Mike Koerner interviews local author Lisa McGrath about her touching new book.
Author: Hays Post
FHSU’s Adams presents at conference on science education
Dr. Paul Adams, dean of the College of Education at Fort Hays State University, along with Dr. Richard Duschl, Penn State University, presented at the recent National Science Teachers Association Area Conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.
Their presentation, titled “Designing and Using Equitable 3-D Formative Assessments to Support Meaningful NGSS Investigations,” was a hands-on workshop on designing evaluation and assessment for the Next Generation Science Standards.
Sunny, mild Friday
Today Sunny, with a high near 55. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 29. South wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. North northwest wind 8 to 13 mph.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. West northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 47.
Sunday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 28.
3 Kan. men jailed for series of armed robberies
SEDGWICK COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects in connection with a series of armed robberies.
At approximately 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, police responded to an armed robbery call at the Kwik Shop, 710 W. 29th Street South in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. A 27-year-old female employee reported an unknown suspect entered the store, pointed a handgun at her and demanded money. Money was given to the suspect who fled on foot.
Police responded to similar robberies at at the Kwik Shop, 3959 S. Hydraulic at 8:15p.m. and another at the Kwik Shop, 3601 E. 47th Street South at 8:25p.m. and the Quick Trip, 2821 E. 31st Street South at 8:35p.m.
Through an investigation, police identified and three suspects and have arrested 32-year-old Jermaine Baker, 25-year-old Shaiquille Harris and 27-year-old Brelen Vonfange all of of Wichita on three counts of aggravated robbery and warrants.
The case will be presented to the United States Attorney’s Office, according to Davidson.
Trump says Defense Secretary Mattis will retire in February
Trump says on Twitter that a new secretary of defense will be named soon.
Trump’s announcement comes a day after he surprised U.S. allies and members of Congress by announcing the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria.
Affidavit: KU football’s Williams punched woman in stomach
LAWRENCE (AP) — An affidavit alleges University of Kansas football player Pooka Williams punched a woman in the stomach and grabbed her by the throat earlier this month.
The Lawrence Journal-World reported the 18-year-old woman showed the officer text messages from Williams admitting to punching her in the arms during the Dec. 5 incident. The document says the officer also found the victim had bruises on her arms and side.
Williams reportedly told police that he pushed the woman when he saw her in a room with other men at an apartment building. Both have said they were in an intimate relationship.
His attorney entered a not guilty on his behalf to a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery during a Dec. 7 court hearing.
Coach Les Miles says Pooka is suspended pending investigation.
KBI, Sherman Co. Sheriff investigating homicide in Goodland
GOODLAND – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating a homicide that occurred in Goodland.
The Sherman County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Thursday and special agents and the crime scene response team responded, the KBI said in a news release Thursday.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. Thursday, the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that a male victim had been shot. As sheriff’s deputies arrived at 5490 County Road 23 in Goodland, they discovered Zachary Chavez, 21, Tribune, suffering from a gunshot wound.
EMS transported Chavez to the Goodland Regional Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at approximately 2 a.m.
A person of interest connected to the case has been identified, and is currently in police custody.
The investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time, the KBI said.
Congratulations to the winners of Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaways!
Congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway!
Hays Post had 8,441 entries into the contests, and 12 winners walked away with some great early Christmas presents! Thanks to our sponsors and to our readers for playing along! Click on our contest tab on HaysPost.com to check out our other chances to win cash and prizes throughout the year.
If your business is interested in taking part in our interactive contests and games, call Eagle Marketing Solutions at (785) 628-0467.
Hays Post and Eagle Communications wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!
Here are this year’s giveaway winners:
Report: Fix troubled child welfare system in Kansas
TOPEKA (AP) — A new report by a coalition of legislators and advocates says Kansas must fix its troubled child welfare system now or more vulnerable children will suffer.
The Kansas City Star reported Thursday’s document details problems ranging from racial disparities in children removed from their homes to children lingering in state custody too long. The group spent the past year hosting town halls.
A recent review of the Kansas Department for Children and Families also exposed high caseloads, alarming turnover and lack of timely training. At the same time, a record number of children have been in foster care.
Among the coalition’s recommendations is to improve funding for food stamp benefits and other programs targeting needy families. It advocates for keeping more children in their homes and addressing the racial disparity.
Fort Hays State leads after fall season in MIAA Commissioner’s Cup
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With the fall sports season complete, Fort Hays State ranks first in the initial release of the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup presented by McCownGordon Construction standings. Fort Hays State produced an average score of 10.9 for the fall, nearly a point higher than second place.
Fort Hays State had another strong fall season in 2018, finishing in the top five of the MIAA standings in five different sports. The men’s soccer team (15 points) captured its second-straight conference title while the football team (14 points) also finished atop the MIAA for the second year in a row, finishing in a tie for first. The men’s cross country team (12 points) turned in a third-place finish at the MIAA Championships while the women’s soccer team (11.5 points) tied for third in the regular season. The women’s cross country squad (10 points) placed fifth at the MIAA Championships and the volleyball team (3 points) finished 11th in the regular season standings.
Thanks to a women’s soccer crown and a women’s cross country title, respectively, Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State currently sit in a tie for second with an average score of 10.1 points.
The MIAA Commissioner’s Cup standings are based on points earned for regular season finishes in the 20 championship sports of the MIAA. The points awarded for each sport are based on the number of the MIAA institutions that participate in that sport. Each institution’s points are totaled and divided by the number of MIAA sports it sponsors, giving an overall finish for the school.
An all-sports trophy returned to the MIAA two years ago for the first time since 2003, now called the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup with a new scoring system. McCownGordon Construction came on as a presenting sponsor last season. The conference awarded the MIAA All-Sports Trophy from 1999 to 2003.
Below is the entire list of standings based on the results of the fall sports:
2018-19 Commissioner’s Cup Standings Presented By McCownGordon Construction
1. Fort Hays State – 10.9 average (65.5 points)
T-2. Central Oklahoma – 10.1 average (40.5 points)
T-2. Pittsburg State – 10.1 average (40.5 points)
4. Nebraska Kearney – 9.8 average (49 points)
T-5. Central Missouri – 8.1 average (40.5 points)
T-5. Washburn – 8.1 average (40.5 points)
7. Missouri Southern – 7.9 average (39.5 points)
T-8. Emporia State – 7.4 average (37 points)
T-8. Northwest Missouri – 7.4 average (37 points)
10. Northeastern State – 7.0 average (21 points)
11. Lindenwood – 6.8 average (40.5 points)
12. Missouri Western – 6.5 average (32.5 points)
13. Southwest Baptist – 5.8 average (29 points)
14. Lincoln – 1.0 average (1 point)
Suspects connected to county fair deaths now in Barton Co. custody
GREAT BEND — Five people previously charged in Arkansas in connection to the murder of a Wichita couple at the Barton County Fair in July have been booked and are now in custody in Barton County.
Michael Fowler Jr., 54, Sarasota, Florida; Rusty Fraiser, 35, Aransas, Texas; and Kimberly Younger, 52, McIntosh, Florida, were charged Wednesday in Barton County District Court for capital murder, first degree murder and theft.
The trio were extradited back to Kansas from Arkansas where they also face capital murder charges in connection to the deaths of Alfred “Sonny” Carpenter and Pauline Carpenter of Wichita who were killed and their bodies transported back to Arkansas during the Barton County Fair in July.
Investigators believe the carnival workers used the couple’s recreational vehicle to drive the bodies 320 miles to Van Buren, Arkansas where the bodies were buried in a shallow grave in a national forest. The three are being held in the Barton County Jail in Lieu of a 1,000,000 bond.
Two other individuals, Christine Tenney, 38, Santa Fe, Texas, and Thomas Drake, 31, Van Buren, Arkansas, were also charged in Barton County District Court and are charged with obstructing apprehension. Both Tenney and Drake are being held in the Barton County jail in lieu of a $300.000 bond.
Here are the charges that have been filed:
Michael Fowler Jr., of Sarasota, Florida on a Barton County District Court warrant for capital murder, two counts of murder in the first degree and theft. Bond set at $1,000,000.
Rusty Fraiser of Aransas, Texas on a Barton County District Court warrant for capital murder, two counts of murder in the first degree. Bond set at $1,000,000.
Kimberly Younger of of McIntosh, Florida Aransas, Texas for capital murder, two counts of murder in the first degree, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, solicitation to commit first degree murder and theft. Bond set at $1,000,000.
Christine Tenney of Santa Fe, Texas, on a Barton County District Court warrant for three counts of obstruction. Bond set at $300,000.
Thomas Drake of Van Buren, Arkansas, on a Barton County District Court warrant for obstructing apprehension. Bond set at $300,000.
John Clifford Burnside
John Clifford Burnside, 84, died November 15, 2018, at home in Katy, Texas. He was born on October 31, 1934, in Garden City, Kansas, the son of John Ralph and Imogene (Hill) Burnside.
John spent his formative years in Garden City, spending much time working on his grandfather, John Homer Burnside’s ranch. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1952. He married Barbara LaVerne Baker August 29, 1954. He received a BS degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Oklahoma in 1958. After graduation, John went to work for Pan American Petroleum Company, which later became Amoco Oil Company before it’s current acquisition by British Petroleum (BP). John established himself within the oil industry and he and his family spent 14 years living overseas in England, Iran and Egypt. Upon return to the United States, he lived and worked in Denver, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. John retired after 35 years in 1993 as Senior Vice President of Drilling and Manager of Special Operations. He was a longtime member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and several other domestic and international petroleum related organizations. John remained actively involved with his family even as his health declined. He thoroughly enjoyed his grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife Barbara of Katy, Texas; 3 children, John M. Burnside and wife Samantha of Vancouver, Washington, Jeffrey Burnside and wife Angelique of Houston, Texas, Julie Burnside Sullivan of Houston, Texas; sisters Judy Henderson of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jane Alsop of Salina, Kansas; brother Joe Burnside of Garden City, Kansas; and nine grandchildren, Aundra Zimburean, John B., Alec, Blake, Alyssa, Riley and Brent Burnside, and Jack and Scott Sullivan; great-grandchildren Alexa and Jonas Zimburean. He is preceded in death by his parent and brother James H. Burnside.
Funeral service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Garden City, Kansas on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. with Mike Collins presiding. Interment will follow at Valley View Cemetery, Garden City, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to Make A Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana and Dementia Society of America in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home; 620 N. Main St. Garden City, Kansas 67846.
University to close for semester break; Sternberg open for regular winter hours
FHSU University Relations
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center will be the only two Fort Hays State University enterprises open during winter break.
The university closes at the end of business on Friday, Dec. 21, and will not reopen until Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019.
The Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Drive, will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day but will otherwise be open for its normal winter hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The museum is closed on Mondays from Oct. 1 through March 19.
The KWEC, 592 NR. K-156 Highway, Great Bend, about 12 miles northeast of the city, will also be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day but will otherwise be open for its normal winter hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Wetlands Center’s winter hours are from Nov. 1 through March 31.
The main campus will be closed down for the break period except for essential services.
The University Police Department office will be closed but full patrol schedules will be maintained, and operators will remain on duty at the power plant.