Topeka sophomore majoring in political science.
Tanner Regier, Haven freshman majoring in athletic training.

Free tickets for HSO Valentine’s concert

Posted on February 2, 2019January 28, 2019

Attention all music lovers. Please mark your calendar for the Hays Symphony Orchestra’s free Valentine’s Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, in Fort Hays State University’s Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, featuring an evening of ravishingly romantic music.

The orchestra will perform three exciting suites, all of which are fantasies of a sort.

Modest Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” originated as a series of piano pieces memorializing the paintings of his recently deceased friend Victor Hartmann. The suite remained nearly as unknown as Hartmann’s art until it was orchestrated by Maurice Ravel. Led by conductor Shah Sadikov, the orchestra will play the Ravel adaptation.

“Carmen Fantasy,” an arrangement of Bizet’s opera by Pablo de Sarasate, will follow. Sarasate was a world famous 19-century violinist and composed the fantasy as a virtuoso piece for himself – today, it is his best-known work. Internationally famous violin soloist Veronique Mathieu will join Sadikov and the orchestra for the stirring fantasy.

“Pelleas et Melisande” began as a drama by the French author Maurice Maeterlinck. The suite, composed by Gabriel Faure, was commissioned as incidental music for the British version of the play. Guest conductor Mark Bartley of West Texas A&M University, also an associate conductor of the Amarillo Symphony, will lead the orchestra in the suite.

The post-concert reception will give the audience and performers an opportunity to meet and greet while enjoying refreshments sponsored by Insurance Planning.

Free tickets are available online at www.hayssymphony.org, at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, or at the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.

Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy taking applications

Posted on February 2, 2019January 29, 2019

MANHATTAN – The American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy is now taking applications for its 2019 session. The event, which will be in its 82nd year, will be held Sunday, June 2, through Friday, June 7, at Kansas State University in Manhattan.

The ALBSKLA is for young men who will enter their senior year of high school in the fall of 2019. It provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.

At a minimum, applicants should be in the top half of their high school class and be involved in extracurricular activities in their school and community. Potential delegates can also be nominated to attend by their high school counselor or other influential people in their lives.

The cost to attend the Boys State of Kansas program is $325; however, in many instances, sponsors pay for the majority of the fees, with the delegate or his family paying a $50 applicant fee. Those wishing to apply to the program should visit https://kansasboysstate.com/ to fill out an application, which are due by Tuesday, April 30, along with the fees to guarantee a spot in the program.

Potential sponsors, such as American Legion posts, civic organizations, businesses, clubs and interested individuals, or those with questions, should contact Troy Fowler, ALBSKLA director of operations, at [email protected].

The American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy is an interactive simulation that teaches high school seniors-to-be the value of democracy and civic duty. Participants form mock governments and campaign for positions at the city, county and state levels. After the elections, participants find out firsthand the difficult decisions made daily by those in government through a series of challenging simulations. Delegates, nominated to attend by their high school counselors and other influential people in their lives, are sponsored by American Legion posts and various civic organizations from across the state. All delegates demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities in student government, athletics and/or other activities.

The Boys State program was founded by Legionnaires Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card in Illinois in 1935, and was first held in Kansas two years later in Wichita. The Kansas program moved to the University of Kansas in Lawrence in 1963 and remained there until 1991. The following year, it moved to its current location at Kansas State University in Manhattan. For more information about the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy, visit https://kansasboysstate.com/ or https://ksbstate.org/.

– SUBMITTED –

Monarchs pick up a pair of wins over rival Norton

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The TMP-Marian boys and girls basketball teams picked up a pair of key Mid-Continent League wins over Norton Friday night at Al Billinger Fieldhouse.

Girls: TMP 37, Norton 34

First place in the MCL was on the line in the first game of the night and after a slow start the Lady Monarchs rallied for a three-point win over the third ranked Lady Jays thanks to a big second half from senior Emily Schippers.

Coach McFarland postgame interview

The first half was a defensive slugfest that saw the Lady Jays go on an 8-2 first quarter run to take a six-point lead after one. In the second quarter the Monarchs held Norton to just one field goal in the second quarter in a 6-2 run to cut the halftime score to 14-12 in favor of the Lady Jays.

Norton opened the second half leading 17-14 but TMP’s Emily Schippers scored the next 11 points for the Monarchs to give them a 25-20 lead with 6:25 left in the game. It was a lead they would never give up on their way to the 37-34 win.

Schippers led the Monarchs with 13. Norton’s Taryn Kuhn led two Lady Jays in double-figures with 14. Hadley Hauser finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Game highlights

With the win the Monarchs take over sole of first place in the MCL at 6-0. They also improved to 11-4 overall.

Norton is 13-2 and 5-1 in the MCL.

Boys: TMP 55, Norton 42

The TMP boys made nine three’s in the first half and had four score in double-figures as they put an end to their season-long three-game losing streak with a 55-42 win over the Blue Jays.

Bill Meagher interview

The Monarchs built an early eight-point lead late in the first quarter thanks to Lucas Lang’s third three-pointer of the first quarter.

Lang scored all 13 of his points in the first-half as he was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in nearly a month.

Norton was able to close the gap to six in the second quarter but got no closer the rest of the way as the Monarchs pick up the 55-42 victory.

Game highlights

Ryan Karlin lead the Monarchs with 14, Lang had 13 and Jackson Schulte finished with 11.

Norton’s Carter Jones finished with a team-high 13.

TMP improved to 9-7 on the season and 4-2 in the MCL.

Norton drops to 7-9 and 2-4 in the MCL.

Young farmers and ranchers attend statewide leadership conference

Posted on February 2, 2019January 29, 2019

MANHATTAN – Farmers and ranchers from across Kansas gathered in Manhattan Jan. 25-27 for the annual Young Farmers and Ranchers leaders conference. More than 530 young crop and livestock producers from across the state attended a three-day Kansas Farm Bureau conference designed to maximize efficiency on their family operations.

The conference provided young ag producers between the ages of 18-35 with agricultural education, motivational speakers and opportunities to connect with industry resources and network with peers.

Attendees heard from KFB President Rich Felts; Russ Kohler, American Farm Bureau Federation YF&R Committee Chair from Utah; Max Harman, Kansas FFA President; and New Mexico farmer Matt Rush. Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Representative Roger Marshall also addressed the group.

Amy and Jury France, Wichita County, at Meal Packaging event

State committee members from each of the 10 Kansas Farm Bureau districts planned and hosted the Honoring Tradition, Cultivating Progress themed conference. The conference included workshops, speakers, tours and competitions. The YF&R state committee played an integral part in making this year’s conference a success.

Winners of the conference competitions included:
• Collegiate Discussion Meet – Shiloh Murray, Kansas State University
• YF&R Discussion Meet – Jacquelyne Leffler, Lyon County
• Ag Quiz Bowl – Kansas State University
• Excellence in Agriculture – Keith and Jeri Geren, Labette County
• YF&R of the Year – Scott Thellman, Douglas County

Young farmers and ranchers from 80 counties participated in this year’s event.

Kansas Farm Bureau’s mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Rawlins Mattix, son of Shanda and Caleb Mattix, Thomas County

KBI investigating shooting deaths in Rawlins County

Posted on February 2, 2019February 2, 2019

RAWLINS COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Rawlins County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the Friday shooting deaths of a father and son from Rawlins County.

The Rawlins County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance just before 2:40 p.m. Friday. Agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.

On Friday afternoon, at approximately 2:10 p.m., Rawlins County Dispatch received a call from a family member reporting that a man on the property had been shot. Deputies responded to farm property in rural Rawlins County, near the Thomas County line. The property was west of the residence at 34428 County Road B, near Rexford. When they arrived they found Gary E. Withers, 74, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.

Soon after, approximately one half mile away, and outside the home on the property belonging to Gary Withers, deputies discovered 41-year-old Daniel “Danny” E. Withers deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.

Autopsies will be performed. No threat to the public is believed to exist related to this incident. The investigation is ongoing. Nothing further will be released at this time.

New prison chief: Kansas prison system in crisis

Posted on February 2, 2019February 1, 2019

By JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ new prisons chief is suggesting to legislators that the state corrections system is in crisis, and his briefings are leading lawmakers in both parties to conclude that they haven’t previously had a full picture of inmate riots and other problems.

Damage at the El Dorado Correctional Facility in 2018-photos courtesy Cheryl Cadue Kansas Department of Corrections

Interim Corrections Secretary Roger Werholtz also said Wednesday that an increased use of “double-bunking,” or housing two inmates to a cell, was a factor in riots in 2017 and 2018. Department of Corrections officials had previously dismissed a potential link.

Werholtz, who served as corrections secretary from December 2002 through 2010, returned to the job earlier this month when Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly took office. Under Republican Govs. Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer, the department acknowledged staffing problems but then-Secretary Joe Norwood said serious disturbances were unconnected and the inmate population generally was under control.

The new interim secretary took questions Wednesday from the House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee, two days after a grim briefing of the problems facing the department. Werholtz criticized double-bunking and later said that practice and overly aggressive transfers of inmatesamong prisons helped fuel riots at several prisons in 2017 and 2018.

Numerous members of the prison staff were injured during the inmate disturbances -photos courtesy Cheryl Cadue Kansas Department of Corrections

And while the department under Norwood avoided the term, Werholtz did not shrink from using “riots” to describe the disturbances. The department this week provided legislators with photos of damaged prison buildings from riots in El Dorado in June 2017 and July 2018 , Norton in September 2017 and Larned in November 2018 .

Rep. Leo Delperdang, a Wichita Republican, said he was “truly disgusted” by “what we did not hear” previously. House committee Chairman Russ Jennings, a Lakin Republican, said its members felt “shock” after Werholtz’s briefings.

“I think we’re all thankful that we now have a much clearer picture of what’s really going on,” Jennings said later. “The whole story wasn’t told.”

Damage at the Larned Correctional Facility in 2018-photos courtesy Cheryl Cadue Kansas Department of Corrections

Kelly’s proposed budget for the budget year that begins in July includes an additional $3 million to help prisons fill vacant positions. But the department is still expecting to keep 9 percent of its 3,500 positions open. The department reported that the overtime it paid ballooned from $1.7 million during its 2013 budget year to $8.2 million five years later.

“It had become common practice to do what we called collapsing posts,” Werholtz said Wednesday, relaying what he and other officials heard from staff. “It’s my perception at this point that all of the facilities have been collapsing a lot of posts for a long time.”

Werholtz said transfers of inmates had created concentrations of young, male offenders in some locations to the point where “we may have created a volatile mix unintentionally.” The department had previously acknowledged that some inmates were upset with being moved.

The department will be looking at mixing more of the younger inmates with older ones, Werholtz said, but must consider how quickly it can make such transfers.

As for double-bunking, Werholtz said increasing the concentration of inmates in a prison can create management problems. The department previously had said the practice was not a problem and the most cost-effective way to house a growing inmate population.

Werholtz said the prison system now has less flexibility to reverse double-bunking because the inmate population has continued to grow. As of Tuesday, the department had 10,071 inmates in its custody — 100 more than the system’s housing capacity, even with double-bunking.

“It was refreshing to hear what was actually going on — but also actually terrifying,” said Rep. Annie Kuether, a Topeka Democrat.

Winter activities at Cedar Bluff State Park

Posted on February 2, 2019January 28, 2019

By DENA WEIGEL BELL
WaKeeney Travel Blog

WAKEENEY – We’ve had an amazing winter, with several snowstorms transforming our landscape into a shimmering white wonderland. At Cedar Bluff State Park, our summer playground has become an icy recreation area for those adventurers who love to get out and explore during cold months.

Hiking on the Agave Ridge Trail

Head to the Agave Ridge Trail, accessed in the Page Creek Area, to begin your exploration of our park. The one-mile paved portion of the trail provides an excellent opportunity to explore the area and find the many types of wildlife that live in the park. This beginning stretch of the trail contains interpretative signs and a representation of the area’s native habitats and can be completed in approximately 20 minutes.

The more ambitious hiker will enjoy the expanded four-mile, primitive section of the trail which winds through the mixed grass prairie. This area provides a great opportunity to view many wildlife species, and can be completed in approximately 90 minutes. Both portions of the trail are open to the public for hiking and are lined on the west with a half-mile of the 100-foot cedars that give our park its name.

Wildlife Photographers Paradise

Life abounds around our reservoir in winter! Cedar Bluff Reservoir is home to a variety of creatures, large and small. Bald eagles and white-tailed deer are great subjects for your wildlife photography. Get here early to watch animals go about their daily hunt for food or look down to find their tracks in the snow. In the coming weeks ducks and geese will soon be bringing even more activity to the park as they fight for dominance and establish their territorial boundaries.

Winter Fishing

Winter fishing for walleye and crappie at Cedar Bluff State Park has been excellent this year. Our lake has benefited from all the precipitation we’ve been receiving, with water levels rising just over five feet! There are many great fish-attracting areas that present fishermen with great chances to catch that elusive “big one.”

On the Hunt

During the 2018-2019 season we’ve seen hunters from as far as Maine and Florida visiting our park due to the amazing opportunities for bird hunting that are being reported. Our county has claimed Kansas’s number one spot waterfowl hunting this year and quail numbers are continuing to rise due to the ample rainfall that produced quality food sources and good habitats. Stay alert during the hunt and keep within the boundaries of the wildlife section and Page Creek area where hunting activity is allowed.

Cedar Bluff’s Newest Attraction

Our archery range is a new addition to the park, with targets ranging from 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 yds. At this time, it is field point only range (no broadheads) and no crossbows but rangers are looking to add Crossbow and Broadhead targets soon. Get your aim straight and true as you try out our latest challenge!

Experience Winter at Cedar Bluff State Park!

Cedar Bluff State Park is open every day and vehicle permits are required to access the Agave Trail, please, follow the state park rules and regulations. Come outside, get some fresh air, and enjoy winter at Trego County’sCedar Bluff State Park!

MARSHALL: Doctor’s Note Feb. 2

Posted on February 2, 2019February 1, 2019

Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.

Friends,

I am heartbroken. In recent weeks, two states have taken steps towards legalizing abortion up to the moment of birth. Last week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law that would legalize abortion at any time, lifting the cutoff of 24 weeks. Just this past week, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam voiced his support for pending legislation that would allow women to terminate a pregnancy up until the very moment before birth.

Terminating pregnancy up until the moment before birth is not only morally abhorrent but very unsafe. We must not sit idly by as innocent Americans are slaughtered in the name of health care, never to experience the beauties of this world.

Despite these developments, I take solace in the memory of the hundreds of thousands of people who marched here in Washington just a few weeks ago and all across the country in defense of the unborn. I will continue to fight alongside those who acknowledge the sanctity of life in hopes that we will one day put an end to the inhumane practice of abortion.

Happy Birthday, Kansas!

Where I am from we work hard, always put our faith and family first, we support each other, uplift each other, and are resilient through tough times. Kansas is such a special place to call home and is filled with many wonderful, caring people.

I’ve traveled thousands of miles on these country roads, each time loving this state more and more. This week she celebrated her 158th birthday and is still as beautiful as ever.

Please take a moment to watch my newest video that gives just a few reasons why I’m proud to be a Kansan.

Honoring Bob Dole

I was so proud to introduce legislation along with Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Pat Roberts to award one of the most beloved Kansans with an honor long overdue. On Tuesday, I introduced a bill in the House that would award Senator Bob Dole with an honorary promotion to the rank of Colonel. Dole, a Russell native, served in World War II as an infantry lieutenant, where he was severely wounded in combat, and was twice cited for acts of heroism under fire. Following his military service, Dole served the Sunflower State for a combined 35 years as a member of both the House and the Senate. There is no person more deserving of this honor than Bob Dole, and I am reminded every day of the shoes I have to fill while serving in the seat he once held.

Manhattan Among Best Places for Veterans to Live

Each year, a quarter-million military members transition to civilian life. I am proud to see that our very own Manhattan, Kansas was listed as one of the top 10 best cities for those making this transition to settle! I know that it can be a difficult task for our servicemen and women to transition back into civilian life and I take great pride in knowing that our city welcomes them with open arms.

The Navy Federal Credit Union analysis considered several factors such as income, employment rates, proximity to VA hospitals, affordability, and college education access for veterans. With its bustling economy and the wonderful people, it is no surprise that Manhattan has been recognized as one of the best places for military retirees to transition to civilian life.

Irwin Army Community Hospital Leading the Way

After six years of hard work and preparation, the Fort Riley Public Health Department was officially recognized as the first military organization in the Department of Defense global footprint to both seek and receive national certification by the Public Health Accreditation Board.

This recognition symbolizes the department’s high standards, outstanding performance, and commitment to the health and wellbeing of our troops and their families. Through the rigorous certification process, the health department, which operates out of Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley, found ways to improve the delivery of care, remove healthcare barriers and realize new opportunities for preventative care to reduce illness and injury.

Irwin Army Community Hospital is one of the finest medical facilities in my district, and I applaud everyone involved in this effort for earning such a prestigious honor. Public health is a vital part of community and individual well-being.

Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.

Hays Community Theatre to present ‘Murder Can Be Habit Forming’

Posted on February 2, 2019February 1, 2019

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

When a busload of passengers is stranded by a blizzard in upstate New York at the St. Mary’s Convent, all of the Marys must be wary.

While a group of nuns are waiting out a snowstorm in their convent, a radio broadcast alerts them of the murder of a waitress at a nearby diner. The murderer is targeting women named Mary — the name of all the nuns and two passengers on the bus.

Guests at Hays Community Theatre’s latest murder mystery and dinner theater “Murder Can Be Habit Forming” have to guess if the killer is among the convent guests before another Mary gets whacked.

As the story unfolds, two more passengers are added to the potential list of victims. One passenger is a flamboyant actress whose TV character is named Mary and another is a retired school teacher who was formerly a nun named Mary.

Potential suspects include the college professor, the newspaper columnist who doesn’t like to see his name in print, and the bus driver.

Police detective Patrick McDougal was also on the bus and takes charge of solving the case.

“Providing as many laughs as chills, ‘Murder Can Be Habit Forming’ is a lighthearted mystery comedy that reveals the very human side of the nuns as they attempt to stay one step ahead of a killer,” the HCT website said.

Shows are at 7 p.m, Friday, Feb. 15, and Saturday, Feb. 16, at the HCT venue, 121 E. Eighth. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 each. The meal is being catered both nights by Hickok’s Steakhouse. A pork tenderloin dinner will be served Friday night, and a spaghetti dinner will be served Saturday night.

The meal includes water, tea and coffee. Other drinks will be available for purchase. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Click here to purchase tickets online.

Cheryl Glassman, director, directed the play years ago while she was with the theater program at TMP-Marian. She said the play never gets old and still makes her laugh.

“It is a great story line, and I sit out here and laugh,” she said. “It is very funny, and I miss lines sometimes because there are so many funny lines. It is really cool to watch more and more and get more out of it. It is just a really good show.”

Glassman said the play’s cast of 15 is fairly large for a winter production.

“It is always a challenge to get everyone here, because we are all working people and we come from so many different directions in life,” she said. “Everyone here works. Our youngest people are high school aged, and our oldest cast member is 72, so quite an age range.”

She said the cast has brought together people with varying levels of stage experience.

“We have people who have never been in a show before, who are in this show and have evolved into these awesome characters,” she said. “It really gives me goosebumps when I think about it. You see people who are really shy and timid, and once they start getting into their characters and understand what is needed to portray that person, you don’t even realize it is that person on stage anymore. For me, that is the best part — watching them evolve.”

The Hays Community Theatre is trying to offer more shows in its new venue on Eighth Street.

“It is basically because we want to get more people involved and have more for the community to enjoy and do versatile things that are different,” Glassman said. “Some people might want to go to this type of show but others might like that type of show.”

She said HCT will still utilize other venues for other productions like their big summer show.

“For this type of show it is perfect,” she said of their venue on Eighth Street. “We have people who come from all different directions who help us with the set. When I first walked in here, we were all sitting around a table, then I walk in and there is all this stuff up here.”

HCT will also perform the play a week after they wrap up in Hays at a fundraiser for a group in Great Bend.