Kansas Klips

Storm damage reports at Ellis and Russell Counties

ELLIS AND RUSSELL COUNTIES—After the wind and hail storm on Sunday, May 19th, went through Ellis and Russell Counties; hail reports ranged from golf ball-sized hail in Hays to threeinch hail in the Ellis and Gorham areas. High winds downed large limbs in Hays, with large hail breaking windows and damaging vehicles. Power outages were reported in Russell, with over 1,000 Midwest Energy customers without power north and east of Hays on Sunday afternoon. Three semis were reported overturned on Interstate 70 in the Gorham area. (Hays Post)

Kansas man turns himself in for shooting at driver

SALINE COUNTY—On Friday, May 17th, just after 10:00 p.m., police responded to a call of possible shots fired in the area of Santa Fe Avenue and Crawford Street in Salina, according to a media release. A 47-year-old man reported driving south on Santa Fe when a white Dodge truck nearly struck his vehicle. The male subject stopped behind the Dodge truck at Santa Fe and Crawford’s stoplight. The subject exited his vehicle and approached the Dodge truck to confront the driver. The Dodge truck driver then fired three gunshots in the direction of the subject, who was not struck. The Dodge truck left the area, and the shell casing located at the site. At approximately 11:40 p.m., officers responded to the Saline County Jail, where contact was made with 23-year-old Connor Schmeck of Salina. Schmeck had been brought to the jail by family to turn himself in for the “road rage” incident. A handgun was recovered. Schmeck was being held on one count of Aggravated Assault and Criminal Discharge of a Weapon. No one was injured during the incident. (Hays Post)

Two Kansas candy stores in national contest for best candy store

WICHITA—Two Kansas candy stores have been nominated for US Today’s 10 Best Candy Stores in the United States. For the contest, US Today consulted a panel of experts that then selected 20 candy stores and now want the public to vote for their favorite. US Today selected The Farris Wheel Candy Co. in Wichita and Sweet Granada in Emporia. US Today calls the family-owned gourmet candy store, The Farris Wheel, an “easy place to satisfy your sweet tooth.” The store offers a wide selection of treats, from fine chocolates and fancy candies to gummies and trail mixes. The Sweet Granada, which also recently opened a second location in Kansas City, Missouri, offers a variety of treats, such as truffles, fudge, Macaroons, and their dog-safe white-chocolate-dipped dog biscuits. However, they are best known for their Pop-Choc, which is buttery popcorn mixed with white and milk chocolate. People can vote for their favorite candy store once a day between now and 11:00 a.m. CDT on June 10th. The winners will be announced on June 19th. (KSNW)

WaKeeney teacher to be inducted into Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame

WAKEENEY—Ernie Brown will be inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame this summer along with seven other members of the Class of 2024. The class will be inducted at a luncheon in their honor, followed by the induction ceremony on Saturday, June 1st, at the Dodge City Civic Center. Brown began his teaching career in the fall of 1966 at Gorham Rural High School in Gorham, where he taught all of the science classes and assisted in coaching four sports until 1969. After completing his Master of Natural Science degree at the University in South Dakota in 1970, he returned to Kansas to accept a teaching position at Trego Community High School in WaKeeney, where he taught biology, advanced biology, and anatomy and physiology until his retirement in 2005. In addition, he taught “Methods of Teaching Biology #502” at Fort Hays State University to students who were prospective high school science teachers from 1988 to 1998. Brown has received numerous awards, honors, and recognitions during his 39-year teaching career. He has received the Christa McAuliffe Memorial Fellowship Award, the Kansas Master Teacher Award from Emporia State University, the University of Kansas Outstanding Teacher and Mentor Recognition Award, and the National Association of Biology Teachers Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for the State of Kansas. (Hays Post)