BARTON COUNTY – A Great Bend Man was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. on Saturday in Barton County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Nissan Altima driven by Alexis R. Mattheyer, 20, Ellis, was northbound in 800 Block of NE 10th Avenue two miles southeast of Hoisington.
The driver swerved to miss a deer and lost control of the vehicle It entered the east ditch and struck the embankment.
A passenger Nathan D. Hilleguist, 24, Great Bend, was transported to the hospital in Hoisington.
Mattheyer was not injured.
They were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.
By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development
“The perfect pumpkin.” That’s the objective of a young farm entrepreneur whose interest in a pumpkin seedling 4-H project has grown into a business of its own.
Brett Pfizenmaier and his brother Eric are owner/operators of the Pfizenmaier Pumpkin Patch. Their parents, Pat and Maureen Pfizenmaier, farm west of Clay Center.
Bobby Bulk, a family friend, helped the Pfizenmaiers with their field crops. He also loved to garden, and that knowledge would prove helpful in the future.
Brett and his brother were active in 4-H. One year Brett tried a 4-H project to learn about germination of seedlings using a nice, big pumpkin seed as an example. He planted and watered the seed and watched it grow.
After it sprouted and emerged, Brett didn’t want to just throw the seedling away, so he brought it home and planted it. In fact, he ultimately planted an 80 x 100 square-foot field of pumpkins. Unfortunately, it seemed that about everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
“That first year was close to a flop,” Brett said. “We had bugs and weeds.” In the end, they produced about 100 pumpkins and gourds altogether, and they learned a lot. They tried again the next year, and with help from family friend and garden guru Bobby Bulk, they expanded production. They have grown and produced pumpkins ever since.
Brett got a degree in agronomy from K-State and returned to the farm. He married Jenna and they now have a two year old named Will. Brett’s brother Eric is now a sophomore in agronomy. He works on weekends.
The Pfizenmaiers farm the traditional crops of wheat, soybeans, grain sorghum and corn and operate a cow-calf herd. Brett and Eric also produce and market the pumpkins.
The Pfizenmaier family farmhouse is located directly on Highway 24, so it is a visible and convenient place for customers to stop. Each fall Brett and Eric set up a stand with straw bales and attractive displays to market the pumpkins. It is known as the Pfizenmaier Pumpkin Patch.
About 25 percent of their production is sold wholesale to other vendors, but most of it is sold directly to retail customers at the stand on the farm.
Every year the Pfizenmaiers rotate the growing fields to a different part of the farm so as to help control insects. Once the stand opens, Brett inventories the stand daily and picks and replenishes products as needed.
“Our customers seem to like the fact that our pumpkins are pre-picked and convenient for them to pick up,” Brett said. Another remarkable factor is the number of alternatives. These are not all plain, orange pumpkins. The Pfizenmaiers offer various sizes, colors and related types, such as gourds, squash, jack-o-lanterns, pie pumpkins, giants, and more.
“We offer around 26 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds each year, and we are always upgrading and changing them,” Brett said. “The perfect pumpkin is out there somewhere, and we’re working on it.”
Brett especially enjoys interaction with repeat customers through the years. He’s sold to visitors from as far away as Colorado and Texas. Sales are also strong to customers from large and small communities in the region, such as Manhattan and Beloit plus rural towns such as Clifton, population 542, and Glasco, population 520. Now, that’s rural.
The Pfizenmaiers work hard to care for their pumpkins. “We do it all by hand,” Brett said. That includes planting and weeding. “It’s not easy to do. It requires constant monitoring for fungus, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles.”
Pfizenmaier Pumpkin Patch is now in its 14th year. That first plot of 100 pumpkins has grown to three to five acres producing several thousand pumpkins annually. For more information, go to Facebook and search for Pfizenmaier Pumpkin Patch.
The perfect pumpkin and a great customer experience: That’s the goal of Brett and Eric from Pfizenmaier Pumpkin Patch. They are making a difference by diversifying their farming operation and responding to this market. Now the fall season is here. It’s a perfect time to go on a quest for the perfect pumpkin.
Kansas Supreme Court Seated left to right: Hon. Marla J. Luckert, Hon. Lawton R. Nuss, Chief Justice; Hon. Carol A. Beier. Standing left to right: Hon. Dan Biles, Hon. Eric S. Rosen, Hon. Lee A. Johnson, and Hon. Caleb Stegall.
By SAM ZEFF
It’s been a half century since Kansas has executed a convicted killer and generally speaking, it’s not much of a political issue in the state.
But conservatives are banking on capital punishment in their campaign to oust four state Supreme Court justices.
When it comes to whether or not the Supreme Court justices should be kept on the bench or voted out, we’ve heard mostly about school finance and whether the high court should even be a player in that.
But lurking in the background, especially around Wichita and in western Kansas, is the death penalty.
“There are a number of issues that are before this court that have to be decided that impact every Kansan. So the death penalty is definitely one piece of that,” says Ryan Wright from Kansans for Fair Courts, the group leading the effort to retain the justices on the ballot in November.
The other piece is abortion. Over the years the justices have overturned some restrictions.
That resonates with pro-life voters but probably won’t lure many others to oppose the justices.
But, the death penalty just might.
“I think good political consultants know which emotional buttons to push and fear is one of the most popular because it’s one of the most effective,” says Michael Smith, a political scientist from Emporia State.
School finance, he says, is too complicated. Voters just want their schools open, class sizes relatively small and stable funding. “Whereas when you talk about ‘they let murders off,’ which is not technically correct, but when you frame it that way that pushes an immediate and very visceral button.”
And there is nothing more visceral around the death penalty in Kansas than the Carr brothers murder case.
The Carrs murdered five people in Wichita in 2000. They were sentenced to death but the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the sentence, though not the convictions. Eventually, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death sentences and the Carrs are back on death row.
Republicans fiercely maintain that four of the justices up for retention ignored the law and struck down the Carrs’ death sentences for political reasons.
The state Republican Party passed a resolution at its convention in May calling for the ouster of justices Carol Beier, Dan Biles, Maria Lucket and Chief Justice Lawton Nuss. Though any mention of the death penalty was left out of the party platform.
The newest member of the high court, Caleb Stegall, has not been targeted by the conservatives because he’s seen as a conservative himself. Stegall was Gov. Sam Brownback’s chief legal counsel before being appointed to the Court of Appeals and then going through the merit selection process that landed him on the state Supreme Court.
House GOP leaders are leading the charge against the other four. Their Facebook page and Twitter feed are dotted with memes targeting the justices, including one with a red slash over their faces.
While House Republicans regularly send out incendiary emails and tweets, no one would agree to an interview. Not Speaker Ray Merrick from Stilwell. Not Majority Leader Jean Vickery from Louisburg. Not party director Clay Barker.
But Senate President Susan Wagle was tough on the high court on a recent episode of KCUR’s political podcast, Statehouse Blend. She’s from Wichita.
“My community is very upset with this court because of the Carr brothers murders,” Wagle says. “They overturned that death penalty and we had to go to the Supreme Court, spend a lot of money, to get our court back in line. So to me, they have overstepped their authority.”
In February, a Fort Hays State University poll showed only 21 percent of Kansans were dissatisfied with the high court, while 61 percent were dissatisfied with the Legislature.
Ryan Wright from Kansans for Fair Courts is pretty confident the justices will be kept on the bench. “Even with that case in Wichita I think that we’re going to see voters rally behind these courts because they think it’s important to have fair and impartial courts in Kansas.”
A bipartisan quartet of Kansas governors also think so and recently went on a barnstorming tour of the state to campaign in favor of retention.
Because there’s more politics surrounding the court this year than ever before, most believe this may be one of the closest judicial retention elections in Kansas ever.
Sam Zeff is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend and covers education for KCUR, which is a partner in a statewide collaboration covering elections in Kansas. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamZeff.
Eulah F. (Chatham) Robbins, 96 of Paradise, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at the Parkview Care Center in Osborne.
Eulah was born December 21, 1919 on the family farm north of Waldo, Kansas. She was one of nine children born to Roy, Sr. and Edith (Lane) Chatham. She grew up and attended school north of Luray, Kansas. She then attended Ft. Hays Teacher College for 2 years. She taught at a country school south of Osborne and later she taught at Paradise School until it was closed.
Eulah was united in marriage to Bobbie Mac Robbins on August 21, 1944 in Kansas City, Missouri. This union was blessed with four children; Harold, Cleta, Diana and William. They made their home on the farm where Bobbie was born.
Eulah was a devoted wife and farmer’s wife. She took great pride in their farm and in their children. She was a member of the Nazarene Church of Paradise, where she taught Sunday school and was past President of the Nazarene Missions. The last few years with her son, she attended the Westview Church in Hays, Kansas.
Surviving family include her two daughters, Cleta Johnson (Al) of Kenai, Alaska and Diane Blosser (Darrell) of Hays, Kansas; two sons, Harold Robbins (Mary) of Yakutat, Alaska and William Robbins of Paradise, Kansas; brother, Roy Chatham, Jr. of Osborne, Kansas; two sisters, Naomi Copeland of Topeka, Kansas and Virginia True of Kearney, Missouri; eight grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Randall Chatham, six sisters Lepha, Velma, Stella, Nadene, Izora and Wilma and adopted son, Merlin “Mac” Chesney.
Celebration of Eulah’s Life will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at the Paradise United Methodist Church in Paradise, Kansas. Burial will follow at the Mt. Herman Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A Memorial has been established with the Nazarene Missions. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
DONIPHAN COUNTY – One person died and four others injured in an accident just before 7p.m. on Saturday in Doniphan County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Nissan King Cab Truck driven by Antonio Santiago-Hernandez, 38, Kansas City, was westbound on U.S. 36 just south of First Street in Wathena.
The truck crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and struck a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Richard D. Smith, 43, Severance, head-on.
Santiago-Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.
Smith was transported to KU Medical Center.
Passengers in the Chevy Smith, Katie Marie Smith, 33, Severance, and two children ages 9 and 10, were transported to Mosaic Life Care.
Santiago-Hernandez and the passengers in the Chevy were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
MANHATTAN– A lack of a skilled agricultural workforce is a top inhibitor of growth and expansion for many Kansas agriculture businesses. To help support growth in agriculture, the Kansas Department of Agriculture seeks to help the industry better understand the workforce needs among agricultural employers in the state. In an effort to link the supply of human capital to the needs of Kansas agribusiness enterprises, KDA conducted the first Kansas Agriculture Workforce Needs Assessment Survey in 2016, assisted by the Agricultural Land Use Survey Center at Kansas State University.
The survey was constructed to gather information about the agriculture industry’s current and future workforce needs and the types of skills required to support economic growth in the state. A total of 250 responses from farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses were received from across the state and region, representing almost 12,000 employees. In total, the agriculture, food and food processing sectors employ more than 234,000 Kansans, or 12.4 percent of the Kansas workforce.
“We are committed to growing agriculture in Kansas, and that depends on a reliable and thriving workforce,” said Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey. “We know that means developing and recruiting skilled, talented workers to fill critical roles across the Kansas agriculture industry.”
The survey indicated that a number of vacancies exist in the agricultural industry, including a significant number which are considered entry-level positions, requiring no advanced degree (e.g. carpenter, elevator worker). Over half of the current job openings are in the fields of agriculture mechanics, agriculture business and animal science. Employers indicated that basic skills such as written communication and applied mathematics are lacking in applicants, along with “soft” skills such as motivation, time management and dependability and “hard” skills such as critical/analytical thinking and basic communication/writing.
The findings will be used along with action items developed at the Kansas Summit on Agricultural Growth in August to help direct KDA’s vision in serving the farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses of Kansas. By working with secondary schools and postsecondary educational institutions, the agriculture industry can develop beneficial partnerships that will help schools teach the skills and content needed by employers and will help the industry gain access to trained applicants.
To view the survey reports go to: agriculture.ks.gov/workforce. For more information, please contact Russell Plaschka, KDA workforce development specialist, at (785) 564-7466 or [email protected].
HAYS, Kan. – The 25th-ranked Fort Hays State men’s soccer team improved to 8-3-1 overall with a 3-0 shutout of University of Mary on Saturday (Oct. 15). FHSU won both of its games against Mary this season. The Marauders are now 6-6 overall.
Mauricio Castorino started the scoring for FHSU in the 11th minute when he recorded his third goal of the season. Michael Cole beat a defender down the left side of the field and then sent a ball to Castorino who put a quick move on a defender and then sent a shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
Dylan Kintner made it 2-0 in favor of the Tigers when he notched his second goal of the season. It was a great all around effort for the goal. Thanks to some nifty passing from Caesar Jones and Moises Peralta, Kintner found space in the box and launched a missile that found the back of the net in the 44th minute.
Derick Gonzalez made it a three goal game when he recorded his team-leading seventh goal. Similar to the Cole-Castorino connection earlier in the match, Gonzalez took a pass in the box from Drew Wilson who made an offensive run from his defensive position. Gonzalez corralled the ball and blistered a shot past the diving keeper at the 60:04 mark.
Alex Rodela picked up the win in net for FHSU, stopping all five shots he faced. He now has won all three games he has started this season.
Next up for the Tigers is another non-conference match on Thursday (Oct. 20) when they travel to Oklahoma Baptist. The match is set for 7 pm.
Gavin Wright, Curtis Allen and Patrick Stein were arrested on Friday and charged with domestic terrorism
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) —A southwest Kansas doctor who works with Somali refugees says some local residents fear the refugees because they mistakenly associate them with a militant group in Somalia.
Dr. John Birky said Friday that he’s seen social media postings and heard comments from Garden City-area residents questioning why refugees are coming to the community. He and other doctors are establishing a clinic, and he is working with refugees on a language program.
He made his comments after authorities announced that three members of a Kansas group Gavin Wright, Curtis Allen and Patrick Stein face federal charges related to an alleged plot to bomb an apartment building filled with Somali immigrants.
Birky said the refugees want to assimilate and pursue the American dream. He said many come to the United States to escape strife in Somalia.
Law enforcement sought to reassure Somalis and other immigrants in Garden City of their safety the day after the arrest of three men accused in the bomb plot.
Dalma Ali Warsame, a 34-year-old Somalian, listened to law enforcement Saturday talk about the arrests. He says the alleged plot has left his family afraid.
But Police Chief Michael Utz says he wants all Garden City residents to know they are safe.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Saturday called the plot “highly disturbing” and “an affront to all Americans.”
Shocked to learn of terrorism plot in #GardenCity. My gratitude to our law enforcement officials who prevented the loss of innocent life.
HAYS-The Hays High Lady Indians had a day they would rather forget as they hosted the 2016 Western Athletic Conference Volleyball Tournament at Hays High School. Hays High hosted fellow WAC members Dodge City, Garden City, Great Bend and Liberal. The Lady Indians went 1-3 on the day in the round robin action.
Hays High opened with a win over Dodge City. They followed that win with losses to Garden City, Great Bend and Liberal. Hays High is now 14-15 on the season and will travel to Salina Central on Tuesday for a triangular with Central and Maize
Dodge City W 25-16, 25-23 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery 9 kills; Kallie Leiker and Nunnery 11 digs; Hannah McGuire 10 assists
Garden City L 15-25, 25-37 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery and Savannah Schneider 6 kills; Hannah McGuire 8 assists; Nunnery 16 digs
Great Bend L 25-21, 15-25, 17-25 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery 9 kills, 16 digs; Mattie Hutchison 15 assists; Jaysa Wichers 4 blocks
Liberal L 22-25, 22-25 Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunner 7 kills, 11 digs; Mattie Hutchison 9 assists
THOMAS COUNTY – One person was injured in an accident just after 11a.m. on Saturday in Thomas County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Kia passenger vehicle driven by Leona Mae Merrow, 65, St. Joseph, MO. was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of the U.S. 183 exit.
The vehicle hit a large deer.
The air bags deployed on both the driver and front passenger.
Merrow was transported to the Logan County Hospital.
A passenger James A. Merrow, 71, St. Joseph, was not injured.
Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
JOPLIN, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s soccer team recorded their fourth win in a row on Saturday (Oct. 15) with a 1-0 win at Missouri Southern. With the win the Tigers have now reached 10 wins in their last three seasons, now at 10-3-1 overall and 6-1 in the MIAA. The Lions dropped to 3-8-2 and 0-6-1 in the MIAA. The Tigers moved into first place alone in the MIAA at 6-1 at least until Sunday, when three teams at 5-1 take the pitch.
The match was a defensive battle for the first 72 minutes until Darby Hirsch recorded her first goal of the season in the 73rd minute. Hirsch was in the right place at the right time as a rebound off of a free kick fell into her lap and she rifled it to the back of the net. That was all FHSU needed as the defense recorded their eighth shutout of the year and third in a row.
Abbie Flax recorded two saves in goal for the Tigers and is now 7-3-1 this season.
The Tigers come back to FHSU Soccer Stadium for their next match as they welcome Northeastern State, one of the teams currently 5-1 in the MIAA, on Friday (Oct. 21). Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
The KU Interactive Theatre Troupe-photo Univ. of Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A student, faculty member and a theater group have received the University of Kansas’ award honoring contributions toward advancing equity and inclusion at the university.
Nate Thomas, vice provost for diversity and equity, announced the university’s Diversity Leadership Awards on Thursday.
The student recipient was Jyleesa Hampton. The graduate student was a member of the two-member team last year that became the first all African-American female team to represent Kansas at the National Debate Tournament.
Faculty/staff category, Shawn Alexander, associate professor of African and African-American studies and director of the Langston Hughes Center and Student category, Jyleesa Hampton, graduate student in communication studies-photo Univ. of Kansas
The Kansas City Star reports that the faculty winner was Shawn Alexander, an associate professor of African and African-American studies and director of the Langston Hughes Center at the university. The group award went to the KU Interactive Theatre Troupe, which is made up of students.
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State bounced back from its hard-fought loss against No. 10 ranked Central Oklahoma with a straight set win over Pittsburg State on Saturday. The Tigers moved to 19-6 overall and 5-5 in the MIAA, while the Gorillas dropped to 4-17 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA.
The Tigers used three straight blocks to open the match, all with Callie Christensen involved (2 assisted, 1 solo) to jump out to a 3-0 lead. FHSU would never trail in the set, eventually running its lead to eight at 15-7. Despite Pittsburg State cutting the lead back to two, the Tigers pulled away late for a 25-19 set win. Crystal Whitten had the hot hand early, putting down five kills and hitting .500 in the set.
The second set was competitive with four lead changes and 10 ties. The Tigers built a 16-12 lead midway through the set before the Gorillas responded to tie the score at 18-18. The teams sided out six consecutive times to a 24-24 tie before kills from Azlyn Cassaday and Whitten gave the Tigers a 26-24 victory in the win-by-two situation.
Pittsburg State hung around in the third set to an 11-11 tie, but the Tigers went on a 6-1 burst to take control by five. Another 5-0 run by the Tigers left no doubt as they cruised to a 25-14 set win and 3-0 sweep of the match.
Whitten hit .357 for the Tigers with a team-high 13 kills. She added 10 digs for a double-double. Rebekah Spainhour put down 10 kills and hit an efficient .421. Megan Anderson was also big for the Tigers in the middle, hitting .412 with nine kills. Hannah Wagy produced 13 assists per set with 39 for the match and Kailey Klibbe notched a team-best 12 digs. Christensen led the Tigers in blocks with five.
Zoey Qi and Maggie Highberger each recorded a team-high seven kills for Pittsburg State. Setter Carolina VanBuskirk had 30 assists and no Gorillas reached double figures in digs.
The Tigers look for their 20th win of the season on Thursday at Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo. Match time is set for 5 pm.
