Dorothy Mann, age 90, of Quinter, passed away Monday, May 13, 2019, at Gove County Medical Center, Quinter.
Services are pending with Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.
Author: Hays Post
Fire hydrant inspections nearing an end
HFD
The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Wed., May 15, 2019 in the area on and around the Fort hays State University campus and from Walnut St. to the Highway 183 Bypass between 14th St. and 5th St.
This is part of a coordinated effort by the City of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.
Police work to identify rider who intentionally struck Kan. officer with motorcycle
LEAVENWORTH COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit and run incident that injured a police officer.
Just before 3p.m. Tuesday, a Bonner Springs Police Officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black sport bike (2008 or newer Honda CBR1000rr, red/black wheels and accents, stickers on side of bearing) for a traffic violation, according to a media release.
The motorcycle took a turn too fast and drove down into an embankment. The officer exited his patrol vehicle in an attempt to contact the driver and the driver drove directly at the officer and intentionally struck the officer causing injury to the officer.
The white male driver then fled northbound onto Kansas 7 Highway into Leavenworth County and pursuing officers lost sight.
If you can identify this motorcycle or driver, please contact Detective Haney [email protected]
MADORIN: Perspective is everything
Until recent history, humans welcomed the sharp-tasting leaves and bright blooms that popped through the earth when snow melted. Folks craving fresh greens ate them in salads or blanched them as vegetables. Tea and wine makers turned blossoms into refreshing drinks, while creative harvesters dried and ground roots into a satisfying coffee substitute. Every part of this plant is edible, so it’s understandable why early immigrants tucked dandelion seeds into their cargo.
Not only do the leaves of this herb deliver a dietary wallop full of A, C, and K vitamins, it also serves a bounty of minerals, including calcium, potassium, manganese, and iron. A nature-loving friend enjoys a daily smoothie made with tender dandelion shoots. She swears it keeps her healthy. Her story makes me think about people who’d gone months without eating fresh veggies and how their bodies would’ve craved helpings of scurvy-fighting nutrients. I suspect those first leaves peeping through the soil didn’t make it to the bud stage. Once the blooms formed, hungry settlers harvested them as well and enjoyed their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
In addition to dandelions’ food value, healers used the plants to treat infections, detoxify the liver and kidneys, and serve as a diuretic. This last use, for obvious reasons, led to nicknames such as “piss-a-bed, pisacan, and wet-a-bed.”
Humans weren’t the only creatures who anticipated this early spring growth. The blooms provide one of the first nectars available to pollinators. Watch bees and butterflies flock to a yard dappled with bright yellow blooms. As a result, many modern mountain towns encourage residents to resist spraying and encourage dandelions to thrive. This aids local bees early in the season.
Despite the benefits, few contemporary humans actually eat dandelions, and those who cultivate lovely green lawns resent the ease with which theses plants invade and spread. What some might consider blessings, others see as an assault on their landscaping efforts and slave diligently to prevent their growth. My mom is a cardholding member of this category and teases me when I reference the “first bee food of the year” while protesting her attacks on these free-spirited plants. When my husband offers to save dandelion seeds to send to her, she firmly declines.
Despite our differences of opinion, we’ve discovered we appreciate one another’s yards and look forward to getting home to our own.
Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.
Gerald D. Rogers
Gerald D. Rogers, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2019, at the age of 94. Gerald was born on February 18, 1925 in Selden, Kansas to Walter and Myrtle (Anderson) Rogers. Gerald graduated from Norton High School in 1943 and then volunteered for the United States Air Force. He served in the China- Burma- India theater during World War II. On September 30, 1952 he married Leona Koerperich. Gerald and Leona were married nearly 67 years. This union was blessed with five children, Sherry, Geralyn, Joe, Scott, and Tami.Gerald and Leona started their married life on a farm near Jennings, Kansas. Gerald spent most of his life managing grain elevators in Selden and Republic, Kansas. He was a 50+ year member of Knights of Columbus, a member of the American Legion and Lion’s Club. He served on the Golden Plains School Board for sixteen years.
He was very proud of his WWII service, but was most proud of his family. His favorite activities were watching his grandchildren play basketball, soccer, tennis, dance and act in plays.
Gerald is survived by his wife, Leona, of the home in Newton, Kansas; his five children and spouses, Sherry Watts (Harry) of Manhattan, Kansas, Geralyn Parker (Lauren) of Goodland, Kansas, Joseph Rogers (Stephanie) of Davison, Michigan, Scott Rogers (Julie) of Larned, Kansas, and Tami Carlgren (Randy) of Newton, Kansas; 12 grandchildren and spouses, Anthony Parker (Amy), Father Nicholas Parker, Jillian Korte (Drew), Stuart Watts, Diana Watts, Conrad Rogers (Michelle), Jennifer Rogers, Hunter Rogers (Shazia), Melanie Morrison (Cameronn), Meredith Peterson (Johnathan), Joshua Carlgren (Kenzie) and Hannah Carlgren; and three great-grandchildren, Cole Parker, Scarlett Korte, and Cameronn Morrison.
He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Rogers and mother, Myrtle Warner; and great-grandchild, Camri Morrison.
A Mass of Christian Burial is planned for Thursday, May 16, 2019, 10:30 A.M. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Selden, Kansas with his Grandson, Father Nicholas Parker presiding. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2019 from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with a Rosary and Vigil Service being held at 7:00 P.M, and family will receive friends from 5:30 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. all at the Pauls Funeral Home in Selden, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newton, Kansas. Online condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
Gerald was a faithful member of the Catholic Church, a proud Grandfather, loving father and devoted husband. He will be greatly missed by his wife and family.
Hays High soccer advances past Central
By JEREMY McGUIRE
Hays Post
HAYS, Kan.-Head Coach Silas Hibbs wanted his Hays High girls soccer team to score some goals in the opening round of the 5A State Soccer Tournament and score they did in a 3-0 win over Salina Central. It took the Lady Indians a while to get on the board in the first half. The freshman combination of Kamree Leiker and Caroline Robben provided the first goal for Hays as Leiker chased a ball down the right side of the field and found Robben who punched it in to give the Lady Indians the 1-0 lead in the 36th minute. That would be the only score of the first half and proved to be the game winner.
Robben would strike again in the 67th minute for a 2-0 advantage for the Lady Indians. Kallie Leiker would add the final goal of the night off an assist from Robben for the eventual 3-0 tally. Hays High showed their depth as they controlled the ball throughout the match and really wore Salina Central out down the stretch.
The Lady Indians improve to 11-1-5 on the season and will travel to Valley Center on Thursday to face the Hornets who were 2-0 winners over Wichita Northwest on Tuesday. Game time in Valley Center is set for 6pm.
SILAS HIBBS INTERVIEW
Big inning costs TMP softball in season-ending loss to Hoisington
The Hoisington Cardinals scored seven runs in the second inning on their way to a 9-3 win over the TMP-Marian Monarchs in the 3A regional semifinals Tuesday in Hays.
Melissa Schoepf postgame interview
TMP took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning after MK Dwyer lead off the game with a single and after a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt Dwyer scored on a passed ball giving the Monarchs the lead.
With the Monarchs still leading 1-0 the Cardinals erupted for seven runs in the top of the second inning on five hits and a pair of errors to take a 7-1 lead, it was a lead they would never surrender.
TMP did score a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a Dwyer RBI double and a Kyleigh Allen RBI triple but it wasn’t enough in the 9-3 loss.
Cardinal starter Kassidy Nixon allowed all three runs, just two earned on eight hits in a complete Victoria. She struck out 11 and walked just two.
TMP starter Kyleigh Allen suffered the loss. She allowed nine runs, eight earned, on 11 hits while striking out three and walking one in six innings.
TMP finished the season 13-9.
FHSU president issues statement of thanks to Legislature for FY 2020 funding
The Kansas Legislature has approved a budget that provides $50.8 million for the Kansas Board of Regents for the budget year that begins July 1.
Fort Hays State University President Tisa Mason released a statement today to express her gratitude to the Legislature and to the Regents. FHSU’s share totals $2,059,951.
“I am very grateful that Kansas legislators have shown their support for higher education in the budget they just approved for the next fiscal year,” said President Mason.
“Access to a quality college education is critical in meeting the requirements of the Kansas workforce and economy, and it is gratifying to see that the Legislature recognizes the work that all the Regents institutions are putting into addressing the needs of Kansas workers and employers,” she said.
“I also want to thank Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Board of Regents for their vigorous support and advocacy for the state’s public two-year and four-year institutions.”
President Mason said Fort Hays State consistently ranks among the top 10 public institutions in the nation with the lowest in-state tuition.
“This new money will help Fort Hays State keep its tuition among most affordable in the nation,” she said. “Low cost is vital to provide access to the higher education necessary in the 21st-century economy.”
President Mason said that regional public universities and colleges, such as Fort Hays State, do not have the ability to base operating budgets solely on fundraising or tuition hikes, or even a combination of the two.
“For us, state budgetary support is a crucial component in ensuring that we meet our responsibilities to our state and our students,” she said.
For almost two decades, Fort Hays State has kept tuition increases in the low single digits in favor of a business model built on increasing enrollment through providing high-quality on-campus and online educational experiences at the lowest cost possible. The model has proven very successful, as evidenced by the university’s remarkable record of 18 consecutive years of sustained, record-setting enrollment growth.
A study by the Kansas Leadership Center of tuition increases from the 2007-2008 academic year to the 2017-2018 year found that FHSU’s tuition was only $24.46 above inflation for the 11-year period. During that same time frame, enrollment increased from a 20th-day headcount of 9,588 in fall 2007 to 15,523 in fall 2018.
The Fort Hays State model is also based on meeting the needs of students by recognizing new career paths and then creating programs to prepare people for them. This applies to traditional on-campus students and an increasing numbers of non-traditional students – defined as students older than 25.
Most of these adult learners participate online or at remote sites because they cannot afford to leave home and family while gaining the education they need to advance in their current careers or begin new ones.
A comprehensive survey by The Washington Monthly, released in the fall of 2018, ranked FHSU in the top 10 nationwide for adult learners. The survey found that 31 percent of Fort Hays State students fit the adult-learner category. Key criteria included not only low-cost in-district tuition and fees, but flexibility of programs, available services and adult-student graduation rates – 80 percent in that category for FHSU.
“Regents institutions needed new money after the significant cuts of recent years, and the Kansas Legislature provided a much-needed boost this year,” said President Mason.
“More money means more access. It means more Kansas students, young and older, will be able to get the education needed to advance their lives and contribute to the economic health of the state,” she said.
“I and everyone here at Fort Hays State offer our thanks.”
Flag at half-staff Wednesday in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day
Governor Laura Kelly orders flags lowered to half-staff tomorrow, May 15 in honor of National Peace Officers Memorial Day from sunup to sundown. pic.twitter.com/7UeH42EbVg
— Kansas.gov (@ksgovernment) May 14, 2019
Police: Kansas boy critically injured after hit by a car
TOPEKA, Kan. –Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that critically injured a boy on Tuesday.
Just before 7p.m., police responded to a report of an injury accident at the intersection of SW 4th and Taylor in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble.
At the scene, it was discovered that a vehicle struck a boy on a bicycle.
The child was transported to a local hospital with what was determined to be life threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle was not injured.
Members of the TPD Accident Reconstruction Team responded to the scene investigating the incident. Police have not released the names of those involved or the boy’s age.
Sunny, warm Wednesday
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 89. South southeast wind 5 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 61. South wind 10 to 13 mph.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 92. South southwest wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 17 mph.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy.
Friday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Breezy.
Saturday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Advanced tornado research underway in central Kansas
By TIM UNRUHSalina Airport Authority
Tiny anemometer propellers turned in a gentle indoor breeze Tuesday while curious humans milled about several peculiarly outfitted vehicles.
Just outside of a big hangar at Salina Regional Airport, folks in blue jumpsuits stood watch on a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Lockheed WP-3 Orion, a large plane loaded with radars and other weather gear.
This was the calm that some 50 scientists, weather experts and students are not here to experience during the early stages of a two-year operation known as Project TORUS. The acronym stands for Targeted Observations by Radars and UAS of Supercells.
The TORUS goal from now through June 16, is to simply learn more, said Adam Houston, lead project investigator from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
“We hope to improve weather forecasting and improve our fundamental understanding (of storms),” he said.
Relating the “observable” with the “unobservable” with cutting-edge instrumentation, Houston said, TORUS aims to research the relationships between severe thunderstorms and tornado formation, according to information provided at the Tuesday legislative briefing, media day, and open house.
“To do that, we really do need to get close to the storms,” Houston said.
Using the WP-3 from high elevations, gathering information from ground level, and for the first time utilizing drones at elevations below 2,500 feet, team members can attack supercells from more angles.
“We can drive up to the storm, and into the storm if necessary,” Houston said, “to get unique observations, but also coordinated observations to see how these relate to each other.” The operation will continue in 2020.
What the average person knows about these immense, dangerous, and sometimes deadly storms, might be thanks only to Hollywood, according to some during opening remarks.
Anthony Bruna, assistant legal counsel for U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, admitted his education came from the 1996 film, Twister.
“You guys are the real deal,” Bruna said to the Project TORUS crew after Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, spoke during the legislative briefing.
“Right now, we think of you as a bunch of crazy people who fly into storms, releasing sensors that resemble beer cans,” said Perry Wiggins, executive director of the Governor’s Military Council.
But he assured spectators that those associated with Project TORUS are dedicated professionals.
“I walked around and talked to to them. They have enough information to make your head explode,” Wiggins said. “It’s reassuring to know that we’ve got people like that on point to protect us, giving us time to basically get out of the elements.”
He resides in Chapman, in a house that was damaged by the 2008 tornado that ravaged the small eastern Dickinson county town, killing one and injuring many.
Wiggins wonders why people chase tornadoes.
“They wouldn’t drive toward gunfire, and sometimes these things are more dangerous than that,” he said.
Love of the weather excites Justin Kibbey, commander of the WP-3. His focus is completing missions.
“My main priority is us, to keep the plane safe and get the information to the scientists,” he said. “There’s a lot of expertise here, a lot of knowledge.”
Project TORUS “is going to be fabulous,” said Lisa Teachman KSN TV’s chief meteorologist in Wichita. She broadcast the weather forecast Tuesday at 5 and 6 p.m. from the airport.
Currently, she said, the lead time for an approaching tornado or severe storm is 13 to 14 minutes, and three out of four severe storms are not going to produce a tornado. Teachman aims to glean information from researchers that would add time and accuracy.
“This is like one of the real amazing scientific projects going on,” said Mark Robinson. He and Jaclyn Whittal, both storm chasers, co-host a television show, “Storm Hunters” on The Weather Network, out of Toronto in southern Ontario, Canada.
They filmed interviews Tuesday, and plan on spending two weeks in Salina.
“What I want to learn is why one storm produces a tornado, and the other doesn’t,” Robinson said.
Displays in and out of the hangar Tuesday fascinated David Kraemer, professor of mathematics and computer studies at Kansas Wesleyan University, considering all of the coordination between government resources and universities.
UNL, the Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies at the University of Oklahoma, NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Okla., Texas Tech and Colorado University in Boulder, are involved. A small group of students from University of Michigan are on the Texas Tech team.
“To make it all work right is quite amazing. It’s a really good experience for these young kids,” Kraemer said. “All of these vehicles taking so many measurements together is really wild. I don’t covet anybody’s job on that plane.”
It’s what James McFadden lives for. He has flown in and out of hurricanes 578 times in his long career, and owns the Guinness World Record for being the oldest to fly through one.
“I love to fly and I love meteorology,” said McFadden, 85. “It’s why I got a PhD in meteorology. My peers were stuck in the lab. I get to see everything unfold right in front of me.”
The big plane is also known as a NOAA WP-3 Hurricane Hunter, that will chase storms in the nation’s belly.
It will work in concert with drones at lower elevations and vehicles collecting data from ground level.
This is the first time that unmanned aerial vehicles will be used for the research.
“It’s a cheaper solution and you don’t have to risk people’s lives by sending them into the storm,” said Anders Olsen, a sophomore at the University of Colorado.
He enjoys to be “part of such an awesome group,” while still in college.
Drones will normally perform one flight for each storm, said Eric Frew, professor of aerospace engineering science at CU-Boulder.
He’s not yet concerned that wind gusts would cause problems for the unmanned aircraft.
“We’ve been in high winds before, and have not seen this happen,” Frew said.
The project will cover 367,000 square miles from North Dakota to Texas and Iowa to Wyoming and Colorado.
Monica and Avery Hoy thoroughly enjoyed their Tuesday tour. They were part of a group of home-schooled students from Hutchinson.
“The airplane is very neat, with all the hurricanes it’s flown through, and the equipment inside” said Monica, 11, who is considering a career in meteorology.
“It’s definitely a strong option,” she said. “Storms are very interesting and exciting.”
Avery, 9, was partial to the ground vehicles inside the hangar.
“I kinda like that weather vane over there,” he said. “It has a big camera on the front.”
Project TORUS has numerous partners with $2.4 million from the National Science Foundation and funding support from NOAA. The TORUS project is led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Partner institutions include: NOAA NSSL, NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, University of Oklahoma Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Texas Tech University, and the University of Colorado Boulder.
The above story was republished with permission from the Salina Airport Authority.
Suspect held on $1M bond for killing, dismembering Kan. man
LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man has been charged with fatally shooting another man, dismembering his body and then setting the remains on fire.
Thirty-year-old Colton Stock was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and three other felonies in the death of 35-year-old Matthew Calkins, of Gardner, Kansas.
No attorney is listed for him in online court records. Bond is set at $1 million cash only.
Police arrested him May 5 while responding to report of gunfire at a home where Calkins’ remains were found. An autopsy determined that Calkins was shot twice before his body was dismembered and burned.
Charging documents say Stock told officers that the shooting happened during a “fight for my life.” Stock previously was charged with assaulting and shooting at another man at the home.
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