Manhattan Surgical Hospital and Stormont Vail Health have finalized partnership agreements designed to help grow and strengthen health care services in Manhattan and the surrounding area.

Manhattan Surgical Hospital is a physician-owned surgical hospital that opened in 2001 and offers care across a variety of surgical procedures. “Manhattan Surgical Hospital and its physician partners are very excited to finalize this new partnership: said Jamie McAtee, MD and Chairman of the Board. “Stormont Vail Health has a longstanding history of providing best in class care in Manhattan and we’re looking forward to leveraging this partnership to strengthen current services and bring new services to the community.”

“We are committed to providing access to care close to home for those we serve,” said Robert Kenagy, M.D., CEO and president, Stormont Vail Health. “Manhattan Surgical Hospital has an excellent reputation and has served the Manhattan community for almost 20 years. This opportunity will offer many advantages to the patients we serve including enhanced access and experience.

Manhattan Surgical Hospital performs more than 10,000 procedures annually in multiple specialties. They acquired the Central Kansas Cancer Center in June of 2017, offering cancer patients in the area the ability to the highest level of Radiation Therapy for their treatment in their own community. Manhattan Surgical Hospital also responded to the urgent needs of the community for access to Primary Care and opened the Blue River Family Medicine practice in July of 2018.

“This will be a great collaboration, with a shared goal of improving the health of our community,” said Chris Stipe, CEO Manhattan Surgical Hospital. “Riley County and the surrounding areas really have something to look forward to through this partnership.”

Governor Kelly has appointed Julie Spiegel, Manhattan, to the Board of Accountancy.

The board licenses and regulates certified public accounts, and is authorized to carry out the laws and administrative regulations governing CPAs. The board is disciplinary and has the authority to conduct investigations.

Speigel, Manhattan, is the owner of Varney and Associates, CPs, LLC.  Previously, she was the vice president of business services at Frontier Farm Credit. Spiegel holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting and business administration from the University of Kansas. She has been a certified public account since 1997.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WATCH IN
EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS.

IN KANSAS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 10 COUNTIES:

IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS

CLAY                  CLOUD                 OTTAWA
REPUBLIC              WASHINGTON

IN NORTHEAST KANSAS

BROWN                 MARSHALL              NEMAHA
POTTAWATOMIE          RILEY

THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF BELLEVILLE, BENNINGTON, BLUE RAPIDS,
CLAY CENTER, CLIFTON, CONCORDIA, FRANKFORT, GREENLEAF, HANOVER,
HIAWATHA, HORTON, LINN, MANHATTAN, MARYSVILLE, MINNEAPOLIS,
SABETHA, SENECA, ST. MARYS, WAMEGO, AND WASHINGTON.

MANHATTAN, KANSAS —Dr. Alfonso Clavijo has been appointed as Director of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), a state-of-the-art U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research and diagnostic facility designed to protect the nation’s agricultural systems and stakeholders against the threat and potential impact of serious animal diseases.

“Dr. Clavijo brings with him a wealth of technical knowledge in the diagnosis of transboundary, emerging and zoonotic diseases,” said Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, Administrator for USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). “As NBAF’s first permanent director, his extensive leadership experience will be a great asset in helping NBAF achieve its vision of being a national asset that protects U.S. agriculture and consumers through cutting-edge research, diagnostics, training, and development of vaccines and other countermeasures.”

ARS partners with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to operate NBAF. The facility is currently under construction by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with commissioning scheduled for completion in 2021.

Clavijo, who starts October 13, will play a key role in ensuring the smooth transition of responsibility from DHS to USDA once the 574,000 square-foot facility becomes fully operational in 2023.

Prior to his appointment at NBAF, Clavijo served as Laboratory Executive Director of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) National Centres for Animal Disease, which operates laboratories in Winnipeg and Lethbridge. As Director, Clavijo oversaw the administration of diagnostic services, related technology development and research to detect and prevent transboundary, emerging and zoonotic animal diseases.

He also directed the management of biosafety level (BSL) 2-4 facilities that allow for the contained study of pathogens that cause foreign animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth, African swine fever, classical swine fever and highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Under Clavijo’s leadership, CFIA’s National Centre for Foreign Animal Diseases in Winnipeg was named by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as reference center for emerging and zoonotic pathogens.

Clavijo’s leadership also earned him Canada’s 2018 President’s National Award in “Leadership in People Management.” This prestigious honor cited Clavijo’s exemplary people-management skills and his demonstration of excellence in advancing CFIA goals, values and ethics as a human resources manager.

Clavijo has held leadership or advisory positions at CFIA laboratories, as well as Kansas State University, Texas A&M University, the Pan American Health Organization, and National University in Bogota, Colombia.

Clavijo earned a doctorate degree in Veterinary Microbiology/Virology while attending the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, from June 1990 to March 1995 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from National University in Bogota, Columbia, 1986.

Clavijo has published numerous scientific works and continues to serve as an adjunct professor or advisor at affiliate organizations.

Nemaha-Brown-Riley-Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Dickinson-Geary-
Morris-Wabaunsee-Shawnee-
Including the cities of Sabetha, Seneca, Hiawatha, Horton,
Manhattan, Wamego, St. Marys, Holton, Valley Falls, Oskaloosa,
Perry, McLouth, Grantville, Meriden, Nortonville, Abilene,
Herington, Junction City, Council Grove, Alma, Eskridge,
Maple Hill, Alta Vista, McFarland, Harveyville, Paxico,
and Topeka
317 PM CDT Tue Oct 1 2019

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

The Flash Flood Watch continues for

* Portions of central Kansas, east central Kansas, and northeast
  Kansas, including the following areas, in central Kansas,
  Dickinson. In east central Kansas, Geary, Morris, Shawnee, and
  Wabaunsee. In northeast Kansas, Brown, Jackson, Jefferson,
  Nemaha, Pottawatomie, and Riley.

* From 7 PM CDT this evening through Wednesday evening

* Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are forecast to begin this
  evening and persist through Wednesday afternoon. A widespread
  2 inches of rainfall, with locally higher amounts, falling on
  top of already saturated soils may lead to both flash flooding
  and renewed river flooding.

* Rapid rises of rivers, streams, and low water crossings could
  occur. Urbanized and poor drainage areas could be particularly
  impacted by floodwaters. Roadways could become flooded.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead
to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action
should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

A series of tornado warnings were issued by the National Weather Service late Tuesday afternoon and early evening for multiple counties, including portions of Dickinson, Geary, Riley and Pottawatomie counties. No injuries or major damage have been reported.

The storm packed torrential rain, rotation in the clouds identified by the National Weather Service, and in some locations 70 mile per hour wind gusts.

During the storm Geary County Emergency Management Director Garry Berges said authorities were in contact with Dickinson County. At that time he reported a wall cloud was being reported north of Chapman along K-18 Highway. There were never any reports of a tornado touching down on the ground. At one point Berges reported it was raining so heavy authorities in northern Geary County were having a hard time seeing any rotation so they relied on the National Weather Service radar.

Emergency warning sirens were sounded in the Milford Township area northwest of Junction City and in portions of Riley County north of Manhattan.  Riley County Emergency Manager Pat Collins said it appeared the main part of the storm was straight east of Milford crossing Fort Riley. Emergency warning sirens were sounded in Keats, Riley and portions of Manhattan.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.\\

No arrests reported

CITATION REPORT

CLARISA ALTAMIRANO CASTRO, 26,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 100 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR NO DRIVERS LICENSE (19-192) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:15 PM.

MEGAN LEHMAN, 22, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2300 BLK CLAFLIN RD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY ENTER ROAD (160) ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:20 PM.

ROGER GRAHAM, 79,  OGDEN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT TUTTLE CREEK BLVD & BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR IMPROPER TURNING (9-49) ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:40 PM.

CASSION MILLER, 21,  LENEXA, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 11TH ST & BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY-INTERSECTION (157) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 PM.

ADRIAN RIVERA MARRERO, 20, JUNCTION CITY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 5300 BLK TUTTLE CREEK BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR RACING ON HIGHWAYS (08-1565) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:15 PM.

CAROLINE PEARSON, 20,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT ANDERSON AVE & DENISON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING (14-104) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:57 PM.

CASEY KERSTEN, 38, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 5TH ST & BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:45 PM.

EMILY OWEN, 23,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2300 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 6 PM.

SARAH KINDER, 37,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 2300 BLK STRAWBERRY LN IN MANHATTAN FOR INATTENTIVE DRIVING (14-104) ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM.

ELIZABETH SUTTON, 19, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TEXTING VIOL (14-126.2) ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:23 PM.

JUSTIN BRUMMER, 20,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TEXTING VIOL (14-126.2) ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:36 PM.

DANIELLE DE SOUZA, 36,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 10TH ST & BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:47 PM.

AARON UNRUH, 21,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR VEHICLE TAGS-EXPIRE/ILLEGBLE (19-198) AND FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:43 PM.

BRANDAN KILBOURN, 20,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 531 N MANHATTAN AVE; DIRY DAWGS SALOON IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) AND FOR UNLAWFUL USE OF LICENSE (19-199) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:25 PM.

KAITLYN DONAHUE, 18, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 1100 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR CELL PHONE-TEXTING VIOL (14-126.2) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 PM.

STONE TOMPKINS, 19, TOPEKA, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 11TH ST & CLAFLIN RD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:55 PM.

JESSE GREGORY, 23, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT N 11TH ST & CLAFLIN RD IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:50 PM.

BRIEANNA RIMA, 25, POMONA, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 531 N MANHATTAN AVE; DIRY DAWGS SALOON IN MANHATTAN FOR FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO A MINOR (4-3(C)) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:43 PM.

MARGARET BEIER, 73, MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 200 BLK E POYNTZ AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR FTY RIGHT OF WAY STOP/YIELD (159) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:45 AM. A

NNA KUNS, 22,  WICHITA, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 3000 BLK KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:09 PM.

TRENTON HAMILTON, 29,  FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 300 BLK RILEY AVE IN OGDEN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:04 PM.

MALIK PETERS, 23,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 5000 BLK FORT RILEY BLVD IN MANHATTAN FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS (08-1558) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:20 PM.

ZACKARY MURPHY, 22,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 101 E BLUEMONT AVE; SUBWAY IN MANHATTAN FOR THEFT (PETTY) (22-26) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:48 PM.

SARA ANDERSON, 24,  FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT S 4TH ST & PIERRE ST IN MANHATTAN FOR FAIL TO STOP AT RED LIGHT (4-13(C)) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:24 PM.

CHASE WILLAUER, 20,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 706 N MANHATTAN AVE; PORTER’S BAR & DELI IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:38 PM.

REID ISAAC, 20, OF  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1218 MORO ST; JOHNNY KAWS SPORTS BAR IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) AND FOR UNLAWFUL USE OF LICENSE (19-199) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY12:01 AM.

TREVEN BREASSEALE, 18, BLUE RAPIDS, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 531 N MANHATTAN AVE; DIRY DAWGS SALOON IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:35 PM.

KENNETH RENFRO, 20,  WILLIAMSBURG, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 531 N MANHATTAN AVE; DIRY DAWGS SALOON IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:43 PM.

ADRIAN RUVALCABA, 18, TOPEKA, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT 1218 MORO ST; JOHNNY KAWS SPORTS BAR IN MANHATTAN FOR POSSESSION OR CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY MINOR (4-3(B)) AND FOR UNLAWFUL USE OF LICENSE (19-199) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY12:12 AM.

AHMAD BASHAIKH, 22,  MANHATTAN, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 3700 BLK KIMBALL AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON OCTOBER 1, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:06 AM.

JASON BALLUCH, 39,  WESTMORELAND, KS WAS CITED WHILE AT HUDSON CIR & ANDERSON AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:23 AM.

SHAWN ARONHALT, 30,  FT RILEY, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 10000 BLK ANDERSON AVE IN RILEY FOR MAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS (08-1558) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY10:46 PM.

KACEE BUTTERFIELD, 19, LEONARDVILLE, KS WAS CITED WHILE IN THE 500 BLK BLUEMONT AVE IN MANHATTAN FOR SPEEDING (7-33) AND FOR NO PROOF OF MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY (19-200) ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY11:26 PM.

MANHATTAN — Bin Ning, a highly experienced leader in higher education institutional research and related areas, will join Kansas State University as its first associate provost for institutional research.

Bin Ning photo KSU

Ning’s appointment was made by Charles Taber, K-State provost and executive vice president, following a national search. Ning will start his new job on Oct. 14 and will report to Taber.

“With more than 34 years in higher education, including more than 18 years guiding institutional leadership at small colleges to research extensive universities, Dr. Ning has the experience needed to guide K-State through the development and implementation of an institutional data strategy that will make possible innovative approaches to enrollment management, university budgeting, strategic planning and more through data-driven decision-making,” Taber said.

Currently the assistant vice president and executive director of institutional research and information management at Eastern Michigan University since July 2010, Ning will lead the newly established Office of Institutional Research at K-State, provide stewardship and management of the university’s data, and oversee the creation of data analysis, analytical studies and institutional reports in response to federal, state and local entities, accreditation purposes and internal report needs. He also will be in charge of communication, education and training to enhance data-informed decision-making throughout the university.

“I am thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to contribute my experience and skills in institutional research and other areas in higher education to support the strategic directions of K-State,” Ning said. “Across the nation, institutional research has become a pivotal unit that provides much-needed information support for sage decision-making, which is one of the keys for future success at K-State.”

In his current position with Eastern Michigan, Ning leads the office of Institutional Research and Information Management, provides leadership to the overall institutional accreditation process, leads the university’s enrollment forecasting and works closely with university leadership on enrollment and budget modeling. For his work, Ning received Eastern Michigan’s 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award.

In his previous positions, Ning was executive director of the Office of Institutional Research at the University of Toledo from August 2007 to July 2010; dean of institutional effectiveness at Wayne County Community College District in Detroit from August 2005 to August 2007; and director of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment at Marygrove College in Detroit from July 2001 to July 2005.

His current research interests include application of institutional data in policymaking and long-range planning processes; student engagement and other factors that impact student success; institutional assessment and research focusing on student learning, satisfaction and teaching effectiveness and learning outcome; and the role of international programs and comparative higher education. He has presented at conferences and given invited presentations nationally and internationally.

Ning also has served as an adjunct faculty member in statistics at Eastern Michigan University and Margrove College. He has been a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission since 2004. Ning earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering mechanics from the Beijing Institute of Technology in China and a Master of Education and doctorate in higher education, both from the University of Toledo.

MANHATTAN — Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged theft by deception in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Walters Morgan Construction reported a known female suspect made fraudulent charges in the business’ name. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $10,000.00.

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University continues to promote the value of higher education and has increased enrollment in online programs and at the Polytechnic and Olathe campuses while total enrollment dips.

The university’s Global, Polytechnic and Olathe campuses all had an increased number of students enrolled, which offsets an enrollment decline on the Manhattan campus. Total university enrollment is down 502 students, reflecting a national trend in higher education.

“As the ebb and flow of higher education continues across the nation, K-State’s diverse campuses accommodate a variety of interests — from technical and aviation programs to advanced degrees for working professionals — that meet students’ changing interests,” said Chuck Taber, provost and executive vice president. “It is K-State’s student-first mentality that is improving retention and graduation rates across the university.”

The retention of freshmen to sophomores is again highest in university history at 85.8%, and the university graduated a near-record 3,219 students in May. The university’s four-year graduation rate is 41.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 64.8% — both records for the university.

Preliminary numbers from the Kansas Board of Regents‘ report show overall headcount decreased by 2.3%. The board has started reporting full-time equivalency, or FTE, in addition to headcount to provide more uniform data. The Regents calculate full-time equivalency by dividing the total number of undergraduate credit hours taken in a semester by 15 and graduate credit hours by 12. Using this metric, FTE is down about 3%.

K-State is beginning the second year of a strategic enrollment management effort designed to increase its overall enrollment to boost net tuition revenue. Improving the educational experience and making scholarships more accessible remain top priorities for the university as a land-grant institution.

“We’ve completely revamped our scholarship programs and are finding new ways to increase the value of our already excellent degrees,” Taber said. “Higher education has been proven to be one of the best investments a person can make — with demonstrably proven increased lifetime earnings and quality of life. The prosperity of our state and country depends on a well-educated populace.”

According to Taber, K-State is on track with its strategic enrollment plan and the university is taking a long-term view of the turnaround.

“We are committed to growing in a financially prudent way that allows us to be sustainable even as higher education continues to evolve rapidly,” Taber said.

K-State News and Communications Services

Division of Communications and Marketing

On Wednesday, October 2nd around 4:50 p.m., the Riley County Police Department Emergency Dispatch Center received a call stating a man had been shot in the 2500 block of Farm Bureau Road.

When officers arrived on scene, they found a 20-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound that was not believed to be life threatening. He was transported to Via Christi Hospital for treatment.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Police said the investigation suggests this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public. They noted that this is an ongoing investigation and no additional information is available at this time.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Another round of BRAC, Base Realignment and Closure, is not occurring now, but whenever it does there will be some new criteria used in the evaluation.

Flint Hills Regional Council member Tim Brown highlighted a briefing recently received by the Council. One of the new criteria will deal with licensing and whether a state where a base is located accepts licenses of military family members such as nurses. “They’re going to be looking at schools, and the test grades from four and eight will be the ones they’re looking at. ” Medical, intergovernmental support agreements with local entities and housing will be other criteria areas.

BRAC can impact the number of troops stationed at installations, whether it’s a decrease or increase in troops. It is a topic followed by military related communities.

In past BRAC rounds Fort Riley experienced both a decrease and an increase in Soldiers.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Only 18% of Kansas economic development funds were spent as intended in the last fiscal year, in part because there is little oversight of how money for a state economic development fund is spent, according to state auditors.

Sen. Julia Lynn

In a report released Wednesday, auditors said that during fiscal year 2018, nearly half of all spending _ $20.1 million _ from the Economic Development Initiatives Fund didn’t go toward programs that met requirements for receiving the funds.

In response to the audit, some lawmakers called for an overhaul of regulations and oversight of the fund.

“Of course, I was appalled by what I saw … This is just a perfect example of why we need to be looking at these things,” said Sen. Julia Lynn, an Olathe Republican who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee.

The fund, which was created in 1986, is replenished every year by lottery and gaming revenue.

It has often been used to supplement state spending, rather than directly for economic development. The Legislature is supposed to direct money into three accounts that focus on innovative products, research and development or community infrastructure.

Instead, during the last fiscal year, $20.1 million of the $42.3 million in the fund went to the state’s general fund, with the rest going to state agencies. Only 18 percent, or $7.8 million, went to eight programs that met requirements for the funds, such as an agriculture marketing program, the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, several research and development programs administered by the Kansas Board of Regents and a housing trust fund that helps residents rent or buy homes.

Auditors said Kansas doesn’t track the performance of fund recipients or evaluate whether the fund is effective. And the auditors found state officials it approached ““were unaware of what (state law) says about these accounts.”

Rep. Tom Burroughs, a Kansas City Democrat, said the audit showed lawmakers need to fund agency programs properly.

“We’re the ones that have failed on not following our own statutes,” Burroughs said.

Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland said the current law requiring that all EDIF funding is obsolete and doesn’t match current economic development needs. In a letter in response to the audit, he asked the lawmakers to eliminate the current language.

The auditors said lawmakers should consider creating an oversight body for the fund and to consider whether state law should continue to require EDIF dollars go into the three accounts.

.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For more than two decades Manhattan elementary school aged youth have competed in the Hoop Holler “n” Shoot free throw contest. The 21st annual edition will be held in upcoming weeks for fifth and sixth grade boys and girls at elementary schools in the Manhattan area.

Boys and girls champions will be crowned at each school with winners shooting in semifinals competition at Bramlage Coliseum. The boys semifinals will be held at halftime of the men’s game on Nov. 19th. The girls semifinals will be held during halftime of the women’s game on Nov. 18th.

The top four boys’ and girls’ semifinalists will shoot in the finals at halftime of the men’s game on Dec. 11th.

Preliminary rounds to determine school champions at the elementary schools will be held as follows:

–Amanda Arnold, Friday Oct. 4th 2:30 p.m.

–Theodore Roosevelt, Tuesday Oct. 8th, 8:45 a.m.

–Woodrow Wilson, Thursday Oct. 10th at 8:50 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

–Bergman, Friday Oct. 11th 8:45 a.m.

–Lee, Friday Oct. 11th noon

–Lee, Tuesday, Oct. 15th noon

–Marlatt, Tuesday Oct. 15th 1 p.m.

–Marlatt, Wednesday Oct. 16th 1 p.m.

–Lee, Wednesday Oct. 16th 2:15 p.m.

–Ogden, Thursday Oct. 17th 3 p.m.

–Marlatt, Monday, Oct. 21st 2:30 p.m.

–Amanda Arnold, Tuesday Oct. 22nd 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

–Flint Hills, Monday Oct. 28th 12:10 p.m.

–Bluemont, Tuesday Oct. 29th 8:50 a.m.

–Manhattan Catholic, Oct. 29th 3 p.m.

–Bergman, Thursday Oct. 31st 8:45 a.m.

–Northview, Wednesday Nov. 6th, 11:45 a.m.

–Northview, Friday Nov. 8th 12:15 p.m.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

By STEPHAN BISAHA
Kansas News Service

A flight of doves breaks above the tree line. Fourteen-year-old Robert Goodall fires his shotgun. The birds continue on their path unharmed.

“Never shoot at the bird,” Robert’s grandfather, Richard Funk, said. “Always in front of it.”

Robert enjoys going hunting when his grandfather asks him to go along. But the morning’s been slow. He’d prefer something a little more exciting, like football.

“Dove hunting — you’re kind of just sitting there,” Robert said. “In football, you get to go hit people.”

Hunters come to Kansas from across the country for a shot at the state’s deer, elk and turkey. But older Kansas hunters are setting down their rifles, and guided youth hunts — Kansas’ go-to method for attracting the next generation of hunters — aren’t stopping the decline among the next generations.

So the state is now working on a plan that focuses on what it stands to lose: 60% of Kansas’ conservation dollars (the rest comes from taxes on firearms and ammunition sales).

“We’re at that point where it’s like, hey, the bells and whistles are going off,” said Tim Donges, president of the Kansas branch of Quality Deer Management, a nonprofit hunting organization. “We’ve got a problem.”

Hunting’s decline and the results

More Americans are spending time outdoors, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional fishing lines are being cast. Would-be wildlife photographers are growing in numbers. But 2 million fewer hunters took to the field between 2011 and 2016.

Kansas has remained popular for out-of-state hunters, with the total number of licenses and permits more than doubling over the past two decades to over 150,000 total. In-state, though, hunting licenses have declined about 14%.

Hunting licenses of all kinds contribute about $28 million to the state’s conservation coffers. Out-of-state licenses cost more, and their popularity has made up for having fewer Kansas hunters. But 2019 was the first in five years where non-resident sales decline, showing there is not a guaranteed way of covering the cost of identity and protecting endangered Kansas species.

Hunting advocates blame several factors: There’s the other entertainment options competing for kids’ attention, from sports to Netflix. Plus, more Kansans live in cities, which requires a road trip to bag a buck.

Yet the biggest concern hunting advocates point to is a lack of public hunting land, the same thing that draws out-of-state hunters in. That is to say, a vacationing hunter with money can lease a ranch owner’s property, giving himself or herself a large stretch of open land.

But less than two percent of Kansas land is free and open to the public, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism. That’s less than nearly every other state.

“The state behind us is Rhode Island, so it’s not great,” said Brad Loveless, secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tourism.

The mainstay won’t stay

For years, Kansas encouraged younger hunters by taking kids out on guided hunts. Organized trips could break down the access barrier created by the limited amount of public hunting land. Mentors passed down hunting knowledge to kids whose parents didn’t participate in the sport. And the state figured that early exposure may lead to a lifelong interest.

It worked for 27-year-old Justin Saathoff: He killed his first deer on a youth hunt at Evergy’s Jeffrey Energy Center in Saint Mary in the northeast part of Kansas.

Justin Saathoff (right) leads a youth dove hunting event in September at the Jeffrey Energy Center near Saint Mary.

Saathoff, now a labor relations specialist at Evergy, gives back by leading youth hunts.

“Somebody does not have a true understanding of what hunting is until they actually go do it themselves,” Saathoff said.

Still, the youth numbers are declining. Hunting advocates say part of the problem is that it often takes several hunts to get someone hooked. Recruits can spend hours in the field without a guarantee of excitement or anything to show for the effort. For experienced hunters, that wait is worth it.

“It takes more than one time for somebody to understand what it takes to go out and hunt and be successful,” said Jim Pitman, a district biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation. “We need to be putting mentors with these people that can take them out multiple times.”

That requires a lot of volunteer hours and mentors. Evergy says it’s not short of mentors willing to lead the hunts, but younger guides like Saathoff are the exception. Mentorship programs are starting to see the same problem that hunting at large faces — the need to find young replacements.

The next steps

Past recruitment efforts emphasized the importance of continuing Kansas’ grand hunting heritage. “Carry on the tradition” is the subtitle for Kansas’ previous hunter recruitment plan, which was created in the 1990s under former Gov. Bill Graves. Funding the state’s conservation efforts came second.

“I don’t know that it’s ever going to be as popular as soccer or football,” said John Ritchey, the Kansas director for the conservation group Ducks Unlimited. “But there is a deep tradition and heritage that follows hunting that would be the saddest thing if it were to disappear.”

“My dad and brothers hunted, and I didn’t necessarily feel welcome to go out with them even though they invited me.”
So, while continuing the youth hunt tradition, the state is looking to flip that by leading with the conservation message.

Last year, Kansas hired 23-year-old Tanna Fanshier to be the Department of Wildlife and Tourism’s new hunting recruitment coordinator. She said the traditionalist message doesn’t work for the young Kansans she’s trying to recruit, and is betting causes like protecting wildlife will reach their ears.

“We’re kind of the ‘Go Fund Me’ generation,” Fanshier said. “We want to give our money to something that’s important to us.”

The department is looking to attract groups they know have historically been underrepresented in Kansas’ hunting scene. New women-only hunting education events will be led by women instructors.

“My dad and brothers hunted, and I didn’t necessarily feel welcome to go out with them even though they invited me,” Fanshier said.

Plus, Kansas is looking at starting gear-rental programs at colleges so students don’t have to have the money to buy or the space stash hunting equipment.

Kansas is also taking inspiration from other movements, like farm-to-table. Think field-to-fork: a way to encourage urban-dwelling Kansans to get some of their food from hunting for the same reasons they eat local. Fanshier has experimented with going to farmers’ markets to give away samples of meat gathered from a hunt, showing shoppers that game doesn’t have to taste gamey.

The full recruitment plan is about six months off. The overall goal isn’t to get the number of Kansas hunters back to where it was 50 years ago, Fanshier said. It’s keeping tradition alive, the conservations coffers filled and having urban dwellers spend a little less time in the city and more time connecting with the Kansas prairie.

Stephan Bisaha reports on education and young adult life for the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter @SteveBisaha or email him at bisaha (at) kmuw (dot) org. 

Kansas State is 0-2 in Big 12 play.

The Wildcats scored only one touchdown and a pair of field goals in a 31-12 loss to the Baylor Bears in front of 50,448 fans at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday. The Wildcat defense surrendered 426 yards of total offense to the Bears on only 23 minutes of possession in the game.  K-State’s only touchdown came on a five-yard pass from Skylar Thompson to Dalton Schoen with 6:24 remaining in the fourth quarter.

For Baylor it was just their third conference road win since 2016, but they are now off to a 5-0 start this season.

K-State Coach Chris Klieman noted opponents are running against the Wildcats. ” I thought early on they were blitzing the heck out of us and we did a really good job. Skylar did a good job of checking off to a lot of quick throws and quick hitches and those were good. Then they kept the blitzes on but they rolled their coverage which took a few things away.”

K-State ( 3-2 0-2 ) was 6-17 on third down conversions. Klieman stated. We have a really good plan for the three down. We have to execute the plan and we have to continue to get better.”

On low confidence for the Wildcats after to straight losses the coach said, “That’s human nature but that’s our jobs as coaches, to get them back and the jobs of seniors. We are all accountable.

We all have to get better and it starts with me and I’ve got to be better and make sure to push the right buttons.” Klieman added, “The seniors have to be better, everybody’s got to get invested a little bit more so that we can get this thing turned. Once again, we are going to get this thing turned, we’re 3we have a bye week probably not at a great time but we have the bye weeks s owe have to utilize it and get better.”

It was Military Appreciation Day. Army musicians performed with the KSU Pride of Wildcat Land Marching Band.

Skylar Thompson was asked how much the losses to Oklahoma State and Baylor the last two weeks have hurt the team’s confidence. “I mean it’s tough. Any time you go out and don’t play the way you want to….I don’t want to say it hurts our confidence because, y’know, I think we’re all confident in our ability and know what we should be able to do, but it just comes down to going out there and executing.”

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This next week will be a bye week for Kansas State before they host TCU on Oct. 19. The Wildcats wore an alternative uniform for the Baylor Game for the first time in 30 years, with white pants and white helmets.