THOMAS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 3 a.m. Friday in Thomas County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F150 driven by Cale A. Prewo, 18, Grinnell, was eastbound on Interstate 70 four miles east of the Brewster exit.
The pickup left the road to the left, and the driver’s side of the vehicle struck the guardrail. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected, the KHP reported. The pickup came to rest in the median.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office investigation of Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell’s actions regarding a city contract for a new water plant is over.
In a 20-page report, the DA determined Longwell did not commit a crime and will only be required to make a correction to paperwork on expense forms.
District Attorney Marc Bennett’s office had received several concerns from one individual after a media report that Longwell steered the water plant contract to a partnership that included friends of his.
The report alleged Longwell persuaded the City Council to give the nearly $524 million contract away from a nationally known design team and toward Wichita Water Partners, which includes his political supporters and friends.
-The AP contributed to this report.
Read the full report from the Sedgwick County District Attorney below.
On October 3, 2019 the Office of the District Attorney, 18th Judicial District, received a complaint from a citizen alleging that in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Mayor of the city of Wichita, Mayor Jeff Longwell, failed to accurately complete the Substantial Interest Form required in Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301a et seq., Two investigators employed by the Office of the District Attorney conducted various witness interviews and obtained documentation of expenditures related to the allegations set forth in the complaint. The Mayor cooperated fully in this investigation. The District Attorney with the assistance of a Deputy District Attorney reviewed the results of the investigation, the applicable Kansas laws, relevant opinions issued by the Kansas Ethics Commission, Attorney General’s Opinions and the available case law published by the appellate courts of Kansas. The allegations, the respective laws implicated by the allegations, the facts established by the investigation, the analysis of the same and the respective conclusions are set forth below. 2 Allegations In summary, the allegations raised concerning Mayor Longwell are as follows: 1. That Mayor Longwell played in a non-charity golf tournament in 2016, and Professional Engineering Consultants (P.E.C.) paid $610.00 for him to do so. Mayor Longwell was alleged to have failed to file a “substantial interest” form as required by K.S.A. 754301a(a)(3) and K.S.A. 75-4302a(b)(5) in April of 2017. 2. That Mayor Longwell played in a golf tournament in 2017 with a $1,000 entry fee paid for by unknown party. Mayor Longwell was alleged to have failed to file a “substantial interest” form as required by K.S.A. 75-4301a(a)(3) and K.S.A. 75-4302a(b)(5) in April of 2018. 3. That Mayor Longwell played in a golf tournament on October 22, 2018 with a $1,000 entry fee paid for by Wildcat Construction. Mayor Longwell was alleged to have failed to file a “substantial interest” form as required by K.S.A. 75-4301a(a)(3) and K.S.A. 754302a(b)(5) in April of 2019. 4. In June of 2019, Mayor Longwell filed a substantial interest report as a candidate for mayor. The report did not include reference to the alleged substantial interest he received from Wildcat Construction on October 22, 2018 for the $1,000.00 paid for the golf tournament. The ultimate issue before the Office of the District Attorney is whether the Mayor received “goods or services” that should have been reflected in his Substantial Interest Form filings covering the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Kansas Statutes Kansas Statutes Annotated 12-10a06, defines the powers and duties of a city mayor. Kansas statutes contain the “State Governmental Ethics” in Chapter 46, Article 2, which provides ethics rules for state officer holders: Governor, Lt. Governor, legislators, et cetera. The statutes applicable to state office holders set out specific restrictions on compensation that can be received, prohibitions on solicitations for gifts or economic opportunities, and limitations on hospitality, services or gifts that can be accepted. 3 Conversely, local office holders (ex: mayors, members of a city council or township board) are not subject to these statutes. Instead, Chapter 75, Article 43 defines various terms related to the receipt of compensation by the local office holder, or candidate for local office and defines the requirement for the filing of a “substantial interests” form when in receipt of the same. State law sets forth no specific restrictions on what a local office holder or candidate can receive as “goods or services” nor is this term defined. Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301a, Governmental ethics applicable to local governmental subdivisions; definitions. As used in K.S.A. 75-4302a, 75-4303a, 75-4304, 754305 and 75-4306, and amendments thereto: (a) “Substantial interest” means any of the following: . . . (3) If an individual or an individual’s spouse, either individually or collectively, has received in the preceding 12 months, without reasonable and valuable consideration, goods or services having an aggregate value of $500 or more from a business or combination of businesses, the individual has a substantial interest in that business or combination of businesses. (Emphasis added.) Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4302a. Same; statement of substantial interests; individuals required to file; filing; rules and regulations; sample forms; disclosure if individual or spouse is officer of nonprofit corporation exempt from federal income taxes. (a) The statement of substantial interests shall include all substantial interests of the individual making the statement. (b) Statements of substantial interests shall be filed by the following individuals at the times specified: (1) By a candidate for local office who becomes a candidate on or before the filing deadline for the office, not later than 10 days after the filing deadline, unless before that time the candidacy is officially declined or rejected. . . . (5) By any individual holding an elective office of a governmental subdivision, between April 15 and April 30, inclusive, of any year if, during the preceding calendar year, any change occurred in the individual’s substantial interests. 4 Case Law There are no opinions issued by the appellate courts of Kansas with reference to Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4302a. With respect to subsequent statutes found within Article 43, the Kansas Supreme Court addressed Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4304 in In re Hertach, 279 Kan. 1218 (2005), an unrelated disciplinary proceeding against an attorney who hid his business relationship with the (then) Sheriff and Undersheriff of Reno County, as the business the three men created to bid on private jail expansion. Again, this decision offers no instruction to the instant investigation. “Goods or Services”: Statutes and Ethics Opinions Chapter 75 does not define the term “good or services” received by local office holders as referenced in Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4302a(a)(3). Various definitions of goods or services are found in other, collateral areas of Kansas law. Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-6402 addresses the Kansas prompt payment act, which states, [U]nless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed thereto. … (d) “Goods” means any goods, supplies, materials, equipment or other personal property, but does not mean any real property. (e) “Services” means any contractual services including architectural, engineering, medical, financial, consulting or other professional services, any construction services and any other personal services, but does not mean any services performed as an officer or employee of any government agency. Services shall not include construction contracts subject to K.S.A. 16-1901 through 16- 1908, and amendments thereto. In the Kansas Uniform Consumer Credit Code, the terms are defined as follows at Administrative regulation, 16a-1-301, General definitions: 5 In addition to definitions appearing in subsequent articles, in K.S.A. 16a-1-101 through 16a-9-102, and amendments thereto: (24) “Goods” includes goods not in existence at the time the transaction is entered into and merchandise certificates, but excludes money, chattel paper, documents of title, and instruments. (43) “Services” includes (a) work, labor, and other personal services, (b) privileges with respect to transportation, hotel and restaurant accommodations, education, entertainment, recreation, physical culture, hospital accommodations, funerals, cemetery accommodations, and the like, and (c) insurance. Additionally, Kansas Statutes Annotated 79-3602 (nn) states that “service” means those services described in and taxed under the provisions of Kansas Statutes Annotated 79-3603, the retailers sales tax, which reads as follows: For the privilege of engaging in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail in this state or rendering or furnishing any of the services taxable under this act, there is hereby levied and there shall be collected and paid a tax at the rate of 6.15%, and commencing July 1, 2015, at the rate of 6.5%. Within a redevelopment district established pursuant to K.S.A. 74-8921, and amendments thereto, there is hereby levied and there shall be collected and paid an additional tax at the rate of 2% until the earlier of the date the bonds issued to finance or refinance the redevelopment project have been paid in full or the final scheduled maturity of the first series of bonds issued to finance any part of the project upon: (a) The gross receipts received from the sale of tangible personal property at retail within this state; … (d) the gross receipts from the sale of meals or drinks furnished at any private club, drinking establishment, catered event, restaurant, eating house, dining car, hotel, drugstore or other place where meals or drinks are regularly sold to the public; (e) the gross receipts from the sale of admissions to any place providing amusement, entertainment or recreation services including admissions to state, county, district and local fairs, but such tax shall not be levied and collected upon the gross receipts received from sales of admissions to any cultural and historical event which occurs triennially; … 6 (m) the gross receipts received from fees and charges by public and private clubs, drinking establishments, organizations and businesses for participation in sports, games and other recreational activities, but such tax shall not be levied and collected upon the gross receipts received from: (1) Fees and charges by any political subdivision, by any organization exempt from property taxation pursuant to K.S.A. 79-201 Ninth, and amendments thereto, or by any youth recreation organization exclusively providing services to persons 18 years of age or younger which is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, for participation in sports, games and other recreational activities; and (2) entry fees and charges for participation in a special event or tournament sanctioned by a national sporting association to which spectators are charged an admission which is taxable pursuant to subsection (e); (n) the gross receipts received from dues charged by public and private clubs, drinking establishments, organizations and businesses, payment of which entitles a member to the use of facilities for recreation or entertainment, but such tax shall not be levied and collected upon the gross receipts received from: (1) Dues charged by any organization exempt from property taxation pursuant to K.S.A. 79-201 Eighth and Ninth, and amendments thereto; and (2) sales of memberships in a nonprofit organization which is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the federal internal revenue code of 1986, and whose purpose is to support the operation of a nonprofit zoo; In addition to these instructive definitions of “goods” and “services” when there is an absence of statutory definition or interpretive case law, advisory ethics opinions issued by the Kansas Ethics Commission provide guidance when interpreting ethics rules for public officials. See generally Kansas Administrative Regulations, 19-1-1(a). In Opinion No. 1991-8, the Kansas Ethics Commission (then, the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission) was asked whether a lobbyist could purchase $20.00 tickets to a theater performance and give them to individual members of the Kansas Legislature. In this situation, $7.00 of the $20.00 tickets represented the actual cost of each ticket with the remaining $13.00 going to a specific charity. The published opinion of the Kansas State Ethics Commission reached the following conclusion: 7 The general rule is that the value of a gift is the fair market value of the goods or services if the recipient were to go out and purchase it him or herself. As we understand this precise factual situation, all the recipient is receiving is the value of the ticket and that value of $7.00 is therefore the value of the gift. In Opinion No. 1991-23, the Kansas Ethics Commission was asked by the President of the Topeka Country Club to review its prior decision concerning gift of membership to state officers and employees to determine whether such a gift is prohibited. The opinion quoted §(b) Kansas Statutes Annotated 46-237 and held, The threshold question is whether the value of the membership is $100 [the threshold in 1991] or more in any calendar year. For the purposes of making that determination, we would advise you that the value of the membership should be considered to be the going fair market value that would be charged in the ordinary course of business for the same rights and privileges of membership. In Opinion No. 1993-14, a state senator sought an ethics opinion as to whether it is legally permissible to raise money through a charitable golf tournament and the reporting implications of such an act. The published responding opinion of the Kansas State Ethics Commission states: [W]e have reviewed both the conflict of interest laws, K.S.A. 46-215 et seq., and the campaign finance act, K.S.A. 25-4101 et seq., and neither law requires any reporting so long as all proceeds are turned over to charitable organizations. Given the failure of Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301a to define “good or services,” the Mayor explained to an investigator with the Office of the District Attorney that he did not believe a round of golf constituted “goods or services.” He further explained that charitable golf outings where the entire expenditure went to charity (situations where the golf course donated their greens fees to the charity) led him to the conclusion that, because the charity received the entire donation, the golfers (including him) derived no financial benefit. As such, he did not believe it necessary to report these outings on his substantial interest form 8 Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301, et seq., is silent as to the definition of “goods or services.” That said, other statutes support the conclusion that the State of Kansas defines entertainment, such as a golf outing, as “goods or services.” Adding further credence to this conclusion, the ethics opinions above hold that the benefit of these types of services to a (state) office holder is to be assessed based on the fair market value of the service provided. With respect to the narrower question as to whether an office holder must report the goods or services derived from a company having paid for a round in a charitable golf tournament, where all proceeds went to the charity, the guidance from the ethics opinions listed above is split. Attorney General’s Opinions Opinions issued by the Kansas Attorney General may also provide guidance in the absence of case law or explicit statutory direction. Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4304 was analyzed in Kansas Attorney General Opinion 82-144. The opinion offered the following commentary regarding the intent of the Chapter 75, Article 43, Public Officers and Employees: [I]t was determined that the act is intended to prohibit self-dealing, i.e., it precludes a public officer or employee, acting in that capacity, from making or participating in the making of a contract with a business in which he or she has a substantial interest. (Quote from Attorney General’s Opinion 74-269.) Several more AG’s Opinions have referenced these statutes but again, only in the context of the collateral question as to whether an employee of one unit of government can serve on a governing commission or board (Opinions No. 75-64; No. 79-12; No. 80-10; No. 84-7; No. 8641; 91-15); and whether a public employee holding one position may simultaneously hold 9 another position in the private sector (No. 96-23, re a full-time county appraiser holding parttime employment). Corporations The relative roles of three businesses and their relationship to one another is relevant to the subsequent analysis of the applicable statutes, ethics opinions and facts. Professional Engineering Consultants (P.E.C.) is a self-described “full service” engineering firm in Wichita, Kansas. Wildcat Construction is a commercial construction company in Wichita, Kansas owned by Sherwood Construction. “Wichita Water Partners” is a joint venture between Burns and McDonnell engineering firm of Kansas City, Missouri and Alberici, a construction firm from St. Louis, Missouri. In its bid regarding the City of Wichita’s water treatment plant, Wichita Water Partners intends to utilize local businesses, including P.E.C. and Wildcat Construction to complete the project. What constitutes a “combination of businesses” under Kansas Statutes Annotated 754301a(a)(3), is not defined. A definition of the phrase is found at Kansas Administrative Regulations 19-41-1, which applies to State Office holders: “’Combination of businesses’ means any two or more businesses owned or controlled directly by the same interests.” Wichita Water Partners is not owned or controlled by P.E.C. or Wildcat Construction / Sherwood Construction, nor does Wichita Water Partners own or directly control Wildcat Construction/ Sherwood Construction or P.E.C. Conversely, because Wildcat Construction is owned by Sherwood Construction, Wildcat Construction and Sherwood Construction would constitute a “combination of businesses.” 10 Facts Given the definitions discussed above, the investigation revealed the following “goods or services” were received by Mayor Longwell by year, as follows. 2016 a. Workforce Alliance Golf Tournament The complaint alleged that Mayor Longwell played as part of a foursome in a charity golf tournament in Wichita to benefit Workforce Alliance in 2016 and that the entry fee was paid for by P.E.C. The director of Workforce Alliance confirmed that in 2016, P.E.C. did sponsor a foursome but Mayor Longwell was not included in that group. Mayor Longwell’s recently-sold company, Ad Astra Printing, paid for a separate foursome to play in the tournament, which included Mayor Longwell. There is no indication that the course donated their normal greens fees to the charity. Fair market value of the round of golf paid for by Ad Astra was under $50.00. b. Guthrie, Oklahoma Golf trip, June 2016 On June 30, 2016, Mayor Longwell traveled to Cimarron National Golf Club in Guthrie, Oklahoma to golf with the President of P.E.C. and two other individuals—an outing paid for by P.E.C. The receipts provided by P.E.C. during the investigation reflect two rounds of golf played on June 30, 2016. The cost for the first round of golf & cart fees, split four ways was $40.91. The course offers reduced fees for a second round of golf and cart fees: $23.91 per golfer. The Mayor received a $12.25 hat before the first round and $12.75 for lunch at the course. An evening meal at Gage’s Steakhouse was expensed for $27.95 to the Mayor. P.E.C. rented a car from Enterprise Rental to transport the 4 golfers to and from Guthrie. The Mayor’s portion of 11 the rental car was $55.69. The Mayor shared a room at the Sleep Inn in Guthrie with one of the other golfers. His portion of the hotel room was $35.00. As set forth above, the total goods or services received by the Mayor for the 2016 golf outing to Cimarron National Golf Course in Guthrie, Oklahoma was $208.46. c. Rolling Hills Country Club – in 2016 P.E.C. pays for a corporate membership to Rolling Hills Country Club. Guests of the company who golfed during the week on the company’s account were charged $50 per round. In 2016, Mayor Longwell golfed 4 separate times at Rolling Hills Country Club (March, May, September and November) on P.E.C.’s corporate membership, a total benefit of $200.00. In addition, P.E.C. expensed approximately $60.20 for cart fees ($15.00 per round) and $52.67 for food. The total benefit to Mayor Longwell for these 4 golf outings is $312.87. d. Dinner with Wildcat Construction In April of 2016, the Mayor joined the president of Wildcat Construction with their spouses/significant others for dinner paid for by Wildcat Construction. The Longwell’s dinners totaled $47.03. e. Total in 2016 The total good or services provided by P.E.C. to Mayor Longwell in 2016 was $521.33. The total goods or services provided by Wildcat Construction to Mayor Longwell in 2016 was $47.03. 12 2017 a. Guthrie, Oklahoma Golf trip, 2017 In June of 2017, Mayor Longwell traveled to Cimarron National Golf Club in Guthrie, Oklahoma to golf with the President of P.E.C. and two other individuals—an outing paid for by P.E.C. The cost for rounds of golf & the first cart fee, split four ways was $56.11. The cart fees for the second round of golf was $8.61. Snacks at the golf course between rounds expensed to the Mayor, $12.75. The Mayor’s evening meal at Stables Café was $9.95. P.E.C. rented a car from Enterprise Rental to transport the 4 golfers to and from Guthrie, $58.62. The Mayor shared a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Guthrie with one of the other golfers, $55.93. The total goods or services received by the Mayor for the 2017 golf outing to Cimarron National Golf Course in Guthrie, Oklahoma was $201.97. b. First Tee Pro-Am Golf Tournament In August of 2017, Mayor Longwell played in a charity Pro-Am golf tournament at Flint Hills National Golf Course with a $1,000 entry fee paid for by Wildcat Construction. Additionally, the Executive Director of First Tee explained that the first year participants were given a bag tag ($4.15 value) and a sleeve of golf balls ($12.80 value). Because this was a charitable golf tournament with all fees going to support the First Tee charity including the $95.00 greens fees, Ethics Opinions 1991-8 and 1993-14 may be read to support the conclusion that, when the entire expenditure goes to the charity, there is no value to be reported. Conversely, the statutory definitions of good or services found outside of Chapter 75 suggest entertainment does qualify as “goods or services.” 13 At most, the total good or services received by the Mayor for the 2017 Pro-Am Golf Tournament for the tournament at Flint Hills National paid for by Wildcat Construction was $111.95 There is a colorable argument that the only reportable “goods or services” given to the Mayor was $16.95 for the bag tag and sleeve of golf balls. c. Workforce Alliance Golf Tournament The director of Workforce Alliance confirmed that in 2017, P.E.C. did not sponsor a foursome in this tournament. Mayor Longwell played in the tournament on the Ad Astra Printing team. There is no indication that the course donated their normal greens fees to the charity. Fair market value of the round of golf was under $50.00. d. Sherwood Construction Sherwood Construction, the parent company of Wildcat Construction, paid for 1 (noncharitable) golf outing at Wichita Country Club in June of 2017. Cart fees were $21.50 and the greens fees were $64.50. The total goods or services received by the Mayor was $86.00. e. Total in 2017 The total goods or services provided by P.E.C. to Mayor Longwell in 2017 was $201.97. The total goods or services provided to Mayor Longwell from Wildcat Construction and Sherwood Construction was either $102.95 or $197.95. Kansas statutes offer no guidance as to whether or under what circumstances Wildcat Construction/Sherwood Construction and P.E.C. would constitute a “combination of businesses” as a result of their affiliation with Wichita Water Partners. No ethics opinions address the issue with respect to local officer holders. As set forth above, Kansas Administrative Regulations 1941-1, which applies to state office holders does offer the following definition: “‘Combination 14 of businesses’ means any two or more businesses owned or controlled directly by the same interests.” While Wildcat Construction/ Sherwood Construction and P.E.C. have a joint interest in the success of Wichita Water Partners, they are not directly controlled by, nor do they directly control Wichita Water Partners. 2018 a. Workforce Alliance Golf Tournament Mayor Longwell played as part of a foursome in a charity golf tournament at Hidden Lake’s Golf Course in Wichita to benefit Workforce Alliance in April of 2018. P.E.C. paid a total of $610, including the fees necessary for Mayor Longwell to play in this tournament. There is no indication the course donated their greens fees to Workforce Alliance. Receipts show that $250 of the $610 was for a “hole sponsorship” paid by P.E.C. which allowed P.E.C. to place a sign with their corporate logo and name at one hole on the course the day of the tournament. The remaining $360 was the cost for the four golfers to participate in the tournament. The “goods or services” received by Mayor Longwell would be based on the fair market value of the service. In this case, a round of golf at Hidden Lake’s Golf Course was $49.00. Total benefit to the Mayor attributable to P.E.C. for his participation in this tournament was $49.00. b. Guthrie, Oklahoma Golf trip In August of 2018, Mayor Longwell traveled to Cimarron National Golf Club in Guthrie, Oklahoma to golf with the President of P.E.C. and two other individuals—an outing paid for by P.E.C. 15 The cost for the first round of golf & cart fees, split four ways was $47.46. The Mayor received a $3.25 drink at Braums; a $12.50 lunch at the golf course; and a $9.95 evening meal. A second round of golf and cart fees, split four ways was $57.21. Lunch for the Mayor the second day was $10.75. P.E.C. rented a car from Enterprise Rental to transport the 4 golfers to and from Guthrie. The Mayor’s portion of the rental car was $52.28. The Mayor shared a room at the Holiday Inn Express in Guthrie with one of the other golfers. His portion of the hotel room was $55.93. The total goods or services received by the Mayor for the 2018 golf outing to Cimarron National Golf Course in Guthrie, Oklahoma was $249.33. c. Greystone Steak and Seafood On October 18, 2018, the Mayor and his wife joined the President of P.E.C. and his spouse as well as the President of Wildcat Construction and his then fiancé for dinner at Greystone Steak and Seafood. The President of P.E.C. paid for the meal with his private credit card, did not expense the meal to P.E.C. and was not reimbursed by P.E.C. All three men described this is a social gathering and not work-related. Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301a, et seq., is silent as to when a dinner paid for by a friend crosses the line into a “substantial interest.” If a state office holder were on the receiving end of such a meal, administrative regulations do offer the following guidance, at Kansas Administrative Regulations 19-40-3a, concerning gifts: (a) “Bona fide personal or business entertaining or gifts” means entertainment or gifts provided to state officers or employees or their spouses which are based solely on a business or personal relationship totally unrelated to the state officer or employee’s duties as such. The following factors, among others, will be taken into consideration in determining whether a specific entertainment or gift falls within this definition: (1) The intent of the parties; 16 (2) The length of time a business or personal relationship has existed; (3) The topics of discussion; (4) The setting; (5) The persons attending; (6) Whether the person providing the entertainment or gift is reimbursed by an organization by which they are employed; and (7) Whether the person providing the entertainment or gift, or his or her principal, deducts or could deduct the expenditures as a business expense. In the present situation, the parties aver that the meal was a social occasion only. The president of P.E.C. and Mayor Longwell have known one another for approximately 9 years. The setting was a public restaurant attended by each man’s spouse. The president of P.E.C. paid for the meal personally, not with a company card. He did not “expense” the $75.00 he spent on the Mayor and the Mayor’s wife to the company or seek reimbursement from the company. While no analogous statutes apply to local officers, under the more explicit rules to which state office holders must proscribe their conduct, the meal would qualify as a personal or business relationship, not as reportable “goods or services.” d. First Tee Pro-Am Golf Tournament Mayor Longwell again played in the Pro-Am golf tournament to benefit the First Tee charity. The tournament was held on October 22, 2018 at Flint Hills National Golf Course with a $1,000 entry fee paid for by Wildcat Construction. The Executive Director of First Tee explained that the second year participants were given a bag tag ($4.55 value) and a golf hat ($10.51 value). Again, because this was a charitable golf tournament with all fees going to support the First Tee charity including the $95.00 greens fees, Ethics Opinions 1991-8 and 1993-14 may be read to support the conclusion that, when an entire expenditure goes to the charity, there is no value to be reported. Conversely, the statutory definitions of good or services found outside of Chapter 75 suggest entertainment does qualify as “goods or services.” 17 At most, the total good or services received by the Mayor for the 2018 Pro-Am Golf Tournament for the tournament at Flint Hills National paid for by Wildcat Construction was $111.95 There is a colorable argument that the only reportable “goods or services” given to the Mayor was $15.06 for the bag tag and golf hat. e. Rolling Hills Country Club – in 2018 P.E.C. pays for a corporate membership to Rolling Hills Country Club. Guests of the company who golf during the week on the company’s account were charged $50.00 per round. In 2018, Mayor Longwell golfed 2 times at Rolling Hills Country Club on P.E.C.’s corporate membership (June and August); a total of $100.00. In addition, P.E.C. “expensed” $30.10 for cart fees ($15.05 per round) and $16.99 for food in August. The total benefit to Mayor Longwell for these golf outings is $147.09. f. Sherwood Construction – Golf In September of 2018, the Mayor played golf at a three-day tournament at Wichita Country Club paid for by Sherwood Construction. Due to conflicts in his schedule, the Mayor was able to play 12 holes the first day, 9 holes the second day and 18 holes the third day. Total goods or services, $172.00. g. Total in 2018 The total goods or services provided by P.E.C. to Mayor Longwell in 2018 was $445.42. The total provided by Wildcat Construction and Sherwood Construction to Mayor Longwell was either $187.06 or $282.06. As discussed above, Kansas statutes offer no guidance as to whether or under what circumstances Wildcat Construction/Sherwood Construction and P.E.C. would constitute a 18 “combination of businesses” as a result of their affiliation with Wichita Water Partners. The definition set forth at Kansas Administrative Regulations 19-41-1, which applies to State Office holders does offer the following definition: “‘Combination of businesses’ means any two or more businesses owned or controlled directly by the same interests” does not support the conclusion that Wildcat Construction and P.E.C. are a combination of businesses. Analysis In Kansas, state statutes limit and inform the financial interactions which state office holders have with members of the public. See Chapter 46, Act 2. The same is not true with respect to local office holders. Chapter 75 requires the disclosure in substantial interest forms of certain interactions. Unfortunately, many operative words and phrases are not defined. The law is clear that, as a local officer holder, Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301a et seq., a mayor is to file a Substantial Interest form when the mayor “has received in the preceding 12 months, without reasonable and valuable consideration, goods or services (emphasis added) having an aggregate value of $500 or more from a business or combination of businesses, the individual has a substantial interest in that business or combination of businesses.” What constitutes “goods or services,” and what relationship establishes a “combination of businesses” are both left undefined with respect to local office holders. Following a thorough factual investigation and lengthy analysis of all relevant statutes, administrative regulations, opinions of the Kansas Ethics Commission and Attorney General’s Opinions, I conclude that in 2016, Mayor Longwell received $521.33 in “goods or services” from P.E.C., $21.33 over the $500.00 statutory threshold without reporting the same in the following year’s substantial interest form. I acknowledge the Mayor’s explanation that he did 19 not believe golf outings were “goods or services,” but my conclusion is consistent with the definition of “goods or services” endorsed by the State of Kansas in other areas of law. The Mayor filed his Substantial Interest Form in 2017 for goods or services received in 2016 but incorrectly submitted it to the Kansas Secretary of State. For local office holders, Campaign Finance forms are filed with the Secretary of State, while Substantial Interest forms are filed with the local County Election Commissioner. The Mayor was not required to submit Substantial Interest form in 2018 as he did not receive “goods or services” over the $500.00 threshold from any one business or combination of businesses during the respective reporting periods. He did file the form in 2019 because he sought re-election. The failure to accurately report a substantial interest form may be charged as a class B misdemeanor under Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4306. If a State office holder made the same mistake, he or she could receive a fine from the Kansas Ethics Commission—though rather than issuing a fine, the Commission normally requests the officer holder file a corrected form. Conclusion Based on his assessment of Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301a, et seq, the Mayor did not believe the golf outings paid for by P.E.C. in 2016 were required to be included in a Substantial Interest Form filing. I have concluded that Kansas law does consider the outings reportable “goods or services.” And while I am confident, having exhaustively researched the issue, that, as an act of entertainment, golf qualifies as “goods or services” under Kansas law, it is also true that Kansas Statutes Annotated 75-4301a, et seq., governing Substantial Interest Form filings, offers little guidance. I am not filing a class B misdemeanor under these facts. I 20 ask the Mayor to file a correction to his 2017 Substantial Interest Form reflecting the expenditures attributable to P.E.C. in 2016 set forth above.
EMPORIA – On October 2, 2019, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) was presented the Wildlife Restoration Award (Wildlife Research category) from The Wildlife Society (TWS) at their annual conference in Reno, Nev. The Wildlife Restoration Award recognizes outstanding projects supported by federal Wildlife Restoration funds — also known as Pittman-Robertson funds — and associated non-federal matching funds.
KDWPT Wildlife Division staff received the award for their research project, “Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat Use, Survival, and Recruitment.” Kent Fricke, KDWPT small game coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of the department.
“The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Project has been one of the most productive research projects ever funded by our department,” said Fricke, “and it exemplifies the success that can be attained when state wildlife agencies, researchers, and landowners work together. The findings of this research will continue to influence lesser prairie-chicken management for decades to come.”
The project has generated new information and helped establish common methodologies that will help researchers better understand the factors affecting habitat use and life history traits of lesser prairie-chickens. Research efforts were led by Dr. Dave Haukos, Unit Leader of the Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Kansas State University.
According to Fricke, none of this would have been possible without the cooperation of landowners.
“Because the vast majority of lesser prairie-chickens occur on private property in Kansas, it was imperative that relationships were developed between researchers and landowners to make this project successful,” said Fricke. “Landowner access was key.”
TWS is an international organization committed to addressing national and international issues that affect the current and future status of wildlife in North America and throughout the world. TWS annually recognizes professional excellence, outstanding achievement, and highlights contributions to wildlife science and management through their awards program. For more on The Wildlife Society, visit wildlife.org.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and have released security camera images of a suspect vehicle.
Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, a robbery occurred outside of Core First Bank & Trust located in the 4600 Block. of NW Fielding Road, according to Deputy Shana Anderson.
The suspect vehicle is a black Lincoln MKX with a possible temporary tag and “LINCOLN” in large white lettering on the upper, passenger side of the windshield. The vehicle was occupied by 5 suspects who fled the area north on U.S. 75 Highway from NW 46th Street in Topeka.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Education: B.A. Philosophy 2007 University of Kansas; J.D. 2009 University of Kansas
Do you have a student currently attending USD 489 schools? No
Qualifications? I am a life long resident of Hays who wants to help any way I can make this community a better place to live.
Do you support USD 489 trying for another bond issue? What do you think that bond should include? If you don’t support a bond issue, how do you think the school district should address its infrastructure needs?
Passing a bond has to be the number one issue for all the school board members. Our buildings get worse every year, and each year we put off passing a bond, it becomes more expensive to do what needs to be done. The school board members need to be leaders in the community to get a school bond passed that meets the needs of our community while also being fiscally responsible.
What would you do to secure the financial health of the school district?
Securing the financial health of a public entity is an ongoing responsibility of all elected officials. The previous school boards have done an overall good job of stretching dollars to make sure the taxpayers are getting the most bang for their buck. We need to work to continue that strategy, while making sure we are providing a quality education to all our students.
The Hays school board is at impasse with its teachers for the second year in a row. What would you do to improve relations with teachers?
If on the school board, I would listen to every idea KNEA presents for resolution of the problem. Often times, they have several ideas that fall on deaf ears because of individuals that are more interested in fighting with the union than in solving the problem. We need board members that have the best interest of community at heart instead of a personal agenda to fight with those they don’t like.
Do you support the district’s current one-to-one technology policy? If not, what would you propose?
Technology in education is a never ending arms race. Fall behind, and your students are left behind. I understand others’ reluctance to pay for such an enormous endeavor, but if we don’t pay for it now, the whole community suffers with a generation of students unprepared for tomorrow’s challenges facing the world, our country, and especially our community.
How would you support the district in its work to improve student performance?
Passing a bond is a very important step in this area. Students learn better in an environment that cultivates an enthusiasm for learning. Taking care of our teachers makes sure we keep quality educators in our community and don’t lose them to other districts.
Is there anything else you would like to add about you or your campaign?
The foundation of any great community is a great education system. For too long, we have not done what we need to do to maintain the long-term stability of our local education system, and that has both short-term and long-term negative impact on our city. I am running to provide help wherever I can to take the next step Hays needs to take to insure the long term stability of the community. That starts with developing a bond measure that addresses our needs, but is also fiscally responsible. I will do everything I can as a board member to make sure a plan is developed that meets the needs and expectations of the community.
DENVER (AP) – Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes injured his right knee in a pileup near the goal line before his Kansas City teammates rallied around their fallen superstar for a 30-6 thrashing of Denver on Thursday night.
Backup Matt Moore threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs (5-2) had nine sacks, gave up a season-low 71 yards rushing and snapped a two-game skid in beating the Broncos (2-5) for the eighth straight time.
His balky left ankle heavily taped, Mahomes completed 10 of 11 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown before he got hurt on a successful sneak on fourth-and-inches at the Denver 5 early in the second quarter.
One by one, players peeled off the pile but when Mahomes didn’t get up , the stadium grew quiet, Broncos players knelt and some Chiefs stormed away in aguish as their quarterback ripped off his helmet and covered his face.
As players milled about nervously, the Chiefs’ medical personnel appeared to pop Mahomes’ right knee back in place before he was helped from the field and taken into the locker room. The Chiefs announced minutes later that Mahomes had a knee injury and wouldn’t return.
The Broncos had won two straight after a winless September and were hoping to turn the AFC West upside down by handling the Chiefs their third straight loss.
Coming in, the Chiefs were ranked 24th in the league with 11 sacks and they’d allowed an average of 190 yards rushing over their previous four games.
But the Chiefs sacked Joe Flacco a career-high eight times , drew three holding flags on grabby left tackle Garett Bolles, held Denver to 1-of-13 on third downs and benefited from Denver’s poor special teams play and curious calls by coach Vic Fangio that backfired spectacularly.
When Flacco did stay upright to deliver deep passes, they fell incomplete. Rookie tight end Noah Fant dropped three passes that would have totaled more than 100 yards.
At one point, Fox NFL analyst Troy Aikman exclaimed, “This is about as bad an offense as I’ve seen. I’m shocked there’s as many people still here at the game.”
There weren’t for very much longer as the fans streamed to the exits with the never-ending bungled plays by the Broncos, especially the porous O-line that was jeered by frustrated fans.
The Chiefs even sacked punter Colby Wadman, who had nowhere to throw the ball on a failed fake punt that gave Kansas City the ball at the Broncos 38 on the drive that ended with Mahomes’ injury.
After Mahomes got hurt, Moore couldn’t get the Chiefs into the end zone on three plays from the 3, and Harrison Butker’s 20-yard field goal gave KC a 13-6 lead.
Flacco, who was sacked five times and knocked down eight more times in 15 first-half drop-backs, was sack-stripped by linebacker Anthony Hutchins on the next series and linebacker Reggie Ragland scooped up the loose ball at the 5 and rumbled into the end zone for a 20-6 halftime lead.
Brandon McManus missed a 45-yard field goal that sailed well above the top of the right upright.
The Broncos scored first after getting a reprieve on a three-and-out when Frank Clark’s face mask gave Denver a first down and Royce Freeman took it in from a yard out seven plays later. But Fangio decided to take the extra point off the board and go for 2 when Alex Okafor was whistled for encroachment.
Instead of handing the ball off to Freeman again, Fangio had Phillip Lindsay, who’s about 50 pounds lighter, pound the ball up the middle and he was stuffed, leaving the Chiefs celebrating instead and the crowd no longer buzzing.
Their 6-0 lead was short-lived as Mahomes somehow escaped the clutches of Von Miller and fired a pass that safety Will Parks tipped but Mecole Hardman reigned in anyway before avoiding sidestepping safety Kareem Jackson for a 21-yard score .
Hardman added a 37-yard punt return that led to a 33-yard field goal.
Moore finished 10 of 19 for 117 yards.
INJURIES: Parks left the game with a hand injury and didn’t return and Broncos rookie linebacker Justin Hollins left with a knee injury.
OSBORNE — The Osborne County Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019 consists of an Air Force flying ace, a wildly successful craft brewer, a noted painter, a revered illustrator and artist, and the county’s first military veteran. To read their full stories go to the Hall’s online website at www.wordpress.com.
Gerald “Jerry” Jean Beisner (1923-2018) was born on September 30, 1923 in Salina, Kansas and spent his early years in the community of Natoma, Kansas. After attending Maur Hill High School in Atchison, Kansas, Jerry joined seven of his brothers and sisters in the war effort by enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1943. Following flight training Jerry earned his wings and began a distinguished 30 year career in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Colonel. During his career Jerry flew fighter missions in the Korean conflict and in Vietnam. He traveled all over the world, served as a fighter squadron commander, a Wing Director of Operations at MacDill AFB, and Tactical Air Command Chief of Safety at Langley AFB, in addition to countless other assignments. Gerald received many awards and honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism with One Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star. After retirement from the Air Force Jerry founded the market research firm Beisner Research Associates and continued in that business for approximately 30 years. He passed away in Macon, Georgia.
John Reed McDonald (born 1953) was the founder and guiding force behind one of the most prosperous and well-respected regional specialty breweries in the United States. Born in Osborne, Kansas, John graduated from the University of Kansas in 1976 with a degree in fine arts and then moved to South America and taught in Ecuador. Upon his return, he worked as a carpenter for 15 years when he decided to market the beer he had been homebrewing in his woodshop. In 1988 John McDonald formed the Boulevard Brewing Associates Limited Partnership in Kansas City, Missouri and the first batches of beer were produced in the fall of 1989. A major expansion in 2006 made Boulevard Brewing Company the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. By 2017 Boulevard Brewing was the 12th largest craft brewer in the nation and served in 19 U.S. states. John McDonald served as its President and also served as its Chief Executive Officer until September 5, 2012. In October 2013 the Duvel Moortgat Brewery of Belgium bought a controlling interest in the Boulevard Brewing Company. At the time the company was brewing 178,000 barrels a day and selling in 40 states. In 2017 those figures had leaped to 640,000 barrels a day and selling in 42 states and territories and in 11 foreign countries. After the sale John McDonald became a developer, responsible for the renewal of the dilapidated East Bottoms and West Bottoms areas in Kansas City into modern centers of commercial and recreational commerce. John also co-founded Ripple Glass, a glass recycling company that plays a significant role in making Kansas City a green business-friendly location. In 2018 McDonald served as a director of the Greater Kansas City Chamber Of Commerce.
Vinnorma (Shaw) McKenzie (1890-1958) was born in Downs, Kansas. She began drawing and painting at an early age, winning national prominence. After Vinnorma graduated from the Downs High School she attended the Chicago Art Institute two years and the Chicago Institute of Fine Arts. Vinnorma married John Harrison McKenzie in Downs, Kansas, on July 9, 1921, and settled in Port Huron, Michigan. She was art instructor in the public schools there for two years and attended the summer session of the Chicago Alumni society of Painting, and the Art Students’ league in Woodstock, New York. Vinnorma was the subject of numerous art exhibits in Michigan, New York City, at Wichita, Kansas, and with the Detroit Society of Women Painters, winning several awards. Vinnorma became ill with leukemia and died in Sarnia, Michigan in 1952 at the age of 58.
Willis Acton Pyle (1914-2016) was born in Portis, Osborne County, Kansas. He moved to Bethune, Colorado with his family as a child and later to Boulder, Colorado. He later studied art at the University of Colorado but left school to join Disney Studios in 1937. He worked on the classic animated films Pinocchio (1940), Fantasia (1940), and Bambi (1942), before leaving the studio during a strike in 1941. Willis subsequently worked briefly with Walter Lantz on Woody Woodpecker cartoons. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, animating training and propaganda films for the First Motion Picture Unit. Willis worked as an animator for United Productions of America (UPA) after the war. He also worked as a fashion illustrator for the magazines Vogue and Harper’s. Willis was animator for the Oscar-nominated cartoon shorts The Magic Fluke (1949) And Ragtime Bear (1949), which introduced the character of Mr. Magoo. He also animated Dr. Seuss’ animated short Gerald McBoing-Boing, which earned an Academy Award in 1951. Willis formed his own studio, Willis Pyle Productions, in the early 1950s. He retired from animation in the early 1980s but briefly returned to work on the 1989 televisions series This is America, Charlie Brown. He became a leading painter of watercolors and oils, and was frequently exhibited at New York galleries. Willis was the older brother of actor Denver Pyle (of Grizzly Adams and Dukes of Hazard fame), who died in 1997. He died at his penthouse apartment on Broadway in New York City at the age of 101.
Edward R. Roche was born in 1846 in County Tipperary, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States aboard the passenger ship “Fidelia” without his parents or any known family. The “Fidelia” left Liverpool, England, and arrived in New York City, New York, on August 5, 1851. In March 1866 Edward enlisted in Company I of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was assigned to escort duty for the Deputy U.S. Surveyors in the summer of 1866 as they set the boundaries for what is now Osborne County, Kansas. Roche was killed in action defending the surveyors during an Indian attack on July 21, 1866, “near the Solomon River” in Osborne County, the first military veteran killed in the line of duty within the county’s environs. A prominent headstone was placed at Roche’s initial burial site, atop a knoll near where the four corners of Penn, Hancock, Corinth, and Bloom Townships now meet. He was later reinterred in the Osborne City Cemetery in 1879.
The Osborne County Hall of Fame (OCHF) is an all-volunteer organization first formed in 1996 to celebrate the heritage of Osborne County, Kansas, on its 125th anniversary of organization. Since 2001 the OCHF has annually inducted three to five individuals tied to Osborne County who have made an impact at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. “To honor not only those who are famous but also those who should be famous” is the unofficial motto of the OCHF. The honorees are chosen by a committee of past and present Osborne County citizens. To see all of the stories of the OCHF inductees be sure to visit the Hall’s website at www.ochf.wordpress.com.
K-State Collegiate Crops Team at the Australian Universities Crops Competition (l to r): Wes Jennings, Nate Dick, Jayden Meyer, Madison Tunnell, Luke Ryan, Blake Kirchhoff, Dr. Kevin Donnelly – Coach
Junior from Smith Center also part of the crops team making trip
MANHATTAN – A Kansas State University student took top honors and the K-State Crops Team placed second in the Australian University Crops Competition recently. The event was hosted by the Australian Grain Growers organization and was held at the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
Luke Ryan, junior in agronomy from Solomon, Kansas won top individual honors overall.
The University of Sydney placed first in the team competition, K-State placed second, and Charles Sturt University from Wagga Wagga, Australia, was third.
Three students from South Dakota State University traveled with the K-State team and participated in the competition. The teams competed against agricultural universities from across Australia.
K-State Crops Team members making the trip included top winner Luke Ryan, plus Jayden Meyer, Smith Center, junior in agricultural economics; Wes Jennings, Abilene, senior in agronomy; Nate Dick, Inman, senior in agronomy; Madison Tunnell, Olathe, junior in agronomy and Blake Kirchhoff, Hardy, Nebraska, junior in agronomy. The team was accompanied by coach Kevin Donnelly, professor of agronomy. This was the fifth trip for the K-State team since 2012 to participate in the Australian competition.
Ryan, Meyer and Jennings were awarded a stipend from the American Society of Agronomy to cover part of their travel expenses as a result of previously placing in the top three at the U.S. Collegiate Crops Contests in Kansas City and Chicago last November. Additional sponsors of the K-State team were Kansas Grain Sorghum, Kansas Corn, Syngenta, and the K-State Department of Agronomy. The College of Agriculture also provided an international travel scholarship to the K-State students.
The trip was a combination of work, learning and sightseeing, which also proved educational for the students.
The competition portion spanned three days at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus. The contest included a seed identification section, three exams over production of selected Australian crops, a business management problem, field yield estimates and management recommendations, and a live crop, weed and disease evaluation component.
Before the competition, the group spent a day touring tropical agriculture in Queensland, learning about bananas, coffee, avocados, and sugarcane, and visited a large grain farm in South Australia featuring mixed cropping of wheat, canola and pulses. After the contest, they visited a sheep farm, a cherry orchard, a vineyard, and an apple orchard and processing facility in the Adelaide Hills area. They also travelled to Kangaroo Island, visiting grain farms and KI Pure Grain, the island’s major cooperative grain handling and export business. Learning about canola and Australian white wheat production, ryegrass herbicide resistance problems, and the use of pulse crops such as lentils and fava beans in crop rotations were highlights for the U.S. teams.
The students also took a snorkeling trip to the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns, with a visit to Sydney Harbor and the Sydney Opera House on the trip to Adelaide. After the contest, they spent two days touring Kangaroo Island. Highlights were observing the majestic coastal rock formations, beaches with seals and dolphins, and kangaroos and koala bears in the wild.
Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Robbins Center (Eagle Communication Hall), One Tiger Place.
Registration is from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m., with a short business meeting starting at 11:30 a.m.
The program for the December meeting will be “Supporting Moms in the Workplace,” presented by Brenda Bandy with Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition. The program will be submitted for SHRM continuing education credits. WKHRMA members can RSVP at wkhrma.shrm.org. The deadline to RSVP is noon on Dec. 6.
WKHRMA is an affiliate chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), a local professional organization for persons engaged in personal or human resource management. For more information on WKHRMA, visit wkhrma.shrm.org.
JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man on multiple charges after a high-speed chase.
Just after 8:30a.m. Wednesday deputies observed a 1993 Ford F250 near 150th and P Road for alleged traffic violations, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.
A pursuit with the assistance of the Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter ensued near 142nd and Q Road and continued east into Jefferson County.
The pickup then headed southbound on Meriden Road where a Jefferson County Deputy deployed stop sticks at 102nd and Meriden Road.
Simpson photo Jackson Co.
The suspect vehicle turned west toward Jackson County on 90th Road and became disabled when the front driver’s side tire separated from the wheel.
Jefferson County Deputies apprehended the suspect just north of 90th on Christie Road.
The suspect was transported to the Jackson County Jail and identified as Lane Michael Simpson, 23, of Mayetta.
Simpson is being held on requested charges that include Felony flee and eluding a law enforcement officer, driving while suspending, reckless driving, operating a vehicle without an interlock device. Simpson also had outstanding warrants from Atchison and Douglas Counties and the City of Topeka.
CLAREMORE, Okla. – For the second time in the 2019 campaign, the Fort Hays State Tigers have defeated the Rogers State Hillcats in conference play. The first result, which occurred at home in Hays, was a 2-0 victory for FHSU. Thursday night’s match ended, 1-0, in favor of the black and gold.
The majority of the rematch was filled with back and forth play. At the conclusion of the match, the Tigers held 52-percent of the possession, with a large portion of that number being controlled in the midfield.
Meanwhile, the Hillcats spent a large portion of their 90 minutes in the attacking half of the field.
Although Rogers State pressured the Tigers with 11 shots throughout the match, they were unable to find the back of the net due to a strong defensive presence from Fort Hays State’s back line. Each of the four defensive players (Mariano Benitez, Alec Bevis, Moritz Walther, and Joey McCain) played all 90 minutes in the victory.
Freshman goalkeeper Kieran Brown collected two saves en route to his second career clean sheet.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the second half, Alonso Rodriguez struck Fort Hays’ eighth shot of the match. From a few yards inside the 18-yard box, the junior midfielder slotted the ball in the lower right-hand corner of the goal, registering his third of the season.
Almost two minutes later, Rogers State’s James Connor attempted to equalize the scoresheet, but had his shot ring off the crossbar.
Now 8-3-1, FHSU will battle against conference foe, Northeastern State University on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers and the RiverHawks clashed in Hays earlier in the season when an overtime goal by Santiago Agudelo sealed the result for the black and gold. Their second matchup this season is slated for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
