SHERMAN COUNTY — On Tuesday afternoon Northwest Tech administration in Goodland received a call that there was an individual on campus, in a facility, with a weapon, according to the school’s social media page.
Administration immediately contacted law enforcement and alerted campus.
Local law enforcement responded quickly to the scene and cleared the building and quickly established that it was a false report and there was in fact no weapon, no individual carrying a weapon on campus, and students were never at risk.
School administration expressed the appreciation for the rapid response of local law enforcement “sadly in today’s society, we can never be too safe, nor will we take any chances with the lives of our students, faculty or staff.”
Fifteen members of the Fort Hays State University Shotgun team placed highest overall team at the 2018 Scholastic Clay Target Program College National Championships, held recently in Marengo, Ohio.
There were 220 shooters representing 22 colleges from across the United States.
Teams were split into two divisions, with FHSU being placed in Division 2. FHSU participated in three events and placed first with all three teams in all three events. The top five scores from FHSU were used for team scores.
The first-place trap team was Austin Svoboda, Burwell, Neb., senior; Riley Ross, St. Paul, Neb., sophomore; Cody Escritt, Pleasanton, Neb., senior; Jake Whipple, Cambridge, Neb., senior; and Wyatt Pursell, Topeka senior, with a score of 988 out of 1,000.
The first-place skeet team was Jerrod Lies, Minneola senior; Escritt, Pursell, Svoboda and Whipple, with a score of 989 out of 1,000.
The first-place sporting clays team was Josh Crankshaw, North Platte, Neb., senior; Escritt, Ross, Svoboda and Whipple with a score of 919 out of 1,000.
Individual awards are divided between men and women. Heather Gordon, Pine Valley, Calif., junior, won highest overall woman with 554 out of 600. Svoboda won highest overall man with 588 out of 600, and Escritt was runner up with 580 out of 600.
Other individual awards include Jenny Schoenecker, Akron, Colo., senior, who placed first in sporting clays. Gordon placed second in skeet. Svoboda was first in trap, second in skeet and third in sporting clays. Whipple was third in skeet and Ross was third in trap.
Fort Hays State Weekly Football Press Conference November 13th, 2018
Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown conducted his weekly press conference in advance of the Tiger’s upcoming playoff game with the University of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon in Indianapolis. Brown and select players met with the media inside Lewis Field on Tuesday, a session that can be seen by clicking on the video below.
(00:00 Head Coach Chris Brown, 11:12 Linebacker Jose Delgado, 13:50 Receiver Harley Hazlett)
TOPEKA—Today, Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. announced that his office has successfully challenged the Federal Communication Commission’s Mobility Fund Phase II (MF-II) Eligibility Map, which the Commission will soon use to determine areas that will be eligible for funding for mobile LTE broadband service buildout in unserved areas. Unlike surrounding states, Kansas was originally slated to receive almost no funding from the MF-II program unless the initial eligibility map could be challenged. The map below indicates the areas that were initially deemed eligible for MF-II support (shaded in blue), based on coverage data reported by the nation’s mobile service providers.
Initial areas (in blue) deemed eligible for MF-II support
Thanks to a $225,000 grant from the Information Network of Kansas (“INK”) Board of Directors, the Governor’s Office was able to partner with non-profit Connected Nation to conduct professional drive testing of mobile network coverage across the state. Between the months of June and September, Connected Nation staff covered 15,620 road miles to conduct tests across parts of 56 Kansas counties (Allen, Anderson, Barber, Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Butler, Chase, Clark, Comanche, Crawford, Decatur, Ellsworth, Ford, Geary, Graham, Grant, Greeley, Hamilton, Harper, Jackson, Jewell, Johnson, Kearny, Kingman, Kiowa, Linn, Logan, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Mitchell, Morton, Nemaha, Neosho, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Pratt, Rawlins, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Seward, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stanton, Stevens, Thomas, Wallace, and Wichita). The areas tested were chosen based on analysis of areas that were reported to be served by no more than two mobile carriers—areas deemed most likely to be unserved.
Of the 187,397 tests that were conducted, 119,994 failed (64.03%)—meaning that the tests indicated less than 5 Mbps of mobile data service, or no service at all, in areas that the carriers had reported to be served. The Governor’s Office was then able to use the testing data to challenge 13,158.63 square kilometers of the MF-II Eligibility Map—or 5,080.58 square miles—an area slightly smaller than the state of Connecticut. While the challenge data submitted is still subject to review and adjudication by the FCC, it is now possible that a significant portion of the state of Kansas will be opened up for MF-II funding support—meaning many rural Kansans could finally see their mobile services improve.
The map below shows individual speed tests conducted in Jewell County. Red dots indicate failed tests, while green dots show passing tests.
Internet speed tests conducted in Jewell County
“Mobile broadband service has become an essential tool in the daily lives of all Kansans, regardless of where they live, and it is quickly becoming a necessary resource for agriculture as well,” said Governor Colyer. “I have driven all across this state, and I know how poor mobile coverage can be in some areas. That’s why I was shocked to see that the FCC’s Mobility Fund Phase II eligibility map showed almost zero eligibility for funding in Kansas. I knew we had to do something. With support from the INK Board and our partners at Connected Nation, we did—and now there is a great chance that we’ll see large swaths of service buildout in rural parts of the state.”
The map below indicates all of the one square kilometer grid cells that were challenged within Kansas:
It is important to note that the Governor’s Office’s MF-II challenge will be supplemented by testing conducted by Kansas Farm Bureau, which received a waiver from the FCC to file its own challenge.
Kansas Farm Bureau has been working aggressively over the same period in collaboration with its membership to conduct thousands of mobile speed tests across the state—the results of which will be announced later this month. To participate, or to learn more about Kansas Farm Bureau’s efforts, visitwww.kfb.org/connectingkansas.
All MF-II challenge data must be submitted no later than November 26.
Your bishop was just taken out, your opponent fell for the bait as you cleverly steal their rook. A few moves later you have them in check. Chess is an intellectual game that challenges the brain and is being introduced this year in the form of a club.
Chess Club is new this year with librarian, Erin Holder leading the charge. It is a place for people of all skill levels who are interested in playing from people who are hoping to get sharper skills and play completely or if they are just wanting to learn.
“The need for chess club is here,” Holder said. “Not only to provide that outlet for students, but having somewhere for that other community to gather and enjoy something as well has honing their skills that chess provides.”
The benefits of chess are that it can develop problem solving, abstract reasoning, and creative thinking skills along with a tremendous amount of patience. It can prevent Alzheimer’s by exercising the brain on both sides and can improve memory and reading skills.
“By playing a game, you would be able to bring all of that into your daily life,” Holder said.
Chess Club will meet in the library every Thursday at 3:15 and will last around an hour.
“Just give it a try,” Holder said. “If you know absolutely nothing about it, we will have an area for those who just want to play for fun. If you want something competitive, we have that as well. If you want a place to come hang out, you don’t have to participate. You can sit on the sidelines and watch.”
LA CROSSE — The Rush County Historical Society and Kansas Barbed Wire Museum will host the annual Old-Fashioned Christmas from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23 in La Crosse.
Visitors can browse the five museums: the Historical Museum in the 19th Century Timken Depot; the Post Rock Museum, one of the seven wonders of Kansas Customs; the Nekoma Bank Museum, a restored 1916 rural bank; the Pleasant Point School Museum; and Kansas Barbed Wire Museum.
There will be live musical performances including piano and organ. Visitors can enjoy hot cider, homemade cookies and popcorn, or roast their own marshmallows over an open fire. There will be a make-it and take-it crafts section for kids to make an old-fashioned toy to take home.
Free horse-drawn wagon rides will be available from 6 to 8 pm, weather permitting.
Courtesy photo
A Civil War-era Army Post Surgeon sponsored by Sternberg Museum will make a return visit to talk about some of the unique naturalist activities of Post Surgeons including fossil collecting and studying environmental issues.
There will be one-night only displays in the recently restored Pleasant Point One-Room School Museum. Restoration of the school has been completed and visitors will have the opportunity for a sneak peek before the school’s official dedication next May. The century-old school is a time capsule of early 20th century rural education with nearly all of its original furnishings and books.
The events begin at 6 p.m. Friday at the museum campus on the south edge of La Crosse on West First Street. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the museum on Facebook, on the web at www.rushcounty.org/RCHS or call 785-222-2808.
The Hays USD 489 school board discussed its search for a new superintendent at its meeting Monday night.
Superintendent John Thissen gave his letter of resignation to the board on Oct. 19. He will finish out his current contract, which runs through June 30.
The district has bids from three entities to aid in the search: Kansas Association for School Boards, $5,850; McPherson and Jacobson, $4,850; Ray and Associates, $24,250. Ray and Associates specializes in multi-state searches.
The board has worked with KASB on previous searches. Board member Luke Oborny and President Mandy Fox said they had been pleased with KASB’s past work. However, the board asked Assistant Superintendent Shanna Dinkel to contact other school districts that had worked with McPherson and Jacobson to learn more about the firm.
The board plans to vote on awarding a contract for the search at its next meeting on Nov. 26.
ECC project
The board reviewed its timeline for a renovation project of the Oak Park Medical Plaza. The complex will be renovated for the Early Childhood Connections program.
The district is currently in a protest period for the financing on the project. That period is set to end on Sunday, Nov. 25.
The board is set to vote on the contracts for the project at its Nov. 26 meeting.
The district has received a $1.47 million federal grant for the renovation of the property.
Teachers’ contracts
The district reached an agreement with teachers last week. Dinkel said the teachers are set to vote on ratification of the contract on Wednesday. The details of the agreement will not made public until after the contact is ratified.
Approval of the contract will be on the agenda Nov. 26.
Fox asked staff to do a review of classified staff pay, comparing it to the pay of similar positions in the community. She also asked for a budget analysis of where the district will be financially if the teachers ratify their contract.
“We want to do what is right for them as well,” she said of classified staff.
The Hays Police Department responded to 14 animal calls and conducted 20 traffic stops Fri., Nov. 9, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–100 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:03 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–22nd and Marshall Rd, Hays; 7:47 AM
Intoxicated Subject–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:53 AM
Animal At Large–6th and Main St, Hays; 10:14 AM
Found/Lost Property–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 11:27 AM
Animal At Large–500 block Main St, Hays; 11:46 AM
Suspicious Activity–500 block Main St, Hays; 11/2 2:30 PM; 11/9 11:20 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–29th St and Indian Trl, Hays; 1:02 PM
Criminal Trespass–800 block Main St, Hays; 2:43 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 3:17 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Injury–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 3:19 PM
Animal At Large–1300 block Lawrence Dr, Hays; 3:26 PM
Driving Under the Influence–800 block Ash St, Hays; 6:27 PM
Welfare Check–800 block Walnut St, Hays; 6:40 PM
Criminal Trespass–1600 block Main St, Hays; 7:22 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1800 block Ash St, Hays; 9:35 PM
Driving Under the Influence–200 block W 8th St, Hays; 10:04 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 11:40 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 31 traffic stops Sat., Nov. 10, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Disturbance – Noise–2400 block Main St, Hays; 12:37 AM
Driving Under the Influence–700 block E 7th St, Hays; 1:01 AM
Welfare Check–400 block Fort St, Hays; 7:44 AM
Suicidal Subject–1500 block E 17th St, Hays; 9:33 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1200 block Maple St, Hays; 10:25 AM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–400 block W 12th St, Hays; 12:10 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–11000 block E 16th Ave, Aurora; 1:04 PM
Suspicious Activity–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 10 AM; 1:30 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–200 block E 32nd St, Hays; 11/9 8:30 AM; 9 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–2000 block Allen St, Hays; 2:51 PM
Animal At Large–39th St and Fairway Dr, Hays; 4:44 PM
Animal At Large–300 block Lewis Dr, Hays; 4:53 PM
Domestic Disturbance–600 block E 6th St, Hays; 5:01 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–2300 block Vine St, Hays; 6 PM
Drug Offenses–8th and College Dr, Hays; 9:59 PM
Disturbance – Noise–300 block Ash St, Hays; 11:44 PM
Minor in Possession of CMB/LIQ–500 block Ash St, Hays; 11:52 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 1 animal call and conducted 30 traffic stops Sun., Nov. 11, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Driving Under the Influence–200 block Main St, Hays; 12:39 AM
Suspicious Activity–4400 block Larned Cir, Hays; 12:55 AM
Disturbance – Noise–200 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:46 AM
Driving Under the Influence–1200 block Vine St, Hays; 1:49 AM
Drug Offenses–4100 block Vine St, Hays; 2:29 PM
Traffic/Driving Complaint–2900 block Vine St, Hays; 3 PM
Found/Lost Property–4000 block Gen Hays Rd, Hays; 5:41 PM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6:17 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 20 traffic stops Mon., Nov. 12, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Welfare Check–1900 block Holmes Rd, Hays; 12:09 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–400 block Milner St, Hays; 12:33 AM
Driving Under the Influence–800 block Ash St, Hays; 1:05 AM
Liquor Offense, sell, furnish, transport–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 1:45 AM
Animal Bite Investigation–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 9 AM
Animal At Large–300 block Dwight Dr, Hays; 8:53 AM
Welfare Check–1300 block E 33rd St, Hays; 12:11:19 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–600 block E 8th St, Hays; 11/9 6 PM; 11/11 8 AM
Open Door/Window–1900 block Longfellow Rd, Hays; 3:17 PM; 4:17 PM
Driving Under the Influence–2700 block Hall St, Hays; 8:28 PM
How would you like to be elected governor of Kansas by about 46,000 votes on Tuesday and on Friday learn that you’re going to have $306.4 million more to spend than you thought?
Doesn’t get much better than that, does it? Well, that’s exactly what has happened to Gov.-elect Laura Kelly, who by the way beat Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach who pledged during his campaign to start cutting taxes quickly if elected.
Well, Kelly isn’t talking tax cuts, she’s talking investment in schools, expanding Medicaid and balancing the budget without new taxes—and that was before she heard about the $306 million windfall which the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group unveiled Friday. The CREG meets twice a year, in November and April, to predict upcoming state revenues.
This might be an interesting four years ahead with a governor who wants to first take care of the state’s responsibilities that have been avoided the past several years before talking about tax cuts. The new money is good, of course, but we’re not yet constitutionally “adequate” on state aid to schools and are making little progress in restoring money that has been “swept” out of agency budgets for highway construction, pensions and such.
No, we’re not looking for Kelly to start handing out tax cuts while she’s waiting for her stationery and business cards to be printed up.
In fact, even before that $306 million windfall, Kelly was talking about waiting until next April’s Consensus Revenue Estimate before giving much thought to tax cuts—after she’s nailed down the spending necessary to restore state government duties.
Part of that, of course, is her experience as a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee—which makes the appropriations and cuts necessary to balance the budget. It’s been more cuts than appropriations in the past few years, and she’s made clear that restoration of services is first in line, ahead of tax cuts.
What’s it mean? Well, from a Statehouse viewpoint, it probably means a rather complicated “State of the State” message when lawmakers come back to town in mid-January. She’s a details person, likely to talk more about programs that need to be rebuilt or financed adequately than new programs that Republicans tend to spend a lot of time trying to think up catchy names (or acronyms) for.
Don’t look for flash.
Now, remember that she’s going to face an overwhelmingly Republican legislature that is probably going to be more interested in cutting taxes than rebuilding the state payroll of social workers and helping local school districts rebuild their staff of teachers and aides.
Key there is for the governor to convince those conservatives in the Legislature that the not-very-flashy care of the poor and ill and their children is the best way to improve the state before cutting taxes.
Tax cuts? They will probably start with the sales tax on food. It’s a big deal for the poor who see the cost of a can of beans at 9% or 10% (depending on local sales taxes) more than the shelf price before they get it out of the store and into the kitchen. Oh, and it also means that those steaks and salmon are cheaper, too, but it’s not an afford-it or not decision for more prosperous Kansans.
That $306 million? Well, it gives Kelly some negotiating room, enough spare cash to bargain a dab of tax cut in return for the social service, highway construction and health-care expenditures she’d like to make.
But all that new direction in state spending that Kelly proposes will ultimately be keyed off of the makeup of the Legislature, and whether that top-heavy Republican majority in both chambers is solid enough to pass veto-proof legislation.
We’ll see. Check back in April…
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.
The Project 489 dinner and auction raised $40,000 on Nov. 3.
This included $7,800 being pledged toward the USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence.
Most of the $40,000 that was raised will reimburse the district for security upgrades that were made to all the district’s schools this summer. The $7,800 will go toward ongoing school projects that are funded by the foundation.
Forty-seven oral auction items and 210 silent auction items were sold.
Congratulations to the raffle prize winners: $500 Cash Raffle Winner— Bonnie Pfannenstiel; $500 Chamber Cheque Raffle Winner— Chelsey Ladd; $1,000 Cash Raffle Winner— Mike Lind; Polaris Ranger Raffle Winner— Joseph Boekner.
The foundation board said they would like to thank all of the volunteers, attendees and donors of the first Project 489 Dinner Show and Auction for making it such a success.
Corrected 10:02 a.m. 11/13/18 for total amount raised from fundraiser.
Jana’s Campaign received a $1,000 donation from the Midwest Energy Community Fund fall disbursement.
These funds will be used to assist our Youth Advisory Council in developing Character Building Kits that can be used with elementary age students. The kits include interactive lessons on character development, leadership, and anti-bullying. These lessons will be meaningful, age-appropriate and relevant for younger students.
As Jana’s Campaign works to prevent gender and relationship violence, we are often called upon to work with younger students. Additionally, our middle and high school students serving on the Youth Advisory Council recommended we start sharing our message with elementary students to increase our success at preventing teens and young adults from being in violent and unhealthy relationships.
The Midwest Energy Community Fund was created in 2005. Five committees of Midwest Energy customers determine who receives the awards ranging from $50 to $1000. The committees can direct funds to activities that focus on youth, arts, education, libraries, community events or other priorities they choose. This year there were many great applications under consideration and Jana’s Campaign is honored to be one of the recipients.
Jana’s Campaign is a Hays-based national education and violence prevention organization with the single mission of reducing gender and relationship violence. In honor of the late Jana Mackey, a 25-year old law student at the University of Kansas when she was killed by an ex-boyfriend in 2008, and other victims and survivors of gender and relationship violence, Jana’s Campaign delivers educational programs that prevent domestic and dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.
