Fort Hays State University’s women’s basketball team announced the addition of Cassidy Haufler for the upcoming 2019-20 season. A 6-foot, 1-inch post player, Haufler is a sophomore transfer from Cloud County Community College where she played one year and earned All-KJCCC East Division Honorable Mention honors.
Haufler finished the 2018-19 season at Cloud County averaging a double-double in points and rebounds. She averaged 12.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Haufler pulled down 314 rebounds in 31 games for the Thunderbirds, ranking second in the KJCCC for rebounding. She ranked 15th in the conference in scoring and scored in double figures 22 times with a season high of 23 points. She reached double figures in rebounds in 15 games with a season high of 21. Haufler posted 13 double-doubles on the season.
Prior to college, Haufler was a standout athlete at Centralia High School in both basketball and volleyball. She was a three-time all-state selection in both sports and named the 1A Division I Player of the Year in volleyball by the Kansas Volleyball Association as a senior. She helped Centralia to three state championships in volleyball and one in basketball during her prep career.
Fort Hays State has added four players for the upcoming season. Below is the list of additions.
Former Brewster, KS resident Carrie “Ruth” Jones, 93, passed away April 10, 2019 at Meadow View Assisted Living in Greeley, Colorado. She was born July 20, 1925 in Goodland, KS to Leslie and Rose (Miller) McClelland. Ruth and her husband Duane were married on June 21, 1946 in Colby, KS. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2016.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Duane, parents, her brothers George, Bob and Jim McClelland, and a sister Marie Edwards.
Ruth has 2 daughters, Linda (Larry) Hoffner and Monn Rose (Mike) Blank, four grandsons; Bradley Hoffner, Eric Hoffner, Aaron Blank and Caleb Blank, as well as nine great grandchildren.
Ruth grew up loving music. She played the piano, clarinet, violin and saxophone. Her family traveled and played at different venues when she was growing up. She was active in 4-H and raised Holstein cattle.
She attended cosmetology school in Denver and had shops in both Goodland and Brewster.
Ruth and Duane lived many years in Brewster, KS. She was a Girl Scout and a 4-H Leader for over 28 years. She was active in the Brewster Senior Center, Methodist Church, VFW Auxiliary and other activities.
Southwest of Osborne May 28, 2019 (Courtesy Osborne Co. Sheriff)
TOPEKA – Brown, Ness and Osborne Counties were added to the state disaster proclamation signed by Governor Laura Kelly May 9 which brings the total to 66.
“Due to the severity of the weather damage, the path to recovery won’t happen overnight,” Kelly said. “We will continue to provide assistance as requested by jurisdictions to support response, and move swiftly in support of efforts to repair the damage.”
Thirty-three Kansas counties are now included a federal emergency disaster declaration from President Donald Trump. These counties are Allen, Anderson, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Franklin, Geary, Greenwood, Harvey, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Marshall, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Osage, Pottawatomie, Reno, Riley, Saline, Sumner, Wabaunsee, Wilson, and Woodson.
An emergency declaration supplements state and local government efforts for required emergency measures to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe through direct federal assistance for emergency protective measures.
The State Emergency Operations Center remains at a partial activation to monitor flooding response.
The Kansas National Guard continues to conduct water hauling operations in support of Lakeside Village in Jefferson County. The Guard is currently delivering an average of 24,000 gallons of water daily to the community water tower.
Starting June 18, Small Business Administration representatives are on hand at two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Both centers will be open from June 18 through June 27. No appointment is necessary.
In Douglas County, the Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be located at Peaslee Technical Training Center – Classroom B, 2920 Haskell Ave., Lawrence. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In Leavenworth County, the Disaster Loan Outreach Center will be a Linwood Community Center – Commons Area, 105 E. Third St., Linwood. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Douglas, Franklin, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Osage and Shawnee counties. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed as a result of the severe storms and tornadoes on May 28.
Portions of Wilson Lake will remain closed through July 31 due to heavy precipitation that has caused flood concerns across the state since May.
Due to the conditions around the lake, the Wilson Lake Area Association has postponed the Fourth of July firework display to 9 p.m. Aug. 31, the group announced on Facebook this week.
On Friday, the Army Corps of Engineers listed the lake as 10.83 feet above conservation levels and at an elevation of 1,526 feet.
At that time, the dam was listed as releasing water at a rate of 1,200 cubic feet per second.
While the park at Wilson Lake remains open, many facilities are closed due to the high lake elevation and will remain closed through the end of July, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
In Lucas Park, sites 1-42 and 51-96, Swim Beach Road, Group Camp and Boat Ramp Road are included in the list of sites closed through July.
In Minooka Park, the A-F loop is closed along with the east and west boat ramps and the swim beach.
The spillway ramp boat ramp and east end of the dam access are also closed.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism listed parts of the park as currently closed as well.
“All of Otoe is closed including the four cabins,” according to the KDWPT website.
In Hell Creek, the Lower Switchgrass primitive camping area, swim beach and kids pond, Little Bluestem primitive area, and sites 8-16 in Big Bluestem east and west were listed as closed as well.
They also listed Birdy loop of the Switchgrass Mountain bike trail as under water along with part of the marina loop.
The Indian Grass primitive, Lovegrass group camp, Big Bluestem sites 1-7 and 17-40, Buffalograss primitive, Hell Creek Boat ramp, Side Oats primitive, Wheatgrass east and west, Grama east, Switchgrass mountain bike trail, Marina, Dropseed east, seasonal camp and Marina Cove Toadstools were listed as open by the KDWPT.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman arrested for making false accusations about her daughter’s father that prompted a search for him on Father’s Day is scheduled for court Wednesday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.
Ronetta Ann Clement-photo Sedgwick County
Ronetta Ann Clement, 34, Wichita, alleged that her child’s father had placed the couple’s 2-year-old child in danger, according to Wichita Police Captain Brent Allred.
Clement told police Sunday that the father was refusing to return custody of the child and that he made homicidal and suicidal statements, according to Allred. Based on the information an attempt to locate was placed for the man and the child so police could check their welfare and further investigate what had actually occurred.
Detectives and officers worked overnight Sunday and through the day Monday to locate them. Late Monday afternoon following a second interview with Clement, detectives learned information that contradicted what she told police Sunday, according to Allred.
On Monday evening, police were able to locate the child with her grandmother and check her welfare and she appeared to be fine.
By RANDY GONZALES FHSU University Relations and Marketing
When he enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard in 1999, uppermost in Fred Mize’s mind was serving his country. Now a master sergeant, he is thinking about ways to better provide for his wife and six children when he retires from the military.
Fort Hays State University is offering a unique associate degree program that will give Mize and other military members like him the opportunity to do just that.
Kastle
This fall, Fort Hays State will be the only university in the nation to offer the Associate of Applied Science in Technology and Leadership degree option for service members and veterans from all branches of the military. FHSU restructured existing technology and leadership programs into one and added a technology education requirement that utilized military training and experience.
FHSU already has a partnership with the Army that uses soldiers’ professional military education as part of this degree program, allowing degree completion in a shorter time span.
This particular associate program will award up to 36 credit hours (of 60 required) for military training and experience, including six hours of transfer credit using military leadership course substitutions. In addition to the associate degree, the program will award a certificate in leadership studies upon completion. Learning options include on campus, online or a mixture of both.
“Looking at the different degree programs online, that one piqued my interest because it’s leadership based,” Mize said. “In any profession, that’s important.”
With the credit for military experience, the AAS degree can be completed in one year, a bachelor’s degree in two more years and a master’s degree in an additional year. Dr. Seth Kastle, an Army veteran and assistant professor of leadership studies at FHSU, took the initiative to restructure the degree program.
“This degree is an accelerated first step for service members in attaining civilian credentials that will help them find meaningful employment after their time of service,” Kastle said. “They have been working in their fields for years. They have been practitioners of leadership since before they were old enough to purchase alcohol.”
The program caught the attention of Command Sgt. Maj. Bryant Potts, the top noncommissioned officer for the U.S. Army’s 95th Infantry Division, Fort Sill, Okla.
“I think it’s a great concept,” said Sgt. Maj. Potts. “There are a lot of folks who are continuing their education while they are still serving. Fort Hays State having this degree option is great.”
In addition to the opportunity to earn three degrees in four years, service members also receive an added benefit in continuing their education.
“In the military, as you get degrees, that fulfills a major requirement to advance your career,” Kastle said.
Mize, who plans to retire from the military in four years, said this new degree will positively impact him and his family.
“It’s something that’s been lacking for many years,” Mize said. “Soldiers like myself, with my experience, if I don’t have a degree to back that up when I retire, I wouldn’t be very marketable in the civilian world even though I have so many years of leadership experience. With a degree backing it up, we’re earning what we deserve.”
Marjorie Joy “Marge” Akers, 87, Hays, died Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at home surrounded by her family.
She was born October 14, 1931 in Bush City, Kansas the daughter of Wilmer and Esther (Burlingham) Cassity. She was a graduate of Garnett High School and attended Pittsburg State University and Halstead Nursing School. On December 29, 1951 she was united in marriage to Dale Akers, and they celebrated over 67 years of marriage. She was a homemaker and worked as a ward secretary and activities director at Hadley Hospital. Marge loved her family, was very proud of them, she loved life, and never knew a stranger. Her family described her as a great mom and caregiver.
Marge is survived by her husband; Dale of the home in Hays, a son; Col. Gregory Akers and wife Jaye J. of Russell, a daughter; Debbie Moeckel and husband Doug of Topeka, a brother; Bob Cassity and wife Margie of Hoisington, two sisters; Vera Storer of Hays and Helen Miller of Garnett, four grandchildren; Stuart Moeckel and wife Summer of Madison, Benjamin Moeckel and wife Lindsey of Edmond, OK, Jacob Akers and wife Casey Kilpatrick of Philadelphia, PA, and Sarah Stilling and husband Ross of Annandale, VA, six great-grandchildren; Brennan Moeckel, Braxton Moeckel, Brantley Moeckel, Sophia Moeckel, Holden Stilling, and Quinn Stilling, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother; Herman Cassity, and two sisters; Jeane Lankard and Nina Ruth Cassity.
Memorial services will be at 10:00 am on Monday, June 24, 2019 at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Abrams officiating. Private family inurnment will be at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney. The family will receive friends from 9:30 am until service time on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of HaysMed. Condolences and memories of Marge may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com
M & D Excavating, Inc. continues to perform multiple sanitary sewer point repairs throughout the city of Hays. An updated location map is below showing the proposed repair locations.
All work is scheduled to be completed by July 12.
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. The traveling public should use caution and if possible avoid areas of construction.
For more information, call the Office of Project Management at (785) 628-7350 or the contractor, M & D Excavating at (785) 628-3169 or (785) 650-3802.
Wichita Public Schools is considering adding explicit protections for transgender students and staff this year.
Public speakers told the district’s school board on Monday that they want to see the nondiscrimination policy updated to include gender identity as a protected class. Some were activists; others were moms.
Transgender students shared their own stories of discrimination.
Transgender Wichita middle school teacher Kendall Hawkins has advocated for better protections for transgender students in the district. STEPHAN BISAHA
High school student Alec Strouse said being required to change in the women’s locker room had a severe impact on his mental health.
“I was severely bullied in there,” Strouse told the board. “Multiple times I did stay home because I was afraid of the comments that I got.”
If Wichita does add gender identity to its policy, it will join several school districts across the state that have done the same this year. Manhattan added the protections in May; Olathe made the changes in March.
De Soto did so three days earlier. Students from two of De Soto’s high schools asked the board to update its policy.
Transgender teens are three times more likely to attempt suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than a third are bullied.
Topeka Public Schools board member Peg McCarthy thinks growing youth suicide numbers — and the increasing support for transgender rights — is causing districts to add more protections for those students.
“We know that transgender students in particular are one of our must vulnerable groups,” said McCarthy, who is also a psychologist working with transgender patients.
Topeka Public Schools has included transgender students in its nondiscrimination policy for about a decade.
Not all school districts have moved toward transgender rights. Derby Public Schools allowed transgender students to use the bathroom that fit their gender identity, but reversed that policy in 2017.
The Kansas Association of School Boards advises against districts updating their policy to include specific language protecting transgender students. It thinks those students are already included in federal Title IX protections, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex by education programs receiving federal funding.
Wichita Public Schools board member Ben Blankley said that updating the policy is needed to make a clear statement of support for transgender students and staff.
“To implement it at the local level seems to be the strongest statement we can make,” Blankley said. “These kids do exist. These kids do matter.”
Wichita’s superintendent Alicia Thompson will put together a report on the district’s nondiscrimination policy. The board will use that as a starting point for any discussion about adding new language.
District middle school teacher Kendall Hawkins said she’s been talking to the board for months about the issue. Hawkins said she hasn’t been discriminated against as a transgender employee working at Mead Middle School.
But she said students in her school’s gender and sexuality alliance organization told her they have been. One of the most common problems is staff referring to transgender students by the wrong names or pronoun.
Hawkins said the district is behind on supporting transgender students.
“Our students are the ones paying the price for it,” Hawkins said. “We’re seeing issues with attendance and academic progress those students are having.”
During Wichita’s board of education meeting, some speakers opposed changing the policy. Out of the 10 public commenters, three said they are afraid of students being indoctrinated.
“Jesus loves them,” Wichita resident Jeanne Garrelts told the board, referring to transgender students. “But he does have standards of right and wrong.”
The Cheyenne, Rawlins, Sherman County Emergency Management department experienced connectivity issues affecting their phone system, internet, and cellphones in St. Francis office, according to a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon.
“We are on emergency back up basis with somewhat limited capability, and the local dispatch center/911 is also operational for emergencies,” the post said.
The problem that created the outage is being worked on, and the department asked for patience as repairs are underway.
Funding requests for 2020 by four outside agencies will be presented to the Hays city commission during its Thursday work session.
The agencies – Grow Hays, Fort Hays State University (FHSU), CARE Council, Downtown Hays Development Corporation (DHDC) – are each requesting amounts that are more than the $25,000 budget authority of City Manager Toby Dougherty. FHSU, Grow Hays and CARE Council are funded through the city’s general fund. DHDC is funded through the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).
“The governing body will determine the amount of their allocations mid-July during the budget discussion,” Dougherty said. “Nothing will decided [during the next two weeks.] It’ll be decided as part of the budget process.”
FHSU is requesting the same $100,000 as in the past for its City of Hays Scholarship Program for Scholastic Achievement.
CARE Council is requesting $168,000 for social services funding, an increase of $4,000 from last year.
The CARE Council is also asking the city to budget $60,000 in Special Alcohol Tax Funds for 2020. The monies for drug and alcohol prevention programs come from a portion of the local alcoholic liquor tax. That money is divided equally each year between the CARE Council, the special parks fund, and the general fund.
The $50,973 request by DHDC is down five percent from 2019.
Grow Hays (formerly the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development) is asking for $100,000 from the city.
“As they transitioned to Grow Hays, there was a year they didn’t take their funding. They didn’t ask for funding this year (2019) but they are asking for funding going forward.”
A few more non-profit groups’ requests are within the $25,000 spending authority of the city manager, including Wild West Festival, Ellis County Historical Society, and the Hays Arts Council which are all funded with CVB monies. Although Sister Cities is not an outside agency, it also receives money from the CVB budget.
Right now, according to Dougherty, “the city is not in a position where it’s facing funding cuts to outside agencies” as is the county. Ellis County commissioners determined earlier this week the county will award $928,800 in funding requests. On June 10, 16 outside agencies presented requests for a total of $1.073 million from Ellis County.
“The budget I’m giving the governing body will be not only balanced, but putting money away in reserves, and it will have a pay increase for our employees,” he said.
Dougherty added there will be no suggested cuts in outside agency funding on his end in order to fund city operations somewhere else.
City commissioners will receive their 2020 draft budget books at the June 27 meeting. The proposed budget will be presented by Dougherty during the July 2 meeting.
Also on tomorrow’s agenda is discussion of the renewal of property/casualty/liability insurance coverage.
“We are going to see a slight increase in premium this year,” Dougherty noted, “which is not bad because we reassessed all of our property. We had a significant increase in property being covered.
“Because we’re with Midwest Public Risk, we had only a slight increase because there is a cap on premium. So we’re getting a pretty good bang for the buck based off the amount of property we added under it.”
