DOUGLAS COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 10p.m Wednesday in Douglas County.
A pickup driven by Silvestre Guebara, 52, Wichita, was northbound in the 1200 Block of Iowa Street in Lawrence, according Police Sgt. Amy Rhoads. The pickup exited the road at Stratford, struck a tree and rolled.
Guebara was pronounced dead a the scene.
At this time, it appears as though no other vehicles were involved in the accident. Police released no additional information early Thursday.
#25/22 Fort Hays State (0-1, 0-1 MIAA) vs
Missouri Western (0-1, 0-1 MIAA)
Thursday, Sept. 12 – 7 pm
Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field Stadium
Game Sponsor: Eagle
Game Theme: Blackout (Wear black to the game)
Free Pregame Concert: Country artist Seth Cook (5-6:15 pm on the east lawn outside of Lewis Field Stadium)
Game Sponsor Promotion: Eagle is giving away 500 TGOF shirts starting at 5:30 PM on the northwest side of Lewis Field. Look for the “We love FHSU” flag.
Fort Hays State Football will play its first home game of the 2019 season on Thursday night (Sept. 12) when it takes on Missouri Western. Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Lewis Field Stadium. The No. 25/22 ranked Tigers seek their first win of the season after falling in the season opener at Central Missouri last week.
The Tigers look to avenge a loss to the Griffons last year. Missouri Western defeated FHSU by a score of 23-13 in St. Joseph when FHSU was No. 5 in the AFCA Top 25 Poll. Prior to that, FHSU had won two in a row against the Griffons. This will be the first meeting between the teams in Hays since the 2016 season, when the Tigers won 35-27. FHSU won the 2017 installment of the series, winning 38-10 in St. Joseph. This is the third straight meeting between the teams in which the Tigers have held a top-25 national ranking.
Fort Hays State has been tough at home the last two seasons, going 12-0 in MIAA play during that span at Lewis Field Stadium. The only blemish at home since the beginning of the 2017 season was a playoff loss to Ferris State (Mich.). FHSU has claimed its last four home openers.
Fort Hays State held a 30-21 fourth-quarter lead over Central Missouri in the season opener, but UCM rallied for a pair of touchdowns in the final six minutes of the game to upend the then No. 11/8 ranked Tigers. Chance Fuller threw for a career-high 333 yards in the game, while Harley Hazlett (184), Charles Tigner (120), and Layne Bieberle (104) all produced over 100 all-purpose yards in the game.
The Tigers held the Mules to 34 total yards in the first quarter, but the Mule offense found its footing after halftime. The Mules produced 329 of their 516 yards in the game in the second half. The 516 yards allowed was well above the average of 326.1 the Tigers surrendered per game in 2018. However, it was the second straight year the Tigers surrendered more than 500 to the Mules.
The Tiger defense will look to bounce back after its second-half struggles last week. Tanner Hoekman and Drew Harvey tied for a team-high eight tackles each last week. FHSU held Missouri Western to 302 total yards last year despite the loss.
Coleen Rita Nuss, 70, passed away September 11, 2019, at Wheat State Manor, Whitewater. She was born July 26, 1949, at Great Bend, to Eilt and Reita (Yarmer) Miller. Coleen married Larry Nuss December 18, 1971, at Albert. He died November 22, 2010.
Coleen, a lifetime Barton and Rush County resident and a 1967 graduate of Otis Rural High School, was a member of Peace Lutheran Church, rural Albert, and enjoyed woodworking, skilled in producing anything from crafts to fine furniture. Most of all, she loved and adored her grand and great grandchildren. Coleen was a 20 year employee of Sunflower Diversified Services, retiring in 2017, managing day workers, shop workers and serving as a direct contact for in-home clients.
Survivors include one daughter, Tonya Ross and husband Mike of Whitewater; foster daughter, Beverly Witt and husband Nicholas of Calumet, Okla.; one brother, Stephen Miller and wife Julie of West Des Moines, Iowa; one sister, Shelly DeWald of Otis; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and canine companion, Destiny.
Coleen was preceded in passing by her parents; husband, Larry; brother-in-law, Paul Menzer; and beloved pet dog, Jessie.
Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 14, 2019, at Peace Lutheran Church, rural Albert, with Pastor Wayne Baldyga and Pastor Tonya Andrews presiding. Interment will follow at Peace Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from Noon to 9:00 p.m., Friday, September 13, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Memorials have been designated to the Coleen Nuss Memorial Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
GIRARD, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old southeast Kansas man who was a school bus monitor has admitted to sexually abusing an elementary school student.
Jacob Quentin Bryant, of Arma, pleaded guilty Tuesday to rape and aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
Investigators determined that Bryant abused a Northeast Elementary School student on a school bus in November 2018.
Bryant faces up to 19 year in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 31.
Crawford County Attorney Michael Gayoso said his office worked with the victim’s family on the plea deal and noted it will avoid requiring the child to testify at trial.
Bradley Lane Funk, 47, of St. George, Kansas, passed away Monday, September 9, 2019.
Bradley was born February 8, 1972 in San Antonio, Texas. He was the son of Larry Dean and Carolyn L. (Wilson) Funk. His dad was in the Air Force while he was growing up and they lived in Big Spring, Texas; Salina, Kansas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Edwards Air Force Base, California; Hampton, Virginia; Las Vegas, Nevada; Oslo, Norway; and finally ending up during his high school years in Manhattan, Kansas. He graduated from Manhattan High School and then he attended the Air Force Academy. He returned to Kansas State University where he obtained a Masters Degree in Accounting.
Bradley worked for the Sink, Gilmore & Gordan Accounting Firm for over five years before he started his own business. He was the owner and operator of the Funk & Associates Accounting. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Manhattan. In college, he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity. He also was a member of the Board of Accountancy in the State of Kansas. He enjoyed playing golf and soccer, and fishing and hunting. His greatest love in life was his children.
Bradley’s surviving family include his three children; Emmalee Funk Raleigh, North Carolina, Abbygale Funk of Lexington, Kentucky, and Garrison Funk of Great Barrington, Massachusetts; parents, Larry and Carolyn Funk of St. George, Kansas; sister, Lora Collins (Shane) of Chelsea, Alabama; and three nieces, Katherine Collins, Michaela Collins and Christie Collins; and several Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.
Funeral Services for Bradley will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, September 16, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. No visitation is planned at this time. A Memorial has been established with 1st United Methodist Church of Manhattan. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays Middle School is out of room, Principal Tom Albers told the Hays school board during a tour Monday night.
HMS enrollment is at 686 students, the largest being the sixth-grade class of 248.
The gradually increasing enrollment has meant an already cramped lunch room is faced with even bigger challenges, the school is out of classroom space, has teachers on carts and class sizes are getting even larger.
“Every sixth-grade class is big,” Albers said. “We are talking 24 to 30 kids and some even bigger. We’re tight.”
Albers said he would love to have more electives for the students, but if the district added staff, he said more teachers are need for core courses to reduce class sizes. HMS is offering half-year English classes for seventh- and eight-graders, and they would like to make those full-year classes.
However, if HMS added staff, there is the question of where they would put the teachers. On carts, move in trailers? The options are limited.
The last renovations to the HMS were finished in 2014, which included HMS’ tornado shelter.
“People ask, ‘You put these new buildings in. How can you be short? How can you not have room?’ ” Albers said. “One of the reasons is our need for special education.”
Special education is taking up three rooms at HMS now, when at one time it took up just one. More paras and aides are required, the number of students in the program has increased and newer teaching methods require more space. One of the rooms that is being used as a special-ed classroom used to be the teachers’ lounge.
Albers is in his second year in his position at the middle school. He said several times during the tour he knew there were space issues at HMS, but until he actually saw it, he didn’t really understand how much HMS was doing in its existing spaces.
One of these areas is the cafeteria, which was not designed to handle as many students as it does today.
The cafeteria gets very noisy because of the number of students crammed into such a small space. HMS serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Students have 20-minute lunch periods, but really don’t have that long to eat once they get through the line, are seated, and must clean up and line up.
“It’s definitely complicated. It is like ant farm — kids everywhere,” said Shauna Zweifel, HMS assistant principal.
Albers said, “It does work, but it doesn’t work well.”
HMS is also serving 150 to 200 students breakfast.
One plan school officials have considered is expanding the lunchroom into an old boiler room adjacent to the existing cafeteria. It is currently being used for storage.
Although the gym is nice and is in good repair, it also has to hold a lot of kids.
With two physical education classes and a weights class going on in the upper deck simultaneously, there can be 110 students in the gym per class period.
Albers described three different teachers using intercoms and bullhorns to direct students all at they same time.
“You had this going on. You had this going on. You had that going on. I was like this is crazy. It was crazy that we would put this many kids in the gym at one time, but it is the only option we have,” Albers said.
The HMS track is in disrepair. Albers pointed out a large crack in the asphalt that has been repaired with a tar patch and is a tripping hazard. HMS can’t host meets at the school because of the condition of the track. HMS had 177 kids out last year for track.
The school has changed its drop-off procedures with the installation of a new secure entrance at the front of the school. During school hours, visitors buzz into the school and enter through the office. Students are required to enter in the morning through the west doors and check in through the gym.
Albers said the west door drop-off gives the school better control of the students’ movement through in the morning.
The school is working on plans to improve traffic control in the parking lot during drop off. Within the next month, the school plans to convert the parking lot to one-way traffic. Facilities also plans to paint a white area in the parking lot that will be a designated student drop-off zone.
HMS is still working with insurance to complete repairs to the west side of the school that was damaged during a wind and hail storm in August.
Q: What do you call a baby monkey?
A: A Chimp off the old block.
Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Hays residents will likely see their fees go up for refuse and recycling collection by the city, starting with a 14% hike next month.
The city commission will vote Thursday on the recommendation made by city staff in July for a series of hikes in solid waste fees.
They would begin with 14% in October 2019. Then, smaller increases are recommended starting in January 2021 with 5.5%, a 3% increase beginning January 2022, and a 2% increase in 2023 and in 2024.
The monthly collection fees of $15.20 have been in place since 2006 and the city needs to catch up with inflation, says Toby Dougherty, city manager.
“The last couple years we’ve been eating into our end of year balance a little bit to where now we’re going negative,” Dougherty explained, “and we’re not putting money into reserves.
“We’re going to reach a point where a piece of equipment fails and we don’t have the money to pay for it.”
Expenses within the Solid Waste Division have slowly increased in the past 12 years due to fuel increases, higher hauling and sorting fees for recyclables, salaries, and higher tipping fees at the Ellis County landfill.
According to information supplied by Jesse Rohr, Hays public works director, recent discussion with the Ellis County Commission resulted in a $3 decrease in tipping fees charged to the city starting Sept. 1. That has lowered the rate from $75 to $72 a ton based on the volume the city hauls to the transfer station. The price will remain in effect through 2020, at which time a $1 increase will take place. Hays is the largest customer of the Ellis County landfill.
Also on the Sept. 12 agenda is an update about the services provided by First Call for Help by Linda Mills, executive director.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Your hands are sweaty. Your heart is pounding. You feel like you can’t breathe. All your senses seem like they are on overload. Everything is too bright, too loud and even your clothes feel like sandpaper on your skin.
You may think you are having a heart attack, but these are also symptoms of an anxiety attack. One in five Americans will suffer an anxiety attack in their lives. Some might only have one instance and never experience an attack again. However, about 3 percent of Americans suffer from reoccurring anxiety attacks, which is also known as panic disorder. The broader category of anxiety disorders affects 18 percent of U.S. adults and may coexist with other mental illnesses.
Mental Health First Aid, which is course regularly offered by High Plains Mental Health, offers people steps to aid a person in a mental health crisis, including an anxiety attack or an anxiety disorder.
“We all get anxious about some things,” Amy Bird, MHFA trainer, said. “Anxiety serves a purpose. It makes us do things. If I’m not anxious about getting my documentation done, then I would just sit back and whatever happens. But if I know my supervisor is watching that list, I better do that. Sometimes it can become overwhelming and inhibits us …”
Bird gave the example of hearing a loud bang. We might jump, our heart might start to pound. A person may step in say, “Sorry, I was moving a file cabinet and I dropped it,” but it can take up to an hour for us to return to normal after an extreme state of anxiety.
Panic attacks occur when our bodies release fight or flight chemicals. These physical responses are needed if we are running for our lives or fighting off a bear, but are no so helpful if you are sitting talking with a friend over lunch.
In addition to the scenario listed above, other symptoms of an anxiety attack can include:
Anxiety and anxiety disorders can be very physical.
“How many kids are going to come to you on the first day of school and say, ‘I’m anxious’?” Bird said. “They are going to say ‘I have a stomach ache or a headache,’ and they probably do.”
The median age for the onset of panic disorder is 24, but the median onset for specific phobias is 7 and the median age for all anxiety disorders is 11.
An anxiety attack can mimic symptoms of a heart attack or other serious medical emergency. If a person presents with symptoms, and you are uncertain they are having an anxiety attack, it is best to call 911. Some people may wear a medic alert bracelet indicating panic disorder, so look for that.
Anxiety attacks do not necessary have a precipitating event, but can come “out of the blue.”
The course offers the acronym ALGEE to help first aiders remember the steps in aiding in a mental health crisis.
If you believe the person is having an anxiety attack, try to be calm and reassuring. Ask the person if they know what is happening and if you can help. Speak slowly and clearly and in short sentences. Because of the person’s state, they may be slow in answering or not be able to answer at all.
“Even if they know that is what it is, with all that adrenaline going through your body that is making all those physical things happen, it makes you scared because that is what tells you flight, fight or freeze,” Bird said.
Try to be patient with the person and acknowledge their fear. An anxiety attack is not life threatening, but it may seem like it to the person having one. Try, ‘I can see how scared you are.’ Reassure the person that he or she is safe and the symptoms will pass.
“When you are panicked you can’t make a decision,” Bird said. “There are lots and lots of thoughts going through your head. ‘I’m dying. I can’t breathe. All these people are watching me. What is going to happen? I don’t know what to do.’ Sometimes the best way to help is say, ‘I’m going to tell you what to do.’ ”
Ask the person what you can do to help. Byrd noted some people feel more threatened when people try to surround them or touch them during an anxiety attack. Others may feel comforted if you hold their hand.
Although anxiety attacks usually peak within 10 minutes, it could take up to an hour for someone who has had an anxiety attack to come back to feeling normal. Reminding a person the attack should peak in 10 minutes might not be helpful. The person might not have a good concept of time or could become obsessive over the duration of the attack.
Avoid expressing your own negative response to the anxiety attack. Saying things like “Calm down” or “Get over it” are not helpful. Also don’t have the person breathe into a paper bag. This is a myth.
Bird suggested first aiders have the person having the attack look at you. Breathe in for three counts and exhale for three counts.
Anxiety disorders also includes phobias, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), general anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and agoraphobia. Anyone can suffer from an anxiety disorder, but there are some risk factors, which include:
Some anxiety attacks or flashbacks in the case of PTSD have triggers. Just because something might be benign to you, it may cause great distress to a person who has PTSD or a phobia. People who have PTSD can be triggered by a sound or a smell. Veterans may be triggered by loud sounds or fireworks.
The most common phobias are spiders, bugs, mice, snakes and heights. The most common causes of PTSD include war, accidents, assaults or witnessing a significant event, which can include a mass shooting, terrorist attacks or severe weather events, such as a hurricanes, tsunamis or tornadoes.
If a person has persistent issues with anxiety or anxiety attacks that are affecting their daily lives or functioning in their job, you can suggest the person seek professional help. If a person who has experienced a traumatic event still can’t stop thinking about the event, is upset and fearful, feeling jumpy, and has suffering relationships four or more weeks after the event, professional help is advised.
Talk therapy and/or medication may be used.
High Plains also has a 24-hour crisis line that can be reached at 1-800-432-0333.
The local National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) support group meets on the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Hadley Center. For more information, contact Ann Leiker, coordinator at 785-259-6859 or email her at [email protected].
By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development
“Kansas: The Mushroom State.” No, mushrooms have not surpassed wheat or sunflowers as a leading product in Kansas. In fact, today we’ll meet the only certified and inspected mushroom grower in the state. He and his family are growing and marketing mushrooms and honey as healthy, tasty foods. Thanks to Doug and Linda Beech for this story idea.
Mike and Amy Jensen are the owners of Jensen Farms and Professor’s Classic Sandwich Shop & More in Hays. Mike grew up on a farm northwest of Hays near the site of Yocemento. Amy grew up at Hays, came to K-State on a golf scholarship, and finished her degree at Fort Hays State. They met and married.
When he was a kid, Mike enjoyed hunting for morel mushrooms. Then he started growing mushrooms himself. His family also had a large garden but it needed pollination so they wanted bees. Mike and Amy met a farmer at Osborne who had a bunch of equipment for raising bees, and he gave it to them. They started raising bees along with the mushrooms, and it changed their perspective about healthy food.
In 2003, they bought the Professor’s restaurant in Hays and leased it for others to operate. Professor’s had been a long-time fixture in downtown Hays. As their honey production increased, the Jensens needed a storefront to serve as a retail outlet.
By 2017, Professor’s restaurant had closed so the Jensens reopened it as Professor’s Classic Sandwich Shop & More. They also got a permit to raise mushrooms in the basement below.
To produce mushrooms, they hand-pack long plastic sleeves with pasteurized straw and cottonseed hulls. Then they add mushroom spawn, seal the sleeves, and hang them straight down. “In three weeks, we’ll have mushrooms,” Mike said. A 10-pound sleeve will produce ten pounds of mushrooms, four times in a season.
Contrary to what some may think, these mushrooms are not grown in compost or manure. Mushrooms are so unusual that, when the Kansas Department of Agriculture food inspector came for an inspection, Mike had to walk him through the process.
The Jensens specialize in oyster mushrooms, but they also produce shiitake and lion’s mane mushrooms. For these, the growing process is slightly different. Shiitakes are grown on blocks which the Jensens create from wood pellets, water and flour. The blocks are sterilized before spawn is added and they are sealed for a subsequent harvest.
“Our mushrooms are medicinal as well as gourmet,” Mike said. Some believe these mushrooms have anti-cancer properties and can help with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
“Mushrooms can clean up the environment,” Amy said. They can absorb oil, for example.
The Jensens utilize their mushrooms and honey in their restaurant dishes as well as marketing the product directly. A diner can get a meal or buy raw honey and dried mushrooms or both.
The restaurant menu includes a mushroom taco burger and mushroom stir fry, for example. Each sandwich comes with a homemade honey cookie. Made-from-scratch honey lemonade is one of the drink offerings. There are no fried foods or sodas. “We use as much farm-to-table food as we can get,” Amy said. “We want people to know where their food comes from.”
The Jensens maintain 50 to 75 beehives each year. They live on the family farm northwest of Hays, near what was the community of Yocemento. Yocemento is now just a rural crossroads with only about five residents. Now, that’s rural.
The Jensens’ two kids were active in 4-H, and the family still manages the 4-H food stand during fair week. The family is environmentally sensitive, having recently decided to phase out Styrofoam packaging. “We want to be part of the solution,” Amy said.
For more information, look for Professor’s restaurant on Facebook.
Kansas: The Mushroom State. No, wheat or sunflowers are unlikely to be displaced by mushrooms in the state motto, but the Jensens are using mushrooms and honey to promote healthy eating. We commend Mike and Amy Jensen of Jensen Farms for making a difference with innovation in their products. I hope the positive results will mushroom.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities continue the investigation of Tuesday’s office involved shooting and have another suspect in jail.
After his release from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, police booked 30-year-old Zachary Ausdemore for aggravated robbery and an outstanding warrant out of Nebraska, according to officer Kevin Wheeler.
He was identified as the passenger in a stolen white Jeep Wrangler where the driver attempted to run over a WPD officer at the McDonald’s located in the 2200 block of N. Amidon.
After the vehicle wrecked, Ausdemore then fled on foot and robbed an elderly couple of their Honda CR-V in the 2400 block of W. Stauffer.
He led officers on a lengthy vehicle pursuit, which ended in the area of 167th Street West and K-42.
Ausdemore was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting.
Just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to the area of W. 21st Street North and N. Amidon to check for a stolen vehicle, according to officer Paul Cruz.
The owner of a 1999 white Jeep SAW called 911 to report the location of the vehicle. The owner, along with a family member, followed the vehicle to the McDonald’s located in the 2200 block of North Amidon.
Officers arrived while the vehicle was at the drive-thru window and attempted to take the three occupants into custody.
The driver then accelerated and attempted to run over an officer. The officer fired his handgun multiple times at the vehicle. The suspect vehicle drove around the building and rear-ended a white Buick Century that was occupied by a 72-year-old woman driver. She was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for minor injuries, according to Cruz.
The suspect vehicle continued north on Amidon and into a residential area where it crashed into a tree in the 3000 block of N. Halstead. At that location, police took a 30-year-old woman passenger later identified as Daphne Hays into custody while the other suspects ran.
One of the man, a 30-year-old, ran to the 2400 block of W. Stauffer where he threatened an elderly couple and demanded the keys to their green Honda CR-V. The suspect left in their vehicle. The vehicle was located by Sheriff’s Deputies at I-235 and 25th, according to Cruz.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended at 167th and K-42. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and was found to have an injury to his arm.
A 27-year-old suspect, who fled on foot at the initial crash scene on N. Halstead, was later located by officers near 29th and Meridian. The suspect was found to have a gunshot wound to his leg and was hospitalized for observation.
The two male suspects remained hospitalized Wednesday afternoon. Hays is in custody on requested charges of interference with law enforcement and a fugitive from justice, according to the Sedgwick County booking report.
The officer involved in the shooting has been with the department for almost 2-years, according to Cruz. He has been placed administrative leave per protocol.
Authorities have not released names of the two other suspects.
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Smith, R-Weskan, is a member of the Kansas House of Representatives and serves District 120. He was elected to office on Nov. 8, 2016.
“We’re honored to have Rep. Smith on campus,” said Library Director Tara Schroer. “It gives students a chance to visit with a legislator in a small setting, which is rare in this part of the state.”
Constitution Day is recognized each year on or about Sept. 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia. Federal depository libraries across the nation celebrate the day with special events.
Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Schroer at (785) 460-5487.
