The foundation’s grant will support Smoky Hills Public Television’s educational programming and the Literacy Leadership program in Graham County. This program provides books to kids in Head Start and Early Head Start in the area.
“This grant helps support SHPTV’s educational mission,” said Larry Calvery, Smoky Hills Public Television general manager. “The Graham County Community Foundation has continued to provide quality educational resources to the children in Graham County and we want to thank them for their continued support.”
The Graham County Community Foundation provides small grants within the community to meet the Graham County community’s charitable, religious, educational, and scientific needs.
Smoky Hills Public Television serves 71 counties in central and western Kansas and has been named the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Non-Metro Station of the Year.
BOYS PREP BASKETBALL
BV West 75, St. James Academy 46
Frankfort 66, Onaga 19
Goodland 44, Ulysses 37
Hill City 46, Ellis 41
Kinsley 55, La Crosse 52
Lawrence Free State 47, Mill Valley 37
Maize 72, Derby 59
Ness City 67, Trego Community 33
Otis-Bison 43, Dighton 42
Smith Center 62, Superior, Neb. 42
Washington County 41, Doniphan West 23
West Platte, Mo. 67, Troy 61
GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL
Derby 44, Maize 31
Doniphan West 59, Washington County 50
Ellis 43, Hill City 27
Frankfort 60, Onaga 9
Kinsley 64, La Crosse 29
Notre Dame de Sion, Mo. 46, SM North 35
Otis-Bison 53, Dighton 39
Otis-Bison 53, Dighton 39
Russell 60, Ellinwood 47
Superior, Neb. 60, Smith Center 25
Trego Community 52, Ness City 9
Ulysses 52, Goodland 35
West Platte, Mo. 41, Troy 37
If you read “Insight” regularly you’ll know the man who started this column back in the late ‘70s, John Schlageck, retired from Kansas Farm Bureau in January.
Filling the shoes of someone who’s lived and breathed telling the story of agriculture for 45 years is no easy feat. And to be honest there’s no replacement for the way John weaves a story and leaves you wanting to read more.
As with all things in life though, they change and evolve. We know people look forward to reading Insight and even though it will be different from what was, we want to continue the tradition.
For a time, we will have guest writers sharing viewpoints from the farm. We’re excited to showcase different voices from across the state. Each of the writers brings a different viewpoint and experience of farm and rural life. We hope you will enjoy this change of pace.
Let us introduce our “Insight” columnists.
Kim Baldwin
Originally a native of New Mexico, Kim has a unique career background as a teacher and a television news professional for PBS and NBC affiliates. She moved to Kansas to marry her husband, Adam, in 2010. With their children, Banks and Isannah, the family raises wheat, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum and popcorn on their McPherson County farm. Kim teaches English and Journalism and serves as the Inman FFA assistant sponsor at Inman Junior/Senior High School.
Glenn Brunkow
Brunkow is a fifth-generation farmer in the Northern Flint Hills of Pottawatomie County, and serves on the Kansas Farm Bureau board of directors. When he’s not working on the farm and ranch, he writes his own weekly column called Dust on the Dashboard. He was a county Extension agent for 19 years before returning to farm and ranch full time.
Jackie Mundt
Jackie grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and now calls Pratt County home. She and her significant other live on an irrigated and dry-land crop and cattle farm in Preston. She’s lived and worked in large cities and today chooses to call rural Kansas home. When she’s not on the farm or mentoring students, she is the Communications and Marketing Manager for Kanza Cooperative Association.
Kim, Glenn and Jackie have made the decision to build a life in the Wheat State. And just like the 30,000 other farm and ranch families who call Kansas Farm Bureau their farm organization, they have decided to live and work in rural Kansas. We think their thoughts, feelings and experiences will resonate with many of our readers.
Thank you for your past support of “Insight,” and we hope you continue to join us on this journey.
“Insight” is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.
WICHITA – More than 1,000 students completed their degrees at Wichita State University in fall 2018.
Undergraduate students who have attained a grade point average of 3.9 out of a possible 4.0 received the summa cum laude award; those with an average of 3.55 received the magna cum laude award; and those with an average of 3.25 received the cum laude.
WSU enrolls over 15,000 students and offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges.
The following northwest Kansas students earned degrees:
Downs
Rachel C Renken, Bachelor of Science, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Magna Cum Laude
Goodland
Gage L Ihrig, Bachelor of Business Admin., General Business
Hays
Edgar I Vallejo, B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
Norton
Naomi A Sevart, Master of Education, Special Ed-Early Chlhd Unified
Victoria
Jublain J Wohler, B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Aerospace Engineering
WaKeeney
Cade A Papes, B.S. in Mechanical Engr, Mechanical Engineering, Cum Laude
SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities in Kansas are investigating a suspect wanted on a nationwide warrant from El Paso County, Colorado.
De La Vega-King- Shawnee Co.
Just after 4:00 a.m. Monday, police stopped a vehicle on I-70 near the Adams Street exit for a traffic infraction, according to a media release from Topeka Police.
Upon contact with the driver, officers smelled an odor of marijuana, which led to a search of the vehicle. Officers located two stolen firearms, marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.
Police arrested 27-year-old Juan Sebastian De La Vega-King and charged with being a fugitive from justice, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen property, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Pittsburg police say a man is being held on $100,000 after he allegedly tried to start a homeless woman’s blankets on fire while she slept.
Dickerson -photo Crawford Co.
Police say in a news release that the woman, Chrystal Thompson, originally thought a hand warming device accidentally set her blankets on fire Thursday night while she slept in the alcove of a business.
The business owner told police Friday that surveillance video showed a man intentionally setting Thompson’s blankets of fire and walking away.
The blankets burned briefly before the fire went out.
The suspect, 60-year-old Richard Lee Dickerson, of Pittsburg, was arrested Saturday. He is facing potential charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson and criminal damage to property.
Tuesday Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. East wind 8 to 11 mph.
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. East northeast wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday A slight chance of freezing rain before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. East northeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night A chance of rain and snow before 7pm, then a chance of snow between 7pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Windy, with a north northwest wind 13 to 18 mph increasing to 23 to 28 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 20. Windy.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 8. Blustery.
PRATT – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has sponsored legislation proposing limits on select license and permit fees. Senate Bill 50, if passed, would not raise any hunting or fishing license or permit fees and no fee increases are under consideration.
Hunting and fishing license and permit fees are approved by the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission only after a public hearing process, but the fees cannot exceed the upper limits set by statute. However, some of the current fees are at or near the statutory fee caps, most of which were set in 2001. Adjusting fee caps now would give the Commission the authority and flexibility to incrementally increase some fees in the future if, and when needed, but not without first holding a public hearing.
License and permit fee increases implemented in 2016 marked the first time resident deer and turkey permit fees had increased since 1986, and the first time hunting and fishing license fees had increased since 2002. Those fee increases were necessary due to inflation and the desire to maintain crucial wildlife and fisheries programs and services to hunters and anglers.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) receives no State General Fund support. In addition to hunting, fishing and furharvesting license and permit revenue, KDWPT funding comes from federal dollars returned to Kansas from the federal excise taxes hunters and anglers pay on equipment purchases.
KDWPT leverages license and permit revenues and federal dollars to benefit wildlife, fish, anglers and hunters. Popular programs such as Walk-In Hunting Access (WIHA), Fishing Impoundments and Stream Habitat (FISH), and the Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP) are notable examples. Other programs funded with a combination of federal funds and license revenues include state wildlife areas, state fishing lakes, education and aquatic nuisance species monitoring.
SB 50 was introduced into the Senate on January 28 and was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. A hearing date has not been set.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A woman has been convicted of killing her ex-boyfriend whose body was found inside a burning home near Lawrence.
Tria Evans stands next to her attorney Carol Cline during an appearance before Judge Kay Huff on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018 in Douglas County District Court-photo by Nick Krug courtesy Lawrence Journal World
Jurors deliberated 1½ hours Friday and Monday before finding 39-year-old Tria Evans guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, arson and aggravated burglary in the November 2017 killing of 34-year-old Joel Wales.
Evans and Wales had a child together and a history of domestic disputes. Prosecutors say text messages show that she plotted his death with a friend for more than a month. One text between the women reads: “This needs done this week.”
A murder charge is pending against the friend, 38-year-old Christina Towell. She is accused of driving Evans to the scene.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a Hutchinson man was arrested on suspicion of using counterfeit bills to purchase electronics because the fake Facebook profile he’s accused of using to arrange the transactions included a real picture.
Joshua Downey -photo Reno County
The man identified as Joshua Downey was arrested last week and booked into jail on suspicion of counterfeiting, theft and drug charges. Police say that last month, he used a counterfeit $100 bill to purchase a computer and five fake $20 bills to buy an iPhone 6.
Minutes after posting the photo from the suspect’s fake Facebook profile online, a parole officer called to say the man was a client. Police say he had a powdery substance in his pocket that is believed to be methamphetamine when he was arrested. His bond is set at $9,500.
Ray Pinney, 76, of North Platte, Nebraska, died at his home on Sunday, January 27, 2019.
Ray was born April 22, 1942, to Jack and Alta Pinney at Hays, Kansas. He graduated in 1960 from Ellis High School then worked for area farmers before hiring on with Peter Kiewit while they were building the I-70 section in Kansas.
In 1961 Ray joined the U.S. Army and served until 1963. After his discharge he returned to Kansas and went to work for Van Pac. His job brought him to Nebraska to help build the railroad from Wallace to the Gerald Gentleman Plant. When that job was completed he was employed by National Industrial Corporation (N.I.C) out of Texas and worked as a Pipe Foreman. Ray later went back to Peter Kiewit where he was a Mechanical Superintendent, working at 19 different locations. He eventually moved to Sutherland where he worked for Colorado Petroleum then the American Red Cross and later Lincoln County Roads Department before retiring in 2012.
Ray was married to Elizabeth Wever and they had three children, Jeff, Jennifer and Janelle. He was later united in marriage to Rosalie Houser on December 23, 1983, in Texas and the family lived wherever his job took them.
Ray was a member of P.R. Halligan Post #163 American Legion and attended Holy Spirit Catholic Church even though he was baptized in the Methodist Church when he was young.
Ray loved his family and enjoyed his work and class reunions.
He is survived by his wife, Rosalie, of North Platte; children, Jeff (Jana) Pinney, of Wichita, Kansas, Jennifer Pinney, of Hays, Kansas, Janelle Chevas, of Greeley, Colorado and Chris (Steve) Frame and Carylon (Rod) Dillenburg, of North Platte; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Janice Broome, of North Platte; and other family.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Alta; brother, John Pinney; sister, Nancy Pinney; and a great-grandson.
Cremation was chosen. Graveside Service with Military Honors will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 8, 2019, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or at the graveside. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the North Platte Alzheimers Support Group. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges.
Houston -photo Shawnee Co.
Just after 1:30 a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the 200 block of SE Lawrence in Topeka in reference to a suspicious vehicle with two people in it who did not belong in the area, according to Lt. Manuel Munoz.
Officers located 29-year-old Frank E. Houston sleeping in the vehicle with a handgun on his lap.
Houston lied about his name and attempted to flee on foot.
Police chased and took him into custody. Houston was transported to Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana, possession of Paraphernalia, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer and Traffic Contraband into a Penal Institution, according to Munoz.
Houston has nine previous convictions that include theft, burglary, stalking, aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
This is the 13th case in 2019 with a charge involving a felon in possession of a firearm reported by the Topeka Police Department.
SHPTV
“This grant helps support SHPTV’s educational mission,” said Larry Calvery, Smoky Hills Public Television general manager. “The Graham County Community Foundation has continued to provide quality educational resources to the children in Graham County and we want to thank them for their continued support.”
