<a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

BUHLER, Kan. — For Jeff Comer, being honored as the Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Teacher of the Month for May is more than an award, it’s a meaningful milestone in the place where his journey began. 

A 2000 graduate of Buhler High School, Comer now teaches in the same classrooms that once shaped his own education. &nbsp;

“As a teacher, it’s sometimes a thankless job,” Comer said. “To have just a little bit of recognition was amazing. That’s not why we teach, we do it for the kids, but it’s still very rewarding.”&nbsp;

Now finishing up his eighth year at his alma mater, Comer teaches civics, modern world history and recently added psychology to his course load at Buhler High School. He is currently facilitating Hutchinson Community College’s Psychology course for upperclassmen while working toward the graduate hours required to teach it independently in the future.

“Last year, an awesome teacher here—Tricia Unruh—retired, and she had taught psychology. I actually had her when I was a student,” Comer said. “That sparked my interest. I taught sociology in El Dorado and loved it, so when she retired, I decided to pick it up.”

Comer said he’s been inspired by the mental side of the subject, especially as it connects to sports and student wellness. He plans to spend the summer revamping the psychology curriculum and refining his overall classroom approach.

“I took a few courses on advanced educational psychology and it really changed my perspective on teaching,” he said.

Comer credits his time as a Buhler student for inspiring his path into education.&nbsp;

“At the time I was oblivious to the great mentoring I was receiving,” Comer said. “People like Brian Wilson, Dave Schroeder, Willie Adkins, Chuck Porter and Don Cameron, they all greatly impacted my life and helped lead me to where I am now. I remember leaving Mr. Wilson’s class thinking I wanted to be a teacher.”&nbsp;

He never expected to return to teach in the same halls where he once roamed as a student, but said the opportunity to come back home in 2017 was a blessing.&nbsp;

“When I interviewed with Principal Mike Ellegood, I realized nothing had really changed about Buhler, it’s still about building relationships and providing a great educational experience,” Comer said. “He embodies what Buhler Schools are all about.”&nbsp;

Comer, a 2004 graduate of Kansas State University, has also served as a high school and junior high football official for nearly two decades. He and his wife, Katie (Reade), a 1998 Buhler graduate, have raised their sons in the Buhler school system, continuing the family tradition.&nbsp;

“Both of my children have been and are being impacted by amazing educators and coaches with USD 313,” Comer said. “I really couldn’t imagine doing any other job. I feel God has guided me to be an educator. Through my experiences at Buhler Schools. I hope I can have even half the impact on my students that my teachers had on me.”&nbsp;

Looking ahead, Comer is eager to grow in his new role teaching psychology. He said the transition has rekindled his passion for the classroom.&nbsp;

“I’m spending this summer revamping the psychology curriculum and all my classes, really,” he said. “I’m going to work until the day I stop improving. That’s how I’ll know when it’s time to move on, when I feel like I can’t get better.”&nbsp;

Comer is finishing up his 20th year teaching, a career which began in 2005 at Marysville Jr./Sr., followed by El Dorado High School in 2006, Newton High School in 2010, before returning to Buhler in 2017.&nbsp;

Comer was nominated by BHS staff member, John Clark: "Mr. Comer builds excellent rapport with all of his students. He utilizes inquiry-based instruction in his social studies classes. He allows his students to guide their learning to provide buy-in which engages them in topics about our society. He encourages his students to learn from our history and to make a difference in their future. I have witnessed his students give presentations to the class and I'm amazed at how much they are learning and can communicate about different topics about our history &amp; world!”

Buhler's Jeff Comer returns to roots, earns Teacher of the Month honor

ELLSWORTH COUNTY, Kan. — An 18-year-old Lyons High School student was killed Thursday evening in a two-vehicle crash on K-156 Highway, approximately 3.4 miles northeast of Ellsworth.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 7 p.m. near milepost 169. A 2011 Chrysler 200, driven by Nathaniel B. Dold, of Sterling, was traveling eastbound when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a westbound 2021 Peterbilt semi-truck hauling a cattle trailer.

Dold, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

The driver of the semi-truck, 58-year-old Noel J. Schilling of Morrill, was wearing a seat belt and sustained suspected minor injuries. He was transported to Ellsworth County Hospital for treatment.

Both vehicles were removed from the scene by Ellsworth Service Center. The crash remains under investigation by the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Lyons High School senior killed Thursday in Ellsworth County crash

HUTCHINSON, Kansas –&nbsp;Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Tony Payne, 34, died Thursday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 He was found unresponsive in his cell Thursday evening. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived. Payne was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased by medical staff. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Payne was serving a 46-month sentence for a violation of the Kansas Offender Registration Act. He was listed as a registered offender since May of 2018 for convictions in Sedgwick County for aggravated assault; use of a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He had a dozen convictions for violent crimes and drugs.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

HCF resident with over a dozen convictions has died

TOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly has appointed Terry David to the Emergency Medical Services Board. The purpose of the board is to&nbsp;ensure that quality out-of-hospital care is available throughout Kansas; to regulate, enforce, allocate, and make decisions in compliance with the Emergency Medical Act for all emergency medical services and providers.&nbsp;

David spent 34 years in Emergency Medical Services (EMS). He most recently retired as the Chief of Reno County EMS in May, 2019. Prior to his time in Reno County, David served as the EMS Director with the Rice County EMS from 1995-2016.&nbsp;

Former Chief of Reno Co. EMS appointed by Gov. Kelly to serve on Board of EMS

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Bronc Rumford, Rider & Bethany Kiesner, Abbyville Rodeo

Callie Mueller, Miss Rodeo America 2025 from South Dakota, Along with Charity Pulliam, Miss Rodeo Kansas 2025 from Ark City, Kansas stopped by the BW Morning Show to talk about the Abbyville Rodeo.&nbsp;

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Callie Mueller and Charity Pulliam, Abbyville Rodeo

Farm groups have filed a legal brief that encourages the Supreme Court to hear a case on labeling for glyphosate and other pesticides. 

They say that glyphosate is a “once-in-a-century” herbicide, but incorrect interpretations of the label has put the chemical at risk of being unavailable for use. 

 Federal regulators have tested the safety of the product many times and determined that it is completely safe.&nbsp;

Ag Minute:  Glyphosate and other pesticides

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

Recent obituaries and service times

The sweet smell of success filled the air Thursday evening &nbsp;as the community gathered for the annual Donut Eating Contest, which raised an impressive $4,904.01 to help send kids to camp and support Salvation Army programs.&nbsp;

Mayor Stacy Goss took home the top honor for Most Donuts Eaten, edging out the competition in a tie-breaking round to clinch the win. Goss's victory was just one of the many highlights in an event filled with community spirit and charitable giving.&nbsp;

Darrell Adams, representing the Downtown Hutchinson Kiwanis Club, earned the Raising Dough Award for collecting the most donations during the live event. Meanwhile, People’s Choice went to Micah and Jeff, who rallied the most online support ahead of the contest.&nbsp;

“We are blown away by the generosity and enthusiasm of everyone who came out to support this fun and meaningful event,” Maj. Paul James of the Salvation Army said. “These funds will make a big difference in the lives of local kids and families.”&nbsp;

Special thanks were given to this year’s sponsors, Hutchinson Daylight Donuts and Hutch Auto Body, whose contributions helped make the event possible.&nbsp;

With sugar-fueled smiles and a strong show of community support, the 2025 Donut Eating Contest was a resounding success.&nbsp;

Salvation Army raises $4,904.01 on Donut Day

The Hutchinson Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1400 block of North Monroe just after 1 a.m. Friday. Crews arrived at approximately 1:21 a.m. to find flames engulfing a small single-story home, with heavy fire spreading from the front porch into the attic.

Firefighters launched an aggressive attack to contain the blaze, first focusing on the fire outside before moving indoors to extinguish it fully. During the operation, search crews located two residents who had managed to self-evacuate. Both were brought to safety.

The fire, which appears to have originated on the exterior of the home, remains under investigation with the cause still undetermined. One resident was evaluated by Reno County EMS for smoke inhalation and heat exposure. Additionally, one firefighter suffered a hand injury and was transported non-emergency to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Officials confirmed that the home was equipped with functioning smoke detectors, which may have played a crucial role in alerting the occupants in time.

Two escape Friday morning house fire 

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. ——————————————

Raquel	Angelique&nbsp;Rodriguez&nbsp;5/15/2025 7:01 AM&nbsp;&nbsp;Disorderly Conduct; Brawling or fighting,&nbsp;Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500,&nbsp;Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Alejandro	Patrick&nbsp;Sears 5/15/2025 2:20 PM&nbsp; Domestic Battery; Aggravated; Impede Breathing by Pressure to Throat, Neck or Chest,&nbsp;Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction),&nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant

Dylan Michael Samms 5/15/2025 5:37 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use,&nbsp;Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 100g to &lt; 1Kg

Melinda Moungkhoth&nbsp;5/15/2025 6:19 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use,&nbsp;Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 100g to &lt; 1Kg

Lacy	Rachelle Lomax&nbsp;5/15/2025 8:52 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use,&nbsp;Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 100g to &lt; 1Kg

Shane Mitchell Koehn 5/15/2025 11:20 PM&nbsp; DUI; Alcohol Concentration within 3 hrs is .08 or more; 2nd Offense

Faith Elisabeth Jarrett 5/16/2025 2:30 AM&nbsp; &nbsp;Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction)

Steven Wesley Cardwell 5/16/2025&nbsp;&nbsp;Assault



Daily Bookings

Site: Salina Tennis Center (805 The Midway, Salina)

<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nU-tV0qhOCfJR3GxZS7al9pTHDHX4XW5mwI9H_XStug/edit?usp=sharing">RESULTS &amp; BRACKETS</a>

Site: Winfield-T.H. Vaughan Tennis Center (1500 Mound St., Winfield)

<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EvWTeWl7K3yygvyRz2Hp1-x6AFuDmYW0aHt9zX6MbOg/edit?usp=sharing">RESULTS &amp; BRACKETS</a>

Site: Topeka-Kossover Tennis Center (2501 SW Gage Blvd., Topeka)

<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sxAYdCdFl53EYS551HWZqNMYFYPc2gZB6MV9FG1994w/edit?usp=sharing">RESULTS &amp; BRACKETS</a>

🎾 State tennis gets underway today for Hutch Post-area student-athletes

<a href="https://milesplit.live/meets/645932">CLICK HERE FOR LIVE RESULTS</a>

👟 NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championship: Day 2 Schedule/Results

⚾ Wind Surge drops third game of series to Travelers

⚾ K-State drops series opener at Cincinnati

⚾ KU blanks No. 14 WVU behind strong start from Voegele

<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/682224-hoa-league-track-meet-2025/results">CLICK HERE FOR FULL MEET RESULTS</a>

<a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON </a>Hutch Post

STERLING, Kan. — The Heart of America League held it's track and field championship on Thursday at Sterling College's Smisor Stadium. Moundridge claimed the boys team title, while Inman claimed the girls title.

1. Moundridge, 108 2. Berean Academy, 79 3. Bennington, 76 4. Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic, 66 5. Wichita Central Christian Academy, 61 6. Marion, 49 7. Sedgwick, 33 T8. Ell-Saline, 28 T8. Inman, 28 10. Sterling, 26 11. Remington, 4

1. Inman, 123 2. Remington, 83 T3. Marion, 68 T3. Moundridge, 68 5. Bennington, 67 6. Berean Academy, 66 7. Wichita Central Christian Academy, 31 8. Sterling, 25 9. Classical School of Wichita, 20 10. Hutchinson-Trinity Catholic, 6 11. Ell_Saline, 1

Moundridge senior Kaden Elmore dominated the sprint events, sweeping the 100 (10.98), 200 (23.05), and 400 meters (50.51), while also helping the Wildcats to a second-place finish in the 4x100 relay (44.31). Moundridge added a win in the pole vault from Brayden Elmore (12-6), and Henry Hecox delivered a javelin title with a throw of 178-11.

Trinity Catholic’s boys stood out in the distance events, led by Jacob Lindstrom’s third-place finish in the 3200 (10:25.05) and fourth-place effort in the 1600. The Celtics won the 4x800 relay (8:38.63) and took third in both the 4x100 and 4x400. Isaac Hammersmith added a league title in the high jump (6-4) and placed third in the long jump.

Inman’s Gage Sisson and Tyler Jerrick placed fourth and seventh in the triple jump, respectively. Malachi Brunk ran fourth in the 200 and also placed in the 300 hurdles, while Bo O’Neil placed third in the discus (140-3). Inman took sixth in both the 4x800 and 4x400 relays.

Sterling’s Zane Farney was the standout in the hurdles, capturing titles in both the 110 (15.40) and 300 (40.67). The Black Bears’ 4x100 relay placed fourth, and Cody Schweizer and Kevin Ploutz contributed top-10 finishes in the shot put. Jacob Lewis finished fifth in the 110 hurdles and seventh in the 300.

Inman senior Katie Nichols leading the charge by capturing titles in both the high jump and long jump. Nichols cleared 4 feet, 10 inches in the high jump and posted a mark of 17-2.5 in the long jump.

Suttyn Harris also boosted the Teutons with a runner-up finish in the triple jump (34-3) and a league title in the shot put (36-0). Inman dominated the throws, as Taylor Froese won the discus at 121-4 and placed second in the shot, while Morgan Froese and Allison Schrag added top-five marks in the discus.

Moundridge’s girls brought home multiple event wins, highlighted by a first-place 4x800-meter relay (10:13.68) and 4x400 relay (4:09.15). Avery Schrag and Baylee Schriner posted top-five finishes in the 400, while Cammi Unruh earned third in the long jump (16-4.5) and Hattie Hecox was third in the triple jump (33-1). Aspyn Stos and Brie Moddelmog also placed among the top in the throws.

Sterling’s Julia Kilgore earned a sprint double, taking gold in both the 200 (25.86) and 400 (57.12). Freshman Karis Dillard added a top-eight finish in the 100 and 200. Lydia Webb represented Sterling in the throws and placed 11th in the javelin.

Trinity Catholic was led by Eilley Cost, who took third in the discus and 12th in the shot put. Alyssa Guajardo placed eighth in the long jump and competed in the sprints, while Clara Robinson cleared 4-4 in the high jump.

👟 Inman runs away with HOA girls league title, Moundridge wins boys

<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/687604-hopl-track-championship-2025/results">CLICK HERE FOR FULL MEET RESULTS</a>

KIOWA, Kan. — The Heart of the Plains League held it's track and field championship on Thursday at South Barber High School. Cunningham claimed the boys team title, while Central Christian claimed the girls title.

1. Cunningham, 136 2. Central Christian, 85 3. Norwich, 77 4. South Barber, 74 5. Pratt-Skyline, 57 6. Stafford, 51 7. Fairfield, 35 8. Burrton, 22 9. Attica 10. Pretty Prairie, 8

1. Central Christian, 123 2. Pretty Prairie, 92 3. Norwich, 86 4. South Barber, 57 6. Attica, 39 7. Fairfield, 31 8. Pratt-Skyline, 26 9. Stafford, 17

Central Christian's Jayden Linscheid led the Cougars with a first place finish in the high jump at 6 feet even and also took the top spot in the long jump (18-5). Cal Barnett had a consistent day with a fifth-place finish in the 100 meters (12.25) and third in the 200 meters (25.29). The Cougars' 4x100-meter relay team placed fourth in 47.64 seconds, while Konnor Sullivan grabbed runner-up honors in both the 110 hurdles (16.53) and 300 hurdles (43.56). In the field, Keaton Miller won the shot put at 48-5 and added a runner-up finish in discus (128-6). Teammate Hunter Franz placed sixth in the shot and 10th in discus, while Piercen Huff threw 129-4 in the javelin for fourth.

Burrton's Isaac Jones was a bright spot for the Chargers, placing fourth in both the 1600 (5:03.74) and 3200 (10:56.27) meter runs. Noble Phillips finished third in the 300 hurdles (45.67) and anchored the 4x400-meter relay to a fourth-place finish. Justin Ballard placed 10th in the 100 meters, while Ryker Barnes ran legs on both the 4x400 and 4x800 teams. Colt Schmitt added points with a 16th-place discus mark of 91-11 and 18th in the shot put. Burrton’s 4x800 relay team placed fifth in 9:47.38.

Fairfield's William McIver turned in a strong 800 meters with a fourth-place finish in 2:12.14. Gage Brown added points with a seventh in the 1600 and helped the Falcons place fourth in the 4x800 relay (9:45.81). Garrett Lanning highlighted the day in the field, winning the javelin at 151-6 and placing third in both the shot put (44-0) and discus (136-11). Kaiyen Lobban and Jalen Busick contributed in the triple jump and long jump respectively, each placing in the top eight.

Pretty Prairie's Carter Stucky qualified for finals in the 100 and placed sixth in the 200 (26.34). Emmett Harbaugh finished sixth in the 800 (2:14.33) and tied for fourth in the high jump (5-8). Owen Anderson added a sixth-place finish in the 400 and eighth in the discus. The Bulldogs’ 4x100 relay took sixth, and their 4x800 placed fifth. In the triple jump, Waylon Satterwhite placed ninth.

Pretty Prairie’s Lauren Detter secured two individual gold medals to pace the Bulldogs. Detter won the 800-meter run in 2:26.74 and returned later to win the 1,600 in 5:46.31. Claire Miller and Amity White gave Pretty Prairie a 1-2-3 sweep in the 1,600, while Detter anchored the winning 4x800-meter relay, which also featured White, Miller and Brennan Schrag.

Central Christian’s Jessa Losew dazzled in the sprints and field. The junior won the 400 in 59.76 and the triple jump with a leap of 37 feet, 5.25 inches. She also tied her school record in high jump at 5-7, which is No. 1 in class 1A and No. 2 in the state all classes. She also anchored the Cougars’ gold-medal 4x400 relay, which clocked 4:20.77, which broke the school record of 4:23.4 from 2001. Central Christian teammate Belle Barnett added runner-up finishes in the 100 and 200 and placed second in the high jump at 5-2. Addi Loudenback earned a hurdles sweep with wins in the 100 (17.42) and 300 (49.45), while also contributing on relays.

Norwich’s Alex Robinson won the 100 in 13.20 and 200 in 28.07 and was part of the winning 4x100 team with Madison Lee, Indigo Nichols and Alayna Reese. Reese also took sixth in the high jump, while Rachel Balzer finished second in the pole vault.

Fairfield’s top efforts included Kenley Fowler’s sixth-place 200-meter finish and a leg on the third-place 4x400 team. Senior Kora Zongker was runner-up in the triple jump (33-1.75), while Marissa Pugh took fourth in the shot put with a mark of 29-3.50. Pugh also placed sixth in javelin at 97-11.

Burrton’s Morgan Koehn delivered a title in the discus with a toss of 74-4 and added gold in the shot put at 33-2.25. Shay Hayden contributed a 10th-place finish in the javelin (76-9).

Other highlights included Central Christian’s Kambria Brown placing second in the 1,600 (6:10.47) and third in the long jump (13-5.50), and Ava Vesper, Elyse Wyatt and Sophie Graham providing scoring depth in sprint and relay events.

👟 Central Christian girls win HOPL title, Cunningham claims boys win

<a href="https://ks.milesplit.com/meets/688791-central-kansas-league-track-meet-2025/results">CLICK HERE FOR FULL MEET RESULTS</a>

NICKERSON, Kan. — The Central Kansas League held it's track and field championship on Thursday at Nickerson High School. Pratt claimed the boys team title, while Smoky Valley claimed the girls' title.

1. Pratt, 180 2. Hesston, 132 3. Halstead, 83.5 4. Hoisington, 77 5. Haven, 57 6. Nickerson, 49 7. Smoky Valley, 47 8. Hillsboro, 34 9. Larned, 23.5

1. Smoky Valley, 160 2. Hesston, 153.5 3. Hoisington, 80 4. Hillsboro, 75 5. Larned, 74 6. Pratt, 71 7. Nickerson, 36 8. Halstead, 29 9. Haven, 13.5

Pratt's boys posted several standout finishes, including a sweep of the hurdle events by junior Gavin Rupe, who won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.81 seconds and the 300-meter hurdles in 40.94. The Greenbacks also captured gold in the 4x100 and 4x800 relays, and Cade Liggett sprinted to the 200-meter title in 22.36.

Halstead’s Keaston Shields led the Dragons with a win in the 400 (53.04), and Breeson Bigley placed third in the 200. Joey Millspaugh added a victory in the long jump (21-4), and the 4x400 relay team claimed silver behind Haven.

Haven senior Aiden Hoopes sprinted to victory in the 100 meters (11.12), and the Wildcats took the 4x400 relay in 3:29.13. Sophomore Isaiah Doherty won the 3200 and was runner-up in the 1600.

Hesston’s Daxon Deering medaled in both sprints, while Carlito Lara of Pratt (2:00.35) edged out Smoky Valley’s Kaden Bishop in a competitive 800. Nickerson’s Levi Pauley won the 1600 (4:40.97) and placed in the 800.

In the field, Arley Morrell of Pratt cleared 6-2 to win high jump and took triple jump (43-9). Hesston's Emmet O’Halloran won javelin at 160-0 and Karter Gonzalez took second in discus. Halstead's Connor Herman placed fourth in both shot put and discus.

Hesston junior Ashley Lehman starred on the girls’ side, sweeping the 100 (11.75), 200 (25.11), 400 (57.21), and pole vault (11-6) to lead the Swathers. She also helped Hesston to top-four finishes in the 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 relays.

Smoky Valley’s Esther Clark Pavlovich captured distance titles in the 1600 (5:27.82) and 3200 (12:05.49), while Trista Spitler added wins in the triple jump (37-3) and a share of the high jump title (5-0). The Vikings’ 4x100 relay team also claimed gold in 50.50.

Halstead’s Mackenzie Ervin and Carly Zrubek both medaled in the hurdles, and Dalaina Schutte earned bronze in javelin with a throw of 114-5. Teammate Rachel Nisly led Nickerson’s throws with a win in the shot put (37-11.5) and a fourth-place discus finish.

Nickerson’s Delaney Childs threw 128-2 to win the girls javelin, and teammate Katy King added top-eight finishes in both shot put and discus. Larned’s Kaylee Hagerman won long jump (17-10.25) and placed third in the 100.

Pratt’s relay teams impressed again, winning the girls 4x400 (4:13.15) and placing fourth in the 4x100. Adelyn Fields was runner-up in the 400, and Kamryn Duecy finished second in the 800.

👟 Pratt boys, Smoky Valley girls claim Central Kansas League titles

⛳ HutchCC's Box tied for lead heading into NJCAA final round in Newton

👟 Picolet shatters 10,000-meter PR at NJCAA championships

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-santana">REBECCA SANTANA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/eric-tucker">ERIC TUCKER</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/james-comey">Former FBI Director James Comey</a>&nbsp;was being interviewed by the Secret Service on Friday about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-trump-threat-shells-deleted-post-39b37b1d36c0463d3dad41a3d1339d4e">social media post</a>&nbsp;that Republicans insisted was a call for violence against President Donald Trump, according to a law enforcement official.

The interview is part of an ongoing Trump administration investigation and is expected to help investigators assess the purpose and intent of the post and whether Comey intended to communicate a threat to the president, which he flatly denied. Any decision on whether charges should be filed would be up to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said Friday, though there’s a high bar in proving that comments or posts amount to direct threats of violence.

The official who confirmed the interview, which is standard for the Secret Service while investigating comments perceived as potentially threatening, was not authorized to discuss the matter by name and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.

At issue is an Instagram post from Thursday in which Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”

Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/86" target="_blank">86 is slang</a>&nbsp;meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”

Numerous Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, asserted that Comey was advocating the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was also supporting the investigation.

Asked about it Friday during a Fox News interview, Trump said: “He knew exactly what that meant. A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear.”

He deflected a question on what he thought should happen, saying the decision would be up to Bondi.

The post was deleted Thursday after it was made, with Comey subsequently writing: “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.

Trump and Comey have had a fraught dynamic dating back nearly a decade.

Comey was the FBI director when Trump took office in 2017, having been appointed four years earlier by then-President Barack Obama and serving before that as a senior Justice Department official in President George W. Bush’s administration.

But the relationship was strained from the start, including after Comey resisted a request by Trump at a private dinner to pledge his personal loyalty to the president -- an overture that so unnerved the FBI director that he documented it in a contemporaneous memorandum.

<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-4ff1ecb621884a728b25e62661257ef0">Trump fired Comey in May 2017</a>&nbsp;amid an FBI investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s presidential campaign. That inquiry, later taken over by special counsel Robert Mueller, would ultimately find that while Russia interfered in the 2016 election and the Trump team welcomed the help, there was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal collaboration.

Ex-FBI Director meets with Secret Service over '8647' post

RILEY COUNTY—One person died in a hit-and-run accident just after 5:30a.m. Thursday in Riley County and police have made an arrest.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a semi driven by 48-year-old Shane Jungemann, Jefferson City, South Dakota, was traveling in the 700 Block of South 4th Street.&nbsp; The vehicle struck a 32-year-old man.

Just after 9p.m.&nbsp; Thursday police arrested Jungemann on requested charges of&nbsp; failure to report an accident involving a fatality. Jungemann if being held on a $15,000 bond, according to the RCPD. Police have not released the name of the victim.

Police make arrest in fatal Kansas hit-and-run

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump used the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-b782fe922d09afced2e1074b65016e80">first major foreign trip</a>&nbsp;of his second term to outline a vision for restoring global stability that is grounded in pragmatism and self-interest rather than values, holding out U.S. ties to wealthy Gulf countries as a model for America’s longtime foes.

His four-day swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which ends Friday, put a spotlight on Trump’s transactional approach to foreign affairs as he was feted by autocratic rulers with a trio of lavish state visits where there was heavy emphasis on economic and security partnerships.

His trip played out against the backdrop of stubborn global conflicts, including Gaza and Ukraine, that showed the limits of his influence. But Trump insisted he was turning the page on American “interventionalism” in the region as he moved to recognize the new government in Syria for the first time and prodded Iran to engage on nuclear talks before it’s too late.

Trump marveled at Gulf state opulence but held his tongue on human rights

Presidential trips to the Middle East usually feature at least some public calls for authoritarian governments to improve their human rights efforts. Not this one, as Trump celebrated his business deals with Gulf royals and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-white-house-wealth-mideast-c1e47bb068337293c360c53f7e542e59">admired their wealth</a>.

Trump toured the marble and gilded palaces of Gulf rulers and deemed them “perfecto” and “very hard to buy.” He praised the “gleaming marvels” of the skyline in Saudi Arabia. And he groused about the “much less impressive” Air Force One.

In Trump’s remarks at a VIP business conference in Riyadh, he went out of his way to distance himself from the actions of past administrations, the days when he said American officials would fly in “in beautiful planes, giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs.”

Rights advocates took that as a pledge of nonintervention, swearing off some of the pressure past U.S. presidents have brought to bear on partners to varying degrees to ease up on detentions, suppression of critics and other issues.

“It’s absolute support for absolute monarchy,” said Saudi exile Abdullah Alaoudh. His father, a Saudi cleric with a wide following there, is imprisoned in the kingdom.

Some rights advocates said Trump officials gave them private assurances the administration was working on behalf of detained Americans and rights advocates. Tommy Pigott, a deputy spokesman at the State Department, declined to say whether Trump raised those or other rights issues in discussions with Gulf royals.

While Trump was in the Mideast, Vladimir Putin opted to skip direct peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite the U.S. president's strong calls for them to meet face to face.

Trump has been pushing Putin and Zelenskyy to move with greater haste to end Russia's grinding war in Ukraine.

But after it became clear Putin wouldn’t be attending talks in Turkey this week and would instead be sending underlings to Istanbul, an annoyed Trump insisted he knew all along that it was highly likely Putin would be a no-show.

“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump said. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."

As he wrapped up his visit on Friday, Trump said the face-to-face would happen "as soon as we can set it up.”

Trump was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Friday, but tried to keep people guessing until the end. He teased late Thursday that he would be heading to a “destination unknown” — “probably" Washington, he added. His opaque language stoked speculation that he might make a drop-by to Turkey.

But on Friday morning, he told reporters he needed to get back to Washington. His daughter Tiffany had her first child while the president has been away.

“I would actually leave here and go,” Trump said. “I do want to see my beautiful grandson.”

On Syria sanctions, Trump takes a leap of faith

Just two months ago, the Trump administration wasn’t sold on Syria’s interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime al-Qaida-affiliated insurgent. They worried the Syrian president didn’t have the legitimacy to govern the country’s ethnically diverse population.

Clashes broke out in early March, killing hundreds and targeting many more members of the Alawite religious minority to which the ousted Syrian leader Basher Assad belongs.

The moment gave the Trump White House pause about easing sanctions on Syria. But Trump signaled Monday that he was having a change of heart and was moving toward lifting the Syria sanctions. A day later, he announced the move during an address to Gulf leaders.

Trump then took it another step by agreeing to meet al-Sharaa.

Trump said he was impressed with al-Sharaa, who not that long ago had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. The president called him a “young, attractive guy” with a "very strong past.”

Trump said it was recommendations from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that nudged him to take a chance on al-Sharra.

“President Erdogan called me and said: ‘Is there any way you could do that? Because if you don’t do that, they don’t have a chance,’” Trump said. “So, I did it.”

Throughout the trip, Trump felt more than comfortable dishing out exaggeration and hyperbole.

“This has been an amazing trip.” Trump told reporters Thursday as Air Force One was about to land in Qatar. “We’ve raised trillions of dollars of investment for our country.” A little later he put the figure at $4 trillion.

That figure is about two times the combined gross domestic products of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, meaning that any announced investments would likely accrue over several years — if at all — in ways that might not show up in overall U.S. economic growth numbers.

Boeing confirmed that Qatar’s $96 billion purchase of its 787 and 777X jets was the largest order for 787s and wide body jets in the company’s history. Trump enthused it was “the biggest order in the history of, I think, aviation, certainly of that size” of jets.

Trump also went overboard in running down the economic record of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, at one point declaring, “The days of economic misery under the last administration are rapidly giving way to the greatest economy in the history of the world.”

The U.S. economy grew at 2.8% last year. It declined at an annualized rate of 0.3% during the first three months of this year.

While Trump's trip initially was conceived as a visit to reward countries that invest in the United States, Trump at one point hoped it also would herald significant steps to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Positive news on both fronts proved elusive.

Trump barely mentioned either conflict on his trip – and when he did, it was generally in the context of his assertion that they wouldn’t have occurred had he won reelection in 2020.

As Israel stepped up an offensive in Gaza — a prelude to a promised full takeover of the territory if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages in its captivity — Trump was again musing about the creation of a “freedom zone” in its territory. It's a notion rejected by Palestinians and the broader Arab world because Trump's plan would relocate civilians from Gaza to allow for rebuilding.

Israel conducted significant airstrikes all week in Gaza as Trump was in the region and the fighting on the ground appeared to escalate Friday morning even before Trump left the UAE.

Meanwhile, Trump said “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza, a rare acknowledgement of the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Speaking to reporters at a business forum in Abu Dhabi on the final day of his trip to the Middle East, Trump said, “We’re looking at Gaza.”

“And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”

Ethics issues follow along as Trump travels the Mideast

Trump was already facing questions about conflicts of interest for traveling to the Middle East to shape U.S. policy at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-interests-family-middle-east-cryptocurrency-cbb7d2354304ce0308800819944cf3f8">his family’s business interests in the region have boomed</a>. He attempted to quiet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">worries about national security</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emoluments-clause-trump-jet-qatar-56f995acb57eb741b0214aba5e7e8220">constitutional questions</a>&nbsp;by insisting he’s smart to accept a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar and use it as Air Force One.

“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114503203859060399">posted on his social media site</a>&nbsp;during his Middle East swing.

The president also dodged questions about a state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi using a Trump family-aligned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-world-liberty-truth-social-etf-f11c47a99ea618aa06df4dd47b150800">stablecoin</a>&nbsp;for a $2 billion investment in the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

“I don’t know anything about it,” he said.

Beyond that, the Trump family has piled up deals to license its brand for real estate projects, and to build Trump towers and golf courses, around the Middle East. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says it’s “frankly ridiculous” to wonder if those profits might influence Trump’s governing decisions.

Madhani reported from Dubai. Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Will Weissert and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.

🎥 Opulence, business deals: Takeaways from Trump's Mideast tour

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street cruised to the finish of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-trade-trump-catl-62fbd84396aaea011c68231363b283de">strong</a>&nbsp;week on Friday, as U.S. stocks glided closer to the all-time high they set just a few months earlier, though it may feel like an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">economic era</a>&nbsp;ago.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.7% for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-inflation-bcadac520e55b17b88cb57596295009e">fifth straight gain</a>&nbsp;and closed out its third winning week in the last four. It’s rallied back within 3% of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-china-trump-b686ef0259c2f4894f9fcd1f3649a956">record set in February</a>&nbsp;after briefly dropping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-china-trump-b686ef0259c2f4894f9fcd1f3649a956">roughly 20% below</a>&nbsp;last month, thanks to building hopes that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-switzerland-tariffs-negotiations-b3f5174d086e39b2522ab848ddad9372">lower his tariffs</a>&nbsp;against other countries after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-uk-trump-starmer-trade-deal-79d55b8ade0dd8c9265ada9400d079db">reaching trade deals</a>&nbsp;with them.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 331 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.5%.

Trump’s trade war had sent financial markets reeling worldwide because of twin dangers. On one hand, tariffs could slow the economy and drive it into a recession. On the other, tariffs could push inflation higher.

This week featured some encouraging news on each of those fronts. The United States and China announced a 90-day stand-down in most of their punishing tariffs against each other, while a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-tariffs-trump-5436b90e8e5a003f228c1bd08186589c">couple</a>&nbsp;reports on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/producer-wholesale-prices-tariffs-83aef2863cac075143e89dc2d951eff6">inflation</a>&nbsp;in the United States came in better than economists expected.

It was “a week to remember,” according to economists at Bank of America led by Claudio Irigoyen and Antonio Gabriel. But they also said they’re not expecting a significant drop in volatility, and they’re not changing big-picture forecasts.

“There is still huge uncertainty regarding the impact of tariffs on economic activity and inflation,” they said in a BofA Global Research report.

That uncertainty has been hitting U.S. households and businesses, raising worries that they may freeze their spending and long-term plans in response, which would hurt the economy. The latest reading in a survey of U.S. consumers by the University of Michigan showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-inflation-consumer-confidence-f7d2635e665fa1be2695c5e830fc23ae">sentiment soured again in May</a>, though the pace of decline wasn’t as bad as in prior months.

Perhaps more worryingly, expectations for coming inflation keep building, and U.S. consumers are now bracing for 7.3% in the next 12 months, according to the University of Michigan’s preliminary survey results. That’s up from a forecast of 6.5% a month before.

When everyone expects inflation to be high, it could kick off a vicious cycle of behavior that only worsens inflation.

To be sure, only some of the University of Michigan’s survey responses for the preliminary May reading came after the United States and China announced their 90-day truce.

On Wall Street, Charter Communications rose 1.8% after it said it agreed to merge with Cox Communications in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charter-cox-merger-cable-regulators-13d6bdf6320d4924ac75c7fa8a6b636d">deal that would combine</a>&nbsp;two of the country’s largest cable companies. The resulting company will change its name to Cox Communications and keep Charter’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

Local

Region

Sports