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Month: May 2019
Kansas County Showing What Wind Farms Haven’t Seen Much Before: Local Opposition
Standing near the corner of his property in southeastern Reno County, Nick Egli looked east and pointed to the proposed locations for several 500-feet-tall wind turbines.
BRIAN GRIMMETT
Egli is standing on a grass airstrip he’s spent the last 10 years building. He pictures a few more homes, some hangars and, eventually, a residential community for pilots of small planes.
“If there’s turbines there, you’ve completely killed everything I’ve been working on the last 10 years,” he said.
Egli is one of many people in the area fighting against a wind farm proposed by Florida-based NextEra Energy.
It’s the latest of several projects NextEra has already completed in the state. And the company isn’t alone.
Businesses from all over the world have cashed in on Kansas’ abundant wind in the past decade. Most projects went up without much fanfare.
But stiff opposition facing the Reno County project has raised some anxiety in the industry as companies consider its implications for future development.
Over the past 4 years, NextEra Energy signed deals with Reno County landowners to plant giant wind turbines on their property. It’s one step in a long process that needs a go-ahead from county officials.
Developers chose this part of Reno County because it has plenty of wind, it’s close to transmission lines that transport the electricity to places that need it, like Wichita, and it had enough willing landowners.
“Farming has not been an especially lucrative income producer,” Randy Jackson told the planning commission during one of several hours-long public hearings. “To continue to own our property, we need to take advantage of every income potential we have.”
But Jackson was among the few to speak in support, and most of those were landowners benefitting from the project.
The majority of speakers voiced their opposition.
“We could have chosen to live anywhere but we chose to live here,” Matt Amos said. “Had I known that this was going to happen, I would have not have chosen to live here.”
One after another, the stream of voices filled the conference hall.
“Why is this wind farm being built so close to concentrated populations of people and wildlife?” Darcy Gray of Andale asked. “I’m not opposed to wind energy, but the location does not make sense.”
Nick Egli also spoke at the hearing. But he ultimately blames his neighbors who signed leases, not county officials.
He recalled what one of his neighbors told him.
“He said, ‘Well, I’m going to make $4,500 a quarter,’” Egli said. “Really? That’s what you’re selling me out for?”
Egli isn’t against renewable energy. He’s actually an electrician and has installed solar panels on the roof of the house he’s building. It will provide him with enough electricity that he won’t need to connect to the grid.
He just wants what he calls sensible setbacks.
But while he calls it sensible, a 3,000-foot setback from property lines would be the largest in the state. That type of setback in Kansas typically runs about 500 feet.
Setbacks have been a sticking point from the beginning, including for the Reno County planning commission. After failing to reach a consensus, the commission rejected the proposal.
Rorik Peterson has helped develop several wind farms in Kansas for EDP Renewables — most recently a 200-megawatt project in Allen County.
He said this is the first project in the state he’s ever seen rejected by a county planning commission. Previously, if projects got enough landowners to sign leases, it was generally a sign the community was on board.
A decade and a half ago, local officials did stop a wind farm in Waubansee County. It created a controversy that led to a case that went all the way to the Kansas Supreme Court. But the trend has been decididly more pro-wind since.
While the decision in Reno County was unexpected, Peterson doesn’t think it’s a sign developing future wind projects is going to get harder in Kansas.
“It may be new to these portions of the state,” he said, “but we develop as an industry in many communities that are very similar.”
And NextEra’s Reno County project isn’t dead yet. The three-member county commission has the final say and will take up the issue June 11.
Like the landowners who support the project, Reno County stands to gain financially from its approval. Tax revenue from the turbines will generate as much as $39 million over the next 30 years.
But for those still opposed, it’s about more than just what the county will gain. It’s about what they could lose — a quiet home on a lonely prairie.
“I’m going to be able to tell our kids that I did everything I could,” Egli said, “before I had to sell our place I built for generations.”
Brian Grimmett reports on the environment and energy for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett
Cloudy, breezy Sunday, chance of storms late
TodayA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain and frequent lightning. Increasing clouds, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain and frequent lightning. Low around 61. South southeast wind 14 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Memorial Day
Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 14 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 17 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 76.
Youngers donate land in memory of son to benefit HHS FFA
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Carolyn and Neal Younger have donated 160 acres of farmland southeast of Ellis to the Hays High School FFA program in memory of their son, Cody.
Cody died 10 years ago in a tragic vehicle accident when he was a student at HHS. Cody was active in FFA, and Neal is also an HHS FFA alumni as is his daughter.
“This way, they can get hands on and get their hands dirty,” Neal said of the FFA students.
The gift was announced May 6 at the HHS Academic Awards night.
The land that has been donated has been in the Younger family since 1901. It was purchased by Neal Younger’s great-great-great grandfather from the Union Pacific Railroad for $1 per acre.
Cody was to have been the next generation to farm the land, and Neal Younger said this is a way for the property to be preserved for agriculture use in the Younger name.
About 30 acres of the property, which is near Vineyard and 150th Avenue, is in cultivation with the remaining acreage in grazing pasture. There are also two metal utility sheds on the property. They are painted in Cody’s favorite colors — red and black. One of the buildings has a message, “In loving memory of Cody Younger.” The Youngers keep the message lit at night.
There is a spring-fed pond on the property. Neal fondly remembered stocking the pond with fish when Cody was only about 3 years old.
“He was right there at the water with me releasing those fish,” Neal said.
Neal estimates the value of the land at $1,800 to $2,000 per acre.
It is the Youngers’ hope the land can eventually be used by FFA students to gain practical farming experience as well as generate an income to support the two $500 scholarships the Youngers established in Cody’s name for FFA students. A scholarship has been awarded to a HHS FFA male and female student every since Cody’s death.
“It will give FFA students a hands-on, eyes-on [experience],” Neal said. “They can either farm it or they can get somebody else to.”
Currently Neal picks up side jobs to help fund the annual FFA scholarship, but he said he and Carolyn wanted to have a means to continue to fund the scholarship after the couple retires.
“It’s overwhelming,” Carolyn said. “I questioned about how we were going to go about doing it, but I am glad we are doing it.
“When things like this happen, good comes out it. It makes us feel good, but it hurts because if he was still alive, this wouldn’t be happening. I am just glad we can do something good out of losing him.”
The Youngers said FFA sponsor Curt Vajnar, HHS Principal Marty Straub and HHS secretary Tammy Stewart have all been very supportive of the family since Cody’s death, and they wanted to make the gift before any of those three staff members at the high school retired.
The Youngers have consistently supported HHS FFA, Vajnar said, donating to the FFA auction in addition to Cody’s scholarship.
“They have been generous to our organization,” Vajnar said.
Vajnar said proceeds from the land could also be used to support HHS students attending leadership conferences and national conventions. The national FFA conference in Washington, D.C., that students can attend every other year costs $800 to $900 per student.
“It will allow kids to do things they have never been allowed to do before,” he said, “due to not being able to afford things. I have kids now who won’t go to things because they don’t want to ask their parents for the money that it takes to go on trips where we go out and eat for a couple of days.”
The details of the gift are still being worked out with the school district’s and the Younger’s attorneys.
Belgian ambassador to speak at Dole Institute
KU NEWS SERVICE
LAWRENCE – The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas will welcome Dirk Wouters, ambassador of Belgium to the United States, for a public program this summer.
Wouters will deliver remarks at the institute at 2 p.m. June 13. The program is free and open to the public, and a free livestream of the event will be available.
In his talk, Wouters will highlight some of the current challenges facing the European Union and developments in the U.S. that have affected transatlantic relationships. This will include the current U.S. presidential administration’s approach to relations with Russia and China, trade deficits, NATO and Europe’s energy dependence.
The ambassador was appointed to his position in September 2016. He represents the king of the Belgians and Belgium’s federal government in the U.S. and in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He is responsible for the direction and work of the embassy and its consulates, including bilateral political and economic relations.
Prior to his current assignment, the ambassador was permanent representative of Belgium to the European Union (EU). Wouters has served his nation’s international interests extensively, having joined the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1980. In 1986, he began his efforts representing Belgium in European affairs, and he later received an assignment in Rome dealing with political and economic issues. Beginning in the mid-1990s, he served as deputy permanent representative of Belgium to the United Nations (UN) in New York City.
The ambassador’s work would shift to the EU in 2003-2009, where he served as permanent representative of Belgium to the Political and Security Committee. He would later join the office of the Belgian prime minister as a diplomatic adviser, and later, the office of the minister of foreign affairs as chief of staff.
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics is dedicated to promoting political and civic participation as well as civil discourse in a bipartisan, philosophically balanced manner. It is located in KU’s West District and houses the Dole Archive and Special Collections. Through its robust public programming, congressional archive and museum, the Dole Institute strives to celebrate public service and the legacies of U.S. senators Bob Dole and Elizabeth Dole.
More information on all programs, as well as ongoing additions to the schedule, can be found on the Dole Institute’s website, www.doleinstitute.org.
Driver hospitalized after vehicle strikes trees in Phillips Co.
PHILLIPS COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Phillips County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Honda CRV driven by Francis L. Karlin, 72, Bloomington, MN., was southbound on U.S. 183 thirteen miles south of Phillipsburg. The driver lost control of the vehicle when he swerved to miss a deer.
The vehicle entered the east ditch and continued, striking several cedar trees.
EMS transported Karlin to the hospital in Phillipsburg. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Yankees hold on for DH sweep of Royals, win 7th straight
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Austin Romine and Cameron Maybin each drove in two in New York’s five-run second inning, and the Yankees held on to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 Saturday night, completing a sweep of a doubleheader for their seventh straight win.
Romine finished with three hits and Maybin also had an RBI single in the third as won both games after severe thunderstorms postponed Friday night’s contest.
Luke Voit hit a go-ahead home in the seventh inning and Thairo Estrada added a two-run double in the eighth inning of the opener to power the Yankees to a 7-3 victory.
Chance Adams threw four innings to earn his first major league victory in the second game after Chad Green threw one inning as the Yankees’ opener. Adams allowed three runs and five hits, with a couple of misplayed balls in the outfield leading to two runs in the fourth inning.
Jonathan Holder, Tommy Kahnle, Zach Britton and Aroldis Chapman each threw one inning in relief to close out the win. Chapman allowed a run on a walk, error and sacrifice fly, but was still able to notch his 250th career save, and 14th this season.
The Yankees jumped all over Royals starter Jorge Lopez (0-6) in the second inning. The first seven batters all reached base, scoring five runs along the way. DJ LeMahieu capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single, chasing Lopez from the game after facing just 10 batters.
The Royals’ bullpen held the Yankees down after the big second inning, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings of work. New York didn’t score again after Maybin’s hit in the third made it 6-1.
Hunter Dozier doubled twice after going hitless in the opener, driving in Adalberto Mondesi in the first inning and coming around to score on Jorge Soler’s double in the fourth inning.
J.A. Happ (4-3) threw six strong innings in the opener, striking out 10. He allowed only a single hit until a familiar problem showed up in the sixth when Whit Merrifield hit a tying, three-run homer. It was the 14th homer Happ has allowed, tied for second most in the majors.
But unlike past home runs, Happ threw a good pitch, and Merrifield simply put a good swing on the ball.
“You tip your cap. He hit a ball at his shoulders,” Happ said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone won’t let one swing take away from Happ’s effort.
“It was a dominating effort,” he said. “He had swings and misses all day on the fastball. I thought he was just locked in from a focus standpoint, getting the ball and executing pitches all day long.”
Voit quickly restored the Yankees’ lead when he connected off Scott Barlow (1-1) for a 470-foot home run and New York’s bullpen closed out the win.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m hitting, Gary (Sanchez), Gleyber (Torres), whoever. Everybody calls us the Baby Bombers, so I feel like someone will hit a home run or get a big hit,” Voit said.
Voit grew up near St. Louis, was drafted by the Royals out of high school, went to Missouri State and made his major league debut with the Cardinals.
“To hit the farthest home run I’ve probably ever hit in front of them is pretty surreal,” Voit said.
Mondesi stole his major league-best 18th base in the opener.
Barlow had his second straight shaky outing for the Royals. His ERA sat at 2.01 after a scoreless outing against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, but got tagged for four runs in 1 2/3 innings on Wednesday in St. Louis and gave up four more runs Saturday in 1 1/3 innings.
“We gave up six runs on three hanging sliders today and Barlow threw two of them,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.
CONSECUTIVE TWINBILLS
The Royals were back in action for the first time since playing a doubleheader against St. Louis on Wednesday, which also was caused by stormy weather. Kansas City is playing consecutive doubleheaders for just the eighth time in franchise history, and first time since August 13-14, 1983. It’s just the second time Kansas City has played consecutive doubleheaders against two different opponents, the other time occurring on April 19 and 22, 1972, against Oakland and the Chicago White Sox.
ROSTER MOVES
Royals: Kansas City recalled LHP Brian Flynn from Triple-A Omaha and optioned RHP Richard Lovelady. Lovelady remained with the team as the 26th player for the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Flynn hasn’t pitched yet this season after spraining the UCL in his throwing arm late in spring training. The 29-year-old lefty appeared in six games for Omaha, allowing 10 runs in 22 2/3 innings pitched. He had a 2-2 record with a 3.57 ERA.
Yankees: Chance Adams was recalled Saturday to serve as New York’s 26th player in Game 2 of the doubleheader.
UP NEXT
The Royals and Yankees will close out their three-game set on Sunday. LHP Danny Duffy (3-1) will get the start for Kansas City looking for his fourth straight win. RHP Domingo German (9-1) will pitch for New York, seeking his major league-best 10th win.
Weather forces high school state track meet to third day
WICHITA – With just a handful of events left severe weather forced officials to push the reminder of the KSHSAA State Track and Field meet to Sunday morning.
After the meet was delayed Friday morning for nearly three hours and then postponed in the afternoon they were able to get in most of the remaining events on Saturday before another round of storms moved into the Wichita area Saturday night.
In the events they were able to get in the Osborne Bulldogs won but the high hurdles races. Afftin Conway won the girls 100 meters hurdles and Darrien Holloway won the boys 110-meter hurdles. Holloway also won the 300 high hurdles.
The TMP girls finished seventh in the 3A girls 4×800 relay with a time of 10:16.76.
The TMP boys finished fourth in the boys 3A 4×800 relay with a time of 8:20.51.
Trego’s Helen Giefer claimed the title in the 2A girls 1600 meters with a time of 5:18.36.
In the girls 2A 400 meter dash Plainville’s Aubree Dewey earned a first place finish with a time of 58.31. Ellis’ Cassie Waldschmidt finished second in a time of 59.36. Waldschmidt also placed fourth in the 2A girls 200.
The TMP girls’ high jumpers all recorded a height of 5 feet. Jenna Romme finished third by tiebreaker with Kassidy Yost right behind Romme in fourth and Makinsey Schlautman finished tied for sixth.
Gavin Meyers placed third for the Hays High boys in the 5A boys javelin with a throw of 167 feet 1 inch.
Hays High’s Brooklyn Schaffer placed seventh in the 5A girls 300 low hurdles.
In class 2A Ellis’ Grace Eck placed second in the girls 800 meters.
Hays High’s Tucker Veach earned a sixth-place finish in the 5A boys pole vault clearing a height of 13 feet.
On Sunday the remaining field events will start at 10 a.m. with the running events starting at 11 a.m.
Tune into 101.9 The Bull for updates beginning in the 12:00 p.m. hour.
Meyer captures 1,500m national title
KINGSVILLE, Texas – Fort Hays State track and field senior Brett Meyer wrapped up the 2019 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in style for the Tigers Saturday, winning the national championship in the 1,500m run. The title was the third individual national championship for the Tigers in the last three years and the 14th in NCAA history.
Meyer’s race was similar to his preliminary run on Thursday, cruising towards the back of the pack before making a final burst around the last turn to take the crown in 3:58.24. His final lap time of 53.37 was more than enough to make up the ground necessary, finishing a half second in front of second place. It was the Scott City, Kan. native’s sixth All-American honor in his storied career at FHSU.
Fellow senior Kolt Newell also earned All-American honors Saturday after finishing in a tie for 10th in the high jump. Newell needed just one jump to clear each of his first two heights, soaring over the 6-6.25 and 6-8.25 bar on his first attempts. The second team All-American honor is Newell’s third career All-American accolade.
Junior Alexcia Deutscher competed in the javelin throw at the national meet for the third time in her career Saturday, finishing 19th after a final toss of 134-2. The Ellis, Kan. native posted a career-best 160-2 earlier in the season.
Meyer’s win and freshman Ryan Stanley’s fourth-place finish in the pole vault earlier in the week gave the Tiger men 15 points in the team race, third-most among MIAA programs.
SW Kansas man sentenced for distribution of meth
DODGE CITY – A Dodge City man was sentenced this week to 154 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine, according to Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.
Roman Del Real, 33, was sentenced by Judge Sidney R. Thomas in Ford County District Court. Del Real pleaded guilty in February to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.
The crime was committed in October 2016. The charge stemmed from an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Garden City Police Department, Dodge City Police Department, Ford County Sheriff’s Office, Finney County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Assistant Attorney General Melissa G. Johnson, former-Assistant Attorney General Jason B. Oxford and late-Assistant Attorney General Steven W. Wilhoft prosecuted the case.
Weather Service: EF-0 tornado hit rural southeast Kansas
DOUGLASS, Kan. (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that a weak tornado touched down Friday afternoon in a rural area near Douglass in southeastern Kansas.
An EF-0 tornado, with winds from 65 mph to 85 mph, hit about 4:20 p.m. Friday and stayed on the ground only a couple of minutes. The weather service says the damage was relegated to trees in the area. No injuries or building damage was reported.
Meteorologists say heavy rains — which could worsen flooding — as well as strong winds and hail could be seen Saturday evening into Sunday for parts of eastern Kansas. Dry weather is expected Monday and for several days after that.
Voit, Yanks beat KC, open twinbill with 6th win in row
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Luke Voit hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning and the New York Yankees won their sixth game in a row, beating the Kansas City Royals 7-3 Saturday to open a day-night doubleheader.
Friday night’s game was postponed because of severe thunderstorms, forcing the split twinbill.
J.A. Happ (4-3) threw six strong innings, striking out 10. He allowed only a single hit until a familiar problem showed up in the sixth when Whit Merrifield hit a tying, three-run homer. It was the 14th homer Happ has allowed, tied for second most in the majors.
Voit quickly restored the Yankees’ lead when he hit a two-run homer estimated at 470 feet off Scott Barlow (1-1). Voit also singled and scored in the first inning, scoring from first base on Clint Frazier’s two-run double.
Thairo Estrada added some insurance in the eighth with a double into the right field corner that scored Brett Gardner and Frazier. Gardner had three hits and scored twice.
Adam Ottavino and Luis Cessa combined to throw three scoreless innings in relief of Happ.
After Billy Hamilton reached on an infield single and Nicky Lopez singled, Merrifield connected for his seventh home run of the season. Merrifield didn’t hit his seventh homer last year until Aug. 5.
Barlow had his second straight shaky outing for the Royals. His ERA sat at 2.01 after a scoreless outing against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, but got tagged for four runs in 1 2/3 innings on Wednesday in St. Louis and gave up four more runs Saturday in 1 1/3 innings.
Lopez had a couple of hits in his first game as the Royals’ leadoff hitter and Adalberto Mondesi stole his major league-best 18th base.
CONSECUTIVE TWINBILLS
The Royals were back in action for the first time since playing a doubleheader against St. Louis on Wednesday, which also was caused by stormy weather. Kansas City is playing consecutive doubleheaders for just the eighth time in franchise history, and first time since August 13-14, 1983. It’s just the second time Kansas City has played consecutive doubleheaders against two different opponents, the other time occurring on April 19 and 22, 1972, against Oakland and the Chicago White Sox.
ROSTER MOVES
Royals: Kansas City recalled LHP Brian Flynn from Triple-A Omaha and optioned RHP Richard Lovelady. Lovelady remained with the team as the 26th player for the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Flynn hasn’t pitched yet this season after spraining the UCL in his throwing arm late in spring training. The 29-year-old lefty appeared in six games for Omaha, allowing 10 runs in 22 2/3 innings pitched. He had a 2-2 record with a 3.57 ERA.
Yankees: Chance Adams was recalled Saturday to serve as New York’s 26th player in Game 2 of the doubleheader. Adams threw three scoreless innings in a 13-5 win over Tampa Bay on May 19, his only appearance this season.
UP NEXT
The Royals and Yankees will play Game 2 of their doubleheader Saturday night with a first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Jorge Lopez (0-5) will start for Kansas City while New York has yet to name a starter.
TV series about abolitionist John Brown to begin production
Gov. Ralph Northam’s office announced Thursday that production of the eight-part series will start in central Virginia this summer. The show based on the novel “The Good Lord Bird” by best-selling author James McBride and is set to air on Showtime at a later date.
Brown led a raid in 1859 on a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, in what is now West Virginia, hoping to start an armed slave rebellion. The rebellion didn’t happen, and Brown was later hanged for treason.
Before the raid, Brown and a group of abolitionist settlers killed five pro-slavery settlers in Kansas in the Pottawatomie massacre.