The Fort Hays State Shotgun Team picked up first place honors at the ACUI Lower East Coast Conference Championship in Savannah, Ga.
Five students earned individual honors.
Jerrod Lies, Minneola senior majoring in agricultural business, earned first place in Men’s Trap with a perfect score.
Jenny Schoenecker, Akron, Colo., senior majoring in agricultural business, earned first place in Ladies Trap.
Austin Svoboda, Burwell, Neb., senior majoring in industrial technology, earned second place in Men’s Trap and Men’s Skeet.
Heather Gordon, Pine Valley, Calif., junior majoring in criminal justice, earned third place in Ladies Trap.
Jake Whipple, Cambridge, Neb., senior majoring in agricultural business, earned third place in Men’s Skeet.
For the weekend, FHSU’s team had five of the top eight men shooters and two of the top six women shooters.
Twenty-four colleges and universities competed.
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From State Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays
Fort Hays Shooting Team Honored at Capitol
The Fort Hays State University Shotgun team was honored at the Capitol on Thursday, in honor of winning the 2018 Scholastic Clay Target Program, Division II National Championship recently. Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, introduced members of the team, and Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU’s president, on the House floor.
Wasinger’s statement, read to the House, follows:
“Today it is my honor to recognize the Fort Hays State University Shotgun team for winning the 2018 Scholastic Clay Target Program College Division II National Championship held recently in Marengo, Ohio. They also placed high across all Divisions, led by Coach Dr. Duane Shepherd.
Individuals recognized with High Overall scores in the male division were Austin Svoboda with 588 points out of 600 and in the female division Heather Gordon with 544 points out of 600. The team also earned 1st place in trap with 988 out of 1,000; 1st place in skeet with 989 out of 1000; and tied for 1st place in sporting clays with 919 out of 1,000. Individual honors were: Jenny Schoenecker 1st in Ladies sporting clays; Heather Gordon 2nd in ladies skeet; Austin Svoboda 1st in trap, 2nd in skeet, and 3rd in sporting clays; Jake Whipple 2rd in skeet and Riley Ross 3rd in trap.
Additional honors earned HOA at the FHSU Collegiate Shoot; the Five State Prairie Circuit Conference Championship; the Bulldog Invitational – Concordia University, Nebraska; the Bronco Invitational – Hastings College, Nebraska; and the ACUI Super Shoot in Tillar, Arkansas. Super Shoots consist of both American and Olympic events.
They also earned HOA honors at the ACUI Lower East Coast Conference Championship held Feb. 2nd and 3rd, 2019.
Team members include Brock Burton, Blake Craig, Josh Crankshaw, Katie Dettmann, Will Dulohery, Gus Dunbar, Cody Escritt, Heather Gordon, Luke Heinzen, Colton Lashley, Jerrod Lies, Hank McVeigh, Keegan Morgan, Wyatt Pursell, Riley Ross, Michael Saint, Jenny Schoenecker, Hunter Secrest, Lane Sorensen, Ryan St. Peters, Austin Svoboda, Cordell Waggoner, Jake Whipple, Cole Ziegelmeier, Jay Zieglemeier, Haily Zulkoski along with Coach Duane Shepherd. Honoring them today is the President of Fort Hays State University, Dr. Tisa Mason.”
By Troy L. Waymaster, State Representative, 109th Kansas House
February 22, 2019
KPERS Funding
Last week on Thursday, February 14, 2019, the House debated the reamortization of the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System’s unfunded liability for thirty years, House Bill 2197.This particular bill was a major component of the governor’s budget that she submitted in early January.
This bill did have a hearing in the House Financial Institutions and Pensions committee and was then sent to the entire House of Representatives for consideration.
Thursday we debated the merits of House Bill 2197.After about forty minutes of debate, the bill failed to receive enough votes for passage, failing 36 to 87.Had this measure passed both the House and then the Senate, it would have extended the time that KPERS is not fully funded for another fifteen years and would extend a debt legacy of $7.4 billion.
On another KPERS related issue, on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, the House Appropriations Committeepassed for the consideration of the HouseSenate Bill 9, which would authorize the payment of $115 million to KPERS for a delayed payment that was not made a few years ago due to budget deficits.On Thursday, I led debate on the House floor regarding Senate Bill 9 and it passed in final action on Friday, February 22, 2019, 125-0.The bill now goes to Governor Kelly for her signature.
Industrial Hemp
Last session, the Kansas Legislature passed and the Governor signed into law, Senate Bill 263, which allowed for an industrial hemp research program under the conditions of the Federal Farm Bill that was passed in 2014.In December 2018, the Federal Government made additional changes to the Farm Bill, that just recently passed, which now makes hemp available as a commercial crop.Last week, in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, a hearing was held on House Bill 2173, which would alter the existing law regarding the industrial hemp research program and would align the language to be in conjunction with the language of the Farm Bill of 2018.There are many changes that will need to be made moving the state of Kansas from an industrial hemp research program to making it a commercial crop for our farmers.
Budget Work
The House Appropriations Committee did conduct a hearing on the Governor’s Supplemental Budget Bill for the remaining months of 2019, House Bill 2121.
The budget committees have been working diligently in sifting through the enhancements that have been requested by the agencies or departments, seeing whether those have been approved or denied by the Governor, and then reexamining the request in seeing if it was valid.
The budget committee chairs have been reporting the budget committee recommendations to the full Appropriations Committee for two weeks now.
When they complete with the reporting of recommendations, tentatively right now that date is March 13, 2019, we will then compile the information and requests into House Bill 2121 for the remaining months of this fiscal year.
The other budget bill, House Bill 2122, is referred to as the MEGA Budget Bill, and that will contain the budget provisions for all of the agencies and departments for the state of Kansas for fiscal year 2020.It will also incorporate the budget directions for some agencies and departments for the outlying year of 2021.Both of these bills will be considered by the full House.
Contact Information
As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected].Also, if you happen to visit the statehouse, please let my office know.
It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions.I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.
Snow developing by 9am. Widespread blowing snow, mainly after noon. High near 33. Very windy, with a northeast wind 11 to 21 mph becoming north northwest 24 to 34 mph. Winds could gust as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 7 to 9 inches possible.
Tonight
Patchy blowing snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 18. Very windy, with a west northwest wind 22 to 32 mph decreasing to 11 to 21 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.
Sunday
Increasing clouds, with a high near 31. West northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values as low as 2. East wind 6 to 10 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Angie Kreutzer, who is in her first year as a teacher at Hays USD 489’s Westside program, is February’s Hays Post Teacher of the Month.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Angie Kreutzer, K-3 special education teacher, teaches her students a lesson about harsh words.
She has them crumple up a piece of paper in their hands and then try to smooth it out again, saying nice things to the piece of paper. No matter how hard they try, the students can’t make the paper completely smooth again.
“Don’t add more crinkles to their paper,” Kreutzer said of how she approaches her students.
Kreutzer is in her first year as a teacher at Hays USD 489’s Westside program, which is a alternative program in which the school district offers special services for students in partnership with High Plains Mental Health.
Her compassion toward her students has earned her February’s Hays Post Teacher of the Month honor.
A parent of a 9-year-old in her class in her nomination said, “It has been refreshing to see a teacher who has a passion for helping students who have behavior and mental heath challenges.
“She makes a huge effort to help each child learn in the best way for them, even if it’s not easy for her. Despite her challenges, she always has a smile on her face. She has been open with me about the things she feels would benefit my son in the learning environment.”
“Mrs. K also shows a lot of compassion for the families of her students. Our family recently went through something hard, and she was there with kind words and a hug. She is truly a one-of-a-kind teacher, and I wish there were more of her.”
Kreutzer, 42, is only in her fifth year as a teacher. She worked as a hair dresser, makeup artist and worked in retail. When her daughter was born, she knew she wanted more for her life and her daughter’s. She signed up for college classes right there in the hospital.
“I just wanted to do better and be better for her,” Kreutzer said.
She taught at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Ellis before moving to Westside this year. She said she has truly found what she loves to do at Westside.
“I was actually struggling with this very recently,” she said. “I am not teaching in the traditional sense. I am not up in front of a classroom explaining how to do multiplication because I have so many different kids on so many different levels. They have other factors that are maybe bigger for them than figuring out a multiplication problem. I feel my job is to teach students how to be students.
“I am not teaching in the way I always envisioned myself to be, but I am doing exactly what I think I was meant to be doing in building relationships.”
Kreutzer admitted many of the students who come to the Westside program have not had good relationships with their teachers or good experiences and it is hard from them to trust or like a new teacher.
“I would say the most important part of my job is building relationships and making connections with kiddos who don’t necessarily know how to do that. They struggle with forming bonds and relationships with people outside of their immediate circle,” she said.
Kreutzer said she builds that trust in a variety of ways.
At the beginning of the school year, she gave the students the option of ending the day with a fist bump, a high five or a hug. All of those afternoon goodbyes have now evolved to hugs.
“On Fridays I tell them, ‘I will miss you this weekend,’ and on Mondays I say, ‘I missed you this weekend. Tell me about your weekend. Tell me how you are doing.’ I try to get to know what their likes are, what their strengths are, so that when I am building a curriculum for them, it includes things they enjoy or they are familiar with.”
Kreutzer builds in time to her day for her students to talk to her or tell her stories.
“If they are having a rough day, I stick by them and let them get that all out of their system too. I think consistency is really, really important with these kids. I think showing up for them everyday is so important. I think they sense or know that I love to come to work everyday,” she said.
“I share bits of myself with them. I talk about my kids. They see my pictures, and when we talk about things, I will say that has happened to me. I let them into my life just as much as they let me into theirs. I think building that trust and being there with them and for them everyday is so important.”
Kreutzer has been through some difficult times in her life, and she said she thought that helps her relate with her students. Kreutzer grew up in Hays, but moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked at variety of jobs before she had her daughter and went back to college.
She got behind on her rent and was evicted. She was homeless for a time, staying with friends and even sleeping in her car.
“Life leads you in so many different places,” she said. “I do think it is for a reason. If I hadn’t made those mistakes then, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, although they stunk at the time. But now that I am where I am and I love it, it was all worth it.”
Living in the city, she said she learned not to judge people.
“You have no idea what they have been through,” she said. “You have no idea what they are struggling with and that goes for any classroom. I treated my kids at St. Mary’s the same way. I don’t know if they got in a fight with their mom before they came to school or dad’s sick and hasn’t been to work for a month. You don’t know those things.
“If someone is having a rough day or a rough week, I don’t think its my job to come down hard on them without trying to understand why. I don’t think any kid wakes up in the morning and says, ‘I am going to go to school today and make my teacher’s day awful’ or ‘I am going to disrupt as many students as I can today. That’s my goal.’ I don’t think any kid ever does that. When it happens, there’s a reason.”
Kreutzer said maybe a student is hungry. She keeps granola bars on hand.
“Being compassionate about it … ‘I know you are having a rough day. I am sure there is a reason why. If you want to talk to me about it, great. If you don’t ,that is OK too, but let’s figure out a better way to handle this or let’s go take a break and reset and try to have a better day.'”
Kreutzer is working with young children, and sometimes they have trouble putting words to their emotions. Kreutzer tries to help the children learn about that part of themselves. She might see a child with a face strained in frustration and anger, and she might say, “I think you might be feeling angry becuase your face looks like this.”
She tries to offer options for the children to positively deal with that emotion, such as choosing to read in a quiet place or talking to a friend.
Kreutzer said she thought treating children with compassion through trauma informed education programs is not only important in a program such as Westside’s, but also in the mainstream classrooms. She said she thought trauma is much more prevalent among children than most people realize.
“I don’t think it is getting worse,” she said. “I think we are finally talking about it.”
TRAVEL ALERT:
I-70 is now OPEN in both directions from the Colorado border to Salina.
Roads are still snowpacked and icy. SLOW DOWN and take your time out there! We want you to get where you’re going safely. Stay updated at kandrive.org.
7:15 p.m.
Blizzard Warning has been canceled.
TRAVEL ALERT:
I-70 West Bound ONLY now open at Hays
I-70 East Bound ONLY closed from Colorado border to Hays
I-70 closed in both directions from Hays to Salina
US-183 and US-283 have also reopened in Northwest Kansas.
Even though roads are starting to reopen in NWKS, conditions are still snowpacked and icy in spots.
SLOW DOWN, keep the cruise off, buckle up and give our plows room to work! Condition and closure updates available at kandrive.org.
5:30 p.m.
TRAVEL ALERT:
I-70 West Bound ONLY has reopened at Oakley
I-70 East Bound ONLY closed from CO border to Oakley
I-70 closed in both directions from Oakley to Salina
Expect conditions to be snowpacked and icy! More closure and condition info available at kandrive.org.#kswx
2:45 p.m. Highway 183 is closed north of Hays to Nebraska border.
1:45 p.m. ROAD CLOSED:
I-70 is closed between Goodland and Salina because of blizzard conditions.
Stay updated on road conditions and closures in your area at kandrive.org.#kswx
SMITH CENTER — Smith County Attorney Tabitha Owen announced this week that her office has completed the review of the Dec. 15 shooting incident involving troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol and a juvenile.
The investigation determined that on the morning of Dec. 15 Smith County Sheriff’s personnel responded to a 911 call in rural Smith County. Officers were informed of an attempted murder and notified that the juvenile was armed and had fled on horseback. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol in locating the suspect. Smith County Deputies and KHP troopers spent the next few hours attempting to locate and apprehend the suspect.
Eventually, the officers made contact with the suspect who had ridden a horse into a wooded-draw in on a large tract of farm ground. KHP identified themselves and attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender with the juvenile. The negotiation continued for approximately two hours. During the negotiation, law enforcement heard three gunshots coming from the juvenile’s location. Later, the juvenile began to run toward a team of KHP troopers, he then raised his arms and fired a gun at the KHP team. Two troopers returned fire, striking the juvenile. The juvenile was taken into custody by the KHP and taken by ambulance for medical treatment. The investigation of the case was turned over to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).
On Jan. 11, the KBI turned over the results of the investigation to the County Attorney. Owen said that her office reviewed the conduct of the two Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers that discharged their weapons, as well as the conduct of the juvenile. Owen announced that the juvenile has been charged with eight separate crimes, including: one count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree (Level 1 Person Felony), one count of Aggravated Kidnapping (level 1 Person Felony) and six counts of Aggravated Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer (Level 6 Felonies). Owen further announced that the conduct of the law enforcement officers involved has been determined to be justified as both self-defense and defense of others, and her office would not be seeking any criminal charges against those officers.
The KBI will continue handling the investigation of this case. Anyone with information related to this crime should report that information directly to the KBI. The charges are allegations of criminal conduct only. Any person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a Court of law.
— Office of the Smith County Attorney
In preparation for this weekend’s blizzard, Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty has declared the City of Hays to be under a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency. During a Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency, it is unlawful to park a vehicle on any street designated as an emergency snow route.
The City of Hays Public Works Department and Hays Police Department are requesting your assistance with snow removal along emergency snow routes. Please take the appropriate measures and move your vehicle from the snow route at this time. Should you take no action and allow your vehicle to remain parked on an emergency snow route, you risk receiving a citation and/or having your vehicle towed at your expense.
This Phase 1 Winter Storm Traffic Emergency shall remain in effect until such time that the Hays City Manager deems the Winter Storm Traffic Emergency terminated.
Since winter precipitation continues to fall and conditions are expected to worsen through the weekend, the Hays Police Department is asking that motorists avoid travel if at all possible. Those that must travel are advised to do so with caution and are encouraged to give themselves extra time to reach their destination. Please remember to drive slow, pay attention to vehicles in front of you, and allow for extra stopping distance. The public’s cooperation is greatly appreciated throughput this winter storm.
Below is a link to the City of Hays website that has a map of the snow routes:
Moderate to heavy snow and near-blizzard conditions are possible with a winter storm system that is forecast for this weekend. The storm system will begin to affect western Kansas tonight and spread eastward across the state through tomorrow.
Current forecast predictions indicate that there will be a mixture of rain, freezing rain or drizzle before the snow begins across portions of the state. Widespread heavy snow coupled with northerly wind gusts as high as 45-55 mph will cause blowing snow throughout the day on Saturday, hindering travel conditions due to limited visibilities. Snow totals are expected to range from 1-6 inches across much of the state, with locally heavier amounts possible, especially in western Kansas.
Gov. Laura Kelly has issued a declaration of disaster emergency to expedite use of state resources and personnel to assist with response and recovery operations in affected counties if needed.
“Due to upcoming severe winter weather, I’ve declared a disaster emergency to make sure state assistance is readily available if needed,” said Kelly. “I encourage all Kansans to stay warm and safe during the snow storm in the coming days. Avoid travel if possible and keep an eye on the weather forecast as the storm moves and develops.”
The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will activate the state emergency operations center on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 a.m. through midnight, with additional staffing, if needed, into Sunday. Agencies in the SEOC will include the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Kansas National Guard. Additional support agencies will be contacted as needed.
The Kansas National Guard will activate and preposition thirteen Stranded Motorist Assistance Response Teams to assist local public safety agencies reach stranded motorists if local resource capabilities are exceeded. Each team will consist of four Guardsmen and two High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles.
Kansans are urged to change or delay their travel plans until the storm moves through. If you must travel, be sure your car’s gas tank is full and you have an emergency kit. Vehicle emergency kits should include blankets, flashlights, batteries, a cell phone charger, hand-warmers, high-energy food snacks, bottled water, necessary medications, a snow shovel, flares and other emergency supplies. Make sure your cell phone is charged and someone is aware of your itinerary, including expected time of arrival.
On the road, remember the following:
* Allow extra time for delays and slower traffic speeds.
* Buckle up and properly secure children in safety seats.
* Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. Ice and snow significantly increase your stopping distance.
* Accelerate and brake gently. A light foot on the gas is less likely to make wheels spin on ice and snow. Braking is best accomplished by pumping the pedal. If your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system, it is very important that you understand how to use it. Read the owner’s manual or check with a dealership for more information, and practice using it correctly.
* Make turns slowly and gradually, especially in heavily traveled areas (e.g. intersections that may be icy from snow that melted and refroze).
* Visibility is very important. You must be able to see out, and other drivers must be able to see your vehicle. Clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, and lights. Use headlights as necessary.
* If your car loses traction and begins to slide, steer into the swerve, or in the direction you want to go. Anticipate a second skid in the opposite direction as the car straightens out.
If you are stranded in a winter storm, do not panic. Stay in the vehicle, keep fresh air circulating through a downwind window, run the motor sparingly, turn on the dome light, and make sure the vehicle’s tailpipe is clear of snow. Stimulate circulation and stay awake by moving arms and legs.
If you leave the car, work slowly in the snow to avoid over-exertion and the risk of a heart attack. If you have a cell phone, call a Kansas Highway Patrol by dialing *HP (47), or *KTA (582) while on the Kansas Turnpike.
For an updated list of road conditions go to the Kansas Department of Transportation web site at https://kandrive.org. Winter road conditions are accessible by dialing 5-1-1 from your mobile phone anywhere in Kansas; outside Kansas call 1-866-511-5368 (KDOT).
With the city-imposed deadline just one week away, the R9 Ranch water project will move forward by Friday, March 1.
Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller made that announcement during Thursday night’s city commission work session saying the Division of Water Resources Chief Engineer “has promised he’s going to get the Final Master Order off his desk by next Friday.”
“We’re going to move forward. It’ll then go to review by internal counsel there at the Division of Water Resources and then handed over to the city for its review,” said Schwaller.
“I want to thank Commissioner Meier because during his term as mayor he made this a priority. That’s what really got this kickstarted. Because of him, we’ve entered this final stretch which has really gotten dragged out.”
Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil said he had reached out to Chief Engineer David Barfield earlier on Thursday.
“I personally thought it was a very good conversation and I feel like he’s definitely hearing us,” Musil said.
He thanked Schwaller and former mayor James Meier for their leadership in working with state officials to speed up the change order process which has been underway since June 2015.
“I think they are hearing us. I know it’s not as soon as we want to get it done,” added Musil, “but I think it’s happening just by your comments to get it going.”
During a Tuesday news conference detailing a personal visit with the governor on Monday, Schwaller said the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) has endorsed the long-term water project.
That was incorrect.
“I mistakenly said they had endorsed the project when really they were just involved in it to a light degree. I just want to correct the record,” he clarified.
Schwaller said KLA had asked about doing some water modeling. “We said no, we’re going to handle that. We did keep them in the loop.”
The water modeling to determine how much water would be moved from Edwards County to Ellis County and used by the cities of Hays and Russell was conducted by Black and Veatch engineers.
In May 2018, the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources released a Draft Master Order approving an application to convert water use on the city-owned property from agricultural to municipal.
Following a public hearing in Greensburg in June, DWR Chief Engineer Barfield began preparing the Final Master Order.
Eagle Communications is seeking a Digital Advertising Coordinator to join our team of employee-owners. This position is critical to providing regional post-sale digital campaign management, and will monitor digital campaigns to ensure the campaign elements are received and executed as intended. The location of this position is flexible across our company footprint.
Qualifications/Experience:
The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, be able to deliver on deadlines and be a creative problem solver.
Responsibilities:
Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, digital banner advertising design, and knowledge of Google Ad Manager and Google Ads, as well as social media advertising.
The selected candidate will be responsible for working closely with advertising sales representatives and their clients to provide them with the best possible online advertising solutions and services. Additionally, you will be responsible for working with third parties in helping fulfill and traffic digital advertising.
Salary:
Compensation is commensurate with experience. Eagle offers a competitive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), paid vacation, and employee stock ownership plan.
Other Information:
Applicants will be accepted until the position is filled. The selected candidate will be required to pass a criminal background and motor vehicle check. Eagle Communications is an employee-owned company and an EEO employer.
The National Weather Service is predicting widespread heavy snow across western Kansas this weekend.
Meteorologists are calling for between 4 and 9 inches of snow from Saturday morning to Saturday evening. Winds between 30 to 45 mph, with gusts between 50 and 60 mph, will lead to reduced visibility and hazardous travel.
“Expect travel to become dangerous to impossible, with visibility reduced to a quarter mile at times,” the NWS warned. “Some roadways may be drifted shut.”
Due to possible inclement weather conditions this weekend, the schedule for both ACCESS Public Transportation and SafeRide in Hays could be altered or canceled at anytime during the day.
FHSU University Relations
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