We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Author: Hays Post

Hot, windy Monday with a chance for thunderstorms

Posted on

Today A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Breezy, with a south wind 13 to 20 mph.

Tonight A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 1am and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 8 to 13 mph.

Tuesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. South southeast wind 7 to 13 mph.

Tuesday Night Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 65. South southeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
WednesdayA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. West northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Wednesday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
ThursdayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Larks sweep Oklahoma City on Father’s Day

Posted on

HAYS, Kan. – The Hays Larks continued their hot hitting Sunday night, capping off a three-game sweep of Oklahoma 12-5. The Larks put together a seven-run fourth inning which was started with a double by Mike Anastasia. Scott Wolverton was hit by a pitch in the next at bat and Devin Hager placed a perfect bunt towards third base advancing the runners, but a fielding error by Oklahoma first baseman Evan Fulps scored Anastasia and Wolverton. Hager advanced to third where he was batted in by Ryne Randle on a single.

Indian pitcher Harrison Moy gave up a single in the next at bat to Wyatt Divis and a walk to Clayton Rasbeary which set up Easton Kirk with the bases loaded and no outs. Kirk launched the second pitch he saw over the right field wall for a grand slam to give Hays a 12-4 lead after four. Hays would only give up one run in the top of the seventh for the rest of the game.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview

Carlos Tavera allowed four runs over four innings and picked up his second win. Sloan Baker and Michael Wong each went one inning with no runs given up. Toby Scoles gave up one run and five hits in three innings pitched.

Ryne Randle was 3-5 with three singles, three runs scored and an RBI. Wyatt Divis was 3-4 with three runs scored.

The Larks have won seven of their last eight games and move to 11-3 on the year. They are off until Wednesday when they travel to Dodge City.

 

Kan. officer responding to call hospitalized after crash

Posted on

SHAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas police officer was injured in an accident just before 10p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.

Saturday night accident scene-photo courtesy WIBW TV

According to Lt. Manuel Munoz, an on-duty Topeka police officer was responding to a call near the intersection of SW Gage and SW Huntoon. An SUV turned in front of the officer and they collided in the middle of the intersection.

The driver of the SUV and two passengers were treated at the scene. The officer was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to Munoz.

Authorities did not release the name of the officer or the other driver.  The accident remains under investigation, according to Munoz.

Kansas zoo elephant undergoes successful dental work

Posted on

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Even 60-year-old elephants can have trouble with their molars.

photo courtesy Topeka Zoo

It took more than a week of planning at the Topeka Zoo to help Cora deal with two molars that hadn’t chipped off naturally, which was causing sores in Cora’s mouth. A 30-minute procedure on Friday by veterinary dentist Douglas Winter, the zoo’s chief veterinarian Shirley Llizo and a team of specialists helped solve the problem.

The zoo’s staff feared the sores in Cora’s mouth could lead to other health risks.

The zoo gave her an anesthetic that lightly sedated her but allowed her to stand during the procedure.

Cora arrived at the Topeka Zoo in 2016 from a private owner. Cora once co-starred with Burt Reynolds in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit 2.”

Immigration to SW Kansas is creating new accent

Posted on

(Photo courtesy Mirna Bonilla-Salazar, KSRE)
By STEPHAN BISAHA
Kansas News Service

Southwest Kansas has a new accent due to the rapidly growing Latino population in the area.

New research from Kansas State University and its Kansas Speaks Project, which documents language shifts in Kansas, shows younger people in the region have started to take on the characteristics of Spanish speakers, even if they don’t speak Spanish themselves.

“It dispels the myth of the idea that Kansas in a monolingual state,” said Mary Kohn, a linguist at K-State. “That’s never been the case.”

Kohn and her students, Trevin Garcia and Addison Dickens, interviewed more than 90 people across the state for the project.

They found pockets of communities in southwest Kansas, like Liberal, where younger residents say their vowels in a Spanish style, including those without any Hispanic heritage. They also speak in a similar rhythm to Spanish speakers.

Liberal has gone from about 20 percent Hispanic in the 1990s to about 60 percent today.

The developing accent presents an opportunity to see what happens when cultures meet.

“When we talk about language what we’re talking about is culture and history of people,” Kohn said. “Whenever we’re studying language what we’re really studying is people and how they move through the world, and language is a part of that.”

Other communities with large Hispanic populations, like in Texas and Florida, have similar accents, though they’re not exactly the same. Southwest Kansas provides Kohn and her team a unique opportunity to study the early development of a regional dialect.

Kohn said accents are always changing — the only language that doesn’t change is a dead one.

“Language will always vary according to the social constructs that matter in a culture,” Kohn said. “Because we do use language as a way to construct our personal identity.”

Stephan Bisaha reports on education for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio, KCUR and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow him on @SteveBisaha.

Kan. woman charged $132K after son topples sculpture

Posted on

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas mother says an insurance company wants her family to pay $132,000 after her 5-year-old son accidentally knocked over a sculpture at a city community center.

Security camera image courtesy City of Overland Park

Sarah Goodman said the incident happened last month at Overland Park’s Tomahawk Ridge Community Center while her family was attending a wedding reception. Goodman says she didn’t see the artwork hit the ground but her son suffered minor injuries when it fell.

She says the sculpture was unprotected at the crowded center.

City spokesman Sean Reilly says the work was on loan to the city and that it was obligated to file a claim with its insurance company for the damage.

Goodman says her children were well-supervised and she wasn’t negligent. She hopes her insurance company can resolve the issue.

Kansas awarded additional grant funding for Statewide Apprenticeship Program

Posted on

KDC

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Commerce been awarded $1.2 million in additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship to help grow the statewide Registered Apprenticeship Program. This new funding follows an initial $1 million in grant funding the agency earlier received. The funds are being used to offset training costs for employers, apprentices and training institutions.

The Registered Apprenticeship Program is built upon an employer-driven model that combines on-the-job learning with related technical instruction that increases an apprentice’s skill level and wages. It is a proven model for businesses to recruit, train and retain highly skilled workers.

“Since the reinvigoration of the program two years ago, we have observed a marked increase in advanced manufacturing, medical, electrical, plumbing and other high demand occupations in need of trained employees,” says Gary Westerman, State Manager of the Registered Apprenticeship Program. “The Registered Apprenticeship Team has taken several steps in identifying needs of Kansas employers and determining which fields are in the greatest needs of a workforce trained through the Registered Apprenticeship Program.”

There are presently 1,743 registered apprentices in Kansas, receiving both on-the-job training and paid employment with 393 apprentices achieving “Journeyperson “status within the past 18 months from ­­­246 employers.

Through this program, apprentices receive on-the-job training from an experienced mentor for at least a full year, providing a living wage while training for a career position. They also earn credentials which can be carried forward throughout their careers. At the same time, employers benefit by meeting their growing need for a trained workforce, experience lower turnover costs and higher productivity and reduce their costs for recruiting personnel.

“Registered Apprenticeship can improve a company’s workforce situation dramatically, including staff retention, skill knowledge, and safety, along with reducing training costs and increasing a company’s ability to develop their own talent pipeline,” said Westerman.

Currently the Kansas Department of Commerce staff, the Registered Apprenticeship Team and Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) partners are working with local high schools and military installations across Kansas to demonstrate that receiving technical training and certification is a valid option to a traditional four-year college path — especially in meeting today’s workforce needs.

For more information on the Registered Apprenticeship Program, visit ksapprenticeship.org.

Police: Victim in Kansas shooting dies; suspect jailed

Posted on

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a now fatal shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Munoz -photo Shawnee Co.

Just before 8a.m. Saturday June 9, police responded to the 400 block of SE Lafayette Street in Topeka on a report of gunshots in the area with two possible victims, according to Lt. Chris Heaven.

Upon arrival, officers located a Hispanic/Male in the west alley suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Stormont Vail Hospital.

A private vehicle had already taken a second Hispanic-Male unknown age, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to St. Francis Hospital. 

Both gunshot victims suffered injuries that appear to be life threatening, according to Heaven.

 On June 15, Ramon A. Mathews, 25, Topeka died at a Topeka hospital as a result of injuries sustained during shooting, according to Lt. Jennifer Cross.

Police arrested 28-year-old Daniel R. Munoz Munoz for two counts of Aggravated Battery and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.  Authorities did not released updated charges Saturday.

————

KDA seeks participants for beef genetics trade mission to Uruguay

Posted on
Kansas beef producers (from left) Russ Smith, Galen Fink and Jason Pratt meet with an Uruguayan beef producer (second from left) on a 2016 agricultural trade mission.

KDA

MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture is seeking individuals to participate in a beef genetics trade mission to Uruguay from September 12–17, 2018. This trade mission provides an opportunity for Kansas purebred beef cattle producers and allied industries to develop relationships with livestock producers in Uruguay to increase market opportunities for U.S. and Kansas beef genetics.

Participants will interact with breeders and promote the use of U.S. beef genetics while attending Expo Prado 2018, a major international livestock exhibition in Uruguay. Kansas ranchers and related agribusinesses specializing in the export of Angus and Hereford genetics are invited to participate.

The trade mission is funded by U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. Selected participants will be eligible for travel stipends for airfare depending upon number of applicants and fund availability. Attendees will be responsible for the cost of hotels, meals, and other incidental expenses.

Individuals interested in participating in the trade mission should complete the application form on the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/international. Application deadline is July 30.

KDA strives to encourage economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy by exploring and expanding both domestic and international marketing opportunities. For more information on the trade mission to Uruguay, please contact Shirley Acedo, KDA agribusiness development coordinator, at [email protected] or 785-564-7467.

Sharon L. Anderson

Posted on

Sharon L. Anderson, age 66, passed away May 30, 2018 at the Wheatland Nursing Center in Russell, Kansas. She was born March 1, 1952 in West Palm Beach, Florida to Ernie and Betty (Tardy) Delburn. She married Stephen Anderson on January 31, 1985. He preceded her in death.

Sharon was a RN for several central Kansas facilities and home health care providers. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Ness City. She enjoyed reading and being with her family.

She is survived by a daughter, Olivia Anderson and her daughter Grace both of Claflin, son Shane Anderson and wife Jennifer and children, Robbie, Kevin and Donny all of Great Falls, Montana; daughter, Kimberly Waters of Missippi and her children, Devan and Amanda; step daughter, Margie King of Florida; a step granddaughter Sammie King and her family all of Florida and a brother, Kevin Delburn of Florida.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Donny Anderson.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]

Willa Rose Bliss

Posted on

Longtime Goodland, Kansas resident, Willa Rose Bliss, 90, passed away on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland.

Rose was born on September 1, 1927 in Mustang, Oklahoma to William A. and Minnie Mae (Howard) Krivanek. She was one of three children. She grew up and attended school in Mustang and Union City, Oklahoma, graduating from high school in 1945.

In 1951, she married Warren G. Bliss in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. To this union, three children, Karen, Ben and Lue were born. She enjoyed spending her time raising their children and working around the home. She was a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Warren, one son Lue A. Bliss, and a sister Mae Ross.

She is survived by her two children Karen Richmond of Yukon, Oklahoma, and Ben Bliss of Goodland, Kansas. She is also survived by three grandchildren; Karmel Goodermuth of Del City, Oklahoma, Michele Crosson of Houston, Texas and Marilyn Brown of Greensburg, Kansas; seven great grandchildren and twelve great-great grandchildren; as well as one sister Ruby Garrett of Lindsay, Oklahoma.

Graveside services for Rose will be held on Monday, June 18, 2018 at 10:00 AM MT at the Goodland Cemetery in Goodland with Pastor John Ball officiating. Burial will follow the services at the cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 17, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Memorials are designated to the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Funeral service arrangements are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Robert Isidore “RIP” Pfannenstiel

Posted on

Robert Isidore “RIP” Pfannenstiel, age 89, died June 15, 2018 at the Ness County Hospital, Ness City. He was born on March 6, 1929 to Isidore and Barbara (Sauer) Pfannenstiel on a farm three and ½ miles South of Ness City.

He attended a one room school house, Sidney, which was located one and ½ miles South of Ness City.

He served four years in the US Navel Air Force. After boot camp he was an Aerial Gunner and spent half of his time overseas.

On June 4, 1956 he married Patricia M. Legg in Ness City. To this union two children were born: son, Rory Lee and daughter, Rhonda Kay.

He was a farmer and stockman and he and his brother, Jim, raised buffalo on the family farm in the 1980’s.

He worked 40 years for the Santa Fe Railroad in the Maintenance of Way (track department). He started as a Trackman, was promoted to Machine Operator then to Section Foreman, then to Production Foreman and Relief Supervisor.

He was a life member of Sacred Heart Church, Ness City; American Legion Post 152, Ness City; and VFW Post 7972, Ransom for over 50 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Clarence, Marvin, and Jim; sisters, Bernice DiSalvo and Theresa Friess.

He leaves to morn: brothers, Larry and wife Delores and Donald Pfannenstiel and sister Clara Marie Felts; five nieces and eight nephews.

His greatest joy was to be “grandpa” to Megan and Trevor Moore, children of John and Cindy (Huxman) Moore.

Funeral service will be on Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 10:30 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church, Ness City followed by burial in the Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Monday, June 18, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. with Rosary and Parish Vigil starting at 6:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Sacred Heart Church or Sacred Heart School.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family at www.fitzgeraldfuneral.com.

Arc of Central Plains will have free special needs planning workshop

Posted on

The Arc of Central Plains is sponsoring a free special needs planning workshop on June 20 at 600 Main in Hays, with sessions at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, P.A. will be presenting on topics including supplemental needs trusts, the ABLE act, ABLE accounts and planning for those with special needs.

If you are interested in attending this free event, RSVP to Kathy at (785) 628-8831.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File