MANHATTAN – A 58-year old Kansas man was sentenced in Riley County Court on Wednesday for the February 2008 murder of a Clay Center man.
A jury found Howard Barrett guilty of reckless 2nd degree murder in the killing of Thomas James in Barrett’s Leonardville apartment.
Barrett’s original trial was delayed when he was ruled incompetent to stand trial. Experts said he suffered from schizophrenia.
In 2010, a judge ruled that Barrett was competent to stand trial after the Larned State Hospital reported Barrett was mentally ill, but while on medication he did well and was a functioning adult.
Barrett was sentenced to 123 months incarcerations with the Kansas Department of Corrections and 36 months supervised post release.
The Judge did note on record that he hopes the Department of Corrections takes Larned State Hospital’s report and enters Barrett into a State Security Hospital.
Marvin L. Boxberger, 82, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.
A celebration of Marvin’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, with Pastor Earl Haggard officiating. Burial will take place at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Friday, March 20, 2015, at the mortuary. Memorials may be given to the Russell Food Pantry and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
Donald Lee Horyna, 79, of Russell, Kansas, died on Sunday, March 15, 2015, at the Locus Grove Village in LaCrosse, Kansas.
Donald was born on September 06, 1935, in Great Bend, Kansas, at the family home, the son of Edward C. and Marie R. (Krmela) Horyna. He grew up in the Great Bend, Kansas area and attended Great Bend Public Schools. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Earlene Crisco on December 30, 1988, in Great Bend, Kansas. He worked as a welder most of his adult life, working with Flame Engineering in LaCrosse for about 20 years. He was a longtime member of Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell. He enjoyed fishing, puzzles, traveling, playing dominoes and loved reading all the time. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with family and friends.
Surviving family include his daughter Mary Zahn of Ellinwood, KS; stepsons Frank Philbern of Great Bend, KS, and David Philbern of Norton, KS; stepdaughters Connie Meitner of Olmitz, KS, Karen McNemee of McLouth, KS, Rita Tague of Edwardsville, KS, Norma Herdman of Inman, KS; brothers Kenneth Horyna of Holyrood, KS and Edwin Horyna of Hutchinson, KS; sisters Evelene Knox of Great Bend, KS, Rose Cosper of Irving, Texas, Carol Huffman of Great Bend, KS, Betty Hafenstine of LaCrosse, KS, Connie Allen of McPherson, KS and Lois Cox of South Hutchinson, KS; 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Earlene Horyna on April 02, 2009; parents, son Jeffrey Horyna, brother Clarence Horyna and sister Sylvia Grace Horyna.
A celebration of Donald’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Otterbein United Methodist Church in Russell with Pastor Earl Haggard officiating. Burial will follow at the Russell City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Memorials may be given to the American Diabetes Association and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
ELLSWORTH – A Kansas man died in an accident just before 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Ellsworth County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported Steven L. Kelley, 56, Kanopolis, was driving a 1999 Chevy Suburban on Kansas 141 just north of Kansas 4. The highway was temporarily closed to allow a medical helicopter to land.
Kelley was transported to Lindsborg Community Hospital where he died.
The KHP reported he was not wearing a seat belt.
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ELLSWORTH -First responders were dispatched to an injury accident just after 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Ellsworth County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the crash on Kansas 141 just north of Kansas 4. The highway was temporarily closed to allow a medical helicopter to land.
There is no word on possible injuries.
Check the post for additional details as they become available.
A former Hays resident and her husband were murdered in their Rhinelander, Wis., home last week.
The woman’s daughter, Ashlee Martinson, who attended school in Hays, has been has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the killings of her mother, Jennifer Ayers, 40, and her stepfather, Thomas Ayers, 37, whose bodies were found at their Rhinelander-area home March 8.
Oneida County, Wis., sheriff’s officials said Thomas Ayers was fatally shot and Jennifer Ayers died of knife wounds.
Martinson, 17, is also charged with three counts of false imprisonment of her three younger sisters, ages 2, 8 and 9.
According to a funeral notice posted by Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Jennifer Ayers grew up in Hays and graduated from Hays High School in 1992. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fort Hays State University and worked as a certified nurse’s assistant.
She also worked for Lou Ann Kibbee, the Independent Living Program Manager at the Hays office (SKIL of Western Kansas) of the Southeast Kansas Independent Living Resource.
“I have been in emotional shock since I read the article,” Kibbee said. “I had not had contact with Jennifer since she moved to North Dakota four years ago. But prior to that, she worked for me for four years, both at the office and in my home and traveling with me for work.
“Ashlee traveled with us on numerous trips during the summers,” she added. “She and Ashlee actually stayed with us for a month when waiting for the purchase of their home to be closed. I am just in shock.”
“I don’t know what went wrong, but this was not the little girl Ashlee that we knew. Ashlee was Jennifer’s world when they lived here.”–Lou Ann Kibbee, Hays
Kibbee has assisted another former SKIL employee, Brad Rohr who now lives in California, to start a memorial fund for Jennifer and her husband.
“I knew Jennifer starting in grade school at (the former) St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Hays. … I reconnected with her when she began working at SKIL,” Rohr said. “I did know Ashlee. She was a very sweet girl when I knew her 6 or 7 years ago. Jennifer loved her very much and was a great mom to her, and Ashlee was a typical 10-year-old.
“I started the donation site because I am sure that those three girls (Jennifer’s three other daughters) will need help in the future. … I never met Thomas or the younger girls, but I know that Jennifer would have opened her heart to them as if they were her own,” he said.
Jennifer Ayers’ parents, Dennis and Rosemary Gallagher, her brother Dennis Gallagher Jr., and her sister Karen Mitchell, all live in Russell, according to the obituary.
The family has chosen to have a private gathering at a later date and cremation has been selected by the family. Cards may be sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, Russell, is in charge of the arrangements.
Ashlee Martinson
Ashlee Martinson and her boyfriend, Ryan Sisco, were apprehended by authorities in Indiana the day after the alleged murders. Sisco is not a suspect.
Martinson remains in custody in Indiana. She has an extradition hearing scheduled for April 8.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ pension system would be forced to divest from any companies operating in Iran under a bill considered by a House panel.
The House Pensions and Benefits Committee discussed a bill Wednesday that would require the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System to sell stock in any companies that had invested $20 million or more in Iran since 1996.
The bill would immediately impact the pension system’s investments in Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Toyota. KPERS currently holds stock worth about $68.5 million in those companies.Republican Rep. Scott Schwab, of Olathe, said the bill would send a signal to Washington about where Kansas stands on the country’s relationship to Israel and Iran. But other lawmakers worried that the cost would be high and politicize the pension system.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas are pursuing proposals to limit collective bargaining between state agencies and their workers and to overhaul the state’s civil service.
The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday debated a collective bargaining bill. Chairwoman and Republican Sen. Julia Lynn of Olathe said the panel would vote on it Thursday.
The measure would limit bargaining between state agencies and unions to setting minimum wages.
Supporters said the state should operate more like private industry. Critics said workers would be harmed.
Lynn said the committee also will consider another bill preventing state and local government agencies from doing payroll deductions for workers for union dues.
Meanwhile, a House committee planned Wednesday to debate a bill making it easier to move state jobs out of the civil service.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A legislative committee in Kansas is considering a proposal to restrict collective bargaining between public employees and state and local government agencies.
Chairwoman Julia Lynn said the Senate Commerce Committee will debate the measure during its meeting Wednesday. Lynn is an Olathe Republican and has said she believes the GOP-dominated panel supports the bill.
The measure would limit contract talks between government agencies and unions to minimum pay for workers. Employers could determine other issues themselves, including how workers are evaluated.
The bill also would allow agencies to impose terms if there is an impasse.
Republican Sen. Jeff Melcher of Leawood is pushing the measure and has argued that negotiations involving individual employees produce better results.
Critics say the bill is an attempt to destroy public employee unions.
It was a close race, but Jon Bon Jovi beat Bruce Springsteen for the title of favorite New Jersey rocker in a recent poll. The poll surveyed readers of app.com, the website of the Asbury Park Press, and more than 20,000 votes were cast.
The Boss quickly took the lead when the poll began March 6, but Bon Jovi started catching up around the 13,000 vote mark.
The last day of voting was Friday and a well-timed tweet from Jon’s brother, Matthew Bongiovi, may have pushed him to victory. “Let’s finish this!!” Matt tweeted. At the time, Jon was behind by about 50 votes.
In the end, Bon Jovi won by a tight margin. He received 11,140 votes, or 50.66 percent, while Bruce tallied 10,851 votes, or 49.34 percent.
Whether you’re satisfied with Bon Jovi’s win or not, the poll made it clear that New Jerseyans are passionate about their music.
“There’s something unique and endearing and cool about the fact that New Jersey even thinks about who its favorite rockers are,” Matty Karas, the music curator for REDEF, told the Asbury Park Press. “I think that says something about how much New Jerseyans in general think about, and identify with, their home state.”
The advance voting machines have been calibrated and the ballots delivered, as the first day to participate in advance voting for Ellis County City/Schools elections begins Wednesday.
“We’re ready to go” said Ellis County Clerk and Election Officer Donna Maskus.
Maskus said City/School elections tend to see a lower percentage of voter turnout compared to other elections –something she would like to see change.
“Those are local people, they are right here on our doorstep making decisions.” – Donna Maskus
“Those are local people, they are right here on our doorstep making decisions.” Maskus said, encouraging everyone to exercise their right to vote.
Advance voting only takes place at the Ellis County Administration Building, 718 Main St. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until noon April 6.
Maskus said community members who are unable to get to their city or county voting site can request an advance ballot be mailed by calling (785) 625-9410. A request can also be downloaded from the Ellis County website.
After the advance voting deadline, 10 polling locations will be set up around Hays on election day, April 7.
To find where your polling location call the your local county clerk’s office or visit the VOTE!Kansas website.
State and county health officials will provide free chest x-rays and antibiotics to more than two dozen Olathe Northwest High School students and staff who have tested positive for tuberculosis.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment teamed up to test more than 300 people at Olathe Northwest after a student there contracted turberculosis earlier this month. Twenty-seven, or about 8 percent, tested positive.
Lougene Marsh, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, said that “does not exceed what we would anticipate” in a school setting. “Of course, we had hoped we wouldn’t find any additional TB cases, but we knew this was a possibility,” Marsh said.
“That’s why we took such thorough steps to test everyone who might have been in close contact with the first confirmed case of TB disease.” A second blood test for the 300-plus close contacts is scheduled for May 5, because tuberculosis bacteria can sometimes take up to eight weeks to show up on the test.
TB is spread through the air via coughing, sneezing, speaking or singing, according to the CDC. Symptoms include a bad cough that lasts three weeks or longer, pain in the chest, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, no appetite, chills, fever and sweating at night.
Kansas recorded 40 cases in 2014 and 36 in 2013. The illness is potentially serious and can be antibiotic-resistant, but those infected are not contagious until they are symptomatic and there are effective treatments, though in some cases they include months of antibiotics.
Chest x-rays will be used to determine whether the TB bacteria is in the lungs, at which point it becomes contagious. “Early identification and treatment of TB infection is the key to preventing progression to TB disease,” Marsh said. “That’s why we are working so closely with the school and KDHE to investigate this case and assure that all precautions are being taken for the safety of everyone in the school and the community.”
Andy Marso is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.
WAKEENEY — A portion of Interstate 70 was closed for almost six and a half hours Tuesday morning in Trego County after a semi-trailer caught fire.
According to Trego County Rural Fire Chief Larry Eberle, a semi hauling hay bales caught fire west of WaKeeney near milepost 118 just before midnight Tuesday.
Eberle said the driver of the semi was passing a car when the truck driver believes he saw the driver of the car throw a cigarette out the window and onto his trailing hauling 42 large square bales.
The westbound lanes of I-70 were closed while crews battled the blaze and the winds, which were gusting over 40 mph.
Blowing embers caught a portion of the median on fire, but Eberle said crews were able to keep the fire from jumping the highway.
All the bales and the trailer was a complete loss, according to Eberle.
He said crews had to unload the bales from the trailer manually because the ditch was too steep for a loader.
Crews from Gove County and Quinter were called to assist the Trego County Rural Fire Department.
The March Basketball Bracket Contest is going on right now, brought to you by Eagle Radio of Hays and Hays Post.
Simply click HERE to make your selections, and if you think you can pick a winning bracket, you could win prizes from our sponsors.
Brackets must be filled out by 11 a.m. Thursday. Sponsors of our contest include 8th Street Liquor and The Mix Shop, Mid-Kansas Auto Accessories, Trego Recreation Commission, and The Golden Q.
