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Author: Hays Post

Work starting on K-383 in Norton County

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KDOT

The Kansas Department of Transportation plans to begin a chip seal project on a portion of K-383 in Norton County on June 18.

Crews will be working on a 14-mile stretch from the Decatur County line to the west U.S. 36 junction. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and directed through the work zone via flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours. Minor delays not exceeding 15 minutes should be anticipated.

KDOT expects work to be completed by the end of the week, weather permitting. APAC Kansas of Emporia is the primary contractor for the project with a total contract cost of $457,000.

Phillips Co. commissioner: State funding change means ‘safer local roads and bridges’

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Dibble/Courtesy Phillips County Review

TOPEKA — Governor Jeff Colyer today announced that the Kansas Department of Transportation is increasing the exchange rate for local public agencies seeking to fund local projects with state funds through the Federal Fund Exchange Program, returning the exchange rate to $.90 in state funds made available for every $1.00 in federal funds awarded a local agency, upon that agency’s request.

“By participating in the Federal Fund Exchange Program, we are hoping to increase the control that localities have over their transportation projects and make sure that funds are available when they need them,” said Governor Colyer. “It is important to me that local governments have access to resources for local projects with less federal regulation and bureaucratic red tape. We want Kansas solutions for Kansas transportation issues.”

The Federal Fund Exchange Program is a voluntary program allowing local public agencies the option to sell all or a portion of their federal funds for state transportation dollars, which provides greater flexibility of use and allows local agencies the opportunity to fund larger projects that may not have been possible with federal funding.

“We value the partnership we have with local public agencies and we are looking forward to maximizing our capacity to help them improve their local transportation infrastructure,” said Secretary of Transportation Richard Carlson. “We want to continue providing a statewide transportation system that meets the needs of the people of Kansas.”

Federal funds exchanged for state funds can be used for local projects such as road construction, maintenance or preservation, safety improvements, sidewalks, ADA ramps, bridge construction, rehabilitation or repair, and low water crossings. The funds exchange program allows local agencies to deposit federal funds over a period of years to bank funds for larger projects or to fund projects that would not have fallen under federal requirements.

Max Dibble, Phillips County Commissioner and Kansas Association of Counties President, said, “Restoration of the $.90/$1.00 ratio in the federal funds exchange program will allow counties to further stretch our transportation dollars.  This means safer local roads and bridges for our citizens, farmers and businesses depending on them.”

Dibble/Courtesy Phillips County Review

Michael White, Executive Director of the Kansas Contractors Association commented that, “our economy depends on good roads and infrastructure. We appreciate the Governor and KDOT’s leadership to leverage innovative opportunities for transportation funding. This is a perfect example of how we can all work together – at the local, state and federal level – to repair and grow our economy through results-driven infrastructure investments.”

“As we travel the state and talk to cities, we repeatedly hear transportation funding and infrastructure development is critically important to maintain and grow our state,” said Erik Sartorius, Executive Director of the League of Kansas Municipalities. “We appreciate the Governor and KDOT for reinstating the 90-cent exchange rate for local projects. These funds are used to build important projects in cities including the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of roads and bridges.”

The exchange rate was $.90 for fiscal years 2011-2017 and was at $.75 for fiscal year 2018. Approximately $30 million in federal funds has been eligible for the program. The new rate will take effect with all new contracts.

— Office of the Kansas Governor

 

Fort Hays State earns two No. 1 rankings in May

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Programs offered through the Fort Hays State University Virtual College received two No. 1 recognitions in May along with numerous other rankings from various agencies as among the best and most affordable online programs offered by U.S. colleges and universities.

CollegeChoice.net
No. 1, Most Affordable Online Master’s in Web Design Degrees
FHSU’s Master of Professional Studies in Web development was named the No. 1 Web development graduate program in the nation by College Choice.

The 30-credit-hour-program includes courses such as research methods in informatics, Web scripting languages, law of cyberspace, interactive systems design, foundations of information system security and capstone in informatics.

“The Master of Professional Studies degree is a multi-disciplinary master’s degree designed to meet emerging workforce development needs,” says the FHSU website.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2kVObM0.

CollegeFactual.com
No. 1, Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in Kansas
FHSU topped CollegeFactual’s list of the best colleges in Kansas for non-traditional students.

More than 40 degrees at the associate, bachelor’s and master’s levels are available through the Virtual College. All online degree programs are fully accredited, affordable, and utilize the latest in learning technology.

“Whether you want a degree, professional certification, or simply the pleasure of exploring a new subject, we’re ready to help you. We offer a comprehensive menu of online student services including tutoring, personal advising and other support services to help ensure your success,” says the FHSU website.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2JmtkMF.

CollegeChoice.net
In addition to the No. 1 ranking, CollegeChoice also recognized FHSU’s organizational leadership program for its quality and affordability.
No. 3, Best Organizational Leadership Degrees
FHSU earned a top spot on CollegeChoice’s list for its organizational leadership program.

Through the Virtual College, FHSU offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership. Both degrees require 124 credit hours and core leadership courses including introduction to leadership concepts, advanced leadership behaviors, principles of civic leadership, leadership and personal development and leadership and team dynamics.

“The innovative curriculum focuses on the study of leadership in the context of the modern organization,” says the FHSU website. “Standard classroom practices do not apply here. Whether in the classroom or in the field, students will constantly be challenged to adapt and overcome.”

To view this ranking, https://bit.ly/2sPDfU1.

No. 5, Most Affordable Online Organizational Leadership Degrees
CollegeChoice recognized FHSU’s organizational leadership program not only for its quality, but also for its affordability.

The website also noted the FHSU Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience, a year-long curricular and co-curricular experience for upper-division students looking to further challenge themselves in areas of leadership.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2JoR9Dx.

CollegeFactual.com
No. 31, Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students
CollegeFactual also ranked FHSU among the top 50 colleges in the country for non-traditional students.

FHSU prides itself on its dedication to all students, including non-traditional students. FHSU offers a number of student resources, including academic advising services, testing services, and support and tutoring services.

To view this ranking visit https://bit.ly/2sDK5MP and sign up for a free account.

BestColleges.com
No. 4, Best Online Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership
FHSU’s organizational leadership program received another ranking in May based on graduation rate, accreditation, and affordability.

“Whether you choose the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science major in organizational leadership, this 45-credit hour interdisciplinary degree program has been designed to make students as unique as its name,” says the FHSU website.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2sNgXCk.

BestValueSchools.org
No. 23, The Best Value Schools of 2018
FHSU earned a spot on BestValueSchools list of the best value colleges and universities for 2018 based on tuition and enrollment rates.

“Fort Hays offers programs that are specifically designed for adult learners in over 40 majors and disciplines,” said BestValueSchools. “Some of the best degrees offered by Fort Hays State included business teacher licensure, marketing and tourism and hospitality management.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2rr9pUV.

ComputerScienceDegreeHub.com
No. 2, Top Five Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Web Design Degrees Online 2018        
Quality and affordability earned FHSU a top spot on ComputerScienceDegreeHub’s list of the most affordable online Web design degrees.

FHSU offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in information networking telecommunications with a concentration in Web and mobile application development. Both programs are 124 credit-hours and include courses such as introduction to Web development, interactive systems design, Web scripting languages, law of cyberspace and introduction to Web-enabled databases.

“Built on the concept of media convergence, our program teaches electronic media as well as Web tools, software, scripting languages and databases,” says the FHSU website.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2HsnkjG.

GreatValueColleges.net
No. 4, Top 30 Great Value Colleges for a Master of Science in Nursing Online 2018
FHSU was named the No. 4 great value online nursing program for students seeking a master’s degree.

The Virtual College offers the Master of Science in Nursing in an administration track and in an education track. Both programs require 36 credit-hours. Courses for both include statistics for health professionals, developing nursing theories, informatics in health care systems and research in nursing.

FHSU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and the graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Committee on Collegiate Nursing Education.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2JGlOzI.

No. 5, Top 15 Least Expensive Master’s Degrees in Nursing Online
FHSU’s Master of Science in Nursing program also earned a spot on GreatValueCollege’s list of the top 15 most affordable Master’s in nursing programs in the nation.

In addition to the Master of Science in Nursing in administration or education tracks, FHSU also offers an online Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree with BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP options.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2sSczSq.

NonprofitCollegesOnline.com
No. 2, Best Online Master’s in Education Programs: Students before Profit Awards 2018
FHSU’s Department of Advanced Education Programs earned the No. 2 spot on NonprofitCollegesOnline’s list due to its quality, affordability, and diverse variety of degree options.

The department offers a variety of master’s programs entirely online, including education, educational administration, special education, special education-gifted, higher education student affairs and instructional technology. Two Educational Specialist programs are also available online: education administration and education leadership.

Additionally, the department offers two hybrid programs, which combine online and on-campus course work: counseling-school and school psychology.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2xVoODx.

OnlineMBA.com
No. 7, The 10 Most Affordable Online MBA Programs
OnlineMBA named FHSU among the 10 most affordable Master of Business Administration programs in the nation.

In addition to the general MBA option, students of the 34-credit-hour program can choose from 11 concentrations available completely online, including digital marketing, finance, health care management, information assurance, international business, leadership studies, management information systems, and tourism and hospitality management.

To view ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2Jq5IXC.

Online-Psychology-Degrees.org
No. 23, Top 30 Master’s Degrees in Educational Psychology Online 2018
FHSU’s Master of Science in school psychology earned a spot on Online-Psychology’s list of the top master’s degree programs in the nation for educational psychology.

The program requires 30 credit hours and five days of on-campus workshops. Courses include behavioral therapy, professional ethics in psychology, appraisal of children, experimental methods, inferential statistics and methods in school psychology.

“The graduate program in school psychology at Fort Hays State University has a long history of preparing students for entry into the profession of school psychology,” says the FHSU website.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2JE94t9.

About the FHSU Virtual College
Distance education at Fort Hays State began in 1911 when faculty voted to offer courses free by mail so that one-room school teachers across western Kansas could afford to gain the continuing education required to teach. The distance education department created then evolved continuously with changing technology and culture until, in 1997, the Department of Continuing Education and Instructional Technology became the FHSU Virtual College.

KRUG: Celebrating dads on Father’s Day

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Donna Krug
I hope that your family takes time to celebrate with dad on his special day. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my own father. Even though he’s been gone more than 10 years, I appreciate the role model he was to our family. A hard working farmer, he was totally outnumbered with a wife and three daughters. He taught us a lot of things and provided the opportunity for us to attend college. He even took the time to be a 4-H community club leader for many years. He was a wonderful caregiver to my mother for the 30 years that she lived with the challenges of Parkinson’s disease.

It is so refreshing to see fathers who have become more involved with their families beyond the role of breadwinner. I saw it in my husband, John, and now in our son and son-in-law, Adam and Art. Taking the time to develop and nurture relationships with children pays off big in the end. Children with active fathers develop skills they can carry into adulthood. Self-esteem soars when dads are active participants in their children’s lives. Children come with their own unique personalities, temperaments and developmental timetables and dads are an essential link to a child’s well-being.

As we celebrate Dads for all that they do or have done, it is important to be mindful of the influence they have on positive youth development. Summer often provides additional opportunities for families to spend time together. Family vacations and backyard barbeques are perfect events for family bonding and creating happy memories. However, Dads who do not live in the home do have to be more intentional about creating and taking advantage of opportunities to spend time together. With blended families, scheduling and personality conflicts between adults can create barriers.

A gradual cultural shift of permissiveness toward single parenting can sometimes give an impression that fathers don’t really matter. Nothing could be further from the truth. Fathers play an important role in the development of their children and families. Studies show that children with involved fathers are more successful in school, more ambitious, more self-confident with their identity, self-protective and self-reliant, less likely to drop out of school and less susceptible to peer pressure.

So take time to celebrate Dad this Father’s Day!

Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent and District Director with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or [email protected]

Video shows Kan. felon buying tools used to dismember woman

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Prosecutors say a man and woman were caught on store video buying tools that police believe they later used to dismember a Nebraska woman.

Trail has previous convictions for theft and writing worthless checks in Kansas.

Court documents unsealed Tuesday say 51-year-old Aubrey Trail told investigators that he strangled 24-year-old Sydney Loofe of Lincoln with an extension cord on Nov. 15.

Investigators believe 23-year-old Bailey Boswell helped Trail dismember Loofe, stuff her body parts in trash bags and dump them in a field near Edgar, about 90 miles southwest of Lincoln.

Sydney Loofe-photo courtesy photo

Loofe’s remains were found in December.

Authorities say Loofe met Boswell on an online dating app in November and they went on at least one date.

Boswell-photo Taney County

Trail and Boswell appeared in Saline County Court on Tuesday. Each is charged with first-degree murder and improper disposal of human skeletal remains.

In May, Boswell pleaded guilty in an unrelated gold coin scheme in Kansas.

SCHROCK: Harmony

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John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.

“34 million hours of cross-partisan Thanksgiving dinner discourse were lost in 2016 owing to partisan effects,” according to research published in the June issue of the journal Science.

Emotional political partisanship that has escalated this last year-and-a-half caused politically split families to cut short their Thanksgiving dinners by 30 to 50 minutes, according to researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles and Washington State University.

This heightened acrimony and polarization of the Western political system, and the current levels of personal anger expressed in public media is very apparent to the Chinese who follow world events. It is a climate that most of my colleagues in China simply cannot understand. How can we live with a system that keeps everyone’s emotions on edge and results in daily strife in workplace and home?

This cultural difference goes back over 2000 years. Western cultures evolved from ancient Greek traditions. When there were opposing ideas, both advocates came to a public forum and both argued their case. The audience would vote and one would win. The loser would go away defeated.

Asian culture goes back to a Confucian tradition. Society operated under a set of rules establishing relationships; children obeyed parents and wives obeyed husbands, similar to Western customs. But when there were larger opposing ideas for public discussion, both parties could politely argue their case. Then a decision would be made that found a “middle way.” The result would be some accommodation of both side’s viewpoints. And no one went away having “lost face.”

To a Western teacher in China, it can be frustrating getting Chinese students to discuss an issue and come to one conclusion. They will often bring up: “Well, on one side such-and-such, but then on the other side there are other advantages and disadvantages too.”

The Asian languages are loaded with terms conveying respect, as in “lau” found both in elderly person “lau ren” and teacher “lau shi.”

Westerners are predisposed to assert “I have my rights!” But “rights” is rather hard to translate to an equivalent in Chinese. They would state: “I have my responsibilities.” And when navigating a population with four to five times more people, going-with-the-flow works. Demanding your right-of-way causes gridlock.

Similar to Americans on Thanksgiving, Asian families come together at the New Year’s Spring Festival. They may differ on social and political policies. But rarely will a political argument ensue. Asian cultures take a long view, and family comes first. Each person weighs their obligations as a descendant of ancestors long dead, but who worked hard to maintain the family lineage. And each person is responsible for doing their best today for their future family yet unborn.

In Asia, continuity and reliability is highly valued. If the government is doing its job—repairing the roads, providing electricity, maintaining schools, etc.—then an average person can get on with life with little concern for political debate.

I was teaching in China last fall when the People’s National Congress was in session in October. While all of the media followed it in the news, I was surprised by how little the general public watched it on television. In the United States, such an event—such as our Republican or Democratic Conventions—would have garnered large audiences.
But a few weeks later, everyone came into the university offices with smiles on their faces.

“Why is everyone happy?” I asked.

“All university professors are getting a 20,000 yuan raise next year (about US$3000),” they replied.

I asked why. They described how professors were being lured away from university positions by the growing commercial industries, and this was a government strategy to keep universities strong. There were also nationwide raises for high school teachers and medical and health workers for the same reason.

In these last five months after returning to America, I have seen how our only recourse for teachers to get higher pay and better classroom support was to go on strike. We have a political system that operates by confrontation, as if it is the only way a system can operate. We now live in daily strife.

But if a government does its job and meets its responsibilities, a population can thrive in peace.

John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.

Police: Kansas woman robbed of wedding ring, $8,000

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and asking the public for help to identify suspects.

Photos courtesy Wichita PD

The robbery occurred between 1:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Tuesday in the Walgreens parking lot located at 3770 N. Woodlawn, the Dillions parking lot located at 3707 N. Woodlawn, and a nearby bank, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Just after 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Officers responded to a robbery report call at the Walmart, 3030 N. Rock Road in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Officers contacted a 66-year-old woman who reported being approached in the parking lot of Walmart, by an unknown female suspect.

The female suspect was able to talk the elderly victim into giving her a ride to the parking lot of Walgreens located at 3770 N. Woodlawn.

Security camera images of suspect vehicle

Video footage from the Walmart shows a Silver Cadillac STS suspect vehicle being driven by an unknown male suspect following the elderly victim and female suspect out of the parking lot of Walmart to the parking lot of Walgreens.

Once the victim arrives at Walgreens parking lot the male suspect exits the suspect vehicle and gets into the victim’s vehicle.

The victim then is robbed at gunpoint by the female suspect of her wedding ring and cash from her purse.  The suspects then force the elderly victim to drive to nearby bank and withdrawal $8000 dollars from her bank account.  The suspects then flee in the Silver Cadillac STS.

One suspect is identified as an unknown black female wearing dark khaki pants, light colored shirt, and a tan hat.  The second suspect wore a tan hat, dark pants and a gold necklace.

If anyone recognizes this vehicle or suspects or has any additional information on this case please call Crime Stoppers 267-2111, WPD Robbery Detectives at 268-4518, or 911.  Also, video footage from the Wal-Mart shows both suspects contacting multiple people in the parking lot between 10:00 a.m. up until the reported incident.  If you were contacted by theses suspects please call the WPD Robbery Detectives, Crime Stoppers, or 911.

Kansas woman dies, 3 hospitalized after crash

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BROWN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 6p.m. Tuesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Kia Optima driven by Justin C. Coelho, 29, Hiawatha, was westbound on 220th Road at Plum Tree Road.

The driver failed to yield right of way to a southbound 2003 Dodge Ram driven by Quentin Overdick, 22, Hiawatha. The Kia struck the Dodge in the driver’s side.

A passenger in the Kia Kami Nichole Coelho, 28, Hiawatha, was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Chapel Oaks.

Coelho, Overdick and another passenger in the Kia  Marc Justin Coelho, 9, Hiawatha, were transported to the hospital in Hiawatha.

Justin and Kami Coelho were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Pope appoints new bishop for Diocese of Salina

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Vincke
SALINA — At noon Wednesday in Rome (5 a.m. Central Time), Pope Francis named Monsignor Gerald Lee Vincke, Bishop Elect of the Diocese of Salina. His current assignment with the Diocese of Lansing is Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Grand Blanc, Mich. Msgr. Vincke currently serves on the Presbyteral Council, the Priest Assignment Committee and the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Lansing.

Bishop-elect Vincke is scheduled to be ordained and installed as the 12th Bishop of Salina at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The date and time of the Ordination and Installation will be announced at a later date. Until that time, Rev. Francis E. Coady will continue to serve as Diocesan Administrator.

— Catholic Diocese of Salina

UPDATE: Evacuations over in SW Kansas; bio-fuel plant fire out

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MINNEOLA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say crews have extinguished a fire at a biofuels plant in western Kansas.

 

 

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that the blaze at the EGE plant near Minneola was put out by 6 p.m. Tuesday. The fire began burning around noon at the plant about 150 miles (241.39 kilometers) west of Wichita.

No injuries were reported, but residents of a few homes near the plant were urged to evacuate because of the smoke. The Kansas Department of Agriculture says the plant manufactures additives that are designed to keep fertilizer to drifting into the air and also might work with ethanol.

EGE Products thanked the first responders in a Facebook post and said appropriate authorities have been notified. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

———-

CLARK COUNTY —A fire at the EGE bio-fuel plant west of Minneola has prompted evacuations, according to Clark County Emergency Management.

Photo of the fire courtesy NWS Dodge City

As a safety precaution, residents 4 miles west and 4 miles north were encouraged to evacuate, according to the Clark County Sheriff.

Due to the direction of the wind, there was no threat of the toxic smoke to the community Minneola.

There are no injuries reported and no word on what caused the fire.

Partly sunny, hot with a chance for thunderstorms

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Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 90. East northeast wind 11 to 14 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon.

Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Breezy, with a south wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 21 mph.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 99. Breezy.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Breezy.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 97. Breezy.

Kan. man accused of driving teens to strip at club skips sentencing

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man convicted of trying to sexually exploit two teenage girls has skipped his sentencing hearing and remains missing.

Williams – photo Kansas Offender Registry

Daelin Williams was convicted earlier this year of two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child after pleading no contest. The 25-year-old is accused of driving two 17-year-old girls to Lawrence and encouraging them to strip at an adult club in January 2017.

Williams registered as a sex offender as required, but he didn’t attend his April 27 sentencing. Judge Peggy Kittel ordered a bench warrant for his arrest, which remained active as of Friday.

Williams posted his initial $50,000 cash bond and was released from jail less than a week after being arrested in April 2017.

Police: Kan. felon jailed after chase, crash in stolen car

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SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on numerous charges after a high-speed chase.

Wolverton -photo Shawnee Co.

Just before 4 a.m. Tuesday, an officer spotted a stolen Chevy Impala near the intersection of SW Huntoon and SW Fairlawn in Topeka and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, according to Lt. Ron Ekis.

The driver of the stolen car identified as Travis Wolverton, 26, Topeka didn’t stop. He led the officer on a high-speed pursuit that ended when the Impala crashed into a tree and power pole on the east side of the street in the 2200 block of SW Fairlawn.

Wolverton was not injured, according to Ekis.

An 18-year-old passenger in the fleeing vehicle was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Police booked Wolverton into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for felony fleeing and eluding and felony possession of a stolen property as well as several other traffic violations, according to Ekis.

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