Latest news with #Biehler
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
She's confined to wheelchair — and now a state champ: 'We're so thankful she's part of this program'
WEST LAFAYETTE – Gordon Wood only manages to get a few words out before stepping aside to take a few deep breaths. They're meaningful pauses from the Tecumseh softball coach, who's fighting a losing battle with his emotions as he answers a question about team manager Jackie Biehler in the aftermath of the Braves' 2-0 win over Andrean in the Class 2A state championship game. Wood coached Biehler in Cub ball as a middle schooler, something he does in the fall so the youngsters 'know what to expect from an old grouchy coach and vice versa.' Biehler broke her neck doing a gymnastics stunt in summer 2021, he explains. It was a severe injury, one which required her to be life-flighted to Norton's Children Hospital in Louisville and left her on a ventilator and feeding tube. IHSAA softball state finals: Scores, highlights and photos 'It all means so much': Lizzy Sinders caps Clay City career at state with dad as coach, sister as AD. 'She's a very, very talented kid. They didn't think she was going to live. She couldn't hardly breathe,' Wood says, stepping aside once more to collect himself. 'It took a toll on the entire family. It still does.' Biehler remains on the road to recovery. She's breathing and eating on her own, able to talk and has limited use of her arms and legs, getting around via a motorized wheelchair. What she has endured these past few years would dampen the light in most people. Not Jackie Biehler. 'She's had a really great attitude... You won't find a tougher kid,' Wood said, explaining how she first approached him about being an equipment manager before last season and has been a staple in the Tecumseh dugout ever since (she handles the team's walk-up music). 'We love Jackie,' senior Katelyn Marx beamed. 'She shows up with a smile every day. We know she can't do the stuff that we do, but she is a hell of a lot of fun to be around.' Biehler was there Saturday, of course, proudly seated inside the Tecumseh dugout watching as freshman Audrey Seiler weaved in and out of danger in the circle and Marx, a Miss Softball finalist and the 2A Mental Attitude Award recipient, provided one last signature performance, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI double. "I'm just glad they let me be part of the team," Biehler says as her teammates begin clearing out of the third-base dugout. She played her last season of Cub ball with them in seventh grade and was in the dugout for last year's runner-up finish to Rossville, too. "It's really exciting to be able to win one. (And) I'm just really excited I get to do it with them." There never were any questions surrounding Biehler's involvement with the program and her teammates — unsurprisingly — have embraced her, chatting with her during pregame warmups and celebrating with her in the dugout following big plays. Marx described Biever as a light in the dugout, constantly talking up her teammates and giving them high-fives. "Like I said, she's fun to be around," Marx said. "We're so thankful that she's part of this program." Biehler was recognized during the postgame awards ceremony, same as she was last year, with teammate Bianca Lochmueller helping adjust her medal after it was draped around her neck. When it came time for photos, a couple players checked to make sure Biehler had made it over. She did, taking her place alongside the seniors in the front row. "I enjoy it," Biehler smiled. "I enjoy hanging out with all my friends and doing things I used to love to do, like going to the gym and hanging out at the softball field." Added Wood: "You can't help but love her."
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Kansas Turnpike helps shut down thousands of toll scam websites
KANSAS (KSNT) – After another round of scam toll road texts, 27 News checked with the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) for an update on the work being done to shut down scammers. KTA Director of Communications Jeri Biehler said the KTA is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Trade Commission to stop scammers who are targeting Kansas residents. She said the collaborative effort has resulted in 'thousands of fraudulent websites being shut down.' 'The fraudulent texts are being sent to random phone numbers with no regard to actual use of a toll road,' Biehler said. 'The text urges quick action on unpaid tolls to avoid a penalty and provides a web link that closely mimics a real toll payment site. KTA does not send unsolicited text messages about unpaid tolls.' Biehler said the fake texts and website URLs come from many different countries. She said it's a national scam that started last spring. Why will buildings in Kansas glow orange this week? 27 News also reached out to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for comment on the situation. 'KDOT is aware of the fraudulent text messages that are falsely claiming to be from KDOT and demanding payment for unpaid tolls,' KDOT Public Information Officer Kate Craft said. 'KDOT does not collect tolls for road usage and does not send unsolicited text messages. ' Biehler said people who get scam messages are encouraged to report it to the Federal Trade Commission or the Internet Crime Complaint Center here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kansas Turnpike bridge damaged in semi-truck crash, repairs underway
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Work crews are being called into action to fix a Kansas Turnpike bridge that was damaged after a semi-truck's cargo collided with it Friday. The Kansas Highway Patrol and local law enforcement responded to a crash around 8:30 a.m. on April 18 where the Kansas Turnpike crosses over Highway 50. Troopers arriving at the scene found a large articulating boom lift being hauled by a Kenworth semi-truck had struct the bridge as the semi-truck was heading west on the highway. Jeri Biehler with the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) told 27 News the northbound KTA bridge was damaged in the collision and requires repairs. She said the right lane of the turnpike heading north is closed with a 12-foot width restriction in place. Drivers will also have their speed reduced to 45 mph when approaching the damaged area. Kill this fish immediately if you find it in Kansas Biehler said the Kansas Department of Transportation is also diverting westbound Highway 50 traffic, which would have traveled beneath the damaged bridge, to the inside lanes of the highway's eastbound lanes. These changes will remain in place for an extended amount of time as workers make repairs to the bridge. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
KTA pushes for nationwide KTAG compatibility
TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) is working to make travel both through and out of the Sunflower State easier for travelers on the road by including additional states in its new cashless tolling system. 27 News reached out to the KTA this week to find out what new states the agency is trying to include in KTAG, its electronic toll collection service. Drivers can currently use KTAG in only a handful of other states such as Oklahoma and Texas, along with, on a more limited basis, Florida and Colorado, which was only recently added to the list in the summer of 2024. The KTA currently accepts a limited number of transponders, such as KTAG, that are compatible on the turnpike. These include the following: BestPass – multiple states. Pikepass – Oklahoma. PrePass Plus – multiple states. EZ TAG – Texas. TxTag – Texas. TollTag – Texas. SunPass – Pro and Mini – Florida. ExpressToll – Colorado. Tax agents seize two Kansas Mexican restaurants for failure to pay $200,000 KTA spokeswoman Jeri Biehler said the KTA is one of the founding members for the Central US Interoperability Hub which includes Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. She said the KTA anticipates adding more southeastern states to its list of KTAG-compatible travel options with preliminary work already underway to add in some western states. 'KTA recognizes compatibility is something travelers want,' Biehler said. 'Compatibility improves the customer experience by minimizing the number of toll bills received and provides the lower electronic rate.' Biehler said the process of adding more states to be compatible with KTAG and the Central US Interoperability Hub is a difficult and drawn-out procedure that takes time before it can be fully realized. She said large-scale and expensive technology upgrades are required to make this happen. 'While partnerships between toll agencies seem relatively simple, they are not,' Biehler said. 'It takes a lot of time and effort to get independent systems to work seamlessly together. Besides reading a transponder on the roadway, compatibility includes how that data is captured and sent to the other toll agency for billing.' Do you still have to slow down for work zones on the weekend in Kansas? The KTA's end goal is to eventually make KTAG compatible with toll systems nationwide. However, Biehler emphasized that the goal requires more time and attention before it can be brought about. 'Although much work is still needed, progress toward nationwide compatibility is being made every day,' Biehler said. The KTA recently switched to a cashless toll system as part of a KTAG overhaul in 2024, resulting in the agency ditching its old toll booths to make travel a more seamless process across the state. Kansans interviewed by 27 News gave mixed opinions on the update, saying it was making travel more convenient while also eliminating some jobs. 'KTA continues to be customer-focused and is working with toll agencies across the country to increase compatibility,' Biehler said. 'With cashless tolling we're ready for the next steps.' You can learn more about cashless tolling in Kansas by clicking here. You can find out how to get a KTAG by clicking here or by visiting the KTA offices in Wichita, Lawrence or Topeka. What are 'sovereign citizen' license plates and are they legal? For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
