PRATT – New line on your reels, check. Hooks sharpened, check. Tackle box cleaned and organized, check. Now all you have to do is pick up a copy of the 2019 Kansas Fishing Regulations Summary, available now in printed form wherever licenses are sold and at Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism offices. A PDF of the pamphlet can be downloaded at www.ksoutdoors.com. Every angler should keep a copy of the regulations in their tackle box or boat.
In addition to the current regulations on equipment restrictions, license and permit prices, and creel and length limits, there is a special section listing new regulations for 2019. One section is devoted to special length and creel limits on all reservoirs and lakes throughout the state. The Fish I.D. pages include color illustrations of common fish found in Kansas by Joseph Tomelleri. Current state record fish weights are listed along with an application and the minimum lengths required to receive Master Angler Awards.
Get a copy today so you’ll be ready when the fishing bug bites.
Hays High opened a four game home stand on Friday against Dodge City. Through the next eight days, Hays will play all of the home Western Athletic Conference games on their schedule. The original schedule was altered following a snow out in January versus Garden City.
Girls
#10 Hays 41 – Dodge City 37
Neither team grasped a firm hold on the offensive game plan in the first half of play. The two teams tied three different times over the first six minutes of the game for an 8-8 score. Dodge City ran off seven straight points into the second quarter to lead 15-8. Hays went without a field goal for 9:10 and without a point for 7:00 during that stretch. Hays found a little traction in final minute scoring a pair of field goals and closing the gap down to 15-14 at halftime.
Highlights
Things didn’t get much better in the third quarter for either team. Dodge City pushed held their advantage around five points for most of the quarter and led 28-23 heading to the fourth. Down 32-26 three minutes into the fourth quarter the Hays offense finally came to life. Hays made just 7 of their first 38 shots before making four in a row and five of their final six. The first of the field goals brought the Indians within a point and the second gave Hays their first lead at 33-32 with 3:25 left. Those baskets were part of a 12-0 Hays run that gave the Indians a 38-32 lead. Dodge City pulled back within three with 23 second remaining but the Indians make three of their final four free throws for a 41-37 win.
Coach Alex Hutchins
Hays was led by 11 points from Savannah Schneider and move to 9-4 on the year and 2-1 in the WAC. Dodge City falls to 6-8 and 2-1.
Boys
Hays 75 – Dodge City 63
An 11-0 run in the first quarter helped Hays build a seven point lead, 17-10. The Indians led 19-15 going into the second quarter but the momentum was on the side of Dodge City who was in the midst of a 12-3 run. That push allowed Dodge City to take a 22-20 lead with 5:20 left in the first half. Fifteen short second later Hays answered back with a three pointer to regain the lead only to lose it at 29-28 with 2:50 left in the half. The Indians held the Red Demons scoreless for the rest of the second quarter and entered the halftime locker room leading 37-29 following a 9-0 run.
Highlights
Hays pushed their advantage up to 12 with the first four points of the second half. Dodge City brought the game back within reach thanks to a 10-2 run and then a 8-2 run to close the third quarter with the Indians leading 54-52. TJ Nunnery hit a three pointer to open the fourth quarter and give the Indians some breathing room. The Red Demons were never closer that three points rest of the way, but didn’t make things easy. After a 9-2 run helped the Indians to a nine point lead with 5:30 left. The Red Demons pulled back within six one time but Hays got a dunk and lay up from Trey Adams and then six straight free throws to win 75-63.
Coach Rick Keltner
TJ Nunnery tied his career high with 16 and was matched by 16 from Tradgon McCrae. Trey Adams and Braiden Meyers each scored 10 in the victory. The Indians improve to 7-6 on the year and 2-1 in conference play. Dodge City falls to 7-7 and 1-2.
The Indians will host Garden City on Saturday in a makeup game from January. The junior varsity games will start at 3:00 with the varsity girls at 5:00.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on theft and drug allegations.
Just after 10a.m. on Saturday Jan. 19, police responded to the 100 block of north Spruce in Wichita to investigate a stolen vehicle, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Upon arrival, officers located the stolen 2009 Gray Buick Lacrosse occupied by 28-year-old Kyle Guthrie and 25-year-old Chance Brooks. Police arrested them
Guthrie was booked on requested charges of criminal deprivation of property, unlawful possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Brooks was booked on requested charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
They are no longer in custody. Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas collected $49 million less in taxes than expected in January, giving Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled Legislature a dose of bad news Friday at the start of debates over education funding and tax relief.
Kelly’s top revenue official and a GOP legislative leader were quick to say a single month of disappointing tax collections is not yet a trend. But it broke a streak of 19 consecutive months of better-than-anticipated collections — the longest since at least July 1966 — leading Kelly to declare extra funds for public schools were “in the bank” as Republicans promoted income tax relief.
Kelly already has urged GOP legislators to wait at least a year to consider tax legislation and said Friday that the state must be cautious. But House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, a conservative Wichita Republican, said the lower-than-expected tax collections raise questions about Kelly’s budget proposals.
The Department of Revenue reported that Kansas collected $646 million in taxes last month, when its fiscal forecast predicted more than $695 million, for a 7.1 percent shortfall. The state’s tax collections for the current budget year, which began in July 2018, had been running slightly ahead of expectations, but at $4 billion, are now $36 million or 0.9 percent less than forecast.
“Unfortunately, Kansas is still in a perfect storm of uncertainty and volatility,” said interim Revenue Secretary Mark Beshears.
The department did not have an explanation for the monthly shortfall beyond economic volatility. The biggest gap was in personal income tax collections. They were $352 million — $48 million less than expected for the month and nearly $99 million below collections in January 2018.
The department’s report came with the Senate planning to debate a tax bill next week. It is designed to prevent Kansas residents and businesses from paying more in income taxesto the state because of changes in federal tax laws at the end of 2017.
It would reduce state revenues — and save taxpayers — $192 million during the next budget year, which begins July 1.
Kelly won the governor’s race by running against former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s fiscal policies. Brownback championed big state income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013, only to see lawmakers largely reversed his cuts in 2017 because of persistent budget woes.
“We must be cautious, conservative and fiscally responsible to ensure our state’s recovery continues,” Kelly said in a statement. “We cannot go backward.”
Kelly was not backing off her plan to phase in a $364 million increase in spending on public schools over four years in hopes of settling an education funding lawsuit filed in 2010.
Projections from legislative researchers this week already showed that the state could not provide the GOP’s promised tax relief and Kelly’s proposed education funding increase without creating at least a small budget shortfall before July 2022. Continued monthly shortfalls would make the budget gap larger and possibly cause it to appear sooner.
Top Republicans argue that passing a tax relief bill is a matter of fairness and that doing nothing is raising taxes, with Hawkins saying Friday, “It’s really the people’s money.”
“It would be very good for her to use caution,” Hawkins said of Kelly. “Maybe she needs to go back and look at her budget a little bit.”
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is appealing a judge’s ruling that allows telemedicine abortions in the state even though legislators have enacted three laws against them within eight years.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed the appeal Friday with the Kansas Court of Appeals.
Schmidt hopes to overturn a Dec. 31 decision by Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis in a lawsuit filed by a Wichita clinic’s operators. Since October, clinic doctors have conferred with some patients through teleconferences when providing pregnancy-ending drugs.
Theis ruled that a 2018 law banning telemedicine abortions has no legal force because it contained no way to punish violators.
The judge also ruled that 2011 and 2015 laws are on hold indefinitely because they’re covered by an injunction in a separate lawsuit challenging abortion regulations that is still pending.
Steven Henry Nagel, age 77, passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on December 30, 1941 in Ellsworth, Kansas, the son of Eilert Henry & Virginia Noble Nagel. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1976 moving from Sharon Springs, Kansas he was a retired truck driver for Seaboard Farms, Inc.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas and was a US Air Force Veteran.
On June 9, 1969 he married Elsie A. Hansley Griffin in Durant, Oklahoma. She survives.
Survivors include his Wife – Elsie A. Nagel of Scott City, Kansas, Five Sons – Lyle Nagel of Scott City, Kansas, Donald & Rhonda Griffin of Garden City, Kansas, Paul & Laurie Griffin of Amarillo, Texas, Steven Griffin of Salina, Kansas, Stacy & Glenda Griffin of Garden City, Kansas, One Brother – Roland Nagel of Great Bend, Kansas, One Sister – Laura Martin of Portland, Oregon, Sixteen Grandchildren and Fourteen Great Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Son – Eilert Samuel Nagel, One Brother – Keith Nagel, One Sister – Cinda Becker and One Grandson – Jeremy Griffin.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with the Rev. Kyle Evans Presiding.
Memorials in Lieu of Flowers may be made to the Steven Nagel Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday and 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree plans to seek the death penalty against a man charged with killing two sheriff’s deputies.
Deputy King and Deputy Rohrer-photos Wyandotte Co. Sheriff
Dupree said Friday during a hearing for 30-year-old Antoine Fielder that he will pursue the death penalty.
Fielder is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputies Patrick Rohrer and Theresa King.
Fielder photo Wyandotte Co.
They were killed last June while they were transporting Fielder and another prisoner between the jail and a court hearing. Fielder allegedly disarmed them but details of the incident have not been released.
Fielder also was injured during the confrontation.
A judge on Friday ordered that Fiedler be taken to Larned State hospital for a mental evaluation. Court proceedings will be stayed until the evaluation is complete.
The Ellis County Election Office will start looking at new election equipment on Tuesday at the Administrative Center in the Ellis County Commission Chambers, 718 Main.
Election Systems and Software will demonstrate its election equipment for county officials.
In a news release, County Clerk Donna Maskus said the county is looking at new election equipment since Kansas Statute 25-3009 goes into effect this year. The law will require a post-election audit to be done before the canvass. The equipment in use now is not sufficient to handle the audit process.
“We are very pleased to state that all election results remained the same after the Nov. 20, 2018, recount canvass,” Maskus said. “We would like to share some facts on the Nov. 6, 2018, general election.”
All 69 lvotronic touch screen election machines went through the logic and accuracy testing, for the November 6, 2018 General Election. The calibration process was performed on all machines with no problems found.
Noted that no calls were received through the Ellis County Clerk’s Office on any type of malfunctions or problems with voting on the lvotronic touch screen voting machines.
Poll Workers never indicated any concerns from any voters on the November 6, 2018 Election.
Every voter was given the option to vote paper ballot or the electronic machine.
The County Clerk did close two lvotronic touch screen voting machines before the polls opened on election day, and when votes were gathered at the end of election night “no” votes were shown on these machines.
lvotronic touch screen election machines are stored at the Administrative Center building that has security. A maintenance schedule is provided through the vendor.
Would like to clarify that the Ellis County Clerk did not mail out any postcards notifying the provisional voter that they needed to attend the Nov. 15, 2018, canvass. We do apologize for any confusion it did cause but our office did not have anything to do with this mailing.
“We look forward to bringing new voter equipment for future elections and will continue the usual high standards with the election process.”
OAKLEY — Just after midnight Sunday, the Oakley Police Department responded to a theft in progress at the Western Kansas Wildlife Travel Center at 1001 U.S. 40, according to a news release from the police department.
Three individuals were arrested without incident and two semi-trucks and tractor trailers were confiscated in connection to multiple diesel fuel thefts at the Western Kansas Travel Center from December to January — totaling over $5,000 in value.
The individuals arrested are:
Alexander Aladier Cardenas, 45, Florida
Yenny Gabriela Justo, 35, Florida
Jose Saul Rodriguez Fajardo, 60, Florida
All three are currently facing criminal damage and felony theft charges in Gove County.
“The Oakley Police Department would like to thank the Kansas Highway Patrol for providing assistance in the arrests, Chief Daniel Cooper said in a news release. “The Oakley Police Department would also like to thank the employees at the Western Kansas Wildlife Travel Center for providing invaluable assistance to the Oakley Police Department during the weeks of investigation leading up to and after the arrests. The investigation is currently ongoing and no additional information will be released at this time.”
BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills Public Television’s local program, The Kansas Legislature, will be hosted by Larry Dreiling, senior field editor for High Plains Journal. Our guests will be State Representatives Susan Concannon (R-Beloit) of the 107th District, Barb Wasinger (R-Hays) of the 111th District, and Brad Ralph (R-Dodge City) of the 119th District, and Senator Rick Billinger (R-Goodland) of the 40th District.
Tune in Fri., Feb. 1 at 7 p.m., and call in with your legislative questions.
The show airs during the legislative session, which gives the legislators and viewers the opportunity to discuss up-to-date issues. During the program, viewers can call 800.337.4788 with their legislative questions.
The Kansas Legislature will air on Fridays at 7 p.m. To find a list of legislators that might be on the show each week, go to www.shptv.org where you will find the 2019 season schedule.
The City of Hays will host an open house to provide information to the public on Vine Street corridor improvements, including proposed roundabout solutions. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12, at The Venue at Thirsty’s, 2704 Vine. Refreshments will be served.
City of Hays staff and transportation engineers will be on hand to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the North Vine Street Corridor Project. Detailed models of proposed changes will be on display to show the capabilities of roundabouts and how they improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians.
City of Hays staff and community leaders have been working to overcome the logistical challenges in the North Vine Street corridor for decades. The area between 32nd/33rd Streets and I-70 was not designed to accommodate the amount of traffic currently experienced.
City staff and engineers have been working with KDOT on a concept that would replace the traffic signals in the corridor with roundabouts in order to improve traffic flow, reduce the number and severity of accidents, allow for better flow to and from businesses, and accommodate future redevelopment in the area.
Vine Street corridor traffic simulation videos and traffic studies can be found at www.haysusa.com. For additional information on the open house event, contact City Hall at 785-628-7320.
The No. 6 Fort Hays State women’s basketball team renews one of its oldest rivalries Saturday (Feb. 2) when the Tigers make the short trip to take on Nebraska-Kearney. First tip between the Tigers and Lopers is scheduled for 2 p.m. from the Health and Sports Center.
After two home wins last week, the Tigers head into the weekend 18-1 overall and 9-1 in MIAA play. The Lopers enter the contest 12-7 on the year and 5-5 against league competition.
Fort Hays State opened conference play with a grind-it-out 62-53 win over Nebraska-Kearney back in December in Hays (12/4/18), thanks in large part to Tatyana Legette’s second double-double of the year. The senior totaled 23 points and 13 rebounds, making 11-of-12 from the free throw line. FHSU outscored the Lopers by 17 at the charity stripe, 23-6. UNK led by one early before the Tigers pulled in front by as many as 14 in the first half. A third quarter run brought the Lopers within two, but FHSU bounced back down the stretch to secure the win.
The Tigers have met up with Nebraska-Kearney more often than any other program, with Saturday’s contest serving as the 92nd meeting of a series that began back in 1972. The Tigers hold a 55-36 edge in the series, including a 16-2 advantage under Tony Hobson. FHSU is 21-23 all-time in Kearney against the Lopers, but the Tigers have won eight-straight on the road. Hobson has never lost to UNK in Kearney.
This is the second time the Tigers have traveled to Kearney after winning a pair of non-conference contests inside the Health and Sports Center in November. FHSU easily dispatched of Colorado-Colorado Springs and Chadron State during the first month of the season, scoring an average of 84.5 points in those two contests.
While the Tigers currently sit in a tie for first place in the MIAA standings at the halfway point of the league season, Nebraska-Kearney heads into Saturday ranked seventh in the league standings. The Lopers have played well at home, winning 10 of 12 contests inside the Health and Sports Center. UNK boasts the second-best defense in the league, allowing just 59.2 points per contest, leading to the third-best scoring margin in the conference (+11.4). The Lopers and Tigers allow an identical 37.0 shooting percentage to their opponents. Kelsey Sanger (11.0 ppg) and Brooke Carlson (10.9 ppg) are the lone Lopers averaging in double figures this year.
Sahleh Mohamed at a refugee learning center in Garden City. CORINNE BOYER / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
As a member of the Rohingya ethnic minority, he was in particular peril. His life was in danger.
He settled in Garden City. Now 24, he may gain citizenship in a year. That, in turn, will put him in a position to bring over his family and free those loved ones from a refugee camp in Bangladesh.
To navigate life in western Kansas — he’s a meat carver in a Tyson packing plant — he’s relied on aid groups in the region. Those organizations have put him on a path to citizenship and to bringing over his relatives.
But that safety net for refugees is experiencing its own transition. The International Rescue Committee had been the lead agency helping refugees in southwest Kansas until the flood of refugees became a trickle.
The IRC closed its Garden City office last year and consolidated operations in Wichita. Now Catholic Charities helps Mohamed and the dwindling number of refugees in the area like him.
On average, the IRC agency resettled 50 to 100 refugees a year in Garden City and other U.S. cities.
“In 2016 and 2017, we were very busy out there,” said IRC Kansas Executive Director Michele Green said. “There (were) still hundreds of refugees moving to the area.”
But in late July 2018, IRC closed its office in southwest Kansas. That came after the U.S. State Department announced the year before that it would no longer support offices servicing fewer than 100 people per year.
Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas had been taking on part of the IRC caseload. Now Catholic Charities is the only agency that resettles refugees in Southwest Kansas. It works with Live Well Finney County to help new immigrants, using a small apartment that serves as both a community center and a classroom.
Debbie Snapp, executive director of Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas, said as soon as the nonprofit receives a new refugee case, it starts working with people with ties to the newcomer — a brother, aunt, cousin.
“Most cases we have are family reunification,” she said. “So it’s a family member that they are coming to be with that is sponsoring them.”
Before a new refugee arrives in Kansas, the agency works with the refugee’s U.S. tie to find housing. Within the first 90 days, Catholic Charities assists with paperwork, health exams and job placement.
At the end of that time, “they are secure in their house, job and have all the documents they need so they can work more towards being independent,” Snapp said.
Kansas resettlements declined before the State Department began letting fewer refugees into the country. In 2016, then-Gov. Sam Brownback removed the state from the U.S. refugee program.
Snapp said that decision “changed how the state provided services to refugees.” There was no longer a state office that dealt with, for instance, cash assistance and medical assistance.
Since taking on resettlement work, Catholic Charities has worked with between 35 to 40 immigrants.
After the Brownback decision, the Trump administration issued policies shutting out more refugees. Last year, the U.S. Department of State issued a new refugee resettlement number — capping the total at 30,000 for the year, down from 45,000 in 2017.
Lona DuVall, president of the Finney County Economic Development Corp, said in an email that unlike many rural communities, the county is growing.
“Refugees and immigrants have been a tremendous asset as our economy has grown,” DuVall said.
Despite the decrease of refugees, Snapp says Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas plans to continue its resettlement work.
KDWPT
