The Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout will be Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at Hays High School and Hays Middle School.
Author: Hays Post
Cloudy, wet Friday
Today A chance of drizzle after noon. Areas of fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 40. Light east wind becoming east southeast 10 to 15 mph in the morning.
Dense fog was expanding in area across western and central KS. Watch for significantly reduced visibility to one-quarter mile or less #kswx pic.twitter.com/bt2JnccsfA
— NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) November 30, 2018
Tonight Rain likely before 3am, then rain and snow likely between 3am and 4am, then snow likely after 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 33. East wind 8 to 18 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
SaturdayA slight chance of snow before 10am, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 10am and noon, then a slight chance of rain after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a northwest wind 18 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday NightA chance of rain and snow before 9pm, then a slight chance of snow between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
SundayMostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
Kansas sex offender in custody after motel drug bust
RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects for alleged drug activities and have made an arrest.
Early Thursday, deputies saw 29-year-old Kirk Anthony Surdi arriving at the Sunflower Motel, 322 E 4th Ave, in Hutchinson.
Deputies took him into custody on an arrest and detain order through State Parole, according to Sgt. Corey Graber.
While parole was searching the room, where Surdi was living with his wife 29-year-old Michelle Nicole Surdi, they located a pill bottle containing methamphetamine.
When she was placed in custody for possession of meth she was found in possession of 56.7 grams of methamphetamine hidden on her person.
Authorities also found a working digital scale in the motel room.
Michelle was booked for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia with intent to distribute. Her bond is $27,500.
Kirk was booked for the arrest and detain and has no bond. He has previous convictions for indecent liberties with a child, theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He had been released from prison in August.
UPDATE: Child found near Kan. rest-stop identified
GREENWOOD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities reported late Thursday they have identified the child found at the Beaumont rest area on Thursday in Greenwood County. The
Greenwood County Sheriff’s Department reported on social media they are in the process of contacting family members or a guardian. They released no additional details.
GREENWOOD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are asking the public for help to determine the identify of a man found Thursday morning in Greenwood County.
According to a social media report from the Greenwood County Sheriff, they found a man near the Beaumont rest area on U.S. 400 just after 6a.m. Thursday. The man is described a approximately 6-foot tall, 220 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Greenwood County authorities 620- 583-5568
Manhattan sweeps TMP to open Hays City Shootout
The Manhattan boys and girls basketball teams earned a sweep of the TMP-Marian basketball teams to open play at the 36th Annual Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout Thursday at Hays Middle School.
Boys: Manhattan 67, TMP 48
In the first game the Manhattan Indians opened the game on a 11-0 run and never trailed on their way to a 67-48 win.
The Monarchs offense struggled with seven first quarter turnovers and didn’t record their first field goal until just over three and a half minutes left in the first quarter. By that time Manhattan had built a 12 lead.
Down 16 midway through the second quarter the Monarchs went on a 16-8 run to end the first half spurred on by a pair of threes by Ryan Stoeklein to cut the deficit to 33-25 at halftime.
A Jared Mayers field goal early in the third quarter cut the Manhattan lead to six but that was as close of the Monarchs would get as the Indians responded with a 14-3 run to build a 17-point lead at 47-30.
Jared Mayers and Ryan Stoeklein each finished with a game-high 13 points to lead TMP.
Bill Meagher postgame interview
Game highlights
The Monarchs will face St. Thomas Aquinas at the 5:15 game Friday evening at Hays Middle School.
Girls: Manhattan 53, TMP 32
Manhattan held the Monarchs to just one first quarter field goal and forced TMP into eight turnovers in the quarter on their way to a 53-32 win Thursday.
Manhattan used runs of 9-2 and 14-2 to build a 22-6 lead over TMP midway through the first half but the Monarchs finished the first half on a 9-4 run sparked by an Abby Rueschhoff three to cut the Indians halftime lead to 26-15.
The Indians started the second half on a 14-2 run and never looked back on their way to the 53-32 win.
TMP sophomore Sasha Wasinger came off the bench to the lead the Monarchs with a new career-high 13.
Manhattan senior Kia Wilson lead all scorers with 18.
Rose McFarland postgame interview
Game highlights
TMP will face Millwood in the 3:30 game Friday afternoon at Hays Middle School.
Kan. man admits calling the White House, denies bomb threat
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas man accused of threatening to “blow up” the White House has notified the court he plans to change his plea.
A court filing Thursday shows a change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14 for 32-year-old Brandon Koss of Wichita.
He had pleaded not guilty to charge of making a threat against the president, and later notified the court he intended to present at his trial an expert testifying Koss had an unspecified mental disease.
A Secret Service agent wrote in an affidavit that Koss called the White House in January, used a profanity when addressing the woman who answered the phone, and said: “I’m going to blow up the White House.”
The affidavit says Koss admitted calling the White House but denied making a threat.
Kansas man unlawfully imported 3 Asian leopard cats
KANSAS CITY – A Kansas man was sentenced today to pay a $5,000 fine for unlawfully importing endangered leopard cats, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
The leopard cat is a small wild cat native to Asia. It is considered as an endangered species under federal law.
Lawrence E. Payne, 34, Olathe, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Endangered Species Act.
The investigation began when Payne applied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a breeding license for Asian leopard cats. When investigators served a search warrant at Payne’s home, they found three Asian leopard cats. Payne admitted importing the animals.
Kelly to change the way Kan. appeals court judges are chosen
TOPEKA — Gov.-elect Laura Kelly says she will not follow former Gov. Sam Brownback’s method of selecting appellate court judges.
Kelly will need to appoint a new Kansas Court of Appeals judge soon after she takes office in January because Judge Patrick McAnany is retiring.
According to a media release from her transition team, Kelly will have a nonpartisan nominating committee filter the applications and send her a list of three candidates.
That is similar to the procedure used before Brownback changed it to allow him to make judicial appointments directly, subject to Senate confirmation.
Kelly said in a statement Wednesday that she will use the merit-based process similar to that used for Kansas Supreme Court appointments. She said she believes that makes the process more transparent for the public.
Kan. Game Wardens: No big game worth your life
Firearms deer season is open in Kansas. On Thursday, Game Wardens with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks used social media to alert hunters to the danger of placing a tree stand on a power poll.
Roger W. Hale
COLBY — Roger W. Hale died, Wednesday, November 28, 2018, at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colo.
Services are pending with Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel in Colby.
INSIGHT KANSAS: Here come the Democrats
Democrats had a lot at stake this year. They won a qualified victory, and they owe it all to new voters.
Sharice Davids captured the KC-area, 3rd Congressional District from incumbent Kevin Yoder, while Laura Kelly defeated the drama-seeking Kris Kobach for the governorship. Davids is a former White House fellow with a bold approach. She will be Kansas’ first openly gay, and first female Native American member of Congress. Kelly’s more subdued, all-business approach contrasts sharply with Kobach’s antics.
However, in the 2nd Congressional District, Paul Davis could not quite pull off the win against newcomer Steve Watkins.
In the state’s two largest counties, Johnson and Sedgwick, Kris Kobach received more votes this year than Sam Brownback did in 2014. However, Democrats overwhelmed them with new voters. These are voters who simply did not materialize back in 2014, the last midterm election. Democratic vote totals jumped by more than 50,000 in Johnson County, more than 15,000 in Sedgwick County. In Davids’ case, she did flip about 10,000 former Yoder supporters to her side this time, but the rest of her increase over 2014—about 30,000—came from voters who are new to voting in midterms.
Things start to drop off as we head west. The 2nd District merges Lawrence and Topeka with several rural counties, and a majority there supported Trump in 2016. Even so, Paul Davis got about 30,000 more votes than did 2014 Democratic nominee Margie Wakefield. Only about 4000 of Davis’ increase came from former Republican voters. The rest were new. According to politico.com, with his less-than-2000-vote deficit, Davis came closer to winning that seat than did Democrats in similar districts elsewhere, such as Kentucky, but he fell just short of the goal line.
Turnout also rose in counties with smaller cities like Lyon (Emporia), Saline (Salina), and Finney (Garden City), but the increase split more evenly between both parties, plus independent Greg Orman. Turnout and party splits changed little in rural counties with very small populations.
What are the takeaways?
First, Kansas mirrors the nation. Democrats regained the House majority this year by targeting seats which Hillary Clinton won in 2016, and Davids’ victory is a case in point. As things become more rural — and more pro-Trump — Democrats benefit a good deal less.
Second, this election was about the bombastic duo of Kris Kobach and Donald Trump. Kobach tied himself closely to Trump while campaigning, and also featured his own outspoken rhetoric about immigrants, plus dramatic behavior in several court hearings and frequent FOX News appearances. Even 2014’s controversy over former Gov. Brownback’s tax-slashing, budget-draining “glide path to zero” just could not bring out voters the way hot-button issues and national controversy can.
Finally, it is a new day in Kansas’ Congressional delegation. Watkins remains a wild card, for now. As for Davids, my money is on her teaming up with fellow progressive Democrat, Kansas City (Mo.) Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver. With plenty of shared, urban and suburban interests that cross state boundaries, the “Kansas City caucus” may compete with the Kansas caucus for Davids’ attention. Yet Kansas issues like water, agriculture, and transportation still effect the whole state—and still need bipartisan attention. Davids’ support is critical. She will be the only Kansas member of the House’s new, Democratic majority.
The campaigns are over. Now the real work begins.
Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University. His columns and those of all Insight Kansas contributors are archived at insightkansas.wordpress.com.
CORRECTED to clarify that Sharice Davis will be the first female Native American congresswoman from Kansas.
Traveler heading to KCI with smoking suitcase causes disruption
BOSTON (AP) – The Transportation Security Administration says smoke pouring from a suitcase caused a temporary disruption at Boston’s Logan International Airport over the holiday weekend.
The agency in a statement Wednesday said the checked baggage screening area was evacuated for 49 minutes on Saturday morning to allow authorities, including the state police bomb squad, to investigate.
When @TSA comes across a smoking suitcase, it’s always suspicious. This checked bag resulted in the evacuation of the checked baggage screening room at @BostonLogan until officials could ensure that it was safe. What caused the scare? An e-cigarette’s lithium battery. pic.twitter.com/taptFJRqqS
— TSAmedia_LisaF (@TSAmedia_LisaF) November 28, 2018
The cause was determined to be a lithium battery in an e-cigarette that ignited.
The passenger, who was heading to Kansas City International Airport, was contacted by authorities and his flight was delayed until the situation was resolved. His name wasn’t released.
The TSA screened nearly 57,000 passengers plus their checked and carry-on bags that day.
Bertys Eugene Hunt
Bertys Eugene Hunt, age 86, passed away at the St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas on Wednesday, November 27, 2018. He was born on April 16, 1932 in Scott County, Kansas, the son of Arthur William & Opal Fern Mast Hunt.
He was a lifetime resident of Scott County & Wichita County, Kansas. He was a US Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Memberships include the United Methodist Church and a church elder in Lydia, Kansas, VFW and he was a 4H Leader.
On November 7, 1953 he married Pearl Jeanette Sadler in Nottay, Virginia. She survives.
Survivors include his Wife – Pearl J. Hunt of Leoti, Kansas, One Daughter – Marsha & Randy Heronemus of Leoti, Kansas, Three Sons – Bret E. Hunt of Leoti, Kansas, Bart E. Hunt of Leoti, Kansas, Bill & Gail Hunt of Marienthal, Kansas, One Brother – Bill J. Hunt of Scott City, Kansas, Six Grandchildren and Ten Great Grandchildren.
Memorial Services will be held at a later date and time at the United Methodist Church in Lydia, Kansas.
Burial will be in the Lydia Cemetery in Wichita County, Kansas.
Memorials in Lieu of Flowers may be given to the Wichita County Amusement Association or the Wichita County EMT’s or the Lydia United Methodist Church in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
There will be no calling times.