Beginning Friday, May 17, 2019, traffic control on 43rd Street west of Vine Street in Hays will change to allow further reconstruction of 43rd Street.
Traffic will be moved onto the new pavement along the north side of 43rd Street to allow for the reconstruction of the south side of 43rd Street. The intersection of 43rd and Roth Avenue (east entrance to Walmart) will remain closed. The west entrance will remain open to northbound (entering traffic) only. Traffic leaving the Walmart parking lot must still go north via 45th Street.
This construction is expected to be complete in three weeks pending weather conditions.
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. Motorists should use caution in these areas.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, Vogts-Parga Construction, at 316-217-1961.
Brady Stephenson, left, a 2019 graduate of the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science at Fort Hays State University, visits with KAMS Assistant Director Will Burns prior to Saturday’s graduation ceremony.
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Brady Stephenson didn’t have a lot of extra time to spend with his family Saturday afternoon.
A quick lunch at a local restaurant was sandwiched between his late-morning graduation from the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science and a mid-afternoon final in his statistics class at Fort Hays State University.
Such is the life of a dedicated 18-year-old who will begin his junior year at FHSU in the fall.
Stephenson was one of 42 students honored at Saturday’s ninth annual completion ceremony. It was the largest graduating class to date for KAMS, a premier early college residential program for juniors and seniors on the Fort Hays State campus.
Students in KAMS finish their high school requirements while living on the FHSU campus and earning nearly 70 hours of college credit. They receive a certificate of completion from KAMS, a diploma from their home high school and can choose any four-year institution at which to continue their education.
Stephenson was so impressed with what he experienced the past two years at FHSU that he decided to return this fall to continue working on a degree in finance.
That wasn’t near as tough a decision as he had made a few years earlier when he was weighing the options of finishing high school where he grew up or stepping out of his comfort zone and enrolling in KAMS. That would mean being away from his parents and three younger siblings druing the school year.
Stephenson also was entrenched in school activities at Little River. He was a three-sport athlete, and he was elected for – and served as – student body president his sophomore year.
“I decided that in the end, academics were going to get me farther than sports,” Stephenson said, “and with independence, you learn a lot of responsibility.”
Leaving behind his red and white athletic uniforms from Little River didn’t keep Stephenson from participating in sports, though.
He played intramural flag football, basketball and softball at FHSU and plans to do the same next year. He also is a member of several organizations on campus: Finance Club, Tiger Pals and Catholic Disciples, and he was elected president of the Economics Club.
“For me, coming in I had that mindset to go to Harvard or Yale,” he said. “Once I got here, I now understand the quality of the education you can get right here at Fort Hays State.”
In KAMS, Stephenson got a head start on some educational opportunities outside of the classroom. He was involved with numerous research projects and gave several presentations at conferences the past two years.
Stephenson just completed an internship with Grow Hays, a nonprofit economic development organization.
Grow Hays interviewed three FHSU students who had applied for the internship funded partially by a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
“We felt Brady was the best fit for what we had in mind,” said Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays, who complimented FHSU on the opportunities it offers students to learn out of the classroom.
Stephenson was exposed to a variety of business ventures, including marketing, social media, video-taping and editing. He even cut some commercials.
“He was willing to do anything we asked him to do,” Williams said. “He’s mature beyond his years, and we hope to possibly to have him back with us in the fall. He offers a lot of value to us.”
The internship was just as valuable for Stephenson as he was exposed to the business environment.
“It was a great place to better my time management skills and to make connections,” he said. “It really helped build on my communication skills.”
Stephenson will graduate with his class of 26 seniors at Little River High School this weekend. He will be able to give his former classmates some advice about their first year in college.
“This has been great,” he said. “Besides all the other obvious opportunities, KAMS has been like a cushion, getting to figure things out and organizations you want to join.”
This fall, when most students his age will be feeling their way and learning the ins and outs of college life, Stephenson will be an FHSU upperclassman.
First up, though, is an internship this summer – at another nonprofit organization, Soul Bloom Lending, in Salina.
Stephenson said he is looking forward to the next two years at Fort Hays State, where he plans to live in the Dane G. Hansen Scholarship Hall, built in 2016 for entrepreneurially minded students. He was accepted into the Honors College, an opportunity for high achieving students, and has received several scholarships that will help pay for the rest of his undergraduate instruction.
Stephenson is unsure of his plans after graduation but thinks his experiences on and off campus will help guide him in making that decision.
“It was instilled in me at a young age that it doesn’t matter whatever you end up doing, as long as you are helping other people,” Stephenson said.
“I can see Brady doing any number of things in finance,” Williams said. “He’s got the intelligence to go to Wall Street if he wanted, but I think he likes rural America. And his social skills will serve him well in whatever he does.”
Hays City Clerk Brenda Kitchen congratulates City Commissioner Eber Phelps after he is sworn into office May 16.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
“It’s déjà vu all over again.” That was the welcome from City Commissioner Ron Mellick to new City Commissioner Eber Phelps Thursday night.
Phelps was sworn into office by City Clerk Brenda Kitchen prior to the work session.
He was unanimously appointed during last week’s meeting to fill the unexpired term of James Meier who resigned May 2 to take a job in Wichita. The seat is up for re-election in November.
“I’m glad we have your experience back here,” Mellick told Phelps. “We have budget coming up and a lot of decisions and I’m sure your input will be very well taken.”
Phelps joked that “first thing when I walked in” the door of city hall he was handed a copy of the 2020 budget.
Phelps has previously served twice as a Hays city commissioner. The first time was from 1990 to 1996 and then again from 2012 to 2016, when he was selected to fill a vacated seat.
Last November, Phelps was defeated in his bid for re-election to the Kansas 111th District House of Representatives by Hays resident Barb Wasinger. He had served 18 years in the state legislature.
Baron Green and four other graduating seniors were asked to speak to the same set of questions about their college careers. The transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for form and concision.
Baron Green, Oberlin, a 2014 graduate of Decatur Community High School in Oberlin, is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting (public).
Who was Baron Green when he first came to Fort Hays State? What was he like?
I would say, throughout my five years here, I have not changed a whole heck of a lot, although what I know about myself has changed quite a bit. I was a pretty shy individual when I came here. Rather shy, quiet, although I’ve always been kind of a hard charger. I apply myself pretty hard, pretty fast. And I got involved really quickly in a lot of things, which has kind of stuck with me.
But, just being shy, I’ve always been very committed to my academics, very committed to my extracurriculars, things of that nature. And I try to have a long term vision for myself always, so I know at least who I’m working to become or what I’m working toward in life. Although, when I came here, I was a little unsure of what I wanted to be or do. I started as a criminal justice major and then two, two and a half years in, I kind of made the switch to accounting. So, kind of an indication that I maybe didn’t have my sights right on the mark to begin with but of course, you live and you learn and you adjust the scope as necessary.
Who is Baron now? What changed?
I came to Fort Hays and really wanted to experience new things. When I first came here, early on, was involved in a whole slew of things, a lot of unrelated things, everything from choir to defensive tactics, martial arts, academic organizations, honor societies, everything.
I realized fairly early on that I just don’t have the time – there’s only 24 hours in a day – and I didn’t always have time for all these things. I had to take a step back and figure out what are the things that I value. What are the things that are bringing value to me? What am I bringing in terms of value to the people around me? And so I reduced my involvement but tried to commit a little bit more wholehearted to those few things that I stuck with.
I really came to appreciate the little things in life and have an appreciation that I’m only one guy, I’m only human, and I only have one life here. So I’ve learned to place a lot of importance lately on the human interactions. Being at Fort Hays, I’m incredibly blessed to be surrounded by people that are better than me.
Who and what helped him become the person he is now?
I would say it’s kind of a “who changed me and through what.” My freshman and sophomore years, I was probably simultaneously involved in five to six organizations at a time. I got a lot out of those, of course, I enjoyed my time with those. And then I joined Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity here on campus, and that’s kind of how I grew close to Dr. Cole Engel and Dr. Anthony Gabel. Those two have been very, very influential in my progression through college.
But, Alpha Kappa Psi has also kind of been where I’ve found a lot of my really close friendships and things like that. I attribute a great deal of who I am now to Cole and Tony and the other individuals in Alpha Kappa Psi. They challenge themselves and they challenge me.
What else would you like to say?
Being a shy person, I kind of did my own thing – did my studies, went to my organizations, made my part, and that was my cycle. And now I’ve come to realize there’s a whole host of people in my life that have helped me get to where I am. To help the next person in line has really become a very important thing to me.
I want to be the best version of me that I can, and so I continually try to make myself better. But at the same time I feel like a very important part of life is to bring people along with you. If I’m getting better, if I’m pushing towards better things, I like to know that I’m helping someone else do the same.
SHAWNEE COUNTy — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Topeka.
Police were investigating the fatal shooting at this residence in Topeka. Photo courtesy WIBW TV
Just after 6p.m. Thursday, police responded to 3900 block of SW Atwood Terrace on a report of a shooting, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.
Upon arrival, police located two individuals inside the residence. One individual was deceased and the other one was transported to a local hospital with life threating injuries.
Detectives and other officers were still on the scene and all parties involved are accounted for, according to Munoz.
Police have not reported an arrest and released no additional details early Friday.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration is canceling two no-bid contracts valued at more than $110 million that were negotiated by Kansas Revenue Department officials from previous administrations.
The 10-year contracts with CGI Technologies were awarded to overhaul and outsource its information technology systems.
The state has paid $28 million to CGI under the agreements reached while Republicans Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer were governor.
Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart said CGI didn’t adequately perform its contractual obligations.
Kelly said the no-bid contract process produced agreements that weren’t in the state’s best interests. She said the bidding process ensures contracts are transparent.
The governor sent a letter terminating the contacts Thursday but her administration had been reviewing IT operations in the revenue department since taking office in January.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Windy, with a south wind 13 to 18 mph increasing to 23 to 28 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
Severe storms will be possible along a dry line late this afternoon. Large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes are possible. #kswxpic.twitter.com/NebXewSnjM
Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Windy, with a south wind 24 to 29 mph becoming west southwest 14 to 19 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.
SaturdayIsolated showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West northwest wind 7 to 13 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday NightScattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. East northeast wind 10 to 14 mph becoming north northwest in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
SundayScattered showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. North northwest wind 10 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
SHERMAN COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Thursday in Sherman County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Cobalt driven by Brittany Kaup, 32, Hays, was eastbound on Interstate 70 one mile west of Goodland.
The vehicle veered off the road to the north. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle traveled into the south ditch and rolled.
Kaup and a passenger KellyGlass, 22, Chickasha, OK., were transported to the hospital in Goodland. Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
WASHINGTON —In 1942, while he was a student at the University of Kansas, Senator Dole registered for the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps. He was called to active duty the following year and served in World War II. While deployed as an infantry lieutenant, he was severely wounded in combat and was twice cited for acts of heroism under fire. He finished his military service with two Purple Hearts and two awards of the Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor.
He was also awarded the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
I became a “full bird colonel” today at the WWII Memorial. A special thanks to the U.S. Army. God bless our men and women in uniform. pic.twitter.com/STicedutPs
In March, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to promote the former U.S. Senator Bob Dole to the grade of colonel in the U.S. Army.
On Thursday, several members of the Kansas congressional delegation joined former Kansas Senator at the WWII memorial to celebrate his honorary promotion to Colonel.
It was a beautiful day for @SenatorDole’s honorary military promotion ceremony – he’s only the third person to receive this honorary promotion in history. Congratulations, Senator! pic.twitter.com/ruIPWG9Fvx
VALLEY CENTER, Kan.-Not every story can conclude with a happy ending. Not every story ends with a smile. That was the case Thursday night for the Hays High Lady Indians as they fell to Valley Center in the 5A Regional Soccer Championship by a score of 2-1 in three overtimes.
SILAS HIBBS INTERVIEW
You could tell from the outset that this championship game was going to be a battle as both teams made early runs but came up empty in the first half. Valley Center would notch the first goal of the night early in the second half when a mad scramble ensued in front of the Hays’ goal and found it’s way in for a score and a 1-0 Lady Hornet lead in the 43rd minute. You wondered if that was going to be all or would Hays High be able to mount a charge.
Mount a charge they did. In the 69th minute Allison Shubert was fouled in the box and was awarded a penalty kick. The sophomore calmly approached the ball and sailed it past the Valley Center goalie for the equalizer. The two teams would remain scoreless the remainder of regulation and the match would go to overtime.
It would be the eighth overtime match on the season for Hays and the third for Valley Center. Both teams would have opportunities in the first two overtimes but could not score. The story quickly changed in the third extra period as the Lady Indians were called for a handball in the box a little over a minute in and the Lady Hornets were able to convert the subsequent penalty kick and win the match 2-1.
Hays finishes their fine season with a record of 11-2-5. It will be the final time on the pitch for Hays High seniors Hannah McGuire, Kallie Leiker, Savannah Schneider, and Cori Isbell. This group of seniors have left quite a legacy for Hays High soccer.
As I finish this story, I finish it with tears in my eyes as my daughter Hannah has competed for the final time for Hays High. It has been a true pleasure to watch her and her teammates battle. It has been a joy to get to know the family and friends of all of the players over the years. I cannot thank the coaches and administration enough for the investment of their time and talents to better my daughter as well as the countless other players that have graced the pitch for the Lady Indians. I look forward to watching this new team compete next year. In the meantime, God-speed and I love you Hannah.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An autopsy report says a motorist who was fatally shot by a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in November was under the influence of methamphetamine.
Logan from an earlier arrest in Shawnee County. He had previous conviction for robbery, drugs and forgery, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections
Shawnee County District Coroner Ransom Ellis said the autopsy found methamphetamine, amphetamine and marijuana in the system of 35-year-old Jarmane Logan to Topeka. He died of a single gunshot wound.
Investigators say the trooper and a Topeka police officer were being dragged through the snow by Logan’s vehicle when he was shot. Logan was trying to drive away with two women the officers were trying to take into custody.
Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay said in January that the shooting was justified. The trooper’s name hasn’t been made public.
Robyn Hartman, information and digital literacy librarian at Fort Hays State University’s Forsyth Library, has been accepted to attend the Librarians Active Learning Institute for the 2019 summer session.
Held at Dartmouth College, the institute provides librarians an opportunity to devote their attention to exploring evidence-based practices that advance student learning.
“I’m excited to be part of the Institute,” said Hartman. “My focus is on information and digital literacy. Incorporating active learning pedagogy into our teaching practices at Forsyth Library will help our students engage more deeply in this lifelong learning process.”
Hartman wrote several short essays related to her teaching experience, goals and collaborations with faculty as part of her application.
Hartman has a background in speech and theatre education and worked for the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence before arriving at Forsyth Library four years ago. She is the library liaison for the College of Education and teaches as an adjunct instructor for the Master of Liberal Studies.
“I am looking forward to sharing the best practices and techniques I learn at LALI and collaborating with faculty across campus to integrate information literacy active learning into their curriculum,” said Hartman.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on requested drug charges after a Thursday morning traffic stop.
Branstetter photo Saline Co.
Just before 2a.m., deputies pulled over a Chevy Tracker for an expired 60-day tag on Interstate 35 just south of Salina, according to Sheriff’s Captain Jim Hughes.
During a conversation with the driver identified as Sarah Bransteter, 23, Wichita, the deputy discovered that she had a suspended drivers license.
Sheriff’s Office K-9 Officer Maggie was called in and detected the odor of narcotics, according to Hughes. A search of the vehicle revealed a half gram of cocaine, 10 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
Deputies arrested Branstetter on requested charges that include, Possession of cocaine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving while suspended, License tag violation and No proof of insurance.
