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HPD Activity Log June 21-24

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The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 28 traffic stops Fri., June 21, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Found/Lost Property–100 block Main St, Hays; 9:27 AM
Suspicious Activity–1600 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 9:32 AM
Water Use Violation–1700 block Anthony Dr, Hays; 11:20 AM; 12 PM
Intoxicated Subject–1300 block E 27th St, Hays; 12:11 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–600 block Monroe St, Ellis; 12:13 PM
Credit Card Violations–2000 block Metro Ln, Hays; 6/13 12 AM; 6/21 3:30 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–1000 block E 41st St, Hays; 4:02 PM
Burglary/vehicle–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 4:16 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2200 block of Centennial, Hays; 6:06 PM
Mental Health Call–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 7:18 PM
Mental Health Call– 2900 block Broadway Ave, Hays; 8:15 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–2400 block Main St, Hays; 12 AM

The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and conducted 10 traffic stops Sat., June 22, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident-City Street/Alley–Mopar Dr and Vine St, Hays; 8:10 AM
Civil Dispute–2500 block General Hancock St, Hays; 12:49 AM
Drug Offenses–700 block Elm St, Hays; 1:44 AM; 1:47 AM
Drug Offenses–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 4:42 AM; 5:08 AM
Animal At Large–300 block E 24th St, Hays; 7:50 AM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:40 AM
Wildlife Incident–1800 block Allen St, Hays; 9:18 AM
Suspicious Person–300 block W 10th St, Hays; 10:22 AM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6/13 11:20 AM; 11:24 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–600 block E 13th St, Hays; 6/19 10:28 AM; 6/22 10:28 AM
Found/Lost Property–W 23rd St, Hays; 10:34 AM
Disturbance – Fight–300 block W 16th St, Hays; 3 AM; 4 AM
Domestic Disturbance–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 10:45 AM; 10:55 AM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6/20 3 PM; 3:08 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6/20; 10:20 PM; 10:31 PM
Animal At Large–300 block W 15th St, Hays; 11:38 AM
Unattended Death–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 12 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 6/19 5 PM
Dead Animal Call–400 block Main St, Hays; 2:04 PM
Welfare Check–400 block W 13th St, Hays; 2:02 PM
Animal At Large–200 block E 24th St, Hays; 3:52 PM
Welfare Check–1100 block E 17th St, Hays; 4:14 PM
Found/Lost Property–Douglas Dr and Haney Dr, Hays; 4:36 PM
Theft (general)–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 4:30 PM; 5 PM
Liquor Offense, sell, furnish, transport–500 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:48 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 21 traffic stops Sun., June 23, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Intoxicated Subject–1000 block Vine St, Hays; 12:27 AM
Battery – simple–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:35 AM; 12:40 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:12 AM; 1:14 AM
Driving Under the Influence–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:44 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:45 AM; 2:14 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 2:33 AM
Battery – Domestic–1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 4:45 AM; 4:48 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–1000 block W 28th St, Hays; 8:04 AM
Criminal Trespass–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 9:31 AM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1000 block E 41st St, Hays; 6/22 6:45 PM; 6/23 12:45 PM
Animal Call–1900 block Main St, Hays; 5:28 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block E 6th St, Hays; 6/22 5:45 PM; 6/23 5:45 PM
Civil Dispute–2300 block Walnut St, Hays; 8:05 PM
Mental Health Call–3500 block Fairway Dr, Hays; 9:49 PM
Disorderly Conduct–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 10:13 PM
Juvenile Complaint–1100 block E 17th St, Hays; 10:26 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 11 traffic stops Mon., June 24, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Abandoned Vehicle–2400 block Pine St, Hays; 12:40 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 1:23 AM
Water Use Violation–100 block E 5th St, Hays; 2:40 AM
Assist – Other (not MV)–1600 block E 27th Terr, Hays; 2:42 AM
Animal At Large–1100 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 7:48 AM
Animal At Large–2200 block Downing Ave, Hays; 8:21 AM
Missing Person–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 3/16; 6/24
Abandoned Vehicle–200 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:36 AM
Welfare Check–2500 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 9:46 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–300 block W 37th St, Hays; 11:55 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–300 block E 16th St, Hays; 6/19 4 PM; 6/24 11:59 AM
Drug Offenses–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 12:51 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block E 8th St, Hays; 6/21 7:15 PM; 6/24 12 PM
Suspicious Activity–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 4:11 PM
Found/Lost Property–2800 block Grant Ave, Hays; 4:11 PM
Civil Dispute–300 block E 16th St, Hays; 5:07 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–600 block Walnut St, Hays; 5:12 PM
Burglary/vehicle–300 block Main St, Hays; 2 PM; 6:30 PM
Identity Theft–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 8 AM; 5:47 PM
Burglary/vehicle–300 block Main St, Hays; 2 PM; 6:30 PM
Drug Offenses–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 5/23 8 AM; 9 PM
Drug Offenses–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:28 PM
Suspicious Activity–2500 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 10:26 PM
Suspicious Activity–200 block E 19th St, Hays; 11:18 PM

HAWVER: Kan. free speech lawsuit twist and turns

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Martin Hawver

There’s a place where the constitutional protection of free speech bumps up against polite or at least orderly conduct that is now in the process of being sorted out in a federal court in Topeka.

The issue is that American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against the folks who manage the Statehouse and just what is permitted and not permitted inside its halls where lawmakers consider issues ranging from expanding Medicaid to Kansans and, well, to whether you can ride your all-terrain vehicle across a federal highway.

That’s a broad range of topics, and there are different levels of emotion by supporters on the issues. But the federal district court case appears to be more narrowly focused on signs in the Statehouse and whether the four 10-foot by 24-foot banners urging expansion of Medicaid in Kansas are a little too big, and whether just an 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch piece of paper with a message on it is too small.

The First Amendment doesn’t talk about sizes. It talks about freedom to express one’s opinions. Haven’t found the American yet who opposes freedom of speech; just how that speech is delivered.

The issue gets complicated in the Statehouse, a grand and well-preserved historic governmental headquarters for Kansans that deserves protection. Can’t think of anyone except maybe maintenance contractors who want people to express their opinions by nailing signs on the walls of the Statehouse. Carrying signs? That’s a pretty good way to express one’s opinions, especially in the building where state law is created.

The banners incident which fostered the lawsuit? Three Kansas State University students unfurled banners in the Statehouse rotunda blasting legislative leaders (Senate President Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, House Speaker Ron Ryckman, R-Olathe, Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, R-Overland Park, and House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita) for stymieing passage of a bill law that would expand KanCare for poor Kansans. “Blood on their hands” was the key phrase on the banners. That’s a politically ingenious way to draw the issue, with a catchy phrase that got the protesters and their opinions on television, in the newspapers and probably all over the Internet.

But the banners were removed from the Statehouse rotunda by state workers because they didn’t meet Statehouse rules for such signage. Too big. No official approval for the size or placement of the banners, and, well, they were disruptive.

It fell a dab short of the shouting “fire” in a theater, but it was disruptive.

And while there’s a 1st Amendment and the need for an orderly and safe operation of the Statehouse, there’s something in the middle. Conservative legislative leaders would rather not see signs, and certainly not banners, in the Statehouse. The ACLU? It’s apparently willing to settle for something considerably smaller than the banners, but large enough that they can, if phrased catchily, still express a clear statement of opinion that lawmakers can read from a few feet away, or maybe even across the rotunda.

The other recent free-speech issues? Singing from the Senate balcony? Ordering reporters off the Senate floor (and threatening to revoke their Senate press credentials) after they’ve gotten their photos and quotes from protesters? A little more difficult, and probably something that will be settled not in court, but by legislative leadership which dreams up the rules for conduct in its chambers.

What’s next? We’re thinking back to those airport frames, the ones that determine whether you can carry on a bag or have to have it checked into the baggage cart. Something like “if your sign fits through this frame (unfolded), you can carry it into the Statehouse.”

Free speech? Yes, just a dab smaller…

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

Thomas More Prep-Marian announces new faces for 2019-20

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TMP-M

TMP-Marian is pleased to announce several new hires on campus. Matthew Spurlock will teach JH Math, Emma Stroyan will teach Biology, James Johnston will teach Social Sciences and Titus Falcon and Steve Werth will be joining our maintenance department.  All new hires will begin their roles in preparation of the 2019-2020 academic year.

Matthew Spurlock comes to us from Temple Academy in Waterville, Maine.  He is a Kansas Native that graduated from Chapman High School in Chapman, KS and college from Fort Hays State University in 2017, with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English.  “I believe that building strong relationships with the students is important. By doing so, the students feel that they have a part and say in what happens in the classroom,” said Spurlock when asked about his teaching philosophy.  Spurlock writes and reads poetry in his spare time and feels that he was called to teach after tutoring a fellow student in high school. In addition, Spurlock stated, “My high school Math and Physics Teacher, Mrs. Gruen was wonderful at breaking down difficult processes to make them manageable.”

Emma Stroyan is originally from Bloomington, IL, where she graduated from University High School.  Stroyan graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2018, with a degree in Biology-Natural Resources.  She worked as an intern at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, FL, during the summer after graduation from FHSU. Stroyan monitored sea turtle populations along the Gulf Coast by marking nests, releasing hatchlings and tagging nesting females.  Stroyan did not have to look far for inspiration to teach. In fact, she stated, “My Mom was a teacher, so I have been around kids my whole life and she encouraged me to pursue teaching.” Stroyan feels the field of biology is so broad and dynamic someone can take a number of diverse paths with an interest in biology.  “The world is a big place. I want to be able to share knowledge and my experiences with the students at TMP-Marian and provide them with a wholesome view of the world through science,” Stroyan stated. In addition, she played four years of college basketball. The first two years at Division I, Central Connecticut State University and the last two years at Division II Fort Hays State University.  Stroyan was an assistant Ladies Basketball Coach last year under Rose McFarland and looks forward to continuing that role.

James Johnston recently retired from teaching Government, Sociology, Psychology and World History in the Kansas Public Schools System. He spent 7 years at Lyons High School, 24 years at South Barber High School, 2 years at Morland Jr./Sr. High School and in the beginning, a semester subbing in Wichita West High School.  Johnston implements his teaching philosophy by, “Doing more than just transmitting a body of facts to the students. I want to promote analytical thinking. In an information and democratic society like ours, I feel it is vital for the citizens of tomorrow to be able to analyze the vast amount of information and different opinions in which they will be faced with.”

 

Steve Werth was born in San Bernardino, California, but moved to Schoenchen at the age of 5.  He has been a Hays Native ever since. Although he has worked at TMP-Marian in a part-time capacity for several years, we are excited to welcome him full-time.  Werth is best known for free-hand painting logos on the grounds. Most recently, he completed the TMP-M Cross Logo and “Class of 2019” for graduation.

 

 

In addition to Werth, Titus “Pete” Falcon, comes to us with a wealth of knowledge from Russell High School and Sylvan Grove before that.

 

First Call for Help launches housing fundraising campaign

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Space in the First Call For Help building will be renovated for use by a transitional housing program.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

First Call for Help kicked off a fundraising drive Friday to raise $250,000 to remodel a portion of its building into a transitional housing unit.

First Call is calling the project First Step. It will include creation of a four-bedroom housing unit with a small kitchen/common area, as well as a laundry area. Each room will be able to house up to three people. One of the rooms will be handicap accessible.

The program is designed for women, families and couples living in Hays who are temporarily without permanent housing for a variety of reasons.

First Call hopes to begin construction in August with completion in early 2020. The goal is to raise an initial $250,000 by the end of the year.

“First Step Housing is about providing people a place to live temporarily while they try to get back on their feet, and we want to offer them all the support that we can,” said Linda Mills, First Call for Help executive director.

“If they are having trouble finding a job … if they have trouble budgeting their money, whatever the obstacles have been for them, we want to try to help them work through those. So once they have been there for six months, or earlier if that happens, they will be able to transition into their own place. They would be able to stand on their own two feet by then.”

First Call for Help is trying to raise $250,000 to create a transitional housing unit in its 13th Street building.

Although First Call for Help will continue to aid the transient population that comes through Hays, those individuals will not be eligible for the First Step program, Mills said.

Laura Allen, client service specialist, said she talks to several families a week who are from Hays who don’t have a place to stay.

“There just isn’t anything. If they don’t have a friend to stay with, then they look for a shelter in a different city,” she said. “Some of them don’t want to do that because they have kids here or they have family here or they may have a job here.

“When a lot of people live paycheck to paycheck, they don’t have the money to come up with first month’s rent plus a deposit. Giving them the opportunity to have a place to stay while they work on that really gets them to the longer-term goal of not being homeless again.”

Mills said much of the homelessness in Hays is “found in the seemingly ordinary.”

“You may think they are in their car because they are waiting for someone to come out, but they may be living there,” she said.

Plans for the First Step transitional housing unit calls for four bedrooms that could house up to 12 people. It will also include a kitchen and laundry area.

People who spend time at the library or who sit at a convenience store, may also be homeless, Allen said. Mills added families might also be staying on people’s couches or doubling up with another family.

“I have talked to four people in the last two weeks,” Allen said, “one who needed to get out of his home situation because there was drug use and some physical violence there. He had nowhere to go, and I believe he is still there.

“One who is working on some mental health issues and lost her home, so now she is trying to figure out what she is going to do tomorrow as she goes through that process. Both of them had nowhere else to stay because they were at the mercy of somebody else where they were living.”

The First Step transitional housing program will be located in the First Call for Help building at 607 E. 13th St.

In advance of the capital campaign, First Call for Help has developed an application process as well as policies and procedures for First Step, Mills said.

First Call for Help already works closely with the Job Service Center and will continue to do that with this program. Program officials hope to work with extension to offer participants instruction on grocery shopping and meal planning on a budget, as well. First Step will also help participants apply for assistance programs, such as food stamps and Medicaid if they qualify.

Once the First Step program is established, First Call would like to offer some of these skill-building services to the First Call for Help’s other daily clients.

First Step has been in the works since 2015 and was the result of a strategic planning process, Mills said. Although the community has transitional housing for domestic violence survivors and Oxford House for those experiencing addiction, it does not have transitional housing for those who do not fall into either of those categories.

Mills told the story of a young mom who was temporarily without a permanent home. The family was living in a hotel, and the husband was watching the children while she worked. Her husband left the family. She was in the office talking to Mills about her situation, when school counselor called and said her daughter had been in the counselor’s office very upset and crying because she didn’t know where they were going to spend the night.

“That was kind of hard to hear, because there was not a lot we could do for her,” Mills said.

Mills said First Call can refer families to the Housing Authority, but that agency has a waiting list of up to two years.

The nearest traditional homeless shelter is in Salina. Allen noted members of the transient population will still likely be referred to Salina.

“I think one of the difficulties in rural areas is helping communities to recognize there is an issue with homeless or at high risk of homelessness,” Mills said. “I think that is true not just of Hays, but other rural communities as well. We can see it in the big cities pretty easily. We can drive downtown and you see it, but here not so much.”

Mills said this project will benefit the community as a whole.

“Those people who we are being helped through the short-term housing will be able to contribute to the community,” she said. “They will have a place to live. Their children will have some more stability in their lives. Living with housing instability — kids worry about where they are going to spend the night.”

First Call hopes to raise an additional $250,000 for future expansion.

“We don’t see this necessarily as the end nor the only thing we are going to do,” Mills said, “because we know there is still going to be more need out there. We are only going to be able to serve a small part of the population who needs (help).”

Listeners will be hearing regular messages about First Step Campaign on Eagle Radio of Hays stations through at least Thursday.

You can donate by calling First Call for Help at 785-623-2800, online on First Call for Help’s website or in person at the First Call for Help office, 607 E. 13th. The office is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. This week, First Call for Help will also have people available to take donations via phone during the evening.

You can learn more about First Step or First Call for Help by attending informal discussions called Mugs in the Morning form 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays at the First Call for Help office.

Signup deadline nears for Grow Hays’ Think Like an Entrepreneur series

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Grow Hays

Grow Hays, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, announces the Think Like an Entrepreneur – Ice House Entrepreneurship Program offered in Ellis County starting July 10, 2019. Sessions will be held over eight-weeks, Wednesdays July 10, through Aug. 28. The program fee of $150 for adults and $75 for students. The fee covers catered meals. The goal of the course is to teach participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

Taught by James Foster, a certified Ice House facilitator, this interactive 8-week program provides practical entrepreneurial lessons through first-hand experiences of successful, real-life entrepreneurs. Based on the book, Who Owns the Ice House, this curriculum consists of video interviews and case studies along with individual assignments, assessments, and discussion topics. This popular course is offered only a handful of times per year across the state and Grow Hays is bringing this course to the community for the first time.

“I want them to have skills, I want them to have a mindset, I want them to have the abilities to know that no matter their circumstance making themselves successful in business can be a reality!  That’s what I see this course providing for people” – James Foster, Ice House facilitator.

Registration is limited, and in-county attendees will have priority to fill the course. Out of county attendees are welcome to register but may be put on a waiting list. Participants will receive $50 if they attend all eight sessions. Deadline to register is Friday, June 26.

For more information. contact Doug Williams at 785.623.1100 or email [email protected].

To register for the Think Like an Entrepreneur program online, visithttps://www.haysamerica.net/THINKLIKEANENTREPRENEUR.aspx

 

Think Like an Entrepreneur Program

BriefSpace- 219 West 10 in Hays – 6:00 – 8:30 pm

Week #1 – Wednesday, July 10 – Power of Choice

Week #2 – Wednesday, July 17 – Recognizing Opportunity

Week #3 – Wednesday, July 24 – Ideas into Action

Week #4 – Wednesday, July 31 – Pursuit of Knowledge

Week #5 – Wednesday, August 7 – Creating Wealth

Week #6 – Wednesday, August 14 – Building Your Brand

Week #7 – Wednesday, August 21 – Creating Community

Week #8 – Wednesday, August 28 – The Power of Persistence

For more information about NetWork Kansas or the E-Community Partnership, visit www.networkkansas.com.  

SPONSORED: Thirsty’s hiring for server/waitstaff positions

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Thirsty’s Brew Pub & Grill is now accepting applications for Server/Waitstaff positions. Thirsty’s team constantly works towards creating space for customers to relax, dine, drink and socialize in a warm, comfortable setting with multiple sports viewing options. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR TEAM MEMBERS THAT CAN HELP US ACCOMPLISH THAT!

Thirsty’s is looking for energetic, fun, positive, organized people that have a drive for providing a great customer experience, each and every time!

We offer competitive wages, food discounts, flexible schedules, and a great group of people to work with that proudly represent our brand. No experience necessary, we train extensively. Applications are taken online by clicking HERE or by going to www.thirstysgrillandpub.com and clicking on the employment tab.

Six-horse Clydesdale hitch to entertain at Phillipsburg Rodeo

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The Broken Spoke Clydesdales will entertain during each night of the Phillipsburg rodeo August 1-3. The six-horse hitch will pull a freight wagon as it makes its way through the arena.

PHILLIPSBURG – Six beautiful equines will be part of the show at the 90th annual Kansas Biggest Rodeo in Phillipsburg.

Broken Spoke Clydesdales, Winfield, Kansas, will bring their six-horse Clydesdale hitch pulling a freight wagon to the rodeo Aug. 1 to 3.

Mark DeCoudres, owner of the horses and the hitch, got involved with Clydesdales eight years ago. It had always been a dream of his to drive a team. He had grown up around horses but didn’t know how to drive or harness them. He bought a team of two and left them at the seller’s house, returning each weekend to get lessons on how to harness and drive them.

It wasn’t easy to learn to drive a hitch, DeCoudres said. “I remember one time,” he recalled, “I was driving four. I didn’t have my lines (how the horses are controlled) just right, and the next thing I knew, the lead horse was turned completely around, looking at me.”

Each pair of horses has its own job when pulling a load. Jackson and Brock, the team closest to the wagon, are the wheel team. Brody and Bridget, the team in the middle, are the swing team. Divinity and Diesel are the lead team. Usually the wheel horses weigh more than the lead horses, and the lead horses are more athletic and have to travel farther than the wheel team when making turns.

The horses eat about forty pounds of hay and fifteen pounds of grain or pelleted feed a day. DeCoudres will bring them to Phillipsburg in a semi, and they will be kept in temporary pens at the rodeo grounds. The public is invited to see them during the days of the rodeo. That is DeCoudres’ favorite part. “I like interacting with the people. There are children who would never be able to be up and close to a horse like that, if we weren’t there. Even for the older people, it brings back memories of their childhood, when their granddad or parents used draft horses on the farm.”

One of DeCoudres’ Clydesdales loves to be “loved on.” Jackson is special, DeCoudres said. “I lead him out (with the public) and throw a lead rope over his neck. Hundreds of people come to pet him and he’s just a gentle giant. I sit there and watch.”

The horses are huge, but they are gentle. DeCoudres’ grandson helps with them. “It’s hard to believe you can have an eight-year-old grandson lead a horse across the yard and yet you can hitch them up to the wagon and they have so much power to pull.” Clydesdales can pull three times their weight, which works out to 6,000 lbs. each.

The Broken Spoke Clydesdales have entertained at rodeos and events across the nation. They will entertain each night of the Phillipsburg, Kansas rodeo, August 1-3. The rodeo starts at 8 pm each night. Tickets go on sale July 1 at Heritage Insurance in Phillipsburg during office hours (8-5 pm; closed from noon to 1 pm). They can be purchased over the phone by calling 785.543.2448. They range in price from $15 to $18 for adults and $11-14 for children ages 3-12.

For more information, visit the website at www.KansasBiggestRodeo.com.

Expert: No need for alarm after numerous earthquakes recorded in the area

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Over 22 earthquakes recorded in Ellis, Rooks and Russell counties since June 1

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

There is no need to rush to buy earthquake insurance, according to earthquake expert and Palco resident Don Steeples, despite the 22 earthquakes that were recorded by the Kansas Geological Survey through Ellis, Rooks and Russell counties since June 1.

The largest was rated a 4.5 on the Richter scale, the scale used to judge the intensity of an earthquake, in Rooks County early Saturday.

But despite the increasing frequency and intensity of late, there is little risk of a more damaging earthquake, Steeples said.

Steeples / KU

The fault lines that have caused recent earthquakes are a feature of the geological region called the central Kansas uplift, which is also responsible for the oil found in the area.

“There is a system of faults that run basically from Wichita up through this area and on up all the way through the Black Hills in South Dakota,” he said.

The recent 4.5 earthquake in Rooks County may be the largest residents have felt, but it is not the most significant earthquake known to have hit the area.

While there was no Richter scale at the time, he believes the largest earthquake in the area occurred in 1879, near Stockton, based on newspaper reports.

“If I were going to guess it, in terms of Richter scale, I would guess somewhere probability 4.7 to 5,” Steeples said. “So we know that earthquakes were occurring here before there were any effects from anything that humans have done.”

While the frequency of the earthquakes in the area is unusual, he is not worried about future earthquakes.

“Anytime you get multiple earthquakes in an area, in a month, that is certainly unusual compared to what we saw 30 to 40 years ago,” Steeples said.

The earthquake network Steeples operated in Kansas from 1977 to 1989 recorded about 200 earthquakes.

While the frequency might be increasing, he said the magnitude is limited by geology.

“I would speculate that the biggest earthquake that we could get in this part of the state, with a return period of several hundred years, would be somewhere in the Richter magnitude of 5.5 to possibly approaching 6,” Steeples said. “But certainly nothing above 6.

“I can tell you I don’t have earthquake insurance and don’t intend to buy earthquake insurance,” he said.

While western Kansas might be off the hook for a large, damaging earthquake, Steeples said an earthquake with a rating of around 6 on the Richter scale is possible around Manhattan every 200 years or so, but anything larger is unlikely and he does not expect a magnitude 7 or stronger earthquake to ever occur in Kansas.

“That is based on the maximum length of the faults that are present in the subsurface,” he said.

With earthquake intensity 6 or below, damage to structures is extremely limited when using frame construction, which is common in the area.

“The same thing that you build a building to withstand a 100 mph wind is the same construction that will withstand an earthquake up to a magnitude 6,” Steeples said. “In terms of structural damage that would cause someone to need to rebuild a part of a house, you really don’t start getting into that until you get into the magnitude 6’s in the U.S.”

Even cracked plaster noticed after an earthquake report is not likely a result of any single seismic event.

“It is really difficult to pin the responsibility for a crack in the sheetrock on a particular earthquake,” he said, but instead could be noticed after and attributed to the event.

Steeples obtained a Ph.D in earthquake seismology from Stanford and prior to his retirement served as the McGee Distinguished Professor of Applied Geophysics at the University of Kansas where he specialized in near-surface, high-resolution seismic reflection research, according to his KU bio page.

Monday afternoon earthquake reported in Ellis County

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ELLIS COUNTY —Another small earthquake shook Ellis County Monday afternoon.

Location of Monday afternoon’s quake image Kansas Geological Survey

The quake at 3:02p.m. measured a magnitude 2.8 and was centered in northern Ellis County, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.

A quake just before 2 a.m. Monday measured a magnitude 2.6 and was centered just north of the Ellis County line in Rooks County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There are no reports of damage or injury from either quake.

Wet track creates slick conditions, exciting racing at RPM Speedway

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By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

All night Saturday, drivers struggled to stay on the track at Rolling Plains Motorspeedway as recent rains created a slick track and exciting racing.

CRAZY CRUISERS

Sponsored by

RADKE IMPLEMENT

On the first lap of the feature the 14, driven by Nathan Baumann, Russell, spun causing a caution that would start an exciting night of racing. Only two laps later, the 10-4, driven by Brennen Nech, Kensington spun bringing out another caution followed by a spin a few laps later by the 89 driven by Justin Yarmer, Russell, just before the halfway point.

After the restart, the 14 started putting pressure on the 89 taking the high side, while the 89 stayed low. The two cars battled for first until with a few laps to go the 14 went over the edge of the backstretch bringing out the caution.

After getting back on the track with one to go, the 14 went high, but could not catch the 89, who would win the race for the second time in a row at RPM.

“They (the 14) were making us work for it,” Yarmer said after the race.

Final results

Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 4 Justin Yarmer Russell, KS 89
2 3 Nathan Baumann Smith Center, KS 14
3 2 Shaun Woods Dorrance, KS 300
4 (DNF) 1 Brennen Nech Kensington, KS 10-4

IMCA SPORT COMPACTS

Sponsored by

SIMPSON FARMS

In the Sport Compacts feature event, the 18h, driven by Weston Groth, Hays, took the lead on lap one. On lap two the T21, driven by Ted Trumbo, St. Francis, would almost go over the backstretch, but recovered.

The 26, driven by Jesse McClurg, Logan, would not be able to keep the car on the track and goes over the edge of the backstretch a lap later as the 18H held the lead.

Around the halfway point, the 16, driven by Jakob Schwien, Russell started putting some pressure on the 18H going neck and neck until pushing into the lead while the 76 slid into second.

The 76 would stay right on the 16 until the last lap when the 16 pulled away for the win by a car length.

“Man that was fun,” Schwien said. “You could race anywhere on the track.”

Final Results

Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 7 Jakob Schwien Russell, KS 16
2 8 Toby Schwien Russell, KS 76
3 1 Weston Groth Hays, KS 18H
4 6 Monte Honas Ellis, KS 19X
5 5 Brianna Maughlin Dighton, KS 17M
6 4 Art Herzog Hays, KS 9H
7 3 Jesse McClurg Logan, KS 26
8 2 Ted Trumbo St. Francis, KS T21

IMCA SPORTMOD

Sponsored by

WALT’S REPAIR AND MACHINE

In the Sport Modified feature, the 11C quickly pulled several car lengths ahead of the pack quickly the rest of the group fought for position until lap three when the 2BA, driven by Jacey Archer, Quinter, spun after contact.

After the restart, the 3, driven by Adam Weber, WaKeeney, would go over the edge of the backstretch bringing out another caution.

On the next restart, with 17 to go the 1S, driven by Cody Stefanski, Great Bend, would slip into the infield while the 83, driven by Tracy Holloway, Osborne, would go low to take the lead.

But it would not hold with the 08, driven by Dakota Sproul, Hays, pulling the same move to take the lead only a lap later.

After race-ending trouble with the 77W, driven by Tyler Watts, Beloit, bringing out the caution, the 19, driven by Terry Collins, Ellinwood, would fail to start on the restart bringing on a caution.

During the next restart the 2BA, would spin, once again bringing out the yellow.

With 15 to go, the restarts went to single file after five cautions in only the first five laps of the race.

After the restart, the 08 would get low of the 11C for second and would later get high of the 83 taking the lead.

Following the halfway mark, the 08 would take a commanding lead finishing the almost a quarter of the track ahead of the 83.

For the second event in a row at RPM, the 08 would take the checkered flag.

Sproul would say after the event that after two years of driving the car he is very comfortable with it.

“We got this thing really tuned.”

Final Results

Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 9 Dakota Sproul Hays, KS 08
2 4 Tracy Holloway Osborne, KS 83
3 6 Shay Simoneau Damar, KS 22SS
4 10 Blaine Walt Collyer, KS 14W
5 1 Cory McGann Ellis, KS 11C
6 12 Brett Berry Colby, KS 09X
7 8 Brandon Wise Hays, KS 1K
8 5 Ben Boland Hays, KS 27
9 7 Mitch Boesel Denver, CO 177
10 11 Luke Stallbaumer Tecumseh, KS L26
11 20 Travis Burger Manhattan, KS 6B
12 21 Toby Witthuhn Ness City, KS 10T
13 18 Terry Collins Ellinwood, KS 19
14 2 Lloyd Stover Bird City, KS 7P
15 15 CJ Pfannenstiel Wakeeney, KS 4
16 17 Shawn Ward Great Bend, KS F97
17 (DNF) 14 Jacob Huse Kinsley, KS 55
18 (DNF) 19 Jacey Archer Quinter, KS 2BA
19 (DNF) 16 Tyler Watts Beloit, KS 77W
20 (DNF) 3 Adam Weber Wakeeney, KS 3
21 (DNF) 13 Cody Stefanski Great Bend, KS 1S

IMCA STOCK CAR

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ADVANTAGE GLASS PLUS

Right out of the gate, the stocks went three wide, as the 57, driven by Dalton Bauer, Ness City, would push through for the lead as the battle for second would heat up going three wide on lap 4.

Following a caution caused by contact between the 38, driven by Shaylon Holloway, Osborne, and the 16, driven by William Bauer, Ness City, the 37, driven by Jason Rogers, Selden, would challenge the 57 for the lead.

The two would go back and forth until a caution was brought out after the 54P driven by Kyle Pfeifer, Hill City, made contact with the 57.

With five to go, the 37 would take the lead on the restart and would pull away from the rest of the pack while the 54P and 57 would fight for second.

The 37, who finished third during the last RPM event, would win the race.

“I didn’t know if I was going to get it done or not,” Rogers said following the race and said the track was typically Hays with “a lot of character.”

Final Results

Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 8 Jason Rogers Selden, KS 37
2 2 Dalton Bauer Ness City, KS 57
3 7 Kyle Pfeifer Hill City, KS 54P
4 6 Mike Petersilie Hoisington, KS 25P
5 3 Shaylon Holloway Osborne, KS 38
6 4 Trenton Kleweno Hays, KS 13
7 11 Troy Burkhart Hays, KS 25X
8 1 Marty Clark Russell, KS 8
9 5 William Bauer Ness City, KS 16
10 10 Cody Zimmerman Dighton, KS 2Z
11 (DNF) 9 Barrett Wagoner Colby, KS 51W

IMCA HOBBY STOCKS

Sponsored by

STOCK GOLDEN PLAINS TRUCKING

After the green flag drop the 29, driven by Skyler Wissman, Hays, would pull into the lead as the 77, driven by Cody Williams, Minneapolis, and the 22R, driven by Lyle Russell, Hays would battle hard for second, but by the next lap the 77 would pull ahead until the 54B, driven by Brennen Nech, Kensington would spin in turn four bringing out the caution.

On the restart, the 77 would take the lead staying high while the 711, driven by Brady Bencken, Oakley, would go low.

Within a lap, the two were side-by-side with the 711 slowly pulling ahead for the lead.

The 711 would hold the lead after a caution caused by the B20, driven by Brock Lehman, Abilene, getting turned around.

The B20 would spin again on the restart but did not bring out a caution.

The 711 would continue to hold the lead until another caution flag after the 37, driven by Bingston Rodger, Selden, would spin on the track.

Following the restart, the 711 would begin dominating the field pulling 3 car lengths ahead of the 77 by the halfway mark.

Just after halfway through the feature, the 18M, driven by Austin Meis, Hays, would spin into the infield bringing out another caution.

On the restart with six to go, to the 711 would slide back into the lead and stay in front to win.

“Starting that far back, I didn’t know what would happen,” Bencken said.

Final results

Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 11 Brady Bencken Oakley, KS 711
2 10 Tathan Burkhart Hays, KS 250
3 4 Cody Williams Minneapolis, KS 77
4 5 Lyle Russell Hays, KS 22R
5 9 Brendon Stigge Fairbury, NE 69
6 7 Daniel Irwin Hays, KS 7I
7 8 Josh Barnhart Colby, KS 5150
8 13 Braxton Berry Colby, KS 15B
9 6 Spencer Hilbrink Stockton, KS 81H
10 17 Cody Ghumm Wakeeney, KS 1C
11 12 Wyatt Forshee Glasco , KS 34
12 1 Devon Ghumm Wakeeney, KS 11D
13 2 Skyler Wissman Hays, KS 29
14 16 Brooke Russell Hays, KS 12R
15 18 Adam Wasserman Fairbury, NE 41
16 22 Brennen Nech Kensington, KS 54B
17 20 Brock Lehman Abilene, KS B20
18 23 Austin Meis Hays, KS 18M
19 14 Kyle Thompson Glen Elder, KS 53KT
20 3 Garrett Kuhlmann Smith Center, KS 2K
21 (DNF) 15 Bingston Rogers Selden, KS 37
22 (DNF) 21 Justin Meserve Ellis, KS 99
DNS – Michael Smith Hays, KS 17S

IMCA MODIFIED

Sponsored by

BRINEY MOTORSPORTS

The leaders would go three wide at the drop of the green, until the 0, driven by Kyle Rohleder, WaKeeney would push through for the lead after a lap until a spin by the 727, driven by Todd Schwarz, Colby would bring out a caution.

On the restart, the 0 would once again get ahead of the fray, as the pack remained bunched up behind.

Within five laps, the 0 would be at least 10 car lengths ahead of the group until a caution with 6 to go.

The 0 would continue dominating the race on the restart and would take the checkered.

“I knew with the competition that was here we had to get to the front and hold them off,” Rohleder said.

Final Results

Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 8 Kyle Rohleder Wakeeney, KS 0
2 4 Tanner Black Otis, KS 44T
3 9 Daniel Gottschalk Ellis, KS 3D
4 5 Dylan Sherfick Wakeeney, KS 66D
5 7 Clay Sellard Bucklin, KS 85C
6 11 Anthony Roth Columbus, NE 60IV
7 3 Ryan Heger Hugoton, KS 3H
8 12 Brendon Gemmill Wichita, KS G3
9 6 Mike Petersilie Hoisington, KS 25P
10 10 Clay Money Penokee, KS 7
11 14 Ronnie Hill Sharon Springs, KS 41
12 2 Tim Watts Beloit, KS 11W
13 16 Jeremy Zorn Russell, KS 16Z
14 20 Curtis Barnes Lindsborg, KS 7B
15 15 Anthony Tanner Topeka, KS 7T
16 17 Jake Schroeder Haven, KS 17
17 19 Todd Schwarz Colby, KS 727
18 18 David Solberg Larned, KS 7S
19 21 Rich Tegethoff Kirwin, KS 87
20 (DNF) 1 Don Geist Burlington, CO 10G
21 (DNF) 13 Brian Calhoon Beloit, KS 43

 

News From the Oil Patch, June 24

Posted on

By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Oil prices at the state’s largest refinery are up four dollars since the beginning of the month. Kansas Common crude at CHS in McPherson starts the week at $47.75 per barrel, after gaining 75 cents on Friday. Cash crude on the Nymex closed at $57.35 Friday.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 26 active drilling rigs across Kansas last week, a gain of two rigs in eastern Kansas and one more west of Wichita. Operators in Ellis County were drilling on one lease and preparing to spud another. Drilling was also underway at one site in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reported 967 active drilling rigs across the U.S. last week, an increase of one oil rig, but a drop of four rigs drilling for natural gas. Texas was down four rigs, while New Mexico and Oklahoma were each down one.

Independent Oil & Gas Service reports operators in Kansas completed 27 wells last week, 704 so far this year, with five in eastern Kansas and 22 west of Wichita. New wells were completed in Barton, Ellis and Stafford counties.

Regulators approved 18 permits for drilling at new locations across the state of Kansas last week, four of those in eastern Kansas and 14 west of Wichita. There’s one new permit in Barton County and one in Ellis County. Year to date there are 431 new drilling permits in Kansas.

Rising tensions in the Persian Gulf are raising the cost of shipping crude oil. According to Lloyd’s Maritime Intelligence, freight rates in the region rose nearly 40% for crude oil shippers, and those new contracts added hefty insurance premiums.

According to BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy, the U.S. has extended its lead as the globe’s top oil producer, pumping a record 15.3 million barrels per day last year. The U.S. accounted for 98% of oil production growth. The Review reported a new worldwide consumption record of 99.8 million barrels per day.

Domestic crude oil inventories dropped last week. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, stockpiles fell by 3.1 million barrels in the week ending June 14 to 482.4 million barrels. Inventories are about seven percent above the five-year seasonal average.

The government said U.S. crude oil production also dropped slightly last week. Domestic production was tabbed at 12.17 million barrels per day. That’s down from 12.28 million barrels per day the week before.

EIA said our crude oil imports averaged 7.5 million barrels per day, down by 144-thousand barrels. The four-week average is 7.6% less than the same period a year ago.

Lawmakers in New Mexico could have a happy conundrum soon: what to do with an extra one billion dollars in oil revenue. The Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico is expected to generate a windfall of between $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion next year, according to a state lawmaker.

The Oregon House of Representatives passed and sent to the Senate a bill that would create new fees on oil train cars to pay for spill prevention and planning in the state. The Oregonian reports the bill would also require train operators to carry more insurance to help pay for cleanup.

Weekly U.S. oil-by-rail traffic declined slightly but remains higher than last year at this time. According to the Association of American Railroads, 12,747 tanker cars carried petroleum and petroleum products during the week ended June 15, down 604 barrels from the week before, but still 13.6% [[“thirteen point six percent”]] higher than a year ago at this time. Canadian oil-by-rail increased by more than 30 percent over last year.

Canada’s government decided Tuesday to proceed with the construction of a major crude oil pipeline expansion, which will boost by about 15% the amount of Canadian oil piped to Pacific ports. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said they hope to have shovels in the ground this year for the government-owned Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion.

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