LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run incident that injured a police officer.
photos courtesy Bonner Springs PD
Just before 3p.m. Tuesday, a Bonner Springs Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black sport bike (2008 or newer Honda CBR1000rr, red/black wheels and accents, stickers on side of bearing) for a traffic violation, according to a media release.
The motorcycle took a turn too fast and drove down into an embankment. The officer exited his patrol vehicle in an attempt to contact the driver and the driver drove directly at the officer and intentionally struck the officer causing injury to the officer.
The white male driver then fled northbound onto Kansas 7 Highway into Leavenworth County and pursuing officers lost sight.
If you can identify this motorcycle or driver, please contact Detective Haney [email protected]
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Hunter Dozier drove in three runs, top prospect Nicky Lopez had an RBI single in his big league debut, and the Kansas City Royals routed the Texas Rangers 11-5 on Tuesday night.
Alex Gordon and Jorge Soler also drove in two runs apiece for the Royals, who scored nine times in the first two innings while quickly knocking Rangers starter Shelby Miller from the game.
Danny Duffy (2-1) was only marginally better for Kansas City, using 107 pitches just to survive five innings. He allowed four runs, seven hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Miller (1-3) was pulled with two outs in the second. The veteran right-hander allowed eight runs and seven hits with two walks in another ugly performance in his return from Tommy John surgery.
Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus left with tightness in his right hamstring after grounding out to end the seventh inning. He will be evaluated again Wednesday in another blow to a team that has lost five straight to fall a season-worst five games below .500.
The Royals pounced on Miller right from the start, sending seven to the plate in the first inning and jumping out to a 3-0 lead. But they cracked the game open in the second, when they sent 11 batters to the plate and drove in six runs against Miller and Rangers reliever Wei-Chieh Huang.
The stunning offensive outburst came after Kansas City managed six singles and no extra-base hits in a loss to the Phillies on Sunday. And it came after the arrival of second baseman Nicky Lopez, one of their top prospects, who got the start at second base and hit second in the lineup.
He walked in the third before his first career hit, a two-out single in the seventh inning.
Joey Gallo had a pair of RBIs for the Rangers, who tried to climb back into the game with a four-run third. But they stranded runners in four consecutive innings, repeatedly failing to get the crucial hit they needed to avoid a 1-6 start to their nine-game, 10-day road trip.
NICKY’S NUMBER
The Royals originally made up No. 19 jerseys for Lopez, but he asked to wear No. 1 because it was the number his father wore in softball. New jerseys were made and arrived before first pitch.
ROSTER MOVES
The Royals made roster space for Lopez by sending right-hander Jake Newberry to Triple-A Omaha and designating first baseman Frank Schwindel for assignment. The Royals are hopeful Schwindel clears waivers and they can keep him in their organization.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers left-hander Cole Ragans, their first-round pick in the 2016 draft, will need a second Tommy John surgery after tearing his ulnar collateral ligament. The 21-year-old Ragans was close to pitching in a game for the first time since his last surgery when he began feeling discomfort about a week ago.
“It’s obviously concerning,” said Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, adding that surgery will be Wednesday. “This is the first Tommy John surgery we’ve had that’s failed.”
UP NEXT
The Royals hope Jorge Lopez (0-4, 6.07 ERA) can get on track Wednesday night after a blowout loss to the Astros. He goes against former Royals pitcher Mike Minor, who is 3-3 with a 2.68 ERA for Texas.
Hays entered the post season as the #2 seed for the west half of 5A at 19-1. The record and seeding allowed for the Indians to host a regional tournament at Hays High School. The only loss for Hays on the season came against Great Bend. Unfortunately the second loss of the season to Great Bend will also keep Hays out of the 5A state tournament.
Game 1
A bases loaded home run by freshman Dylan Dreiling lifted the tension of a first inning deficit for Hays High on their way to a regional tournament semi-final win. Newton plated three in the top half of the first inning on a hit batter, two singles and an Indian error. Willie Sennett was hit in the head by a pitch, Palmer Hutchison was plunked and Trey Riggs singled to load the bases with one out. Dreiling saw just one pitch with two outs in the inning. He deposited that pitch over the right center fence for his fourth home run of the season.
Highlights
The lead allowed starting pitcher, Hutchison, to settle in. He and the defense allowed just two more Newton base runners the remainder of the game.
Dominic Bainter provided an RBI in the third and fourth inning. Prior to Bainter’s fourth inning hit that scored Dylan Dreiling for the final 9-3 difference, Trey Riggs belted a three run home run for an 8-3 advantage.
Coach Frank Leo
Palmer Hutchison went all seven innings allowing four hits, walking two, hitting a batter and striking out seven. Newton’s Ben Schmidt took the loss as the Railers end the year at 2-19. The victory for Hays High moves the Indians to 20-1.
Game 2
Wichita Northwest jumped out to a quick 2-0 in the first inning before Great Bend plated four in the second inning and never trailed again. The Panthers pushed their advantage as high as 7-2 after the top of the sixth inning and led 7-3 after six which was the final score. Colin Hall threw just 85 pitches in a complete game victory for Great Bend.
Championship Game
Great Bend scored a pair of runs in the top of the first on a two run double and held that lead through three innings against Hays in the Regional Championship Game. Hays was quiet offensively through the first three innings. Cody Petersen got to second base on a two base error, Palmer Hutchison was hit by a pitch, then both advanced on a wild pitch. Two pitches later Trey Riggs scorched a single up the left field line to tie the game at two.
Highlights
Hays threatened to score in the fifth with two on and one out but was turned away. Great Bend took advantage of an error in the sixth bring around a run for a 3-2 lead. Hays went in order in the sixth and seventh innings around three runs in the top of the seventh for Great Bend. The Panthers advance to the 5A State Tournament with a 6-2 victory and will enter the tournament at 10-10. Hays ends the year 20-2 with both losses to Great Bend.
Coach Frank Leo
Trey Riggs takes the loss six and a third innings. Cody Petersen pitched two thirds of an inning in relief. Townsend Kurth threw just 61 pitches in a seven inning victory. He hit one batter, did not walk any and allowed just three hits while striking out one.
The loss also marks the final game in the 39 years of Frank Leo’s career. He leaves the program after 576 victories.
Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.Spring has sprung and with it comes blessings or banes, depending on perspective. Warm weather and longer days deliver bright yellow blossoms topping tan/pinkish stalks that rise from a crown of sharply indented leaves. In fact, those serrated leaves led to the plant’s common name dandelion, an adaptation of the descriptive French term dent de lion, which means lion’s tooth. This Eurasian native was familiar to ancient Chinese, Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians long before it made itself useful in Europe. Once on that continent, early residents recognized its nutritional and medicinal value and transported it to the Americas when they ventured far from home. One source declared it arrived on the Mayflower with the pilgrims.
Until recent history, humans welcomed the sharp-tasting leaves and bright blooms that popped through the earth when snow melted. Folks craving fresh greens ate them in salads or blanched them as vegetables. Tea and wine makers turned blossoms into refreshing drinks, while creative harvesters dried and ground roots into a satisfying coffee substitute. Every part of this plant is edible, so it’s understandable why early immigrants tucked dandelion seeds into their cargo.
Not only do the leaves of this herb deliver a dietary wallop full of A, C, and K vitamins, it also serves a bounty of minerals, including calcium, potassium, manganese, and iron. A nature-loving friend enjoys a daily smoothie made with tender dandelion shoots. She swears it keeps her healthy. Her story makes me think about people who’d gone months without eating fresh veggies and how their bodies would’ve craved helpings of scurvy-fighting nutrients. I suspect those first leaves peeping through the soil didn’t make it to the bud stage. Once the blooms formed, hungry settlers harvested them as well and enjoyed their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
In addition to dandelions’ food value, healers used the plants to treat infections, detoxify the liver and kidneys, and serve as a diuretic. This last use, for obvious reasons, led to nicknames such as “piss-a-bed, pisacan, and wet-a-bed.”
Humans weren’t the only creatures who anticipated this early spring growth. The blooms provide one of the first nectars available to pollinators. Watch bees and butterflies flock to a yard dappled with bright yellow blooms. As a result, many modern mountain towns encourage residents to resist spraying and encourage dandelions to thrive. This aids local bees early in the season.
Despite the benefits, few contemporary humans actually eat dandelions, and those who cultivate lovely green lawns resent the ease with which theses plants invade and spread. What some might consider blessings, others see as an assault on their landscaping efforts and slave diligently to prevent their growth. My mom is a cardholding member of this category and teases me when I reference the “first bee food of the year” while protesting her attacks on these free-spirited plants. When my husband offers to save dandelion seeds to send to her, she firmly declines.
Despite our differences of opinion, we’ve discovered we appreciate one another’s yards and look forward to getting home to our own.
Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.
Gerald and Leona started their married life on a farm near Jennings, Kansas. Gerald spent most of his life managing grain elevators in Selden and Republic, Kansas. He was a 50+ year member of Knights of Columbus, a member of the American Legion and Lion’s Club. He served on the Golden Plains School Board for sixteen years.
He was very proud of his WWII service, but was most proud of his family. His favorite activities were watching his grandchildren play basketball, soccer, tennis, dance and act in plays.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Leona, of the home in Newton, Kansas; his five children and spouses, Sherry Watts (Harry) of Manhattan, Kansas, Geralyn Parker (Lauren) of Goodland, Kansas, Joseph Rogers (Stephanie) of Davison, Michigan, Scott Rogers (Julie) of Larned, Kansas, and Tami Carlgren (Randy) of Newton, Kansas; 12 grandchildren and spouses, Anthony Parker (Amy), Father Nicholas Parker, Jillian Korte (Drew), Stuart Watts, Diana Watts, Conrad Rogers (Michelle), Jennifer Rogers, Hunter Rogers (Shazia), Melanie Morrison (Cameronn), Meredith Peterson (Johnathan), Joshua Carlgren (Kenzie) and Hannah Carlgren; and three great-grandchildren, Cole Parker, Scarlett Korte, and Cameronn Morrison.
He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Rogers and mother, Myrtle Warner; and great-grandchild, Camri Morrison.
A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Thursday, May 16, 2019, 10:30 A.M. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Selden, Kansas with his Grandson, Father Nicholas Parker presiding. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2019 from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with a Rosary and Vigil Service being held at 7:00 P.M, and family will receive friends from 5:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. all at the Pauls Funeral Home in Selden, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newton, Kansas. Online condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
Gerald was a faithful member of the Catholic Church, a proud Grandfather, loving father and devoted husband. He will be greatly missed by his wife and family.
HAYS, Kan.-Head Coach Silas Hibbs wanted his Hays High girls soccer team to score some goals in the opening round of the 5A State Soccer Tournament and score they did in a 3-0 win over Salina Central. It took the Lady Indians a while to get on the board in the first half. The freshman combination of Kamree Leiker and Caroline Robben provided the first goal for Hays as Leiker chased a ball down the right side of the field and found Robben who punched it in to give the Lady Indians the 1-0 lead in the 36th minute. That would be the only score of the first half and proved to be the game winner.
Robben would strike again in the 67th minute for a 2-0 advantage for the Lady Indians. Kallie Leiker would add the final goal of the night off an assist from Robben for the eventual 3-0 tally. Hays High showed their depth as they controlled the ball throughout the match and really wore Salina Central out down the stretch.
The Lady Indians improve to 11-1-5 on the season and will travel to Valley Center on Thursday to face the Hornets who were 2-0 winners over Wichita Northwest on Tuesday. Game time in Valley Center is set for 6pm.
The Hoisington Cardinals scored seven runs in the second inning on their way to a 9-3 win over the TMP-Marian Monarchs in the 3A regional semifinals Tuesday in Hays.
Melissa Schoepf postgame interview
TMP took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning after MK Dwyer lead off the game with a single and after a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt Dwyer scored on a passed ball giving the Monarchs the lead.
With the Monarchs still leading 1-0 the Cardinals erupted for seven runs in the top of the second inning on five hits and a pair of errors to take a 7-1 lead, it was a lead they would never surrender.
TMP did score a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a Dwyer RBI double and a Kyleigh Allen RBI triple but it wasn’t enough in the 9-3 loss.
Cardinal starter Kassidy Nixon allowed all three runs, just two earned on eight hits in a complete Victoria. She struck out 11 and walked just two.
TMP starter Kyleigh Allen suffered the loss. She allowed nine runs, eight earned, on 11 hits while striking out three and walking one in six innings.
Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU presidentFHSU University Relations
The Kansas Legislature has approved a budget that provides $50.8 million for the Kansas Board of Regents for the budget year that begins July 1.
Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason released a statement today to express her gratitude to the Legislature and to the Regents. FHSU’s share totals $2,059,951.
“I am very grateful that Kansas legislators have shown their support for higher education in the budget they just approved for the next fiscal year,” said President Mason.
“Access to a quality college education is critical in meeting the requirements of the Kansas workforce and economy, and it is gratifying to see that the Legislature recognizes the work that all the Regents institutions are putting into addressing the needs of Kansas workers and employers,” she said.
“I also want to thank Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Board of Regents for their vigorous support and advocacy for the state’s public two-year and four-year institutions.”
President Mason said Fort Hays State consistently ranks among the top 10 public institutions in the nation with the lowest in-state tuition.
“This new money will help Fort Hays State keep its tuition among most affordable in the nation,” she said. “Low cost is vital to provide access to the higher education necessary in the 21st-century economy.”
President Mason said that regional public universities and colleges, such as Fort Hays State, do not have the ability to base operating budgets solely on fundraising or tuition hikes, or even a combination of the two.
“For us, state budgetary support is a crucial component in ensuring that we meet our responsibilities to our state and our students,” she said.
For almost two decades, Fort Hays State has kept tuition increases in the low single digits in favor of a business model built on increasing enrollment through providing high-quality on-campus and online educational experiences at the lowest cost possible. The model has proven very successful, as evidenced by the university’s remarkable record of 18 consecutive years of sustained, record-setting enrollment growth.
A study by the Kansas Leadership Center of tuition increases from the 2007-2008 academic year to the 2017-2018 year found that FHSU’s tuition was only $24.46 above inflation for the 11-year period. During that same time frame, enrollment increased from a 20th-day headcount of 9,588 in fall 2007 to 15,523 in fall 2018.
The Fort Hays State model is also based on meeting the needs of students by recognizing new career paths and then creating programs to prepare people for them. This applies to traditional on-campus students and an increasing numbers of non-traditional students – defined as students older than 25.
Most of these adult learners participate online or at remote sites because they cannot afford to leave home and family while gaining the education they need to advance in their current careers or begin new ones.
A comprehensive survey by The Washington Monthly, released in the fall of 2018, ranked FHSU in the top 10 nationwide for adult learners. The survey found that 31 percent of Fort Hays State students fit the adult-learner category. Key criteria included not only low-cost in-district tuition and fees, but flexibility of programs, available services and adult-student graduation rates – 80 percent in that category for FHSU.
“Regents institutions needed new money after the significant cuts of recent years, and the Kansas Legislature provided a much-needed boost this year,” said President Mason.
“More money means more access. It means more Kansas students, young and older, will be able to get the education needed to advance their lives and contribute to the economic health of the state,” she said.
“I and everyone here at Fort Hays State offer our thanks.”
WICHITA, Kan. – Madilyn Waddell hit a three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to give the Hays High softball team a 6-5 lead over Great Bend in the their 5A regional opener Tuesday, but the Panthers take advantage of hit batter to tie the game in the bottom of the inning then scored the winning run on throwing error to win 7-6.
Waddell’s homer highlighted a four-run seventh.
Jaysa Wichers went the distance for the Indians and takes the loss, striking out seven and walking three.
Governor Laura Kelly orders flags lowered to half-staff tomorrow, May 15 in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day from sunup to sundown. pic.twitter.com/7UeH42EbVg
Just before 7p.m., police responded to a report of an injury accident at the intersection of SW 4th and Taylor in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble.
At the scene, it was discovered that a vehicle struck a boy on a bicycle.
The child was transported to a local hospital with what was determined to be life threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
Members of the TPD Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene investigating the incident. Police have not released the names of those involved or the boy’s age.
The ARC of the Central Plains is making a fundraising push in hopes of having enough money to break ground on the accessible Hays ARC Park by the end of the summer.
The ARC Park has raised $330,000 in less than a year toward its $1.77 million goal to build an accessible playground, splash pad and baseball field at what is now Seven Hills Park.
Playground
Sarah Meitner, parent and fundraiser, said the ARC Park group is trying to have $600,000 in cash and in-kind pledges by the end of May so they can write a grant request to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation for the the remainder of their funding.
The group recently was approached by Trey Moeder, a former Hays resident, who has agreed his company — Forever Lawn Mile High of Colorado Springs, Colo. — will donate the labor for installation of the turf for the baseball field. A dollar amount for that donation has yet to be determined.
The ARC Park group had originally planned to build the accessible complex in three phases with the playground going in first.
However, the group determined it could save money by doing the complete build at one time. The group also noted the longer they wait, the more construction costs are likely to increase.
Splash pad
The ARC Park is pushing to complete as much of its fundraising now because it is racing against the weather. If the group hopes to have at least the playground portion of the park finished by the end of the year, it needs to order equipment in July.
The rubber surface for the playground can’t be laid during cold weather, so it would have to be completed before the weather turns nasty this fall. This would mean construction in September.
The group anticipates even if construction is finished on the splash pad this year, it would not open to the public until summer 2020.
The baseball field, however, could be used for the Special Olympics season, which will be in October, if the diamond is completed in time.
Baseball field
Brent Kaiser, ARC activities director, said even if the full amount can’t be raised for all three parts of the complex in time for installation this year, the group would like to move forward with the playground portion.
Although the group has conceptual drawings, finalizing the design of the complex will be part of the group’s focus in the next month, Kaiser said.
The group has decided on an oil and ag theme for the park. A couple of items on the ARC Park’s wish list include accessible swings and a “We Go Round.” The equipment is like a merry-go-round, but it is even with the ground and is accessible to wheelchairs.
The volunteers who are coordinating the fundraising for this project have already put hours and hours into the project, but Kathy McAdoo, ARC executive director, said the project has been a labor of love.
Meitner’s 5-year-old son, Abe, has Down syndrome and was a major motivator for her to pursue a park at which Abe and other children with disabilities could play.
However, Meitner noted there are other benefits to the community.
Orientation of new complex at Seven Hills Park. The existing playground equipment and shelter would remain.
“We know through talking to other parents how they seek out other parks like this,” she said. “So when they are road tripping they can stop at a park because maybe their child can’t handle a restaurant. We know that it is going to attract people from outside of our community, and that is going to bring dollars to Hays.”
The park is designed to be used by all children and all adults. This means a child who may have broken a leg and is temporary disabled still has an opportunity to play, Meitner said. Parents and grandparents who might be disabled can access the park and playground equipment and play with their children and grandchildren.
Meitner said she also saw this as a model park for other communities.
“It’s a showpiece facility for our community,” Meitner said. “It is something that sets Hays apart — something that other communities will want to mimic. We have already gotten calls from other communities that have said, ‘How did you get where you are? We want this too.’ ”
Kaiser said, “We don’t want to be the only place like this in Kansas. Our goal is more places see it and want to do the exact same thing.”
Meitner added, “I would like to see accessible equipment in every park.”
Although the ARC Park is pushing on toward its fundraising goal, Meitner wanted to thank those people who have already donated. The Schmidt Foundation donated $100,000 and HaysMed donated $40,000. However, the park has had more than 250 individual donors.
Meitner said she wanted to especially thank the children and youth of the community who donated their pennies and nickels to the project.
“I want to thank all the kids in this community who had the heart to build this park,” she said.
Children have brought in the contents of their piggy banks, lemonade stand proceeds and tooth fairy money. Girl Scout and Boy Scout groups have donated money. A four-member Daisy Girl Scout troop recently donated $500 of their cookie money. TMP-Marian, HHS, Holy Family, Roosevelt, Lincoln and O’Loughlin students have all made donations to the park.
“I think it is the kids speaking up and saying, ‘We want this,’ ” McAdoo said. “They are setting an excellent example for the adults in our community.”
FHSU student groups have also conducted many fundraisers for the park this school year.
Buckeye Wind Energy LLC presents a check for $1,000 to the ARC Park. They are one of more than 250 donors to the park thus far.
“We really like how it has brought all different parts of the community together with a common goal,” Meitner said. “I can’t help think that is going to instill in those kids a sense of pride, so when they are playing there they will want to take good care of the park, they will want to visit a lot and take some ownership in it.”
You can donate to the ARC Park by dropping a check by or mailing a check to the ARC office at 600 Main St., Hays, KS 67601. Please note the donation is for the ARC Park on the check. Donations can also be made online. A small fee is charged to the ARC Park for each online donation, so checks are preferred.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 89. South southeast wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind 10 to 13 mph.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 92. South southwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 17 mph.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy.
Friday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Breezy.
Saturday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Just before 3p.m. Tuesday, a Bonner Springs Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black sport bike (2008 or newer Honda CBR1000rr, red/black wheels and accents, stickers on side of bearing) for a traffic violation, according to a media release.
Gerald D. Rogers, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2019, at the age of 94. Gerald was born on February 18, 1925 in Selden, Kansas to Walter and Myrtle (Anderson) Rogers. Gerald graduated from Norton High School in 1943 and then volunteered for the United States Air Force. He served in the China- Burma- India theater during World War II. On September 30, 1952 he married Leona Koerperich. Gerald and Leona were married nearly 67 years. This union was blessed with five children, Sherry, Geralyn, Joe, Scott, and Tami.
