Saturday’s Purple Light Nights in Hays, sponsored by Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, is all about the support and strength of survivors.
Shaelin Sweet, community advocate, said the annual event is in observance of October’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“It’s about awareness but it’s also about the support the Hays community shows to our survivors,” Sweet said. “Support can mean the difference between life and death for the people we work with.”
The family-friendly event is free and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive. It includes a petting zoo, children’s games, free chili, cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate, and a survivor luminary ceremony. Participants will be able to decorate and personalize their luminary in honor or memory of someone who has been abused.
Options supports the entire family.
“When domestic violence happens, when sexual assault happens, the entire family is impacted even if they were not the direct victim,” says Jennifer Hecker, executive director. “Many times, those voices are left out and we want to be able to bring those voices forward and show our support for the whole family.”
A similar event will be held Oct. 3 at Options’ new satellite office in Colby.
The non-profit agency serves 18 counties in northwest Kansas and provides free confidential services.
Help is available by calling the Options 24-hour hotline at 1-800-794-4624, or by submitting a request online on the Options Facebook page or website www.help4abuse.org.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas conservatives are trying to overturn a state Supreme Court decision that protects abortion rights and threatens years’ worth of Republican-enacted restrictions, guaranteeing an election-year fight over amending the state constitution.
Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle
A legislative study committee opened two days of hearings Tuesday on a ruling in April by the state’s highest court that access to abortion is a fundamental right under the Kansas Constitution. The Republican-led committee is expected to urge the full, GOP-controlled Legislature to put a proposed constitutional change on the ballot next year for voters to consider.
Anti-abortion groups and legislators said Tuesday that they’re still drafting their proposal. Mary Kay Culp, executive director of Kansans for Life, said the measure wouldn’t seek to ban abortion outright but would declare that the Legislature determines how it is regulated.
If the effort succeeds, Kansas would be among a handful of states in which voters have added provisions to their state constitutions to declare that they don’t grant a right to an abortion. Alabama and West Virginia approved theirs last year, and Louisiana voters are considering a ballot question next year.
“We’re really stuck here,” Culp told the committee. “There is no other way to do it.”
Abortion rights opponents didn’t push for action before lawmakers adjourned their annual session in May, saying they wanted to confer with lawyers throughout the country and build political support.
The Legislature has long had anti-abortion majorities, but abortion opponents were a bit spooked in early May, when anti-abortion lawmakers narrowly failed to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill that would have required providers to tell patients about a disputed treatment to stop a medication-induced abortion after it has been started.
Overriding a veto requires the same two-thirds majorities in both chambers that are required to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot for a statewide vote.
And in Iowa, another Republican-leaning state where the highest court issued an abortion-rights ruling in 2018, lawmakers have failed to move forward with a constitutional change, and one couldn’t go before voters there until 2022.
“Those politicians who are very opposed to abortion, for whom this is their No. 1 issue, realize that this isn’t an easy task anymore,” said Rachel Sweet, a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “It’s going to be tricky for them to get the votes that they need.”
The Kansas court decision came as other states moved to ban most abortions in direct challenges to the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. In Kansas, the April decision means that even if Roe were overturned, state courts could reject new restrictions or invalidate those enacted under Kelly’s conservative Republican predecessors.
The Kansas Supreme Court declared that the state constitution’s Bill of Rights grants a “natural right of personal autonomy” protecting a woman’s right to end her pregnancy. Critics see that as an overreach because most abortions were illegal in Kansas Territory when the state constitution was adopted in 1859.
Two justices in the 6-1 majority have announced their retirements, and Kelly, an abortion rights supporter, will name their replacements in the coming months, with no oversight from lawmakers. Abortion foes also are pushing a proposed constitutional change to require state Senate confirmation of Supreme Court justices, hoping that the court eventually would move to the right.
“Then, we are inserting politics into the judicial decision-making process, and that’s a very bad idea,” said state Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat who supports abortion rights.
The Kansas court’s abortion decision blocked enforcement of a first-in-the-nation ban on a common second-trimester procedure. Special health and safety regulators for abortion providers have been tied up in state court since 2011.
Abortion opponents worry that even long-standing laws, such as one requiring a parent’s consent for a minor’s abortion, could be in jeopardy if the decision isn’t overturned.
“Personally, it’s my top priority,” Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a conservative Wichita Republican, said in an interview. “And I have a lot of colleagues who agree that this is most important.”
Hays High received word Taylor Weidenhaft has been named a Commended Student in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program.
Taylor is among 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who took the 2018 PSAT.Although Commended Students will not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, they typically have an advantage in other scholarship competitions.
Taylor is the daughter of Brandon and Julie Weidenhaft.Taylor has taken numerous honors courses and advanced placement courses throughout her high school career.Taylor has been active in 4-H for 11 years. During high school, Taylor has been involved in show horses throughout Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.Taylor has been on Student Council all four years.She has participated in Red Cross Club for two years, and National Honor Society for two years.She has participated in Math Relays all four years, and Science Olympiad her senior year.Taylor played soccer for the Indians all four years of high school, and basketball and volleyball her freshman year.She has also been involved with Encounter youth group while in high school.
“In a nation that values excellence, it is important to publicly recognize the hard work and achievements of scholastically talented young people and their families and schools that nurture their development.We hope this recognition will serve to encourage all students to strive to realize their potential.Congratulations, Taylor!” said USD 489 in a news release.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges after an arrest near a day care facility.
Zinn photo Shwenee Co.
On Monday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office and the Rossville Police Department assisted Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on a narcotic search warrant in the 3500 Block of SE California Avenue, according to Sgt. Todd Stallbaumer.
DEA agents arrested Dwayne A. Zinn, 57, of Topeka, and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for Possession of Narcotics with Intent to Distribute. They seized approximately 5 oz of methamphetamine, with a street value of around $5000.
With a daycare facility nearby, neighbors spoke with Law Enforcement and expressed their appreciation of the drug enforcement efforts in reference this ongoing investigation.
The Kansas Small Business Development Center will host the Rural and Independent Innovators Conference at Fort Hays State University from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, in the Robbins Center on the university campus.
The conference is to help product and technology innovators who want to know how and when to advance their ideas and provide business connections to grow and evolve.
Registration for the event is $15 and includes lunch. Click HERE to register.
EMPORIA, Kan. – Ten days after defeating Emporia State inside Gross Memorial Coliseum, the Fort Hays State volleyball team bested the Hornets on their home court Tuesday (Oct. 1), 3-1 (25-22, 17-25, 26-24, 25-22). The Tigers move to 6-7 overall and 3-2 in MIAA play with the win, while ESU dips to 4-9 on the year and 0-5 in league action.
The Tigers used a 9-2 run in the heart of the opening set to open up an 18-12 lead before the Hornets battled back to tie things up. Isabelle Reynolds broke up the Hornet rally with a kill before Morgan Christiansen tacked on another point for the Tigers. After ESU closed within 22-21, freshmen Christiansen and Delaney Humm tallied consecutive kills to give the Tigers a chance at set point. The Hornets fought off the first point before a setting error gave FHSU the 25-22 victory.
The teams traded points early in the second set before the Hornets extended a 17-8 lead thanks to an 8-1 run. Fort Hays State clawed back within four, 19-15, before ESU scored on six of the final eight rallies to level the match, 1-1.
After Emporia State slowly built a 17-13 lead in the third set, the Tigers responded by scoring six of the next eight points to level the frame at 19-19. The home team went on another run, stretching out a 23-20 lead before Fort Hays State scored four-straight to reach set point. The Hornets tied things up at 24 momentarily, but kills from Christiansen and Kylie Brown propelled the Tigers to a 26-24 win.
Emporia State once again started strong in the fourth set, scoring the first four points before leading by as many as six, 13-7. But a Hornet service error triggered a big run for the Tigers, who scored 13 of the next 14 points to build a commanding 20-14 lead. Two ESU errors and three kills from Delaney Humm helped the Tigers close within one before Humm and Tatum Bartels combined for a block to tie the set at 14-14.
Bartels gave FHSU its first lead of the frame with a kill before Katie Darnell was credited with a service ace on a rotation error. Morgan West joined the party with a kill to stretch the lead to 17-14 before Humm tacked on two more kills. Emporia State managed to close within one later in the set, 23-22, before back-to-back kills from Reynolds and Humm ended the match.
Emporia State outhit the Tigers on the day, .191-.170. Both sides were busy at the net on defense, with the Hornets totaling eight blocks and FHSU recording seven.
Humm led the Tigers with 17 kills on 48 swings (17-9-48) while adding 15 digs for her seventh double-double of the year. Reynolds and Christiansen added 11 kills each, with Christiansen leading the team with four blocks (one solo). Katie Darnell tossed up 38 assists, adding 13 digs and two service aces. Libero Abbie Hayes paced the Tigers with 16 digs.
The win gives the Tigers a winning conference record for the first time since the end of the 2016 season.
The Tigers will continue their road trip over the weekend when they head to Missouri for a pair of conference matches. First up is a Friday night meeting with 10th-ranked Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
YODER — Fifty-one new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on Sept. 20. Sheriff Randy Henderson, of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.
The new officers were members of the 257th basic training class at the center. Located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, the center is a division of University of Kansas Professional & Continuing Education.
The graduates, who began their training June 10, represented 39 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.
Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.
Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, the center trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.
About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. The center offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year.
Northwest Kansas graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by agency.
HILLSBORO, Kan. – The TMP-Marian volleyball team ran their win streak to 16 matches Tuesday with a three set win in Hillsboro. The Monarchs dropped the first set 15-25 then won 28-26 and 25-17.
EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State Women’s Golf finished in a tie for 12th place at the UCO Classic in Edmond, Okla. (Sept. 30-Oct. 1). The Tigers sat in sixth after shooting 321 in the first round, but slipped to 12th after a 344 in the second round. The tournament took place at The Golf Club of Edmond, a par-71 layout.
Kira Mestl held the lead through 18 holes of the tournament, shooting a 73 (+2) on day one. It turned out to be the fifth-lowest round of the tournament after champion Susana Olivares of Central Oklahoma shot 68 on day two and three others shot 72. Unfortunately, Mestl slipped into a tie for 26th with an 86 on day two.
Taylor DeBoer improved three strokes on day two and finished at 161 strokes, carding rounds of 82 and 79. She tied for 35th two strokes back of Mestl. Kate Peterka had rounds of 82 and 85, tying for 55th. Madison Roether shot rounds of 84 and 94, tying for 78th. Riley Hunter also competed for FHSU, shooting rounds of 91 and 101.
Central Oklahoma rallied from two strokes down after day one to win its home tournament by seven strokes over Arkansas Tech. The Bronchos were the only team to shoot sub-300, posting a 295 on day two. Arkansas Tech remained consistent with 304 each day. Fort Hays State tied Arkansas-Monticello for 12th.
The Tigers close out the fall portion of their schedule next week at the Midwest Classic in Warrensburg, Mo. (Oct. 7-8), hosted by Central Missouri.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.
Fatal crash scene photo courtesy KWCH
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 GMC Suburban driven by Bruce Lee Strawder, 61, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 235 in the right lane when he lost control of vehicle. The SUV struck the guardrail and overturned.
Strawder was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Sedgwick County Coroners Office. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
By BECKY KISER
A similar event will be held Oct. 3 at Options’ new satellite office in Colby.
