ELLIS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Monday in Ellis County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy pickup driven by Julie Ann Craig, 65, Phillipsburg, was south bound on U.S. 183 fourteen miles north of Hays.
The pickup hit a deer and came to rest in the roadway
Craig was transported to Hays Medical Center. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board is set to further discuss plans for a third bond issue at its meeting tonight.
The district will look at organizing a group or groups to bring back plans to the school board for further consideration.
The board and district officials have discussed ways to provide updated facilities for elementary students while vacating older buildings with higher maintenance costs. Administrators has also noted fewer elementary schools would likely result in more efficiency and reduced costs.
The administration is presenting three possible plans in its board packet for tonight.
The first plan suggests the construction of a new elementary school that would house students from O’Loughlin and Lincoln Elementary schools. Under this scenario, the Learning Center, Munjor and the Early Childhood Center could be moved into O’Loughlin.
Under the second plan, ECC students from both Washington and Munjor as well as Lincoln students would be housed in a new elementary school.
In the third plan, O’Loughlin and Lincoln students would be housed in a new elementary school. The Learning Center, Westside program, administration and maintenance would go to O’Loughlin. This would allow for the closure of the current Westside building and Rockwell.
The board will also review its capital improvement schedule at the meeting tonight.
The board will also discuss a pilot program on the use of Chromebooks in the district.
A recommendation from the administration would create pilot programs at the elementary school and middle school levels and at the Learning Center. Fifteen Chromebooks would be purchased for the Learning Center, 25 for an elementary classroom and 30 for a middle school classroom. With training and licensing, the program is estimated to cost $22,543.
The board just approved the purchase of Dell computers for the high school. However, several board members said they would have preferred a proposal that would have included Chromebooks because they felt it would have been a cost savings.
Other items on the agenda include
• Transfer of $300,000 from the general fund to the contingency fund. The new balance in the contingency fund would be $961,828, which is still less than the two month of payroll or $4.8 million recommended by the Kansas Department of Education.
• Discussion of student handbook revisions
• Approval of property and workers compensation insurance
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
It was a wet start to summer in Hays with nearly an inch of rain falling between Friday evening and Monday morning.
According to official reports from the K-State Agriculture Research Center south of town, a total of 0.85 inches of rain fell over the weekend, with a trace recorded Saturday. That was on top of 2.32 inches received last Tuesday evening.
So far in June, Hays has received 3.83 inches of rain. The year-to-date moisture total is 10.80 inches.
KS ACLU
Kansas has become the national epicenter for voter suppression. In the last election, thousands of people were denied access to the polls and were willfully misled about their voter status. This election, we’re not going to let that happen again!
Join the ACLU of Kansas for an in-depth conversation and action night to make sure Kansas voters know their rights! We will cover everything from ID requirements to what to do if you encounter an issue at the polls. RSVP HERE: https://go.peoplepower.org/event/action_attend/14289
As Kansans go to the polls in the August Primary and November General Elections, voters will encounter a patchwork of different laws and policies about voting. Come hear from ACLU staff exactly what the laws are for voting in the upcoming elections!
These events are FREE and open to the public.
Know Your Voting Rights Training will be held in Hays Thursday, June 28, 6 p.m., at the Hays Recreation Commission, 1105 Canterbury Dr. in the large meeting room.
Friend,
As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have spent countless hours advocating on behalf of the agricultural industry in Kansas. I led a listening tour across our district to hear the ideas and concerns of farmers, ranchers and anyone impacted by the bill. We discussed trade, nutrition, commodity programs, and other issues anticipated to be a part of this year’s agricultural policy changes. Last week, the House of Representatives passed their version of a crucial five-year Farm Bill.
The 2018 Agriculture and Nutrition Act (H.R. 2) protects crop insurance, simplifies conservation programs, and rolls back heavy-handed federal regulations placed on farmers and ranchers. This legislation strengthens our farmers’ safety net, expands rural broadband access, restores funding for trade promotion programs, invests in animal health, and includes programs designed to help young and beginning farmers.
I am anxious to pass immigration reform this week, it must be done.
Fallen Teachers Memorial Ceremony
The Fallen Educators Memorial honors teachers, administrators, and staff members who lost their lives while working for our nation’s schools. Senator Moran and I both put forth legislation, to declare this memorial a national monument that passed back in April. Friday evening, I attended the National Teachers Hall of Fame’s Fallen Teacher Memorial Ceremony in Emporia, KS.
The role that educators play within our nation is critical. From teaching students the basic skills of reading and writing, to challenging them to think critically and expand their knowledge, the influence educators have has helped shape the history, as well as the future, of our nation.
Teachers routinely make sacrifices to pursue careers in education. However, this monument recognizes educators who sacrificed more than they could have ever imagined when they followed their calling to help our young people. I am disheartened to see that there are now over 130 names on the wall.
These names on this memorial should serve as a reminder to us all of the dedication of our educators. Through the National Fallen Educator Memorial Act, I’m proud to partner with Senator Jerry Moran and the members of our Kansas delegation to do our small part in ensuring we have an appropriate place to remember these men and women.
Talking Tariffs with Shield Ag Company
I stopped by Shield Ag Equipment, based out of South Hutchinson, last Monday. Shield Ag designs, manufactures and distributes tools and hardware blades for tillage equipment. The pieces are shipped to more than 2,000 distributors and dealers across the United States and nine foreign countries.
On my visit, we discussed the impact that the steel and aluminum tariffs are having on their business. Across Kansas, these taxes are hurting farmers by limiting markets for their products but also making the products and equipment they use much more expensive. The 25-percent tariffs, which will officially hit Shield this week, will cost farmers five cents more per-acre over the life of the equipment, a financial burden farmers should not have to shoulder right now. It is very clear that these tariffs are not sustainable. The ripple effects are observable from ag equipment companies, producers, and even our aviation industry. I have expressed my concerns directly to the administration, and I will continue to fight tooth and nail against these types of trade policies.
It will take everyone to stop the Opioid Crisis
I had the chance to address Congress on Tuesday and reaffirm some components of this crisis that I feel are important in creating steps to finding a permanent solution to opioid and narcotic addiction. On the House floor I highlighted a community practice that I saw assessing and implementing ways to combat this crisis. The Hutchinson Clinic has created an office-wide task force with the goal to reduce the number of narcotics prescribed by medical staff and to identify patients at risk for addiction. I’m glad to see folks addressing this on a local level as we continue to work hard to fight this epidemic on a national level, it will take all of us to end this crisis.
Kansas NASA CosmoSphere
Hutchinson, Kansas was one of only three out of 43 cities selected to receive a $650,000 from NASA to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.
I got to visit the CosmoSphere, which is largely where the money will be going. At CosmoSphere I was shown all the hands-on learning and interactive educational tools that are currently available and the future of the facility with this investment from NASA. Our state is full of promising career fields that are in high demand for STEM skills and with this new donation, we will be able to get more young students excited and educated about this growing field.
SCOTUS Rules in Favor of States
Thursday the United States Supreme Court ruled that states can collect sales taxes from online retailers under certain conditions. I have advocated for fairness and leveling the tax playing field long before my journey to Washington.
In Congress, I helped to introduce to the Remote Transactions Parity Act – HR 2193 which would have provided a structure to allow states to collect sales tax from out of state sellers while ensuring that small businesses that sell online aren’t overburdened.
The Supreme Court’s ruling reverses the previous case law that favored mega online corporations. The government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers among retailers. Excluding taxes on online retailers was wrong and detrimental to businesses across America. I believe this decision will provide a massive boost to our state’s main street businesses that have been fighting an unfair battle against out-of-state companies who do not pay sales taxes in our communities.
Visiting an Unaccompanied Alien Children facility in Tornillo
I headed to the U.S. Mexico border Saturday to assess the current situation at the border. During my visit, I met with representatives from Customs and Border Protection and visited an Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) facility in Tornillo, Texas.
Ellis and surrounding counties received another healthy bout of precipitation Sunday, as an evening front moved through the region.
In Hays, there were reports of up to 0.78 inches of rain, while a report near Ellis showed 1.11 inches of rain in the gauge Monday morning.
Trego County had reports ranging from 1.2 inches in the eastern part of the county to just more than a half-inch in the southwest corner of the county.
Graham County, which has been on Mother Nature’s hit list since a Memorial Day storm caused severe flooding, received another 0.78 to 0.91 inches of rain.
Most of Russell County had between a half and three-quarters inch of rainfall.
Gove and Logan counties, where wind speeds were clocked in excess of 100 mph, saw rainfall totals between 1.19 inches and 0.53 inches.
Skies are expected to remain clear Monday and through most of the work week, with temperatures spiking again beginning Tuesday.
Click HERE for the complete extended forecast.
By KIRBY ROSS
Phillips County Review
PHILLIPSBURG — Late last year the Kansas Department of Health and Environment began looking into the construction of livestock facilities in Phillips County following the filing of a series of complaints by the Sierra Club, a San Francisco Bay-area environmentalist organization.
The Sierra Club has previously undertaken efforts to attempt to regulate water that gathers on farm ground and dust created by farming practices.
Sierra Club Partners With KDHE
As reported by the Phillips County Review in April, at the prompting of the Sierra Club which cited the potential for farm odors and animal waste, KDHE began looking into buildings constructed by Prairie Dog Pork between Woodruff and Long Island that are designed to handle 24,000 hogs and create a number of new local jobs.
Prairie Dog Pork is owned by Julia Nelson, the daughter-in-law of Terry Nelson, who owns Husky Hogs.
After reviewing Prairie Dog Pork’s application to build the facilities, KDHE approved the construction. But even though the construction was approved, KDHE then fined the Nelsons $152,000, claiming the dirtwork and work on the buldings began too soon.
Prior to KDHE approval no hogs are claimed to have been housed in the facilities, or waste generated in them.
“Construction undertaken before approval of all of these documents is considered to be a violation of the statute,” KDHE lawyer Katelyn Radloff said in issuing the huge fine.
Sierra Club Turns On KDHE
With KDHE first undertaking an investigation of Prairie Dog Pork pursuant to complaints filed by the Sierra Club, and then imposing a significant fine, and despite working in concert with KDHE through those stages, the Sierra Club then turned on KDHE for approving the construction, which has now resulted in the Sierra Club initiating a lawsuit against the KDHE.
Filed last Thurs., June 7, the legal complaint argues that for the purposes of regulatory oversight the two companies — Husky Hogs and Prairie Dog Pork — should be treated as one company because the owners of each are related to one another.
Namecalling — Family Farmers Are “Devious”
The lawsuit suggests that were the owners of the two companies strangers to one another, there would be no problem. But since the owners are relatives, the Sierra Club is taking the position that the set up is not just illegal, but untoward.
Bob Eye, attorney for the Sierra Club said as much by claiming “It is a clever, but devious, means to evade separation distance protections.”
Sources express concern that if successful, the Sierra Club lawsuit will have implications far beyond Phillips County and affect not only two Phillips County ag producers — the treating of ag producers who are relatives as a single entity has the potential of upending family farm operations across the nation.
With a nationwide battle brewing and Phillips County sitting at ground-zero, the Kansas Livestock Association has been providing legal aid to the Nelsons, and other farm organizations are anticipated to become involved.
— Republished with permission
The Hays Police Department responded to 11 animal calls and conducted 17 traffic stops Fri., June 22, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Welfare Check–2500 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 4 AM; 4:22 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 8:05 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–3100 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 8:52 AM
Theft (general)–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 6/14 11:39 PM; 11:43 PM
Animal At Large–300 block W 48th St, Hays; 10:06 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–2900 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 10:25 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–1300 block Anthony Dr, Hays; 10:34 AM
Animal At Large–1200 block E 22nd St, Hays; 11:04 AM
Suspicious Person–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 11:40 AM
Harassment (All Other)–1200 block Fort St, Hays; 6/19 10:07 AM
Drug Offenses–28th and Fort, Hays; 4:06 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–2300 block Vine St, Hays; 5:59 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6:11 PM
Animal At Large–13th and Vine St, Hays; 6:21 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 7:42 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–3500 block Vine St, Hays; 9:30 PM
Suicidal Subject–300 block W 32nd St, Hays; 9:32 PM
Theft (general)–2200 block Walnut St, Hays; 3:30 PM; 4 PM
Disturbance – General–100 block W 36th St, Hays; 9:30 PM; 10 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 10:27 PM
Unattended Death–2400 block Gen Custer Rd, Hays; 10:58 PM
Driving Under the Influence–400 block E 12th St, Hays; 11:17 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 11 animal calls and conducted 7 traffic stops Sat., June 23, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Open Door/Window–1200 block E 22nd St, Hays; 3:21 AM
Animal At Large–1300 block W 43rd St, Hays; 8:03 AM
Animal At Large–300 block W 15th St, Hays; 9:22 AM
Animal At Large–6th and Riley St, Hays; 9:53 AM
Suspicious Activity–1300 block Lawrence Dr, Hays; 10:30 AM
Harassment (All Other)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 11:19 AM
Theft (general)–2800 block Fort St, Hays; 11:23 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1600 block Allen St, Hays; 11:40 AM
Animal At Large–1600 block Main St, Hays; 12:41 PM
Suspicious Activity–1000 block E 43rd St, Hays; 1:18 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–2700 block Colonial St, Hays; 3 PM
Criminal Threat–700 block Elm St, Hays; 4:44 PM; 4:49 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 7:02 PM
Rape–500 block W 16th St, Hays; 6/20 12:30 AM; 10 AM
Create a Hazard–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 7:57 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:30 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1100 block Amhurst Dr, Hays; 8:22 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 13 animal calls and conducted 15 traffic stops Sun., June 24, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Found/Lost Property–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 2:06 AM
Animal At Large–2200 block Vine St, Hays; 5:04 AM
Theft (general)–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 5:46 AM
Animal At Large–400 block W 24th St, Hays; 7:47 AM
Suspicious Activity–100 block W 33rd St, Hays; 10:23 AM
Civil Dispute–300 block W 15th St, Hays; 10:25 AM
Animal At Large–100 block W 34th St, Hays; 10:49 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–1300 block Douglas Dr, Hays; 11:21 AM
Welfare Check–2000 block Vine St, Hays; 12:50 PM
Domestic Disturbance–2800 block Hall St, Hays; 2:13 PM
Animal At Large–1300 block Douglas Dr, Hays; 3:47 PM
Domestic Disturbance–200 block 20th St, Hays; 4:16 PM
Found/Lost Property–2000 block Vine St, Hays; 5:22 PM
Theft (general)–100 block E 8th St, Hays; 4 PM; 6:50 PM
Found/Lost Property–Main St, Hays; 7:15 PM
Aggravated Battery–1800 block Pine St, Hays; 9:45 PM; 9:53 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–3000 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 9 PM; 11:15 PM
Suspicious Activity–400 block E 23rd St, Hays; 9 PM; 11:06 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 11:54 PM
A while back when our weather was so hot and dry, a friend told me she’d been hearing the call of a “rain crow” and asked me if I knew what kind of bird it was. She also said she had been seeing “sundogs” in the evening and that they were both supposedly predictors of rain. Now I remember when I was a kid, someone’s grandpa talking about a rain crow, or storm crow as he called it, and I knew absolutely zero about sundogs, but given their supposed rain prediction powers, I delved deeper.
I found numerous references to a “rain crow” and all seemed to agree that it was in fact a Yellow- Billed Cuckoo. Few, however wanted to stick their neck out concerning its rain prediction ability; one website tossed around the figure of 3 days from first hearing one until rain. Sundogs on the other hand, were quite a popular subject, and are ice crystals high in the atmosphere that, when sunlight shines through them can give the illusion of a second or third sun on each side of the actual sun. I’ve seen sun dogs a couple times over the years in the winter. But once again, however sundogs ties to predicting rain were sparse.
My search turned up so many proverbs and “old wives tales” concerning rain that I decided to enlist the help of Ross Jansen, Meteorologist at KWCH TV channel 12 and play an Exploring Kansas Outdoors version of Myth Busters. I read several rain prediction fables to Ross over the phone and got his take on each. Concerning sundogs, Ross says there is some correct science in tying sundogs to rain, in that the same ice crystals that cause them have the ability to form clouds containing rain. But as far as them predicting rain, Ross was hesitant to agree to that. Next I asked him about a ring around the moon predicting rain, and again he said that a ring around the moon indeed meant there was moisture at some level, but said it was so high up that the chance of it finding its way to us in the form of rain was nil.
“Red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky in morning, sailors take warning” is another widely quoted proverb about rain. Since weather patterns typically move across the country from west to east, the gist of the explanation is that a red morning sky means we are seeing sunlight through a weather system yet to come, while a red evening sky means we are seeing a weather system moving away from us. Ross said he has indeed noticed that morning thunderstorms often bring with them a red morning sky, and that there was again some correct science accompanying the tale. But also like the previous two fables, he felt it was a stretch to say that they actually predicted rain. We agreed to call these three myths SEMI-BUSTED.
Another proverb I found read “When grass is dry at night, look for rain before the light; when grass is dry at morning light, look for rain before the night.” This one uses the presence or absence of dew at certain times to predict rain. Ross says that the presence or absence of dew depends solely on night time temperatures and dew point temperatures and can find no link between them and a prediction for rain. We found this one BUSTED. The next was an Indian proverb that says “If the moon is red, of rain she speaks.” Ross says a red moon is red only because of smoke or dust; again BUSTED. Next I asked him about something I’ve always thought to be a rain predictor, that being the fact that birds fly lower and congregate on power lines just before a storm because the lower air pressure preceding a storm makes it tough for them to attain lift and fly. He debunked that also by telling me that when air pressure is low, the air as a whole actually rises; BUSTED again.
I could literally spend the next month cussing and discussing all the old time weather fables and proverbs I found while writing this piece. To those of you who put stock in any of the rain predictors I cast doubt upon, I’m sorry to have rained on your parade (yes, most certainly pun intended) even though I’m certain some of these hold true some of the time. Ross even says that his mom swears by an old tale that says it will rain 100 days after a fog; she even keeps track of it on her calendar. Maybe that will win me back some points and make you feel better again about your favorite weather tales knowing that the weather guy’s mom even believes them! …Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected]
Humans naturally seek happiness—some carry lucky charms or practice mystic rituals to attract it. Others find inviting blue birds to the yard does the job. Apparently, such choices aren’t unique to modern humans. For eons, world cultures have honored timid, sky-colored creatures as omens of good fortune.
Nearly 2000 years before Christ, Chinese storytellers wrote about a bluebird that delivered messages from the Queen Mother of the West, an immortal. Native American societies also celebrated these brilliantly-hued beings. Some tales associate them with the rising sun. In fact, the Navajo still sing the bluebird song as part of their winter Nightway Ceremony. European cultures, as well, included these beauties in literature involving a fairy-tale search for the bluebird of happiness.
Considering their history, it’s not surprising these pretty birds are beloved. Unfortunately, like many species, their habitat’s changing and invasive species increasingly compete for food and nesting sites. Residing on the prairie is even more difficult for this cavity dweller who seeks hollow trees or posts to set up housekeeping.
To complicate matters, the azure darts are finicky. They require nests a 100-yards distant from other hopeful parents and cleared landscape around their homestead. Healthy sparrow, sharp shinned, and Cooper’s hawk populations lurk close by, so a view increases survivability for adults and offspring. However, it makes it difficult to attract the picky rascals to nest near humans.
Despite these creatures’ suspicious natures, shrewd birders can entice them to live close enough to watch their broods mature. Visit a garden shop or online site to learn more about this species’ housing requirements. Carpenters can construct summer rentals designed specifically to attract them. Others can buy well-designed blue bird boxes.
Cedar siding offers a good structure choice. Craft a watertight roof and a floor with small drainage holes. Blue birds aren’t just harbingers of happiness. They’re tidy as well so select nesting structures with bottoms that easily open for spring cleanings. One source suggests leaving the inside unpainted rough wood to encourage easy fledging.
To discourage rival species, build or buy nesting boxes with entry holes no larger than 1 ½ inches wide. Starlings won’t fit in that opening. To further discourage invaders, exclude external perches. Blue birds don’t need them. They’re also satisfied with a 4” x4” nesting space, which is too small for competing sparrows. Conveniently, such units fit atop fence posts.
After offering species-specific housing, further improve the environment by providing shallow pans filled with fresh water. Place savory snacks nearby. Blue birds are insect and fruit eaters so don’t offer seeds. One authority recommended chopping berries into pieces or even offering meal worms as motivators to relocate. With plenty of live bugs and wild currant available, we’ve never bought treats.
Once you convince them to move in, the fun begins. Despite their shy nature, these heralds of joy are natural entertainers. Their aerial acrobatics turn insect catching into comic entertainment. Watch mom splash in the birdbath with her babes for twenty minutes of bliss. Observing them pop in and out of their tiny doorways as they feed young stills racing pulses and lowers human blood pressure.
It requires effort to convince blue birds to call your yard theirs, but once they move in, you’ll see why humans from the beginning of time have invited them to live nearby and woven them into their shared stories.
Native Kansan Karen Madorin is a local writer and retired teacher who loves sharing stories about places, people, critters, plants, food, and history of the High Plains.
It can happen to any of us. One week we feel fine, the next we’re overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety, lethargy, even depression. Or maybe a change in demeanor happens to someone we know or care about – our spouse or child may struggle with stress, depression or addiction. In fact, one in five American adults is affected each year by a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder.1
Knowing how and where to get help for ourselves or others can be daunting. People experiencing mental health or substance use issues may be reluctant or embarrassed to seek help. Others are unable to find, get to, or afford care. In 2016, less than half of U.S. adults with a mental health condition received mental health treatment.2 The good news is that local mental health resources such as free confidential crisis phone lines and online support are available 24/7 to those in need.
Don’t overlook another possible option. People covered by employer-sponsored benefit plans often have access to mental health care. Support can range from confidential employee assistance programs – or EAPs – to help with connecting to a mental health provider for an in-person or online visit for personal issues such as depression, substance abuse, coping with grief and loss and medication management among other personal challenges.
Difficult mental health concerns can be dealt with in the same way other health care issues are addressed: making a call or going online and getting connected to care. To better understand what benefits and resources may be available to you, call the number on the back of your health plan ID card to talk to an advocate, or visit a dedicated member portal for information that may help you:
Knowing where and how to get help for mental health issues is one of the best things we can do for ourselves or those we care about. Take a few minutes today and check into local crisis phone lines, 24/7 online support or available employer-sponsored benefits.
To be most effective in crisis situations, it’s important to remain calm and collected. If there are imminent safety concerns, the person should be transported to an emergency room (ER) if possible. If they are not safe for personal transport to the ER, calling 911 may be necessary.
For more information and links to mental health support resources in your area, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org or call the NAMI HelpLine at (800)-950-NAMI (6264).
Dr. Tony Sun, M.D., is Chief Medical Officer for UnitedHealthcare of Kansas.
MANHATTAN — Approximately 400 young men from across the State of Kansas, all of whom will enter their senior year of high school this fall, participated in the 2018 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy. The event, in its 81st year, was held June 3-8 at Kansas State University in Manhattan for the 27th consecutive year.
The ALBSKLA provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.
Among the highlights from the week, Chayne Dessaso, a resident of Leavenworth, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Leavenworth High School, was elected Boys State of Kansas governor. In addition, Mark McAllister, a resident of Americus, Kan., and a home schooled (via Wisdom Academy) senior-to-be, and Hap Waddell, a resident of Marion, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Marion High School, were elected by their peers to represent Boys State of Kansas at Boys Nation this summer, Friday, July 20, through Friday, July 27, at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.
Jordan Watson, Gladstone, Mo., who was a 2005 KBS delegate from Cheney (Kan.) High School, was named Adviser of the Year, as selected by fellow Kansas Boys State advisers. Watson served as the judicial branch adviser this year.
E.J. Charboneau, Lebo, Kan., a 2014 KBS delegate from Lebo High School, who served as the head courts counselor, was named Counselor of the Year (counselors with four or more years’ experience). Nathan Lipinski, Wichita, Kan., a 2015 KBS delegate from Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita, who served as the head senate counselor this year, was named New Counselor of the Year (counselors with three or fewer years’ experience).
Caleb Haselhuhn, Burlington, Kan. (attends Burlington High School), was named the Kansas Boys State winner of the Samsung American Legion Scholarship. Haselhuhn receives a guaranteed $1,250 scholarship and advances to be considered as a National Scholar for the chance to earn up to a $10,000 scholarship. Haselhuhn was a chairman for the Nationalist Party during the week.
Salahudeen Mirza, Overland Park, Kan. (attends Blue Valley High School) received the William “Bill” F. Stahl Outstanding Justice Award, given to the outstanding member of the Boys State of Kansas Supreme Court as voted on by his Supreme Court peers. The award is presented in recognition of outstanding commitment to justice under the law and dedicated service to Boys State of Kansas. Stahl, of Junction City, Kan., passed away in September 2015 and was a longtime supporter of the ALBSKLA.
Michael Conaway, Topeka, Kan. (attends Seaman High School), was named the Outstanding Senator (representing Pershing County), and Dane Thompson, Scandia, Kan., (attends Pike Valley High School), was named the Outstanding Representative (representing Marshall County).
The 2019 American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy is scheduled to be held Sunday, June 2, through Friday, June 7, again at Kansas State University. For information on becoming a delegate, visit https://kansasboysstate.com/ or https://ksbstate.org/.
The following is a list of this year’s ALBSKLA delegates from northwest Kansas. Those delegates denoted with a star (*) were elected by their Kansas Boys State city as its outstanding citizen:
Ness City
* Landon Reinhardt, Ness City High School, KSBS News Staff
o Reinhardt was the Outstanding Citizen for the City of Gardner
Hays
Scout Perryman, Hays High School, Supreme Court Justice
Kade Urban, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Marshall County Commissioner
Richard Whitmer, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Bradley County Commissioner
·Nicholas Zimmerman, Hays High School, City of Aylward Councilman
Hill City
Asa Brandyberry, Hill City High School, Kennedy County Commissioner
Russell
Kyler Fritschen, Russell High School, Powell County Representative
Samuel Ochs, Russell High School, City of Icenogle Councilman
Scott City
Jordan Cramer, Scott Community High School, MacArthur County District Court Official
GOVE COUNTY — Sunday’s storm brought heavy rain and damaging winds to western Kansas. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of 95 and over 100-miles-per-hour in Gove and Logan County.
Rainbow on the backside of the widespread rainfall east of Goodland. #kswx pic.twitter.com/WLsmU2obQG
— NWS Goodland (@NWSGoodland) June 25, 2018
The winds toppled trees in the area and brought down power lines in Winona, according to the Gove County sheriff’s department.
Gusts of over 70-miles-per-hour were reported in Seward and Kearny County. Many areas of western Kansas reported wind gusts over 60 miles-per-hour.
Power was reported out for a time in Gray County, according to the sheriff’s department. A parked semi was blown over one mile west of Cimarron.
The National Weather Service reported street flooding in Oberlin and Norton. Water was reported two-feed deep in some intersections in Bird City.
There are no reports of injury from Sunday’s storm.
