Author: Hays Post
Run For the Wall Soup Supper Jan. 27
Teams forming for The Amazing Race: First Call Community Challenge
FCFH
Time is quickly approaching for our 3rd annual upcoming fundraiser at First Call For Help! The Amazing Race: First Call Community Challenge will take place Saturday, March 3rd 2018 and… WE WANT YOU!
Select your team of 4, come up w/ a Team Name that suits you and decide whether or not you choose to wear costumes to make your team stand out! Collect your donations of at least $75 a person or $300 per team and you’re ready to compete! Remember: this is a fundraiser so the more money you raise the better chance your team will be the Ultimate Fundraiser and receive a 3-minute headstart in the race!
Inspired by the CBS hit, “The Amazing Race”, teams of 4 will solve clues to various locations in Hays. Once there, complete a challenge before receiving a clue to the next secret location. The team finishing a specified number of challenges with the quickest time is the winner! Now, for those of you who have never participated, this is NOT your typical race where you must physically train or get left behind in everyone else’s dust! This is teamwork at its finest.
Teams may be made up of coworkers, family members, and friends, anyone 12 years or older. One vehicle per team is needed as this race will be spread around Hays. Team prizes will be awarded for the Quickest Time, Best Costumes and the Ultimate Fundraiser, including additional drawings for individual prizes! Teams raising $500 or more will receive valuable time deductions!
Money raised from this event will support our Emergency Assistance Fund. Allowing First Call For Help to financially assist Ellis County families in threat of eviction or those struggling to keep their utilities on. All donations will remain local and you will have a blast participating in this unique fundraiser, Amazing Race: First Call Community Challenge.
Register your team by going to https://firstcallelliscounty.com/AmazingRace or you may call 785-623-2800. Want to compete, but can’t find a full team? Call us at First Call For Help and we can register you over the phone and put a team together.
Form your teams today and register; $75 due at registration, the rest not due until Feb. 23, 2018.
Partly sunny, warmer Friday
Today Patchy freezing fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Wind chill values as low as 2. South southeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -7. North northeast wind 11 to 14 mph.
Saturday Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 14. Wind chill values as low as -9. North northeast wind 8 to 11 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Saturday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around -1. East northeast wind around 9 mph.
Sunday Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 7.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around -8.
New Year’s Day Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 11.
Kansas home uninhabitable after fire
RENO COUNTY — Investigators are working to determine the cause of a Thursday night fire.
Just before 10:30p.m., fire crews responded to a home in the 1700 Block of West 4th Street in Hutchinson for a reported structure fire, according to Fire Chief Steve Beer.
Initial arriving units reported a heavy fire on the rear of a single story residential home. Crews quickly worked to contain the fire, but not before the home sustained major damage. Crews battled sub-freezing temperatures but were able to rotate and warm up in the department rehab unit.
The sole occupant of the home was not home at the time of the fire. The home did not have a working smoke alarm. No injuries were noted regarding this incident. The home is deemed uninhabitable. Fire crews remained on scene overnight.
Hutchinson Fire Department was assisted by Reno County Sherriff department, Reno County EMS, Reno Co. Fire District 3, Kansas Gas, and Westar.
EPA advances cooperative federalism through designation process for sulfur dioxide, ozone standards
EPA
LENEXA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking the next steps in the Clean Air Act process to determine which areas of the country meet national air quality standards for ground-level ozone and sulfur dioxide. In November 2017, the agency designated the vast majority of U.S. counties as meeting the air quality standards set by EPA’s 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone. EPA is responding to state and tribal recommendations for ozone designations for the remaining areas and providing additional opportunities for state, tribal, and public input on those areas’ designations. The agency is also finalizing designations for certain areas for the 2010 sulfur dioxide NAAQS.
“Cooperative federalism is key to maintaining clean air,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Largely due to work by the states and new technological advances by the private sector, monitored levels of SO2 have dropped 85 percent and levels of ozone have decreased 22 percent nationwide since 1990. I am encouraged by the progress we’ve made and will continue working alongside states, tribes, and localities to determine the best methods to meet air quality standards.”
This action on sulfur dioxide is the third of four rounds of final designations. These designations reflect progress for sulfur dioxide, as only six areas have been designated “nonattainment” with the 2010 standard. Only 50 areas remain to be designated for sulfur dioxide in the fourth and final round. For these areas, EPA is supporting the decision by states to install and operate new monitors, so they can gather three full calendar years of data to inform a designation by the end of 2020. Additional information on this action is available at: https://www.epa.gov/
With respect to ozone standards last updated in 2015, EPA today, in accordance with the Clean Air Act, sent letters to states to start a 120-day period for states and tribes to provide more information with regard to their suggested designations of certain areas where further analysis and dialogue may be needed. While not required to seek public comment during the 120-day period, EPA will also be opening a 30-day comment period for the public to provide input on these designations before they are finalized.
The agency acknowledges the importance of background ozone outside the control of state and tribal air agencies. These designations employ the limited tools for regulatory relief for state and tribal air agencies to address background ozone, including: the exclusion of data that result from ‘exceptional events,’ the use of rural transport areas, and appropriately tailored nonattainment area boundaries for sites minimally impacted by nearby sources. EPA looks forward to working with its state, local, and tribal government partners to fulfill the congressional design of protecting public health through cooperative federalism. Additional information on this action is available at: https://www.epa.gov/ozone-
Mary Lou Oeser
Mary Lou Oeser, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on November 1, 1933 in Scott City, Kansas, the daughter of Charles Ector and Forest Lula King Kennedy. A lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas, she was a farm wife and worked for the extension office for over seven years and then worked for Wheatland Electric in Scott City for over 25 years.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church and Evening Circle both of Scott City, Kansas. She was active in volunteer work and loved dancing at the VIP Center in Scott City and Garden City.
Survivors Include her One Son – Gary & Deandra Eitel of Scott City, Kansas, One Daughter – Janet Eitel of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Two Sisters – Joan & Scotty Showalter of Garden City, Kansas, Barbara Drew of Garden City, Kansas, One Sister In Law – Dixie Kennedy of Danville, Iowa, Four Granddaughters – Shelly & Brent Turner of Scott City, Kansas, Stephanie & Cody Fisher of Overland Park, Kansas, Stacie & Jay Johnson of Parkville, Missouri, Shandi Eitel of Prairie Village, Kansas, Four Great Grandchildren – Manuel Turner, Bryce Fisher, Myles Johnson and Morgan Kennedy Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her Parents, One Son – Johnnie Eitel, Six Brothers – Charles Jr., Bobbie Lee, Duane, Max, Jerry, and Jimmy and One Sister – Shirley Ann.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with Rev. Kyle Evans presiding.
Inurnment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.
Memorials IN LIEU of Flowers are requested to the First Baptist Church or Park Lane Nursing Home in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City.
There will be no calling times.
UPDATE: Kan. attempted bank robbery suspect said he had bomb
SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an attempted bank robbery and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 11:30 a.m. Thursday, police responded to the Axura Credit Union in the 600 Block of SW 10th Street in Topeka on a report of a robbery attempt.
Employees reported a man in a camo jacket and blue jeans entered the business and presented a note that demanded money and claimed he had a bomb.
Topeka Police arrived within minutes and took the suspect later identified as 58-year-old Lee Lemons of Topeka into custody in the 900 Block SW Tyler without incident. No explosives were located and there were no reported injuries.
Lemons has a previous conviction for Aggravated Indecent Liberties/Child less than 14;Fondling, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Topeka Police Criminal Investigation Bureau at 785-368-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.
Man convicted in killing that prompted Kan. Amber-Alert wants new trial
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A former middle school football coach convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing a 10-year-old girl is asking for an acquittal or a new trial.
The Springfield News-Leader reports that attorneys for 49-year-old Craig Wood argue that he didn’t get a fair trial in a motion filed earlier this month. Jurors found Wood guilty last month of first-degree murder in the February 2014 death of Hailey Owens but were unable to reach a unanimous decision about whether to recommend the death penalty.
A judge is expected to decide on Jan. 11 whether Wood should be sentenced to the death penalty or life in prison. But first, the judge must rule on the motion for a new trial.
Arguments in the motion include that too much evidence was allowed into the trial.
Teams forming for First Call Community Challenge
HPD Activity Log Dec. 22-26
The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 17 traffic stops Fri., Dec. 22, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Driving Under the Influence–7th and Vine, Hays; 2:08 AM
Welfare Check–100 block W 19th St, Hays; 6:49 AM
Drug Offenses–2300 block Walnut St, Hays; 8:49 AM
Civil Dispute–300 block E 6th St, Hays; 9:19 AM
Welfare Check–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 10:57 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2200 block Allen St, Hays; 12:32 PM
Suspicious Activity–1300 block Felten Dr, Hays; 1:42 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–100 block E 7th St, Hays; 1:35 PM; 1:45 PM
Criminal Trespass–2700 block Hall St, Hays; 4:06 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–500 block W 27th St, Hays; 4:11 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 4:32 PM
Unattended Death–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 8:19 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 13th St, Hays; 9:41 PM
Drug Offenses–2000 block Walnut St, Hays; 10 PM; 10:10 PM
Driving Under the Influence–8th and Vine, Hays; 11:24 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–100 block Ash St, Hays; 12 AM; 10:30 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and conducted 17 traffic stops Sat., Dec. 23, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Unwanted Person–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:37 AM
Intoxicated Subject–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:48 AM
Disturbance – General–200 block W 10th St, Hays; 1:58 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:33 AM
Suicidal Subject–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 11:53 AM
Disturbance – Noise–1000 block W 38th St, Hays; 1:25 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block E 17th St, Hays; 12/21 9 PM; 12/22 9 PM
Dead Animal Call–100 block Ash St, Hays; 2:21 PM
Overdose–1800 block E 26th St, Hays; 8:27 PM
Driving Under the Influence–200 block W 8th St, Hays; 9:25 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–400 block E 21st St, Hays; 11:11 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 2 animal calls and conducted 17 traffic stops Sun., Dec. 24, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Theft (general)–2900 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 12/23 5 PM; 6:30 PM
Found/Lost Property–400 block W 11th St, Hays; 9:26 AM
Burglary/residence–200 block W 5th St, Hays; 12/6 12 PM; 12/24 10:15 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–1300 block W 42nd St, Hays; 11:31 AM
Found/Lost Property–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 12:17 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–4100 block Hall St, Hays; 12:23 PM; 12:25 PM
Drug Offenses–20th and Canal Blvd, Hays; 3:09 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 4:09 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–2500 block Henry Dr, Hays; 4:27 PM
Animal Call–1500 block Henry Dr, Hays; 4:59 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–1800 block Fort St, Hays; 7:54 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1300 block W 45th St, Hays; 11:49 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and conducted 12 traffic stops Mon., Dec. 25, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Disturbance – General–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 11:24 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–2100 block Oak St, Hays; 1:23 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–1700 block Volga Dr, Hays; 7:10 PM; 7:16 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–2900 block Vine St, Hays; 9:11 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1700 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 9:54 PM
Drug Offenses–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 10:36 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and conducted 12 traffic stops Tue., Dec. 26, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 4:35 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 36th St, Hays; 8:10 AM
Found/Lost Property–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 9:19 AM
Animal Call–22nd and Centennial, Hays; 9:30 AM
Civil Dispute–800 block Walnut St, Hays; 2:14 PM
Welfare Check–1200 block Main St, Hays; 2:31 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 7:36 PM
Attorney: Deadly force unnecessary in Kansas man’s shooting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An attorney for the family of a black Kansas man fatally shot by police says family members believe officers violated his constitutional rights and did not need to use deadly force.
In an interview Thursday, attorney Gillian Cassell-Stiga also said police body camera footage shows that 30-year-old Dominique White was “clearly trying to run away” when two Topeka officers shot him Sept. 28 near a park.
Cassell-Stiga also disputed the local prosecutor’s claim in his report that the footage shows White reached toward a gun in a pocket just before officers shot him.
Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay announced Wednesday that he would not file criminal charges against the officers. He declared their use of force reasonable and showed reporters body camera footage.
Topeka police have launched an internal investigation.
Gov. Brownback announces Andrew Wiens as policy director
OFFICE OF GOV.
TOPEKA–Governor Sam Brownback announced Thursday that Andrew Wiens will serve as his policy director.
Andrew has worked in multiple capacities in the administration since 2011, including as policy director for Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer, Senior Advisor to the Department for Children and Families, and Policy Analyst for Governor Brownback.
“Andrew is a solid conservative who is passionate about building relationships and developing policy that advances free enterprise and expands opportunity for Kansans.” Governor Brownback said. “He’s been in the trenches fighting for conservative policies and brings a wealth of experience to the role of policy director.”
Having been born and raised in Topeka, Andrew attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., studying philosophy, history, religious studies and business management. Subsequently, he earned a Master’s in Business Administration from Washburn University.
“Andrew’s work as policy director for my office made him an invaluable asset to our team,” said Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer. “His years of experience and passion for crafting sound public policy make him the perfect candidate to serve as the policy director for the governor’s office. I look forward to seeing the incredible impact he will have in his new position.”
Andrew and his wife Kelsey have been married four years and live in Topeka.