The recount in the race for the 111th Kansas House of Representative District is underway Tuesday morning at the County Administrative Office in Hays.
Following last Thursday’s election canvass, election officials certified the election with Republican challenger Barb Wasinger defeating Democratic incumbent Eber Phelps by just 32 votes.
The Phelps campaign immediately called for a full hand recount.
The canvass of the recount is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the administrative center.
Crude prices posted their sixth consecutive weekly loss on Friday. Since early October, the selloff has cut more than 20 percent from the price of London Brent, the international benchmark, and 25% off U.S. prices.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports drilling underway at one lease in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. Operators are preparing to spud one new well in Barton County, two in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. In Western Kansas, there are 33 rigs moving in, rigging up, drilling or relocating, up three for the week. The count east of Wichita was unchanged at 15 active drilling rigs. The number of rigs shutdown awaiting drilling contracts or stacked was also higher. The inactive rig count for the week was up 13 at 162.
There are 33 new drilling permits on file this week across the Sunflower State, 1,616 so far this year. There were 22 in eastern Kansas and 11 west of Wichita, including two new permits in Ellis County, one in Russell County and one in Stafford County.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 25 newly-completed wells across Kansas for the week, 1,351 so far this year. Out of 17 completions in western Kansas, six were dry holes. Operators completed one dry hole in Ellis County, and two wells in Barton County, with one dry hole.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported its highest weekly crude oil production totals ever last week, just shy of 11.7 million barrels per day, an increase of 111 thousand barrels per day over the week before. Production is more than two million barrels per day higher than it was a year ago. U.S. commercial crude oil inventories increased by 10.3 million barrels from the previous week to 442.1 million barrels, and about five percent above the five year average for this time of year.
Crude oil imports were down again, a drop of 87 thousand barrels last week. Over the past four weeks our oil imports averaged about 3.1% less than the same period last year.
The government said gasoline inventories dropped 1.4 million barrels last week but remain about 7% above the five year average.
The U.S., Russia and Saudi Arabia are pumping record volumes of crude oil, and in a monthly update, the International Energy Agency said global supply will significantly outpace demand. OPEC and its partners are discussing a proposal for their meeting next month to cut output by up to 1.4 million barrels per day.
Analysts now say Canadian producers could lose $3.78 billion in oil-sands royalties by the end of next year. Pipeline and rail capacity shortages have increase the discount to WTI of Western Canadian Select to 40%. Cenovus Energy, one of Alberta’s biggest producers, says the province already has legislation on the books that would allow them to require drillers to cut output temporarily to alleviate the glut.
Members have approved the merger of Oklahoma’s two largest oil-and-gas trade groups. For now, the merged Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association will become “OIPA-OKOGA.” They’ll consolidate operations in the OIPA building in OKC, and promise a new name early next year.
North Dakota producers are bracing for a perfect storm this winter, as record production fights record low prices. The state’s all-time high production is once again overwhelming pipeline takeaway capacity, and with frigid weather likely to disrupt rail loadings, prices could head even lower. Reuters reported Bakken crude traded at a record $20-per-barrel discount to U.S. crude futures last week.
The State of New Mexico is researching ways to streamline regulations to encourage the treatment and reuse of produced wastewater. According to a draft white paper, the state’s oil and gas industry generated nearly 38 billion gallons of wastewater last year. Officials expect that flood to grow as the boom continues.
The United Way of Ellis County will host a Dine-Out Day with Pizza Hut from 5 to 8 tonight at 1308 Vine.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the United Way and their 15 partner agencies. Watch for upcoming Dine-Out Days with participating restaurants online at www.liveunited.us.
WICHITA – A Colorado man was sentenced Monday to 108 months in federal prison for driving seven pounds of methamphetamine to Kansas, U.S. Attorney Steven McAllister said in a news release.
Hector Manuel Aguirre, 21, Edwards, Colo., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In his plea, he admitted that in February 2018 the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped his car in Ellis County. Investigators found more than seven pounds of methamphetamine in the car, McAllister said. Aguirre was transporting the drugs from California to Wichita.
McAllister commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Rodebaugh for their work on the case.
The No. 11 ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team has been tabbed as the No. 1 seed among the remaining final four teams in the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship. The Tigers will face the No. 20 ranked Barry University Buccaneers on Thursday (Nov. 29). Kickoff is slated for 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET) inside Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Tigers enter the match at 17-2-1 on the season, while the Buccaneers enter at 16-3-1 on the year. Fort Hays State is currently riding a 14-match winning streak and a 15-match unbeaten streak. The Tigers earned their spot in the National Semifinal match after defeating Ohio Valley, 2-0, on Saturday (Nov. 17), marking the first time in program history the Tigers have advanced this far in the NCAA tournament. Junior midfielder Moises Peralta provided the eventual game-winning goal in the 67th minute after Rogelio Lopez flipped the ball to Tobias Patino who then fed Peralta the ball for his first score of the season. Sophomore midfielder Mauricio Etcheverry tacked on another goal for the Tigers in the 89th frame of the contest. Prior to the victory over the Fighting Scots, Fort Hays State defeated No. 19 ranked Northeastern State, 3-1, in the Central Region Championship (Nov. 15) to earn their fourth region championship in the past five years.
Barry enters the match as the No. 4 seed in the National Semifinals. The Buccaneers upset No. 10 ranked Spring Hill College in the South Region Semifinal, 4-1. They then picked up another upset victory, this time over No. 24 ranked Lynn University in the South Region Championship. The Buccaneers and Fighting Knights were scoreless at the end of regulation and both overtime periods, before Barry defeated Lynn 4-2 in penalty kicks. In the National Quarterfinal against No. 8 ranked Lander University, the Buccaneers held off the Bearcats 2-1 to earn their third trip as one of the final four team in team history.
In the other National Semifinal contest, No. 2 seed Cal Poly Pomona University will face off with No. 3 seed West Chester University at 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET on November 29. The winners from each match will face each other in the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer National Championship (Dec. 1).
According to Johnny Matlock, HHS career specialist, the program “partners with public schools to offer an elective class that provides academic and other positive support to ensure students earn their diploma.”
The students toured a variety of programs at NCK Tech including welding, nursing, electrical, culinary, business and carpentry.
The opportunity to show students hands-on application of programs is often key to their success.
The JAG-K program explores career opportunities and focuses on soft skills to prepare students for the next level, whether it be education, the workforce or the military.
An essential part of NCK Tech’s curriculum is focusing on job preparedness for all students. Soft skills are implemented into all programs of study.
Both Matlock and NCK Tech Student Services Coordinator Tiffany Fox commented on the success of the tour and the time students were able to spend exploring possible opportunities.
“The tour was a huge success on my end. Not only did I learn about a very good educational resource right here in Hays, but the tour sparked an interest in a career in several of my students,” said Matlock. “When students have a vision what they want their future to look like they become motivated in their present educational pursuit and are more likely to finish high school.”
If your organization or group is interested in visiting NCK Tech, schedule a tour on the college’s website at www.ncktc.edu.
ELLIS – A couple of items regarding the fire department will be discussed at tonight’s Ellis City Council meeting.
Following his monthly report, Fire Chief Dustin Vine will also talk with council members about bids to replace the fire station roof as well as the purchase of a thermal camera.
The complete agenda follows.
AGENDA
November 19, 2018
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes from Regular Meeting on November 5, 2018
Bills Ordinance #2057
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
SPECIAL ORDER
Monthly Fire Department Report – Chief Dustin Vine
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Consider Bids to Replace Old Fire Station Roof
NEW BUSINESS
Consider Approval for Purchase of Thermal Camera for Fire Department
Consider Approval of Application for License to Sell Cereal Malt Beverages
The unemployment rate in Ellis County remained relatively flat in October, increasing to 2.1 percent from 2 percent in September.
Just 355 people were officially “unemployed” in the county, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.
The jobless rate remains extremely low throughout northwest Kansas, with just Graham County posting an unemployment rate higher than 3 percent. Greeley County in far western Kansas had the lowest unemployment rate at 1.5 percent, while Linn County in far eastern Kansas post the state’s highest at 5.3 percent.
Statewide, preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.3 percent in October. This was unchanged from September and down from 3.5 percent in October 2017.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 400 from September. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 1,700 from the previous month.
Since October 2017, Kansas gained 19,500 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 17,100 private sector jobs.
DODGE CITY — Dodge City Community College is helping to pave the way forward for STEM and medical students by coordinating with outside agencies to provide scholarship and advanced training opportunities for dedicated students in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.
The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation is aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of students successfully completing STEM baccalaureate degree programs and matriculate into programs of graduate study.
Dodge City Community College was one of the original Kansas LSAMP schools when the alliance was brought to the state in 2013. The continuation of the five-year, $3 million program through 2023 adds Barton County and Wichita State to the alliance.
The LSAMP program is funded through the National Science Foundation, which also offers the Noyce Grant – a program with the purpose of increasing the supply of well-qualified middle and high school science and math teachers.
Additionally, DC3 is proud to partner with Fort Hays State University in its STEM Educator initiative. The role of Dodge City Community College is to identify, mentor and encourage students to become STEM educators, and assist college students majoring in physics, chemistry, biology, geosciences, or mathematics in applying for the Noyce Scholarships at FHSU.
There are seven $13,000 scholarships available for eligible students at FHSU. The scholarships are renewable for a second year and are available to community college transfer students with at least a 2.75 GPA, have earned 60-plus hours and are majoring in secondary or elementary education and a math/science discipline.
In healthcare, the Scholars in Rural Health program through the University of Kansas School of Medicine is designed to identify and encourage healthcare undergrads from rural Kansas to return to rural areas of the state as primary care doctors.
The program seeks to enroll students with at least a 3.5 GPA and who gave completed general biology and chemistry prior to their junior year.
Participants in the Scholars in Rural Health program are strong candidates for the Kansas Medical Student Loan program, which provides tuition and living expenses. Loan recipients agree to specialize in primary care or emergency medicine and work in a medically underserved area of Kansas.
68th annual celebration in the “Christmas City of the High Plains”
WAKEENEY — A cherished tradition continues in WaKeeney, known as “the Christmas City of the High Plains.” WaKeeney lights up the prairie skies with twinkling lights and fresh greenery and garlands during the holidays. This annual tradition began in 1950 and is considered one of the largest displays between Kansas City and Denver.
Each November WaKeeney is magically transformed into a holiday wonderland. A magnificent handmade, 35-foot tree of fresh greenery rests under a canopy of heavenly blue lights in the middle of the main downtown intersection. A four-square block area around the tree is draped with garlands, handcrafted decorations, and more twinkling lights.
The original idea was born in 1948 by two local businessmen. Art Keraus, the owner of the local hardware store and “a man who could build anything,” teamed up with Jake Heckman, the local banker and artist, to design the original Christmas display. The first display went up in 1950 and more decorations were added each year until 1956. These decorations are still used today.
Today the City of WaKeeney employees get the decorations ready to be put up. Many man hours go into preparing the display for the tree raising. Workers spend approximately two weeks preparing the display and putting it up. Then right before the lighting ceremony, City employees and employees from several local utility companies use their bucket trucks to assemble the large tree and put up the final decorations. Many volunteers have donated hundreds of hours through the years, which has become a source of pride for the community. The Christmas “Tree” is a tribute to the will and cooperation of our local residents.
A new addition this year are the LED Color-Changing Perimeter Lights which were installed in the past month. Funds for these lights were raised through the “Get Lit” Campaign in 2018. We would like to thank Dane G. Hansen Foundation for a grant to help with the purchase of the lights. We would also like to thank the City of WaKeeney for allowing the city employees to install the lights as well as donating the utility costs and Nex-Tech for donating the wifi monthly charges. We also owe a lot of gratitude to the local community for supporting our campaign through purchasing t-shirts and donating to the campaign. These lights replaced the original perimeter lights which were destroyed in the August 2017 hail storm. The perimeter lights will be lit year-round and feature thousands of colors and combinations. Plans are to highlight holidays and special events throughout the year.
For the 68th year, WaKeeney will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 24.
10 am-4 pm, 18th Annual Christmas Bazaar, Trego County Fairgrounds
10am-Noon & 1-4 pm, Festival of Nativities, Trego County Historical Society Museum
4pm, Ticket Booth Opens, What Knot’s in Pine, 126 N. Main, FREE Tickets to visit Santa Claus or ride the VR “Santa’s Sleigh”
4:30 pm, Benefit Soup Supper, VFW Hall by the VFW Auxiliary
4:30-5:45 pm Live Music by Gypsy Kansas, The Studio 128
5-9 pm experience a thrilling ride on “Santa’s Sleigh”. This “Virtual Reality In Motion” ride is provided by JNT Co. from Manhattan, KS. The ride is free, courtesy of WaKeeney Travel & Tourism.
5-8 pm, “Santa’s Downtown Workshop”. Area businesses will be hosting crafts, games, snacks and drinks for the kids while they wait to visit Santa or ride the VR InMotion “Santa’s Sleigh” ride.
6 pm gather round the tree for the Lighting Ceremony. Everyone has been waiting in anticipation for the arrival of Santa Claus. Isaiah Fabrizius will lead the crowd in Christmas carols around the tree as Santa arrives to flip the switch. After lighting the tree, Santa Claus will visit with all the children and listen to their Christmas wishes. All the children will receive special treats from Santa.
6:30-8 pm, Live Music, The Studio 128
Carriage Rides by Big Creek Horse & Carriage after the Tree Lighting courtesy of Solutions North Bank
Barbershop Concert, VFW Hall, after the Tree Lighting sponsored by the Trego Arts Council
The holiday display remains lit through New Years and is free to the public. For more information, please contact Toll Free at (877)962-7248; (785)743-8325; www.wakeeney.org; or on Facebook.
Steve GillilandThe first few years Joyce and I were married I traveled to southwestern Kansas to hunt deer on ground operated by her uncle.
After 3 or 4 years, she accompanied me for the first time, and one particular evening decided to tag along for the evening hunt. She comes from a mostly non-hunting family, so she didn’t have a tag or carry a gun. We were tucked into a clump of weeds at the edge of an overgrown patch surrounding a wheat field. Before us lay miles of short-cropped pasture riddled with deep brushy draws and craggy hills. I could tell she was seriously questioning her decision to sit with me there in the middle of nowhere, and wondering what on God’s green earth we were doing.
I pointed to a steep rise a few hundred yards away and told her to watch closely because deer would soon be coming up and over that hill. I will take to my grave the look on her face as one-by-one mule deer began popping up and over that rise just as I’d predicted. She was hooked, and today has harvested a handful of Kansas deer herself, one of which hangs on our wall and was taken from almost the exact spot we sat that first night.
A spouse’s transition from tending the home fires to accompanying you on the hunt won’t happen overnight. Let me share some things that have helped Joyce and I become hunting partners.
First and foremost, be patient. Anyone acquainted with me knows that patience is not one of my virtues, but I’m learning to be more patient when it comes to explaining outdoor things to Joyce. Whether its pointing out coyote tracks or telling her about a deer scrape, I have to remind myself that it’s the same principle as if she were trying to teach me to crochet (now there’s a mental picture!).
We definitely hunt deer differently when we’re together than I do when I’m alone. When alone, I’m inclined to simply tuck myself in under the overhanging boughs of a cedar, or climb into the rubble of a fallen tree. When we hunt together however, we are always in our elevated blind which offers protection from the elements and allows for muffled conversations.
I just have to swallow my pride when she shoulders her “bag” containing a book, snacks, a drink, etc. My advice here is to buy a pop-up blind or put together some sort of shelter for you to hunt from as a “couple.” Trust me; it won’t detract from your masculinity!
My first deer gun was a little SKS military rifle chambered for rounds in 7.62 x 39; probably the absolute smallest I’d want for harvesting Kansas deer, but the recoil is minimal. When Joyce decided she wanted her own deer rifle, I gave her the little SKS and moved up to a .270 for myself. I sometimes wish she felt comfortable with something a little bigger that packs more knock-down power, but the SKS fits her well, she’s comfortable with it and well-placed shots from that little bugger have cleanly harvested both whitetail and muleys’ here in Kansas. My advices on guns for your spouse is to let her shoot a few then allow her to decide on the “hardware” she’ll carry to the woods. Whatever you do, don’t “over-gun” her. The same applies for shotguns too. If your spouse is short and petit like mine, a youth model may fit her best. Remember, she must enjoy shooting if you expect her to remain a hunting partner.
One of the first years we deer hunted seriously together, opening morning was brutally cold and windy. Joyce had been dressing in whatever we had in the closet that fit her and was warm. She got terribly cold that morning and we actually went to town over lunch and bought her a really good insulated sweatshirt that’s still part of her regular deer hunting ensemble today. After that, we took her shopping for good quality boots, gloves, insulated coveralls and whatever else she needed to stay warm and comfortable. Don’t scrimp on hunting apparel for your new hunting buddy! Take her shopping and let her get what fits her best. Don’t be afraid to offer your suggestions, but let her choose. For a little more money she can even choose from lines of hunting apparel specially tailored just for women.
There are times when I want to question Joyce’s commitment, but again I have to rein-in my judgment and put my thinking in perspective. So my final piece of advice is to lighten-up a little when hunting with a spouse. If she gets cold before you, let her go to the pickup and warm-up; if she gets bored and wants to read her book or throw in the towel for the morning before you, let her do it. Don’t be afraid to point out to her other things about nature as you sit there either, like the antics of a noisy squirrel in the tree next door, or the silent, graceful air show put on by a hunting hawk. Nature will provide the entertainment if you just look for it.
All these things also apply when hunting with a son or daughter. The more enjoyable and satisfying you can make their entry level experiences, the more likely they are to stick with it and to help carry-on your hunting traditions. Please remember it’s never too soon or too late to take a son, daughter or spouse to the deer blind, the pheasant field, he duck lease or the farm pond and help them Explore Kansas Outdoors with you!
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
