Alley conditions in the city of Hays have continued to worsen as a result of the ongoing wet weather.
Due to damaged and impassable alleys, city crews will temporarily be performing CURBSIDE TRASH PICKUP FOR ALL CITY OF HAYS RESIDENTS EFFECTIVE MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2019, until further notice. No alley collection of municipal trash OR recyclables will be performed during this time.
We ask that all residents, EXCEPT THOSE WITH PAVED ALLEYS, move their polycart to the street side of their property, so crews can collect the refuse curbside. Recycling materials should also be placed curbside.
Note that this change may alter the timing of normal scheduled collections, but the day of collection should remain the same. If at all possible, attempt to place the polycart where it is not blocked by parked cars or other fixed objects.
We apologize for any inconvenience, and your cooperation and patience on this matter is truly appreciated.
Anyone needing assistance relocating a polycart should contact the Public Works Department.
If you have any questions or wish to report an issue, please contact the Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.
An alley in east Hays on March 12. (Photos by Hays Post)
CITY OF HAYS
The city of Hays Public Works Department is advising that due to recent snow events, coupled with the thawing activities that have transpired since those storms, and the pending rainfall in the forecast, many of the rock/gravel alleys in the city have become quite difficult to travel at this time.
Future rains may further deteriorate the alley surface conditions.
We are asking citizens to avoid the use of alleys if possible.
The city of Hays is fully aware of the poor conditions of the alleys.
Public Work crews will be doing maintenance as conditions allow, but the current wet conditions are delaying this work. Your cooperation and patience on this matter is truly appreciated.
If you have questions or wish to report an issue, please contact the Public Works Department at (785) 628-7350.
DODGE CITY – The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a High Wind Warning for Ellis County and much of western Kansas from 1 p.m. today through 1 p.m. Thursday.
Including the cities of WaKeeney, Pfeifer, Hays, Scott City, Scott State Lake, Dighton, Ness City, La Crosse, Syracuse, Lakin, Deerfield, Garden City, Jetmore, Hanston, Larned, St. John, Stafford, Macksville, Johnson City, Ulysses, Sublette, Satanta, Cimarron, Montezuma, Dodge City, Kinsley, Lewis, Greensburg, Haviland, Pratt, Elkhart, Hugoton, Liberal, Meade, Plains City, Fowler, Ashland, Minneola, Coldwater, Lake Coldwater, Protection,
Medicine Lodge, and Kiowa.
1105 AM CDT Tue Mar 12 2019 /1005 AM MDT Tue Mar 12 2019/
…HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ WEDNESDAY TO 1 PM CDT /NOON MDT/ THURSDAY…
* TIMING…From 1 pm Wednesday through 1 pm Thursday.
* WINDS…40 to 50 mph with 60 to 65 mph gusts.
* IMPACTS…Driving will be hazardous, especially on east-west oriented highways, and for those traveling in
high- profile vehicles.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 mph or gusts of 58 mph or more can lead to property damage.
210th Ave. north of Golf Course Rd. Courtesy Photo
The Ellis County Public Works Department is advising that due to recent snow storms, coupled with the thawing activities that have transpired since those storms, many unpaved Ellis County roads have become difficult to travel at this time.
In some cases, there are roads that have become impassable which has forced our department to close those locations for travel until further notice.
Pending rainfall forecasted for our area this week, should it materialize, will further deteriorate current road conditions.
We are asking those traveling unpaved roads in Ellis County to slow down, use caution and be aware of current road conditions before making any travel plans.
Your cooperation on this matter is truly appreciated.
If you have any questions on current road conditions or wish to report a road issue, please contact the Ellis County Public Works department at (785)-628-9455.
Join us in Hays for Tiger Spirit Parties throughout the week as the #1 seed Lady Tigers advance through the NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament. All parties will be held in Eagle Communications Hall at the Robbins Center, located across from Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Help spread the word to your friends and family. Encourage them to contact the Alumni Office to provide updated information and stay connected. Let’s wear our black & gold with pride and show our support for our Tiger basketball players!
We will have a special appearance by the Tiger Pep Band, Tiger Cheerleaders and Tiger Debs at each party. Plus, the Tiger Spirit Shop will set up a mini store in case you need to update your game day gear before you head over to Gross Memorial Coliseum.
All parties are free to attend thanks to the generous sponsorship of the estate of Ms. Melba Borger ’59. Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided for the first 200 in attendance.
Seating is limited, so register today by clicking here.
Please contact the FHSU Alumni Association at 785-628-4430 or [email protected] with any questions.
*Parties are scheduled for:
Fri., March 15 at 2 to 4 p.m.
Sat. March 16 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Mon., March 18 4 to 6 p.m.
*All parties throughout the weekend are contingent upon the Tigers advancing in tournament play.
Corrected 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 14 for party times and registration link.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A 34-year-old woman who stole charitable donations meant for an 11-year-old burn victim has been sentenced to a year of probation.
Davis -photo Sedgwick Co.
Cinthia Davis, of Wellington, was sentenced Tuesday and ordered restitution to the victim’s family. Davis was found guilty of felony theft in January.
Prosecutors allege Davis and her husband set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for a Haysville girl who was burned in September 2015. More than $8,000 was raised in less than a month.
A Haysville police investigator testified during Davis’ trial that all the funds were withdrawn and spent within 60 days after the fundraiser ended.
The girl’s mother received only a few hundred dollars.
Davis’ husband, Martin Kerr, pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to probation last year.
The March Flash Sale (rescheduled from Feb. 23) by Friends of the Hays Public Library will be Saturday, March 30, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Current Friends Members will receive a recyclable Friends Logo Bag which the member can fill for $5.00. Non-members will receive a donated grocery bag to fill for $5.00. Additional bags $5.00.
Lots of everything especially children’s and YA books.
Current members will also receive 50% off in the Gallery Bookstore. Memberships will be available.
Elva Lois Livingston (Garrett), born Sept. 27, 1921, died Tue., March 12, 2019, in Colby, Kansas.
A funeral service will be held Mon., March 18, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. in Baalmann Mortuary, 190 S. Franklin Ave., Colby, with Pastor Kirby Benisch officiating.
Visitation is Sun., March 17, 2-4 p.m. in Baalman Mortuary.
Interment in Beulah Cemetery, Country Club Dr., Colby.
Congratulations to the Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team on the outstanding performance in winning the MIAA tournament in Kansas City over the weekend. They will now host the first round of post season this weekend.
Last week was one focused on protecting the taxpayers of Kansas, with the passage of SB 22.
Imagine you find a billfold on the ground, it has cash inside along with the driver’s license. What would you do? What would you tell your kids to do? Return it, right? That’s the right thing to do. When Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, they created unintended consequences that had some people and some businesses paying more taxes to state governments. They didn’t mean to, but that’s what happened. They created a billfold filled with cash and a driver’s license. The choice for us is whether to keep that money and spend it, or to do the right thing and return it. In Kansas we were raised to do the right thing and SB 22 returns that billfold back to its rightful owner.
When Congress made changes to the federal tax code last year, it triggered the need for states – like Kansas – to take action so that families in our state wouldn’t be penalized. That’s what this bill is about. It updates the Kansas tax code so that middle-income Kansans can continue to write-off their medical expenses, property taxes, charitable contributions and mortgage interest.
This is about fairness. Kansans shouldn’t have to pay higher taxes just because they can’t itemize on their federal taxes.
The bottom line is this: a “No” vote would raise taxes on Kansans with medical expenses. It would raise taxes on Kansans with a home mortgage. It would raise taxes on Kansans who contribute to our local charities and churches. A “Yes” vote protects those Kansans from a tax hike. That’s why I voted yes. I don’t think we should raise taxes on working families in our state.
Some people in Topeka seem determined to raise taxes. They’re trying to raise income taxes on middle-income families and homeowners. And I’m saying no. We have to stabilize the budget without constantly going back to the well for more taxes.
This “windfall” from the federal government was never intended to pad the pockets of state government. It was intended to stabilize income taxes for working families and business owners so that they wouldn’t see a tax hike at the state level.
SB 22 is not Brownback 2.0. This bill is not a general reduction in tax rates or exempting certain kinds of income from taxation. This bill was not Kansas state policy but rather a required reaction to federal law changes. Without this bill, taxes would have automatically increased for tens of thousands of Kansans on April 15. I don’t support raising taxes on Kansans, especially when that change comes courtesy of the federal government.
There is no doubt that our state government could find a way to tax this financial windfall. We have needs in many areas. But just because we could spend this money, that doesn’t mean we should. This isn’t money from new businesses or new people moving to Kansas. It isn’t money from economic growth. It is money from unintended consequences of federal policy.
This isn’t just a Kansas issue. Many states across the country have had to change their tax codes in the wake of the federal changes. Red states like Texas and North Carolina but also blue states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut have all realized that the right thing to do is to change their laws so taxpayers aren’t penalized because of changes in tax policy. I voted for SB 22.
If you want to get more into the full content of SB 22: For Individuals – adjusts the Kansas tax code so that Kansans with itemized deductions that total between $7,000 and $24,000 can continue to itemize on their state income taxes even if they no longer itemize on their federal income taxes. Some middle-income tax filers might not itemize at the federal level this year due to recent changes Congress made to the federal tax code to raise the standard deduction. Without this bill, these middle-income tax filers would no longer be able to itemize at the state level, triggering a higher state income tax liability for these families.
For multi-national companies – clarifies language in the Kansas tax code so that changes in the federal tax code do not trigger unintended tax hikes at the state level for business owners. Right now, Kansas companies that do business outside of the United States pay taxes on those profits at the federal level. Those profits are not taxed at the state level and never have been. Without this bill, these Kansas companies would be subjected to additional taxes at the state level, making Kansas a more expensive state for businesses to operate in.
For Main Street businesses—eliminates an unfair playing field that makes it cheaper for out of state businesses to sell to Kansas customers because they don’t have to collect sales taxes like Kansas businesses do. Removes liability from individual Kansans to track, record, and report out of state purchases and places that liability on the out of state merchant where it belongs. Stops giving out state businesses an upper hand so that our local brick and mortar store owners can compete.
For every Kansan who buys groceries—lowers the food sales tax by 15% so every Kansan will see a drop in their tax burden every single time they go to the grocery store.
If you come to Topeka during the session, my office is in Room: 149-S. My phone number is (785) 296-7463 and email is: [email protected] and you can always try my cell number is (785) 302-8416.
It is my honor to serve you in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Rep. Ken Rahjes (R-Agra), is the 110th state representative and chairman of the Higher Education Budget Committee. House District 110 includes Norton and Phillips counties as well as portions of Ellis, Graham, and Rooks counties.
LOGAN – The Dane G. Hansen Museum is pleased to announce the now-open exhibit featuring Eckman Fine Arts’ collection of cast paper sculptures. Cast paper sculpture, (not to be confused with papier mâché), was invented as late as the 1950s.
The two Eckmans have developed a careful process that is now trademarked by them. Accordingly, Allen and Patty Eckman of Eckman Fine Art are internationally recognized as masters in this intricate, time-consuming medium.
Allen Eckman touching up “Sitting Bulls Vision.”
Sculpting from their home in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Marine veteran Allen Eckman’s Cherokee heritage originally spurred him to greatly broaden his knowledge of Native American history, especially beginning with the Westward Expansion in the early 1800’s.
This exhibit not only pays tribute to several aspects of Native American culture, but ties in another special focus, closely related – nature itself.
Complementing Allen’s attention to Native American history, Patty has a detailed awareness of natural beauty, especially wildlife and flowers, and has remarked that color is sometimes a distraction to the underlying intricate forms in nature. As Allen and Patty’s sculptures are typically unpainted, this purity lends itself wholly to the detail of these exquisite pieces.
Patty Eckman discussing the exhibition with Museum Director Shari Buss.
Eckman Fine Art – Cast Paper Sculptures will be on display through June 2, 2019, at the Dane G. Hansen Museum located at 110 W. Main Street, Logan, Kansas.
Museum hours are Monday through Friday 9-12 & 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 & 1-5; Sundays & holidays 1-5. We are handicapped accessible and thanks to the generosity of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, there is never an admission fee.
For more information, please contact us at 785-689-4846.
First of all, I would like to thank Kansas Farm Bureau for setting up the fifteen town hall meetings held in the 40th Senate district. Representative Adam Smith, Representative Ken Rahjes, Representative Barbara Wasinger, Representative Don Hineman and I were glad to hear from our constituents about their questions and concerns.
SB9 becomes law. The $115 million pays back a previously missed KPERS payment, bringing the funding ratio to the highest point it has been in 25 years. This is the first time in 25 years that we have made the actual required contribution. This payment will save the State of Kansas $630,000 per month and according to KPERS, the actuarial effect of repaying the contribution would be net savings of $186.1 million from all funds over 30 years.
Last week the House passed SB22. SB22 originally passed the Senate and was created in response to federal tax reform. The legislation was created to return the unexpected windfall from the Trump tax cuts back to taxpayers while allowing Kansans to deduct interest on their mortgage, property taxes and health care expenses through decoupling from federal law. For individuals-SB22 adjusts the Kansas tax code so that Kansans with itemized deductions that total between $7,000 and $24,000 can continue to itemize on their state income taxes even if they no longer itemize on their federal income taxes. Some middle-income tax filers might not itemize at the federal level this year due to recent changes Congress made to the federal tax code to raise the standard deduction. Without this bill, these middle-income tax filers would no longer be able to itemize at the state level triggering a higher state income tax liability for these families.
SB22 provides Kansas businesses with the full benefits of federal tax breaks on foreign income, allowing Kansas to remain competitive with neighboring states who have already done this. Right now, Kansas companies that do business outside the United States pay taxes on those profits at the federal level. Those profits are not taxed at the state level and never have been. Without this bill, these Kansas companies would be subjected to additional taxes at the state level, making Kansas a more expensive state for businesses to operate in. Kansas is only one of seven states that has not decoupled from the federal tax law.
The House added two amendments to SB22. They included a 1% reduction in the state’s 6.5% sales tax on food. The House also included an internet sales tax amendment that would require out-of-state online retailers to pay sales tax which they have not been required to do in the past. The Senate will have the opportunity to concur with the House’s adjustments or engage in compromises during conference committees.
SB32, the Farm Bureau Health Benefit plan passed out the House committee and will advance to the House floor for a full debate. I will keep everyone informed as this bill moves through the process.
Congratulations to the Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team. It was a fun afternoon to cheer on the Lady Tigers for their first MIAA Tournament championship.
Thank you to those who stopped by my office last week to visit. It is always good to see constituents from the 40th Senate District.
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact or call me with your questions and concerns, my office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 236-E.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the Kansas state senator for the 40th District, which includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace counties as well as portions of Phillips County.
Handing down a mixed verdict, after a trial lasting two full days followed by almost three hours of deliberations, a Phillips County jury has convicted Craig Speake, Phillipsburg, on two charges and acquitted him on three more.
In the aftermath of that incident, Craig Speake, who resides at the address in question, was charged with attempted involuntary manslaughter.
That charge was subsequently amended to aggravated assault, with additional drug-related charges added on resulting from a search of Speake’s residence during the investigation that ensued.
Those additional charges included illegal possession of morphine and percocet, illegal possession of Xanax, illegal possession of marijuana, and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.
The trial on those five charges got underway last week at Phillips County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Wed., March 6.
Defense and prosecution attorneys spent that morning questioning a potential jury pool of several dozen county residents, which was narrowed down to 13 individuals — 12 jurors and one alternate.
After lunch that day, Phillips County Attorney Melissa Schoen opened the prosecution’s case and ultimately called several Phillips County deputies to the witness stand, as well as Phillips County Sheriff Charlie Radabaugh, Phillips County EMS first responders, a Phillips County Hospital emergency room physician, and a Phillipsburg pharmacist.
Schoen’s direct examination of each witness was followed by a cross examination by Speake’s defense attorney, Alex Herman of Hays.
The questioning of the prosecution’s witnesses took all of Wednesday afternoon, as well as Thursday morning, after which the prosecution rested.
During this phase of the trial the undisputed evidence indicated that several people were at Speake’s house on the night in question, including Speake and Stacey.
The testimony indicated that around 9:30 p.m. on the day in question, Speake asked those present at his house to leave.
The testimony further indicated–
•The guests left except for Stacey, who, it was testified, appeared to be in a state of intoxication
•The investigating law enforcement officers said Speake afterwards advised them that Stacey refused to leave, was somewhat belligerent, and poked Speake in the chest a couple times when Speake persisted in asking Stacey to leave his home
•The law enforcement officers testified Speake said after Stacey poked him in the chest, he punched Stacey once or twice, resulting in Stacey falling to the ground, after which Speake said he “bounced” Stacey from his house
•There was body cam footage played of an in-custody law enforcement interview with Speake where Speake stated he had advised Stacey to leave his house, Stacey refused to leave, Stacey poked Speake in the chest, and that Stacey reached behind his back and Speake feared Stacey was reaching for a knife
•Also on the body cam footage was a statement, not heard by the jury, wherein Speake said Stacey had pulled a knife on him twice previously. This part of the footage had been the subject of a legal skirmish between the prosecution and defense outside the presence of the jury. The court ruled this portion of the video to be inadmissible, with the judge saying it appeared the defense was attempting to have it introduced in order to establish Stacey’s character. With the prosecution not being able to cross-examine a statement made on video, Speake’s on-camera statement regarding Stacey’s alleged past conduct was ruled to be insufficient to establish Stacey’s character, and insufficient to offer as evidence of past conduct
Other testimony by law enforcement indicated that after Speake hit Stacey and then removed Stacey from his house, Speake got on his bicycle and rode it to the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and advised law enforcement that Stacey was laying in his yard.
With Phillips County deputies responding to the scene, they subsequently called in Phillips County EMS.
At the trial, sheriff’s deputies and EMS responders stated that shortly after they arrived they found Stacey outside the house at the bottom of cement steps exiting the residence, with Stacey’s body positioned so his head was nearest to the steps and his feet farthest away from them.
EMS responders testified that they quickly discovered that one of Stacey’s pupils was dilated, indicating a brain injury. Stacey was transported to Phillips County Hospital.
Dr. Jeff McKinley was the Phillips County Hospital emergency room physician on duty that night. McKinley testified at the trial that when Stacey was brought in his left side was paralyzed and his right side was flailing. The doctor said a CT Scan indicated a large amount of bleeding between Stacey’s brain and his skull, and that the bleeding was exerting pressure on one side of the brain, threatening to collapse it.
The testimony indicated that after Stacey was stabilized, he was transported to Holdrege because weather did not allow for air transport to Kearney. The Phillips County EMS team transporting Stacey was met at Holdrege by Kearney medical personnel, and Stacey was handed off to them.
Both Dr. McKinley and Phillips County EMS director Pete Rogers stated they did not expect Stacey to live. Rogers further testified that Stacey’s condition was deteriorating so badly en route to Holdrege that he took out the defibrillator paddles and placed them at the ready on Stacey’s chest in case they had to be used.
Finally concluding the prosecution’s case-in-chief, there was testimony that the following morning Phillips County law enforcement arrested Speake and executed a search warrant on his residence. Law enforcement testified they found a few marijuana plants growing in Speake’s back yard, and found rolling papers, without any loose marijuana, inside the house.
They also testified that they found suspected loose prescription drugs, with no pill bottles. Those medications were afterwards identified by a Phillipsburg pharmacist as being morphine, percocet, and Xanax.
After lunch on Thursday, Speake’s defense attorney, Alex Herman, presented his case.
Calling two witnesses to the stand, the first testified he regularly went fishing with Speake three or four times a week, and had been fishing with Speake on the day in question. The witness stated he has prescriptions for morphine and percocet, and showed the prescription bottles to the court. He said he takes the medication three times a day for neuropathy, lower back pain, and pain due to knee replacements.
He further stated he had been in Speake’s vehicle that day, and had spilled his pills in it. He said he thought he had recovered them all, but when he got home he did a count. When he came up short, he said he called Speake and asked him to see if he could find the rest. He said he heard back from Speake that the lost pills had been found, and that he could come pick them up. The witness subsequently said Speake told him the next day “the cops confiscated them.”
The second defense witness stated he had been over at Speake’s house on the evening in question, and that Stacey was also there.
The witness testified that Stacey was drinking whiskey out of a large mason jar, and that in his opinion Stacey was very intoxicated and erratic.
He also said Speake told everybody to leave, but that Stacey refused to go. The witness stated he himself tried and failed to get Stacey to go, and then left before the physical altercation, but as he was leaving he saw Stacey belligerent, stumbling, wobbling, and falling into furniture.
Verdict Analyzed
The case went to the jury shortly before 5 p.m. on Thurs., March 7. With the jurors recessing for the night and returning Friday morning, after around three hours total deliberations a verdict of guilty was returned on two counts–aggravated assault and illegal possession of Xanax; and not guilty on three counts–illegal possession of morphine, illegal possession of marijuana, and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia/rolling papers.
In analyzing the verdict, it appears the jury’s decisions were based on the following–
•Aggravated Assault
There was no testimony countering the statements that Stacey was belligerent, refused to leave Speake’s home, and poked Speake in the chest, all of which arguably allowed Speake to respond.
However what came next — the manner in which Stacey was removed from the home — was problematic. Based on how Stacey’s unconscious body was positioned outside the residence, the conviction for aggravated assault appears to hinge on the fact that Stacey looked to have been pulled out of Speake’s home by his feet, with his head hitting multiple cement steps as he ended up in the yard.
Speake’s own words — that he “bounced” Stacey from the house — do not convey a favorable mental image to others in relation to Stacey’s head and the cement steps.
•Morphine and Percocet
Regarding the acquital on the charge of possession of morphine and percocet — a third party with a valid prescription testified the pills were his, that he had accidentally dropped them just hours before the incident, that he discovered later on he had not recovered all the pills, that he called and asked Speake to see if Speake could find the lost pills, that he heard back from Speake and was told the pills had been found, and that he had fully intended to go get them but the events in question intervened
•Xanax
Regarding the conviction for Xanax — no testimony was presented regarding why Xanax was on the premises
•Marijuana
Regarding the acquittal for the marijuana — an argument that ditchweed can be found everywhere in Phillips County and is difficult to control here appears to have been effective
•Paraphernalia
Regarding acquittal for drug paraphernalia — no loose marijuana was found on the premises. An argument that rolling papers by themselves can be used for legal purposes appears to have been effective.
CITY OF HAYS
