June 07, 1958 – July 31, 2018
The family will have a private service at a later date. There is no visitation. The family suggests memorials to the Dennis Wood Memorial Fund. Memorials may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn, Oberlin, KS 67749
SUMNER COUNTY —A second earthquake this week was reported in Kansas. Just after 11:30p.m. Wednesday, a 2.6 magnitude quake was centered approximately 8 miles northwest of Caldwell, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
At 10:09 p.m. Monday, a 2.4 magnitude quake was reported in Marion County, approximately 3 miles northeast of the unincorporated community Oursler.
These are the first quakes reported in Kansas since a 2.5 quake in Harper County on July 2.
There are no reports of damage or injury from Wednesday’s quake.
HPL
Hays Public Library will host “The Kansas City Monarchs in Your Hometown,” a presentation and discussion by Phil S. Dixon on Aug. 5 at 1:30pm in the Schmidt Gallery of the Hays Public Library. Members of the community are invited to attend the free program.
Contact Marissa Lamer, Kansas Room Librarian, at 785-625-9014 for more information. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas.
Formed in 1920, the Kansas City Monarchs revolutionized baseball; not only were they charter members of the Negro National League and the first professional team to use outdoor lighting, the Monarchs also sent more players to the major leagues than any other Negro League franchise. This presentation will explore the early barnstorming days of the Monarchs and highlight great players such as Wilbur “Bullet” Rogan, Satchel Paige, and Jackie Robinson.
Phil S. Dixon, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, is the author of nine books about baseball, including biographies about Wilber “Bullet” Rogan and John “Buck” O’Neil. In the course of his research, he has interviewed over 500 former Negro League players and family members. Dixon will share stories of particular interest to Hays and surrounding areas. The Kansas City Monarchs made many trips to the area.
“The Kansas City Monarchs in Your Hometown” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Movement of Ideas Speakers Bureau, featuring presentations and workshops designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.
Page 2 – Presentation Explores Legacy of African American Baseball Team
For more information about “The Kansas City Monarchs in Your Hometown,” contact the the Hays Public Library at 785-625-9014 or visit www.hayslibrary.org.
About Humanities Kansas
Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit spearheading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.
ELLIS — The annual “Just Breathe” disc golf tournament in memory of Ellis resident Bryce Stropes will be held Sunday, Aug. 5, Sky Vu Disc Golf Course in Ellis.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., with play beginning at 10 a.m.
Cost is $20 per team of two, and there will be a cash payout for first through third finishes.
A 14-year-old Ellis resident, Bryce Stropes drowned while playing in the city swimming pool July 22, 2010, despite the efforts of lifeguards, a volunteer firefighter who was also at the pool and EMS personnel. His death was determined to be from shallow water blackout drowning.
Fort Hays State University is currently accepting applications for the position of University Police Officer. For a full description and a list of requirements go to https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS.
Applicant must be at least 21 years of age, no felony convictions, no convictions for domestic violence, and must maintain a valid Kansas driver’s license.
Position open until filled.
Technology keeps evolving to help crop producers make every drop of water count on the fields. To demonstrate the latest in crop irrigation technology, farmers in numerous counties are teaming with the Kansas Water Office and Kansas State University to present Water Technology Field Days in several locations in August.
“I’m pleased to see the growing interest in Water Technology Farms across the state,” said Kansas Water Office Director Tracy Streeter. “We continue to see outcomes from these farms suggesting that water use reductions, coupled with irrigation technology adoption and water management improvements are leading to positive effects on the aquifer as well as the producer’s bottom line.”
The field days are designed for producers to see how the newest research and technology is being applied in real-life settings in different areas of the state. Three more Water Technology Farm projects were implemented in 2018 with a total of 10 Water Technology Farm projects, on more than 35 fields overlying the High Plains Aquifer.
The upcoming field day dates and locations include:
* Aug. 7 – Pawnee County – WaterPACK & ILS Farm – 2 p.m.
* Aug. 15 – Finney County – Garden City Co. & Roth Farm – 10 a.m.
* Aug. 16 – Harvey County – Weber Farm – TBD
* Aug. 16 – Sedgwick County – Jacob Farm – TBD
* Aug. 28 – Finney County – T&O Farms – 10 a.m.
* Aug. 28 – Seward County – Hatcher Land & Cattle – 2 pm.
* Aug. 29 – Sherman County – NW KS Tech College Farms – 9 am. (multiple events)
* Aug. 30 – Scott County – Circle C Farms – 10 a.m.
* Aug. 30 – Wichita County – Long Water Tech Farm – 5 p.m.
* Aug. 31 – Ford County – Harshberger Farm – 10 a.m.
For the second year Northwest Kansas Technical College is also participating by providing learning and workforce development training for its students. Northwest Kansas Technical College’s Precision Agriculture department and landowners in the surrounding counties have partnered to develop 10 Water Technology Farm projects. In these projects, the students and landowners receive in-field training and hands on experience implementing water efficiency technologies. With supplier partnerships, students will be exposed to multiple types of soil moisture probes, pivot controls, irrigation scheduling systems and other water management tools.
KWO provides financial assistance to Kansas State University’s efforts to give technical support to each technology farm. K-State is deeply involved in establishing and monitoring the farms to help answer the producers’ specific questions and concerns about the new technology.
“K-State is working with partners to help address questions and concerns about the new irrigation technologies so in the future, farmers will fully embrace the technology appropriate for their operation and situation,” said Jonathan Aguilar, water resource engineer with K-State Research and Extension, based in Garden City, Kansas. “Each farm is set up slightly different, depending on the primary concern the producer has. For example, one farm has three adjacent spans with different modes of application for comparison purposes. In most fields, soil moisture sensors are installed and tested for accuracy as feedback or for its performance in the different soil types.”
The Water Technology Farms wouldn’t be possible without key public-private partnerships and support from the following:
Kansas Water Office; K-State Research and Extension; Kansas Corn Commission; Northwest Groundwater Management District No. 4; Groundwater Management District No. 1; Seaman Crop Consulting; Servi-Tech Expanded Premium Services, LLC; United Sorghum Check-Off Program; Garden City Coop; SW KS Groundwater Management District No. 3; Kansas Department of Agriculture; Conestoga Energy Partners; Teeter Irrigation; Dragon-Line; Helena; Kansas Geological Survey; Ogallala Aquifer Program; Syngenta; Hortau; Kansas Farm Bureau; KSU Mesonet; AquaSpy; Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission; Crop Metrics; Netafim; Valley Irrigation; Presley Solutions, American Irrigation; WaterPACK; Pioneer Hi-Bred International; Western Irrigation Supply House and Ag Systems, Inc.; Tri-State Irrigation; John Payne; TerrAvion; Phytech; Great Plains Precision Ag; Western Sprinkler; Finney County Conservation District; On Target Solutions;Lindsay Corporation; Woofter Irrigation; Agrela Ecosystems; BASF Corp; AgSense; Golden Harvset; Red Barn Enterprises, Inc.; Todd and Diana Long; Groundwater Management District No. 2; Heartland Soil Services; Ag Systems, Inc.; T&O Farms; Valmont Industries; 21st Century Equipment; AgVenture; AMVAC; Dane G. Hansen Foundation; DEKALB; DigiFarm; DJI; Kansas Corn Growers Association; Kansas Department of Commerce; ModernAG; Nash Water Well Service; Nex-Tech; NW Kansas Technical College; Precision Planting; SatShot; The Climate Corporation; Trimble; Northwest Kansas Groundwater Conservation Foundation; 96 Ag & KITS; DataFarm; Sand-D-Akr Farms; Senniger; Davis; Fontanelle; Golden Plains; Outback; Simplot; SST-Proagrica; Komet; Veris
For more information visit: www.kwo.ks.gov or contact Armando Zarco, Water Resource Planner at (620) 276-2901.
OFFICE OF GOV.
TOPEKA – Governor Jeff Colyer and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announce that Vital Statistics certified records are now available through the State of Kansas’ iKan app. The application allows residents to request birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates from their computer or mobile device, eliminating the need to visit a physical office in person.
In March, Governor Colyer introduced the iKan app to allow users to interact with multiple State services in a single self-service, intuitive experience from their mobile phones, tablets and computers. At the initial launch, the app allowed Kansas residents to remotely renew their vehicle registration. The app, which now includes Vital Statistics records, makes it easy to request official documents from anywhere with an internet connection and using technology most people carry with them everywhere.
“In today’s rapidly changing world, it is becoming increasingly important that we ensure government keeps pace with innovation and that we are taking advantage of technology to provide the best possible experience to those we serve. By quickly giving Kansans access to this important information, we are taking steps to do just that,” said Governor Colyer. “I’m excited to add another State agency to the list of iKan participants.”
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Secretary Jeff Andersen, added “iKan has already partnered with State government to facilitate vehicle registrations and other services. Today’s announcement is great news for Kansas and will make obtaining vital records much easier, while also decreasing lines and wait times in government offices.”
iKan is made available through PayIt, a Midwest-based technology firm specializing in the simplification of government transactions across the country, including taxes, utilities, court records, and more as part of their cloud-based platform. PayIt has provided the myKTag app for the Kansas Turnpike since 2014.
Once a Vital Statistics record is requested using iKan, depending on the delivery method selected, the requestor will be notified by text when the record is available for pick up or have it delivered within seven to 10 business days. Cost for a record and the processing fee through the app is $20. To download the app, search “iKan State of Kansas” on your iPhone and Android devices.
By ROXANA HEGEMAN
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge imposed on Wednesday more than $26,000 in sanctions against Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach as punishment for his “contemptuous behavior” during a voting rights case that challenged the state’s proof-of-citizenship registration law.
U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson found Kobach in contempt in April stemming from a 2016 preliminary injunction. The decision handed down Wednesday specified the amount of attorney fees and expenses awarded after considering arguments from the parties.
Robinson ruled in June that Kansas cannot require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, finding such laws violate the constitutional right to vote. That decision struck down the Kansas proof-of-citizenship registration law and made permanent the earlier injunction that had temporarily blocked it.
In issuing the latest sanctions, Robinson said Kobach failed to ensure local election officials sent voter registration postcards to people who registered when applying for a Kansas driver’s license or when using a federal form, regardless of documentary proof of citizenship, after she issued her initial order. She also noted that until recently the county election manual advised local election officials that people needed to submit citizenship paperwork to register to vote.
Kobach did not respond to cellphone, text, and email messages left with his spokeswoman, and his cellphones were not accepting any more messages.
Dale Ho, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s voting rights project, said Kobach remains the only person for whom he’s sought a contempt citation during a federal lawsuit. He said Kobach had engaged in “willful bad behavior.”
“The court sent a message that it’s unacceptable to defy court orders, as Mr. Kobach has done, unacceptable to give voters incomplete or misleading information, which Secretary Kobach has done,” Ho said. “The whole purpose of fines like this is to deter conduct like that.”
Ho added: “Something I’ve learned from this case is that Secretary Kobach does not own up to his behavior and take responsibility for it.”
Robinson wrote in her ruling that the services provided by the attorneys representing the voters in the case were “undoubtedly multiplied” by Kobach’s conduct that led to the contempt finding.
Instead of responding to the ACLU’s initial efforts to informally resolve the compliance issues, Kobach insisted for months that he need not comply at all. Almost five months later, Kobach took the position that he had taken the very compliance measures he initially disclaimed. That “needless gamesmanship” led to another round of letters, meetings, written filings and ultimately a three-hour contempt hearing in March, according to the decision.
“The Court will award the reasonable value of counsel’s services directly caused by Defendant’s contemptuous behavior,” Robinson wrote.
Robinson awarded $24,658 in attorneys’ fees and $1,557 in expenses as a sanction for the contempt found by the court in its April order.
The amount of sanctions fell short of the more than $50,000 initially sought by the ACLU after the judge reduced the claim due to lack of details in records, the excessive number of attorneys working on the tasks and duplication of work.
As for the reduction in the ACLU’s proposal, Ho said the original amount was calculated based on the time ACLU attorneys spent on their contempt motion. He said in such cases, attorneys typically will reduce the totals before the judge considers it, but the ACLU decided to let the judge decide the issue.
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TOPEKA, Kan. – Police are attempting to identify suspects from three recent robberies in Topeka.
The first occurred just before midnight on July 19, at a KWIK shop in the 2600 Block of SW 21st Street.
The second, an attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated assault occurred on just after 9:30a.m. on July 20 at Dollar General, 3401 SW Topeka Boulevard.
On July 30 at 10:46p.m., police reported an armed robbery at the Kwik Shop in the 1400 Block of SW 17th Street.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Today Sunny, with a high near 92. South southwest wind 6 to 15 mph.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind 10 to 14 mph.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 94. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon.
Friday NightA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Increasing clouds, with a low around 70. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 23 mph.
SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 93. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 22 mph.
Saturday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Breezy.
SundaySunny, with a high near 95. Breezy.
KDA
MANHATTAN — The Division of Conservation at the Kansas Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the availability of funds to assist landowners with their efforts to mitigate the impact of drought.
The Livestock Water Supply Financial Assistance Initiative will provide financial assistance for livestock water supply wells, pipeline and tanks installed after June 1, 2018, and before the announcement of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Drought Initiative by NRCS on July 24, 2018.
The State Conservation Commission took action on July 31, 2018, to approve the initiative for these qualifying drought mitigation efforts that took place prior to the NRCS EQIP Drought Initiative. Eligible areas will be the same as for the federal initiative.
Additional program details can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/DOC-assistance. Applications must be made through local conservation districts, and questions should be addressed to local conservation districts as well. Contact information for districts can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/conservation.
OFFICE OF GOV.
TOPEKA—The Information Network of Kansas (“INK”) Board of Directors has approved a $300,000 grant request by Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. to complete a Statewide Broadband Mapping project.
The project, which will be undertaken by non-profit Connected Nation in partnership with the Governor’s Office, will prepare a statewide broadband map of wireline and wireless coverage. This map will provide the Statewide Broadband Expansion Planning Task Force, created when Governor Colyer signed Sen. Sub. for House Bill No. 2701 into law, with a snapshot of broadband coverage in the state. The map will assist the Task Force in its efforts to identify and close broadband coverage gaps in Kansas.
“Access to quality broadband services is vital for Kansas communities to compete for jobs and people, and we can’t improve what we don’t measure,” said Governor Colyer. “Producing this statewide broadband map positions our state for long-term growth in the rapidly expanding digital economy and helps us ensure that all Kansans are benefiting from these new opportunities.”
Connected Nation will produce a granular statewide broadband availability map through a data collection process in collaboration with the state’s broadband service providers, for use by the general public and the Task Force. Connected Nation will also collect public feedback on the initial draft of the map and will deploy engineers into the field to validate service availability (or the lack thereof) based on the feedback received in order to improve the map over time.
“Just as roads, bridges, water systems, and the electrical grid serve as critical infrastructure today, so, too, is fast and reliable broadband access,” said Brent Legg, Vice President of Government Affairs at Connected Nation. “Unfortunately, information collected on broadband at the federal level isn’t accurate or granular enough to effectively guide policymaking and get broadband to the areas that need it. Governor Colyer recognized this need, and thanks to INK’s grant, we will now have the resources to identify and map the areas that still lack service across Kansas.”
In addition to tackling a number of broadband-related issues, the Task Force will evaluate and provide input to the mapping process based on preliminary feedback and results of Connected Nation’s work later this year.
“As Co-Chairs of the Statewide Broadband Expansion Planning Task Force, we strongly commend Governor Colyer for his initiative with this grant application and are excited to hear about the funding of the vital statewide broadband mapping project. This map will assist the Task Force as we work to expand broadband infrastructure and increase statewide access to broadband services for our fellow Kansans,” stated Senator Rob Olson and Representative Joe Seiwert, who also both chair their respective legislative chamber’s telecommunications issue committees.
Governor Colyer selected Rich Felts, President of Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB), as his at-large appointment to the Task Force.
KFB was recently granted a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to challenge its Mobility Fund Phase II (MFII) eligibility map, which will determine where $4.53 billion in subsidies for LTE broadband service buildout will be directed across the country over the next 10 years. KFB is working with their members and Kansans from all over the state to conduct speed tests to show the need to increase the number of eligible areas in Kansas (see www.kfb.org/ConnectingKansas).
“Kansans in every county of the state know where the shortcomings on broadband connectivity reside,” KFB President Rich Felts said. “Having an up-to-date map that accurately reflects areas that lack connectivity in both wired and wireless broadband will allow for future broadband development to improve public safety, and enhance agricultural technology, education, telemedicine and economic vitality.”
In June, the Governor’s Office received another grant from the INK Board in the amount of $225,000 to conduct professional mobile service drive testing and file its own challenge to expand eligible areas under the FCC’s MFII program. Alongside KFB, the Governor’s Office will dispute areas that are currently considered ineligible for MFII buildout support. If the challenge is successful, it could potentially unlock millions of dollars in MFII support for LTE service buildout in rural Kansas. The Governor’s Office will be working with Connected Nation to administer the drive-testing process in targeted areas believed to have limited or no cellular service today.
Also in June, Governor Colyer appointed Stanley Adams as Director of Broadband Initiatives at the Kansas Department of Commerce to work on continuing to identify broadband needs and solutions across Kansas—focusing heavily on broadband access issues facing many rural areas across the state.
“It’s critical that we have good data to understand where gaps in broadband coverage exist, with a level of detail sufficient to develop effective strategies that will result in all Kansans having access to the high quality broadband services needed to grow our economy and enhance our competitiveness” stated Mr. Adams.
The first draft of the statewide broadband availability map will be ready by December 31. Challenges to the FCC’s MFII eligibility map are currently due on August 27, although FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has signaled that the agency may extend the deadline to November 27.
SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen suspect for a weekend shooting that injured a woman on the balcony of her apartment.
Just after 1:15 a.m. Monday, police responded to report of a shooting at an apartment in the 2300 Block of North Woodlawn in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.
A 36-year-old woman told police she was on the balcony of her apartment, heard multiple gunshots and was shot in the leg. She then saw two suspects fleeing the area on foot, according to Davidson. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
On Tuesday, police arrested a 16-year-old boy who lives in the area, according to officer Charley Davidson. He is being held in juvenile detention for aggravated assault, aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm by a juvenile, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana.
Police released no additional details are not looking for other suspects in the case, according to Davidson.
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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated battery that sent a woman to the hospital.
Just after 1:15 a.m. Monday, police responded to report of a shooting at an apartment in the 2300 Block of North Woodlawn in Wichita, according to Officer Charley Davidson.
A 36-year-old woman told police she was on the balcony of her apartment, heard multiple gunshots and was shot in the leg. She then saw two suspects fleeing the area on foot, according to Davidson. She was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
One suspects is described as an unknown black male, medium build, shoulder length hair and a light complexion. The second suspect is described as an unknown black male with a light complexion, according to Davidson. Police released no additional details. Anyone with information is asked to call Wichita Police.
