Year: 2019
IHOP fundraiser for DSNWK Dancing Together
Freddy’s Fundraiser tonight for DSNWK
BILLINGER: Senate Update March 25
Last week was the final week for committees to meet.
The most important thing we did this week was passing the budget out of the Senate.
Some of the highlights are: Sub SB75 K-12, school funding, which includes over $4 billion. Part of the funding is an inflation factor of $92.7 million in court ordered funding for K-12 to settle the lawsuit. It also includes $197 million additional new money for K-12. This budget includes full funding of $7.37 million for this years KPERS payment. The Board of Regents will receive an additional $5.5 million in new money.
Additional funds were allocated for Corrections in order to address a shortage in staff and for the treatment of Hepatitis C for inmates.
KDADS, DCF, mental health and the IDD community will all receive a small increase in funding.
KDOT will receive $160 million through FY 2020. The Governor’s budget continues to transfer $200 million per year from KDOT to the state general fund.
A 1% increase was included in the budget for Community Home Base services. Senate Democrats did not vote for this bill even though it follows most of the recommendations made by the Governor, other than the re-amortization. Over 90% of the budget consists of education, Kan-care caseloads and corrections. The Senate Democrats wanted to postpone voting on the budget until next Tuesday in order to determine whether the Governor will raise taxes on middle class Kansans and Kansas businesses that do business in foreign countries. If the Governor vetoes SB 22 it will add $200 million to the ending balance. The Democrat Minority Senate leader, Senator Hensley, stated that he was hopeful that the Governor would veto SB 22.
SB 125 passed the Senate and will extend the Rural Opportunity Zone Program by 5 years.
SB 125 extends the deadline for a participant to begin in the student loan repayment portion of the program to July 1, 2026 and the individual income tax credit portion of the program would be extended through tax year 2026.
For the next 3 days we will be on the floor debating House and Senate bills.
I would like to thank everyone who stopped by the Capitol and my office last week.
I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District of Kansas.
Please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail at [email protected] or call me with your questions and concerns. My office number is 785 296-7399 or my cell is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office at 236-E.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is the Kansas state senator for the 40th District, which includes Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace counties as well as portions of Phillips County.
Blood drive Friday in Ellis
The Ellis community will host a blood drive Fri., March 29, at the Knights of Columbus, 1013 Washington, from 1-6 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome.
Click here to make an appointment
Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of most blood types, and blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed. A low blood supply may mean that critical medical treatments or emergency care may be delayed or canceled. Won’t you help ensure there is blood on the shelf for those in need?
The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.
Kan. man sentenced for using Playpen website to access child porn
TOPEKA, KAN. —A Kansas man was sentenced Monday to eight years in federal prison for downloading child pornography from the internet, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister. In addition, he was ordered to pay $29,000 in restitution to victims.
Wesley Wagner, 54, White City, Kan., was convicted in October 2018 on one count of receiving child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography.
During trial, the prosecutor presented evidence that the FBI seized a server belonging to a now-defunct website called Playpen that provided users access to child pornography. The FBI used computer forensics to identify hundreds of the site’s users, including Wagner. Based on that information, the FBI obtained a warrant to search the defendant’s home.
New Kansas nonprofit to aid government transparency efforts
Kansas Press Association
A new nonprofit institute to aid efforts at making government more transparent has received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
The Kansas Institute for Government Transparency, Inc., (KIGT) is the brainchild of Mike Kautsch, a University of Kansas law professor and longtime media law consultant for the Kansas Press Association.
Since it is dedicated exclusively to charitable and educational purposes, KIGT has been approved for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Kautsch said KIGT is non-partisan, and its specific purposes are to educate the public about:
• Transparency laws, including Kansas statutes requiring that government records and meetings be open to the public;
• Rules and regulations that affect the balance between the public’s interest in access to information and competing interests in privacy and security; and
• Citizens’ First Amendment rights to express themselves freely.
“KIGT’s plans include researching and analyzing Kansas laws and public policies related to government transparency,” Kautsch said. “In addition, KIGT anticipates supporting or undertaking litigation in matters that bear significantly on advancement of open government or freedom of expression in Kansas. KIGT has developed criteria for determining when litigation may be warranted.
“I am grateful to the Kansas Press Association for being strongly supportive of KIGT. When I was with Doug Anstaett before he retired as the KPA’s full-time executive director, he referred to the free press as the ‘champion of the people.’ He and his successor, Emily Bradbury, are champions of government transparency, too.”
“During the formation of KIGT, I also appreciated encouragement and advice given by Kent Cornish and Ron Keefover, respectively, the leaders of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters and the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government. KIGT aims to operate in harmony with the KAB, the Coalition and the KPA,” Kautsch said.
“I view KIGT as an experimental public-interest venture, and I appreciate the support of KIGT’s founding board members — Russell Hickey, Nate Lindsey, Ann Premer and Leita Walker. All are outstanding alumni of the KU School of Law and were superb students in my media law-related classes. I hope to involve even more former students in KIGT and others who have an interest in open government and the First Amendment.”
To assist the nonprofit’s effort, the Kansas Newspaper Foundation Board of Trustees in the spring of 2018 authorized the $25,000 in seed money for the proposed project.
Kautsch expects KIGT to create opportunities for law students to participate in its public-interest endeavors. In this way, the students will be able to gain practical experience and advance the skills and knowledge they acquire in the classroom.
The benefits of the bill-tracking process include informing the public about: model language for transparency bills; the projected impact of proposed legislation on transparency, and the provisions of any particular current or prospective legislative proposal that would increase or decrease the flow of information to the public on matters of public concern.
The bill-tracking process was developed for KIGT by attorney Max Kautsch, who also serves as KPA’s legal hotline attorney, with support from Lex Lumina, an LLC devoted to the public interest, in Lawrence.
You can find the nonprofit’s website at www.kigt.org.
It contains weekly lists of the bills that have been reviewed by Max Kautsch and his interpretation of their importance to the ongoing transparency efforts in Kansas.
— Hays Post is a member of the Kansas Press Association
Coach with FHSU ties takes over offensive line at Valdosta State
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State newly hired head coach Gary Goff has filled out his coaching staff for the 2019 season as he hired four highly talented coaches to complete his initial staff as a Blazer.
Goff brought two coaches with him from Tiffin University in defensive coordinator Lee Stalker and offensive line coach Ryan Allgood, while adding the services of Levi Brown to coach the quarterbacks and Michael Johnson will coach the defensive backs/secondary.
Allgood was formerly a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University.
Kerry Webb and Kenny McClendon, who helped coach the Blazers to a perfect 14-0 record and a national championship in 2018, remain on staff for 2019, along with a number of graduate assistants.
Stalker, comes to VSU from Tiffin where he spent the past five seasons alongside Goff. At Tiffin, Stalker coached numerous positions, including the defensive line, special teams and was the run game coordinator for the Dragons. While there, he coached and developed eight all-conference honorees, including Willie Mays who went on to play for the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.
In helping to rebuild the Tiffin program, Stalker and the Dragons’ defense made vast strides in 2017, finishing in the top-ten nationally in tackles for loss (96), while ranking in the top 20 in sacks (33) and third down and fourth down conversion percentages. He took over a defensive line in 2014 who only posted seven sacks and 19.5. tackles for loss prior to his arrival and turned into a group averaging 20 sacks and 40 tackles for loss per season, becoming one of the most dominate fronts in the conference.
Prior to Tiffin, Stalker coached one season at NCAA Division III Oberlin College (Ohio), where he served as linebackers coach, defensive line coach and head strength and conditioning coach. During his time at Oberlin, he coached three all-conference selections and one All-America honoree. His coaching career began at Butler High School in Butler, Pa., where he was a 2007 graduate and worked with the offensive and defensive lines.
He played collegiately at Kent State University as a defensive end from 2007-2011. Stalker was a two-year starter for the Golden Flashes and served as team captain as a senior. Following the 2011 campaign, he was a finalist for the NCAA Burlsworth Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on. Stalker earned his bachelor’s degree in architectural studies and a minor in sports administration from Kent State.
Allgood spent the last two years as offensive line coach for the Dragons. In 2018, his unit continued to excel, leading an offense averaging 30.4 points per game, 271.2 passing yards per game and 425.7 total yards per game. He had three students-athletes earn all-conference honors. In 2017, the offensive line aided a Tiffin offense which averaged 23.8 points per game, 366 passing yards and 202.5 rushing yards per game. His line was a big part of JaQuan Hardy’s 1,000-yard rushing season, marking the first for the Dragons since 2005. Allgood also had three all-conference selections in 2017.
Prior to Tiffin, Allgood was graduate assistant at his alma mater the University of Oklahoma. There as a graduate assistant, the offensive line had one of its most productive years in Sooner history as it ranked first nationally in passing efficiency (193.79) and pass completion percentage (.706), while ranking second nationally in total offense at 554.8 yards per game and third in scoring offense (43.9 ppg). OU also led the Big 12 Conference in allowing just 1.6 sacks per game.
Allgood played for the Sooners from 2006-2008 and was a student assistant from 2009-2011 and a graduate assistant from 2014-2016. In 2015, he helped an offensive line unit featuring First Team All-Big 12 selections Ty Darlington and Nila Kasitati. Darlington won the Campbell Trophy, Wuerffel Trophy and Bowden Award for his efforts on the field and in the classroom. OU had a pair of freshmen at the tackle positions, including left tackle Orlando Brown, who was named a Freshman All-America selection by Sporting News. That line led the way for an offense that ranked fourth in scoring, 17th in passing and 22nd in rushing. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Oklahoma in 2011.
In 2014, Allgood helped OU to lead the nation in sacks allowed at just 9.0 for the season, while the Sooners led the Big 12 and ranked tenth nationally averaging 261.2 yards rushing, the highest total produced by the Sooners under head coach Bob Stoops. The offensive line helped freshman Samaje Perine lead the Big 12 in rushing (131.8 ypg), and set the FBS single-game rushing record with 427 yards against Kansas (11/22/14).
In between his stints with the Sooners, Allgood was the offensive line coach during the 2013 season at NCAA Division III College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., where it won the UMAC Championship. He also spent two years as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State in Fort Hays, Kan., where he coached tight ends, full backs and was the assistant offensive line coach in 2011-12.
Brown comes to VSU from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala., where he completed his first season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Eagles.
Prior to Faulkner Brown began his coaching career in 2014 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mount Juliet High School in Tennessee. He returned to his alma mater in 2016 at Troy University, where he spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons working with the quarterbacks for the Trojans.
Brown was a two-year letterman at the University of Richmond and a two-year letterwinner at Troy where, in his senior season, he threw for 4,254 yards, broke the Troy and Sun Belt Conference single season passing yardage records, finished second nationally in passing yards and was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.
He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Brown spent two seasons with the Bills and one season each with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2010, and a master’s degree in sport and fitness management in 2017, both from Troy University. Brown is engaged to Maria Martin and they plan on getting married in April of 2020.
Johnson comes to Titletown from Huntingdon College, also in Montgomery, Ala., where he has served as defensive backs coach since the 2016 season. During his time at Huntingdon, Johnson coached three all-conference defensive backs in 2016 and 2017, along with one all-league honoree in 2018. In 2017, Johnson helped coach Huntingdon to its third-straight USA South Conference title and advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the third-straight year.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication from NCAA Division I FCS Bryant in 2014, he then began his coaching career at NCAA Division II Malone University in February 2015. He produced one all-conference defensive back while he was at Malone.
Johnson was a four-year starter in the Bryant secondary at cornerback. During his senior year, he helped lead the Bulldogs to their most successful season in program history as they reached their highest national ranking in Week 11 at No. 21 in both the Coaches and Sports Network polls. Bryant finished the season 8-3 for the best record since the program moved to FCS.
Goff and the Blazers open the 2019 spring season Thursday, Mar. 28, at 4 p.m. at The VSU Field House. The 2019 Spring Game is set for 11 a.m. on Apr. 27 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. All spring practices are free and open to the public. Practice times and dates are subject to change without notice.
Fundraisers this week for Dancing Together for DSNWK
There will be a pari of fundraisers for Dancing Together for DSNWK, a benefit show in partnership with the Styles Dance Center where individuals from Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas will be featured.
From 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday at Freddy’s, if customers mention they are supporting DSNWK during their order, the group will receive a portion of the night’s proceeds.
From 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday at IHOP, the group will receive a portion of the proceeds from customers presenting the flyer below.
Dancing Together for DSNWK will be 3 p.m. April 7 at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.
Walter Clifford Ehrlich
Walter Clifford Ehrlich, 90, of Leavenworth, Kansas, and former Russell and Great Bend, Kansas resident, died on Monday, March 25, 2019, at St. John Hospital in Leavenworth, Kansas.
A celebration of Walter’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, March 29, 2019, at the First Southern Baptist Church in Great Bend, Kansas, with Pastor Tim Singleton officiating. A graveside service will be held at 2 P.M. Friday afternoon at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at the mortuary.
Memorials may be given to the First Southern Baptist Church and may be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Kendall Mae Ottley
Kendall Mae Ottley, age 75, of rural WaKeeney, Kansas, died Friday, March 22, 2019, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Ks. She was born July 19, 1943 in Garden City, Kansas to Kenneth Durant and Ollie Mae (Slawson) Durant.
Kendall attended schools in Holcomb, Russell Springs, and graduated with her senior class in Monument, Kansas from Monument Consolidated High School in 1961. On April 20, 1963, she was united in marriage to William (Bill) A. Ottley at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oakley, Kansas. Bill and Kendall’s married life began in Oakley, where Kendall worked as a telephone operator. They moved to Scott County when Bill found a job working for a farmer/rancher there and eventually they owned their own farm in Scott County.
In 1974, Bill, Kendall, and their family moved to WaKeeney. There they owned and operated their own farm operation raising crops and cattle. Kendall was involved in day to day farm operations and decisions, calving season was one of her favorites, as was summer wheat harvest. Kendall was a bus driver for USD 208 for many years and enjoyed meeting the children every morning and afternoon. Kendall & Bill owned/operated the Sprint Mart store for 14 years where she made many friends and loved the public. One of Kendall’s favorite hobbies was to read. She could sit and read for hours. She also loved to sew, and made all of her daughter’s clothes and clothing for her granddaughters. Kendall was involved in the Catholic Church and the alter society for many years. She worked part-time at the hospital auxiliary, the public library, and enjoyed working at the WaKeeney Livestock Sale Barn. Kendall’s proudest moments were of her children and her grandchildren. She followed her kids’ events and lives in just about everything they did.
Kendall’s grandchildren were so special to her. She spent time with them helping them to learn to sew and bake for 4-H, and hardly ever missed a sporting event. Teaching life lessons on the farm was where you would usually find her. Her favorite saying was “Hard work never hurt anyone”, and you had better pitch in or she would hand deliver you to a chore that needed done.
Her family includes two children, Tamera Mae (Ottley) Riedel & Glenn of WaKeeney, Ks., William John Ottley & Laura of Wichita, Ks.; five grandchildren, Courtney (Riedel) Berning & Braxton of WaKeeney, Ks., Cindy (Riedel) Hilgers & Ricky of Ogallah, Ks., Catie Riedel, Hays, Ks., Clayton Riedel, WaKeeney, Ks., Nicole (Ottley) Sherfick & Dylan of WaKeeney, Ks.; three great-grandchildren, Briant Berning, Brodie Berning, and Colton Sherfick all of WaKeeney, Ks. and identical twins due in June; two sisters, Kathy Wessel of Scott City, Ks., Janet Smith of Yukon, OK., two brothers, Bob Durant, Oakley, Ks., and Steven Durant, Omaha, NE. Many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews that she dearly enjoyed.
Kendall was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth Hand Durant and Ollie Mae (Slawson) Durant.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Schmitt Funeral Home, in WaKeeney, Ks.
There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.
In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Christ the King Church (for building improvements) or WaKeeney Public Library.
Donations made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th St., WaKeeney, Kansas 67672.
43rd street traffic control change begins today
CITY OF HAYS
Please be advised that beginning Tuesday, March 26, 2019, traffic control will be installed in Hays which blocks off the north side of 43rd Street between Roth Avenue and Vine Street.
This will reduce traffic to one lane in each direction. The double left turn lane on Vine Street to westbound 43rd Street will be reduced to a single left turn lane.
43rd Street will remain closed west of Roth Avenue.
Traffic remains one-way northbound into Walmart Parking lot. Traffic leaving Walmart must go north via 45th Street.
This construction is expected to last approximately 3 months 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.
KZ Country Cheesy Joke of the Day 3/26/19
Interviewer: “I heard you are extremely quick at math.”
Me: “Why yes, as a matter of fact, I am.”
Interviewer: “Whats 14×27?”
Me: “49.”
Interviewer: “That’s not even close.”
Me: “Yeah, but it was fast.”
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