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Month: February 2018

Monday Sports Headlines

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Isaac Copeland had 17 points and Nebraska opened a 21-point lead midway through the second half, then held off Penn State for a 76-64 win. Nebraska clinched the No. 4 seed and double-bye into the quarterfinals of next week’s conference tournament.

UNDATED (AP) – Arenas were packed, fans were cheering and schools were competing. In most places, it was a typical Saturday of college basketball. There was little visible hangover from the latest developments of players being paid in the federal investigation of corruption in college basketball. Coaches were taking the same tact they have been, some saying they’ve found no evidence of wrongdoing and waiting for the next shoe to drop. Fans, for the most part, were not surprised and didn’t seem to care.

National Headlines

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Timberwolves say All-Star guard Jimmy Butler has undergone successful meniscus surgery on his right knee, two days after he was injured in a loss at Houston. Butler will be sidelined indefinitely, and the Wolves say further updates on his progress will be issued as he begins rehabilitation. Butler is averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 56 games.

CLEVELAND (AP) – San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich praised Cleveland forward LeBron James for his activism and for being a role model to “millions” of kids. Popovich also defended James’ right to speak after he was recently criticized by Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham, who said the NBA’s most high-profile player should “shut up and dribble” after he criticized President Donald Trump. Popovich made the comments before the Spurs beat the Cavaliers, 110-94.

UNDATED (AP) – A person with knowledge of the negotiations says the Minnesota Twins have worked out a one-year, $6.5 million deal with free-agent slugger Logan Morrison. Morrison hit a career-high 38 home runs and drove in 85 runs while playing a career-best 149 games. His .868 OPS in 2017 would have led the Twins.

DENVER (AP) – The Houston Rockets picked up their 12th straight win and moved past Golden State in the battle for the NBA’s top record by knocking off the Nuggets, 119-114 in Denver. James Harden poured in 27 of his 41 points by halftime and finished with eight rebounds and seven assists as the Rockets improved to 46-13. Chris Paul had 23 points for the Rockets, who are 21-4 since their season-worst five-game losing streak in late December.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Second-ranked Michigan State has clinched the Big Ten regular-season title and the top seed in the conference tournament by squeezing out its 12th consecutive victory, 68-63 at Wisconsin. Cassius Winston went 6-for-6 from 3-point range while scoring 20 points, including a pair of treys during an 11-2 run that put the Spartans ahead 58-51 with 4:45 remaining. Miles Bridges clinched the win by hitting a pair of free throws.

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) – Kevin Harvick has capped a dominant weekend of racing by holding off Brad Keselowski in the rain-delayed NASCAR Monster Energy Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His weekend began with a third-place finish in qualifying before he won the Xfinity race on Saturday. Clint Bowyer (BOY’-ur) was third in Atlanta, followed by Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Justin Thomas beat Luke List in a sudden-death playoff Sunday in the Honda Classic. Thomas closed with a 2-under 68 and won for the second time this season. Tiger Woods was briefly within three shots of the lead on the front nine before closing with a 70 to finished 12th.

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (2) Michigan St. 68 Wisconsin 63
Final (9) Purdue 84 Minnesota 60
Final (11) Cincinnati 82 Tulsa 74
Final (20) Nevada 92 Colorado St. 83
Final (23) Houston 109 East Carolina 58
Final NC State 92 (25) Florida St. 72

Naked man riding ATV arrested near Kansas City

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Image courtesy Jess Fishell

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. – Law enforcement authorities were busy Sunday afternoon north of Kansas City. They were chasing a naked man riding a yellow ATV, according to a social media report from the Clay County Sheriff’s office.

At times, the suspect was riding the wrong direction along 152 Highway, Interstate 435 and 210 Highway and refused to stop for authorities.

Deputies and members of the Highway Patrol finally caught the suspect and took him into custody, according to the sheriff’s department. There were no injuries reported. No dangerous instruments were found.

Jeff Fishell recorded the incident and posted it to Facebook. 

Authorities did not release the name of the man or possible charges late Sunday.

Ending The Employee Drought Facing Agriculture

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By Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Vic Martin

No real change in the Drought Monitor as of Tuesday and the moisture received since then will have little effect.  It will be interesting this week to see what happens, with warmer temperatures, with the wheat in the ground.  Last week’s column described the need for significant numbers of employees in agriculture and ag related industries, the lack of awareness with the general public about agricultural careers, and the need of the industry to find a way to overcome these challenges.  Today’s column suggests possible actions to take to benefit not only the agriculture industry but also potential employees.  And this isn’t to imply that action isn’t being taken but a more effective voice must be found.

  • The industry should consider coming together and investing time and resources on a campaign to raise awareness among high school students, parents, and older individuals.  Print, radio, television, social media, and even speakers.  And not just target rural markets but larger cities.  What careers are available in agriculture?  What training/education is needed?  What is the income potential?  Where can I live?
  • Industry along with two and four-year institutions providing education and training and the appropriate state agencies should consider partnering, both for the first item and to develop materials for counselors in high schools and jobs services for those looking for work. Visitation to high schools by higher education and industry that targets more than just “ag students.”
  • A central, easily accessible jobs website/social media platform that is concise yet provides thorough information for jobs in the various aspects of the industry.
  • Industry should consider more partnering with institutions like Barton, K-State, and FHSU to provide scholarship opportunities targeted not only for traditional students but the large pool of older nontraditional students. Not just for four or two year degrees but certificates.  Along with this industry and higher education need to continuously sit down and see how effective current educational opportunities are and what aren’t institutions like Barton doing that could help?  This is already done but how can everyone come together and think “outside the box.”   Are there customized training opportunities that would help employers and employees?
  • And maybe this should be listed first, but survey high school students. What are their perceptions of agriculture?  What career opportunities do they think exist?  What are they looking for in a career?
  • Finally, industry should sit down and evaluate how much turnover and a lack of qualified workers is costing them versus what it will cost to solve the problem.

Are there other actions that could be taken?  Of course.  Is the industry ignoring the problem?  No.  Just as in a weather drought where the problem occurs over time, this employee drought didn’t happen overnight and won’t be solved overnight.  However, with a concerted effort both the agriculture industry and potential employees can have their short and long-term needs addressed.

Kan. man avoids jail time for commercial sexual exploitation of child

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Pierce-photo KBI offender registry

RENO COUNTY— A Kansas man who entered a no-contest plea to commercial sexual exploitation of a child was granted two years community corrections, as opposed to a 10-year prison sentence last week.

Jerry Pierce Jr., 47, Hutchinson, was granted the corrections by District Judge Joe McCarville after both the state and defense agreed to departure.

As part of the plea agreement, the state dropped a second charge of misdemeanor sexual battery.

Pierce was arrested after officers were called to a home on West Sherman in Hutchinson on Nov. 14, 2017, on the report from an underage girl that Pierce was attempting to have sexual relations with her.

The two also chatted online about having sexual encounters with the agreement that he would pay off a seat belt fine.

District Attorney Keith Schroeder confirmed that — if the two actually had sex — there would be no crime because of an oddity in the law.

Pierce will be required to register as a sex offender in this case. According to Schroeder, Pierce has already been registering because of a misdemeanor conviction in New York years ago. He will also be on lifetime post-release supervision and has to pay a $2,500 fine.

 

 

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Royals agree to terms with remaining pre-arbitration eligible players

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KANSAS CITY, MO (AP) – The Kansas City Royals announced today that the club has agreed to terms on 2018 Major League contracts with pitchers Miguel Almonte, Trevor Oaks and Eric Skoglund; catcher Cam Gallagher; infielders Cheslor Cuthbert, Adalberto Mondesi and Ramón Torres and outfielders Jorge Bonifacio, Billy Burns, Paulo Orlando and Bubba Starling.

Consistent with club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

With this latest wave of signings, all members of the club’s 40-man roster are under contract for the 2018 season.

Governors fear for election security amid Russian cyberattacks

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Will your vote be safe this year from foreign adversaries working to undermine U.S. democracy? Some of the nation’s governors aren’t so sure.

State leaders of both parties worried aloud Sunday about the security of America’s election systems against possible cyberattacks ahead of this fall’s midterm elections, aware that Russian agents targeted more than 20 states little more a year ago, and the Trump administration has taken a mostly hands-off approach to the continued interference.

U.S. intelligence leaders report Russian hackers are already working to undermine this November’s elections, which will decide the balance of power in Congress and in statehouses across the nation.

“In my lifetime, I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s scary,” Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, said. “The biggest concern is when you have a president and an administration that denies the problem and doesn’t acknowledge the existence of the problem, it’s hard to believe that they’re going to be offering any real solutions or funding to make our system more secure.”

Election security has been overshadowed by a near-constant string of chaos and controversy out of the White House over the last year. As most of the nation’s governors gathered in Washington for a weekend conference, issues like gun violence, Trump’s leadership and the economy dominated most hallway conversations. Yet non-partisan experts and both Democratic and Republican elected officials suggest there is no issue more critical to American democracy than the integrity of the nation’s elections, which are facing unprecedented cyberattacks.

The Trump administration has so far done little to help secure the mishmash of 10,000 local voting jurisdictions across the nation that mostly run on obsolete and imperfectly secured technology. Russian agents targeted election systems in 21 states ahead of the 2016 general election, the Department of Homeland Security says, and separately launched a social media blitz aimed at inflaming social tensions and sowing confusion.

The search for a solution has been shaped by partisan politics.

While Democratic governors lashed out at the Trump administration for ignoring the threat, some Republicans, such as Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin insisted the media are overstating the problem. Several other Republicans, however, were openly concerned about outside interference but declined to criticize the Trump administration’s inaction.

“There’s obviously nothing more important than protecting the mechanism of democracy, and they’ve shown that they can at least meddle if not directly influence,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who leads the Republican Governors Association, said of Russian hackers. “We’re paying attention to it.”

Earlier in the month, senior officials from the Department of Homeland Security participated in a series of “coordination meetings” with state and local election officials and private companies to discuss cybersecurity for the nation’s election infrastructure, the White House said last week. A Trump spokesman, however, declined to respond to the governors’ concerns when asked to comment Sunday.

Trump rarely mentions the Russian threat. The president has instead repeatedly condemned special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian election meddling as “a witch hunt.”

Mueller’s team has charged 13 Russian individuals and three Russian companies in a plot to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

“I do think hackers are a threat for the nation,” said Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, a Republican. “We’ve seen a lot of foreign influence trying to break into our election cycle.”

But Fallin, like several governors, downplayed the threat in her state. She noted that Oklahoma participated in the recent meetings with the Department of Homeland Security.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, an independent, said his state, which allows some voters to return ballots electronically, recently earned the top grade for election security — a B — in a national report released by the Center for American Progress.

“We’re Number 1 in the nation and we’re closest to Russia,” he said. “Our elections are in good shape.”

Few governors could detail what specific steps are being taken to strengthen election security when asked. Democrats in particular suggested that the Trump administration has done almost nothing.

“It’s one of the most, if not the most, immediate threats,” said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. “So now we’ve been able to prove that Russia hacked. What’s our response? Does our country have a response?”

Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee, another Democrat, likened Russia’s cyberattacks to Japan’s Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

“Because of some infatuation with Vladimir Putin, the president of the United States refuses to recognize that we’re under attack. It’s like December 8, 1941, and Franklin Roosevelt getting up there and saying, ‘yesterday nothing happened.'” Inslee said. “That’s the situation we have right now, and it’s disturbing.”

Kerry L. Murray

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Great Bend–Kerry L. Murray, 63, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at Salina Regional Hospital. Kerry was born February 9, 1955 in Chardon, Ohio the son of Leonard and Beverly (Eggleson) Murray.

Kerry graduated with the class of 1973 in Great Bend. He was united in marriage to Penny Lloyd on May 14, 1976 in Great Bend. He was a self-employed independent driver for Little Debbie Snack Cakes. Kerry was a member of the Argonne Rebels as a flag bearer. Kerry loved all kinds of sports, softball, NASCAR, drag racing, WWE wrestling. He was a huge fan of the KU Jayhawks and the Kansas City Chiefs. Kerry was an avid listener to rock music.

Survivors include wife Penny and his beloved pet papillon Cozie both of the home; brother Darrell; sisters Collen Lustick and husband Ray and Dawn Andrews all of Ocala, FL.; nieces and nephews Kris, Kelly, Sean, Kari, Johnny, David Jr., Kari, Brook, Chris, Alex, Ryan, Kyle, Tiffany, Kendall, Luke; and many beloved friends. He was preceded in death by brother-in-law David Andrews.

Celebration of Kerry’s Life will be held with a reception 6:30- 8:30 p.m. Thursday March 8, 2018 at Bryant Funeral Home, the family request causal dress. Memorial has been established with the Kerry Murray Funeral Expense, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                        Arrangements by      Bryant Funeral Home           

1425 Patton Road        Great Bend, Kansas     67530

 

Shirley Kay Heiter

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GREAT BEND — Shirley Kay Heiter, 81, passed away February 23, 2018, at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center, Great Bend, Kan.  She was born April 15, 1936, at Great Bend, to Chris and Edna May (Schroeder) Ruhe.  Shirley married William Howard Heiter December 28, 1964, at Larned, Kan.  He died February 1, 2009.

Shirley, a lifetime resident of Great Bend, worked as a waitress for Ralph Wallace, retiring in 1979 to be a homemaker.  She enjoyed Bingo, word search puzzles, crossword puzzles, and trivia.

Survivors include two sons, Bill Phillips of and wife Sheila of Hoisington, Kan., and Chris Olds and wife LuAnn of Canton, Kan.; one daughter, Pamela Pelster of Chicago, Ill.; three sisters, Joyce Hall of Sapulpa, Okla., Wilma Poland of Wichita, Kan., and Naomi Decker of Woodward, Okla.; five grandchildren, Brian Dewberry, DeWayne Phillips, April Scheuerman, Erin King, and Chrissi Paine; twelve great-grandchildren; and one great great grandchildren.  She was preceded in passing by a son-in-law, Mark Pelster.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 28, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home with The Reverend Dick Ogle officiating.  Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend.  Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at Bryant Funeral Home.  Memorials have been designated to Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Activity Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

                        Arrangements by      Bryant Funeral Home           

1425 Patton Road        Great Bend, Kansas     67530

 

Wilma Lucile Wagner

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Dateline: Hoisington, Kansas

Wilma Lucile Wagner, 96, died February 12, 2018, at Great Bend Health and Rehab, Great Bend. She was born February 28, 1921, in Hoisington, Kansas, the daughter of Frank Edward and Nellie Mae (Coats) Sypolt.
Wilma graduated from Hoisington High School in 1939.
On April 8, 1950, she married Lawrence Eugene Wagner in Hoisington, Kansas. He preceded her in death on December 20, 2006.
A lifetime Hoisington resident, Wilma had worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a switchboard operator.
She was a member of the Faith Community Church, Order of the Eastern Star, EHU 20th Century Unit, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Alpha Lota Chapter, and was a Girl Scout Leader.
Survivors include; three children, Wanda Jo Madden and husband Mike of Hoisington, Nora Lu Kirkpatrick of Pocatello, Idaho, and Keith Lynn Wagner of Canton, Michigan; grandchildren, Marcie Thompson and husband Jonathan of Sedgwick, Michael Madden of Wichita, Kellee Stoutenborough and husband Jim of Pocatello, Idaho, and Kody Kirkpatrick and wife Holly of Sachse, Texas; great grandchildren, Grace Thompson, Teal and Pruitt Kirkpatrick.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence; daughter Nell Marie Wagner; siblings, Grace Sypolt, Elmer Sypolt, Mervin Sypolt, Melvin Sypolt, EB Gilbert Sypolt, Lola Moorhead, Opal VanBrimmer, Reita Rice, and Wanda Lee Deer.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Faith Community Church, 293 W. Barton County Road, Great Bend, with Pastor Sandy Kennedy presiding. Friends may sign the book 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the funeral home. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 2nd, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Faith Community Church in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.

With hoops under federal probe, fans say business as usual

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By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

Arenas were packed, fans were cheering and schools were competing.

In most places, it was a typical Saturday of college basketball. There was little visible hangover from the latest developments in the federal investigation of corruption in college basketball.

Coaches were taking the same tact they have been, some saying they’ve found no evidence of wrongdoing and appear to be waiting for the next shoe to drop. Several players still played despite being named in a Yahoo Sports report saying documents showed they had taken impermissible benefits.

Fans, for the most part, were not surprised – with some saying the circumstances have been reality in college hoops for a long time.

Others had fun with it.

At SMU, where the Mustangs were taking on No. 13 Wichita State, some students chanted “FBI! FBI!” and held balloons spelling out the name of the federal agency leading a corruption investigation that has led to 10 arrests of coaches and others alleged to have worked in the seamy underbelly of the sport. One of more than two dozen names mentioned as receiving impermissible benefits in documents in a Yahoo Sports report Friday was former Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet, now with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

In sentiments echoed by many coaches, Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said he didn’t know about the alleged payments but that his program overall has “nothing to hide.”

Utah’s student section mocked Southern California forward Chimezie Metu, who was mentioned in Yahoo’s report but played and scored 14 points to lead the Trojans in a win. The Utah fans displayed signs like “Need Money? Metu! (Me too)” and chanted, “Payroll! Payroll!” whenever he had the ball or returned to the bench.

“When I’m on the court, nothing else matters. I was just out there playing. I wasn’t paying attention to anything anybody else was saying,” Metu said. “I’m not going to lose any focus at all. I didn’t do anything wrong. Nobody in my family did anything wrong. … For me, there was never a doubt I’d play.”

One school where officials were not enjoying themselves Saturday was Arizona.

Wildcats recruit Shareef O’Neal, son of former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, withdrew his commitment after ESPN reported coach Sean Miller was heard on a wiretap discussing a $100,000 payment to freshman Deandre Ayton to get him to sign with the school.

Arizona announced that Miller would not coach Saturday night in the 14th-ranked Wildcats’ game at Oregon. Associate head coach Lorenzo Romar stood in for Miller, and the Wildcats lost 98-93 in overtime to the Ducks.

It was unclear what the coaching situation at Arizona would be going forward.

“As basketball players, we have a job. And we’re not going to let outsiders, outside noise, let it mistreat us, in a way. We’re just going to keep pushing, keep grinding,” senior guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright said. “We have games to play. We have practices to practice. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”

While Miller was absent, Ayton played and finished with 28 points and 18 rebounds. Oregon fans taunted him with a sign in the image of a check for $100,000.

In Omaha, where Creighton played No. 3 Villanova, the Bluejays were also linked to possible violations.

The Yahoo report said Christian Dawkins, who worked for former agent Andy Miller, may have bought dinner for former Creighton center Justin Patton or his family. Patton signed with Miller’s agency but fired him once Miller was implicated in the probe in September. Creighton coach Greg McDermott has said he didn’t know if Dawkins had a meal with Patton, but knew Dawkins met with Patton because McDermott also attended the meeting.

“So they took him to dinner. Big deal,” said 54-year-old Creighton fan Jim Belgrade, who has been attending games since he was 6. Belgrade said there needs to be a crackdown if money is exchanging hands and that some fans are more concerned than others.

“They will be if it’s a big-time school involved,” Belgrade said. “And there are people who say it’s the rules, and the rules are the rules, so we have to cap it some way. But will fans at Missouri Valley schools be worried about it? Probably not.”

Several players singled out in the report played on Saturday.

Kentucky fans cheered Kevin Knox as usual before he started against Missouri, and the freshman forward did his best to keep things normal. An internal review found no issues and he said afterward, “I was sure I would be able to play all week. I let Kentucky and compliance handle all that.”

Texas held out Eric Davis against Oklahoma while the Longhorns conduct their own investigation, while Alabama’s Collin Sexton started against Arkansas.

At Duke, Wendell Carter Jr. was in the starting lineup after the school said there were no issues with his eligibility. Afterward, Carter said he refused to let it become a distraction “because I know I didn’t do anything. I know my family didn’t do anything.”

The only obvious indication that anything was different was found on the dry-erase board near the Cameron Crazies’ entrance: A Twitter hashtag , #FreeWendell.

“Obviously I was disappointed that a former player was acknowledged in this report,” Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said after the Terrapins were beaten 85-61 by No. 17 Michigan . Former Maryland player Diamond Stone, who played one season for the Terrapins, was also mentioned as receiving an improper loan from an agent.

“I have absolutely zero relationship with that agent or that agency. Wouldn’t know him if he walked into the room today,” Turgeon said.

Michigan guard Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman said he is aware of the scandal, but that’s about as far as it goes.

“We still have to go out there and play the game. People didn’t pay us. I mean, there’s here and there,” Abdur-Rahkman said. “I don’t really think about it. I can’t speak for anyone else.”

Ken Tighe, a Terrapins season-ticket holder since 2002, said college basketball has an issue that needs to be addressed.

“I think the problem is widespread,” Tighe said. “Diamond Stone is part of an attempt by agents to influence the game.”

Michigan coach John Beilein offered a simple solution.

“Educate your players, educate the parents the best that you can,” Beilein said. “When somebody’s offering them something, they’ve got to say no to a Coca-Cola if an agent is talking to them, and they’ve also obviously got to say no to money.”

In Dallas, Jim Randolph – who attended SMU in the late 1960s and was a fan during the 1980s when the football program received the so-called death penalty from the NCAA – said fans expect their teams to do whatever they can to win.

“The entire infrastructure of amateur athletics, especially basketball, is just as dirty as can be,” Randolph said. “So many people have looked the other way for so long. It’s about time it surfaced.”

Dustan Foster of San Angelo, Texas, grew up in Missouri and is a lifelong Kansas fan. The 36-year-old oil field worker attended the eighth-ranked Jayhawks’ game at Texas Tech on Saturday and said he doesn’t know what is going to happen next.

“I don’t even think (NCAA President) Mark Emmert knows at this point,” Foster said. “I don’t think anybody knows. Flip a coin.”

Villanova coach Jay Wright said the scandal has cast a cloud over basketball that everyone in the sport has to work together to remove.

“It’s certainly not a good day for us,” Wright said. “But I do think we have a lot of good people in college basketball, a lot of good things in college basketball that we’re all going to try to work together to get it right again.”

When asked about a line item on an expense report by Dawkins cited by Yahoo that said Dawkins had a meal with “Villanova coaches,” Wright said: “My athletic director has advised me not to respond to it. He will. The athletic department is on top of it and will respond to it.”

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