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SUV crashes through front window of Salina print business

A Kia SUV crashed through the front of Pronto Print Thursday morning. Photo courtesy Mark Neubrand, Pronto Print

SALINA —No. Pronto Print does not offer drive-through service.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, a Kia SUV pulled into the parking area in front of Pronto Print, 627 E. Crawford, jumped the curb, and crashed into the front of the business, said Mark Neubrand, president of Pronto Print.

“We’ve been here since 1987 and I’ve seen vehicles bounce up over the curb, but we’ve never had one crash through the window,” he said.

Neubrand said no one was standing in the lobby area at the time of the accident. The Kia stopped short of the front counter, he said.

There were no serious injuries, according to police.

 

Teen says she was assaulted as she slept at Kan. welfare office

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 13-year-old says she was sexually assaulted inside a child welfare office in Kansas as she slept in a conference room.

Hamer is accused of the sex assault -photo Johnson County Sheriff

A newly released affidavit says the teen told authorities that Michael Anthony Hamer climbed under a blanked with her in May at the KVC Behavior Healthcare office in Olathe and began touching her. She later told a worker and authorities that she had been assaulted.

Hamer, who turned 19 Wednesday, was charged earlier this month with rape and aggravated indecent liberties of a child.

A KVC spokeswoman says the social worker had gone to get supplies and had only left the two unsupervised for “five minutes or less.” The two teens were at the office awaiting placement in a foster home or facility.

Ethics officials fine Kan. Senate president $100 for Kobach endorsement

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle’s endorsement of Republican Kris Kobach before the August primary election in the governor’s race will cost $100 because one of her employees distributed the endorsement using government equipment.

The state ethics commission on Wednesday imposed a $1,000 fine but waived $900 if Wagle’s campaign paid the $100 and if Wagle arrange ethics training for her staff.

Susan Wagle-courtesy photo

Wagle spokeswoman Shannon Golden acknowledged in a legal document that she sent Wagle’s endorsement while working as a state employee. Golden said Wagle was unaware she was going to send the endorsement on a state computer. She also said she didn’t know using the government computer for endorsements was an ethics violation.

Golden said Wagle’s office reported the situation to ethics officials as soon as questions were raised.

Sternberg Museum receives grant for geology collection

Wilson
FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Dr. Laura Wilson received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for $24,478 to support the geology collection housed at Sternberg.

Grant recipients were announced at the beginning of September. The project will begin on Dec. 1 with a nine-month completion timeline.

During this time, Wilson, curator of paleontology at the Sternberg Museum and an associate professor of geosciences, and Christina Byrd, paleontology and geology collections manager, will work with an undergraduate assistant to bring the museum’s geology collection up to current collection management standards. The geology collection is where specimens are stored when they are not on display.

“Recent improvements to the paleontology collection have emphasized the need to improve the conditions of the geology collection,” said Wilson.

To bring the collection up to new standards, the Sternberg Museum will digitally archive specimen data, upgrade the storage space, and securely store specimens for long-term preservation. The museum will also add 84 specimens to the collection from a recent donation.

“With specimens and specimen data more accessible, we can more successfully incorporate geology specimens into educational programming,” said Wilson.

TMP-M students conduct tests of water quality at Big Creek

TMP-M

Keri Maricle, Thomas More Prep-Marian biology instructor, has involved students in an ongoing aquatic ecology research project.

Carlos Schwindt, Nathan Stark and Ben Pfannenstiel conducted the first field measures for an ongoing research project focusing on water quality of Big Creek. Three field sites were established along Big Creek and water samples were taken to determine phosphate, nitrate, pH and other concentrations in the water. Researchers also took samples of aquatic organisms to examine in the lab later.

Maricle’s students plan on taking regular measurements at these sites for the next several months. The plan is to accumulate enough data to present at a few conferences next year and publish results in a scientific journal.

For each collection period, new students will be attending so that everyone may have the experience in participating in this field research.

“The students are definitely excited to be a part of something so interesting! For example, we discovered Big Creek has extremely high phosphate concentrations potentially due to runoff from agricultural fields,” Maricle said.

🎥 Hays Post Game of the Week matchup, Week 5

Week five of the high school football season is already here! On Friday night, Hays Post and Eagle Communications will live stream the Thomas More Prep-Marian Monarchs as they travel to Phillipsburg. The Hays High Indians can be heard hosting Wichita South on 96.9-KFIX, and Logan/Palco at Osborne can be heard on 101.9 The Bull..

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Check out Hays Post for live game action or tune in to listen in!

Game of the Week sponsored by: Service Master Clean of Hays, Insurance Planning, Thirsty’s, Patty Baconrind Appraising, Nextech Wireless, Master Cleaners, Cross Manufacturing, Coldwell Banker Executive Realty, Steel Fabrications, Lifetime Dental, Commercial Builders, Whiskey Creek, Paul Wertenberger Construction, TMP-Marion Alumni, McDonald’s of Hays, G&L Tire, Hays Chevrolet, NCK Tech, Golden Plains Credit Union and Classic Quality Body Shop.

FHSU professors receive award for strategic selling case study

Lloyd

FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University professors, Dr. Robert Lloyd, associate professor of management, and Dr. Michael Martin, associate professor of marketing, were awarded first place by the MidAmerican Business Deans Association for their case study on strategic selling.

Lloyd and Martin will receive their award at the annual meeting from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 in Chicago. While there, they will also present their findings.

Dr. Daniel Connolly, co-chair for the MidAmerican Business Deans Association, congratulated Lloyd and Martin on their “wonderful and innovative project.”

Martin

Lloyd and Martin studied students learning to cold-call prospective clients. Students in the class were cold-calling about a small liberal arts college and were required to find target students, construct strategies, build rapport, and close the deal by having students visit campus.

At the end of the study, Lloyd and Martin found that students were able to learn and implement the behaviors that make cold-callers successful. The study also benefited the university in recruiting potential students to visit campus.

Tip leads police to Kansas felon with stolen motorcycle

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a felony suspect in connection with a stolen motorcycle.

Fowler -photo Sedgwick County

Just after 3p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a call to an anonymous tip to investigate a possible stolen motorcycle in the backyard of a residence in the 1200 Block of South Martinson in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

At the residence, police located 22-year-old Daniel Fowler working on a stolen 1999 Honda motorcycle.   Fowler fled from police.  Officers caught him and while being taken into custody, a handgun fell from his waistband, according to Davidson.

Police booked Fowler on charges including battery of a law enforcement officer, resist arrest, possession of stolen property, unlawful possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and felon in possession of a firearm. Investigators later determined the handgun was stolen.

Officers required treatment of minor injuries from the altercation during the arrest, according to Davidson.

Fowler has previous convictions for aggravated escape from custody and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas man admits using gun during credit union robbery

WICHITA – A Kansas man pleaded guilty Wednesday to brandishing a gun during a robbery at a local credit union, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Colvin-photo courtesy Wichita PD

Mack W. Colvin, Jr., 32, Park City, pleaded guilty to one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. In his plea, he admitted that on Dec. 19, 2017, he robbed the Wheat State Credit Union at 1400 S. Oliver.

He pointed a firearm at tellers and demanded money. According to court records, an employee got the tag number of the car he was driving and police used the information to locate Colvin and arrest him.

Sentencing is set for Dec. 17. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of seven years in federal prison.

Warm, windy Thursday

Today Sunny, with a high near 80. South southwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 48. East southeast wind 7 to 9 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

Friday A 20 percent chance of rain after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Northeast wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Friday Night A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East northeast wind 7 to 13 mph.

Saturday A 20 percent chance of rain before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. East wind 7 to 11 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

SundaySunny, with a high near 83.

Sunday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Company information for 2019 Kansas health insurance market released

KID 

TOPEKA, KS – Kansas consumers will have their choice of up to three health insurance companies, depending on where they live, when open enrollment begins Nov. 1, according to the Kansas Insurance Department. 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Medica Insurance Company, and Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan will offer plans in 2019. The three companies signed agreements with the federal government to offer 23 total individual marketplace plans online through www.healthcare.gov. Also, all three companies will offer plans outside of the online marketplace as well.  

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas plans are available in all Kansas counties except Johnson and Wyandotte. Medica will have plans available in all counties, and the Ambetter from Sunflower Health Plan coverage is available in Johnson, Wyandotte, Miami and Leavenworth counties.     

The federal government has indicated that consumers will be able to “window shop” for all plans on the federal website prior to November 1, 2018, the official date for 2019 open enrollment to begin. 

“During open enrollment, Kansans need to evaluate whether to enroll in coverage, stay on their current policies, if available, or enroll in different policies,” said Ken Selzer, CPA, Kansas Commissioner of Insurance. 

Commissioner Selzer said it is also important for consumers to understand the network requirements of the various plans and to check that all of their providers of medical services are in the plan’s network. In addition, consumers should be aware that the types of policies companies sell may change from year to year. 

Open enrollment for the 2019 plan year ends December 15, 2018.  The open enrollment period is for coverage purchased on the healthcare.gov platform as well as for policies purchased offline. 

Kansans have likely heard about Short Term Limited Duration policies and Association Health Plans (AHPs). These types of plans offer other options for Kansans who are seeking health insurance coverage, according to the Commissioner.  

“We know that consumers will have questions about open enrollment,” Commissioner Selzer said. “We will assist callers through our Consumer Assistance Division by answering questions they have or by referring them to the proper agencies for help.” 

The department’s Consumer Assistance Hotline is 800-432-2484. Questions can also be answered through the department’s online chat feature at www.ksinsurance.org.

Retrial of Kan. woman for murder of ex-husband, his fiancé delayed

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The second trial of a woman charged with killing her ex-husband and his fiancée in 2002 has been delayed until Jan. 29.

Dana Chandler -photo Shawnee County

58-year-old Dana Chandler’s trial was scheduled to begin Monday.

Chandler was seeking a 60-day continuance because several motions remain unresolved. Chief deputy district attorney Dan Dunbar said the 60 days would put the trial too close to the holidays.

Chandler was convicted six years ago for the 2002 murders of Michael Sisco and Karen Harkness. The Kansas Supreme Court overturned her conviction in April because of misconduct by the prosecutor.

The next motion hearings are scheduled for Oct. 22 and 30.

Federal grant helps Kansas expand K-TRACS drug monitoring 

U.S. ATTORNEY FOR KS 

KANSAS CITY – A $736,313 grant from the Department of Justice will help Kansas expand its K-TRACS prescription drug monitoring program, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said today.  

The Kansas Board of Pharmacy, which operates K-TRACS, will receive the money. The grant comes from a justice department program aimed at helping law enforcement and public health officials across the nation address prescription drug and opioid misuse. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 72,000 Americans died last year from drug overdoses.

“We are facing the deadliest drug crisis in American history,” said U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We’ve never seen anything like it.” 

Stephen McAllister, U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, said: “Kansans and all Americans need to understand that opioid addiction is a national public health emergency. Tens of thousands of people every year are disappearing into a whirlpool of addiction, bankruptcy, divorce and death.” 

The Kansas Board of Pharmacy will use the money to develop a public awareness campaign for K-TRACS, to conduct an audit of K-TRACS records and to hire a special investigator who will use K-TRACS data to identify suspicious and harmful prescribing patterns.

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