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Month: May 2019

Karen Louise Bolt

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Karen Louise Bolt, 64, of Atwood, Kansas left this earth on Sunday, April 28, 2019 as a result of an auto accident near Cope, Colorado.

Karen was born on June 7, 1954 in Goodland, Kansas to Jewell and Rosalyn (Edwards) Bolt. The family lived in Brewster KS until they moved to the Edwards Family Homestead north of Goodland in 1962.

She graduated from Goodland High School with the class of 1972. While in school, Karen was involved in Girl Scouts, 4-H member and participated in various clubs and organizations. Following High School she furthered her education at Fort Hays State College, graduating with both a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Counseling. She used those gifts and talents of helping others her entire life. She started her Counseling Career at Ransom High School and later at Jennings High School. After Jennings she made her home in Atwood where she was the counselor at Atwood High School and had a private counseling practice in Atwood. Her interest in kids extended into the sports, music, and arts departments at the school. Karen was proud to say she was the score keeper for volleyball and basketball for over twenty years and couldn’t wait until the season started to be back with her “kids.” She recognized each senior in the sports areas with a plaque, card, or flower, that she made herself, to recognize each of their achievements.

Karen joined the Catholic Church in 1993 and proudly supported her faith in the programs there. Her dedication to her faith was exemplary.

As time yielded itself, Karen developed a reputation of “the best cheesecake in the county” along with making baked goods and mints. She also had a love of flower arranging and giving the finished creation to many people to brighten their day.

Karen was preceded by her parents Jewell and Rosalyn Bolt; oldest sister Barbara Stull and her husband Rich Stull.

She is survived by sisters, Cheryl Mickey and Marilyn (Dennis) Masters; brother Don (Susi) Bolt; nephews, Jason (Kelly) Stull, John Stull, Gregg (Diane) Mickey, Chris (Sheila) Mickey, Justin Bolt, and Tyler (Lisa) Bolt, nieces, Ann Mickey and Jamie (Chad) Dolan along with great nieces and nephews and a host of other friends and relatives too many to list.

Greeting of friends will be held Friday, May 3, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood from 6-7 pm with Vigil service at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am, Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood, Kansas. Graveside service will be 3:00 pm (Central Standard Time) at the Goodland Cemetery in Goodland, Kansas. Memorials are kindly suggested to the Atwood High School for a scholarship in her name or the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

Mondesi, Royals jump on Rays early, hold on for win

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Adalberto Mondesi hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning, and the Kansas City Royals held on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Wednesday in the opener of a doubleheader.

Jakob Junis (3-2) won his second consecutive start, both against the Rays, after winning at Tampa Bay on April 24. He allowed two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out two.

Mondesi is batting .338 (24-for-71) with 12 extra-base hits at Kauffman Stadium, the most by any AL player in his home park. He is second in the AL in RBIs with 26.

The Royals jumped on Rays opener Ryne Stanek (0-1). Whit Merrifield led off with a double and stole third before Mondesi drilled his fourth homer this season to right field. Alex Gordon walked and later scored as the first four batters reached safely.

Tampa Bay began the day having allowed just four first-inning runs while scoring 29, both best in the majors. Stanek had made seven scoreless appearances as the opener this year, holding opponents to a .114 batting average (4-for-35). His lone inning Wednesday increased his ERA from 1.20 to 2.81.

Jalen Beeks took over in the second and limited the Royals to one hit over 6 2/3 innings, fanning six.

Ian Kennedy worked two scoreless innings for his second save in three chances.

The Royals benefited from an unusual baserunning gaffe in the fourth, when Avisail Garcia was called out on appeal for failing to retouch second base. After Gordon caught Kevin Kiermaier’s long drive to left, Garcia appeared to touch second and make a slight turn toward third before running directly back to first.

Kansas City became the last AL team to reach double digits in wins.

ROSTER MOVES

The Rays added RHP Austin Pruitt from Triple-A Durham as their 26th man for Game 2 of the doubleheader, while the Royals recalled RHP Glenn Sparkman from Omaha to start the second game.

UP NEXT

Blake Snell (2-2, 2.54 ERA), last year’s AL Cy Young winner, starts in the second game against Sparkman (0-1, 8.10), who is making his first start of the season.

Six Hays municipal water wells to be rehabbed; city commission to consider bids

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Six of the 37 wells that produce water for the city of Hays need to be rehabilitated.

Groundwater contains bacteria and minerals which cause well plugging. Screens, gravel pack and formations may become blocked, reducing the amount of water that can be pumped to the surface.

Water Resources employees maintain productivity of the wells by acidizing them, but as City Manager Toby Dougherty explains, periodic professional rehabilitation is necessary to maintain peak efficiency.

“Maintenance only goes so far and there are times you have to do a complete rehabilitation on those wells,” Dougherty explains. “This keeps them operating as efficiently as possible which is especially important when we get into times of drought.”

Six Hays water production wells (circled in yellow) will be soon be rehabilitated.

The Hays city commission will review bids Thursday for the rehab project. The low bid is from Layne Christensen Company of Kearney, Neb. for $67,230.

The city of Hays has the ability to withdraw groundwater from three different aquifers through 37 wells. The three aquifers are the Smoky Hill River, Dakota and Big Creek.

Also on the May 2 work session agenda is a report from the Fort Hays State University Water Wise Tigers. The student group conducted a research project involving water conservation in Hays.

Sidewalk project work for 2019 will be presented by Project Manager John Braun.

Commissioners will consider bids for installation of sidewalks at Rolling Hills Park and several locations at 13th and Canterbury and adjacent to the Hays Recreation Commission.

The two low bids are both from DHC, Hays, with Rolling Hills  at $26,841.90 and 13th & Canterbury at $35,135.53.

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The complete May 2 agenda is available here.

The work session starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

Preceding the meeting at 6:15 p.m., Mayor Henry Schwaller will sign a local proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

New Kansas tourism director has Fort Hays State ties

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Bridgette Jobe

KDWPT

TOPEKA – Brad Loveless, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, announced today that Bridgette Jobe has been selected to become Director of the Division of Tourism. Jobe’s appointment will be effective in July 2019. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Kansas City Kansas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. (KCKCVB) and will use the next couple of months to complete some important projects for the KCKCVB.

“We are very excited that Bridgette will be joining our team,” Loveless said. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and a genuine enthusiasm to promote statewide travel and tourism to our residents and to people around the nation and the world who are looking for an authentic Kansas experience.”

“I am thrilled to become a new member of the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism team. I look forward to being a part of the continued growth and economic impact that travel and tourism brings to Kansas,” Jobe said. “My goal is to take the experiences and relationship skills that I have built in Kansas City, KS and use them to move tourism forward for our entire state.”

Jobe attended Tennessee Temple University and Fort Hays State University. She has been with the KCKCVB since 1998, when she started as the Tourism Manager. She was appointed Executive Director in 2005. During her tenure as the Executive Director, she led the KCKCVB through significant organizational transformation, spurred by the phenomenal growth of tourism in Kansas City, KS.

Jobe serves on several tourism-related boards. She is the Chair of the Governor’s Council on Travel and Tourism and was recently reappointed by the third consecutive Kansas Governor. She was the 2017 President of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas and continues to serve on the board for that organization. Bridgette was recently awarded the 2019 Hospitality Leadership Award from the Kansas City Hotel & Lodging Association.

National Day of Prayer set for Thursday

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Hays Post

The annual National Day of Prayer will be celebrated at noon Thursday at the Ellis County Veteran’s Memorial at 13th and Fort streets.

The event is free and open to the public. No reservation is needed to attend.

President Ronald Regan made the National Day of Prayer an annual event in 1980 and set it on the first Thursday in May.

“This is a moment to stop and pray for our country,” Pastor Steve Dinkel said. “This is not a Democrat thing or a Republican thing. It is a day to pray for our country.”

The ceremony will include local leaders and pastors leading prayer on seven aspects of American life.

The program is as follows:

Welcome: Normadine Noone

Pledge of Allegiance Kathy Schupman of Kat’s Hallmark Shop and  U.S. Veteran

Emcee: Pastor Steve Dinkel of Liberty Foursquare Church and E.C.M.A. Treasurer

Prayer Focuses:

Government: Pastor Wes Oakley of Westview Church

Military: Pastor Tim Nunnery of Westview Church

Media and Arts: Pastor Micah Sanderson of Crosspoint Church

Business: Pastor Jason Murray of Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church

Education: Chad Meitner, principal Thomas More Prep-Marian

Church: Pastor Ken and Rachel Ediger of North Oak Community Church

Family: Pastor Dave Buller of North Oak Community Church

Community Prayer: Patrick McGinnis of Breathe Coffee House/Dialogue Ministries

Benediction: Dave Kumar of KPRD Radio

Former FHSU kicker shines in Arena Football League debut

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FHSU Athletics

BALTIMORE – Former Fort Hays State standout kicker Brandon Brown has signed with the Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League. The organization signed Brown on April 24, 2019, just before the team’s season opener on April 26. Brown is just a year removed from his collegiate playing days at FHSU, earning All-America and MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2017.

In two years at Fort Hays State, Brown broke the single-season kick scoring record twice, scoring 88 points in 2016 and then 94 in 2017. Brown finished his two-year career at FHSU with 31 field goals and 89 PATs for a total of 182 kicking points, ranking fourth all-time in kick scoring at FHSU.

Brown had invites to NFL rookie minicamps following his senior year, but he returned to FHSU to help coach the Tigers in 2018. He served as an assistant coach specializing in the kicking game and helped former teammate Dante Brown to All-America honors in 2018, including NCAA Division II Special Teams Player of the Year honors by the Don Hansen Football Committee. Dante Brown served as the team’s punter in Brandon Brown’s senior year of 2017, but he added kicking duties to his punter role in 2018 and led the nation in field goals with 28.

Brown had a big debut with the Baltimore Brigade in the season opener. He connected on his only field goal attempt and went 8-for-8 in extra-point attempts. The Arena Football League plays a 13-week schedule that lasts through the latter part of July.

Four Tigers earn All-MIAA softball honors for 2019 season

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FHSU Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Softball had four players named to the All-MIAA Team for the 2019 season on Wednesday. Players to earn the distinction this year are sophomore catcher Sara Breckbill, junior pitcher Hailey Chapman, sophomore outfielder Terran Caldwell, and junior shortstop Lily Sale. Breckbill earned second-team honors, while Chapman, Caldwell, and Sale are honorable mention selections.

Breckbill earned All-MIAA status for the second straight year. Last year she earned first team honors at utility/non-pitcher by splitting time between first base and catcher. This year, she earns a second-team nod at catcher, serving as the team’s starter behind the dish in 46 of 49 games. Breckbill finished the 2019 season with a .313 average and a team-best 16 extra-base hits. She was second on the team in runs scored with 32. She ranked 10th in the MIAA in doubles with 13.

Chapman earns All-MIAA honors for the first time in her career, receiving an honorable mention nod in the pitching circle. Chapman led the MIAA in strikeouts by far with 174, finishing with 42 more than any other pitcher in the conference. She was one of only five players in the MIAA with at least 100 strikeouts this season. By regular season’s end, Chapman ranked 22nd in NCAA Division II for total strikeouts and 31st for strikeouts per seven innings (8.0). Chapman ranked second in the MIAA in complete games with 15, tied for third in saves with three, and ranked ninth in wins with 12. She had an ERA of 3.44 for the season.

Caldwell gains an All-MIAA selection for the first time in her career. Serving as the FHSU starting center fielder in all 49 games, Caldwell put together a .321 batting average with a team-best 54 hits, 34 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. She ranked among the Top 20 in the conference in all three of those categories. She also remained errorless on 67 chances in the field this year, while adding three outfield assists defensively.

Sale earns an All-MIAA selection for the first time in her career at FHSU. She finished the year with just 11 errors in the field, the second fewest among players in the MIAA with shortstop as their primary position. She started all 49 games for the Tigers at shortstop. At the plate, Sale finished with a .264 batting average, 12 RBIs, and 17 runs scored. Sale now has 301 defensive assists in her career at FHSU, becoming the fourth player in program history with 300 or more.

Kansas City man accused of Trump threat sentenced in W.Va.

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Eric Charron -photo courtesy Tygart Valley Regional Jail

KINGWOOD, W.Va. (AP) — An armed Missouri man accused of threatening President Donald Trump during a traffic stop in West Virginia has been sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Eric Leonardo Charron of Kansas City  pleaded guilty Wednesday in Preston County Magistrate Court to reckless driving and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He was given credit for 36 days served.

State police say Charron was going 130 mph (209 kph) on Interstate 68 when he was pulled over March 27.

A trooper said in a criminal complaint that the 42-year-old Charron claimed to be running late to a dinner with Trump and also wanted “to meet with the leader of the Army to return a phone.”

TMP-M ACE raises monies for new activity bus, jr. high renovation

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The final results of Saturday’s Thomas More Prep Marian 2019 Auction for Christian Education (ACE) fundraiser are still being tallied, but it was “very, very successful” according to Troy Ruda, advancement director.

Ruda said Wednesday morning he does know the popular ACE Live Auction Item #60 reached and exceeded its goal.

“With $222,000 raised,  the Leo J. and Albina Dreiling Trust matching funds were added, earning a total of $422,000,” Ruda reported.

ACE Live Auction Item #60 targets different needs each year.

In 2019, the funds will be used in two areas.

First up is the replacement of the student activity bus for TMP-Marian Sr./Jr. High School and Holy Family Elementary.

“The bus was donated to us in 2011 with 900,000 miles on it and today has more than 1.5 million miles,” said Ruda. “These buses are designed to be driven for many more miles than a passenger vehicle, but it needs to be replaced. There may be some safety concerns develop and it’s not very economical (on gas.)”

Ruda says a volunteer committee is looking at a new Executive Liner coach similar to those at Fort Hays State University which can be serviced in Hays. The current bus has to be taken out of town for maintenance. He’s hoping the new bus will be on campus by the end of 2019.

Other monies are going to the junior high renovation project.

It currently operates in the northeast wing of the second and third floors.

The goal is to relocate all the junior high classrooms and junior high administration to the third floor and allow the high school to completely occupy the first and second floors.

Construction of the new library, known as the Learning Commons, is expected to get underway this summer Ruda says, and the third-floor Center for Research will be vacated.

ACE was streamed live on Hays Post. Click here to review the auction.

Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Underwood

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Norton resident Jacqueline “Jackie” Underwood passed away April 29, 2019 at her home in Norton at the age of 91. She was born Feb. 3, 1928 in Marsailles France.

Survivors include her sons, Robert & William both of Norton, 4 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen. A graveside service will be held Tues. May 7 at 2:00 p.m. in the Norton Cemetery, Norton, KS with Pastor Darel Boston officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Norton County Hospital.

Online condolences: www.olliffboeve.com.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

The Latest: Kan. Senate GOP blocks move to debate Medicaid

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on legislative efforts to expand Medicaid in Kansas (all times local):

Republicans have blocked a move in the Kansas Senate to expedite a debate on Medicaid expansion.

The vote Wednesday was 23-13 to pull an expansion bill from committee, one vote short of the 24 needed.

The House passed the bill in March but the Republican-controlled Senate has not acted on it.

Medicaid expansion is one of new Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s priorities. Her plan for expanding Medicaid health coverage to up to 150,000 additional Kansas residents is based on a bill that passed in 2017 with bipartisan support, only to be vetoed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican.

GOP leaders say they want to wait until next year to vote on an expansion plan and that Kelly is trying to rush the debate.

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By JOHN HANNA 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Supporters of expanding Medicaid in Kansas are looking to block passage of the state’s next annual budget to force an expansion plan through the Republican-controlled Legislature over conservative leaders’ objections.

Legislators were set to reconvene Wednesday after an annual spring break, and the state Senate expected to vote quickly on expediting an expansion debate. The Senate has yet to act on a measure approved by the House in March, and top Republicans want to delay action until next year.

The next Senate vote would be on pulling an expansion billout of the committee where it’s been stuck for weeks, and supporters are not sure of success. Their doubts have them focusing on the alternative of tying up the $18 billion-plus budget that lawmakers must pass to keep state government operating after June.

“It’s the best leverage we have right now,” said House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat. “There’s been a lot of discussion.”

Medicaid expansion is one of new Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s priorities and its approval would be her biggest victory so far in her first months in office. Expansion has enjoyed bipartisan support for at least several years, but Kelly’s conservative Republican predecessors were vocal critics of the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act that encouraged it.

During an Associated Press interview, Kelly brushed aside top Republicans’ concerns about needing more time to consider the details of an expansion as “just a stall tactic.”

“I don’t really believe that they can come up with a better product, given a year,” she said. “I think they are really not that interested in expanding Medicaid. They never have been, but I think they’re starting to recognize the inevitability of it.”

Top Republicans argue that Kelly is trying to rush the debate and that they want to avoid pitfalls that could drive up the state’s costs.

“It needs a lot of due diligence and structure to protect the patients as well as the taxpayers,” said Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a conservative Kansas City-area Republican.

Kelly’s plan for expanding Medicaid health coverage to up to 150,000 additional Kansas residents is based on a bill that passed in 2017 with bipartisan support, only to be vetoed by then-Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican.

Denning called the House-passed expansion bill “regurgitated” and said the state needs policies in place to curb health costs and encourage Medicaid participants to seek preventative care. GOP lawmakers also have mentioned imposing work requirements and even drug testing.

Denning said he agrees with Kelly that expansion “is inevitable” but added, “She’s going to have to wait, I hope, until the second year so we can do the massive and complicated plan correctly, rather than in a rush.”

The Affordable Care Act was Democratic former President Barack Obama’s signature domestic policy and it encouraged states to expand Medicaid by promising that the federal government would cover most of the cost. Thirty-six states have expanded Medicaid or seen voters approve ballot initiatives.

Kelly’s administration has projected that the first full year of Kansas’ expansion would come with a net cost of $34 million to the state. Some supporters believe the influx of federal dollars will spur economic activity, generate new state tax revenues and offset those costs. Many Republicans are skeptical and believe the state’s next costs could be much higher.

Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley -photo Kansas News Service

The Senate’s top Democrat, Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, of Topeka, notified colleagues the he would try to pull the expansion bill from committee. Under Senate rules, he needed 24 of 40 votes to do so. Supporters then needed 27 of 40 votes to put the bill at the top of the debate calendar against GOP leaders’ wishes.

Democrats hold only 11 seats in the Senate and must rely on Republicans to bypass the normal committee process. It could be a tough sell to some moderate GOP senators who lead committees themselves and don’t want to face a similar tactic in the future.

Blocking the budget is “all we have left,” said Rep. Susan Concannon, a moderate Republican and expansion supporter from western Kansas.

“If we support Medicaid expansion, that’s our leverage,” she said.

Western Plains Diamond Classic this week in Hays

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The Western Plains Diamond Classic will be May 2 to 4. Games will be played at Hays High School, 2300 E. 13th.

Daily admission prices are $7 for adults and $4 for students. Three-day passes at $18 for adults and $10 for students.

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