Kansas Klips

Northwest Kansas airborne electromagnetic survey of aquifer conditions planned

LAWRENCE—What started in late May and will continue for much of June will have residents of northwest Kansas seeing a low-flying helicopter towing a sizeable hexagonal frame. This unusual arrangement is part of a project to map groundwater conditions in the Ogallala aquifer in northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District No. 4. Thanks to funding from the governor’s office and the Kansas Water Office, GMD4 and the Kansas Geological Survey, working with Aqua Geo Frameworks LLC of Fort Laramie, Wyoming, have planned the helicopter flights to develop a better understanding of the Ogallala aquifer. AGF has performed more than 20,000 miles of similar airborne electromagnetic surveys in Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming, with this the first of its kind flown in Kansas. Scientific equipment will hang below the helicopter 100 to 200 feet above ground. The equipment is designed to map geologic structures and groundwater resources to approximately 1,000 feet below the land surface. The aircraft will be flown at about 50 mph by pilots specially trained for low-level flying and with significant experience with airborne electromagnetic surveys. Flights will not occur over residential areas, other buildings, livestock feeding operations, or wind turbines. The Ogallala aquifer is the primary water resource for agricultural, industrial, and municipal use in GMD4. Intensive pumping for the aquifer over the last 60-plus years has resulted in significant groundwater level declines in Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, and Cheyenne Counties. The information obtained in these flights will allow GMD4 and the Kansas Geological Survey to assess better the nature and continuity of water-yielding materials in the aquifer. (Hays Post)

Proposed redevelopment in downtown Hays will rehab blighted building

HAYS—Local developer Adam Pray has plans to rehabilitate the former Hays State Bank building at 1108 North Main, which has been vacant for more than 40 years, into a luxury short-term rental Airbnb called Chestnut Suites. Pray seeks a $300,000.00 community development block grant through the Kansas Department of Commerce’s commercial rehabilitation program. Hays city commissioners have approved the resolutions to declare the building a blight and apply for the grant. Cities and counties must be the official applicants for those state funds. A matching fund of 25% is required as part of the grant program and will be paid by the developer. No city funds will be disbursed for the $3.26 million project. Renovation plans call for 24 to 26 rooms for short-term or 30-plus-day renters. The rooms would be designed similar to those of traditional hotels. The guest common area will include an ice machine, microwave, sink, dining room area, and bar. Laundry will also be available for the long-term tenants. Grow Hays Executive Director Doug Williams said the City would benefit from having the property back on the tax rolls after 40 years. He also addressed parking concerns in downtown Hays and said he anticipates older buildings that are no longer viable could be turned into parking lots in the next five to ten years. Because the building is located in the historic Chestnut Street District, the façade cannot be updated or changed for five years, according to National Register of Historic Places regulations. (Hays Post)

Prison for Kansas doctor who sold pain pills without a prescription

WICHITA—According to court documents, Steven R. Henson, 63, of Wichita, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to dispense, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; eight counts of dispensing and aiding and abetting with possession with intent to distrusted controlled substances; five counts of dispensing controlled substances; and six counts of money laundering. The former Kansas physician was sentenced to 120 months in prison following a jury trial conviction and a plea agreement based on the charges of selling opioid prescriptions to customers without a legitimate medical need for powerful pain medications, according to the United States Attorney. Between July 2014 and August 2015, Henson admits to examining illegitimate pain patients at his clinic in Wichita and writing them prescripts for oxycodone, methadone, and alprazolam in exchange for cash. He would typically meet his co-conspirator customers during non-business hours without staff present and charge $300.00 for the visit. These co-conspirator customers told Henson which controlled substances they wanted, and he would oblige with a prescription without conducting an examination, obtaining medical history, or determining if the requested medication was needed. Henson would often prescribe the highest possible strengths and pill counts. (Hays Post)

Record-setting oldest male driver keeps on truckin’ from Phillipsburg

PHILLIPSBURG—Not everyone can say they like their job. Even fewer people can say they still enjoy what they do at the age of 90.And just one man, Doyle Archer, Logan, can say he’s the “oldest Truck/Lorry/Heavy Goods Vehicle Male Driver.” Archer, a driver for Coomes, Inc. Trucking Company in Phillipsburg, was recently admitted into the Guinness Book of World Records after winning the title at the age of 90 years and 55 days.Archer has been a leased driver for Coomes, a second- and third-generation-owned trucking company since 2004. Archer has been running big rigs for more than 60 years and takes pride in being a very good defensive driver. Archer has hauled just about everything you can move in a truck, from livestock and grains, hazardous liquid materials such as chemicals and petroleum to grocery stock, huge paper rolls, and aircraft equipment. The best part of his job, Archer said, is traveling the country. “I’ve driven all 48 states in the Continental U. S. and five provinces in Canada. I’ve got to meet a lot of people from many different parts of the world,” he said. He estimated he’s driven about 5.5 million miles—so far—in his career. “As long as my health holds, I’ll keep driving, I don’t have the word retire in my vocabulary,” Archer said. (Hays Post)