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Month: March 2019

Ground broken on new Creek Side Resort RV park in Hays

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The Creek Side Resort RV park will have spots for 36 RVs with electric, water and sewer hookups, as well access to high-speed wifi.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Creek Side Resort has broken ground on its new RV park and wedding venue one and a quarter miles south of Interstate 70, 157 exit on the 183 bypass.

The park will have spots for 36 RVs with electric, water and sewer hookups, as well access to high-speed wifi. In addition, the park will have a clubhouse with restrooms and men’s and women’s showers. Owner Aaron Dreher said he hopes to have the park open by Memorial Day weekend.

Once the RV spots are completed, Dreher plans to add three 12-by-24-foot cabins at the site. They will be equipped with sleeping lofts, restrooms with showers, and kitchens. He said he hopes to expand to 12 cabins at some point.

He plans to have an outdoor wedding and concert venue, which will hold up to 300 people, open by this fall on the same property. Dreher also owns the Diamond Luxury Party Buses and was originally looking for land to build a venue that would function with his party bus service.

He said he hopes to have a grand opening for the whole facility by late summer or early fall.

Dreher said he plans to rent the RV spots for $30 a night and the cabins for $65 to $75 per night. He is considering discounts on the cabins for long-term stays or rentals during the week.

The property is ringed by trees and bordered on two sides by Big Creek. Dreher said he thought the location is ideal, with the woodsy landscape and its proximity to I-70, the sports complex and RPM Speedway.

Once complete, the RV park will be only one of two in Hays. The next nearest RV parks are 30 miles to the east or west.

“When I got married, we had family asking for places to bring their RVs and their campers,” he said, “and there really wasn’t a good place to do that, so I decided to do my own.”

The property, which is on the west side of the the bypass, has been annexed into the city of Hays and will be on city water and sewer.

Dreher bought the property and the RV park plans from a group of owners who had intended to develop the property into an RV park, but never completed the project.

Dreher, who has a bachelor’s degree in construction from FHSU, tweaked the plans and is doing most of the labor on the project himself with some help from his brother-in-law on the weekends. His father-law-in is a draftsman and helped Dreher complete the final plans for the park.

For more information, see Creek Side Resort webpage at creeksidehays.com.

2019 KBCA All-State Teams announced

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After claiming their first state championship in school history the Ness City Eagles had two players named to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association 2A All-State team on Tuesday.

Ness City’s John Pfannenstiel earned his second straight All-state Selection after earning a first team selection. His teammate Andres Rios was a second team selection.

After leading the Midcontinent League in scoring at 21 points per game, Plainville Junior Jared Casey was named to the honorable mention team. Fellow Junior Zachary Eck was also an honorable mention selection.

For a second year in-a-row Plainville Junior Aubree Dewey also earned 2A All-State honors.

Dewey, who led the MCL in scoring, averaging 28 points per game, was named to the first team. She was an honorable mention selection last year.

Trego’s Lili Shubert also earned all-state honors earning an honorable mention selection.

In class 1A Quinter senior Connor Havlas earned third team honors on Tuesday.

Osborne’s Darnell Holloway was an honorable mention.

The Thunder Ridge girls had a pair of All-State selections. Senior Layne Pettijohn was a third team selection and junior Brennan Kirchoff was named to the honorable mention team.

Otis-Bison junior Maddie Wiltse was named to the second team.

Sunny, windy Wednesday

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Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Windy, with a south southwest wind 15 to 20 mph increasing to 23 to 28 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.

Wednesday Night A slight chance of rain and thunderstorms before 9pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. South southeast wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. South southeast wind 8 to 15 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday NightIsolated showers before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1am and 4am, then showers likely after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. North northeast wind 11 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

FridayScattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

The Latest: EPA assessing Superfund sites in flooded areas

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KANSAS CITY (AP) — The Latest on flooding throughout the Midwest (all times local):

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it is assessing two Superfund sites located in areas that have seen overwhelming floods in recent weeks.

The EPA identified the Superfund sites as the Nebraska Ordnance Plant in Mead, Nebraska, and the Conservation Chemical Corporation in Kansas City. Superfund is a law that gives the EPA funding and authority to clean up contaminated sites.

The Mead site operated as a munitions plant from 1942 to 1956 and its disposal of radioactive waste and other chemicals led to groundwater contamination. The EPA says it has not found evidence that any hazardous contaminants were released by the flooding.

Karlin and Sides earn All-State honors

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TMP-Marian Senior Ryan Karlin was named to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association 3A Honorable Mention All-State basketball team on Tuesday.

Karlin averaged 12 points per game this past season while helping lead the Monarchs to a fourth-place finish at the 3A state tournament in Hutchinson.

Phillipsburg’s Trey Sides was a KBCA first-team selection for a second straight season after averaging 16.7 points per game.

Two area girls also earned All-State Honors on Tuesday.

Russell’s Tiffany Dortland and Norton’s Taryn Kuhn were both named to the Honorable Mention team.

Priest suspected of financial crime at South Hutch church

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SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Catholic priest at a South Hutchinson church for possible financial crimes, according to Reno County Sheriff’s Capt. Steve Lutz.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in South Hutchinson

“He has not been arrested. All I can confirm is that we are working a financial crime at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in South Hutchinson,” Lutz said in a text message.

Officials are still investigating whether the priest, Juan Garza, committed any crime. The Catholic Diocese of Wichita is the victim in this case.

Lutz wouldn’t say if the priest will be arrested at some point. “The case has not been sent to the D.A.’s office,” Lutz said.

Attempts to get a comment from the Diocese of Wichita were unsuccessful.

Indictment: Suspect smuggled 50 pounds of meth into Kansas

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WICHITA, KAN. – A California man was indicted Tuesday on a federal charge of smuggling more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine into Kansas, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

Garcia-Maldonado-photo Clark Co.

Jesus Antonio Garcia-Maldonado, 36, Panorama City, Calif., is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute approximately 23 kilograms of methamphetamine. Garcia-Maldonado was stopped for a traffic violation in Clark County, Kan.

Officers found the drugs under the seats and hidden in rear quarter panels of the car. The car was rented in San Diego, Calif.

If convicted, he faces not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million.

KELLY: Fiscal responsibility critical to rebuilding Kansas

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Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D)

By Gov. LAURA KELLY

Just two short years ago, the State of Kansas found itself on the brink of financial disaster. Even after depleting state savings and enduring multiple rounds of devastating budget cuts, unsustainable tax policy continued to perpetuate fiscal crisis. We saw schools close and class sizes grow. We saw an overwhelmed child welfare system let children fall through the cracks. And despite promises of immediate prosperity, Kansas routinely ranked among the nation’s worst in multiple economic indicators.

As the budget hole continued to grow, the legislature passed two sales tax increases, swept more than $2 billion from the state highway fund, delayed numerous payments to the state pension system, accumulated historic levels of debt, and raided every critical investment from early childhood education to public safety. But in the end, none of these short-term band aids could stem the bleeding caused by the reckless Brownback tax experiment. In November of 2016, Kansans called for change.

The very next year, the state hit “reset” in a historic act of bipartisanship with the passage of comprehensive tax reform. Our credit score improved within a week. The number of Kansans participating in the labor force increased for the first time since 2014.

We have only just started the rebuilding process. Our recovery is uncertain; our budget is fragile. The State of Kansas cannot afford to make a U-turn now.

Senate Bill 22 – another reckless tax plan – would absolutely dismantle all the progress we’ve made. It would throw our state once again into a self-inflicted budget crisis, diminishing all the investments we’ve worked so hard to rebuild and restore. It would put our future at risk once again in order to give significant tax breaks to entities who need them the least, while continuing to leave working families behind.

I share Kansas lawmakers’ desire to keep the state tax burden as low as possible and that will continue to be a priority. In January, I presented a structurally balanced budget that funded our schools and roads, reduced state debt, left Kansas with the largest ending balance in 20 years and did so all without a tax increase.

I was a math major. This is about basic math. My budget proposal left a healthy, fiscally responsible ending balance. If I had signed Senate Bill 22, the budget that just passed the Senate would fall to more than $600 million in the hole within two years.

That is unacceptable. That is irresponsible.

We must be patient, thoughtful, and prudent as we evaluate tax policy. And, when we move forward with sustainable, commonsense tax relief, we must ensure that it benefits the Kansans who need it the most. We will focus on reducing the sales tax on food and providing real tax relief to working families.

The people of Kansas elected me to rebuild our state. They elected me to bring fiscally conservative and responsible principles back to our government. And I refuse to endorse another round of fiscally reckless policies – similar to the Brownback tax experiment – that left our state in shambles and our families struggling.

I commit to you – the people of Kansas – that I will stabilize our state’s budget, invest in our shared priorities, and continue the recovery we have all fought so hard to begin. By following through on this commitment, our state has every reason to expect a bright and successful future.

FHSU men’s golf claims third at Rockhurst Invitational

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WICHITA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team completed the Rockhurst Invitational (March 25-26) with a third-place finish at the par-72, 6,810-yard course at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kan. The Tigers shot rounds of 318 and 308 to finish 50-over par (626) for the tournament.

Senior Mac McNish led the Tigers after shooting rounds of 77 and 74 (151) and finishing in a tie for third for the tournament.

Isaiah Grover fired off rounds of 78 and 77 on his way to solo eighth-place individually. Connor Schultz shot rounds of 77 and 79 to finish in a tie for ninth. Jake Weller finished solo 17th with rounds of 88 and 78. Bryce Cowan carded rounds of 86 and 90.

Northwestern Oklahoma State took home the team title with rounds of 313 and 307 for a 44-over par score (620) as a team. Rockhurst (624) finished runner-up for the week, while Fort Hays State finished two strokes behind runner-up with an aggregate score of 626.

The Tigers will be back in action in 11 days when they make their way to Newton, Kan. for the Bethel College Spring Invitational (April 6-7). First round action is held at Hesston Golf Club, while the final round will be played at Sand Creek Station Golf Course.

Monarch baseball sweeps Holcomb

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HOLCOMB, Kan. – After dropping a couple of tough games to Garden City to open the season, the TMP-Marian baseball team went back to Southwest Kansas Tuesday to win their first two games for new head coach Aaron Breit. The Monarchs defeated Holcomb 11-7 and 16-0.

TMP (2-2) led 5-0 after four and a half innings in the first game but needed a three-run seventh to take control after the Longhorns rallied with a four-run fifth.

Brady Kreutzer and Brandon Karlin both drove in two to help Carson Jacobs to the win.

Jacobs struck out nine with one walk. He then then hit a three-run homer and drove in six runs in the second game which was called after four by run-rule.

Colby Dreiling struck out five with no walks while allowing only one hit over three innings for the win.

McDuffie scores 21 to lift Wichita State over Indiana

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Markis McDuffie had 21 points as Wichita State got past Indiana 73-63 in the quarterfinals of the NIT on Tuesday night.

Wichita State will play in the semifinals at Madison Square Garden, becoming just the sixth team to reach New York after three road wins.

Freshman Dexter Dennis had 17 points and six blocks for Wichita State (22-14), which set a season-high for blocks with nine — eight coming in the first half. Samajae Haynes-Jones added 13 points and six rebounds. Jaime Echenique had 11 rebounds for the visitors.

McDuffie became the 13th player in Shocker history to reach 1,500 points.

Juwan Morgan had 21 points for the Hoosiers (19-16). Aljami Durham added 13 points. Devonte Green had 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Indiana led 10-9 with 11:07 remaining in the first half but the Shockers answered with a 15-3 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game. The Hoosiers twice got it within one point in the second half but both times Wichita State hit a 3-pointer on its next possession.

Judge with role in Kansas’ first gay marriage to retire

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A judge who played a key role in Kansas’s first same-sex marriage has announced his retirement.

Judge Kevin Moriarty photo courtesy Johnson County District Court

The Kansas Office of Judicial Administration said in a news release that Johnson County District Judge Kevin Moriarty will retire June 28.

In October 2014, he ordered the county to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to hear appeals from five states seeking to preserve their bans on gay marriage. He said at the time that the ruling was meant to avoid confusion about the legal climate surrounding gay marriages.

It led to the state’s first same-sex wedding and a contentious legal fight. A failed drive was started to oust Moriarty before the nation’s Supreme Court declared a nationwide right to same-sex marriage the following June.

UPDATE: 2 hospitalized after 4-vehicle I-70 crash

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DICKINSON COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Tuesday in Dickinson County.

The scene of the accident on I-70. Photo courtesy Tom Birdsey

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Malibu driven by Michael H. Taplin, 59, Longford, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Enterprise exit.

The vehicle crossed the median striking a westbound 2009 Ford F 350 pickup driven by Gary W. Franklin, 60, Solomon.

A westbound 2001 Subaru station wagon driven by Connor T. Brandenberg, 20, St. Louis, Mo., struck the F350 before it was forced from the lane of traffic. The F350 came to rest on its top in the north ditch.

Debris from the collision struck a 2019 Grand Designer camper that was parked in the RV Park parking lot.

Taplin was transported to the hospital in Salina. Franklin was transported to the hospital in Abilene Bradenberg and a passenger in the Subaru were not injured.

All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

UPDATE 1:26 p.m. Tuesday: According to Trooper Ben Gardner, one westbound lane
is open again. However, first responders are still at the scene.

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DICKINSON COUNTY — A multi-vehicle crash in Dickson County has temporarily shut down westbound lanes on Interstate 70.

The crash occurred just before noon between Abilene and Chapman, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Check Hays Post for more as information becomes available.

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