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Month: September 2017

New Great Bend Fire Chief addresses staffing shortage

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Luke McCormick says since he has been married, he and his wife have not known each other when he has not worked a 24-hour shift or overnight shift. That’s one change McCormick is getting used to after being named Great Bend Fire Chief last Monday night.

Fire Chief McCormick has been with the Fire Department since 1996 and is ready to take on more of the administrative side of the industry.

Luke McCormick Audio

Starting as a firefighter, McCormick was promoted to Captain in 2008, a position he held until selected as Chief from a committee and unanimously approved by the Great Bend City Council. McCormick was one of three internal candidates that applied for the open position after Mike Napolitano retired September 1.

McCormick says the staff at the Fire Department is six firefighters short as they try to beef up their crew.

Luke McCormick Audio

Great Bend held a testing/tryout Friday for new firefighters, who also double as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).

The Fire Department recently received a federal grant in the amount of $322,359 over three years to assist in the cost of hiring three new employees. Great Bend will need to pay 25 percent of the expense the first two years, 65% in year three, and the full cost after the three-year grant expires.

Smith, Chiefs start quick, beat Chargers 24-10 to go 3-0

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CARSON, Calif. (AP) – Alex Smith threw two touchdown passes in the first 9 ½ minutes against what used to be his hometown team, Terrance Mitchell had two interceptions and rookie Kareem Hunt scored on a 69-yard run to seal the Kansas City Chiefs’ 24-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The Chiefs (3-0) beat the Chargers for the seventh straight time and have won 12 straight AFC West games. Los Angeles’ Philip Rivers threw three interceptions and the Chargers fell to 0-3 in their first season playing in the 27,000-seat StubHub Center after moving from San Diego.

After a quick start, the Chiefs held on through a defensive struggle in the second half. They got two huge plays in the closing minutes: Justin Houston’s sack of Rivers and then Hunt’s sensational run when he cut back against the flow and raced 69 yards down the left sideline with 1:49 left. The rookie finished with 172 yards on 17 carries.

The game couldn’t have started more differently for Smith, who grew up in the San Diego area, and Rivers.

Rivers was intercepted by Mitchell on the game’s third play from scrimmage. Four plays later, Smith hit Tyreek Hill on a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Rivers moved the Chargers into Chiefs territory before Marcus Peters intercepted a pass intended for tight end Antonio Gates and returned it 38 yards to the Los Angeles 34. Four plays later, Smith threw a shovel pass to Albert Wilson for a 14-0 lead.

The Chargers got it together and drove for Melvin Gordon’s 11-yard scoring scamper to cut it to 14-7. Rivers floated a 44-yarder to Travis Benjamin for the drive’s big gain.

After the Chargers forced a three-and-out, Rivers threw his third interception, when Mitchell leaped in front of Tyrell Williams for the pickoff.

The Chargers’ defense began playing better. The Chiefs moved to the Los Angeles 25 before Smith was sacked on consecutive plays, first by Melvin Ingram and then by Joey Bosa and Corey Liuget. Cairos Santos missed a 51-yard field goal, but Rayshawn Jenkins was whistled for roughing the kicker, giving the Chiefs the ball on the 18. The drive fizzled and Santos kicked a 34-yarder to make it 17-7.

Chargers rookie Younghoe Koo kicked a 29-yard field goal as the clock expired to cut the lead to 17-10 at halftime. A week earlier, Koo missed a 44-yard attempt as time expired that would have given the Chargers a win against the Miami Dolphins in their home opener. In the season opener, Koo had a potential game-tying, 44-yarder blocked at Denver and the Broncos won 24-21.

RIVERS’ AIR WOES

It was the ninth time Rivers threw three interceptions. He led the NFL in pickoffs twice in the last three seasons, including last year when he had a career-high 21. Peters almost had another interception in the third quarter but the ball bounced off his hands. Daniel Sorensen appeared to come up with a deflected pass in the fourth quarter but video review showed it touched the ground first.

INGRAM & BOSA

Ingram had a career-high three sacks and Bosa had a half sack for the Chargers, who need big seasons from the pass-rushing duo.

 

INJURIES

Chargers: Gordon injured his knee late in the second quarter. He returned in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Chiefs: Return home to host the Washington Redskins a week from Monday night.

Chargers: Host the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.

Careless smoking blamed for Kansas house fire

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Location of Sunday’s fire google map

SHAWNEE COUNTY–Fire crews responded to a fire at a home at 1550 SW Belle Avenue in Topeka Kansas at noon Sunday, according to a media release.

An alert neighbor discovered the fire and reported it.  Upon arrival, fire crews found the two story wood frame residential structure with smoke showing from the rear. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack keeping it confined to the structure of fire origin. One adult male occupant was home at the time of the fire incident. He was able self-evacuate prior to the arrival of fire crews.

A Topeka Fire Department Investigation’s Unit responded to this incident and a preliminary investigation indicates the fire cause to be accidental, associated with careless smoking.

Estimated dollar loss – $15,500.00 (Fifteen Thousand Five Hundred Dollars); $15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand Five Dollars) structural loss and $500.00 (Five Hundred Dollars) contents loss.

18th ranked Tigers turn back Riverhawks 31-7

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fhsuathletics.com

HAYS, Kan. – For the first time since the 1983 season, Fort Hays State Football has started a season 4-0. The 18th-ranked Tigers turned away Northeastern State on Saturday (Sept. 23) by a score of 31-7. NSU moved to 0-4 with the loss. The Tigers kept pace for the MIAA lead with top-ranked Northwest Missouri State with the win.

The Tigers opened up a 24-0 lead by halftime and never looked back. The RiverHawks produced their only score of the game early in the third quarter, but the Tigers countered later in the quarter to make the final spread of 24 points.

The Tigers used a one-yard touchdown run by Kenneth Iheme and a 54-yard field goal by Brandon Brown in the first quarter to take a 10-0 lead. The 54-yard make with a solid tail wind was the third-longest in Tiger Football history. A pair of touchdown receptions from four and five yards out by Drew Kite in the second quarter moved the score to 24-0 by halftime.

Fort Hays State gave Northeastern State a short field early in the third quarter when a Jacob Mezera pass was intercepted by D’Kameron White and returned 36 yards to the Fort Hays State 20. Six plays later, NSU found the endzone to cut the lead to 24-7 at the 11:08 mark. But, the Tigers had a 10-play, 80-yard drive that sealed the game at the 4:56 mark of the third quarter on a 30-yard touchdown by Iheme.

The Tigers were nearly dead even in their rushing and passing offense. The ground game churned out 215 yards, while the passing game produced 212 for 427 yards of total offense in the game. The Tiger defense held the RiverHawks to just 184 total yards. NSU gained only 48 yards on the ground. Leading the Tiger tackling effort was Jose Delgado with nine stops. Doyin Jibowu had seven tackles and an interception. Tevin Evans and Nathan Shepherd each recorded sacks.

Jacob Mezera was 21-of-28 passing for all 212 passing yards and two touchdowns. Iheme finished with a team-high 95 yards rushing and 123 all-purpose yards. Monterio Burchfield had four receptions for 55 yards. Dante Brown averaged 51 yards on his five punts in the game.

For Northeastern State, Dom McKinzy finished 16-of-35 for 136 yards and one touchdown. Receiver Zac King had the lone touchdown for NSU. C.J. Shavers had 31 rushing yards and Gary McKnight had five receptions for 44 yards.

Fort Hays State returns to action next Saturday on the road at Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.

Giolito, Garcia lead White Sox past fading Royals 8-1

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CHICAGO (AP) – Rookie right-hander Lucas Giolito pitched seven strong innings and Avisail Garcia drove in three runs with his 18th homer and a double to lead the Chicago White Sox past the fading Kansas City Royals 8-1 on Sunday.

Kevan Smith had a solo homer and a single for two RBIs as Chicago took two of three from the Royals and dropped them 5½ games behind Minnesota for the second AL wild card. Kansas City has seven games left.

Lorenzo Cain’s solo homer in the fourth was the only run off Giolito (3-3).

One of the top prospects for the rebuilding White Sox, the 23-year-old Giolito allowed five hits while striking out five and walking none in his 11th career start. He has given up just four runs over 20 innings in his last three outings.

Kansas colleges, universities struggle with DACA repeal

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Ben Schears-photo NW Kansas Technical College

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland says it won’t allow federal immigration officials on campus without a court order.

Ben Schears, president of the college, said Wednesday he decided on that policy after some students who are in the country illegally expressed concern about their futures when President Donald Trump said he planned to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The program allows young people who were brought without documentation to stay in the U.S.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Schears commented recently at a gathering of state college and university presidents.

Regents President and CEO Blake Flanders says leaders of the state’s higher education institutions are waiting for a long-term solution to the DACA controversy. He says the Regents don’t have a role because it’s a federal program.

KDOT requests comments on State Freight, State Rail Plans

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(Photo courtesy KDOT)

 

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requests comments on the draft 2017 State Freight Plan and the draft 2017 State Rail Plan. These documents provide an overview of the multimodal freight transportation networks in Kansas, commodity flows, economic data and, additionally, information about passenger rail service in the state.

Federal guidelines require a public comment period of 30 days, which concludes on Oct. 20. The draft document for the State Freight Plan and Appendices may be viewed online at https://www.ksdot.org/burRail/Rail/default.asp. Select the draft State Freight Plan with Appendices link at the top of the page. The draft document for the State Rail Plan may be viewed online at https://www.ksdot.org/burRail/Rail/default.asp. Select the draft State Rail Plan and Appendices links at the top of the page.

To comment on either plan, comments may be submitted to John Maddox at John.Maddox@ks.gov

‘Inspiration of Broadway’ gives first community concert of the season

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“The Inspiration of Broadway,” featuring Ernie Haase and Signature Sound in concert with Broadway legend J. Mark McVey, will present the first concert of the Golden Belt Community Concert Association on Oct. 3.

The Golden Belt Community Concert Association will present “The Inspiration of Broadway” as the first concert of its new season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the Great Bend Municipal Auditorium, Lakin and Stone.

This GBCCA event is open to association members. Anyone wishing to purchase a season membership may do so at the door at this concert. Memberships are $50 per adult; $10 for any full-time enrolled student; $110 for a Family Membership; and $110 for a Grandparent Package. No single concert tickets are available. Full-time students will be admitted to the concert for a $5 donation at the door.

The show offers an evening of Broadway favorites, gospel songs and American spirituals sung by the male quartet, Signature Sound, recognized as one of the finest gospel quartets in the world. Grammy-nominated musician Ernie Haase is the leader of Signature Sound, which he founded in 2003 after his rich experience as a long-time member of the famous Cathedral Quartet.

Joining Signature Sound for this performance is one of Broadway’s brightest stars, J. Mark McVey, who has sung the role of Jean Valjean in ”Les Miserables” more than 3,000 times, won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actor, and was the first American to perform the Valjean role in London’s West End.

Nicknamed the Gospel Globetrotters, Signature Sound has traveled around the world acting as ambassadors of joy with their classic and beloved gospel songs. McVey made his Carnegie Hall debut with Marvin Hamlisch and continues to perform with numerous major symphonies around the country and the world. His television credits include “America’s Got Talent” and a PBS special, “A Tale of Two Cities in Concert,” all the while continuing his Broadway performances.

While Signature Sound has made its reputation as a gospel quartet, this show concentrates on Broadway music with a touch of gospel and spirituals. The four voices of Signature Sound, with trio backup, sing such favorites as “Climb Every Mountain,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Blue Skies,” “I Got the Sun in the Morning,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” “Old Man River,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Stand By Me” and “Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord.”

For more information about GBCCA, visit the association’s web site: www.goldenbeltcca.org, or call 620-793-2748.

Kansas Democrats feuding in recall effort on party official

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Kansas 4th District Candidate James Thompson takes a look at the crowd, before addressing the Sanders rally at the state Democrats’ annual gathering in Topeka in February.
CREDIT FRANK MORRIS

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Democrats are locked in a heated battle over a top party official in a fight that is expected to come to a head when they gather in Wichita next week for an annual convention.

The rift is exposing divisions among Democrats ahead of elections next year.

The conflict centers on party secretary Casey Yingling. She is part of the political consulting firm working for Democratic congressional candidate James Thompson. He lost a special election earlier this year to Republican Ron Estes to fill a vacant Wichita-area congressional seat.

Democratic State Committee members may vote on Yingling’s recall during the convention.

A petition alleges she had a conflict when as a member of the party’s executive committee she voted on a $20,000 request for Thompson’s campaign.

Kan. man with 14 prior convictions admits role in drug distribution case

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Cullum -photo KDOC

RENO COUNTY — One of three people arrested on drug charges n November of 2015 entered a plea in the case against him Friday.

Benjamin Cullum, 42, entered a guilty plea to a number of charges, the most serious being conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Law enforcement served a search warrant on the home in the 400 block of North Plum in Hutchinson where they found a black zip-up nylon case with prescription pills and 50 grams of marijuana in a bedroom.

They also found a scale, safe, vacuum sealer, two empty Ziploc bags and owe sheets. Officers found $120 in control buy money in the safe. $10 more were allegedly found in a wallet and $180 in twenty dollar bills were in Cullum’s pocket. He also allegedly had $1,903 in another pocket, which he claimed he won at a casino. However, some of the bills had serial numbers that matched money from the control buys made by the drug unit. They also found a bag with residue and a scale in Cullum’s truck.

In the garage of the home was a Ruger LCP 380 gun in a metal case, a baggie of methamphetamine and a scale. More marijuana and smoking pipes with residue were also found.

Sentencing is scheduled on Oct. 28. Cullum has 14 previous drug and traffic convictions from 2010.

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