FINNEY COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 2p.m. Monday in Finney County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Civic driven by Tuyen T. Nguyen, 50, Wichita, was northbound on U.S. 83 two miles south of Garden City.
The vehicle crossed the centerline and struck a semi in the axle and then in the axle of the trailer.
Following the impact, the Honda continued northbound and struck the guard rail for the bridge.
Nguyen was transported to the hospital in Garden City where she died. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP. The semi driver Douglas A Brittenham, 59, North Platte, was not injured.
Tuesday Patchy freezing drizzle before 7am, then patchy snow and freezing drizzle between 7am and 11am, then a chance of snow after 11am. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 21 by 2pm. Wind chill values as low as 2. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 22 to 31 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Strong winds and one to two inches of snowfall can be expected today along and north of a Ulysses to Dodge City to Stafford line. Areas of blowing snow this afternoon could significantly reduce visibilities at times. A Winter Weather Advisory currently is in effect Today. #kswxpic.twitter.com/oHWW3z92C5
Tuesday Night Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 18. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 17 to 22 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph after midnight.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 42. West wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 25. West southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
ThursdayPartly sunny, with a high near 31. Blustery.
Thursday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 18.
SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that left a 9-year-old boy dead.
Family have established a GoFundMe page after the death of Royale Spencer
Just before 8:30 a.m. Monday, police responded to a shooting at a residence in the 2200 block of east MacArthur in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers located a 9-year-old boy who had sustained a gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead the scene.
The investigation revealed five juveniles between 9-years-old and 16-years-old were at the home at the time of the incident. The 9-year-old boy was visiting his 11-year-old friend who lived at the home. The two boys were able to manipulate a gun safe open in a bedroom and began playing with guns inside. Through the investigation it is believed, the 11-year-old boy was playing with a gun when it discharged.
The investigation is ongoing and the case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say a 9-year-old boy died in a shooting at a mobile home park.
Police on the scene of the fatal shooting investigation –photo courtesy KAKE
Police spokesman Charley Davidson says three children who lived at the home and two of their friends were in the home when the boy was shot Monday morning.
The boy was one of the friends visiting the family.
TOPEKA – As anyone who has smoked or used other tobacco products knows, it is hard to stop.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever tried to do.”
“I’ve tried and tried, and I just can’t quit.”
“I quit once for six months, but then I started up again when my dad died.”
These thoughts likely are all familiar to anyone who has used tobacco.
But did you know chances for successfully stopping tobacco use increase if medications and counseling are used together?
That is why a newly expanded program for KanCare patients is exciting news for people who want to quit and stay quit.
For the first time, KanCare is covering quit smoking medications and counseling, for multiple quit attempts per year. These include:
Tobacco cessation medications, including the nicotine patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, nasal spray, Chantix or Zyban
Combinations of cessation medications, like the patch and gum
Counseling services, from a health care provider, to support patients while they try to quit.
For as many times as it takes you to find the right combination and quit for good
This means if you don’t succeed the first time, it doesn’t end there. With the help of your health care provider, it is possible to try more than one option.
If you are still looking for a reason to quit, try these:
Your health and appearance will improve
More money and time to do the things you want to do
Your loved ones
For KanCare patients who use tobacco, ask your health care provider about the expanded benefits today. Chances are better than ever that this time the quit will be for good.
An information card about the expanded benefits can be downloaded here for providers and their patients. Contact [email protected] to order a supply of these information cards.
WABAUNSEE COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Monday in Wabaunsee County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Acura driven by John K. Mwithiga, 24, Lawrence, was westbound on Intestate 70 just west of Spring Creek Road.
The driver lost control of the vehicle after partially entering the snow covered median.
The vehicle slid across the westbound lanes of I-70, entered the ditch, went up an embankment, crashed through a KDOT fence, rolled and the driver was ejected.
Mwithiga was transported to the hospital in Topeka. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Humane Society says it set a record for the number of homes or placements it found for animals last year.
The agency says it placed 11,204 animals and had a 94 percent save rate last year.
The Humane Society said its save rate increased by 50 percent since it moved into its new facility in Wichita in 2009.
The organization says 8,432 animals were adopted in 2018, and another 1,955 were transferred to rescue partners. Another 710 animals were reunited with their owners and 107 were transferred to partner shelters.
The group also reported that it performed 2,281 donor-subsidized spay and neuter surgeries for animals last year. The agency also expanded its program to find placements for feral or semi-social cats.
Hays High girls dominate Orange and Black Classic
The Hays High girls went into the Orange and Black Classic in Colby with a 4-3 record and won three games over the weekend to win the tournament. Hays outscored its three opponents 177-105 with victories over Goodland 59-36, Scott City 68-50 and Colby in the championship game 50-19.
The 19 points allowed against Colby is a tournament record in a championship game. Coach Alex Hutchins was awarded the Tom Bowen Coach’s Award. Kallie Leiker was named to the All-Academic team. Savannah Schneider and Brooke Denning each made the All-Tournament team. You can listen to highlights and the coach interview by clicking here.
The Hays High boys finished fourth at the Orange and Black Classic with an 83-53 victory over Christian Heritage out of Oklahoma. Hays shot a season-high 52 percent from the field and season high 44 percent from three making a season-high 12 three pointers. You read about the recap of the game, including highlights and the coach interview here.
Both the girls and boys take on Salina Central at home on Friday.
TMP boys finish 2nd at the MCL Tournament
The TMP boys played Phillipsburg in the championship game of the MCL tournament for the second straight year on Saturday, falling 60-46 to the Panthers. Jared Mayers lead the way for the Monarchs with 16 points including this dunk:
The TMP girls finished third at the MCL tournament with a 45-39 victory over Smith Center Saturday.
Osborne boys win back-to-back NPL tournaments, Thunder Ridge girls win NPL again The Osborne Bulldogs grabbed the win over St. John’s/Tipton Catholic to win the NPL tournament last week. Osborne improves to 12-0 and is currently ranked No. 10 in a loaded 1A class.
The Thunder Ridge Lady Longhorns won their sixth NPL tournament title in a row with a 47-26 win over Osborne.
OVERTIME
Plainville’s Dewey having a stellar junior season Plainville’s Aubree Dewey is averaging 29.9 points, 3.7 assists, 6.8 rebounds, 5.3 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. Dewey, a 5-foot-6 junior, had a career high 38 points against Ellsworth in December. She has scored 30 or more points in seven games this year. Plainville is 6-5 but have lost four of those five games by less than 10 points. Plainville is coached by former Fort Hays State star Kate Lehman.
Have highlights you want to share for next week’s Hoops Highlights? Email them to C.D. DeSalvo. Photos are encouraged!
BARTON COUNTY —There were no injuries reported in a fire at a home in Barton County on Monday.
Photo courtesy Ellinwood Fire Department
Just before 5:30 a.m., the Barton County Sheriff’s Office and Ellinwood Fire Department were dispatched to a report of a structure fire near the city of Ellinwood. Sheriff’s officers and fire personnel responded to 211 E. First Street, according to a media release.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a house fully engulfed in flames. Initially, there was some confusion as to whether anyone was in the house, but it was later determined no one was home at the time of the fire. The residence appears to be a total loss.
Sheriff’s detectives and the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office were on the scene until late Monday morning. The investigation indicates the fire was accidental in nature, and arson is not suspected. Investigators were unable to determine the exact source of ignition.
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Ellinwood Fire Department, Ellinwood Police Department as well as Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office all responded to the scene.
The judge found that ‘immediate and irreparable harm’ was likely to result if a receiver wasn’t appointed to take charge of Hillsboro Community Hospital. FILE PHOTO
A Marion County judge has appointed a receiver to run Hillsboro Community Hospital after its lender moved to foreclose on the 15-bed facility earlier this month.
The judge found that “immediate and irreparable harm is likely to result if a receiver is not appointed to operate and manage the hospital in order to ensure that it remains open and retains as much of its value as possible.”
The judge named Cohesive Healthcare Management + Consulting LLC of Shawnee, Oklahoma, to operate the hospital while the foreclosure action proceeds. The company specializes in providing administrative services to critical access hospitals, according to its website.
The appointment came after the city and the Bank of Hays jointly requested the appointment of a receiver. The bank alleges the hospital defaulted on a 2015 construction loan and owes it nearly $10 million.
The hospital had been run by EmpowerHMS, a North Kansas City company that has snatched up distressed rural hospitals in the Midwest and elsewhere with the promise of turning them around.
In recent weeks, Empower has experienced cash flow problems, causing it to fall behind on payments to its hospitals’ vendors and employees.
Earlier this month, Hillsboro, a town of about 3,000 residents 50 miles north of Wichita, threatened to cut off Hillsboro Community Hospital’s electricity over delinquent utility bills. EmpowerHMS came up with a payment at the last minute to avoid the shutoff.
In a statement Friday, an attorney for the Bank of Hays called the circumstances facing the hospital “factually and legally complex.”
“The city realizes access to health care by the citizens of Hillsboro and the surrounding area is important,” Tyler E. Heffon, the attorney, said in the statement. “The court’s approval of our joint request to appoint a receiver that can provide immediate assistance at the hospital was essential to maintaining community access to healthcare while the foreclosure lawsuit proceeds through the court system.”
The mayor of Hillsboro, Lou Thurston, said in a statement that the city wants “to undertake reasonable steps to assist in keeping the hospital open during the bank’s foreclosure lawsuit, and securing the appointment of an outside, disinterested receiver to operate and manage the hospital on an interim basis is a critical step in this regard.”
Officials of EmpowerHMS could not be reached for comment late Friday afternoon.
EmpowerHMS took over Hillsboro Community Hospital in 2017 when it acquired Rural Hospitals of America, which operated rural hospitals in Kansas and Missouri.
EmpowerHMS’s cash flow difficulties appear to stem in part from insurers’ increasing unwillingness to enter into contracts with its hospitals. Last year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma dropped EmpowerHMS’s hospitals from its network, citing what it called questionable lab billing practices at the hospitals.
In addition to Hillsboro Community Hospital, EmpowerHMS owns Oswego Community Hospital in Oswego and Horton Community Hospital in Horton. In Missouri, it owns I-70 Community Hospital in Sweet Springs. It also owns hospitals in Oklahoma, North Carolina, Arkansas and Tennessee.
Hillsboro’s city administrator, Larry Paine, said the court’s appointment of a receiver “assures the hospital will remain under the care of competent operators and open while the legal process continues.”
Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor in conjunction with the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.
