75¢ COLBY Friday December 5, 2014 Volume 125, Number 190 Serving Thomas County since 1888 10 pages FFREEREE PPRESSRESS Grammys pit guy against four women NEW YORK (AP) – Sam Smith will Smith is also nominated for best new Smith was the early leader with four “Happy” and “All of Me,” tunes that multiple nominations. battle the ladies at the Grammys: “Stay artist, competing with Azalea, pop-rock nominations – which the Recording peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Pharrell earned another nomination for With Me” is nominated for record of the trio HAIM, English band Bastille and Academy was announcing throughout were released before Grammy eligibility, best urban contemporary album for “G I year against hits like “Fancy,” “Shake It country singer Brandy Clark. Smith’s the day in new fashion. Ryan Seacrest so the singers submitted live renditions of R L.” His competition includes Beyonce’s Off” and “All About That Bass.” debut album, “In the Lonely Hour,” is announced the nominees for best pop solo the songs so they could be considered for self-titled fifth album, Chris Brown and Sia’s “Chandelier” is also up for record one of the year’s top-selling efforts. performance, which includes Smith’s awards. newcomers Mali Music and Jhene Aiko. of the year, one of the top four awards, The album picked up a nomination for “Stay With Me.” It pits the British singer Pharrell and Ed Sheeran announced the U2’s “Songs of Innocence” is up and will compete with songs by Taylor best pop vocal album, and he will battle against “Chandelier,” “Shake It Off” and nominees in four categories this morning for best rock album. Other nominees Swift, Iggy Azalea, Meghan Trainor and albums from Ed Sheeran, Miley Cyrus, live versions of Pharrell’s “Happy” and on CBS. Pharrell, Azalea, Clark, the Smith. Ariana Grande, Katy Perry and Coldplay. John Legend’s “All of Me.” Black Keys, Beck and Swift also earned See “GRAMMYS,” Page 2 Council picks sewer bidder By Sam Dieter struction of Salina bid $286,330. Colby Free Press After notice is sent to the com- [email protected] pany, said City Manager Tyson McGreer, the council will have The Colby City Council award- to approve a contract at its next ed a $204,710 contract to rebuild meeting. The project should be Colby’s south wastewater lift sta- completed in about 10 months, he tion to the lowest of three bidders, said. Midlands Contracting Inc. of Ke- McGreer said Midlands did arney, Neb., at its meeting Tues- almost all of the sewer work for day. Grant, Neb., when he was city ad- Brian Spano, an engineer with ministrator there. The lift station Wilson and Co. out of Salina who will get a 14-horsepower motor advises the city on public works to match the one put in the other projects, recommended Midlands’ lift station about four years ago, bid, which was below both the he said. $342,420 engineers’ estimate and In other business, the council: bids of two competitors. APAC • Approved a one-year exten- Kansas, Shears Division, which sion of the city’s contract with has a location in Goodland, bid $228,900, and Smoky Hill Con- See “COUNCIL,” Page 2 Probation given for assault case After-school students A Colby man who threatened and Hillis’s attorney, Heather Al- another with a gun in October got win, had a letter from Hoferica probation instead of prison time asking for $1,000 in restitution. turn to quiet pursuits when he was sentenced Wednes- But Alwin described the letter as day morning. “all over the map” with no spe- Colby Grade School was a busy place Thursday afternoon Court papers show Michael Joe cific reason to ask for that amount. when kids in the after-school program made drums out of Hillis, 43, will be able to serve They agreed to set the restitution plastic cups. Afterwards, second graders (from left above) two years on probation in place at $628, the amount of Hoferica’s Gus Bain, Keirra Tubbs and Lyla Evans were busy reading. of time in prison or jail after com- bill from Thomas County Emer- First grader Ava Rodgers (below) held up a couple of stuffed ing to blows with Christopher gency Medical Services. animals after she finished her drum. Hoferica on Oct. 6. He will also Hillis was arrested after he have to submit to a year-long post- threatened Hoferica with a gun on sentence supervision with Com- Oct. 6, Colby Police said. Several munity Corrections after pleading police officers and Thomas Coun- guilty to three charges. He will ty sheriff’s deputies were called pay a total of $1,241 restitution, to the scene in the 1200 block of including court costs and fees, as West Fifth Street. well as expenses of the victim. SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press County Attorney Kevin Berens See “PROBATION,” Page 2 Shoppers Ready for the holidays get wise College trustees agree to hire to retailers part-time assistant for golf By Anne D’Innocenzio By Sam Dieter Taylor the new assistant will need to prove himself. AP Retail Writer Colby Free Press The vote came after a debate over whether the col- [email protected] lege should give more money to a program that has NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers fewer players this year. Taylor argued that he needs are getting smarter. The Colby Community College golf team will an assistant to help all the college golf players, since The start of the holiday shop- have an assistant coach this coming spring, after the the men’s and women’s teams often have competi- ping season shows a simple dis- head coach convinced college trustees of the need tions in different places at the same time. He told the count, even a big one, isn’t always for some extra help. trustees the team could more than double. enough to lure people to buy. In an unusual split decision, the trustees voted Taylor and Athletic Director Ryan Sturdy, pointed Shoppers can sniff out a legitimate 4-2 to hire an assistant golf coach next semester for out that the assistant coach would be paid half, or deal from a fake one and are even $2,500 after hearing from Head Coach Kevan Tay- less, of the salaries for assistants in other sports. The leaving items in online shopping lor. Trustees Kenton Krehbiel, Arlen Leiker, Caro- college had $5,000 budgeted for an assistant for this carts as reminders to look for a lyn Armstrong and Dale Herschberger voted to hire school year, and it was not entirely clear why the better bargain. the assistant, while Audrey Hines and Linda Vaughn trustees voted for a $2,500 salary. Shoppers with more knowledge voted no at a meeting Nov. 17. and new patience may have con- After the vote, Armstrong turned in her chair told See “COLLEGE,” Page 2 tributed to the less-than-stellar turnout over Thanksgiving week- end, the traditional kickoff of holi- day shopping. President picks physicist for defense Stores heavily discounted holi- WASHINGTON (AP) —Shak- confirmed by the Senate, putting confirmation. Carter would re- day merchandise days and even ing up his Pentagon leadership, him at the helm of a department place Chuck Hagel, who resigned weeks before Black Friday. That President Barack Obama tapped moving back into military conflict under pressure last week after a gave shoppers plenty of opportu- policy wonk Ashton Carter to in the Middle East even as it grap- bumpy tenure. nities to avoid the big lines. oversee the sprawling Defense ples with budget cuts. Hagel did not attend Friday’s That seemed to backfire over Department Friday, heralding his In discussing the Pentagon post event. A defense official said the Thanksgiving weekend. The end- new nominee as one the nation’s with Carter, Obama said he em- outgoing secretary did not want to less stream of sales pitches made “foremost national security lead- phasized the need “to make smart distract from Carter’s nomination, SAM DIETER/Colby Free Press many shoppers confident that ers.” choices, precisely because there though the two men did speak by Melany Wilks stood next to a shelf filled with nativity scenes heavy discounts would continue Obama announced Carter’s are so many challenges out there.” phone Friday morning. and other decoration. She said she and husband Sandy right on through Christmas. nomination during a ceremony Carter, a widely respected phys- collect the nativities, including several from their time as That may be a self-fulfilling at the White House. A Pentagon icist and academic, has won praise missionaries in the Philippines. They will open their home prophecy. The lukewarm start to veteran who is seen as a centrist, from some Republicans, suggest- Sunday for the Methodist Women’s Holiday Home Tours. See “SHOPPERS,” Page 2 Carter is expected to be easily ing he’ll face a smooth Senate Page 2 Colby Free Press Friday, December 5, 2014 Area/State Weather Grammys lean to girls Briefly The deadline for Briefly is noon the day before. Items submitted in the From “GRAMMYS,” Page 1 album of the year, will be In addition to Smith’s “In the morning will be set up for the following day, space available. The deadline announced when the TV special Lonely Hour,” other big efforts for Monday’s paper is noon Friday. include Beck, Tom Petty & the “A Very GRAMMY Christmas” this year include the “Frozen” Heartbreakers, Ryan Adams and airs at 9 p.m. on CBS. The other soundtrack, Beyonce’s self- the Black Keys.