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Options announces new board member

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Jacob Ternes
OPTIONS

Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services announces the appointment of its newest member of its board of directors.

Joining the board of directors is Jacob Ternes. “Our newest board member brings with him the passion and experience to support the needs of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and is committed to bringing help, hope and healing to the victims and survivors we serve,” Jennifer Hecker, executive director. “We have a strong foundation of leadership in place and are pleased to have Jacob share his enthusiasm and insightful perspectives as a member of our board.”

Ternes is assistant director of the Memorial Union at Fort Hays State University. He previously served as Coordinator of Student Involvement and Greek Life where he was an active partner with the Women’s Leadership Project and a member of the Violence Prevention Task Force to address gender-based violence on campus. While in college Ternes helped raise funds to support SOS, Inc. in Emporia, a non-profit organization providing services, education, and advocacy to victims of domestic and sexual violence. He is a graduate of Leadership Hays and is a member of the Hays Area Young Professionals. Ternes is a recipient of The Markley Award from the NACA Central Region in 2018, the Outstanding New Professionals award from the NACA Central Region in 2017, and a 2015 Man of Merit award winner from Fort Hays State.

Edie McCracken, director of the Fort Hays State Memorial Union, supports Ternes’ appointment to the board, stating “Jacob will be an excellent addition to the Options Domestic Sexual Violence Services Board of Directors. We support his services to the Hays community and appreciate the opportunity to further strengthen ties between FHSU and Options.”

The Options Board of Directors includes:
President, Jason Werner of Nex-Tech Wireless
Vice-President, Michele Schlitter of RANS Designs
Interim Secretary, Marsha Bouker, retired
Treasurer, Ivonn Vargas of Thomas County Juvenile Services
Member-at-Large, Deb Tremblay, retired
Member-at-Large, Natasha Finley of Thomas County
Member-at-Large, Dr. Alicia Bean of Russell Regional Hospital
Member-at-Large, Jacob Ternes of Fort Hays State University
Executive Director, Jennifer Hecker

If you or someone you know needs help because of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, call Options free Helpline at 800-794-4624 for help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, Inc. is a non-profit agency dedicated to empowering individuals who experience domestic, sexual, interpersonal, or stalking violence through individual support while educating our communities to identify and confront the causes of violence in society. Options provides services to 18 counties in Northwest Kansas. Options voluntary services are always provided free of charge, and with complete confidentiality.

Hays student, others at FHSU to receive geosciences international award

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FHSU University Relations

Dr. Hendratta Ali, associate professor of geosciences at Fort Hays State University, along with two students from the FHSU Department of Geosciences, have been announced as recipients of awards from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

SEG is an international organization with 27,000 members from 128 different countries.

Ali was awarded the 2018 Outstanding Educator Award, meant to honor individuals for excellence in geophysics education.

Ali also submitted four papers she either authored or co-authored for the SEG Technical Program Extended Abstracts.

Russell Krug, Hays senior, was awarded the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Award. With this award, Krug will have the chance to participate in a leadership summit held at the annual SEG meeting.

Krug will also be presenting a paper written with Ali about “using artificial intelligence neural networks to study the properties of rocks in central Kan.,” said Ali.

Luke Rijfkogle, FHSU alumni, received a SEG/EXXONMOBIL Student Education Program grant. Rijfkogle was a 2017 graduate of the FHSU geoscience department who is now studying geophysics at Kansas State University.

The awards will be presented later this month at the SEG International Exhibition and Annual Meeting in Anaheim, Calif.

WINKEL: Work garden soil in the fall

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Rip Winkel

Fall is a great time to start prepping the soil for next season’s vegetable/fruit garden.

Spring is often wet, making it difficult to work soil without forming clods that become a nuisance when planting, and then remain the rest of the growing season. However, with exception to this year, the fall season is usually drier. This allows more time to work the soil when it is at the best moisture level. Even if you work the soil wet in the fall where clods are formed, the freezing and thawing that takes place during the winter will break them down, making it more malleable by the time spring arrives.

If your garden area still has the previous seasons plants laying around, insects as well as diseases often piggy-back on the old garden debris for the duration of winter. If that debris is worked well into the soil, those little critters will be less likely to make it through those cold months. Besides, that same garden debris will increase the organic matter content of the soil.  A hint – turning the debris into the soil is often easier if you mow the old vegetable plants several times, forming an organic mulch. If that is not possible, at least chop the plants up by using your shovel.

As fall is an excellent time to add organic matter to the garden soil, there is more than just the old garden debris to use. There are dried leaves, rotten hay/silage, grass clippings, etc. Fresher materials (green) can also be added in the fall rather than in the spring because there is more time for them to break down before planting. As a rule of thumb, add 2 inches of organic material to the surface of the soil and till it in. Be careful not to over till the soil. You should end up with particles like grape nuts or larger. If you work your garden into the consistency of dust, you will have destroyed the soil structure.

Rip Winkel is the Horticulture agent in the Cottonwood District (Barton and Ellis Counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at [email protected] or calling either 785-682-9430, or 620-793-1910.

UPDATE: Flood Warning expires NWS: Smoky Hill River to rise above flood stage Tue. night

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UPDATE 9:15 a.m. – The Flood Warning issued for Ellis and Rush Counties has expired. Flood waters have receded and are no longer a threat to life or property.

(Click to enlarge)

NWS

DODGE CITY – The National Weather Service in Dodge City, Kansas, has issued a Flood Warning for the Smoky Hill River below Schoenchen 2E until 3:15 a.m. Wed., Oct. 10.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday the stage was 10.9 feet. Flood stage is 11.0 feet. Minor flooding is forecast.

The river will rise above flood stage by this evening and continue to rise to near 12.0 feet after midnight tonight. The river will fall below flood stage by early tomorrow.

At 13.0 feet, expect minor flooding of two feet or more along the Smoky Hill River from Schoenchen through the southeastern portions of Ellis County, as the river moves further out onto the floodplain.

Some county roads in close proximity to the river maybecome impassible as rising waters cover the roads.

This crest compares to a previous crest of 12.4 feet on June 1, 2007.

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has also extended the

* Flood Warning for…
Rush County in central Kansas…
Ellis County in central Kansas…

* Until 315 AM CDT Wednesday.

* At 135 PM CDT, the public reported flooding in the warned area.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include…
Hays, Ellis, La Crosse, Victoria, Walker, Catherine, Otis, Bison, Schoenchen, McCracken, Rush Center, Liebenthal, Timken, Alexander, Emmeram, Yocemento, Munjor, Loretta, Nekoma and Hargrave.

Bank of Hays hires new vice president, commercial loan officer

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Erbert

Bank of Hays is honored to announce Matt Erbert as its new vice president, commercial loan officer.

Erbert is a native of Ellis, and he graduated from Ellis High in 2010.

He attended Fort Hays State University and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Finance with a Banking Concentration. He began his career at Farm Credit in Colby, and most recently he was a mortgage loan officer at Equity Bank from November 2016 until October 2018.

He is involved with the Knights of Columbus, Hays Sunrise Rotary, FHSU Tiger Auction Committee, and the FHSU Accounting, Economics, and Finance Department Advisory Committee.

Hays USD 489 school board discusses fee changes

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The USD 489 school board discussed the possibility of lowering student fees at its meeting Monday night.

Two years ago the board lowered the workbook fee from $135 to $90.

The board said it would like to see information about how much lowering the fee further would cost.

The board also discussed the possibility of lowering the technology fee at Hays High School, which is $50.

The board voted to replace computers this year, and the hope is there would be enough savings from fewer repairs that fee could be lowered.

Superintendent John Thissen said he would also bring information to the board about the driver’s education fund. That program is self-supported. If that fund is seeing a surplus, that fee also could be reevaluated.

No decision on the fees would likely be made until this spring when the district has a better idea of what its budget will look like for the coming year.

“With any fee, it is easy to add it in, but it is tough to take it out,” board member Lance Bickle said.

Transportation purchases

The board approved $291,790 in vehicle purchases Monday night.

The purchases included a gas-powered bus, an activity bus, a car and a Suburban.

The bid for the gas bus was $87,669. District staff requested a bid that was about $400 over the low bid, because it had the engine the district wanted.

Board member Greg Schwartz said he favored the purchase of a diesel bus over a gas engine. He said he thought the diesel engines were more efficient and durable. However, the transportation director said he was recommending the gas bus because other districts have had very costly repairs of emissions systems on the diesel buses. Schwartz voted against the purchase.

The bid for the activity bus was $143,975, which was the low bid. Both bids were from Kansas Truck.

The board also approved purchase of an Impala for $21,194 and a Suburban for $38,952. The total for the purchases was about $12,000 less than budgeted.

Enrollment

The district is up 33 students as of its official count day on Sept. 20, according to a report given to the board Monday night.

Assistant Superintendent Shanna Dinkel said smaller classes have graduated and larger classes are moving up.

Total enrollment was 3,190 students on count day.

 

 

Smoky Hills Public TV hires general manager

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Larry Calvery

SHPTV

BUNKER HILL– The Smoky Hills Public Television Board of Directors has named Larry Calvery as CEO/General Manager.

Calvery grew up in Hays, where he currently lives and has spent over 20 years in broadcasting. He held the position of corporate support representative for Smoky Hills Public Television from 2004-2007 when he left to serve as general manager of KRSL Russell Radio. Calvery returned to SHPTV in 2013.

Calvery had been serving as the interim general manager following the resignation of Dawn Gabel in May.

“I am honored to be selected as the next GM/CEO of Smoky Hills Public Television and wish to thank the Board of Directors for their confidence in me,” said Calvery. “It is a privilege to be part of an organization that strives to provide the kind of content viewers can’t find anywhere else and has a strong commitment to children’s education by ensuring that Smoky Hills Public Television’s educational programming can reach children anytime, anywhere in our viewing area.”

Sunny, windy Wednesday

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Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 15 to 17 mph.

Tonight Widespread frost, mainly after 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 32. North northwest wind 7 to 13 mph.

Thursday Widespread frost, mainly before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

Thursday Night A chance of showers before 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 1am, then showers after 1am. Low around 41. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday Showers likely before 9am, then rain likely between 9am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. East wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

MARSHALL: ‘Thrilled to see regulations being lifted on renewable fuel’

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Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.

Today the Trump Administration announced plans for the Environmental Protection Agency to begin allowing the sale and use of E15 throughout the year. This is great news for our Kansas producers; specifically, our corn, sorghum, and our ethanol plants around the state.

The ban that was placed on E15 stifled summer consumption of ethanol and unnecessarily limited options for consumers at the pump. When net farm income is already at the lowest dollar level in an almost decade, handcuffing our producers with absurd regulations is the last thing we needed. I am thrilled for the relief and certainty this will bring to the ag economy.

This announcement ends the uncertainty that comes every year when antiquated rules take effect for portions of the country that limit the use of E15.

This is another big win for our biofuels industry, and also the Kansas consumer who will be able to purchase high quality, high octane, cleaner fuel at a lower price. Lifting these regulations is a great victory for Kansas, and I am thankful that the President and Acting EPA Director Wheeler put our farmers and consumers first.

E15 gasoline is approved for use in all vehicles made since 2001 which today, make up 90-percent of the cars on the road.

“President Trump delivered a big win for Kansas agriculture today,” Tom Willis, CEO of Conestoga Energy. “I’m grateful for his commitment to putting America and our farmers first so that we can keep doing what we do best: providing clean and affordable renewable fuel for our nation.”

Conestoga Energy is the largest ethanol producer in the state. This announcement will lead to a win-win solution that supports a multitude of jobs across our energy sector.

“We have a great product that is produced here in our state, is a cleaner, safer fuel additive, boosts octane, and lowers fuel prices,” Kansas Corn CEO Greg Krissek said. “Federal regulations were holding us back, and President Trump has held true to his promise to help us get more access to markets for our corn-based fuel.”

Kansas ethanol plants produce nearly half a billion gallons of ethanol a year and creates more than 700 jobs at these plants. Ethanol production also indirectly supports more than 4,000 jobs across the state.

“It is clear the Administration understands the importance of ethanol. This is terrific news for the ethanol industry, American farmers, and the U.S. consumer. We look forward to working with the Administration on implementing this welcome and needed change,” Ron Seeber, CEO of Renew Kansas said. Renew Kansas represents independent ethanol producers and farmers in the ethanol production industry across Kansas.

The sale of E15 is vital to our farmers, ethanol producers, and rural communities.

“We at Kansas Ethanol, LLC are very pleased to hear of the Trump Administration’s announcement to allow year-round E-15 sales and increase RINs market transparency,” Michael Chisam CEO of Kansas Ethanol, LLC. said.

With twelve ethanol plants in the state and eight of them in Congressman Marshall’s district, Kansas is in a position to be a top ethanol exporter and leader in renewable fuel production.

“It is clear the Administration understands the importance of E-15 fuel and the multitude of benefits it provides to the economy and consumers,” Chisam said. “This is terrific news for American farmers and everyone that enjoys a cheaper, cleaner-burning choice at the pump. We look forward to the full implementation of this welcome and needed change.”

Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.

News From the Oil Patch Oct. 8

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By JOHN P. TRETBAR

Your 15-gallon fill-up will cost you nearly nine dollars more than it did a year ago.  Gasoline prices range from $2.64 to $2.89 in Hays, and we’re seeing $2.79 a gallon across Great Bend. Across Kansas, the average is $2.753, nearly 45 cents higher than a year ago.  AAA says the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $2.914, nearly four cents higher than a week ago, and 43 cents a gallon higher than a year ago. The government said last week US gasoline inventories dropped half a million barrels but remain about 7% above the five year average for this time of year.
Scientists at Stanford have developed a new way of looking at earthquakes in our area.  They forecast a drop in man-made earthquakes in Oklahoma and Kansas for the next couple of years but say we could see one potentially damaging quake over 5.0 during that time.  The model looks at pressure increases brought on by oil and gas industry wastewater disposal, and places them in the context of known faults in the area.
Baker Hughes reports 1,052 active drilling rigs as of Friday, reflecting a drop of two oil rigs nationwide.  Texas noted a drop of five rigs, while both Oklahoma and New Mexico were up two.  In Canada there are 182 active rigs, up four for the week.  Independent Oil & Gas Service reported no change in eastern Kansas last week, and 33 drilling rigs west of Wichita that are moving in, rigging up or drilling.
Operators filed 40 permits for drilling at new locations across Kansas last week, 1,399 so far this year.  There are 19 new permits east of Wichita, and 21 in western Kansas, including two in Barton County and three in Ellis County.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports 39 new well completions across the state, 24 in eastern Kansas and 15 west of Wichita, including one each in Ellis, Russell and Stafford counties.  So far this year we’ve seen 1,180 wells completed across Kansas, up nearly two hundred from a year ago, but about one quarter the number of completions reported by early October 2014.
The government said domestic crude oil inventories were up eight million barrels last week to 404 million, which is equal to the five-year average for this time of year.  Imports are up about ten percent over last year at this time.  The U.S. Energy Information Administration in its weekly update said U.S. production increased by about 10,000 barrels per day to 11.082 million barrels per day last week. EIA’s monthly petroleum report, which breaks out production by state, showed Kansas production down about 10,000 barrels per day to 95,000 barrels per day in July (the latest monthly numbers available).
Reuters reports U.S. crude oil shipments to China have “totally stopped” as the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies takes its toll on what was a fast growing businesses.  U.S. crude oil exports to China, which only started in 2016, have not yet been included in among steep new import tariffs, but Chinese oil importers have shied away from new orders recently.  Shipping sources confirm U.S. crude oil shipments to China ground to a halt last month.
Iran’s oil exports dropped again last week to 1.1 million barrels per day, just over a month before renewed U.S. oil sanctions kick in.  The Islamic republic’s exports are down about 1.6 million barrels per day from September, and 2.5 million bpd lower than six months ago.
Russia and Saudi Arabia have reportedly struck a private deal to raise oil output and cool down rising prices.  Reuters reports the two countries came to the agreement after a series of meetings last month, and informed the United States and other producers last week.
Saudi Arabia will invest $20 billion in the next few years to maintain and possibly expand its spare oil production capacity. Reuters reports the kingdom has a maximum sustainable capacity of 12 million barrels per day, and could increase that to 13 million.  The country’s oil minister said the kingdom will surpass the 10.7 million barrels per day in actual production in November.
Canadian crude is still down around $35 per barrel, because of a backlog caused by refinery outages, pipelines at capacity, and new maritime fuel standards.  The spread between the U.S. and Canadian benchmarks is at an all-time high and the CBC reports the country is losing out on billions of dollars in foregone revenues this year.
New revenues from the Oklahoma oil patch helped swell the state’s September tax collections to a new record.  Oklahoma State Treasurer Ken Miller notes that the newly enacted three percent increase in oil production taxes generated an additional $31.2 million in September.  Observers say the booming energy industry is floating revenues in other areas of the economy as well.  Tax collections last month totaled $1.2 billion.
It’s been a long shot for decades.  But now an effort to revoke the sovereign immunity that shields OPEC members from legal action is gaining steam in Congress.  A Senate subcommittee heard testimony on the so-called “No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Act,” or NOPEC.  The bill would change U.S. antitrust law to allow OPEC producers to be sued for collusion.  Reuters reports past U.S. leaders have opposed the NOPEC bill, but the possibility of its success may have increased due to President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of the cartel.  More than a dozen NOPEC bills have been introduced over the last two decades, and each was loudly opposed by the U.S. oil and gas industry.

Woman from WaKeeney hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

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GEARY COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Tuesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Jeep Compass driven by Chantel L. Wiedman, 26, WaKeeney, was westbound on Kansas 18 two miles east of Junction City.

The driver failed to yield at a stop sign and collided with a 2008 Ford Taurus driven by Shemeka S. Adams, 31, Junction City, that was eastbound on Interstate 70 exiting at K18.

Wiedman and Adams were transported to Geary Community Hospital.  Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

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