July 2014 – Page 87 – Hays Post Archive

Hazel B. Dick

Posted on July 3, 2014

Hazel B. Dick, 101, Hays, died Monday, June 30, 2014, at Via Christi Village in Hays.

She was born July 18, 1912, in Fairmont, Minnesota, to John F. and Effie (Hengen) Haeckel. She was a graduate of Fairmont High School and worked in Minneapolis Minnesota. In 1939, she came to Lyons, KS to visit her sister where she met her future husband. She married Orle Dick on April 2nd, 1940. He preceded her in death on August 3, 1986.

Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Marium, Wichita, KS, four daughters; Barbara James and husband Don, Burlington, North Carolina; Joan Phelps, Japan; Ann Staab and husband Leon, Hays; Mary Reel and husband Rod, Carlton, Kansas; twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren and a sister, Helen McCleary, Florida
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, John; five brothers, Ray, Warren, John, James and Joe Haeckel and three sisters, Fay Bula, Florence Muir, and Jean Reitkerk.

In 1988, Hazel moved to Hays from the farm in Rice County, where she and Orle raised their family. Hazel enjoyed walking and was often seen in downtown Hays visiting local businesses and delivering her homemade cookies. She was very active in her church, the Hays Public Library, The Hays Arts Council, PEO, and the Kansas Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired.

She loved music, attending as many concerts and performances as she could. Hazel always had her music playing while sitting at her loom weaving the many rugs that she gave to friends and organizations. After taking a workshop through the Art Department at Fort Hays State University, Hazel became a part of a small group of local artists and created her own paintings for many years.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 12, 2014, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Lyons City Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 5:00 until 7:00 pm at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and on Saturday from 9:30 am until service time at the church. A parish vigil will be at 6:30 pm. on Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Hays Arts Council, the Hays Public Library or the Capuchin Franciscans of Mid America, in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Goldie J. Jensen

Posted on July 3, 2014

Goldie J. Jensen, 86, Hays, died Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Via Christi Villages in Hays.

She was born January 23, 1928 in Hays to Joseph and Goldie (Ginther) Knoll. She married Ivan Jensen, Sr. on September 18, 1946 in Russell, Kansas. She was a seamstress, baker and an EEG Technician for Oak Park Medical in Hays after Ivan retired. She enjoyed painting, reading and doing puzzles in her spare time. She was also part of a card club with her husband at Buckeye and played the piano and organ at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

She was survived by three grandsons, Darren Jensen and wife Sheri, Seattle, WA, Nick Jensen and wife Melissa, Hays, and Andrew Jensen and wife Theresa, Basehor, KS, a granddaughter, Jeanie Corona and husband Joey, California, a sister, Frances Dinkel, Hays and 12 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sons, Dennis, Claude, and Ivan Jensen, Jr., and a sister, Shirley Gosser.

Funeral services will at 2:00 pm on Friday, July 11, 2014 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St. A private family inurnment will at St. Andrew’s Cemetery at a later date. The family will be accepting friends from 1:30 until the service time at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be left at haysmemorial.com.

CDC to sleepy drivers: Hit the hay, not the road

Posted on July 3, 2014

MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of U.S. drivers are expected to hit the highways this holiday weekend — and some of them may be nodding off behind the wheel.

According to a new government survey, about 1 in 25 adults say they recently fell asleep while driving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its latest drowsy driving report on Thursday, along with some tips on how to stay awake. They include getting enough sleep the night before and breaking up the drive with naps, coffee breaks and a change if drivers. Also avoid driving late at night or very early in the morning.

Army issues ‘worst-case’ scenarios for reductions

Posted on July 3, 2014

BRETT BARROUQUERE, Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Army projects that bases and surrounding communities nationwide would lose up to 80 percent of their military and civilian workforces if maximum budget cuts and force reductions take effect at the end of the decade.

The U.S. Army Environmental Command in Texas issued a report last week showing the Army’s “worst-case” scenario of a fighting force falling from a 2012 level of 562,000 soldiers to 420,000 by 2020.

The projections concentrate on the most severe possible cutbacks. The report illustrates the potential fallout for communities whose economy is closely linked to military facilities.

For example, the report says Fort Campbell Fort on the Kentucky-Tennessee line would lose half its civilian and military workforce — about 16,000 people — and take an economic hit of $863 million.

KHAZ Country Music News: Some of Garth’s Shows In Ireland Cancelled

Posted on July 3, 2014September 16, 2014

Two of Garth Brooks’ five Croke Park shows in Dublin, Ireland scheduled for July 25-29 have been cancelled after the city issued a license for no more than three. Promoter Peter Aiken tells the Irish Independent that he believes all the shows are now in jeopardy and may not happen. “[Garth] said to me – give me a solution,” Aiken says. “Tell me what to do about that 160,000 people.” More here.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

Judge rules confession can be used in murder trial

Posted on July 3, 2014

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas judge has ruled that the confession of a suspect in the death of a 52-year-old Lawrence businessman was given voluntarily and can be used in her trial.

Douglas County District Judge Paula Martin said Thursday that 19-year-old Sarah Gonzales McLinn’s statements about the death of Harold Sasko were the “product of a free and independent will.”

6News Lawrence reports McLinn’s attorney said the defense would not contest that the statement was voluntary.

Sasko’s body was found on the living room floor of his home, where McLinn also was living, on Jan. 17. His wrists and ankles were bound with zip ties, and his throat had been cut with a large hunting knife.

McLinn told investigators she killed Sasko because she wanted to see what it felt like.

‘Big Sword’ fireworks recalled

Posted on July 3, 2014

WASHINGTON — The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for the Big Sword fireworks device. The mock sword is a handheld fountain that is intended to emit sparks from the tip of the sword. The blue and yellow sword has the Big Fireworks logo and the words “Big Sword” printed on the front. A yellow cardboard tag attached to the handle of the device has “Big Sword” and a caution statement printed on it.

The sword measures 30 inches and has model number 3609 printed above the product’s barcode.

There are two reports of the fountain exploding while in use. No injuries have been reported.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled fireworks devices and return them to the place of purchase to receive a full refund.
It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Hays High soccer camp back on after volunteer steps forward

Posted on July 3, 2014

The Hays High soccer camps scheduled for later this month will go on.

Hays High Athletic Director Chris Michaelis said Thursday an individual has stepped up and volunteered to run the camps. The resignation of former boys and girls soccer coach Saul Hernandez led to the camp being temporarily postponed, until Jim Maska, an assistant coach with the team last season, volunteered to run the camps.

The Hays High team camp, for both boys and girls will run July 14 to 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at HHS.

The boys and girls youth camp will be held from July 21 to 24 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Registration forms will be available at Hays High beginning Tuesday, or they can be downloaded from the Hays High website.

Commissioners to discuss alleyway draining ordinance

Posted on July 3, 2014

By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

At Thursday’s Hays City Commission work session, commissioners will discuss an amendment to the city’s code of ordinances that would impose a fine on residents who drain pools and hot tubs into alleys. Commissioner Ron Mellick brought up the idea earlier in June, and city staff will present the proposed amendments to commissioners at the work session.

“My concern is that when water is drained, it is causing ruts, sinking — and it ticks off neighbors,” Mellick said at a recent meeting. “We’ve spent a lot of money trying to upgrade the alleys. … When Public Works tries to work over these alleys, some of them are better than others and some of them have a steep slope, which makes it hard to keep the rock in there that public works puts in there, and I’d like to see us have an ordinance along with a fine of around $200 to help cover our costs to go out and repair them.”

At the June 5 work session, when Mellick offered the alternative of draining the pools into the gutter system, some commissioners voiced concerned such drainage could lead residents to violate the current water restrcitions. Currently, the city does not allow outdoor watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 9 p.m.

“The current ordinance is written for the outdoor usage of water, for example, the sprinkling, car washing and stuff like that,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said. “I checked with Police Chief Don Scheibler, and they have never enforced people draining pools. If they see water coming down, they follow it back to the source.”

“I want to make it clear that I’m objecting to that,” Commissioner Kent Steward said. “That’s clearly a use of outside water from the city system. I’m OK with rewriting the ordinance, but I hate just looking the other way. It’s clearly against the law, and we’re just going to say ‘We don’t enforce that’? That is a terrible way to run a city.”

Commissioner Eber Phelps offered the solution of simply fining the offenders the cost of repairing the alleyway.

The proposed ordinance that will be presented to commissioners states: “It is unlawful for any person to allow substantial amounts of water to escape and/or drain from a swimming pool or hot tub on private property onto unpaved alleys or rights of way; provided that the term ‘substantial’ shall mean an amount sufficient to cause a discernible flow of water reaching the street, gutter or other drainage system or the discernible saturation of the unpaved alley or right-of-way.”

The amount of the fine has not been decided. The updated ordinance also would state water users are “expressly permited to allow substantial amount of water to drain from swimming pools or hot tubs … into storm sewers, sanitary sewers and impervious curb frontages along their property.”

First Golden Egg found — but another will be hidden

Posted on July 3, 2014July 3, 2014

The hunt for the Eagle Golden Egg lasted all but a day, after the egg was found. But the fun isn’t over yet.

In conjunction with the 2014 Wild West Festival, the winner will claim $500 after locating the Eagle Golden Egg. More details on the winner and where the egg was found will be available soon.

Eagle will to hide a second egg, and the first clue to its location will be posted HERE at 2 p.m. Thursday. The person who finds the second egg will receive $200.

Two clues will be posted each day — one at 9 a.m. and another at 2 p.m.

Click HERE to see the latest clues, official rules and all of the details.

Court rulings produce ‘First Amendment fireworks’

Posted on July 3, 2014

We’re celebrating the nation’s 237th birthday on this July 4th holiday weekend with fireworks of all kinds and colors, but there are some ongoing pyrotechnics around First Amendment issues from religious liberty to free speech.

Gene Policinski is senior vice president of the First Amendment Center

On June 30, the last day of its current term, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 vote in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, Inc. that “closely-held” corporations do have certain religious freedom rights, and as such can refuse to provide women with no-cost access to some contraceptives as part of company health care obligation under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The decision set off verbal explosions on all sides of the issue. At the heart of the court’s decision is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a federal law that says government rules and laws cannot create a “substantial burden” on a person’s ability to practice his or her religious faith unless the rule or law is needed to further a significant public interest. Even then, the rule or law must achieve its public benefit in the least restrictive way possible.

In the decision, Justice Samuel Alito said Hobby Lobby and another company involved in the dispute were “each owned and controlled by members of a single family” and the families’ “sincere religious beliefs have never been challenged.”

Alito cited an existing ACA exemption for religious non-profits, where the government pays for such contraceptive coverage. Alito said that there are a relatively small number of owners and companies similar to Hobby Lobby’s situation, so the added costs will not be a serious burden on the government.

In a dissent, Justice Ruth Ginsburg warned of a flood of such objections — noting that Jehovah’s Witnesses object on religious grounds to blood transfusions and that some Muslims, Jews and Hindus object to medicines and other health products produced from pigs.

The legal concept of “corporations as people” — upheld in the Hobby Lobby ruling — could well produce another kind of First Amendment “big bang” later this month. The Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission eliminated limits on independent corporate spending in support of candidates running for federal office.

Opposition to the court decision has produced a proposed constitutional amendment to reestablish congressional authority to set “reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others,” and to allow Congress and states to ban campaign spending by “corporations or other artificial entities.”

If enacted, it would be the first such “amendment” of the First Amendment since the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791. Senate majority leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said the proposal will be considered later this month by the Senate Judiciary Committee, following passage June 18 in a Senate subcommittee.

Fiery confrontations of a more personal and emotional kind were forecast by “pro-choice” advocates in the wake of another free speech case, McCullen v. Coakley, in which the Court in June struck down a Massachusetts law establishing a buffer zone extending 35 feet from the doorway of any facility where abortions were performed — including public areas like sidewalks. Anti-abortion advocates had complained to the courts that at such a distance they could not effectively speak to women headed to the clinics, to counsel them on alternatives to an abortion.

While state officials and others warned of intimidating tactics or the potential for violence outside such facilities without such a limit, the court said state officials failed to show the 35-foot distance was the least restrictive method of impinging on the speech of ant-abortion demonstrators. The decision left open whether a smaller “no speech” zone would be acceptable to the justices.

Even the Supreme Court itself was not immune this term to a rare dramatic outburst. As First Amendment scholar and author Ron Collins noted in his recent FAN 21 (First Amendment News) blog, in May a spectator stood and spoke loudly during a court session. Asking the justices to reverse their Citizens United decision, he said, “I arise on behalf of the vast majority of the people of the United States who believe that money is not speech, corporations are not people and that our democracy should not be for sale to the highest bidder.” The incident secretly was recorded on video and released on the Web. Ironically, the Supreme Court does not permit any cameras in its courtroom, or videotaping of its proceedings.

The pops, bangs and bright explosions of Independence Day celebrations fade quickly, but not the figurative fireworks over how we apply — and at times balance against each other — our core freedoms of religion and free expression in matters of everyday life.

Gene Policinski is chief operating officer of the Washington-based Newseum Institute and senior vice president of the Institute’s First Amendment Center. The Institute’s Megan Chester contributed to this column.

Vision Dance Company fares well at nationals in Tulsa

Posted on July 3, 2014July 3, 2014

While at dance nationals in Tulsa with Talent On Parade, Jackie Creamer’s Vision Dance Company received several awards — including three national championships.

More than half of the company’s dances earned double diamonds, which is the highest award given on Talent On Parade’s adjudicated scoring system.

Vision Dance Company landed 36 of their dances in the top 10 overall awards. Twelve dances made it into finals to re-compete for the national championship title in their age division.

Vision Dance Company brought home the national championship title for ages 8 and younger small group, 9 to 10 small group, and 12 and younger production. In addition, the company received five 1st overalls, five 2nd overalls, three 3rd overalls, one 4th overall, seven 5th overalls, one 6th overall, four 7th overalls, three 8th overalls, two 9th overalls, and three 10th overalls.

Vision also won award as the most spirited studio and best technical studio, as well as two choreography awards.

Vision Dance Company members are: Molly Barnett, Emma Basgall, Addison Brening, Olivia Brening, Jenna Brull, Molly Buckles, Elizabeth Cunningham, MacKenzie Cunningham, Kirsten Ellard, Ruby Fields, Avry George, Haley George, Jenna Haas, Maggie Haas, Anna Hahn, Mariah Haley, Megan Hamel, Briley Haynes, Reghan Haynes, Sophie Hertel, Kristyn Hodny, Taylor Hodny, Elissa Jensen, Avery Jones, Reagan Kaiser, Payton Keller, Amber Klaus, Morgan Klaus, Makayla Koerner, Halle Lang, Mia Lang, Laura Langhofer, Brynn Leiker, Mackenzie Lewis, Katie Linenberger, Mallory Linn, Mikayla Linn, Jillian Lowe, Maia Lummus, Sienna Lummus, Jordyn Manhart, Kamree Markley, Maddy Moffet, Kaitlyn Nichols, Tasiah Nunnery, Grace O’Dea, Janessa Pfeifer, Kali Pitcock, Taylor Powers, Katie Rankin, Olivia Rankin, Rachel Rankin, Ava Reed, Leah Reed, Brianna Romme, Jenna Romme, MyKayla Romme, Madelyn Rozean, Ava Ruiz, Sophia Sanders, Brooklyn Schaffer, Izabel Schmidt, Jaci Schmidt, Kyla Schmidt, Aliya Seib, Payton Selby, Claire Shippy, Ashlyn Sonntag, Taylor Teel, Hannah Thomasson, Ella Voth, Adelyn Wagner, Lauren Wagner, Brooklyn Werth, Kassidi Yost, Shyanne Yost and Samantha Zimmerman.

Rainfall comes too late to help SW Kansas wheat

Posted on July 3, 2014July 3, 2014

Truck delivers wheat to the elevator on Wednesday

OFFERLE, Kan. (AP) — Farmers in parched southwest Kansas say the unusually high amount of rain that fell last month came too late to help the dryland wheat crop but just in time to delay harvesting of what little of the crop managed to survive.

Garden City experienced the driest January through May on record, but in June it received 10.5 inches of rain — far above the 3 inches it normally receives for the month.

The Hutchinson News reports the wheat harvest usually would be finished by now, but steady rainfall has kept combines out of the fields for several weeks.

Garden City Co-op, which has 20 elevator locations across southwest Kansas, says only about 2 million bushels, or half of this year’s crop, have been brought in to the cooperative’s elevators.