On November 23rd, United Way of Junction City/Geary County had the pleasure of working with 59 soldiers from A. - Company, 1st Engineer Battalion on the annual Day of Caring. Executive Director Nicole Mader announced that 11 houses were taken care of with leaves being raked and gutters cleaned. 

The residents of the homes are elderly and/or disabled. United Way already received several calls, emails, and thank you's from the residents.&nbsp;

Big Red One Soldiers assist local residents

Santa Claus will be at 12th Street Community Center on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 2:30 - 4 p.m. Children&nbsp; can visit with Santa, decorate a cookie and make a craft. Register at 785-238-7529.

Santa Claus will visit the 12th Street Community Center

The Junction City Fire Department has announced the retirement of Captain Matt Jackson. He has served the community for 34 years. 

Jackson was hired as a Firefighter/EMT on June 28, 1989. Captain Jackson has served in many positions during his career with the Junction City Fire Department. 

The public is invited to help celebrate his retirement at a reception on Friday, December 16 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the gymnasium at the Junction City Municipal Building, 700 N Jefferson Street.

Longtime Junction City Fire Department employee will retire

MANHATTAN —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Tuesday in Manhattan.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 1995 Buick Regal driven by Alexander Arnwine, 19, of Manhattan was westbound in the 2600 Block on Kimball Avenue.

The car left the roadway, struck a tree and overturned in the front yard of a house. 

EMS transported Arnwine to Via Christi for treatment for treatment of a significant leg laceration and ankle and hand pain.

Man hospitalized after car overturns in front yard of house

There will be some doctor changes that will apply when Geary Community Hospital is merged into Stormont Vail Health on Jan. 1.

Ashley King, GCH Public Relations Specialist, has confirmed that Dr. Jason Butler will remain at GCH in the emergency room on a full time basis. He has been employed by the Rural Health Clinic as a family practice physician.&nbsp; "And so we're excited that he will still be here to help with our population when they're at their most vulnerable point. "

"Dr. Todd Frieze is going over to Konza Prairie Community Health Center, " said King. He has been working as a family practice physician at GCH. King also noted that Chris Gardiner, physician assistant, is retiring at the end of the year. All three have been Geary Community Hospital employees.

Doctor transfer plans are being announced in Junction City

For a second consecutive year the Geary County Historical Society is conducting the Festival of Trees as a fundraiser. There is a silent auction filled with Christmas decor created by local artisans and businesses.&nbsp;

The silent auction began Tuesday at the Historical Museum and continues each day through Saturday when you can view and bid on items at the museum from 1-4 p.m.&nbsp; 

Sunday is the final day of bidding with a Christmas mixer at the museum. You can meet the designers while you make your final bids. The bidding will close at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Festival of Trees begins at the Geary County Historical Museum

Members of the Geary County K-State Research &amp; Extension Council recently conducted their annual elections.

2023 Geary County Extension Council Executive Board Members are:

Geary County Extension Council elects their Executive Board 

Geary Community Healthcare Foundation and members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. have partnered to provide coats, hats and gloves to Pre-K students at Sheridan Elementary School and the Early Childhood program of USD 475.

Coats ( sizes 4-8 ), hats and gloves will be collected from Dec. 31 through Jan. 14. Donations can be made at the Foundation office at 1310 W. Ash, Junction City.&nbsp;

For more information contact Tracy Geisler at the Healthcare Foundation at 785-210-3365 or geislert@gchks.org

Geary Community Healthcare Foundation and Kappa Alpha Psi will conduct a coat drive

Congratulations to Jeff Ryser of Salina, the Week 12 winner in Salina Pain Clinic's Gridiron Glory contest!

Jeff, who scored 14 of 16 points, wins $100.

Although the season is underway, you still have time to win!

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Sign up today</a>&nbsp;to make your picks for a chance to win great weekly prizes, including cash,&nbsp;gift cards, concert tickets, and Chiefs tickets.&nbsp;If you pick well, you'll also be in the running for the local season prize of $1,000 and a national season prize of a trip to Hawaii!

Don't miss out on the state's best pro football pick'em contest!&nbsp;

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6457a6fe-ce1b-48df-a651-5d8582b478f7?contestid=3#registration/login">Click here to register for Gridiron Glory</a>

Gridiron Glory: Congratulations Jeff Ryser!

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged arson at Manhattan High School.

Just before 11a.m. Monday, officers filed a report for aggravated arson at Manhattan High School in the 2100 block of Poyntz Avenue.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a bathroom soap dispenser was lit on fire. A teacher with a fire extinguisher&nbsp; quickly put the fire out.&nbsp; The incident remains under investigation.&nbsp;

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=353#">Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers</a>. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RCPD: Alleged arson fire in bathroom at Manhattan High

It's the The Glavan Ford of Clay Center Jingle Cash&nbsp; Contest. 

Listen on 107.9 FM/1420 KJCK at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p .m. weekdays for your chance to win $100 in&nbsp;<a href="https://reindeerradio.cash/">Jingle Cash</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;107.9 FM/1420 KJCK.

Glavan Ford of Clay Center Jingle Cash Contest

MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Led by Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah&nbsp;– who was also named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year – and Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year&nbsp;Cooper Beebe, a total of 17 Kansas State football players picked up postseason honors, as the Big 12 announced the 2022 Coaches’ All-Big 12 selections on Wednesday.

Anudike-Uzomah is the seventh player in school history to be named the conference defensive player of the year and the first since Jordan Willis – who was also the defensive lineman of the year – in 2016. It was the second-straight season that Anudike-Uzomah was named the conference’s top defensive lineman, the first ever two-time winner since the Big 12 began handing out the award in 2006.

Beebe is K-State’s first offensive lineman of the year since Dalton Risner in 2018 and the third since the Big 12 established the award in 2006 (B.J. Finney, 2014).

With the honors by Anudike-Uzomah and Beebe, the Wildcats rank second in Big 12 history with 37 individual awards. Oklahoma is first with 48 and Texas is third with 32.

Joining Anudike-Uzomah and Beebe on the first team were tight end&nbsp;Ben Sinnott&nbsp;and cornerback&nbsp;Julius Brents. K-State’s second-team selections included running back&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn, wide receiver&nbsp;Malik Knowles, punt returner&nbsp;Phillip Brooks, safety&nbsp;Kobe Savage&nbsp;and punter&nbsp;Ty Zentner.

The Wildcats had seven players named All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in cornerback&nbsp;Ekow Boye-Doe, offensive linemen&nbsp;Hayden Gillum&nbsp;and&nbsp;KT Leveston, linebackers&nbsp;Daniel Green&nbsp;and&nbsp;Austin Moore, nose guard&nbsp;Eli Huggins&nbsp;and quarterback&nbsp;Adrian Martinez. Additionally, Martinez earned votes for Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Brooks for Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, Savage for Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, Vaughn for Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and running back&nbsp;DJ Giddens&nbsp;for Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.

The only Big 12 defender to be a unanimous first-team selection, Anudike-Uzomah has a team-leading 7.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss among his 39 tackles this season as 25.6% of his stops have been for lost yardage despite being the recipient of consistent double-team blocking. He has tallied at least a half TFL in eight of 12 games and at least a half sack in six contests. A product of Kansas City, Missouri, Anudike-Uzomah tallied 3.0 sacks against Texas Tech to tie for fourth in a game in school history. He has 19.5 career sacks to rank 10th&nbsp;in school history, while his eight career forced fumbles are tied for fourth and one shy of the school record.

Beebe, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, has started each of the last 30 games, including all 12 contests this season at left guard. He has not surrendered a sack among his 358 pass blocking snaps this year and is currently riding a 27-game streak without allowing a sack dating back to his redshirt freshman campaign of 2020. Beebe earned All-Big 12 First Team honors for a second-straight year, the first Wildcat offensive lineman to do so since Risner was a three-time All-Big 12 First Team performer from 2016 to 2018.

A former walk-on from Waterloo, Iowa, Sinnott has emerged as one of the top receiving threats from his tight end/fullback position, hauling in 15 catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns over the last five games. He had consecutive 80-yard performances against Baylor and West Virginia, including a career high 89-yard, two-touchdown effort in K-State’s 31-3 win over the Bears. His two touchdowns were the most by a K-State tight end since 1996. He enters this week’s Big 12 Championship ranked 10th&nbsp;in school history in single-season receiving yards by a tight end with 382 yards.

Brents, a product of Indianapolis, Indiana and former transfer from Iowa, has three interceptions this year to tie for fifth in the Big 12 and tops on the team. Showing more physicality this season, Brents has 40 tackles and a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, while his six total passes defended are also a career best. He totaled a career-high nine tackles at Oklahoma and a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss at TCU.

Kansas State, which was ranked 10th&nbsp;in the penultimate College Football Playoff Top 25 on Tuesday evening, takes on No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on Saturday. The game, which will be the backdrop for ESPN’s&nbsp;College Gameday&nbsp;beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, kicks off at 11 a.m. from AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will be shown on ABC with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe on the call.

Coaches’ All-Big 12 Teams (Kansas State)

Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year:&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year:&nbsp;Cooper Beebe.

Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year:&nbsp;Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

First Team:&nbsp;Ben Sinnott (FB), Cooper Beebe (OL), Felix Anudike-Uzomah (DL), Julius Brents (DB).

Second Team:&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn (RB), Malik Knowles (WR), Phillip Brooks (KR/PR), Kobe Savage (DB), Ty Zentner (P).

Honorable Mention:&nbsp;Ekow Boye-Doe (DB), Phillip Brooks (Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year), DJ Giddens (Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year), Hayden Gillum (OL), Daniel Green (LB), Eli Huggins (DL), KT Leveston (OL), Adrian Martinez (QB, Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year), Austin Moore (LB), Kobe Savage (Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year), Deuce Vaughn (Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year).

Associate Athletics Director for Communications

Seventeen Wildcats Garner All-Big 12 Accolades

LAWRENCE, Kan. - John Hadl, a homegrown football legend at the University of Kansas who went on to become a professional football star, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 82 years old.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hadl made a name for himself at Lawrence High School as an all-state halfback for the football team and as a centerfielder for the baseball team. To the delight of Lawrence residents, Hadl chose to play for KU.

His ability as an all-around athlete served him well as he transitioned into the college game. As a sophomore in 1959, in his first season of collegiate eligibility, Hadl led the NCAA in punting (45.6 yards per punt) and set KU records for the longest punt (94 yards, which still stands) and the longest interception return (98 yards, which stood until 2007).&nbsp;

But it was his junior and senior campaigns that etched his name into the history books. Hadl’s versatility propelled him to excel both as a halfback and quarterback. With Hadl running the offense, the Jayhawks were ranked in the top-20 his junior and senior years and finished the two-season span 14-5-2. He wrapped up his Kansas career leading his team to the program’s first-ever bowl victory, a 33-7 decision over Rice in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.

Statement from Director of Athletics Travis Goff

“John Hadl had a generational impact on Kansas Football, the University of Kansas and the Lawrence community. He was a once-in-a-lifetime Jayhawk student-athlete, a coach and mentor, a prolific fundraiser who developed profound relationships with countless, and the ultimate ambassador for KU. In short, our University and athletic program has been transformed by John and his legacy will forever be cemented. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with Diana and the Hadl family. We will deeply miss John and his contagious smile but will proudly honor him and his unrivaled legacy as we move forward.”

Statement from Head Football Coach Lance Leipold

“Upon my arrival, I heard instantly from people across the state about John’s impact to this department, not just as a student-athlete and coach, but as someone who dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to the University of Kansas. His desire to enhance KU and make it as special as possible truly resonated with me. To be the head coach of this program and see his statue every day outside Anderson Family Football Complex, is a firm reminder of the passion and love that John had for this program. Kelly and I send our condolences to the Hadl family and his loved ones.”

An inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame (1994), Hadl was the first Kansas player to be picked twice for All-America honors (1960 and 1961). He was also named the Most Valuable Player of both the East-West Shrine game and the College All-Star game after the 1961 season.

Hadl then enjoyed a successful 16-year career as a professional quarterback, most notably with the San Diego Chargers. A six-time Pro Bowler, he played in three American Football League Championship games and was named National Football Conference Player of the Year in 1973.&nbsp; He was named the 1971 National Football League Man of the Year and is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. Hadl was selected with the 10th&nbsp;overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft.

After retiring from professional football in 1977, Hadl returned to his hometown and to his true love, the University of Kansas, as an assistant football coach. As assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 1981 he helped lead the Jayhawks to the Hall of Fame Bowl. His players loved him, having come to understand his passion for and knowledge of the game. In the mid-1980’s he coached in the NFL and the USFL.

In 1988 Hadl returned to KU to join the Williams Education Fund.&nbsp; For 30 years he was at the forefront of fundraising for the construction and renovation of KU’s athletics facilities. Hadl retired from his position in the Kansas Athletics’ Williams Education Fund in October of 2018.&nbsp;

A Jayhawk at heart, John Hadl will forever be honored as a member of the Kansas football Ring of Honor and the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame. His No. 21 is one of three Kansas football numbers to be retired (Gale Sayers No. 48 and Ray Evans No. 42).

Hadl’s legacy was celebrated during the 2020 season with a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/watch-live-unveiling-of-john-hadl-and-gale-sayers-statues/">statue unveiling</a>&nbsp;outside of Anderson Family Football Complex. He is one of two Jayhawks to be commemorated.

🏈 Hometown legend John Hadl passes away at 82

LAWRENCE -&nbsp;John Hadl, a homegrown football legend at the University of Kansas who went on to become a professional football star, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 82 years old.&nbsp;&nbsp;

His ability as an all-around athlete served him well as he transitioned into the college game. As a sophomore in 1959, in his first season of collegiate eligibility, Hadl led the NCAA in punting (45.6 yards per punt) and set KU records for the longest punt (94 yards, which still stands) and the longest interception return (98 yards, which stood until 2007).

“John Hadl had a generational impact on Kansas football, the University of Kansas and the Lawrence community. He was a once-in-a-lifetime Jayhawk student-athlete, a coach and mentor, a prolific fundraiser who developed profound relationships with countless, and the ultimate ambassador for KU. In short, our University and athletic program has been transformed by John and his legacy will forever be cemented. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with Diana and the Hadl family. We will deeply miss John and his contagious smile but will proudly honor him and his unrivaled legacy as we move forward,” said KU Director of Athletics Travis Goff.

“Upon my arrival, I heard instantly from people across the state about John’s impact to this department, not just as a student-athlete and coach, but as someone who dedicated nearly 40 years of his life to the University of Kansas. His desire to enhance KU and make it as special as possible truly resonated with me. To be the head coach of this program and see his statue every day outside Anderson Family Football Complex, is a firm reminder of the passion and love that John had for this program. Kelly and I send our condolences to the Hadl family and his loved ones,” said KU&nbsp;Head Football Coach Lance Leipold.

Hadl then enjoyed a successful 16-year career as a professional quarterback, most notably with the San Diego Chargers. A six-time Pro Bowler, he played in three American Football League Championship games and was named National Football Conference Player of the Year in 1973.&nbsp; He was named the 1971 National Football League Man of the Year and is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame. Hadl was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft.

Hadl’s legacy was celebrated during the 2020 season with a&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=3846a6408b9536a51afeabac1&amp;id=6251a7c0c7&amp;e=42e2e56024" target="_blank">statue unveiling</a>&nbsp;outside of Anderson Family Football Complex. He is one of two Jayhawks to be commemorated.

KU's hometown legend John Hadl dies at 82

<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/watch/?Archive=22041&amp;type=Archive" target="_blank">Watch Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/chris-klieman-press-conference-november-29-2022/4785" target="_blank">Listen to Coach Klieman’s Press Conference</a>&nbsp; |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kstatesports.com/podcasts/player-media-availability-november-29-2022/4784" target="_blank">Listen to Player Breakout Interviews</a> MANHATTAN, Kan.&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday inside the Vanier Family Football Complex as No. 12 Kansas State travels to Arlington, Texas, this Saturday to face third-ranked TCU in the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship. Links to video and audio of Klieman’s press conference – which was streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ – are above in addition to an audio link of player breakout interviews. A transcript of Klieman’s opening statement is below.

“Well, good afternoon, everyone. Excited for the guys last Saturday to come out and play really well and earn the opportunity to represent this program in the Big 12 Championship. A lot of distractions last week, a lot of potential distractions, whether it would be Senior Day, last game at home, to the weather, to playing your rival, all those things. I thought our guys did a really good job of blocking out as much of the outside noise as they could and focus on just playing a really good game against a much improved, really good Kansas team. I thought there was some ups and downs, but for the most part I thought our kids handled everything really well. We found a way to get a pretty good win, in front of a great crowd. That was phenomenal crowd. We’ve had great crowds all year, and that one would be hard to top as loud as they were from the opening kickoff to the very end, seeing our players go and engage with the fans afterwards. I thought it was a great crowd and I can't thank them enough.”

K-State Previews Big 12 Championship at Weekly Press Conference

THE TOP 5 1)&nbsp;Kansas State will be making its fourth all-time appearance in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship on Saturday, as the 13th-ranked Wildcats will square off with third-ranked TCU at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will be televised nationally on ABC beginning at 11 a.m., with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Holly Rowe calling the action.

2)&nbsp;K-State is 9-3 this season with all three losses coming against teams that are currently ranked in No. 3 TCU, No. 18 Tulane and No 21 Texas. The Cats are bowl eligible for the third time under Chris Klieman and will advance to their 24th bowl appearance in school history, including the 11th in the last 13 seasons. Klieman is the first coach in school history to send three of his first four squads to the postseason.

3)&nbsp;Last time out, K-State scored 30 first-half points and used a dominant second-half defensive performance to top Kansas, 47-27. Deuce Vaughn ran for 147 yards and had 82 receiving yards, while Malik Knowles had two rushing touchdowns. Defensively, K-State held Kansas to just six points and 96 yards in the second half while holding the Jayhawks to their second-lowest offensive output of the year.

4)&nbsp;Deuce Vaughn has 1,295 rushing yards this season to record his second-straight season with 1,000 rushing yards – just the third player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard seasons. He ranks second in school history in career rushing yards (3,341) and moved into seventh place in school history for a season with his performance last week.

5)&nbsp;The Cats have been solid on defense, allowing just 19.4 points per game and 357.3 total yards per game. This week, they rank second nationally in turnover margin, ninth in interceptions, 10th in fourth down defense, 14th in scoring defense and 17th in pass efficiency defense. The Cats have kept each of their Big 12 opponents this year under their season scoring average entering its game against K-State while also holding three conference opponents without a touchdown.

Kansas State prepares for TCU in Big 12 title game

MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;Suzie Fritz, K-State’s all-time winningest volleyball coach, will not return in 2023 following 22 years leading the Wildcats. Fritz, who took over the program in 2001, has helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA Tournament 17 times, including 13 as the head coach. “Coach Fritz has poured all of her energy into this program for the last 20-plus years, and we will forever be grateful for her leadership and advancement of K-State Volleyball,” Athletics Director Gene Taylor said. &nbsp; <a>Fritz&nbsp;boasts a career mark of 393-263&nbsp;(.599) in her 22 seasons and has led the Wildcats to a national ranking in 12&nbsp;different campaigns. She owns a 201-191&nbsp;(.513)&nbsp;record in Big 12 action and helped lead the Wildcats to their first and only Big 12 title in 2003. </a> A national search for her replacement will begin immediately. “With our rich tradition of winning, along with the competitiveness of the Big 12 Conference and the new Morgan Family Arena – which we believe will be one of the nicest volleyball venues in the country when it opens next season – we are confident that great success lies ahead for our volleyball program,” Taylor added.

– k-statesports.com –

Executive Associate Athletics Director for Communications/PR

K-State volleyball coach Fritz will not return in 2023

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Will Howard threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns, Deuce Vaughn ran for 147 yards and a score, and No. 15 Kansas State pounded Kansas 47-27 on Saturday night to earn a shot at payback against TCU in the Big 12 championship game.

Malik Knowles added a pair of touchdown runs, and Philip Brooks and Sammy Wheeler also reached the end zone, as the Wildcats (9-3, 7-2, No. 12 CFP) beat their biggest rival for the 14th straight time in a game they needed to win.

Kansas State blew a 28-10 lead and lost 38-28 to the Horned Frogs during the regular season. Now, they'll face each other again on Dec. 3 at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a College Football Playoff spot likely on the line for TCU.

It will be the first time the Wildcats play in the Big 12 title game, which went on hiatus from 2010-17, since toppling then-No. 1 Oklahoma in 2003 during Hall of Fame coach Bill Snyder's first tenure. The Horned Frogs were beaten by the Sooners in their only previous appearance in the 2017 championship game.

Jalon Daniels threw for 168 yards while running for a touchdown, and Devin Neal also had two TD runs, as the Jayhawks — bowl-bound for the first time since 2008 — finished the regular season by losing six of their final seven games.

Kansas (6-6, 3-6) made enough mistakes in the first quarter alone Saturday night to fill an entire game.

The result was a hole it could never escape.

The trouble began when O.J. Burroughs muffed a punt after a nice stand by the Jayhawks' defense, and Knowles needed one play to scoot in from the 5 for a touchdown. And after Kansas answered with a 75-yard scoring drive, its defense blew the coverage on Wheeler on a 42-yard touchdown pass.

On the ensuing kickoff, Trevor Wilson was mobbed at the 10-yard line, and another penalty on the return buried the Kansas offense. On third down, Bryce Cabeldue was called for holding in the end zone to give Kansas State a safety.

After the free kick, the Wildcats cruised to the end zone again for a 23-7 lead after one quarter.

The game soon turned into a track meet: Kansas marched through a suddenly driving rainstorm for two quick touchdowns around another score by the Wildcats, leaving them with a 30-21 advantage heading into the break.

Another major mistake by Kansas — a fumble by Torry Locklin in the third quarter — gave the Wildcats another short field, and Vaughn carried eight times on a nine-play drive before finding the end zone and putting the game out of reach.

Kansas has earned a reputation under Lance Leipold for playing mistake-free football, yet a multitude of mistakes on both sides of the ball gave the Wildcats more opportunities than they needed to hold onto the Governor's Cup.

Kansas State has struggled defensively the past two weeks, giving up 31 points to West Virginia before coughing up plenty of yards against the Jayhawks. Joe Klanderman's bunch will need to do better against the Horned Frogs.

The Wildcats have a week to prepare for TCU while Kansas awaits its bowl destination.

K-State rolls by Kansas in Big 12 football

Manhattan 21, Gardner-Edgerton 20, 2OT

Manhattan wins the Class 6A State football championship

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Santiago Vescovi scored 20 points while No. 22 Tennessee locked down on third-ranked Kansas to beat the reigning national champions 64-50 in the championship game at the Battle 4 Atlantis. Vescovi hit five 3-pointers to drive the offense for the Volunteers and was named the tournament's most valuable player. Tennessee won all three tournament games despite not having leading scorer Josiah-Jordan James due to knee soreness. Jalen Wilson and Joseph Yesefu each scored 14 points for Kansas, which shot 32.1%. The loss ended Kansas' 17-game winning streak dating to last year's run to the NCAA title.

Jayhawks fall to Tennessee in Battle 4 Atlantis

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating weekend fentanyl deaths at an unhoused encampment in Sedgwick County have identified two more victims as&nbsp;35-year-old Brandon Randall and 31-year-old Cody Maxey both of Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

Just after 8a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an overdose call in the 2900 hundred block of South Washington in Wichita, according to Ditch.

First responders found the body of a 20-year-old woman identified as Stevie Metts of Wichita and Randall unresponsive and unconscious. They were pronounced deceased on the scene. 

&nbsp;Maxey and a 41-year-old woman were also located nearby unresponsive and unconscious.&nbsp; EMS transported them to a local hospital in grave condition. 

On Wednesday, Ditch reported Maxey died at the hospital. The woman remains hospitalized in critical condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;Police believe these are cases of fentanyl poisoning.

The Wichita Police Department reminds the public to only take prescription pills given to you by a Doctor.

Anyone who might know anything about this case is asked to call investigators at 316-268-4407, Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111, or the See Something Say Something hotline at 316-519-2282

Police: 3rd victim dies in Kan. fentanyl death investigation

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/economic-instability-pushing-kpers-investment-returns-into-negative-territory/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Volatility in the stock 
market will push annual return on investment to the Kansas Public 
Employees Retirement System into negative territory at close of the 
year, the pension system’s executive director said Tuesday.

The assumed investment return for KPERS was adjusted downward in May 
from 7.75% to 7%. To strengthen the bottom line, the Kansas Legislature 
agreed to pump an extra $1.1 billion into the system.

The snapshot on investment return will be calculated based on 
financial position of the portfolio Dec. 31, said Alan Conroy, executive
 director of KPERS.

“If you have the strength to watch the markets these days, the 
volatility — October was a great month, but some of the months have not 
been so good,” Conroy told House and Senate members at the Capitol. 
“We’ll see where we end up at the end of December. But, I think, where 
we stand right now, the return will probably be negative for calendar 
year 2022.”

Conroy didn’t offer a projection as to how far under water the $24.8 
billion portfolio would be at close of this year’s business.

Advocates of KPERS’ 300,000 members with careers in schools, the 
judiciary, law enforcement, firefighting and other government entities 
have pressured the Legislature for years to approve a cost of living 
increase, with many of those proposals ranging from 1% to 5%.

In Kansas, the last cost of living adjustment was issued in 1998 and 
the last one-time cash bonus to retirees was made in 2008. The 
Legislature authorized 16 cost-of-living adjustments from 1971 to 1997.

Sen. Rick Billinger, a Goodland Republican and chairman of the Senate
 Ways and Means Committee, said he wasn’t convinced the state should 
grant a COLA because it would inflate the system’s long term unfunded 
liability above the current $9.8 billion. KPERS is a prefunded system 
that invests employee and employer contributions to pay benefits years 
into the future. A COLA, which can be viewed as an unfunded benefit 
change, would exacerbate the unfunded liability.

“The stock market is down today,” Billinger told Conroy during a 
meeting of an interim House-Senate committee. “And, you’re going to 
probably be negative or this year. We’re not going to short anybody what
 we have been paying them all along. They’re going to continue to get 
that check, even though the market is down.”

The senator said a COLA would repeat mistakes of the past when the 
Legislature made a series of insufficient contributions to KPERS.

“That’s the problem with our whole system now,” Billinger said. “We 
didn’t make the required contributions when we were supposed to.”

Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa, said only 10% of current KPERS 
retires were around in 1998 when the last COLA was approved. He said 
various legislative committees with ties to KPERS ought to seriously 
consider making the first adjustment in a quarter century.

Economy pushing KPERS returns into negative territory

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/christine-mcvie">Christine McVie,</a>&nbsp;the British-born Fleetwood Mac vocalist, songwriter and keyboard player whose cool, soulful contralto helped define such classics as “You Make Loving Fun,” “Everywhere” and “Don’t Stop,” died Wednesday at age 79.

Her death was announced on the band’s social media accounts. No cause of death or other details were immediately provided, but a family statement said she “passed away peacefully at hospital this morning” with family around her after a “short illness.”

“She was truly one-of-a-kind, special and talented beyond measure,” the band’s statement reads in part.

McVie was a steady presence and personality&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/music-north-america-ap-top-news-entertainment-new-york-4e162817a630418887f50375a18e15bd">in a band known</a>&nbsp;for its frequent lineup changes and volatile personalities — notably fellow singer-songwriters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stevie-nicks">Stevie Nicks</a>&nbsp;and Lindsey Buckingham. Her death is the first among Fleetwood Mac's most famous incarnation of McVie, Nicks, Buckingham, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, Christine's ex-husband.

Fleetwood Mac started out as a London blues band in the 1960s, and evolved into one of the defining makers of 1970s California pop-rock, with the talents of McVie, Nicks and Buckingham anchored by the rhythm section of Fleetwood and John McVie.

During its peak commercial years, from 1975-80, the band sold tens of millions of records and fascinated fans as it transformed personal battles into melodic, compelling songs. The McVies' breakup — along with the split of Nicks and Buckingham — was famously documented on the 1977 release “Rumours,” among the bestselling albums of all time.

Everyone in the group played a distinctive role: Fleetwood and John McVie formed a deep and bluesy groove, Buckingham was the resident mad genius and perfectionist, Nicks the charismatic dramatist and idol to countless young women and Christine McVie the grounded counterpoint, her economy as a singer and player well suited to her birth surname: Perfect.

“I was supposedly like the Mother Teresa who would hang out with everybody or just try and (keep) everything nice and cool and relaxed," she told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “But they were great people; they were great friends.”

Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. The group’s many other hit singles included Nicks’ “Dreams,” Buckingham’s “Go Your Own Way” and McVie’s “Little Lies.” One of McVie’s most beloved works, the thoughtful ballad “Songbird,” was a showcase for her in concert and covered by Willie Nelson, among others.

The midtempo rocker “Don't Stop," inspired by the end of her marriage, would gain unexpected political relevance when Bill Clinton adopted the song — and its “Don't stop thinking about tomorrow” refrain — as a theme to his 1992 presidential run.

McVie’s two marriages, to John McVie and Eduardo Quintela, both ended in divorce. Her boyfriends included the Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson, about whom she wrote “Only Over You."

McVie, born Christine Anne Perfect in Bouth, Lancashire, came from a musical family. Her father was a violinist and music teacher and her grandfather played organ at Westminster Abbey. She had been playing piano since childhood, but set aside her classical training once she heard early rock records by Fats Domino and others.

While studying at the Moseley School of Art, she befriended various members of Britain’s emerging blues scene and, in her 20s, joined the band Chicken Shack as a singer and piano player. Among the rival bands she admired was Fleetwood Mac, which then featured the talents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-international-news-entertainment-mick-fleetwood-b-b-king-4d0f163fa8fdbfe5627830912bfc99af">blues guitarist Peter Green</a>&nbsp;along with the rhythm section of Fleetwood and John McVie. By 1970, she had joined the group and married John McVie.

Few bands succeeded so well as Fleetwood Mac, which has sold well over 100 million records, against such long odds. Green was among the many performers who left the group, and at various times Fleetwood Mac seemed on the verge of ending, or fading away. It was rescued by unexpected returns and interventions — including Clinton's — and one of rock's most fortuitous and lucrative hunches.

In the mid-1970s, Fleetwood Mac was down to just three members, Fleetwood and the two McVies. While spending time in Los Angeles, Fleetwood learned of a young duo from California, Buckingham and Nicks, that had recorded the little known album “Buckingham Nicks.” Impressed by their sound, he initially planned to ask just Buckingham to join, but the guitarist insisted the band also include Nicks, his girlfriend at the time.

The new lineup proved ideal, and almost instantly magical. Nicks and Christine McVie formed a lasting friendship, agreeing that as two of the rare women in rock they would always stand up for each other. And the harmonies and music making of Nicks, Buckingham and Christine McVie insured that such albums as “Fleetwood Mac," “Rumours” and “Mirage” had an enviable quality and variety of songwriting and vocal styles.

But the group's overwhelming success also led to inevitable conflicts and the desire for solo work. Over the following decades, Nicks became a star in her own right with such solo albums as “Bella Donna" and both Buckingham and Christine McVie departed for years — only to eventually come back.

The pair recorded the 2017 album “Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie.” She previously released the solo records “Christine Perfect,” “Christine McVie” and “In the Meantime.”

More recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c5a7d7db2aec4187b2510be2027f6288">Buckingham was kicked out,</a>&nbsp;replaced on tour by Mike Campbell and Neil Finn.

An anthology of her solo work, “Songbird,” was released earlier this year.

Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter has died

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After a case lasting almost four years, the former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Kansas City&nbsp; on a multimillion check kiting scheme.

Tyler Gillum, former owner of the Plainville Livestock Commission, per a sentencing agreement, was sentenced by Judge Daniel Crabtree to 60 months in prison and more than $7.2 million in restitution.

Gillum's sentences on all counts will run concurrently. He will be required to serve three years of post-release supervision.

The restitution included $6.8 million to Landmark National Bank of Manhattan, Kan., $250,000 to Federal Insurance Company and $208,000 to TBK Bank of Dallas.

Gillum will owe an additional $3,300 in fines.

As a part of his sentencing agreement, he has agreed not to appeal his conviction or sentencing.

Gillum was convicted on 33 federal counts, including 31 counts of bank fraud, one count of making a false statement in connection with a Small Business Administration guaranteed loan, and one count of making a false statement in a loan or credit card application.

In the aftermath of Gillum's crimes, payments to ranchers for the sale of their cattle were delayed almost a year, banks were defrauded of millions of dollars and a rural bank closed.

Gillum owned and operated Plainville Livestock Commission Inc. from 2006 until 2019.

Between January 2015 and August 2017, Gillum wrote checks and made wire transfers between various accounts under his control at various banks in a scheme commonly known as check kiting, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

This is when checks are continually written back and forth to fraudulently inflate account balances, tricking banks into honoring checks written with insufficient funds. Gillum’s scheme resulted in losses of more than $10 million to the banking system, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Bank officials stepped in in February 2019. Almena Bank froze Gillum's accounts, including a custodial account, which was supposed to hold money due to ranchers who sold cattle at Gillum's livestock auctions.

Checks from the Plainville Livestock Commission for two sales — one at the end of January 2019 and the other on Feb. 5, 2019 — bounced.

Ranchers who were due more than $900,000 in auction proceeds had to wait more than 10 months to receive payment for their cattle.

Plainville Livestock Commission declared bankruptcy on March 1, 2019

In October 2020, Almena Bank failed. "The $69 million-asset bank was closed by its state regulator, then sold by the FDIC to Equity Bank in Andover," according to a story in the American Banker on March 26, 2021.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e0ef87c4-7036-4352-a580-28d25241adc0">The delayed payment to ranchers and Plainville Livestock Commission bankruptcy had lasting effects on the Plainville and area ag communities.</a>

NW Kan. man sentenced for scheme that cost banks millions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House moved urgently to head off the looming nationwide rail strike on Wednesday, passing a bill that would bind companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September but rejected by some of the 12 unions involved.

The measure passed by a vote of 290-137 and now heads to the Senate. If approved there, it will be signed by President Joe Biden, who urged the Senate to act swiftly.

“Without the certainty of a final vote to avoid a shutdown this week, railroads will begin to halt the movement of critical materials like chemicals to clean our drinking water as soon as this weekend," Biden said. “Let me say that again: without action this week, disruptions to our auto supply chains, our ability to move food to tables, and our ability to remove hazardous waste from gasoline refineries will begin."

Business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Farm Bureau Federation have warned that halting rail service would cause a $2 billion per day hit to the economy.

The bill would impose a compromise labor agreement brokered by the Biden administration that was ultimately voted down by four of the 12 unions representing more than 100,000 employees at large freight rail carriers. The unions have threatened to strike if an agreement can’t be reached before a Dec. 9 deadline.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed reservations about overriding the negotiations. And the intervention was particularly difficult for Democratic lawmakers who have traditionally sought to align themselves with the politically powerful labor unions that criticized Biden’s move to intervene in the contract dispute and block a strike.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to that concern by adding a second vote Wednesday that would add seven days of paid sick leave per year for rail workers covered under the agreement. However, it will take effect only if the Senate goes along and passes both measures. The House passed the sick leave measure as well, but by a much narrower margin, 221-207, as Republicans overwhelmingly opposed it, indicating that prospects for passage of that add-on are slim in the evenly divided Senate.

The call for more paid sick leave was a major sticking point in the talks. The railroads say the unions have agreed in negotiations over the decades to forgo paid sick time in favor of higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits.

The head of the Association of American Railroads trade group said Tuesday that railroads would consider adding paid sick time in the future, but said that change should wait for a new round of negotiations instead of being added now, near the end of three years of contract talks.

The unions maintain that railroads can easily afford to add paid sick time at a time when they are recording record profits. Several of the big railroads involved in these contract talks reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter.

“Quite frankly, the fact that paid leave is not part of the final agreement between railroads and labor is, in my opinion, obscene," said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. “It should be there and I hope it will be there at the end of this process."

Most rail workers don’t receive any paid sick time but they do have short-term disability benefits that kick in after as little as four days and can replace some of their income for a year or more. Rail workers do receive vacation and personal leave days, but workers say it’s difficult to use those for illnesses because they must typically be approved far ahead of time.

Republicans also voiced support for the measure to block the strike, but criticized the Biden administration for turning to Congress to “step in to fix the mess.”

“They've retreated in failure and they kicked this problem to Congress for us to decide,” said Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo.

Republicans criticized Pelosi's decision to add the sick leave bill to the mix. They said the Biden administration's own special board of arbitrators recommended higher wages to compensate the unions for not including sick time in its recommendations.

“Why do we even have the system set up the way it is if Congress is going to come in and make changes to all of the recommendations?" Graves said.

Pelosi sought to position Democrats and the Biden administration as defenders of unions and slammed the rail companies, saying they've slashed jobs, increased worker hours and cut corners on safety. But she said Congress needed to intervene.

“Families wouldn't be able to buy groceries or life-saving medications because it would be even more expensive and perishable goods would spoil before reaching shelves," Pelosi said.

The compromise agreement that was supported by the railroads and a majority of the unions provides for 24% raises and $5,000 in bonuses retroactive to 2020 along with one additional paid leave day. The raises would be the biggest rail workers have received in more than four decades. Workers would have to pay a larger share of their health insurance costs, but their premiums would be capped at 15% of the total cost of the insurance plan. The agreement did not resolve workers’ concerns about schedules that make it hard to take a day off and the lack of more paid sick time.

On several past occasions, Congress has intervened in labor disputes by enacting legislation to delay or prohibit railway and airline strike

Local

Region

Sports