SALINE COUNTY – A Kansas woman and child were injured in an accident just before 8a.m. on Tuesday in Saline County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Mazda passenger car driven by Irene Booth, 51, Ogden,
was westbound on Interstate 70 two miles east of the Ohio Street exit. The driver swerved to miss a deer and overcorrected. The vehicle entered the north ditch, hit a fence and a tree.
Booth and a passenger Angel Booth, 9, were transported to Salina Regional Medical Center.
They were both properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
The long July 4th holiday weekend started out wet and cool in Hays.
Friday’s high was 81 degrees with 0.68 inches of rain in Hays, according to the K-State Agricultural Research Center.
Another 0.52 of rain fell Saturday with a high of 82 degrees.
There was a trace of precipitation measured both Sunday and Monday, with a considerable jump in the temperature. Sunday’s high was an unseasonably cool 75 degrees; Monday, July 4th, the high was 95 degrees.
Total rainfall in Hays so far this year is 17.17 inches.
STOCKTON — Fire investigators have not determined a cause of a Sunday morning fire at the Napa Auto Parts, 423 S. Cedar in Stockton, according to the police department.
The blaze early Sunday did extensive damage.
An official dollar amount of the damage has not been determined. There were no injuries reported.
A crew from the city of Hays, with one of the two ladder trucks owned by the city responded to Stockton to help fight the blaze.
Hays Fire Chief Gary Brown said fire officials from Stockton called shortly after arriving on scene and asked Hays to bring a ladder truck.
A crew of five Hays firefighters was sent to help fight the blaze. The HFD also sent an air truck to assist.
Check Hays Post for details as they become available.
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government is investigating complaints from Ford Explorer owners who say they smelled exhaust gas inside their SUVs.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it received 154 complaints involving Ford Explorers with model years between 2011 and 2015.
One driver says the odor caused a crash. No injuries were reported.
Owners say they smelled exhaust gas when the SUVs were in full throttle, like when climbing steep roads or merging into freeway ramps. The odor was also detected when the air conditioner was in recirculation mode.
The NHTSA and Ford Motor Co. declined to say how many vehicles are being investigated. Ford sold more than 950,000 of its 2011 to 2015 Explorers, according to Autodata Corp.
Ford, based in Dearborn, Michigan, says it is cooperating with the investigation.
ELLIS–Three more non-profit groups will request funding in 2017 from the city of Ellis. Representatives will appear at tonight’s city council meeting and a 2017 budget work session will be scheduled.
Council members will also hear an update on the waterline improvement project, consider a partnership with Ellis High School for security cameras, and discuss utility billing and the shutoff process for delinquent customers.
The complete agenda follows.
AGENDA July 5, 2016 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 June 20, 2016
b) Bills Ordinance #2000
(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)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis County Coalition
b) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis Recreation Commission
c) 2017 Budget Request – Tourism Task Force
d) Discuss Land Drainage Issues – Ron Keithley
e) Discuss Concerns with Public Works Department – Brandon Tippy
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Update on Waterline Improvement Project and Consider Approval of Project Change Order – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
b) Consider Contact for Installation of WIFI at City Hall
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Environmental Review Report for CDBG Street Project – Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning & Development
b) Discussion on Utility Billing and Delinquent Shutoff Process
c) Discuss Policy on Special Pickups and Consider Approval of Special Pickup
d) Discuss Purchase of Waterline Shutoff Valves
e) Consider Request for Partnership with Ellis High School for Security Cameras
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Discuss KDHE Compliance Letter
(2) Update on Water Exploration
(3) Department Update
2) Police
(1) June Monthly Activity Report
(2) July Staff Calendar
(3) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Updated Appointment/Committee List
(2) May Health Insurance Savings Report
(3) Schedule Budget Work Session
(4) Department Update
4) Attorney
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Facility Tour Work Session July 9th
(2) KOMA/KORA Training August 5th
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT
JUNCTION CITY -The fireworks show at Sundown Salute Monday night in Junction City came to an abrupt end when an accident occurred during the show.
The owner of the company providing the fireworks show, Roger Bennett , Junction City, was injured by an errant fireworks shell, according to Sundown Salute Coordinator Sharon Glessner.
“We were doing great and then one of the shells kind of exploded on the owner’s ankle. Roger has second-degree burns on his ankle, but he refused transport to a hospital,” Glessner said. “He’s going to be fine. He’ll be in pain for a couple of days, but he’ll be OK.”
The accident occurred about 12 minutes into the 15-minute show.
“We all ran really fast because we didn’t know what happened,” Glessner said. “We just heard that somebody got hurt and something blew up, so we didn’t know what we were going to get. He is fine, but it was scary.”
An ambulance, fire truck, police and Glessner responded to the accident scene at the Sixth Street viaduct.
The large crowd in the Heritage Park and Sixth and Washington area downtown waited for a few minutes, but the fireworks did not resume.
GOVE COUNTY- A man from Gove was injured in an accident just after 9:30 p.m. on Monday in Gove County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria driven by Marshall A. Powers, 46, was southbound on Kansas 23 five miles south of Grainfield.
The driver lost control of the vehicle when the left rear tire blew out.
The vehicle entered the west ditch and rolled.
Powers was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
————
GOVE COUNTY- The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating an accident that occurred just after 9:30 p.m. on Monday on southbound Kansas 23 five miles south of Grainfield.
The driver lost control of the a vehicle when the left rear tire blew out.
The vehicle entered the west ditch and rolled.
No additional information was released late Monday.
Check Hays Post for additional details as they become available.
Third in the Management Development Center at Fort Hays State University summer workshop series is “Financial Intelligence for the Non-Financial Manager” from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 20, in the FHSU Memorial Union, Pioneer Room.
Participants will complete the workshop with a basic understanding of financial and accounting skills and will receive a completion certificate.
“With the growing complexity of business and the constantly increasing difficulty of the problems of management, it has become essential that everyone who aspires to a position of responsibility have a knowledge of the fundamental principles of accounting and finance,” said Dr. Cole J. Engel, CPA, instructor of economics, finance and accounting. “At the conclusion of this workshop, non-financial managers will gain an understanding of financial knowledge useful for their everyday work.”
Engel will facilitate the workshop.
Successful completion of this course will increase participants’ abilities to: identify the advantages of analyzing financial information; recognize the elements of an effective budget; conduct break-even analysis; and understand balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements.
The cost is $119, and registrations received prior to July 15th are appreciated. Hays Area Chamber of Commerce members are eligible for a 15-percent discount.
Registration is available online at www.fhsu.edu/mdc. To learn more about this workshop or to receive discount codes, contact Conni Dreher at (785) 628-4121 or [email protected].
Frank Ervin Morgan, age 68, passed away at Via Christi St. Frances Hospital, Wichita, Tuesday, June 21, 2016.
He was born November 20, 1947 in Hoxie, KS, the son of Ervin Albert and Lora Ellen Wooton Morgan.
He married Melody Ellis on August 8, 1970. They had three sons, Scott, Phillip, and Walter, all of Ness City.
Frank served in the United States Air Force from July 1966 to May 1970. He was a mechanic servicing C130 cargo planes. He served a year in Vietnam in The Ranch Hands.
He worked in the oil fields for over 40 years. He was a pulling unit operator for years, then went to water truck driving the rest of his years until he retired.
He is survived by his wife; sons; a very special niece that was like a daughter to him, Patty Barfield, Alton, KS; grandchildren, Craig, Mia, and Colten Morgan; three very special great nieces that called him grandpa; sister, Alta Ann (Larry) West, Longmont, CO; sisters-in-law, Betty Morgan, Topeka, and Mary Morgan, OK; and lots of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Ed and Max Morgan.
Cremation has taken place as per the family wishes.
Graveside memorial service will be Thursday, July 7, 10:00 A.M. at the WaKeeney Veterans Cemetery, WaKeeney, KS.
Memorials contributions may be given to Heartland Cancer Center, Great Bend.
There will be a potluck lunch at the family house in Ness City after the graveside service.
Almost every farmer or rancher has said this in one way or another, “My life begins with the land.”
Look at it any way you want but this bedrock principle remains as it has for generations. Land ownership is the key to our business of agriculture.
Farmers are proud of the crops they grow and the land they work. Ranchers love their grasslands and the cattle that graze upon them.
From the time our first ancestors dropped seeds into the ground – to today’s ag producers, who use global positioning satellite – they were, and are, linked to the land. It’s who they are and defines the vocation they have chosen.
Many Kansas farmers and ranchers have raised their families, crops and livestock on ground that has been in their families for generations and for some more than 100 years. When producers farm land that long it becomes part of them. It is their way of life. Something they do each and every day. A vocation that occupies their time and mind always.
The land is something they cherish and love. Seeing it bring life to the seeds they sow is an experience farmers anticipate each year. They look forward to cultivating the crop and protecting it from insects that would cut yields and rob grain from people who depend on this precious food source.
Farmers also anticipate the coming of each year’s harvest when they gather the fruits of another year’s labor. Not only do this nation’s farmers produce great quantities of grain but they also take pride in producing a top-quality product – one of the finest and healthiest in the world.
The fondest wish of most farmers is to pass their land on to their children. They work for years, and often a lifetime, to leave a legacy of good land stewardship.
Most farmers learn about conservation and respect for their land from their parents. They continually seek new and better ways to work their soil to ensure they are able to pass it on to succeeding generations.
One farmer friend once told me, “If I thought for one minute I was ruining my land, I’d give up farming.”
Land is the lifeblood of a farmer or rancher whether it helps them produce grain or livestock. Producers have a deep-seated feeling of honor to be the owner and caretaker of land that has been in their families for generations. They understand that one day they will pass from this earth but the land will remain. They strive to leave the land in a little better condition.
These stewards of the soil realize their ancestors came to this country and settled with the belief it was the land of opportunity for them and future generations. They hope their children will see this investment in the land the same way and leave the farm in better condition for their children.
Land is sacred for the farmers and ranchers in Kansas who tend the soil and care for their livestock. They take this stewardship seriously. They’ve devoted their lives to safeguarding their farms and families while providing us with the safest, most wholesome food in the world.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
Bullfighter Weston Rutkowski has been hired to work the Phillipsburg Rodeo. The Texas native grew up in a rodeo family and has been a PRCA member since 2011.
PHILLIPSBURG — A new face will make an appearance at Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo this August.
Bullfighter Weston Rutkowski will join Dusty Tuckness in the arena north of Phillipsburg.
Rutkowski grew up in Haskell, Texas, an hour north of Abilene, to a rodeo family. His mom, Glenda Gayle Chapman Rutkowski, was the 1976 Miss Rodeo Texas, and his uncles, Terry Chapman and Keith Chapman, both rode saddle broncs. Terry qualified for the 1979 National Finals Rodeo and Keith was a three-time Senior Pro Rodeo saddle bronc riding champion.
“I didn’t have a chance,” he jokes. “I’ve been a rodeo kid my whole life. I’ve been to rodeos since I could walk.”
Weston rode calves, steers, and junior bulls, but when he got to high school, his mom wouldn’t let him ride bulls because of high school sports. He went to college to play football, but when he realized he didn’t have much chance of playing, he began riding bulls again.
As happens with a lot of bullfighters, Weston’s career began in a practice pen. He was helping out a buddy who was riding bulls, and the friend asked him to step in as bullfighter. “I knew right then and there that it was what I wanted to do,” he said.
It was the adrenaline rush that did it. “There was a gap for me to step in,” during that first time in the practice pen, “to save my buddy. I stepped in there, grabbed that bull, threw him a fake out of pure reaction, not knowing what to do. That pure adrenaline rush was awesome. I didn’t get that riding bulls.”
That was in 2011, and two years later, Weston got his PRCA membership.
For a while, he worked a full time oilfield job. But after he added more rodeos, he was able to rodeo full-time.
He’s happy with the rodeos he’s been hired to work: Austin, San Angelo, Denton, Athens, Belton, and Helotes, Texas, Estes Park, Colo., West Jordan, Utah, and this year, Burwell the week before Phillipsburg, and then Phillipsburg. “I’ve been fortunate,” he says, of his schedule, “for only fighting bulls for five years. It is something I love doing, I have enjoyed it and work hard at it.” Phillipsburg will be his first rodeo to work in Kansas.
Weston loves to stay busy. “I’m so ADD, it’s not funny,” he said. “I can’t sit around.” He golfs, works out at the gym, whatever “your average, typical young man traveling the world,” would do, he said. “I sure enough have a great time, wherever I’m at. Whatever I can do to enjoy wherever I’m at. I take advantage of getting to travel.”
Weston likes the bulls Bennie and Rhett Beutler have. “Bennie is known as an old-school stock contractor. His bulls buck, and they have that old school rodeo flair. Not only will they buck but they’ll hook you, too.” The potential to be hooked keeps things exciting. “Sometimes you work (for a stock contractor) and his bulls don’t hook and you don’t feel like you’ve done anything.” That’s not the case with Beutler bulls. At a Beutler rodeo, Weston says, “You’re sure enough doing something, and you need to be there.”
Weston, like any other bullfighter, has seen a few injuries, but in typical bullfighter fashion, he considers them “bumps and bruises”: a broken nose, dislocated right hip. A Beutler bull in Austin a year ago destroyed his right ankle. “I was trying to jump one of Bennie’s fighting bulls, and dislocated my right ankle and tore all the ligaments.” He had full reconstructive surgery and is back to normal.
But injuries are part of the game. “For being in this line (of work), nobody’s making you do it. So you can’t do much complaining. Because if you do complain, you shouldn’t be fighting bulls.”
Rutkowski replaces Aaron Ferguson, who worked as bullfighter in Phillipsburg for the last four years. Ferguson, who started the Bullfighters Only organization, won’t work Phillipsburg due to scheduling conflicts with Bullfighters Only.
The Phillipsburg rodeo is August 4-5-6 at 8 pm each night at the arena one mile north of town. Tickets went on sale July 1 at Heritage Insurance and are available by purchasing them in person or with a credit card, over the phone (785-543-2448). For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at KansasBiggestRodeo.com or follow the rodeo on its Facebook page (ksbiggestrodeo) or Twitter.
Dale Lee Schwindt, age 73 died at his home in Alexander, Kansas on Sunday, July 3, 2016. He was born on June 18, 1943 in Ness City, Kansas the son of Harry and Dorothea Pratt Schwindt.
He is survived by his wife Gloria (Stremel) Schwindt of the home; two sons, Devin Schwindt and Michael Cairns; one daughter, Kerie Schwindt; one sister, Connie Rumold and her husband Bill; 7 grandchildern and 1 great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Amy Russell; two brothers, Herbert and Keith Schwindt; and a great grandson, Landon Stine.
Dale’s cremated remains will be inurned in the LaCrosse cemetery beside his father-in-law, Clifford J. Stremel.
Dale felt privileged the last months of his life to receive daily cards, phone calls and visits from many friends and family members. He was humbled greatly by their respect, love, and affection and considered these gifts to be his true memorial. Therefore, no additional service will be scheduled.
Irene Virginia Roth passed away June 30, 2016, in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 94.
Irene was born in La Crosse, Kansas, November 12, 1921 to Henry John Wagner and Juliana Sabersch. She was the fourth of eight siblings Hilda, Esther, Oliver, Eldon, Johnny, La Donna and Richard.
The family moved from Lacrosse to Garden City, Kansas in 1924. There, Irene attended school, graduating from Garden City High school in 1939.
During WWII, an Army Air Force base was built in Garden City to teach basic flight training. There Irene found employment. Her job was to inspect and do maintenance on the propellers of the aircraft.
Following the war, Irene met Eugene Roth, a marine veteran. The two hit it off and drove to Kansas City where they were married on September 2, 1947. They settled on a farm north of Bazine, where they lived for many years prior to moving into town. In 1948, their daughter Cheryl was born, followed by Ron in 1952, Janice in 1954 and Ken in 1964.
Irene cooked for 10 years for the Bazine Public Schools. She enjoyed being a part of young people’s lives.
She was a lifelong member of the Bazine Seventh-day Adventist church, where she was the church pianist for nearly 50 years.
In 1997, Irene and Eugene celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
She was preceded in death by her husband Eugene, son Ronald Roth, and daughter Cheryl Smith. Survivors include her brother, Richard (Billie) Wagner, Tulsa, OK, children, Janice (Jeff) Davis, Tulsa, OK, and Ken (Donna) Roth, Denver, CO, 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, July 9, at the LaCrosse, Kansas Seventh-day Adventist church at 3 PM. Burial will follow at the Bazine Cemetery.
Viewing will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home on Friday, July 8, 2016 from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. with the family present from 6-8 P.M.
Donations may be given to the charity of your choice.
By BECKY KISER
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government is investigating complaints from Ford Explorer owners who say they smelled exhaust gas inside their SUVs.
ELLIS–Three more non-profit groups will request funding in 2017 from the city of Ellis. Representatives will appear at tonight’s city council meeting and a 2017 budget work session will be scheduled.
FHSU University Relations and Marketing
