August 2019 – Page 22 – Hays Post Archive

Garoppolo, Mahomes both sharp as 49ers top Chiefs

Posted on August 24, 2019August 26, 2019

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was impressive in his return to Arrowhead Stadium, and Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes may have been even better, as the 49ers beat Kansas City 27-17 in their third preseason game Saturday night.

Garoppolo was 14 of 20 for 188 yards while playing the entire first half in a much better showing than his preseason debut against Denver last week. Garoppolo led the 49ers deep into Kansas City territory four times, throwing a nice TD pass to Matt Breida and getting two field goals from Robbie Gould.

It was an encouraging night for Garoppolo on another front: He was able to put to rest any lingering memories from last season, when he tore up his knee during a Week 3 game in Kansas City.

Mahomes finished 8 of 10 for 126 yards, highlighted by a 62-yard catch-and-run to Damien Williams in which the Chiefs’ injury-prone running back raced right by the woebegone linebacker covering him.

Mahomes was so sharp in what was likely his final tuneup before the regular season that the league MVP even completed his first incompletion – it was just caught out of bounds. His only other misfire was a drop by backup tight end Blake Bell before coach Andy Reid gave Mahomes a visor to wear.

Garoppolo kept his helmet on, leading a two-minute drill that gave the 49ers a go-ahead field goal.

The 49ers clung to that 13-10 halftime advantage until Chiefs backup quarterback Kyle Shurmur led a 13-play, 97-yard drive that took up most of the third quarter. Byron Pringle capped it with a short TD run as the second-year pro tries to make the Chiefs as an extra wide receiver.

The 49ers answered with a 12-play drive. Nick Mullens, who is battling C.J. Beathard for their backup quarterback job, led the way and Jeff Wilson Jr. finished it with a TD run.

Wilson put the game away with another touchdown run with 3:41 to go.

STAR TIGHT ENDS ARE QUIET

The 49ers’ George Kittle broke Travis Kelce’s season yardage record for tight ends within hours of him setting it during Week 17 last season. But neither dented the stat sheet Saturday night. Kittle didn’t play with a bothersome calf while Kelce did not have a catch for Kansas City.

SITTING OUT

Along with Kittle, the 49ers rested: CBs Jason Verrett (ankle), K’Waun Williams (knee) and Tim Harris; FS Adrian Colbert (hamstring); RB Jerick McKinnon (knee); DLs Dee Ford (knee), Nick Bosa (ankle) and Jullian Taylor (back); and WR Trent Taylor (foot).

The Chiefs sat SS Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder, CB Michael Hunter (groin) and WR Gehrig Dieter (back).

INJURIES

Chiefs LB Darron Lee left with a chest injury. … CB Bashaud Breeland hurt his left shoulder while making a tackle along the sideline in the first half, though he eventually returned to the game.

RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY

The Chiefs’ game last week in Pittsburgh was delayed about an hour by lightning. Rain fell off and on Saturday night, too, though the game continued without any delays.

UP NEXT

49ers: Wrap their preseason against the Chargers on Thursday night.

Chiefs: Visit Green Bay for their preseason finale Thursday night.

Fatal house fire in Ellis under investigation Saturday

Posted on August 24, 2019

Hays Post

A fatal house fire in the 300 block of Monroe in Ellis Saturday afternoon was under investigation as multiple agencies were on the scene early Saturday evening.

One person was confirmed to have died in the fire.

“That’s all the information we have right now,” said Ellis police chief Taft Yates.

The Ellis fire department, Ellis County fire department, Ellis police, Ellis county sheriff and Hays police assisted at the scene.

The State Fire Marshall’s office was investigating around 7:30 p.m.

Remarks of Kan. man accused of shooting at police not admissible

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge won’t allow prosecutors to use statements that a Lawrence man made to police after he was accused of shooting at officers because he had asked for an attorney before he made them.

Abdul Jalil Hussein-photo Douglas County

Douglas County Judge James McCabria ruled in favor of 35-year-old Abdul Jalil Hussein on Wednesday. Hussein is charged with multiple felonies, including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.

The charges stem from a June 2018 incident in which Hussein allegedly used an ax to chop through his mother’s front door while armed with a pistol. He then drove back to his own home a few blocks away, where he is accused of exchanging gunfire with a Lawrence police officer.

The detectives who questioned him were from Johnson County.

Police will start voluntary swatter alert system in Wichita

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police will begin using a system that places alerts on addresses where potential swatting targets could be living.

Police body camera images of The December 2018 fatal response to a swatting call -courtesy Wichita Police

Swatting involves someone making a hoax emergency call to send law enforcement officers, particularly SWAT teams, to a particular address.

The program announced Friday is voluntary and open to people who think they might be a victims of swatting.

The alerts would be available to first responders. Wichita officer Paul Cruz said in a news release the alerts wouldn’t slow emergency responders, but would make them aware they might be responding to a hoax call.

In 2017, Wichita police fatally shot Andrew Finch after a caller falsely claimed a murder and hostage situation was occurring at his home. The call was aimed at someone who lived at the home before Finch.

Kansas man dies while rock climbing in Colorado canyon

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say a 50-year-old man from Kansas has died after he fell while rock climbing in Colorado.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Department says the man fell about 60 feet Saturday in an area called the Bell Buttress in Boulder Canyon about 9 miles west of downtown Boulder.

His name hasn’t been released.

The sheriff’s department says the man and a companion had just completed a climbing route and were searching for a way to descend. When the victim walked to the edge of a cliff to look over, a rock gave way and he fell.

Early Childhood Connections relocates to renovated Oak Park Complex

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

USD 489 tuition-based preschool in its new space at the former Oak Park Medical Complex.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

A new ECC classtoom in the former Oak Park Medical Complex.

The former Oak Park Medical Complex is now filled with bright colors and children’s laughter after a $2 million renovation.

USD 489 purchased the complex for $2 million last year, and received a $1.47 million grant plus a $500,000 donation from former owner HaysMed for the renovations.

Early Childhood Connections moved from the Washington school several weeks ago. Donna Hudson-Hamilton, ECC director, said the new space is a great improvement over Washington, a 90-year-old building that had significant infrastructure issues, including problems with plumbing, sewer, the roof, and heating and air conditioning.

Although Hudson-Hamilton said converting the former medical complex, 2300 E. 13th, into a school was challenging for the architect, it has meant the new classrooms are right-sized for the programs and children who will be using them.

“It was kind of a challenge because there were so many rooms,” she said. “We tried to use as many existing walls and doorways and restrooms as possible. I have to give all the kudos to the architect because that is something he worked on doing, using as much as we can. This was quite a maze before we came in here it being a medical facility with all of the exam rooms. He did a great job with that.”

USD 489 also tried to use as much of the existing cabinetry to reduce costs. Playground equipment was moved from the former location at Washington school.

Every nook and cranny in the complex is being used for something — classrooms, offices, storage, an indoor activity room for indoor recess, a sensory room, nurses station, meeting rooms and a breastfeeding room.

The project also included a tornado shelter, which Washington did not have. The ECC now has off-street parking, and the ECC was able to expand its classroom space to facilitate the addition of all-day Headstart, which is being required by the federal government.

The renovated complex has secure entrances. During regular drop-off and pick-up times, doors are unlocked. However, during school hours, visitors will need to be buzzed in through the office, which is in building one (right front building as you enter the parking lot).

The ECC’s new tornado shelter is built to withstand up to an F5 tornado.

Once all four buildings are complete, ECC will house Headstart, Early Headstart, state pre-kindergarten, services through the Early Childhood Block Grant, USD 489 tuition-based preschool, Parents as Teachers and Early Childhood Special Education programs for a total of about 180 kids.

Although programs have already moved into the complex, finishing touches are still being done on buildings one, two and four. Building three is yet to be completed. That will house the district’s infant and toddler program, which is now located at Munjor school. Hudson-Hamilton said she anticipates work will be complete and that program will move to Oak Park by the end of September.

A children’s sitting area in ECC’s new location at the former Oak Park Medical Complex.

She said having all the children in one location will mean parents with children in more than one program will have only one drop off. It also means all of the staff will be in one building, which should be more efficient and allow for more collaboration.

Once Munjor is vacated, that building will go back to the Catholic Church. An Overland Park company has a contract to buy the Washington school building. The developer hopes to renovate the building into low-income apartments, contingent on receiving tax credits for the project.

If you have questions about ECC’s programs or how to apply, Hudson-Hamilton urged parents to contact the ECC.

USD 489 has a Hays Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting set for 10 a.m. Oct. 24.

Playground equipment for the new ECC facility was relocated from Washington school.

MADD teams up with Kansas Highway Patrol for ‘Saturation Saturday’

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

Massive DUI Enforcement Campaign Set for August 24

MADD Kansas

Volunteers and staff from Mothers Against Drunk Driving will team up with Kansas Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies in Kansas as part of a nationwide impaired-driving crackdown this weekend for “Saturation Saturday.”

MADD will join law enforcement as they step up patrols, conduct sobriety checkpoints and increase public service messaging to remind everyone that if you drive drunk or impaired by other drugs, you will get caught. Approximately 250 law enforcement agencies are participating in Saturation Saturday nationwide.

“Saturation Saturday is intended to overwhelm the nation with the message to never drive impaired, and to show our appreciation for the tough work law enforcement officers do every day to stop the violent, preventable crime of drunk and drug-impaired driving,” said MADD National President Helen Witty. “We know that the days before Labor Day weekend are among the most heavily traveled and can be the most dangerous on our roads for the general public and for law enforcement. We want to stand with them to remind everyone that these waning days of summer are a time for fun, not tragedy.”

MADD’s Saturation Saturday is scheduled to fall right in the middle of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. NHTSA’s $13 million Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, long supported by MADD, helps fund increased drunk driving enforcement and advertising from August 16 through Labor Day.

“We are proud to support our law enforcement heroes on Saturation Saturday and every day. They are our first line of defense against drunk driving, the Number One killer on our roads,” said Lori Marshall, MADD Kansas.

The following law enforcement agencies in Kansas will be participating in Saturation Saturday:

Kansas Highway Patrol
Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office
Reno County Sheriff’s Office Hutchinson Police Department
Garden City Police Department Wichita Police Department
Dodge City Police Department Overland Park Police Department
Olathe Police Department Gardner Police Department
Shawnee Police Department Lawrence Police Department

High-visibility law enforcement, such as sobriety checkpoints, is one of the key elements of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, launched in 2006. MADD advocates for funding for NHTSA’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over events, which occur every year in August and December, and Click It or Ticket in May. The other elements of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving include passing laws to require ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders, support for advanced vehicle technology and taking personal responsibility by using Uber, public transportation, taxi or designating a non-drinking friend or family member if plans include alcohol.

To follow events throughout the day, follow MADD on Twitter at @maddonline or on Facebook at @MADD.Official. Look for the hashtag #SaturationSaturday.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save nearly 380,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.

KBI warns fingerprint database in danger of failing

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A database of finger and palm prints used by law enforcement and child welfare workers is in danger of failing and needs to be replaced, a Kansas Bureau of Investigation official told lawmakers.

The system contains more than 2 million finger and palm prints and if it stops working police wouldn’t be able to check prints of criminal suspects and child welfare workers couldn’t do background checks on potential foster parents.

“If the system is not replaced, there is a significant risk that it will fail,” KBI spokesman Joe Mandala told a legislative committee this past week. “A failure of this system would cripple criminal justice and public safety operations across the state, most directly at local law enforcement agencies.”

The database is also used for people applying for visas, employees in adult care homes, individuals involved in child placement and to identify people who have died. The Kansas system handles about 120,000 criminal requests and 60,000 non-criminal requests a year, Mandala said.

Kansas is the last state in the country using the database, called the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, or AFIS. It has been in place since 2007 and the company that made it, MorphoTrack, will stop providing maintenance by 2025, the KBI said.

Lawmakers on the committee complained that they had not been sufficiently warned about the urgency of replacing the system, which would cost about $8 million.

Mandala responded that the KBI submitted a replacement plan in 2017 to state information technology officials and included information about the need to replace the system for the past three years in a briefing book for lawmakers. He said the agency also sought a budget increase to pay for the project, but the governor’s office didn’t include the money in its spending recommendations.

“You guys didn’t think to raise the flag any higher when you weren’t getting any results since this is 2019?” Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, asked Mandala.

The KBI is conducting a feasibility study that is required before a replacement project can proceed.

The study was ongoing when the budget was being developed last year, said Lauren Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for Gov. Laura Kelly.

“Governor Kelly is committed to keeping our communities safe and ensuring that law enforcement has the tools necessary to do their jobs. We look forward to working with the KBI and the legislature to determine the next steps for replacing the aging AFIS system,” Fitzgerald said in a statement.

The KBI hopes to request proposals to replace the system this year. Replacement will take two years, Mandala said.

UPDATE: Tornado Watch until midnight; Flash Flood Watch until 7 a.m.

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

TORNADO WATCH 616 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1200 AM CDT FOR THE
 FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

 KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BARBER               BARTON              CHEYENNE
CLARK                COMANCHE            DECATUR
EDWARDS              ELLIS               ELLSWORTH
FINNEY               FORD                GOVE
GRAHAM               GRANT               GRAY
GREELEY              HAMILTON            HASKELL
HODGEMAN             KEARNY              KIOWA
LANE                 LINCOLN             LOGAN
MEADE                MITCHELL            MORTON
NESS                 NORTON              OSBORNE
PAWNEE               PHILLIPS            PRATT
RAWLINS              RICE                ROOKS
RUSH                 RUSSELL             SCOTT
SEWARD               SHERIDAN            SHERMAN
SMITH                STAFFORD            STANTON
STEVENS              THOMAS              TREGO
WALLACE              WICHITA

The National Weather Service is predicting the possibility of strong thunderstorms Saturday evening.

The NWS is reporting that there is a possibility of supercells forming over northwest Kansas, bring large hail, high winds up to 60 mph and the possibility of tornadoes.

Ellis, Trego, Scott, Ness and Rush counties could be impacted.

Flash flooding also will be possible, as the ground is saturated from previous heavy rainfall. And additional 1 to 2 inches of precipitation could be possible.

Skies are expected to clear Sunday.

Tune into your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest live updates on severe weather.

Aetna changes Kansas leaders with $1B Medicaid contract at risk

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Insurance company Aetna is bringing in new leaders to run its Medicaid operations in Kansas after complaints from hospitals and others put it at risk of losing its state contract.

CHRIS NEAL / FOR THE KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed Friday that Keith Wisdom is no longer the CEO of Aetna Better Health of Kansas.

The company declined to answer questions about whether it had replaced Wisdom but said in an emailed statement that it is “bringing in additional leaders with extensive experience in Medicaid” to help “effectively support the needs of this population.” The company would not identify the new hires.

Aetna provides Medicaid health coverage to about 100,000 Kansas residents under a state contract worth about $1 billion a year. The program serves mostly low-income children but also parents, pregnant women, people with disabilities and seniors in long-term care.

The state turned the day-to-day operations of its Medicaid program over to private health insurance companies in 2013, during Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration. One of the three original companies, Amerigroup, lost its contract last year to Aetna in a bidding process, before Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly took office in January.

Kelly’s administration put Aetna on notice last month that it was failing to comply with the terms of its contract. Aetna submitted a plan earlier this month to come into compliance, but health department officials have said the plan failed to address their concerns.

Complaints have included a lack of transparency about which health providers Aetna covers and delays and mistakes in payments to doctors and hospitals. The original three companies faced complaints similar to those that Aetna now faces.

A legislative oversight committee is scheduled to convene a two-day meeting starting Monday, with testimony both days from state officials and the companies managing the Medicaid program.

KBI: 2 suspects in custody after stabbing in Goodland

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

SHERMAN COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Goodland Police Department are investigating a stabbing incident in Goodland.

According to a media release from the KBI, just after 1:30a.m. Saturday, the Goodland Police were notified of a stabbing incident at 1502 Caldwell Avenue in Goodland.

Upon arrival, they discovered Joseph Bradley, age 26, had received multiple stab wounds. His injuries are serious and he remains in critical condition.

Two individuals associated with this incident were arrested. David Jones, age 37, was arrested and booked into the Sherman County Jail on aggravated battery charges. Joseph Killips, age 37, was arrested and booked into the Sherman County Jail on battery charges.

Farm Bill regional meeting offered in Goodland

Posted on August 24, 2019August 20, 2019

GOODLAND – K-State Research & Extension and K-State’s Department of Agricultural Economics are hosting the 2018 Farm Bill Regional Meeting at Goodland’s Elks Lodge at 1523 Arcade Avenue on August 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon Mountain Daylight Time.

The 2018 Farm Bill was passed in December of 2018. Though it has much in common with the previous Farm Bill, there are some significant differences.

To hear exactly what you need to know about the new Farm Bill, come learn in-depth information about the new provisions of the programs, discuss economic considerations when making the ARC/PLC decision, demonstrate some tools to help you make that decision, and hear about changes to crop insurance.

Speakers will include K-State Research and Extension Agricultural Economics specialists Dr. Mykel Taylor, Dr. Monte Vandeveer, Robin Reid, M.S., and Dr. Dan O’Brien.

This meeting is open to the public and there is no cost for admission. Online registration is required by going to northwest.ksu.edu or https://bit.ly/2MTDsTi.

For more information about the school, please call Jeanne Falk Jones at 785-890-488.

-SUBMITTED –

Kansas chiropractor acquitted of 2 sex-crimes against patients

Posted on August 24, 2019August 24, 2019

EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — A jury has acquitted a former Emporia chiropractor on two of three charges alleging sex crimes against patients.

Eric Hawkins was found not guilty Friday of aggravated sexual battery and rape charges stemming from separate incidents.

Hawkins was accused of rape against a then-16-year-old girl in 2015 and aggravated sexual battery against a then-22-year-old woman last year.

Defense attorney Christopher Joseph said Hawkins was sloppy and should have better explained his procedures to the women but he didn’t molest them. He said no one doubts that the patients believed their versions of what happened but the jury found there was reasonable doubt.

Jury selection for another sexual battery charge is scheduled for next week. Hawkins is accused of inappropriately touching a 32-year-old female in March 2015.