MANHATTAN — On October 25, The Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources received notification of the official position of the Fish and Wildlife Service related to the impairment of the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge operated by the Service.
According to the notification, “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not make a request for water to the State of Kansas for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Fiscal Year 2020. Throughout the year, the Service will continue to work to find local, voluntary, collaborative and non-regulatory solutions, including augmentation, to address the water needs of the community and the wildlife conservation purposes of the refuge before determining if more formal measures are necessary to ensure the refuge’s water rights are secured. We look forward to working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Kansas congressional delegation, and all water users to develop concrete milestones and lasting solutions.”
Based on this position, KDA-DWR confirms it will not issue any administrative orders regarding water use in Groundwater Management District 5 (GMD 5) for the 2020 growing season.
Part of the R9 Ranch in Edwards County, owned jointly by the cities of Hays and Russell as a long-term water supply, is located in GMD 5.
Prior to public meetings this week about the Quivira water impairment claim, Hays city manager Toby Dougherty said “only a small portion (few acres) of the R9 is in the Rattlesnake Basin. Whatever the result of the Quivira impairment claim, it should have little, if any, effect on the R9.”
Public meetings regarding this issue were held in St. John, Kansas, on October 21. At that time, the official position and timetable of the Service was uncertain, so KDA-DWR was unable to provide assurance there would be no water administration in 2020. This notification provides that certainty for farmers and ranchers in the Rattlesnake Creek Basin.
For extensive information on the Quivira impairment and all actions and public information surrounding the issue, visit www.agriculture.ks.gov/Quivira.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri athletic department has apologized and taken down a tweet intended to promote the NCAA’s “diversity and inclusion week” after receiving complaints that it was racially insensitive.
The original social media statement from the University of Missouri
The original post, which prompted a quick reaction on social media, showed a graphic with four photos under the words “I am.” At issue is that the white athletes described career aspirations in the graphic, while the black athlete and staff member made statements about race.
Arielle Mack, a black freshman track athlete, was pictured with the statement “I am an African American woman.” Chad Jones-Hicks, a black ticket office assistant, according to MU Athletics’ website, was accompanied by the statement “I value equality.” Meanwhile, the caption for Chelsey Christensen, a white gymnast and junior at MU, read, “I am a future doctor.” Another caption attributed to freshman swimmer CJ Kovac, also white, said, “I am a future corporate financer,” with the word financier spelled wrong in the graphic.
In a separate post, a black male student athlete is pictured with the caption: “I Am a Brother.”
African American writer Angie Thomas, author of the New York Times’ bestselling books “The Hate U Give” and “On the Come Up,” tweeted: “Uhhh” in response to the graphic.
The athletic department said in a statement that the “intent was to provide personal information about our students, but we failed.” The statement said a video it posted better represented the school’s “intent to celebrate our diversity.”
That video contained an extended quote from Mack, who said, “I am an African American woman, a sister, a daughter, a volunteer and a future physical therapist.” She told the Columbia Missourian that she didn’t think too much of the tweet, as MU Athletics used her own language. She also said the department did the right thing by deleting the tweet in light of the controversy.
Former Missouri standout quarterback Corby Jones, a Kansas City attorney who is black, told The Kansas City Star’s editorial board that his first reaction was outrage. He said he was left asking, “Why did we choose those words for those (African American) individuals?
After calls to athletic department administrators, Jones came away with a better understanding of the university’s intent. The post was part of a broader NCAA-led inclusion initiative.
“It was just poorly constructed,” Jones said.
The controversy comes four years after hundreds of students protested the way university leadership handled complaints from black student groups about racial slurs and other slights on the overwhelmingly white flagship campus. More than 30 black football team members said they wouldn’t play until the university’s president was removed. University system President Tim Wolfe ultimately resigned and Columbia campus Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin stepped down to take another job with the university.
John L. Schultz was born September 6, 1938 in Decatur County to John Theodore and Leathe Ellen (Khalor) Schultz. He passed away October 25, 2019 at his home in Oberlin at the age of 81.
John grew up in Oberlin and attended Decatur Community High School. He was in the Navy from March 1958 to August 1966. John married Gloria Claire Sivi on February 28, 1962. After leaving the Navy, he drove an 18-wheeler across the U.S. for 41 years until retiring in 2003. John was a member of the VFW, the Oberlin American Legion Post 70. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening.
John was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gloria; son, Mark Allen Schultz and grandson, Derick Joe Schultz. He is survived by sons: Danny Joe Schultz and wife Angela of Fritch, TX and Wesley Andrew Schultz of Oberlin, KS; daughter, Paula Rae Henderson of Syracuse, NY; brother, Ted Schultz of Enid, OK; sisters, Bernice Reid of Northglenn, CO and Marie McVay of Hays, KS; 16 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at Pauls Funeral Home, Oberlin. Burial will follow at Oberlin Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 20, 2019 from 9-11:00 am at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Decatur County EMT or Hospice Services, Inc. Palliative Care of Northwest Kansas. Condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have identified the man who died in an accident while walking on a Kansas highway Friday in Shawnee County.
Just after 4a.m., the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call reporting that there was a man later identified as Colton L. Griggs, 21, Topeka, walking in the middle of the road on SE Hwy 40 East of K-4 Highway, according to Sgt. Scott Wanamaker.
Deputies were dispatched and while traveling to the scene, the emergency communication center received a second 911 call notifying them that a car had struck a pedestrian.
At that time, medical personnel were dispatched. When the first deputy arrived to the scene he located Griggs and found that he was deceased, according to Wanamaker.
The initial investigation of the scene indicates that Griggs was walking westbound in the middle of the highway when he was struck by the westbound 2017 Hyundai Accent driven by Kevin Dixon of Lawrence.
There is no suspicious activity believed to be involved in this accident and no signs of impairment of the driver of the vehicle, according to Wanamaker.
Officials shut down SE Highway 40 for an extended time from the Kansas 4 Highway interchange to SE Tecumseh Road. Motorist were advised to use alternate routes of travel until the scene is cleared.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man while responding to a bogus emergency call is suing over wages.
Police body camera images of The December 2018 fatal response to a hoax call that led to Finch’s death -courtesy Wichita Police
Justin Rapp alleges in the lawsuit filed Thursday that he wasn’t allowed to resume his usual jobs “in a reasonable amount of time” after fatally shooting 28-year-old Andrew Finch in December 2017. He says that caused him to lose out on $31,000 from his regular police duties in Wichita and a city-approved off-duty security job.
Rapp wasn’t charged. He said he feared Finch was reaching for a firearm when he fired, not knowing that a hoaxer had reported a fake homicide and hostage situation at Finch’s home. A lawsuit filed by Finch’s family is pending.
The city’s attorney declined to comment on Rapp’s allegations.
Don and Chris Bickle with Tiger cheerleaders and Victor E. Tiger at a reception in their honor announcing their latest $1 million gift to Fort Hays State.
By HAYLEY BIEKER FHSU Foundation
Don and Chris Bickle have long been known for their philanthropy and support of Fort Hays State University. A reception earlier this week in FHSU’s Center for Applied Technology celebrated the couples latest $1 million commitment to the university.
The majority of their gift will support Tiger Athletics, which will continue to propel FHSU’s student-athletes and programs to success. The remainder of their gift will support:
• The Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship
• The Robotics program within FHSU’s Department of Applied Technology
• Their lifetime support of Fort Hays State University’s Alumni Association
• FHSU President Tisa Mason in support of her strategic plan for the university
Their gift to the president’s strategic initiatives fund will help fuel the success of FHSU’s strategic plan for years to come
“We are here to honor Don and Chris Bickle – some of our most loyal and generous supporters to Fort Hays State University,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. “I want to express our humble gratitude for their loyalty and commitment, but also for their ongoing support and encouragement, which permeates throughout our community.”
“You’ve supported Tiger Athletics in many ways over many years,” added Curtis Hammeke, director of FHSU Athletics. “From the indoor training facility, which has meant so much to all of us, to the new video board, and your scholarship support. I could go on.”
“As you know, we feel it’s important to not just have nice facilities, or facilities that are as good as others, but we strive to have facilities that are even better,” said Hammeke. “Recruiting is the livelihood of our athletic program, and our facilities make a great difference in that recruitment process. I feel that this all leads back to making Hays the special community that it is, and Fort Hays State the special university that it is.”
“I’m so very grateful for this opportunity to recognize the ongoing support of Don and Chris,” said Dr. Melissa Hunsicker Walburn, interim dean of the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
“Sometimes we are challenged as educators to ask ourselves: ‘Why do we do what we do? What is our why?,’ ” she said. “For many of us, our answer is to fuel the passions of the next generation – their curiosities, their imagination and their desire to explore the world around them. There’s no doubt that this support from Don and Chris will create many, many opportunities, which would otherwise not be accessible to a great deal of FHSU students.”
“Today,” she continued, “I thank Don and Chris most specifically for their continued support of experiential world travel and the learning opportunities that would remain ideas and dreams rather than actual plane tickets and detailed itineraries. Thank you for your support of student travel, and for allowing our students the opportunity to learn from other cultures.”
Cody Escritt, a graduate student from Nebraska, spoke on behalf of FHSU’s robotics program.
“I’ve worked a lot with the robotics program here at Fort Hays State – throughout my undergraduate program in manufacturing and now in my graduate program as I’m taking a course in advanced education through instructional technology,” he said. “I know I would not be where I’m today without our robotics, without our phenomenal instructors and without your support. It’s very important for students, like myself, to have this robot, this up-to-date technology, and to learn what it will be like in the field upon graduation.”
“I’m here today to represent the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association,” said Mike Koerner, vice president of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
“We want to thank you for the many ways you’ve helped our mission of developing positive life-long relationships between the university and our alumni, faculty, staff, friends and students,” he said. “FHSU’s alumni events just wouldn’t be the same without you running up and down the aisles singing the university’s unofficial anthem ‘In Heaven There is No Beer.’”
In typical Don Bickle fashion, he concluded the celebratory reception by leading the FHSU pep band, cheerleaders and mascot, Victor E. Tiger, in the university’s unofficial anthem and fight song. Before long, the full crowd had joined Don in clapping and singing along.
Join Don and Chris Bickle in supporting the area(s) of campus that mean the most to you by visiting https://foundation.fhsu.edu/donate.
To learn more, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu or contact the FHSU Foundation at 785-628-5620 or [email protected].
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of armed robberies and have made an arrest.
Green photo Sedgwick Co.
Police involved with the investigation identified 20-year-old Darren Green as a suspect involved in the robberies beginning in July on July 8, when employees at Burger King, 3500 S. Meridian, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint, according to officer Charley Davidson.
On August 28, an employee at Meridian Grocery, 2719 S. Meridian, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint. The next day, an employee at Domino’s Pizza, 2047 W. 21st Street North, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint.
On October 20, employees at the Money Center inside of Walmart, 3030 N. Rock Rd., reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint. The following day, an employee at Check into Cash, 2424 S. Seneca, reported an unknown suspect attempting to rob the business at gunpoint. Later that day, employees at Advance America, 601 N. Ridge Road, reported an unknown suspect robbed the business at gunpoint.
No injuries were reported in these incidents.
On Wednesday evening police arrested Green at his home without incident.
The investigations are ongoing, and they will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A judge has denied a new trial for a Kansas home day care worker who was convicted in the death of a 9-month-old baby.
The sentencing for 44-year-old Carrody Buchhorn is now set for Nov. 18. She faces nine to 10 years in prison.
Her sentencing had been delayed while she argued that she deserved a new trial. She got new attorneys after she was convicted last year of unintentionally but recklessly causing the death of Oliver Ortiz in 2016 in Eudora.
Her new attorneys challenged the work of her trial attorneys and how they handled the testimony of the coroner, who ruled that the baby’s death was a homicide. A judge ruled last week that her trial attorneys “were not ineffective.”
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor is retiring amid calls for her to step down after a Missouri judge overturned the double murder conviction of a man whom she helped send to prison more than two decades ago.
The Douglas County, Kansas, district attorney’s office said in a statement this week that Chief Assistant District Attorney Amy McGowan is transitioning her cases to other attorneys in preparation for her Nov. 1 retirement. The statement provided no other explanation.
McGowan didn’t immediately return a message from The Associated Press left for her through the prosecutor’s office.
McGowan had been the subject of recent protests by the KC Freedom Project after a judge found that, while working in the Jackson County, Missouri, prosecutor’s office, she failed to disclose exculpatory evidence in Ricky Kidd’s case. He was freed from prison in August after a judge found clear and convincing evidence that he was wrongfully convicted of the February 1996 deaths of George Bryant and Oscar Bridges in Kansas City, Missouri. Prosecutors subsequently decided not to retry him.
“She should be disbarred,” Kidd told The Kansas City Star’s Editorial Board in September.
McGowan also was accused of withholding evidence in the case against Richard Buchli II, a Kansas City attorney who spent about five years in prison in the 2000 death of his law partner before his conviction was overturned. Charges later were dismissed. And in 2013, the Kansas Supreme Court found McGowan made improper comments during closing arguments in five cases between 2007 and 2009. In one instance, the court vacated a sentence in a child-exploitation case.
After Kidd was freed, protesters held signs and chanted in Douglas County and in downtown Topeka in front of the state agency tasked with investigating complaints against attorneys.
Cheryl Wright Kunard, a spokesman for the Douglas County district attorney’s office, told the Lawrence Journal-World it would be inappropriate to respond to questions about whether the protests influenced McGowan’s decision to retire.
The Douglas County prosecutor’s office previously defended McGowan in a statement, saying that while she did make errors in Kidd’s case, the verdict was overturned primarily because the main witness recanted.
“False and grossly misleading rumors are being spread that Ms. McGowan was ‘found guilty,’ ‘convicted,’ and ‘disciplined,'” the statement said. “Ms. McGowan has never been convicted nor disciplined by the Missouri Court System or the Kansas Supreme Court.”
Elizabeth J. “Betty” Buchholz, age 86, of WaKeeney, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, October 15, 2019, at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney. She was born March 22, 1933, in Gorham, Kansas to Vincent and Delphine (Kuhn) Copp. She shared a happy life with her husband, Duane W. Buchholz.
Betty was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening and canning, sewing and hand quilting quilts, crocheting and was an accomplished seamstress. She was an incredibly giving, talented and creative person.
Betty is survived by her husband, Duane Buchholz of WaKeeney; a son, Eugene F. Buchholz and wife Michelle of Oakley, California; a daughter, Gail A. Jensen and husband Richard of WaKeeney; three brothers, Michael Copp of Olathe, Kansas, Dwayne Copp of Roseville, California and Lawrence Copp of El Segundo, California; three sisters, Patricia Roe of WaKeeney, Rosemary Mai of Salina and Mary Jane Wahlmeier of Norton; two grandchildren, Tara Harold and husband Thomas of Moorpark, California, Kimberly Pinto and husband David of Oakley, California as well as two great grandchildren, Caylee and Dominic Harold and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Vincent Copp Jr.
Memorial services will be 10:30 AM with memorial visitation from 9:30 until service time on Friday, October 25, 2019 at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Inurnment will follow the Memorial Service at approximately 11:45 AM at the WaKeeney City Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital/WaKeeney Family Care Center or the Bethlehem Lutheran Church of WaKeeney
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
KDA
