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Author: Hays Post

Kan. woman sentenced for role in kidnapping, robbery

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Kansas woman who entered a plea for a single charge of conspiracy to commit robbery was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.

Gresham photo Reno Co.

Amanda Gresham, 33, Hurchinson, had been charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

Gresham, 30-year-old John Sullivan and 38-year-old Titus Thompson were allegedly behind the abduction of 50-year-old Leon Levasseur, who was taken by knifepoint from his residence, then placed in his car and driven to an area near Burrton, where he was finally able to escape and call 911.

Police say the recovery of multiple items taken from Levasseur’s residence led them to the arrests.

Detectives determined Thompson and Sullivan were dropped off in the area of Avenue B and Elm in Hutchinson on the morning of Oct. 22, 2018, by Gresham with the intent to commit the robbery.

Gresham was also found to have violated her community corrections for cases from 2017 where she was convicted of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary and possession of drugs. Those sentences totaled seven years and were ordered to be served.

The new sentence will run concurrent to that case with her serving the 10 years in prison.

The cases against Sullivan and Thompson are still pending.

Kan. woman dies after ejected in high-speed pickup crash

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LABETTE COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Saturday in Labette County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Charlotte A. Wheeler, 68, Coffeyville, was westbound on U.S. 166 six miles east of Coffeyville at a high rate of speed.

The pickup dropped off the left shoulder and the driver overcorrected. The vehicle entered the south ditch, rolled and ejected the driver. The pickup came to rest on its roof against a fence.

Wheeler was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

 

Kansas undersheriff recovers after April shooting

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LYONS, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas law enforcement officers were shot in a traffic stop, leaving one fighting for his life.

Rice County Undersheriff Chad Murphy

David Madden shot Rice County Undersheriff Chad Murphy when he stopped Madden for a firearm charge warrant in April near the small town of Sterling, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northwest of Wichita.

Madden fired four shots at Murphy during the traffic stop.

“All I said was, ‘Come on, David. You have a warrant. Let’s get this taken care of,’ and that is when he rolled out of the vehicle and took the first shot.”

Madden also shot Sheriff Bryant Evans in the leg when he responded to the scene and dragged him away.

Madden, a 37-year-old former Marine, killed his father before killing himself during a standoff with police after the April shooting. He was also suspected in the 2015 disappearance of his girlfriend.

Now, Murphy said forgiving Madden has helped him move on from the shooting.

“I have made peace with myself,” Murphy said. “The way I did that was, I had to forgive David.

“In order for me to have inner peace that is what I had to do, and I did that early on because I knew if I did not, then I would turn into something that I did not like.”

He’s been attending weekly therapy and rearranged his priorities.

“Before it was work,” Murphy said. “Work was priority and then family and then God.” But now, “God is number one, family is number two, and then here comes the job.”

Murphy said he’s hopeful that he’ll return to work within a year when he regains full control of his right arm.

Veteran Kansas police officer arrested for alleged DUI

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SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a veteran Kansas police officer for driving under the influence.

Andrew Tapia photo Sedgwick Co.

On Friday evening, the Mulvane Police Department  booked an off-duty Wichita Police Department officer into the Sedgwick County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.

The officer identifies as 39-year-old Andrew E. Tapia, according to the Sedgwick County booking report is an 18-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department. He has been placed on a paid administrative assignment, according to police department spokesperson Charley Davidson.

The case is being investigated by the Mulvane Police Department and an internal review will be take place by Wichita Police, according to Davidson.

Emergency crews rescue two more from a Kansas river

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RENO COUNTY — Emergency crews  rescued two more from the Arkansas River after they were displaced from their kayaks Saturday.

Photo courtesy Hutchinson Fire Department

The pair entered the water at the 4th Street bridge, according to a media release from the Hutchinson Fire Department.

Approximately a half mile down, some tree debris in the river was present. The kayakers became dislodged from their kayaks. One of the individuals was able to grasp an overhead branch and return to the bank. The other was able to hold onto the branch until Engine 5 crew members made contact assist the individual to the bank.

Meanwhile, Boat 3 was deployed and entered the Arkansas River to assist the rescued kayakers back to their vehicle due to difficult terrain. HFD was assisted by Reno County Sheriff’s Department.

Both citizens were wearing life jackets. The Hutchinson Fire department remind all those entering bodies of water to wear life jackets as “Saturday’s incident had the potential for a negative outcome.”

On July 7, Hutchinson fire crews rescued 3  from the Arkansas river after they were displaced from their tubes.

A Doctor’s Note Might Get You Off The Hook For Possessing CBD With THC In Kansas

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TOPEKA — A new Kansas law provides some protection for people possessing CBD oil containing limited amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

CBD without the THC that gets people high has been legal in Kansas for about a year. CBD oil with significant amounts of THC is still illegal to sell, but a new law offers people with a doctor’s note some measure of possible legal protection.
NOMIN UJIYEDIIN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

But it’s not full-on legalization, meaning the oil could still result in legal trouble even for people with documents confirming it’s for medical purposes.

The new law lets patients and their parents in Kansas have CBD oil containing up to 5 percent THC to treat certain conditions — if they have a physician’s note.

The new statute that took effect July 1 is aimed at helping people treat debilitating conditions such as seizures. Parents of children with those conditions asked lawmakers to approve the change.

Republican Rep. Mark Schreiber took on the issue after meeting a family with two daughters who had microcephaly, a condition where the brain does not develop fully. The parents wanted to use the oil to treat seizures and other complications.

The new law is named after their daughters, Claire and Lola. Claire died last year.

“These are families that really love their kids and they see them suffer through these seizures,” Schreiber said in an interview. “They want to be able to try this.”

The legislation doesn’t fully legalize the oil containing THC, nor does it allow any sort of production or distribution of the product in Kansas. The oil would need to be obtained in another state and carry verification that it was tested by a third-party laboratory.

That was partially a political necessity. Schreiber based the strategy on a similar law in Alabama. A proposal to fully legalize the oil with THC could open the debate to broader arguments about marijuana legalization, which might have stoked opposition to the change.

“That would be a big, big debate,” he said. “It kind of circumvented that whole discussion and possible delay.”

Schreiber’s strategy worked. But the way the law is written leaves the door open to legal complications for anyone who possesses the oil containing THC.

The law does offer people an affirmative defense for possession.

“An affirmative defense doesn’t prevent you from being arrested, and it doesn’t prevent you from being charged,” said Jennifer Roth, legislative committee co-chair of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

So there’s no legal immunity for someone using the oil, even if they have a letter from a physician.

But it does give them the foundation for an affirmative defense during trial.

The law leaves wide discretion to police and local prosecutors, who could choose not to pursue charges if someone has the letter.

“Perhaps that person would say ‘OK, we’re not going to file charges on you,’” Roth said. “But none of that’s required by the law.”

The law is clearer on another point. Possessing or using the oil cannot be used as a reason to initiate child removal proceedings or child protective actions.

Still, Republican Rep. Eric Smith, a sheriff’s deputy, said if he pulled someone over with the oil and a letter, they’d go to jail.

“It does nothing for me as a law enforcement officer out on the side of the road,” Smith said during debate over the legislation in May. “I seize it and I arrest you. That letter doesn’t mean anything.”

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda or email skoranda (at) ku (dot) edu.

FHSU earns 5 No. 1 rankings in June 

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FHSU University Relations

Degree programs offered by Fort Hays State University through its FHSU Virtual College received five No. 1 rankings, six top-10 national recognitions and several other rankings in June for being among the best and most affordable programs offered by U.S. colleges and universities. 

CollegeValuesOnline.com
No. 1, Top Master’s in Counseling Degrees Online 2019
CollegeValuesOnline gave FHSU’s M.S. in counseling (school) the No. 1 spot for its affordability, program quality and support services. Fort Hays State’s counseling program is accredited by the Kansas State Department of Education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

“An affordable online master’s in counseling is a great way to continue with higher education and gain a postgraduate degree as one continues to work,” said CollegeValuesOnline. “An advanced degree in counseling paves the way for career growth and better prospects, and an online format allows one to study and gain work experience at the same time.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/30rmTA1.

No. 1, Top 20 Most Affordable State Universities for Online Bachelor’s Degrees 2019
FHSU’s Virtual College was ranked No. 1 out of 367 colleges and universities based primarily off of affordability and wide selection of online majors.

“Students may choose from 60 affordable, award-winning and ranked online programs like business administration, criminal justice, education, international business, marketing and nursing,” said CollegeValuesOnline.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2JmzQW5.

CollegeFactual.com
No. 1, 2019 Best General Psychology Schools for Non-Traditional Students in Kansas
Ranked out of 10 colleges and universities, FHSU’s Virtual College received this top spot for its top academic quality and support for non-traditional students in its psychology programs.

“Students will pursue a rigorous curriculum that is more than just theory but also features an emphasis on experiential learning,” says FHSU’s website. “Upon graduation, students will already have a solid foundation in the science of mental processes coupled with the valuable skills from enriched, applied experiences that employers are seeking.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2LJ7Spd.

No. 1, 2019 Best General Biology Schools for Non-Traditional Students in Kansas
CollegeFactual.com also gave FHSU’s Virtual College the No. 1 ranking in biological sciences based on academic quality and support for non-traditional students.

“The Department of Biological Sciences at FHSU provides students with a strong foundation in all aspects of life science,” says FHSU’s website. “Our unique programs, modern facilities, one-on-one teaching philosophy and robust research opportunities allows students to fully explore their primary areas of interest – from molecules to mammals.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2S4sFVg.

OnlineSchoolsReport.com
No. 1, Best Online Master’s Degrees in Art and Art History
FHSU’s Virtual College received this top spot for its school and program reputation, student retention, overall tuition and fees and more.

“A stand-out in online master’s programs, FHSU lands the No. 1 spot on our list for its Master in Liberal Studies with a concentration in art history,” says OnlineSchoolsReport. “The degree covers 31 total credits, and students are able to concentrate in specific time periods like medieval art or 20th century art.”

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

No. 4, 10 Best Online Economics Degrees
OnlineSchoolsReport also gave FHSU’s online bachelor’s in economics program a top-10 ranking based on the quality, as indicated by student engagement and faculty credentials. This ranking also includes student-to-faculty ratio, graduation rates and faculty experience and training.

“Our unique, academically rigorous programs prepare students for the most in-demand jobs in the marketplace, with courses that span the entire business landscape and elevate credentials for prospective employers around the nation – and the world,” says FHSU’s website.

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

AffordableSchools.net
No. 5, 35 Top Value Affordable Accounting Degree Online Programs (Bachelor’s) 2019
Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, online features and curriculum options are just a few of the reasons FHSU’s Virtual College earned this high ranking from AffordableSchools. Over 150 colleges and universities were identified.

“This is an excellent program for students who wish to work in the private sector as a corporate or public accountant,” says AffordableSchools. “Students will benefit from small class sizes and a range of directed electives. They will be expected to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project and a comprehensive final.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/32h1OKj.

No. 4, 20 Best Affordable Colleges for Psychology Degree Online 2019
FHSU’s Virtual College also received a top ranking from out of more than 300 schools based on tuition, student-to-faculty ratios, graduation rates and national rankings from U.S. News & World Report.

“The Department of Psychology at FHSU provides compelling, hands-on experiential programs that will arm individuals with practical skills and theory,” says FHSU’s website.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/30mx4pu.

No. 5, 20 Best Affordable Colleges for RN-BSN Online 2019
AffordableSchools also ranked FHSU’s online bachelor’s in registered nursing degree the No. 5 spot in more than 450 universities and colleges for its one-year tuition rates for in-state students, average student-to-faculty ratios, graduation rates and national rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

“At FHSU, we provide programs and courses designed to meet your diverse career objectives in a student-centered learning environment with undergraduate and graduate programs, post-graduate certificate programs and a doctoral degree program,” says FHSU’s website.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/30pbUHc.

No. 7, 25 Best Affordable Master’s in Marketing Online Degrees 2019
FHSU’s Virtual College received this top-10 ranking for its quality, tuition, location and delivery format.

“Marketing is about being an advocate for the customer and providing the customer’s voice to the rest of the company,” says FHSU’s website. “It is both a science and an art – great marketing is systematic and analytic but is also creative.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2LaEqc7.

No. 14, Top Value Business Administration Online Degree Programs 2019
Ranked out of more than 500 colleges and universities, AffordableSchools gave FHSU’s online business administration degree program the No. 14 spot for its student-to-faculty ratio and tuition.

“This program was designed for students who are interested in a broad-based curriculum that will help them achieve their professional goals,” says AffordableSchools. “Focused on management, the online program delivers information on industry standards as well as practices for the field.”

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

CollegeConsensus.com
No. 8, 50 Best Online Undergraduate Business Programs 2019
Based on affordability, convenience and reputation, FHSU’s Virtual College earned this top-10 spot from CollegeConsensus.

“This affordable degree is priced at over $10,000 less than the average cost of a degree in this ranking,” says CollegeConsensus. “There are no residencies associated with this program, which U.S. News & World Report calls one of the top 50 online undergraduate business degrees in the country.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2Eq9BuS.

BestColleges.com
No. 15, Best Online Master’s in Gifted and Talented Education Programs
BestColleges ranked FHSU’s online master’s in special education (gifted) based on academic outcomes, affordability and the breadth and depth of online learning opportunities.

“This degree focuses on the challenges and practical needs facing facilitators of gifted learners,” says BestColleges. “FHSU’s master’s in gifted and talented education online requires 36 credits, which students can complete in 18 to 24 months with no on-campus sessions.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/32eEwVq.

TheBestSchools.org
No. 12, Best Online MBA in Management Information Systems Degree Programs
FHSU’s Virtual College earned this ranking based on the quality of the program, types of courses offered, faculty, rankings, awards and reputation.

“Students benefit from numerous internship and scholarship opportunities, student organizations and professional development services, outreach and community engagement process, and access to centers such as the Management Development Center,” said TheBestSchools.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2Puo7o4.

OnlineColleges.com
No. 16, Best Online Colleges for Adults Going Back to School in 2019-20
OnlineColleges gave FHSU’s Virtual College this ranking based on online programs and percentage of students enrolled in distance education, graduation rates of non-first-time students and percentage of non-first-time students receiving financial aid.

“An institution dedicated to innovation, FHSU has developed a Virtual College that supports dozens of degree programs and over one-hundred specializations for those programs,” says OnlineColleges. “FHSU has a 95-percent job placement rate, and its graduates have a 100-percent pass rate on certain licensure exams for nursing and education.”

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2Qvb5ZC.

Colby Community College announces spring semester graduates

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COLBY — Colby Community College conferred 288 degrees and certificates on May 10 at the Colby Community Building during the 54th annual commencement ceremony.

Names are published alphabetically by home location as indicated by the student. Kansas students are arranged by city, out-of-state students are listed by city and state, and international students by country.

Associate of Applied Science

Aberdeen, S.D.: Adrianne Schaunaman. Abilene: Kathleen Hand. Aurora, Colo.: Edwin Situmorang. Benkelman, Neb.: Tammy Collins. Burlington, Colo.: Jimena Schlichenmayer-Garcia. Colby: Jacqueline Bartlett, James Bomba, Hannah Shop, Abigail Tarango.Garden City: Kaitlyn Kreutzer. Gem: Madisyn Haggard. Goodland: Tawnya Ramirez, Kelsey Monnett. Great Falls, Mont: Sarah Mizener. Hays: Shay Hoekman, Kiley Mallon. Hill City: Hannah McCollum. Hope: Nichole Taylor. Hoxie: Amber Erwin. Jennings: Keri Vanover. Kensington: Kendra Billings. Leavenworth: Damien Day. Logan: Nova Bates. Louisville, Ky.: Lori Brownstein.Marienthal: Alexandra Castillo. Norton: Nicholas Peterson. Oakley: Kelsey Wilson. Oberlin: Renee Jones, Taylor Macfee. Osage City: Tracy Wilk. Paola: Alexandra Hamm. Paxton, Neb.: Michael Weber. Phillipsburg: Thelma Boydston, Marissa Davis. Pittsboro, N.C.: Brittany Raynor. Potwin: Meghan Nipper. Quinter: Caden Glick. Rea, Mo.: Elexis McLaughlin. Republican City, Neb.: Kai Wolfe. Saint Francis: Molly Bertram. Selden: Colten Wachendorfer. Smith Center: Kandis Attwood. Springfield, Neb.: Samantha Scholting. Sterling: Elise Kelley. Stockton: Macey Strutt. Topeka: Alisha Gibson. Trenton, Neb.: Pacanda Carfield. WaKeeney: Shawnee Phillips. Whitewater: Katrina Regehr.

 

Associate of Arts

Bahamas: Tino Thompson. Basehor: Savannah Shiner. Beloit: Karissa Winkel. Brazil: Gabriel Oliveira. Broken Arrow, Okla.:Michaela Bethel. Burlington, Colo.: Renee Richards. Burundi: Estella Akimana. Canada: Andrew Asselin, Jacob Bouzide, Logan Hofmann, Sophia Nduwayo, Alexander Orenczuk, Jesse Simpson, Nathan Stark. Castle Rock, Colo.: Peyton Ingalls. Chappell, Neb.:Jo Hummermeier. Chicago, Ill.: Craig Beaudion. Colby: Brittany Alexander, Mauro Arancibia Campos, Madison Bartlett, Brooklyn Bice, LaVonna Carmen, Danielle Chacon, Tayber Haremza, Olivia Heydt, Taylen Hubbell, August Hutfles, Anica Jestratijevic, Brandon Johnson, Elizabeth Koel, Makenna Mettlen, Brynan Sherwood, Bubacarr Sisay, Kenzie Spreier, Joseph Unruh. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Toby Welty. Colwich: Julie Archer. District Heights, Md.: Edward Oliver-Hampton. Ellsworth: Emma Klein. Englewood, Colo.: Alexis Kagan. Goodland: Ariadne Hernandez-Soto. Gunnison, Utah: Emily Brackett. Hays: Lakin Ditter, Cameron Jensen, Lanie Schmidt. Healy: Rebecca Rebarchek. Hickory Corners, Mich.: Mahealani Haegele. Hoxie: Brynn Niblock. Idalia, Colo.: Paulina Trevizo Tena. Irving, Texas: Jordan Dixon. Jennings: Taylor Wahlmeier. Johnson: Caleb Carrasco. Jonesboro, La: Jason Evans. Keller, Texas: Kaitlyn Guillory. Kenya: Emmanuel Kipngetich. Larned: Casey Danler. Lauderhill, Fla.: Sia Williams. Leavenworth: Blake Gallagher. Longton: Dalton Moody. Lyndon: Allison Taylor. McAlester, Okla: Meona Leonard. Meeker, Colo.:Austin Russell. Oakley: Richelle Kitchel, Claire Wegele. Ogden, Utah: Katelyn Medina. Phoenix, Ariz.: Samantha Spellman. Rochester, NY: Rian Carter. Roy, Utah: Whisper Doliwa. Russell: Jessica Nichols. Saint Francis: Katie Schmid. Salina: Asher Crandell. Sedgwick, Colo.: Landon Enninga. Stratton, Colo.: Yazmin Herrera, Natalie Miltenberger. Sudan: Moses Bol. Syracuse:Emily Westeman. Thornton, Colo.: Allison Hiatt. Tornillo, Texas: Erika Alvarado. Ulysses: Estefani Acosta-Delgado. WaKeeney:Allen Goff. Wallace: Kevin Martinek. Walsh, Colo.: Morgan Turner. Wichita: Carrie Thomas. Winona: Hudson Stramel. Yuma, Colo.: Julian Blanco.

 

Associate of Science

 Aberdeen, S.D.: Adrianne Schaunaman. Beloit: Karissa Winkel. Benkelman, Neb.: Cole Lutz. Boone, Colo.: Ashlee Marsh.Burlington, Colo.: Renee Richards. Burundi: Aline Munezero. Canada: Jacob Bouzide, Matthew Coutney, Logan Hofmann, Jesse Simpson, Nathan Stark. Chappell, Neb.: Jo Hummermeier. Colby: Brittany Alexander, Mauro Arancibia Campos, Danielle Chacon, Jose Davila, Tayber Haremza, Anica Jestratijevic, Brandon Johnson, Hunter Kasdorf, Makenna Mettlen, Grace Oard, Isabel Rosales, Brynan Sherwood, Lara Stephens. Colorado Springs, Colo.: Haley Fox, Toby Welty. Colwich: Julie Archer. Croatia: Marija Kristina Mamic. Denton, Texas: Kylee Arie. Ellsworth: Emma Klein. Englewood, Colo.: Alexis Kagan. Fremont, Neb.: Amilcar Gonzalez. Gem: Madisyn Haggard. Goodland: Dalton Arntt, Ariadne Hernandez-Soto. Grainfield: Bailey Bixenman. Grinnell: Weston Lewis.Hays: Lakin Ditter, Lanie Schmidt. Healy: Rebecca Rebarchek. Hickory Corners, Mich.: Mahealani Haegele. Hoxie: Brynn Niblock.Idalia, Colo.: Paulina Trevizo Tena. Ingalls: Michaela Loewen. Irving, Texas: Jordan Dixon. Jennings: Taylor Wahlmeier. Johnson: Caleb Carrasco. Jonesboro, La.: Jason Evans. Lauderhill, Fla.: Sia Williams. Leavenworth: Blake Gallagher. Lyndon: Allison Taylor. McAlester, Okla.: Meona Leonard. Monument: Maddie Lamb. Natoma: Dylan Pruter. Ogden, Utah: Katelyn Medina. Osborne: Alyssa Carswell. Pawnee Rock: Cassandra Wolff. Roy, Utah: Whisper Doliwa. Salina: Asher Crandell. Scott City: Karlee Logan. Springfield, Neb.: Samantha Scholting. Stratton, Colo.: Natalie Miltenberger. Syracuse: Emily Westeman. Walsh, Colo.: Morgan Turner. Winona: Hudson Stramel.

 

Certificates

 Abilene: Raycelon Kuntz. Atwood: Kassandra Collins, Sara Rutten, Alexandria Samson. Benkelman, Neb.: Emilee Swigert. Burlington, Colo.: Tessika Davis. Clearwater: Madison Lange. Colby: Jason Ackerman, Heath Bolyard, James Bomba, Mikayla Boyce, Brandon Brier, Trace Evans, Kayla Faus, Megan Lees, Kainin O’Malley, Patyn Pfeifer, Tatym Rundel, Hannah Shope, Stephanie Velasquez, Baylee Weinmann, Shane Westcott, Thane Wildeman. Emporia: Barbara Haynes. Eureka: Alixandria Boulanger. Garden City: Kaitlyn Kreutzer. Goodland: Cienna Brannick. Grinnell: Bailee Fritts. Hays: Kristen Klitzke. Hill City: Amanda McDermott, Shelby Thomas. Hope: Nichole Taylor. Hugoton: Amanda Mangels. Jennings: Keri Vanover. Idalia, Colo.: Kyle Prather. Kearney, Neb.: Mariah Dillon. Kensington: Kendra Billings. Lakin: Jocelyn Crum. Logan: Kristy Bainter. Long Island: Kailey Hammond.Ludell: Miranda Sisay. McCook, Neb.: Monica Macfee. McLouth: Emma Jolley. Menlo: Alicia Baalman. Meriden: Amber Graber. Ness City: Angelena Copeland. Norton: Jessica Porter. Oakley: Rebecca Farrow, Shannon Kincaid. Osborne: Regina Hall. Paola: Alexandra Hamm. Paxton, Neb.: Michael Weber. Potwin: Meghan Nipper. Raymore, Mo.: Brenna Zuniga. Saint Francis: Samantha Acosta. Scott City: Gracy Chambless. Selden: Dulce Soto. Sharon Springs: Sydni Allen. Spearville: Hailey Weber. Sterling: Elise Kelley. Stockton: Macey Strutt. Stratton, Colo.: JaKayla Torson. Topeka: Elyssia Young. Ulysses: Jordan Stein, Jesus Zermeno.WaKeeney: Shawnee Phillips.

Hot, dry Sunday

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Today
Sunny, with a high near 94. Light south southwest wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South southeast wind 7 to 14 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 95. South wind 7 to 11 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 98. South wind 6 to 11 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 73.
Wednesday
Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 75.
Thursday
Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

FHSU alum named KBA Outstanding Young Bandmaster

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Casey Hands / courtesy photo

GARDEN CITY — Garden City Community College Director of Bands Casey Hands has been named the 2019 Outstanding Young Bandmaster by the Kansas Bandmaster’s Association.

The award will be presented to Hands at the KBA Convention in Wichita on July 19. The Outstanding Young Bandmaster award is presented annually by the KBA and the International Bandmasters Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu. The award is distinguished by its presentation to a bandmaster who has taught for fewer than seven years.

Hands began his teaching career at Garden City Community College in the fall of 2013, as the Athletic Band Director. He moved into the Director of Bands position in July of 2015, and since that time, has made some major improvements to the band and music programs at GCCC, not the least of which was Casey’s instrumental role in proposing and developing the only marching band at the community college level in Kansas. GCCC’s marching band made its debut, under Casey’s direction, in the fall of 2016, and has grown exponentially since that time. Casey recently completed his Master’s degree in Music at Fort Hays State University, and holds a graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning in Music from Kansas State University.

Casey will deliver a speech at the KBA Convention to accept his award. He plans to send a message that includes some advice for success in any undertaking.

“When you try to do everything by yourself, you almost always fail,” Casey said. “For me, it is not an award that just I have won, because I have always had people backing me up and helping me, and I think that what makes you successful and able to accomplish things like this and do things like this is if you are always willing to take help when it is offered and always willing to work with people.”

Casey was nominated for the KBA award by his former high school band instructor and active KBA member, Paul White.

About the KBA and the Outstanding Young Bandmaster’s Award
The Kansas Bandmaster’s Association is a state-wide organization for anyone interested in band, and its members represent educators and band enthusiasts from both the K-12 and collegiate levels. Each year, the organization partners with Phi Beta Mu, an international bandmasters’ fraternity, to honor an Outstanding Young Bandmaster in Kansas, through a nomination process. For the past three years, a bandmaster from western Kansas has been named as a recipient for the award.

For more information about KBA, visit www.kansasbandmasters.com

COLUMN: How bovine embryo transfer affects the human population

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Regan Kats

EDITOR’S NOTE: This essay on a topic in agriculture was researched and written by a student as part of a project in a senior animal science class at Fort Hays State University. The project director is Dr. Brittany Howell, associate professor of agriculture.

By REGAN KATS
Prairie View senior

Every day at exactly 12:34, I crave a juicy hamburger. Luckily for me, I can buy one from any number of the millions of restaurants in the country. I can’t imagine a world where I wouldn’t be able to buy one because we ran out of beef.

Embryo transfer (ET) is the process of harvesting fertilized, 7-day-old embryos from a donor female, and then injecting a single embryo into a recipient female, also known as recips, to carry out the pregnancy. The ET process can first be traced back to the 1890s, when Walter Heape performed the first successful procedure in rabbits. It wasn’t until 1949 that the first successful bovine transfer was accomplished. While the technology surrounding ET is constantly developing, the basis for what is used commercially today mostly came about in the 70s.

Lots of people associate artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer as the same thing. However that is far from the case. Artificial insemination is the practice of using previously harvested semen from one bull in order to inseminate more cows than the bull could physically service. This provides more extensive use of a superior bull over a wider range of cows. Using ET with one bull’s semen will result in all the offspring being full siblings, butr they won’t all be genetically identical. Because ET involves fertilization of the eggs in the cow, one way or another the semen has to be deposited into the uterus. One of the benefits of ET is that the semen can be utilized at a cheaper cost than AI, as it’s cheaper to buy three units to inseminate a donor cow than it is buying a unit per cow for your entire herd. In order to be able to harvest multiple eggs, the cow has to be super-ovulated through multiple injections of follicle-stimulating hormone. Another version of ET is through in vitro fertilization. Similar to the process that women go through, eggs are harvested from the female and then fertilized in a sterile lab environment.

Many purebred seedstock producers utilize embryo transfer to provide leaps and bounds of genetic improvement in one breeding season. ET allows for a donor cow to be flushed several times during a year. Therefore a producer can become more efficient in the use of higher producing females. Another way to lower operating costs is to use cheaper commercial cows as recipient cows. Millions of seedstock catalogs are sent around the country every year, and lots of similarities can be found in the pedigrees. Many buyers will find a sire group of bulls they like or some fancy heifers that descend from certain cows. ET helps producers generate and offer more of the genetics that consumers want to buy. Not only can producers sell high demand genetics, but the cattle are often more consistent and predictable.

Embryo transfer isn’t always the most cost effective choice. Commercial cattlemen don’t often need or want to personally flush their cows, but they can still utilize the benefits of ET. The easiest route is through the purchase of ET bulls. More often than not, the producers sell more than just one ET bull from a mating. By buying these bulls, commercial cattlemen can generate a more consistent calf crop without the added labor of the AI process. Another way to benefit as a commercial producer is renting out cows as recip cows. Sometimes purebred producers don’t have enough cows to use as recips, or maybe don’t have enough grass to run them. This opens the door for commercial producers to earn a little extra money.

According to FarmBureau.org, farm and ranching families only comprise 2 percent of the U.S. population. So, how does ET affect the other 98 percent? With the exponential growth of the world’s population, more and more food needs to be produced to meet the growing demand. The only way to accomplish to this increasingly difficult task is to produce more with less. In crops, farmers strive for higher yields, and in beef production we are trying to produce more pounds of beef per head at the cheapest cost of gain.

To do this, producers have to be aware of the type of cattle we produce and constantly strive to improve not only our own herd but the industry as a whole. As with the growing population, the genetic advancements need to be growing exponentially as well. First we had AI, and it helped us to start producing more pounds of beef with fewer animals. Now the human population is gaining and growing faster than the beef industry has been able to keep up with. With ET and the huge genetic advancements it can provide, the beef industry now has another weapon in its arsenal to combat the challenges it faces today.

The use of ET benefits a wide range of people – everyone from the purebred breeder carefully selecting the next mating to the young diner waitress serving hamburgers at lunch. Luckily for me, when I get hungry from working out on the ranch I can come into town and sink my teeth into the only food that can satisfy my hunger – beef.

Regan Kats, a 2016 Logan High School graduate, is a senior majoring in animal science at Fort Hays State University. Regan is the son of Michael and Shannon Kats, Prairie View.

SW Kansas woman appointed to Lottery Commission

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OFFICE OF GOV.

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly appointed three members to the Lottery Commission.

“This team will play an integral role in enhancing the Kansas Lottery,” Kelly said. “I look forward to seeing what they can do to improve our lottery system.”

Catherine Moyer (D), Ulysses, retained as Chair; she is CEO and General Manager of Pioneer Communications and CEO of High Plains Telecommunications, Inc., and chair of the Telcom Insurance Group. She sits on the board of the Rural Trust Insurance Company and on the advisory council of the Washburn University School of Law Alumni Association Board of Governors.

Kala Spigarelli (D), Pittsburg, succeeds Tom Roberts. Spigarelli is an attorney at the Spigarelli Law Firm.

Ed Trimmer (D), Winfield, succeeds Alan Roethle. Trimmer is a retired teacher and former legislator.

These appointments are pending confirmation by the Senate and were submitted prior to Sine Die.

The Lottery Commission administers the lottery in the state of Kansas. The commission consults with and advises the executive director on the operation of the lottery, in the establishment of policies governing the lottery, and reviews and approves its annual budget. No more than three of the five members of the commission may be of the same political party.

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