A Wise Teacher
A wise schoolteacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of
school:
“If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at
school, I promise not to believe everything he or she says happens at home.”
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The Dane G. Hansen Foundation announces a new quarterly magazine to debut this month.
Northwest Kansas Today will be published by the Foundation and distributed to all residents of its 26-county service area. The magazine will feature area businesses, arts, lifestyle, communities and people.
The mission of the Foundation is to provide opportunities for the people of Northwest Kansas to enjoy the highest possible quality of life. In addition to the grants and strategic initiatives the Foundation provides, the Hansen Trustees believe that the publication, highlighting the many positive attributes of the region, will contribute to the sense of pride for our communities. It also can be used by residents and businesses to recruit new people to Northwest Kansas. Readers are encouraged to share their copy with friends and family who do not live in the area. A digital version will also be available on the Foundation’s website at www.danehansenfoundation.org.
Northwest Kansas Today, which is designed to share stories for and about this area’s people and communities, will be distributed at no cost to all verified post office addresses in the Foundation’s service area. In order to efficiently provide the magazine to all residents, the Foundation is not able to remove an address from the mailing list. Anyone receiving the magazine who does not wish to read it is encouraged to share it with someone who might. Because the mailing goes through several post offices, the magazine will not hit every mailbox on the same date, but residents should look for it to arrive in late August or early September.
Story ideas or other feedback can be sent to the Foundation at: [email protected].
The magazine will not include advertisements.
Former Speaker of the U.S. House Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” He was referring specifically to congressional races, where responding to local issues from a national perspective – farm subsidy payments, Social Security checks, small business loans, etc. – was crucial to winning re-election. O’Neill’s aphorism still applies, but only to an extent, as House districts trend more blue or red over time.
Indeed, today most politics is national, not local; we can decry partisanship and polarization, but they are facts of contemporary political life. Sometimes, however, the price of partisanship is simply too high. This is one of those times.
Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate, as well as those in the Kansas Legislature, must come to terms with their unblinking support for President Donald Trump, whose excesses place him outside the mainstream of American politics. To be sure, he retains a 42 or 43 percent job approval rating and a hard core of supporters, but many of them question his fitness, capabilities, and policy preferences. For example, across several polls, more than 40 percent of Republicans think that immigrants strengthen the country.
If Republican legislators simply address their own partisan constituents’ preferences, it’s reasonable that they continue to back President Trump. But that type of representation – the all-politics-is-local kind implies that legislators are simply delegates who do what their voters wish reflects only one way to view representation. An equally significant perspective views legislators as “trustees,” who, once elected, use their own best judgment as they approach political issues.
In reality, lawmakers are both delegates and trustees, but this latter role needs to be taken seriously, especially with Trump. In short, Kansas’s national legislators, along with their state counterparts, must address contentions that Donald Trump is unfit for the position he holds and subsequently voice their concerns, even if on balance they support him.
At the national level, only Sen. Jerry Moran has expressed – sporadically – any serious concerns over Trump’s pronouncements and policies. Immigrant children separated from their parents? Nothing. Allowing Putin to interfere with our elections? Nada. Posting a grossly insensitive photo with a grin and a “thumbs up,” while Melania holds the orphaned child of two parents who died protecting him? Zip.
The list goes on, even when Kansas farmers are the target of unthinking tariff policies. Rep. Roger Marshall from the Big First congressional district reported an April conversation with the president as to the farm economy. He expressed his concerns, and the president responded. “Thanks to the farmers who are being patriots for getting us through this.” Subsequently, the impact on Kansas famers has only worsened but with little acknowledgment and no actions from Marshall or fellow representatives Estes and Watkins.
Even Pat Roberts, the chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, while complaining about the impact of tariffs, has done virtually nothing within the Republican-controlled Senate.
With Trump’s net approval rating currently standing at +5 percent in Kansas, legislators-as-delegates could argue that they are reflecting their constituents’ wishes. Still, representation is far more than that. Legislators must use their intelligence, experience, and proximity to power in assessing the overall fitness of a president to govern. And they have been silent, as the president cozies up to dictators and mass murderers, continually labels immigration an “invasion” and cannot provide even the appearance of empathy to a nation distraught over mass shootings.
Legislators, speak out.
Burdett Loomis is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Kansas.
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A former Catholic bishop is facing multiple allegations of sexual abuse of boys during his career, including 25 years in Wyoming.
At least three Wyoming men say former Bishop Joseph Hart abused them while he worked in the Diocese of Cheyenne.
A spokesman for the Kansas City diocese says it settled lawsuits in 10 other cases involving Hart over the years.
Four people have leveled abuse claims against Hart in the past year.
Hart has consistently denied allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct, while his attorney has not responded to repeated messages seeking comment.
Hart was among 11 people named in a June report by the Diocese of Cheyenne about sexual abuse between 1957 and 2003.
Hart led the diocese from 1976 until 2001.
The Hays Police Department responded to 9 animal calls and conducted 6 traffic stops Tue., Aug. 13, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Drug Offenses–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 2:20 AM; 2:30 AM
Animal At Large–200 block E 12th St, Hays; 7:34 AM
Dead Animal Call–8th and Vine St, Hays; 7:51 AM
Animal At Large–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 8:50 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 16th St, Hays; 11:03 AM
Civil Dispute–500 block E 6th St, Hays; 12:15 PM
Suspicious Activity–2700 block Hall St, Hays; 12:25 PM
Animal Injured–300 block W 43rd St, Hays; 1:47 PM
Custody Dispute–1300 block Steven Dr, Hays; 2:12 PM; 3:29 PM
Drug Offenses–100 block Ash St, Hays; 4:03 PM; 4:07 PM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–1800 block Milner St, Hays; 4:40 PM; 4:48 PM
Suicidal Subject–1500 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 4:50 PM
Disturbance – General–200 block W 12th St, Hays; 5:27 PM
Welfare Check–1000 block Elm St, Hays; 5:46 PM
Theft (general)–1200 block Main St, Hays; 4 PM
Suspicious Person–200 block E 32nd St, Hays; 6:35 PM
Drug Offenses–600 block Commerce Pkwy, Hays; 7:14 PM
Storm Damage–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 9:51 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 11:49 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 14 animal calls and conducted 8 traffic stops Wed, Aug. 14, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Abandoned Vehicle–1900 block Lincoln Dr, Hays; 12:20 AM
Drug Offenses–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 3:06 AM
Dead Animal Call–27th and Hickory, Hays; 8:03 AM
Animal At Large–1300 block E 33rd St, Hays; 08/14/2019 08:08:29 AM
Found/Lost Property–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 9:07 AM; 9:32 AM
Animal At Large–1700 block Vine St, Hays; 10:53 AM
Suspicious Activity–17th and Ash, Hays; 11:24 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2900 block Indian Trl, Hays; 11:33 AM
Theft (general)–1600 block Main St, Hays; 8/13 10:40 AM; 10:44 AM
Burglary/vehicle–1700 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 12:28 PM
Welfare Check–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 12:44 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–500 block W 20th St, Hays; 1:31 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 2:12 PM
Welfare Check–6th and Pine, Hays; 2:37 PM
Arson–400 block E 8th St, Hays; 3:21 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 7/17 1:30 PM; 3:13 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 7/17 10:45 PM; 11:58 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 7/11 2 PM; 2:58 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–300 block W 11th St, Hays; 4:11 PM
Disturbance – General–1300 block E 33rd St, Hays; 5:46 PM
Drug Offenses–400 block E 8th St, Hays; 6:45 PM
Animal Call–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 7:33 PM
Burglary/vehicle–200 block Ash St, Hays; 7:38 PM
Criminal Trespass–2900 block Vine St, Hays; 7:15 PM; 7:48 AM
Theft (general)–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 4/1 12 AM; 8/14 7:40 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–2200 block General Custer Dr, Hays; 8:23 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 10:24 PM
Disturbance – Noise–2200 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:30 PM
Domestic Disturbance–1600 block E 27th St, Hays; 10 PM; 10:37 PM
Burglary/vehicle–400 block W 3rd St, Hays; 8/13 10 PM; 8/14 10 AM
Suspicious Activity–1600 block W 29th St, Hays; 10:50 PM; 10:55 PM
The Kansas Department of Transportation has started work on a surface recycle and chip seal project on a portion of K-9 in Norton County.
The project area covers 13 miles beginning at the east U.S. 283 junction and extending east to the Phillips County line. In addition to the K-9 project, crews will also complete a chip seal on K-173 near Densmore. Traffic will be reduced to one lane through the construction zones and directed by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours. Minor delays not exceeding 15 minutes should be anticipated. Work is expected to be complete by the end of September, weather permitting.
Dustrol Inc. is the primary contractor for the project with a total contract cost of approximately $1 million.
WABAUNSEE COUNTY— Thursday’s summer storm brought heavy rain, hail strong winds and a couple of tornadoes.
The tornadoes were reported in rural western Wabaunsee County and near Lake Wabaunsee. A funnel cloud was also north of the interstate, in Riley County and it came into Geary County, stayed aloft and moved on farther to the south toward the Wabaunsee County community of Eskridge, according to Geary County Emergence Management Director Garry Berges.
There are no reports of damage or injury in Wabaunsee County, according to the sheriff’s office. Minor street flooding was reported in Riley County and some areas lost electricity but no damage or injuries, according to the Riley County Police Department. Other than some tree limbs down, there was no damage reported in Pottawatomie County, according to the sheriff’s department.
The storm produced 1.5 inch diameter hail in Leonardville and at one point dime sized hail in Manhattan.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Fifteen-year-old Sheena Zeng of Hays recently achieved a new accolade in a long list of awards for the chess prodigy — her National Master title with the U.S. Chess Federation.
Zeng is only the fourth Kansas native to earn the title and the first female Kansas native to earn the honor — a title that Zeng will hold for life.
She earned the honor after being invited to the Denker Tournament of High School Champions from Aug. 3 to 6 in Orlando, Fla., a tournament she was originally not slated to play.
Zeng had plateaued in her rankings and said she was struggling with her chess during the first six months of this year. Her coach since she was 10 died suddenly in February. Her mother, Michelle, said Zeng had spent hours via Skype training with chess Grand Master Predrag Trajkovic of Serbia. The two worked on Zeng’s chess two or three times a week and then daily closer to tournaments.
She was scheduled to play in a series of tournaments this summer, so Sheena said she really buckled down and concentrated on memorizing her openings (the first 10 to 20 moves of the game, which most chess masters memorize).
“I stopped playing with fear,” she said. “I was playing really passively.”
Zeng played in the Washington International Tournament where she tied for second and earned a $900 prize. She attended an invitation-only chess camp in New York, and she also played in the World Open and the Manhattan Open.
She placed fourth in her state tournament, which meant that she did not qualify for the Denker tournament. However, the first-place state qualifier was unable to attend the tournament at the last minute and the second- and third-place finishers declined the invitation.
Zeng had planned to play in an open tournament that was being conducted in conjunction with the Denker Tournament, so she and her family already had tickets and hotel reservations in Orlando, so Zeng was able to accept the invitation to play.
Zeng went undefeated in the tournament, wining two and drawing four games, one of which was to the highest ranking player in the field. She was awarded the Ursula Foster Award, given to top finisher younger than 16.
She attributed her success to her former mentor, Trajkovic. Her mother said Trajkovic had always dreamed of Sheena achieving her National Master title, but he sadly didn’t live to see his prodigy earn that honor. Sheena, a tough young women, did not cry when she spoke of her coach, but her eyes told that she was still grieving her mentor.
Zeng has tried to encourage younger players. She started a chess club at her former elementary school — O’Loughlin.
“I hope I am a good role model, but I don’t think anyone has taken up chess professionally because of my influence, although I hope that would happen some day. I feel there is a lot for me still to accomplish to become a better role model. I will try to work hard for that,” she said.
Zeng is not just exceptional as a chess player. She is also a budding scholar in the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science at Fort Hays State University.
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays teen earns national chess title, set to start college program at 14
KAMS generally admits students who are entering their junior years of high school. During their two-year residence at FHSU, KAMS students earn their high school diplomas and up to 68 hours of college credit. Having completed her sophomore year at Thomas More Prep-Marian, Zeng was admitted to KAMS last fall at age 14.
She is enjoying the more challenging classes, but said it was a bit shocking to go from high school to college. She said she really struggled with time management but is hoping to be on a better track this semester.
Zeng is at least a half decade younger than most of the other students in her classes, but she said most of the students don’t know her age. They think she’s just another college student.
She has contemplated several career paths, including becoming a doctor or biochemist. However, after a semester studying chemistry, Zeng said she is now leaning toward a degree in mathematics. She plans on doing a research project in mathematics this coming school year at KAMS.
“I wouldn’t say that I like math that much, but it is something that I am kind of OK at, so I am hoping the research will go well,” she said.
Her parents Hong Biao and Michelle Zeng, who both teach math at FHSU, suggested math would give her more time to concentrate on her chess.
Sheena still has lofty goals for herself in chess with hopes of eventually becoming a Women’s Grand Master or an International Master.
However, she wants other girls who might be interested in chess or math to know she is not locked in her room studying all of the time.
She schedules her classes early, so she can spend time reading and enjoying time with her friends.
And even though she is required to live on campus as part of the KAMS program, she often walks home to visit her parents who live just off campus. She’s still pretty dependent on Mom and Dad.
Sheena said she is very grateful to her parents for giving her the opportunity to pursue her chess.
“It is definitely a big privilege for me,” she said of her parents help with her chess.
Zeng plans to take a gap year after she finishes the KAMS program in the spring. She said she just didn’t feel she was mature enough to head off to college on her own. During her gap year, she plans to continue to work toward her chess goals.
KDHE
TOPEKA – The Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Lee Norman, MD, MHS, MBA, has been selected to serve on the Defense Health Board.
“Secretary Norman will be an integral addition to this board,” said Gov. Laura Kelly. “As a public health advocate and honored service member, he will represent Kansas and Public Health brilliantly.”
The Defense Board is a federal advisory committee that provides independent advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Defense about healthcare policy and research as well as injury and disease prevention and treatment. It is the mission of the Board to help the U.S. Defense Secretary maximize the health, safety and effectiveness of the U.S. Armed forces service members.
“I am very honored to be asked to serve in this capacity,” Secretary Norman said. “I have spent most of my career working in public health and this appointment is an honor.”
In addition to his role with KDHE, Norman is a lieutenant colonel in the Kansas Army National Guard and the State Surgeon of Kansas. He has served as a U.S. Air Force senior medical officer, flight surgeon and combat medicine instructor. Norman was appointed as KDHE Secretary by Gov.Kelly on January 7 and unanimously confirmed by the Kansas legislature on March 14, 2019.
WELLINGTON, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of a woman who was his son’s mother.
Bradley Aue had been charged with second-degree murder in the May 2018 death of 26-year-old Sierra Craft-McGee in Wellington.
A Sumner County jury on Wednesday found Aue guilty of the lesser charge.
Prosecutors allege Aue hit Craft-McGee several times and pushed her into a window, severing an artery and causing cuts throughout her body. He also didn’t obtain timely medical attention for the victim.
Emergency responders were unable to revive Craft-McGee, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A former Lawrence police officer has been sentenced to 12 months of probation for threatening another driver with a gun on a suburban Kansas City highway in a case of road rage.
Jeffrey Brian Holtzman, 35, faces up to five months in prison if he violates the terms of the probation under the sentence imposed Thursday in Johnson County District Court.
He initially was charged with aggravated assault but pleaded guilty in June to a reduced charge of criminal threat. The victim told police that he was driving on Interstate 435 near Interstate 35 in October 2018 when Holtzman pulled alongside him and pointed a handgun at him. It wasn’t clear what prompted the incident.
Holtzman resigned from the Lawrence Police Department the following month.
