MANHATTAN – A Kansas man, who agreed to a plea deal for the charge of vehicular homicide, was sentenced in Riley County court on Monday.
Derek Kesler, 33, Rossville, was sentence to 12 months at the Riley County Jail, but parole would be granted after 22 weekends (or 44 days) in jail. Parole would be granted for a year, and Kesler will also pay $2,500 fine.
Kesler was driving a truck and hit 49-year-old Mark Jilka, Manhattan, who was riding his bicycle on Kansas Highway 177 south of Manhattan
Reports say that Kesler said in a voluntary statement that he was typing a location into his phone’s GPS when his truck hit Kesler.
WaKeeney resident Delores Hendrix passed away from cancer October 2, 2015 at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in WaKeeney. She was born January 30, 1935, in Trego County to Richard and Hazel (Backstrom) Turner. Delores was 80 years of age.
Delores graduated from Brownell High School and married Wayne Hendrix on June 6, 1954. Nine years and four children later, they moved to Denver, Colorado, where she remained with her family until 1977, when they packed up the three children still living at home and drove to Alaska. Delores opened a successful custom drapery business, and later a ceramic shop, where she worked with her daughter for 20 yrs before retiring and returning to WaKeeney in 1999.
She is survived by her sons, Richard of WaKeeney, Robert of Scott City, Keith of Soldotna, Alaska; daughter Carla and husband Charles Tanner of Houston, Alaska; ten grandchildren; and seventeen great grandchildren.
Delores was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brothers Delbert Turner and Ronald Turner; and infant sister Eva Joan.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 8, 2015 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of WaKeeney with pastor Randy Gibbs officiating. Burial will be in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, WaKeeney.
Visitation will be Wednesday, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home in WaKeeney.
Memorial donations may be made to: The American Lung Association. Checks made to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 North 12th Street, WaKeeney, Kansas 67672.
Lucia Bain is Kansas Room librarian at Hays Public Library.
It’s October again. Bierocks, Major League Baseball and high school musicals abound!
October represents the best month to be outside, weather-wise, and the first month to enjoy the coziness of the indoors. It’s my favorite month. I met my husband online in October 2011. I got engaged in October 2012. By October of 2013, I was pregnant with my first baby and in October 2014, I got pregnant with my second. This year, I’m not getting married or having a baby, but I do have news: I’ll be leaving the library on Oct. 15 to stay home with my children. It’s the right thing for me and my family at this time.
Being a librarian is one of the coolest jobs in the world. Librarians are human search-engines. We are trained to think about and access information in a way that makes us valuable to our patrons. Author Neil Gaiman says “Google can bring you back 100,000 answer, a librarian can bring you back the right one.” It’s true! I love tough reference questions and I love tracking down the answer. I love helping people fill in the blanks of their research or even their own family history.
The Hays Public Library is a wonderful place to work and I will continue to frequent the library as a patron. Having come from a small community with a tiny library, I am continually astounded by both the collection and the programs offered at the library. It’s an amazing community resource!
Though I am leaving, I do have one program scheduled for October. On Sunday, Oct. 18th at 2 PM, Erika Nelson will be giving a program called “Jackalopes, Hodags and other Larger than Life Myths from the American Road.” Erika Nelson, the curator of the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things roadside attraction and Museum, will talk about roadside monuments dedicated to our fantastical legends. Our legends reflect our culture and this lecture will explore the origins of the legends, the people who crafted them, and how they reflect the regions they inhabit. You may even get to see a jackalope!
The Kansas Room will go on without me. I sincerely hope the community continues to take advantage of the books, microfilm, databases and quiet space in the Kansas Room. It’s a great place to study, read, rest and find out things you never knew. Auf wiedersehen!
The Kansas Room is located in the basement of the Hays Public Library and is open from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, and by request. Stop by anytime to say hello!
Lucia Bain is Kansas Room Librarian at the Hays Public Library.
The first full week of October is observed nationally as “Fire Prevention Week.”
This year’s theme is “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep” and encourages Americans to have working fire and carbon monoxide alarms near each bedroom. Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires reported between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are asleep, according to the National Fire Protection Association. In Kansas, the rate is even higher–nearly two-thirds of home fire deaths result from fires reported at night, according to the state fire marshal.
The Hays Fire Department is visiting all the schools in Hays Monday through Friday, with demonstrations of its mobile fire safety house to students in kindergarten through second grade.
“The children are educated on basic fire safety and how to react to a fire in their home,” said Firefighter Brandon Zimmerman.
Second-graders watch the smoke rise to the ceiling of the HFD mobile fire safety house at Roosevelt Elementary School in 2013.
“We talk about basic home safety and what to do when in school when the fire alarm sounds We have a smoke machine in the mobile fire safety house. We can actually smoke up the room so they can see how the smoke travels down and they crawl under the smoke. We teach them everything they need to know–to feel the room door with the back of their hand.
“It’s a good process for them to go through,” Zimmerman added.
Third-graders are given the “Great Escape Challenge.”
Hays firefighters show youngsters how to “get out and stay out” during a house fire.
“Every third-grader draws us a poster. It’s a floor plan of their house with all their smoke alarms and CO (carbon monoxide) alarms in their house, hazards in their house, and their escape plan and meeting place–with the idea of ‘get out and stay out’ in case of a fire,” he explained.
One student from each third grade class is chosen to have the best escape plan and invited to the Hays fire station on Saturday, Oct. 24. The students will be presented with T-shirts, get to eat supper with the firefighters, tour the station and take a ride up high in the HFD Ladder 1 fire truck bucket.
“They get to see Hays from the air. It’s usually a pretty good hit with the kids,” Zimmerman said with a smile.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has plans to reduce the insurance assistance for children of lower-income state workers next year and also allow those children to be enrolled in a federal health program.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1GsnFMG ) workers who qualify will be able in 2016 to sign their children up for coverage through the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program, CHIP. Prior to the federal Affordable Care Act state workers weren’t allowed to sign up for CHIP.
The Health Care Commission, which governs the State Employee Health Plan, voted to eliminate $2.2 million in funding for Kansas’ Healthy KIDS program, which helps subsidize health insurance for the children of lower-income state workers.
The Kansas Department for Health and Environment says it expects to file the required paperwork to enact the plan next month.
WACO, Texas – After sliding a bit in vote count last week, a 35-30 win over Washburn gave Fort Hays State more votes in the latest AFCA Division II Poll, released on Monday (Oct. 5). The Tigers received 17 votes this week, a climb from the six they received last week. Fort Hays State currently owns a record of 4-1 for the season.
With three teams from the MIAA in the Top 25, which includes Northwest Missouri State (No. 3), Pittsburg State (No. 13), and Emporia State (No. 18), the Tigers top a list of three MIAA schools among the receiving votes section that includes Central Missouri (4 votes) and Washburn (2 votes). This is the fifth consecutive week that the Tigers received votes in the national poll.
The Tigers get a solid test this week on the road at Missouri Western, which enters the game at 3-2. The Griffons held a 27-7 lead at halftime against Pittsburg State last week before PSU stormed back for a 31-27 win. MWSU won both of its games at home so far this season.
Below is the AFCA Division II Poll for October 5, 2015.
Rank
School (1st votes)
Record
Points
Previous
1.
Minnesota State (30)
5-0
798
1
2.
West Georgia (2)
5-0
757
2
3.
Northwest Missouri State
5-0
735
3
4.
Ferris State (Mich.)
4-0
678
4
5.
Sioux Falls (S.D.)
5-0
667
7
6.
North Alabama
4-0
643
8
7.
Colorado State-Pueblo
4-1
562
10
8.
Colorado School of Mines
5-0
558
11
9.
Ashland (Ohio)
5-0
524
13
10.
Shepherd (W.Va.)
4-0
444
14
11.
Humboldt State (Calif.)
4-0
425
16
12.
Midwestern State (Texas)
5-0
405
20
13.
Pittsburg State (Kan.)
4-1
362
15
14.
Michigan Tech
4-0
358
18t
15.
Texas A&M-Commerce
4-1
313
18t
16.
Angelo State (Texas)
4-1
306
6
17.
Delta State (Miss.)
4-1
285
5
18.
Emporia State. (Kan.)
5-0
266
23
19.
Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)
4-1
246
22
20.
Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
4-1
243
24
21.
Valdosta State (Ga.)
3-1
225
9
22.
Harding (Ark.)
4-1
120
12
23.
Wingate (N.C.)
5-0
113
NR
24.
Grand Valley State (Mich.)
4-1
100
NR
25.
Minnesota-Duluth
3-2
89
25
Others Receiving Votes: Tuskegee (Ala.), 34; North Carolina-Pembroke, 24; Slippery Rock (Pa.), 23; Fort Hays State (Kan.), 17; Colorado Mesa, 13; Henderson State (Ark.), 10; Charleston (W.Va.), 9; Bowie State (Md.), 8; Concord (W.Va.), 8; East Central (Okla.), 8; Virginia Union, 5; Central Missouri, 4; Florida Tech, 4; Indianapolis (Ind.), 3; West Texas A&M, 3; Washburn (Kan.), 2; Arkansas Tech, 1; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 1; Findlay (Ohio), 1.
Wendell W. Warner Sr., of Hays, died Friday October 2nd, 2015. He was born March 7th, 1939 in Saint Francis, Kansas to Wilbur and Mildred Warner.
Wendell was a graduate of Saint Francis High School. He worked for Southwestern Bell/ AT&T for over 37 years and was a Retired Staff Sergeant in the United States Army after serving for 21 years as a Reservist. Wendell loved everything the outdoors had to offer. He was an avid fly fisherman who tied his own flies and handcrafted the poles not only for himself, but also for his grandchildren. Wendell enjoyed hunting with both his bow and rifle. He was a member of the Trap and Gun Powder Clubs in Hays. Wendell enjoyed “tinkering” in his garage and spent countless hours on his scrimshaw, leather, and woodwork.
Survivors include Wendell’s loving wife of 31 years Patricia Brungardt Warner and his two children Venus Warner and her partner Jan Felker, and Huston Warner and his wife Lisa, of Colorado. Wendell is also survived by Patricia’s 3 children whom he loved dearly, Beth Komarek and her husband Shane of Salina, Phil Brungardt, and his wife Gwen of Kansas City, and Amy Otto and her husband Charles of Atlanta. Wendell has 8 grandchildren Brian, Wade, Randy, and Brady Warner, Samantha Steffen, Katelyn and Nathan Komarek, and Alexandra and Cole Otto. He also has 2 great-grandsons; Maverick Warner and Jackson Steffen.
Wendell is preceded in death by his parents Wilbur and Mildred as well as his oldest son Wendell Wayne.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Hays Medical Center.
Arrangements in care of Brock’s Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].
SALINA- Law enforcement authorities in Saline County are investigating a reported computer scam.
Salina Police Captain Mike Sweeney said a woman in her 60s told police she received a call on September 30th from someone claiming to be with Delota Technology, and they discovered her computer was attacked by malware.
The woman approved the repairs for her computer in the amount of $310 that came from her checking account.
She received another call requesting she wire by Western Union another $1950 to cover repair cost. She did so at a Dillon’s store.
When they called again saying there had been a problem with the Western Union money wire, she checked and found there was not a problem, and contacted police.
The scammers were also some how able to move $3,000 from the woman’s savings account to her checking account. She did not lose that money. But she was scammed out of $2,260, according to police.
Douglas M. Billinger, age 58, of Chandler, Arizona, Formerly of Hays passed away Monday, September 28, 2015 at Banner Desert Medical Center in Chandler, Arizona. He was born November 24, 1957, in Hays, Kansas, to Alvin “Al” and Christine (Rupp) Billinger. He graduated from TMP-Marian in 1977.
He was a Behavioral Health Tech in the Department of Psychiatry at Maricopa Integrated Health Systems retiring in 2013. He was also a past member of the National Guard.
He is survived by two two sons, Aaron Billinger and Douglas Billinger Jr both of Chandler, AZ; a grandson, Thor Billinger of Chandler; his mother, Christine Billinger of Via Christi Village, Hays; three brothers, Alan Billinger and wife Carrie of Hays, Steve Billinger of Casper, WY and Greg Billinger and wife Jolene of Bakersfield, CA; a sister, Roxie VonLintel and husband Hank of Victoria, KS.
He was preceded in death by his Father, Alvin “Al” Billinger April 1, 2002.
Cremation has been chosen and private family services will be at a later date
Arrangements in care of Brock’s Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Al Billinger Fieldhouse Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home.
MANHATTAN- Law enforcement authorities in Riley County are investigating an accident involving the arrest of a Kansas State University football player.
Officers with the Riley County Police Department responded to a single vehicle collision near the intersection of Poyntz Avenue and Evergreen Avenue in Manhattan just before 3a.m. on Sunday in Manhattan
Authorities, according to a media release, found that a 2014 Ford F150 driven by Cre Moore, 20, a defensive back on the KSU football team from Broken Arrow, OK., had left the roadway and collided with a light pole and a privately owned stone stairwell.
The vehicle sustained major damage to the front driver’s side as well as the front driver’s side wheel.
The wheel became detached as a result of the collision.
Moore was not injured in the collision.
After an investigation into the accident he was arrested for driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Throughout the course of the investigation Moore was found to also be in possession of several pills, which were identified as depressants.
Moore was given a total bond of $3,500.00 for both offenses (DUI and possession of a depressant) and is no longer being held in the Riley County jail.
During the Big 12 coaches teleconference Monday, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder acknowledged the arrest and said he would handle the matter, but didn’t elaborate.
ELLIS–Ellis City Council members will deal with some unfinished business during their regular meeting tonight. The agenda items include consideration of an engineering contract with Driggs Design Group for the 2016 Street Improvement Project; consideration of a lease agreement with Midwest Energy; and a report of the disposition of dangerous dogs.
The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Ellis City Hall.
The complete Oct. 5, 2015, agenda follows.
AGENDA October 5, 2015
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on September 21, 2015
b) Bills Ordinance #1982
c) Manual Journal Entries for August 2015
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
a) Presentation of Staff Service Awards
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Denis Vine
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Engineering Contract for 2016 Street Improvement Project – Driggs Design Group
b) Consideration of Lease Agreement with Midwest Energy – Tim Flax, Midwest Energy
c) Report on Dangerous Dog Disposition
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Appointment to Cemetery Committee
b) Consider Ordinance on Cemetery Monument Specifications
c) Consider Renewal of Request Letter Restricting Private Water Wells
d) Consider Ratification of Kart-Man Invoice
e) Consider Purchase of Dump Truck
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Comparative Monthly Water Report
(2) Letter of Appreciation for Street Project Collaboration
(3) Update on Sidewalk/Crosswalk Project
(4) Department Update
2) Police
(1) September Monthly Activity Report
(2) October Staff Calendar
(3) Update on Police Vehicle
(4) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Public Hearing Notice for Re-Zoning Residence
(2) Health Insurance Monthly Summary
(3) August Financial Statements
(4) Unofficial Committee Meeting Minutes
(5) Department Update
4) Attorney
5) Mayor/Council
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT
Sarting the week of October 5, 2015, Mayer Specialty Services is scheduled to begin performing heavy cleaning on the large main sewer lines throughout Hays. The date may change due to breakdowns, weather, or other problems.
Heavy sewer line cleaning and inspections are at the locations described below and shown on the map.
Colored lines on the map indicate the main sewer lines that will be cleaned, beginning in the area of 5th St. and Ash St., and east to Pine St. From there, cleaning will resume in the area of 21st St. and Main St. and end in the area of 5th St. and Milner St.
Door hanger notices will be placed on homes affected the day before the cleaning.
During this process, residents may experience a rumbling sound, in addition to the possibility of water entering your sink, bathtub and/or toilet. Sewer lines can develop air pressure or a partial vacuum from the cleaning process. Usually any excess air pressure or vacuum will dissipate through the plumbing vents, but occasionally there are facilities with inadequate plumbing vents (i.e.: no vents, undersized vents or obstructed vents). In the case of inadequate venting, air pressure could escape through the toilet, floor, sink, tub or shower drains, causing water to splash out or, a vacuum could draw the water out of the fixture traps allowing unpleasant odors.
If you will not be home or on vacation during the time of the heavy main sewer line cleaning which starts the week of October 5th, please protect your home by keeping your toilet lids down. Other ideas on how to protect your home while away are as follows:
Do I need to do anything before you clean/inspect the sewers on my street?
Yes. Occasionally during cleaning and inspection, air pressure in the sewer can cause water to splash out through toilets, sinks and drains. Take the following precautions to prevent water damage in your home:
• Close the lids on all toilet bowls when not in use.
• Insert drain plugs in all sinks and bathtubs when not in use.
• Remove all floor mats in bathrooms.
• Place an old towel around the base of toilets, or cover all toilets with plastic or old towel and close the lid on the plastic or towel.
• If you have a float plug in your floor drain or a backwater valve installed in your house, ensure that it is free of debris and operating properly.
• Wrap the cover of your basement and other floor drains with thick plastic (i.e., a freezer bag or a car floor mat). Place something heavy over the floor drains to keep the plastic-covered floor drain covers in place.
The precautions are recommended only during our working times as provided.
You may put things back as they were when the equipment has moved off your block.
Why are you cleaning and inspecting the sewers?
The cleaning and inspection program keeps the sewer system operating efficiently by:
• Preventative maintenance significantly reduce the chance for damaging sewer blockages and backups
• removing built-up debris, such as tree roots, grease, grit and sand
• determining the condition of the sewer for repairs or replacement of sewers as necessary
How do you clean the sewers?
The sewers are cleaned using a high-pressure nozzle to flush water down the sewer. The dirt and debris are sucked up through a manhole by a large vacuum truck and taken to the landfill.
How do you inspect the sewers?
They are inspected by inserting a remotely operated video camera into the sewer to record its condition. The video shows us if repairs or replacement of the sanitary sewer is needed.
Will I notice anything after you have cleaned/inspected the sewers on my street?
Sometimes the sewer cleaning and inspection leaves an odor in the home. If so, run some water down the sink and bathtub drains, flush the toilets, pour a pail of water into each basement floor drain, and open the windows. After a short time, the odor should disappear.
Can I use the toilets and my water while you are cleaning and inspecting the sewer on my block?
Yes. However, be careful as air pressure in the sewer during the cleaning and inspection can sometimes cause water to splash out through toilets, sinks and drains. Remember to close the lids on all toilet bowls when not in use, and insert drain plugs in all sinks and bathtubs when not in use.
The city of Hays apologizes for any inconvenience this may impose. Performing this preventative maintenance by cleaning the sanitary sewer will improve the sewer’s performance and significantly reduce the chance for future sewer backups and related problems.
Should you have any questions or concerns, contact us at the Utilities Office at (785) 628-7380, or via email at [email protected]
