HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven School Board will get a first look at plans for redistributing students that will be displaced by the closing of the Partridge Elementary School during Monday’s regular meeting.
According to Superintendent Clark Wedel, the board will go over what he calls “very preliminary plans” for moving the students to other elementary schools in Yoder and Haven.
Wedel says plans are to do a pre-enrollment survey for Partridge School patrons in January to get at least some barometer of how many families will stay in the district. The survey will also help in determining bus routes and time of travel for those students who will use the bus. The district hopes to have the redistribution plan in place by February.
Monday’s Haven USD 312 School Board meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the school’s district offices.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — George E. Killian, who served as the first executive director of the NJCAA, died Wednesday, December 6th at the age of 93. Killian is regarded as one of the most influential leaders in the NJCAA’s history and leaves behind an impressive legacy of service.
Killian began his career in the NJCAA as the athletic director and head men’s basketball coach at Erie Community College (NY) in 1954. He was elected president of the NJCAA in 1967 and two years later was tabbed as the organization’s first executive director – a post he held until 2004. His vision, dedication, and leadership helped establish the NJCAA as the second-largest national collegiate athletic organization in the United States. He was instrumental in fostering the organization’s unique role in providing athletic and academic opportunities to student-athletes and lifted the NJCAA’s men’s basketball championship tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas, to national prominence.
Under his leadership and vision, the NJCAA became the first national collegiate athletic organization to add women’s athletics in 1975. The NAIA and NCAA would follow the NJCAA’s lead in adding women’s athletics in 1980 and ’81, respectively.
“With the passing of George E. Killian, the NJCAA has lost a historian, an advocate, a leader, a mentor and a friend,” said former NJCAA Executive Director Mary Ellen Leicht, who worked under Killian’s leadership for 15 years. “During his lifetime George served the NJCAA with a tireless passion, building the organization from the ground up and championing the cause of the two-year college student-athlete nationally and internationally. Personally and professionally, George was a friend until the very end, and I will miss him. My sincere condolences to his wife Marilyn and his extended family and loved ones.”
In addition to his leadership with the NJCAA, Killian was a key figure on the international stage. From 1990-98, Killian served as the president of FIBA, the global governing body of basketball and was a prominent member of the board of directors for USA Basketball for 26 years. He also served on the United States Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors from 1967-2004 as well as the International Olympic Committee from 1996-98. In 1999 he was elected president of FISU (International University Sports Federation) and served two terms before resigning in 2011.
Upon his retirement from the NJCAA in 2004, the association commissioned the George E. Killian Award of Excellence in 2006 to honor his dedication and service to two-year college athletics. The award is given out annually to members of the NJCAA Board of Directors that display the ideals of voluntarism, achievement, service, leadership, and excellence.
“The entire NJCAA family is saddened to hear of the loss of George Killian,” said current NJCAA CEO Dr. Chris Parker. “Mr. Killian was a true pioneer and paved the way for hundreds of thousands of two-year college student-athletes. We are forever grateful for his leadership and ambition and his legacy will live on throughout our great association.”
Memorial plans for Killian have not been set. The NJCAA will announce further plans for honoring his legacy at a later date.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council set a date for a public hearing on the proposed demolition of 23 residential properties in the city during Tuesday’s agenda session.
The list is the latest round of homes that the city feels are unsafe or dangerous. All are residential properties and all but one are vacant.
The hearing will be held during the regular council meeting Jan. 16. The hearing will give the property owners a chance to state their case as to why the structure should be saved and provide information as to what their plans are for the property.
Also Tuesday, the council gave approval to lease a new ladder truck for the fire department. The new truck would be leased for 10 years. Then the city would have the option of leasing another unit or purchasing the leased vehicle outright.
Fire Chief Steven Beer told the council that the lease would save the city money over the outright purchase of the truck. The fire department hopes to have the new truck in 10 months and would replace the current unit that is 20 years old and in need of about $150,000 in maintenance, according to the chief.
Finally, the council gave approval to have Public Works do another pavement study for the city’s streets. The study will help determine how funds are spent on road maintenance and reconstruction. The cost of the study from Infrastructure Management Services LLC is $89,000.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tickets for this year’s Hutchinson Reno County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting go on sale starting Tuesday morning. This year’s featured speaker is Alison Levine.
Levine was team captain of the first American women’s Everest expedition and author of the New York Times best-seller “On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Everest and Other Extreme Environments.” She’s one of just 44 explorers who have conquered the Seven Summits and skied to both the North and South Poles.
A sought-after consultant and keynote speaker on the subject of leadership development, Levine has addressed audiences ranging from Fortune 500 companies to professional sports teams to the prestigious World Economic Forum at Davos. Having spent prolonged periods of time in some of the world’s most dangerous and inhospitable places (including Wall Street), she tackles the topics of creating cohesive teams, taking responsible risks and developing no-nonsense leaders that can succeed in times of uncertainty.
Tickets for the annual meeting are $60 if purchased by Jan. 5. After that, tickets are $70. A table for ten can be reserved for $600.
As in the past few years, gallery seating will also be available, but does not include dinner. Gallery seating is $10 to Chamber members and $20 at the door. Non-member tickets are $15 in advance and $25 at the door. For more information, contact the Chamber at 620-662-3391.
Law enforcement authorities on the scene of Saturday morning shooting-photo courtesy KWCH
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating three more fatal shootings in Wichita over the weekend and have identified the victims.
Just after 2 a.m. Saturday police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1100 Block of North Estelle in Wichita, according to Lt. Todd Ojile. Officers found a 25-year-old man in the street with a gunshot wound. The victim identified as Semaj Chambers was transported to a local hospital where he died.
Investigators learned that Chambers had come to the residence to visit friends. He got into a physical altercation with another individual. Following the confrontation, Chambers and others left the residence. When they returned and were standing outside the residence, according to Ojile, someone shot and killed Chamber. A few hours later, police arrested a 17-year-old boy and a 33-year-old man for the shooting death. Authorities expect to present a case to the district attorney on Tuesday.
Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 4000 Block of East Stearman Court in Wichita, according to Lt. Todd Ojile. Officers found a man in a driveway with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim indented as 32-year-old Daniel Lopez-Silva was transported to a local hospital where he died.
Investigators say Lopez-Silva had been at the residence visiting friends throughout the early morning hours. As he stepped out of the house, a vehicle pulled up, shots were and shots were fired from the vehicle, according to Ojile. Police have not made any arrests in the case.
Just after 8p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1600 Block of South Green in Wichita, according to Lt. Todd Ojile. Officers found a man with a gunshot wound to his leg. At about the same time, another shooting call came from an address in the 2600 Block of East Wilma. Officers found a 26-year-old Rolando Holt with multiple gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.
Investigators learned Holt was visiting friends at the residence, according to Ojile. Sometime during the evening, unknown suspects came to the residence and shot Holt. They fled on foot. Police have no other information on the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
—–
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating after two people were killed and a third person was wounded during separate shootings in Wichita.
The first shooting happened early Sunday. Officer Paul Cruz says a 33-year-old man was wounded during a disturbance at a home. He died later at a hospital.
Police also are investigating a Sunday night shooting that left one person dead and another critically injured.
The names of the victims weren’t immediately released.
In addition, police say a man died in an early Saturday morning shooting in northeast Wichita.
Police say officers responded around 2 a.m. Saturday to a report of a shooting. Arriving officers found a man in his 20s with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — CHS has announced Friday that they will close its soy processing facility in Hutchinson immediately, eliminating 77 jobs.
Questions about the future of the facility had been hovering for several weeks, but officially came in an announcement to employees Friday morning. Annette Degnan, Marketing and Communications Director for CHS confirmed the closing stating that the the facility is one of three that will shut down. Degnan says that over the last 11 months CHS tried to sell the facility and keep the workforce intact but market conditions and other factors left the company without a buyer.
Sources say employees will be paid through the end of January.
Below is a statement released from CHS.
In recent months, Jay Debertin, CHS CEO, shared strategic priorities for CHS with employees and our member-owners. Primary among these is restoring financial flexibility for CHS, which includes reviewing all company assets to determine which are a strategic fit for CHS now and into the future.
As part of its broader FY18 CHS priorities of restoring financial flexibility and positioning the company, its owners and other stakeholders for long-term success, CHS has ceased production at, and permanently closed, soybean processing facilities at Hutchinson, Kan., and Creston, Iowa, and closed its Innovation and Technology Center at Eagan, Minn.
CHS will continue to focus on operations which are more closely aligned with other CHS commodity-based core businesses.
CHS remains committed to helping its owners strengthen and grow their operations.
Also, some background information:
The news was delivered in person to the 77 employees, by the plant manager, the CHS director of operations for this division, and a human resources representative.
CHS acquired the facility in April 2008, from Legacy Foods. The plant produced Ultra-Soy® brand textured soy proteins, an ingredient used by leading food service and food manufacturers as a nutritional supplement in processed foods containing meat, and in snacks and health foods. Ultra-Soy helped food manufacturers extend meat, which reduced meat and seafood costs while adding protein to enhance the nutritional profile.
Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder is offering a vigorous defense of the Republican tax cut bill as the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on its version of the controversial measure.
In a lengthy news release posted Thursday that Yoder touted as separating myth from fact, the 3rd District representative said the bill does not favor wealthy taxpayers over middle-class families, as Democrats and other critics claim.
Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder, who represents the state’s 3rd District, issued a statement Thursday in defense of the Republican tax cut bill. FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Noting that most taxpayers do not itemize, Yoder said critics are making too much of proposals to reduce or eliminate some deductions to offset the cost of a sharp reduction in the corporate tax.
In particular, he argues that middle-class families, which he defines as those making the median income of $59,000, would not be adversely affected by the House proposal to cap the itemized deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000 or the Senate plan to eliminate it.
“The middle class is by and large not benefitting from the state and local tax deduction,” Yoder said in the release, noting that most middle-income taxpayers do not claim itemized deductions.
“We significantly lower the tax burden for middle class and low-income Americans by doubling the size of the standard deduction — making the first $24,000 in a family’s income and the first $12,000 of an individual’s income tax-free,” he said, noting that the measure also preserves tax credits that generally help low-income families.
‘Toward an economic cliff’
But critics of the bill insist that wealthy Americans will benefit the most, noting that reductions for individuals would be temporary while corporate tax cuts would be permanent.
“The (Republican) party is now trying to pass a scam that throws a few crumbs to the middle class (temporarily — millions of middle-class Americans will soon see a tax hike if the bill is enacted) while heaping benefits on the super-rich, multiplying the national debt and endangering the American economy,” historian Robert McElvaine wrote in the Washington Post.
McElvaine, the author of a book on the Great Depression, sees echoes of the policies that precipitated the 1929 crash in the current GOP tax cut bill.
“Nine decades later, Republicans are rushing to do it again — and they are sprinting toward an economic cliff,” McElvaine wrote while warning of “catastrophic” results.
Critics of the bill say reducing the tax rate on “pass-through” business income is another way it benefits the wealthy by taxing them at a lower rate than many middle-class Americans. And they often point to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s failed tax-cutting experiment as evidence that such “trickle down” policies don’t work.
Different than Kansas plan
Yoder said it’s unfair to compare the GOP tax bill to the Brownback plan, which state lawmakers largely repealed last session.
For one thing, he said the federal bill would only reduce taxes on pass-through business income, not exempt it as Brownback’s plan did.
“Our plan reduces the federal rate to 25 percent, which will allow American small businesses to compete at a level similar to that of other nations around the world without irresponsibly eliminating taxes all together,” he said in the release.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, discusses the tax cut bill with a crowd of about 100 people Wednesday in the north-central Kansas community of Frankfort
Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts supports the measure. But the state’s other GOP senator, Jerry Moran, has expressed concerns about its projected $1.5 billion impact on the federal budget deficit and provisions that would tax the university tuition waivers of graduate teaching assistants and repeal the Obamacare requirement that Americans purchase health coverage.
In a statement on his website, Moran said he is still “discussing ways to improve” the bill but is likely to vote for it regardless of the outcome of those discussions.
“I expect to support a tax package that grows the economy, protects taxpayers, creates good-paying jobs and helps Americans keep more of their hard-earned money,” Moran said.
Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The quarterly earnings session for major companies with ties to Hutchinson and Reno County concluded this morning with stronger-than-expected earnings from Kroger. The parent company of Dillons today reported net earnings of $397 million, or $0.44 per diluted share compared with $391 million, or $0.41 per diluted share in the third quarter of last year.
The report offset expectations of flat or lower earnings due to increased pressure from Amazon and Walmart.
Total sales increased 4.5 percent to $27.7 billion in the third quarter compared to $26.6 billion for the same period last year. Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 3 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year.
The numbers show that most companies with ties to Hutchinson are doing well with only Siemens/Gamesa and ADM showing lower numbers throughout the past three months. BNSF Union Pacific, Arconic and Tyson all showing positive results.
Westar crews work to restore power following Thursday’s crash and arrest-image courtesy Wichita Police
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with a murder following a chase and crash that caused power outage.
Police were working on information that an alleged murder suspect was at a home in the 3300 Block of North Jackson, according to officer Charley Davidson. Officers observed the suspect leave the residence and get into a blue Acura. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the driver refused. At one point, according to Davidson, the driver stopped and allowed a woman passenger out of the car.
The driver continued to flee east on 24th Street when the car hit a northbound Mitsubishi driven by a 27-year-old woman on Market Street, according to Davidson. The crash then toppled a power pole that left 1,500 Westar Customers without electricity.
Police took the 18-year-old suspect and the woman passenger into custody. He is going to be jailed for alleged first-degree murder in connection with the July shooting death of 19-year-old Timothy Golden, according to Davidson.
Golden- photo courtesy Kansas Cougars football
Golden was found dead inside an apartment building after more than a dozen rounds were fired into his apartment, according to police. Two other suspects are already in custody.
The woman in the Mitsubishi was transported to an area hospital for treatment on non-life threatening injuries.
be displaced by the closing of the Partridge Elementary School during Monday’s regular meeting.
