Month: April 2019
Joyce Lucille (Davis) Noah Vaught
Joyce Lucille (Davis) Noah Vaught, 87, passed away April 22, 2019 at Ellinwood District Hospital, Ellinwood. She was born January 16, 1932 at Nishnabotna, MO to John Carl “JC” and Fannie Mae (Bettinger) Davis. She married Robert D. Noah June 15, 1973 in Nebraska. He died in 2015.
Coming from Tyrone, OK in 1993, Joyce was a CNA working in many area nursing homes and as a home health aide. She enjoyed cleaning house and caring for others.
Survivors include, eight children, John Lewis Stevens and wife Michelle of Grant, IA, Carroll Eugene Olson of Baxter, IA, Brenda Joyce Hall and husband Robert of Ellinwood, Larry Dee Olson of Great Bend, Emelia Kathleen Johnson and husband Lloyd of Great Bend, Sandra Kay Burr of TX, Mark Edward Burr of AZ, and Rodney Dean Noah and wife Renee of Great Bend; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Roger Eugene Olson; one brother, Leroy Davis; one sister, Helen Davis; and 3 grandchildren, Sonya Walker, Robert H. Hall, and C.J.
Visitation will be held from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 2019 at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 26, 2019 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Great Bend, with Rev. Dick Ogle presiding. Memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
National Walk@Lunch Day Wed. in Hays
KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 4/23/19
Muffling Response
The owner of a construction company lived where winters were very fierce. He felt he was doing a good deed when he bought earmuffs for his foreman.
Noticing, however, that the foreman wasn’t wearing the earmuffs even on the bitterest day, the owner asked, “Didn’t you like the muffs?”
The Foreman said, “They were a thing of beauty. They kept my ears toasty
warm, and I was able to work all day in perfect comfort.”
“Then why aren’t you wearing them?” the owner asked.
“I wore them the first day,” the foreman explained, “and somebody
offered to buy me lunch, but I didn’t hear him! I’ll never make that
mistake again!”
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Fort Hays State shotgun team celebrates pinnacle season
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
The last time a Fort Hays State University team finished a season as undefeated national champions, Austin Svoboda was a toddler who hadn’t yet celebrated his second birthday, and Riley Ross had not even been born.
That was 1996, when the Tiger men’s basketball team completed a 34-0 season winning the NCAA Division II national championship.
It took 23 years, but an FHSU team recorded a similar feat this year.
Led by standout senior Svoboda and up-and-coming sophomore Ross, the shotgun team completed an undefeated season this school year, highlighted by national championships both semesters.
After winning the Scholarship Clay Target Program (SCTP) national title for the second time in three years last fall, Fort Hays State last month avenged its loss in last year’s Association of College Unions International (ACUI) Clay Target Championships, where it finished second.
FHSU won six meets in the fall season and four this spring to finish 10-0 for the 2018-19 school year.
Claiming first place in four team events and second in two others, Fort Hays State beat runner-up Martin Methodist College out of Tennessee by 10 points at the ACUI season finale in San Antonio, Texas, last month. That was the same team that FHSU beat at the SCTP national meet in Marengo, Ohio, last November.
Those titles were in Division II – for schools with 10 to 20 competitors. The ACUI meet featured 884 total competitors from 91 schools in four divisions.
“It was definitely a goal to win (the ACUI) after finishing second last year,” Svoboda said. “We wanted to come back and take this one, especially since we are graduating five people.”
It was the fifth national team championship for Fort Hays State – to go along with five runner-up performances – since 2011.
“They knew they were capable of performing at a higher level last year,” said Duane Shepherd, in his 14th year of coaching the shotgun team. “They entered this year with a mission in mind and went out and achieved it.”
Svoboda has played an integral part of FHSU teams since 2012, and his swan song was one to remember. He claimed first place individually in two events and was a member of all four team event winners for Fort Hays State in claiming the individual high overall award.
Shepherd said that Svoboda’s focus has always been on team first. But he admitted that “it’s pretty hard to deny what he has accomplished as an individual.”
“He is very talented individually,” Shepherd said. “He has the competitive mental game where he can turn it on and turn it off.”
Ross, who grew up near Svoboda – both are from Nebraska – said he has been watching, and trying to emulate, Svoboda for years.
“I watched him all through high school, and he never ceases to amaze me what he can shoot,” Ross said. “Whenever you heard that Austin Svoboda was going to shoot, you always wanted to go watch.”
Ross, who had been shooting since he was 4 years old, learned his junior year in high school that FHSU had a shotgun team. Finding out that Svoboda went there didn’t hurt, either.
“I went to a shoot here my junior year, and I found out they had a good ag major, so it was in the back of my mind from there on,” Ross said. “I knew then that this is where I was going to go.”
Ross fit in with the shotgun team immediately, winning the high overall individual award at nationals as a freshman.
Last month, he was a member of three first-place teams and one runner-up team, grabbing All-America honors along with seniors Cody Escritt, Jake Whipple, Jerrod Lies and Josh Crankshaw.
Svoboda, in his sixth year at FHSU, was missing from that list only because competitors can only be named All-American four years, and he accomplished that feat two years ago.
Escritt, Whipple and Lies are three of the graduating seniors along with Svoboda, but Whipple will be back for another year while pursuing a graduate degree.
Whipple was a member of three first-place team events and one runner-up at nationals and will be counted on to help lead next year’s team along with Ross.
Ross said he is up to the challenge.
“Austin is just a great team leader, and I’ve learned a lot from him,” Ross said. “He is irreplaceable. We will just need to step it up and carry on.”
In addition to being named All-American, Escritt finished first in two individual events and recorded a perfect score of 100. Several of the seniors scored in the high 90s at nationals.
“It was rewarding to see those seniors to go out on such a high note,” Shepherd said.
He pointed out several reasons the shotgun team is successful year after year, both in and out of the classroom.
“I’m proud of the fact that these kids are here of their own accord, because we don’t have scholarships for our shotgun team,” Shepherd said. “They come in with a commitment in mind – to be successful on the team and in academics. They are all pulling for a common goal, and they support each other well. They get their education and graduate.”
Team members will tell you there are two more reasons for their success – Shepherd and his wife, Teresa.
“It wouldn’t be a program without them,” Ross said. “Duane always says he’s the bus driver, but he does so much more – and a lot behind the scenes. And Teresa is the team mom. She takes care of us so well.”
Shepherd agreed that his wife adds to the program.
“She’s an integral part of this group,” he said. “In fact, she’s the driving force. We complement each other well.”
While the graduating seniors are looking ahead to their future, they feel the shotgun team will continue to excel without them.
“Riley Ross is very talented,” Svoboda said, “and we have some people down the bench who can shoot good scores at about any time. It’s their time to shine now.”
Shepherd agreed.
“There’s no doubt about it, we will miss these young people who are leaving the program. They put a lot of time into developing their skills,” he said. “But we had a junior varsity this year, and they are ready to step up and start writing their chapter in this book.”
Following are the names of students who competed at the ACUI nationals last month and the FHSU results.
AKRON, Colo.: Jenny Schoenecker, senior
BURWELL, Neb.: Austin Svoboda, senior
CAMBRIDGE, Neb.: Jake Whipple, senior
COLBY: Keegan Morgan, senior
Jay Ziegelmeier, senior
JANESVILLE, Wis.: Luke Heinzen, junior
JEWELL: Michael Saint, graduate student
MINNEOLA: Jerrod Lies, senior
NORTH PLATTE, Neb.: Josh Crankshaw, senior
PINE VALLEY, Calif.: Heather Gordon, junior
PLEASANTON: Hunter Secrest, sophomore
PLEASANTON, Neb.: Cody Escritt, senior
ST. PAUL, Neb.: Riley Ross, sophomore
TOPEKA: Wyatt Pursell, junior
YODER: Cordell Waggoner, sophomore
FHSU results from ACUI nationals
Individual awards
• Svoboda – Individual HOA; first, men’s trap; first, men’s international trap; first, combined trap.
• Escritt – first, men’s American all-around; first, trap and skeet for men’s combined American;
• NRA All-Americans – Crankshaw, Escritt, Lies, Ross, Whipple.
Team awards
• HOA (highest overall) – first, Division II.
• American trap – first: Svoboda, Escritt, Whipple, Lies, Crankshaw (497 out out 500).
• International trap – first: Svoboda, Ross, Whipple (287 out of 300).
• Sporting clays – first: Svoboda, Escritt, Lies, Crankshaw, Ross (446 out 500).
• Super sporting – first: Svoboda, Ross, Escritt, Purcell, Hippie (478 out of 500).
• American skeet – second: Escritt, Saint, Whipple, Lies, Waggoner (487 out of 500).
• American all-around – first (trap, skeet, sporting clays and super sporting combined).
Monte Selby: Grammy Award winner, educator to be at ESU this summer
EMPORIA — An area native, former teacher, administrator and faculty member at Emporia State is returning home for a few days this summer. Dr. Monte Selby will be at the 2019 Kansas Future Teacher Academy in June.
Selby has Hays ties, as well. He was an assistant principal and principal at Felten Middle School in Hays from 1989 to 1996.
For 30 years, Kansas high school students looking toward the future have had the opportunity to see whether they want to be among the future generation of teachers, coaches, counselors, education researchers, speech therapists – every profession beginning with a degree in education.
“Monte worked with the academy for a number of years,” said Dr. Roger Caswell, director of the academy. “When we were looking at what to do to make this year a little bit more special, it seemed natural to invite him back to the academy.”
Selby works as a trainer and consultant, writing music with K-12 students. He’s co-written eight books and composed more than 100 published songs, including the 2012 Grammy Award Winning Album Check Your Attitude. He tours using songwriting as a teaching tool for children and adults at workshops and conferences worldwide.
Applications are being accepted for the 30th annual Kansas Future Teacher Academy; the application is available at www.emporia.edu/teach/kfta/. Current high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Applications need to be submitted by April 19. The fee to attend is $100; all meals, lodging and materials are provided to participants through the academy.
“KFTA was one of the best experiences,” said Hayley Yocum, a graduate of St. Mary’s High School who attended the academy in 2013. “It is a great experience, and I’m so thankful for all the friends I met and information I received.”
“I have had opportunities I would not have been able to have without KFTA,” said Caitlin McAndrew-Beckman, an academy alumnus who attended Lawrence Free State High School. “Through KFTA, I have really been able to solidify what I want to do in my future.”
The KFTA will be held June 9-13, 2019, at Emporia State University.
“Our goal is two-fold for the students: give them an overview of the process of becoming a teacher – including developing a lesson and working with children – and provide them with a keyhole experience of what it would be like to attend college as an education major,” said Caswell.
Funding for the academy is provided by the Kansas Legislature and is coordinated by the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence at ESU. For more information about the academy, visit www.emporia.edu/teach/kfta/ or contact Caswell at 620-341-5372.
FHSU grad surprised with $10,000 prize on ‘Ellen’ show
Fort Hays State University graduate Addy Tritt, whose story about buying out the Hays Payless store to help Nebraska flood victims went viral, appeared on “The Ellen Degeneres Show” on Monday. The show airs at 4 p.m. CST on Eagle channel 10 and 610.
Ellen surprised Tritt with a game of “Holey Roller” — which Tritt “won.” The prize money Tritt is coming home with is made possible by Cheerios.
Watch below, courtesy www.ellentube.com.
HAWVER: Kan. Legislature received underwhelming revenue report
That CRE, assembled by a group of state fiscal experts and university economics professors, predicts the state is going to take in about $15 million more in the next two years than most of us thought. Oh, there was good news in that the tiny predicted increases of money for the state to spend came after the Legislature and governor had spent $115 million this spring to repay money borrowed from the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System. So, the estimate on which the budget will be crafted reflects spending that most would consider reasonable.
But … there was no excitement. For a Legislature that stands for re-election next year, it wasn’t bad news — no tax increases needed to keep the Statehouse doors open — but also not enough increase in revenues to support much of a tax cut for those Kansans who will vote next fall on whether to send their legislator back to indoor parking, drinks and meals from lobbyists and, oh yes…running state government.
Practically, that CRE means that there isn’t any real need for a tax increase—except maybe taxing some of that neat stuff you buy over the Internet and wait two days to be delivered. That’s almost a freebie. Sales-tax that Internet stuff like you tax the sales at brick and mortar stores which sell the same stuff. Doesn’t sound very radical, does it?
The low CRE increase isn’t all bad news. It might actually have the effect of finally spending some money on things like, well, K-12 finance, on social workers and prison guards and those social policies that don’t show up for all of us, but which make the state a better place to live and maybe provide better lives for those who live here.
That isn’t the sort of policy/spending that leads to exciting discussions at the screen door between candidates and voters, or that leads to fascinating palm cards to hand out, but it probably means that lawmakers get to spend time concentrating on better management, more effective programs and a more businesslike government.
So, what’s possible with the meager increase in state revenues?
Look for some little tax cuts, specifically targeted to improve lives. Not the $130 million that corporations wanted. When there’s not much money to spend, lawmakers tend to focus on voters, not corporations.
And with not much money for tax cuts, that mostly-for-show one percent cut in the sales tax on food likely will be thought through a little better than what was mostly decoration on the tax cut bill vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly. Remember that? As icing on the corporate/upper-middle class tax reduction bill, lawmakers cut the sales tax on groceries by a penny on the dollar. Spend $10 at the grocery store? You save a dime. Not exactly the way to see Kansans better finance their rent or car payments or kids’ school clothes, is it? There are surely better ways to help the poor than with pocket change that won’t even buy a candy bar.
Nope, no excitement from the revenue estimate. Sorta like catching your car door before it swings out and bangs the other car. But there’s a dab of money there and while it will take a little longer to explain, those social programs, health care, prison guards, pre-school education for children all pay off as good investments.
Just not very flashy.
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com
FHSU’s Stramel leads keynote session at conference in United Kingdom
Stramel led her keynote presentation “Keywords Are Not the Key to Solving Word Problems” for approximately 350 mathematics teachers.
The Association of Teachers of Mathematics is the United Kingdom’s state-wide mathematics conferences for P12 teachers. The conference offers an opportunity for mathematics teachers to explore new ideas and make social and professional connections.
— FHSU University Relations
Youth farm safety program Saturday
K-State Research & Extension will be offering a Hazardous Occupation Safety Training for Agriculture or Tractor and Farm Safety Course on Saturday, April 27, 2019. This course will be held at Hill City High School in Hill City. Class will start at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at approximately 5:00 p.m.
Local K-State Research & Extension Agents will teach this basic course covering farm and machinery safety, including proper tractor operation and maintenance, grain safety, implement use safety and more.
The United States Department of Labor requires youth 14 – 15 years of age attend this safety training in order to work on a farm for someone other than their parents.
However, there are several cases where youth may be required to take the training even though they are working on the “family farm.” For instance, if the parent is a partner or member of a farm corporation or if the youth is legally employed by grandparents, the law requires youth participate in the course. Any employer who plans to hire youth under 16 years of age must make sure they attend this tractor safety course.
If you plan to attend, please contact the Cottonwood District, 785-628-9430 or e-mail Theresa, [email protected] to register by April 24th. A fee of $15 is due to your local Extension Office at registration and will cover rent of the manual, refreshments, lunch, and other materials needed during training. You can purchase the manual for an additional $15.
Police investigating another social media threat at SW Kan. middle school
FINNEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and officials with USD 457 are investigating an alleged school threat.
Just after 6:30 p.m. Monday, police received a report of a possible threat on social media towards Horace Good Middle School, 1412 N Main in Garden City, according to a media release. The threat was to occur on Tuesday.
There will be an increased police presence at the school. The Garden City Police Department and the Garden City School District encourage parents and guardians to monitor their child’s’ social media accounts and to have your child report any suspicious information.
On April 18, police identified a 14-year-old who made a social media threat that depicted the general use of firearms to harm students at the school.
The Garden City Police Department is requesting assistance from the community. If you witnessed this week’s incident, or have information related to this incident, you should call the Garden City Police Department
Partly sunny, mild Tuesday
Tuesday Partly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind 9 to 13 mph.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. East northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 74. West wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 46. East southeast wind around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight.
ThursdaySunny, with a high near 76.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 48.
FridayIsolated showers before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
SW Kansas man recovering after ejected when pickup collides with train
HAMILTON COUNTY — A Kansas man is recovering from injuries in a weekend crash in southwest Kansas.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Izusu I-280 driven by Samuel Zapata, 20, Syracuse, was northbound on Barton Street south of U.S. 50 just after 5:30p.m. Saturday.
The pickup traveled around train crossing grades. The driver’s side of the pickup collided with an eastbound Burlington Santa Fe Train
The pickup rotated counter-clockwise an undetermined amount of times and the driver was ejected from the vehicle.
Zapata was transported to a hospital in Wichita. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.